What Does God Think of Sickness

Fred Barbee

Jesus Paid For Our Healing - Lesson 2 • Sermon • Submitted 5 years ago

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God wants me well! Many in the church today believe that sickness is a tool used by God to achieve His purposes. Sickness is something that God will send, use or permit - actively or passively to help me in some way. This is a complete fallacy! Sickness is not something that God needs to bring glory to His name or perfection to my life - any more than He would use sin to perfect me.

Many in the church today believe that sickness is a tool used by God to achieve His purposes. Sickness is something that God will send, use or permit - actively or passively to help you in some way. This is a complete fallacy! Sickness is not something that God needs to bring glory to His name or perfection to my life - any more than He would use sin to perfect me.

Can sickness bring me to a point in my life when it will cause me to turn to God? Perhaps! But that is not the way God operates. God has given me His Son! He has given me His Word! He has given me His Holy Spirit. I have everything I need to know Him, without sickness.

See sickness for what it is -

an illegal intruder into my life;

an enemy that needs to be defeated.

I have the authority - IN CHRIST - to defeat sickness! I have the Word! I have the name of Jesus! So, why do I allow sickness to manifest itself in my body?

Scriptures Showing How God Views Sickness

Israel has just come out of Egypt and has just crossed the Red Sea. This is an actual event that occurred in the Old Testament; however, we will look at this passage in symbolic terms within the context of our knowledge of Christ and our knowledge of the New Covenant.

Exodus 15:23–26 KJV 1900

23 And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter: therefore the name of it was called Marah. 24 And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink? 25 And he cried unto the Lord; and the Lord shewed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them, 26 And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the Lord that healeth thee.

Exodus 23:15-26

I am the Lord that Healeth Thee

Exodus 15:23–26 KJV 1900

How is healing understood in the scriptures?

They came to some waters to drink - symbolically, recall the woman at the well. Jesus offered her Living Water so she would never thirst again. Israel had come from bondage and had passed through the Red Sea - a type of baptism. They came to the waters that were bitter and Moses cast a tree into the waters and they became sweet - symbolic of the Cross of Christ. That which was to be life-giving had to be purified.

God reveals Himself through His names. Several times God takes another name and puts it with Jehovah to show us another of His unique characteristics! This is the first redemptive name we find in the bible. I am the Lord that healeth thee! Keith Moore notes that this is one of the great I AM statements in the bible! I am Jehovah-Rapha. Jehovah means the "Self-Existent One" Rapha means "The Healer!" (to heal, to mend, to restore to normal). I am because HE IS! God does not depend on anything for His existence!

Think of this scripture in the context of this lesson - how does God view sickness!

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I am because HE IS!

Egypt refers to captivity, bondage, slavery, affliction.

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God reveals Himself as The Lord that Heals!

That which was bondage is now being undone; that which was affliction is now being healed. If you will walk with me and keep my commandments (in terms of Old Covenant do’s and don’t’s), I will put none of these diseases upon you! Healing will be your reward.

God does not depend on anything for His existence! Several times God takes another name and puts it with Jehovah to show us another of His unique characteristics!

God is presenting to us a picture - there is a good and there is a bad!

The bad is the bitter water - the slavery, the bondage, the affliction in Egypt - from which they had been delivered; and

The good is what God is promising them!

In terms of what does God think of sickness. In this story, sickness is part of the bad; sickness is part of what they had been delivered from! God is bringing them out of this and saying to them, “I am the Lord that heals you!”

Blessings or Curses - You Choose

is a chapter of tangible blessings and curses that the Children of Israel could choose between! They could have whatsoever they choose!

Deuteronomy 30:19 KJV 1900

19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:

In when Moses came down from the mountain after receiving the Law from God - the bible says he received the law and the judgments. He reads it before the people and all the people swore “all that the Lord has said, we will do!” They were signing the contract! They actually said it three times:

They have signed off on a contract that authorizes - actually obligates - God to bless them or to curse them based on their behavior! actually lists all of these blessings and curses.

The Blessings . . .

Deuteronomy 28:1–2 KJV 1900

1 And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the Lord thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth: 2 And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God.

The Curses . . .

Deuteronomy 28:15 KJV 1900

15 But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee:

The Choice . . .

Deuteronomy 30:19 KJV 1900

19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:

Sickness is a part of the curse . . .

