What Does the Bible Say About Doctors?Are They a Gift from God?
Lorraine Day, M.D.
The word “Physician” is not mentioned in the Bible
Neither the word Physician nor the word Doctor is used in the Bible. The word mistranslated as Physician is actually the word healer. It is the translators who have presumptuously – and wrongly – defined a Physician – a present-day Doctor - as a healer.
But the Bible, in the original, says something quite different.
Who claims to be our Healer?
God says, “I am the Lord who heals you.” Exodus 15:26
“I will take away sickness from among you. . .” Exodus 23:25,26
“He forgives all my sins and heals ALL my Diseases.” Psalm 103:3
“I will give you back your health again and heal your wounds.” Jeremiah 30:17
“The Lord will remove from you all sickness. . .” Deuteronomy 7:15
“My counsel shall stand, and I WILL do ALL my pleasure.: Isaiah 46:10
“Yes, I have spoken it. I will also bring it to Pass. I have purposed it. I will also do it.” Isaiah 46:11
“God cannot lie.” Titus 1:2
“I am the Lord: I will speak, and the word that I shall speak shall come to pass. Ezekiel 12:25
When Jesus was on earth, He NEVER referred anyone to a Physician
God needs no middle men. When Jesus was on earth, when someone came to Him for healing, He never referred the person to Luke, the “Physician.” Jesus healed the person directly and personally. And He healed him either with His Word – which we have today, in the form of the Bible – or He healed him with natural methods – clay, water, etc.
Jesus NEVER used drugs, although we know that some types of drugs were available in His time. When Jesus was on the Cross, He was offered a type of drug to ease His pain, but He refused it.
In the Bible, What was the consequence of seeking out anyone else except God for healing?
Asa, King of Israel sought out the physicians INSTEAD of depending on the Lord – and Asa DIED!
“And Asa, in the thirty-ninth year of his reign, was diseased in his feet (probably diabetes), until his disease was exceeding great: yet in his disease he sought NOT to the Lord, but to the physicians (human “healers”)
“And Asa died . . . and rested with his fathers (ancestors).” 2 Chronicles 16:12,13
Ahaziah, King of Israel, and son of the wicked King Ahab (who was married to Jezebel), was ill and did not seek God, but sought the god of Ekron – sorcerers. And Ahaziah DIED!
“And Ahaziah was sick and he sent messengers, and said unto them, Go, inquire of Baalzebub, the god of Ekron, whether I shall recover of this disease.
“But the angel of the Lord said to Elijah the Tishbite, Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the King of Samaria, and say unto them, Is it not because there is NOT a God in Israel, that you go to inquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron?
“Now, therefore, thus saith the Lord, Thou shalt NOT come down from that bed on which thou art gone up, but shalt SURELY DIE.” 2 Kings 1:2-4
God is our Healer and He doesn’t share that job with humanity. The consequence of seeking out anyone except the Lord for healing – is death!
But HOW Does God Heal?
Jesus certainly did miraculous healings when He was on earth, but there was always ONE requirement. The person wanting to be healed HAD TO BELIEVE. He or she had to believe that Jesus WOULD do what He had already PROMISED to do – and that is to heal ALL our diseases. (Psalm 103:3)
If a person BELIEVES in Jesus, then they will follow His ways, and not “man’s” (the doctors’) ways.
Jesus said, “If you LOVE Me, KEEP My Commandments.” John 14:15
Here is the way God heals ALL our diseases:
“Thou shalt therefore keep the Commandments, and the statutes (laws – including God’s Ten Natural Health Laws) and the judgments (decrees) that I command thee this day, to do them.
“Wherefore it shall come to pass, if you hearken to these judgments, and keep and do them, that the Lord your God shall keep unto thee the covenant and the mercy that He swore unto your fathers:
“And He will love thee, and bless thee, and multiply thee; He will also bless the fruit of thy womb, and the fruit of thy land, thy grain, and thy wine, and thine oil, the increase of thy cattle, and thy flocks of thy sheep, in the land that He swore unto thy fathers to give thee.
“Thou shalt be blessed above all people; there shall not be male or female barren among you (the cure for infertility!) or among your cattle.
“And the Lord will take away from thee ALL sickness, and will put none of the evil diseases of Egypt (symbolic for Sin), which thou knowest, upon thee: but will lay them upon all them that hate thee.” Deuteronomy 7:11-15
Moses:
When God told Moses to build the sanctuary in the wilderness, God gave very specific directions for how it was to be built – down to the last tassel on the robes of the priests. It was up to Moses to follow God’s plans explicitly and NOT to follow his own plans. Moses was NOT ALLOWED to consult with the human “experts” on sanctuary-building. God gave the directions, and Moses carried out EXACTLY what God had told Him to do.
God not only made the PROMISE, God also gave the PROCESS by which His PROMISE was to be accomplished.
The ONLY one who can fulfill a PROMISE, is the ONE who made it.
Noah:
When God promised Noah He would save him and his family from the flood, God gave Noah very explicit instructions on how to build the ark – including what kind of wood, the specific dimensions of the boat, etc. Noah was not allowed to consult the human “experts” on boat-building. It was up to Noah to follow God’s plans explicitly and NOT to follow his own plans. God gave the directions, and Noah carried out EXACTLY what God told