Deuteronomy 28:58–61 KJV 1900

58 If thou wilt not observe to do all the words of this law that are written in this book, that thou mayest fear this glorious and fearful name, THE LORD THY GOD; 59 Then the Lord will make thy plagues wonderful, and the plagues of thy seed, even great plagues, and of long continuance, and sore sicknesses, and of long continuance. 60 Moreover he will bring upon thee all the diseases of Egypt, which thou wast afraid of; and they shall cleave unto thee. 61 Also every sickness, and every plague, which is not written in the book of this law, them will the Lord bring upon thee, until thou be destroyed.

Remember . . . three times the Children of Israel had agreed to these curses (or blessings - depending on their choice)! Every sickness that is written in the law as well as all those not written in the law were part of the curse.

Deuteronomy 28:61 KJV 1900

61 Also every sickness, and every plague, which is not written in the book of this law, them will the Lord bring upon thee, until thou be destroyed.

This is not something that God wanted to do - He was obligated to do this because of their agreement. They had said three times “All that the Lord has spoken we will do!” (; ; ).

Based on these scriptures we can say that every sickness in our body - in the mind of God - is a curse! It is not a blessing! It is not something put on us by God to make us better! Sickness is never placed on us to make us more like Him! He is not sick; therefore, sickness could not make us more like Him! See sickness for what it really is . . .

It is a curse!

It is an illegal intrusion in my body!

Sickness is a curse - what does the bible say about that?

Sickness is a curse

Galatians 3:13 KJV 1900

13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

Get in my mind the true nature of sickness! It is a wicked, evil, slimy thing that has no right in my body! I must change my religious mind-set! Maybe I am like Job and God is using sickness to punish me! Maybe I am like Paul and God has given me a thorn in the flesh! Maybe this is God trying to perfect me! Maybe this is God trying to . . . ! Perhaps I have a guilty conscious and I just can’t see myself as the righteousness of God! Whatever the reason - I MUST CHANGE MY MIND-SET! Get to the point where I see sickness as God sees sickness - IT IS A CURSE - from which I have already been delivered!

Deuteronomy 30:19 KJV 1900

19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:

Jesus paid for my sins! Jesus purchased my salvation! Jesus took the stripes on His body for my healing! This has nothing to do with what I have done; what I feel - this is all about what Jesus has done for me! Healing is available for me - because of what Jesus did!

But . . . What About Job?

Job 42:10 KJV 1900

10 And the Lord turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.

Here sickness is referred to as captivity! Think about this . . .

Sickness is referred to as a curse; and

Sickness is referred to as captivity!

Search the bible - you will NEVER find sickness referred to as a blessing!

Sickness as Captivity

Luke 4:18–19 KJV 1900

18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, 19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

Luke 4:18-19

When you are in captivity, your activities are severely limited! You do as you are told! We just saw in that sickness is referred to as captivity and that God turned Job’s captivity! There is captivity involved in physical affliction! I have to make adjustments in my life because of my sickness! All of this because of something that is in my body - that God calls a curse! I have been redeemed from that curse ()!

Where is the righteous indignation? I have been robbed! I am in captivity!

Luke 4:18–19 KJV 1900

Note this verse . . .

To preach deliverance to the captives!

Recovering of sight to the blind!

Set at liberty them that are bruised!

Jesus came to preach deliverance to the captives! In sickness is referred to as captivity! Sickness should be viewed as an illegal intruder into my body! Don’t make excuses; don’t make adjustments to my lifestyle; just kill the snake! Get rid of the intruder! Determine in my mind that this cannot be allowed to last! This is a spiritual issue; this is a bondage; this is a captivity; this is illegal; this is a snake! I wouldn’t let a snake live in my house - why do I let sickness live in my house? A lot of damage can be done when I allow something in my body/life that should not be there.

This is my life! I have been redeemed! I have been set free! I’ve already got it - because Jesus has already purchased my salvation and my healing! The blood of Jesus is enough!

Consider this . . .

A UPS driver comes to your door with a box of snakes. The box has your name on it! He wants you to sign for the box! What will you do? Will you stop and pray about it and ask God if you should sign for the box? Don’t sign for it! Refuse delivery of the snakes! Don’t sign for the snakes! Kill them instead!

The Woman with the Spirit of Infirmity

Luke 13:11–16 KJV 1900

11 And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself. 12 And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity. 13 And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God. 14 And the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because that Jesus had healed on the sabbath day, and said unto the people, There are six days in which men ought to work: in them therefore come and be healed, and not on the sabbath day. 15 The Lord then answered him, and said, Thou hypocrite, doth not each one of you on the sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall, and lead him away to watering? 16 And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?

A spirit of infirmity - watch how this was translated in other versions . . .

of infirmity: KJV 1900, NKJV, RSV, AV 1873 a sickness: NASB95, NASB95PARA disabled: HCSB, CSB crippled by: NIV disabling: ESV evil: NLT that had crippled: NRSV that had disabled her: LEB

The woman had a spirit of infirmity (a snake). This woman, no doubt, had a physical problem; however, the bible says she had a spirit of infirmity! Jesus said to her, “Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity!” Jesus loosed her - therefore, she must have been in captivity!

of infirmity KJV 1900, NKJV, RSV, AV 1873 a sickness NASB95, NASB95PARA disabled HCSB, CSB crippled by NIV disabling ESV evil NLT infirmitatis VGCLEM that had crippled NRSV that had disabled her LEB

a sickness NASB95, NASB95PARA disabled HCSB, CSB crippled by NIV disabling ESV evil NLT infirmitatis VGCLEM that had crippled NRSV that had disabled her LEB

Text ComparisonThe woman had a spirit of infirmity (a snake). This woman, no doubt, had a physical problem; however, the bible says she had a spirit of infirmity! Jesus said to her, “Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity!” Jesus loosed her - therefore, she must have been in captivity!

What does God think of sickness?

Bondage

Spirit of infirmity

Satan

Captivity

Sickness should have no part in my life! Diabetes is an illegal intruder in my life! The damage to my right eye and right ear are intruders in my life! I should not make adjustments to my life because of their illegal intrusion - I should just kill the snake! Get aggressive! Be proactive! Be determined! Be decided! These have no place in my life! Jesus has paid for my healing - so why do I put up with these things in my life? These things are not from God - I need to take authority over my life!

II Tim 3:

2 Timothy 3:16–17 KJV 1900

16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

We have been given the word of God that “the man of God may be perfect . . .!”

Note these comments from Rick Renner regarding this passage . . .

Perfect: Greek "artios" meaning capable; complete; proficient. Meaning "to be fully capable for anything you will ever face in life!" The Greek word "anthropos" translated "man" actually refers to a person. This verse does not refer to a man or woman, it is referring to people and could be translated: "In order that people belonging to God may be fully capable, fully ready, suitable for bringing us into every good works.

Thoroughly furnished: The phrase "thoroughly furnished" contains a “gem” that reveals what God’s Word can do if you give it top priority in your life. You’re about to discover that there is no replacement for what God’s Word can do in you and for you! This phrase is from the Greek word exartidzo, which means to completely deck out or to fully supply. It was used to depict a ship that had previously been ill-equipped for traveling; but because its owner had decked it out with new equipment and gear, this ship had become thoroughly furnished to sail anywhere in the world. This boat was fully supplied, completely equipped, or thoroughly furnished. Paul uses this word to tell us that we are not prepared to set sail in life until the Word of God has done its work in our hearts and souls. When we first come to Jesus, we are like the first boat — just beginners who hardly know enough to get by in life. Yes, we’re saved and on the way to Heaven, but we haven’t had enough of the Word placed into us to fully equip us for sailing through all kinds of weather. You can be sure that you will encounter all kinds of weather in your journey through life — including strong storms. Therefore, if you’re going to make it all the way to your destination, you will need all the equipment and gear you can get!

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God does not need sickness to perfect us! Here He tells us that all we need is His Word! See what the bible says . . .

This phrase is from the Greek word exartidzo, which means to completely deck out or to fully supply. It was used to depict a ship that had previously been ill-equipped for traveling; but because its owner had decked it out with new equipment and gear, this ship had become thoroughly furnished to sail anywhere in the world. This boat was fully supplied, completely equipped, or thoroughly furnished.

Psalm 107:20 KJV 1900

20 He sent his word, and healed them, And delivered them from their destructions.

He sent His word . . .

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Paul uses this word to tell us that we are not prepared to set sail in life until the Word of God has done its work in our hearts and souls. When we first come to Jesus, we are like the first boat — just beginners who hardly know enough to get by in life. Yes, we’re saved and on the way to Heaven, but we haven’t had enough of the Word placed into us to fully equip us for sailing through all kinds of weather.

John 1:1 KJV 1900

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

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John continues . . .

John 1:2–3 KJV 1900

2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

You can be sure that you will encounter all kinds of weather in your journey through life — including strong storms. Therefore, if you’re going to make it all the way to your destination, you will need all the equipment and gear you can get! (RR)

All I need for my life to become a fruitful garden - to be a powerful manifestation of Jesus in this earth - is THE WORD!

John 6:63 KJV 1900

63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

Hebrews 4:12 KJV 1900

12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

The Man with the Withered Hand

Mark 3:1–5 KJV 1900

1 And he entered again into the synagogue; and there was a man there which had a withered hand. 2 And they watched him, whether he would heal him on the sabbath day; that they might accuse him. 3 And he saith unto the man which had the withered hand, Stand forth. 4 And he saith unto them, Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill? But they held their peace. 5 And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other.

We are looking at God’s attitude toward sickness. Jesus is comparing sickness to good/evil and save life/kill. This is some strong language . . .

This is some strong language . . .

Is it lawful to do good . . . or to do evil?

Is it lawful to save life . . . or to kill?

If I don’t heal this man, this is comparable to killing him - to do evil! Not healing is the same as doing evil!

Healing is the same as saving a life or doing good!

Not healing is the same as killing or doing evil!

WOW! I have been robbed!

John 10:10 KJV 1900

10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

I have the name of Jesus! I have the power of His word! I have the Holy Spirit! I have the power of the New Covenant written in the Blood of Jesus! I have the gifts of the Spirit! I have all these things and yet I have made adjustments in my life because of sickness! Healing is here right now! I need to receive it - take it, believe it! Let the word get in me and transform me.

Romans 12:2 KJV 1900

2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Romans 12:2 NLT

2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

Romans 12:2 AMP

2 Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you].

One more time . . . Look at the Message Bible

Romans 12:1–2 The Message

1 So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. 2 Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.

Let the word make the trip from my head down to my heart! I need to see it with the eyes of my heart! WE WANT INSTANT MICROWAVE MIRACLES - BUT WE HAVEN’T SPENT TIME WITH THE MIRACLE WORKER! Go to the Word; spend time with God! Don’t give up until I get what I want!

Let the word make the trip from my head down to my heart! I need to see it with the eyes of my heart!

We want microwave instant miracles - but we haven’t spent time with the Miracle Worker!

Look at the Old Testament . . .

Let the word make the trip from my head down to my heart! I need to see it with the eyes of my heart!

Proverbs 4:20–22 KJV 1900

20 My son, attend to my words; Incline thine ear unto my sayings. 21 Let them not depart from thine eyes; Keep them in the midst of thine heart. 22 For they are life unto those that find them, And health to all their flesh.

This is the recipe!

Oppressed - Another Word for Sickness

Acts 10:38 KJV 1900

38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.

Acts 10:38

What does God think about sickness? Bondage, captivity, curse - now oppression! He doesn’t like it!

Sickness is a Work of the Devil

1 John 3:8 KJV 1900

8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

I John 3.8

Jesus didn’t go around teaching healing. He preached the Kingdom and healing followed! Jesus saw sickness as an enemy that had to be defeated - just as sin was an enemy that had to be defeated. Sickness and sin are very closely related - get rid of one - you get rid of both. Watch this!

James 5:14–15 KJV 1900

14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: 15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.

Do You Want to be Healed

jhn 5:1

John 5:1–9 KJV 1900

1 After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 2 Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches. 3 In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water. 4 For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had. 5 And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole? 7 The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me. 8 Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk. 9 And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath.

Do you want to be healed? This was a legitimate question! Too often we make adjustments for our situation. We get accustomed to our “new” way of life. We get comfortable with the status quo. Jesus was asking him if he was satisfied with the adjustments he had made in his life. Did he really want to be healed? The same question could be asked today - do I want to be healed? When He found out the man wanted to be healed - He healed him!

Having the right attitude is key! How do I view sickness in my life? Do I see it as bondage, captivity, a curse? If so, I am on the right track.

Sickness as the Thief

John 10:10 KJV 1900

10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

This passage is referring to Satan, of course; but what better description of sickness could we find? The character of Satan and the character of sickness are one in the same!

Satan comes to steal, kill and destroy;

Sickness comes to steal, kill and destroy!

Every sickness has, as it’s purpose, to take from you that which Jesus has purchased! Jesus came that we might have life (zoe - the life of God). Greater is He that is within me than he that is within the world! Christ in me is far greater than sickness in me. Get my head renewed! Get my heart renewed! Who is in charge in my life?

Rick Renner provides the following interpretative translation of .

An expanded interpretive translation

“The thief wants to get his hands into every good thing in your life. In fact, this pickpocket is looking for any opportunity to wiggle his way so deeply into your personal affairs that he can walk off with everything you hold precious and dear. And that’s not all — when he’s finished stealing all your goods and possessions, he’ll take his plan to rob you blind to the next level. He’ll create conditions and situations so horrible that you’ll see no way to solve the problem except to sacrifice everything that remains from his previous attacks. The goal of this thief is to totally waste and devastate your life. If nothing stops him, he’ll leave you insolvent, flat broke, and cleaned out in every area of your life. You’ll end up feeling as if you are finished and out of business! Make no mistake — the enemy’s ultimate aim is to obliterate you....”

Rick provides some interesting insight into this passage . . .

Thief: The word “thief ” comes from the Greek word klepto, which means to steal. It gives a picture of a bandit, pickpocket, or thief who is so artful in the way he steals that his exploits of thievery are nearly undetectable. This reminds me of the pickpockets who work the streets in certain areas of Moscow. They can slip their hands into a person’s pockets, take what they want, and be long gone before that person discovers they were even there! Jesus uses this word to let us know the devil is very cunning in the way he steals from people. He knows that if he does it outright, his actions will be recognized; therefore, he steals from people in such a deceptive way that he often accomplishes his evil goal before they even know he has stolen from them!

Jesus uses this word to let us know the devil is very cunning in the way he steals from people. He knows that if he does it outright, his actions will be recognized; therefore, he steals from people in such a deceptive way that he often accomplishes his evil goal before they even know he has stolen from them!

Kill: Not only does the thief come to steal, but Jesus said that he also comes “to kill.” At first glance, it appears that this means to kill, as to take someone’s life. But the Greek word is thuo, which means to sacrifice. It originally referred to the sacrificial giving of animals on the altar. It could mean to sacrifice; to surrender; or to give up something that is precious and dear. It was particularly used in a religious connotation to denote the sacrifice of animals, and it had nothing to do with killing in terms of murder. Because Jesus uses this word to describe the work of the thief in , He is telling us that if the thief hasn’t already walked away with everything we hold precious and dear, he will then try to convince us that we need to sacrifice or give up everything he hasn’t already taken from us. The thief cannot bear the fact that you possess any kind of blessing. Therefore, if he is unsuccessful at stealing the good things from your life, he will try to cunningly convince you to give up everything you possess and love — simply because he doesn’t want you to have it. He may even try to create stressful situations that cause you to conclude that your only solution is to sacrifice the things you dearly love.

Because Jesus uses this word to describe the work of the thief in , He is telling us that if the thief hasn’t already walked away with everything we hold precious and dear, he will then try to convince us that we need to sacrifice or give up everything he hasn’t already taken from us.

Destroy: Then Jesus went on to say that the thief also comes “to destroy.” The word “destroy” is from the Greek word apollumi, meaning to destroy. It carries the idea of something that is ruined, wasted, trashed, devastated, and destroyed. By using this word, we discover that if the thief is unsuccessful in his attempts to steal from you or convince you to sacrifice what you hold dear, he will then try to ruin it!

James 1:17 KJV 1900

17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

The thief cannot bear the fact that you possess any kind of blessing. Therefore, if he is unsuccessful at stealing the good things from your life, he will try to cunningly convince you to give up everything you possess and love — simply because he doesn’t want you to have it. He may even try to create stressful situations that cause you to conclude that your only solution is to sacrifice the things you dearly love.

Contrast these . . .

Satan (sickness) comes to steal, kill and destroy!

Every sickness is from Satan!

Jesus came that we might have life!

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above!

God sees sickness as oppression, bondage, captivity and curse - something that will limit you; something that will steal, kill and destroy! Something for which He has already paid the price for! James tells us that there is no variableness nor shadow of turning with Jesus! If he healed when He was here on the earth - then He will heal me now. Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today, and forever ().

There is no reason why we should be oppressed of the devil! There is no reason I should allow my sicknesses to continue! Jesus paid for my healing! I’ve already got it! So, why do I still have them!

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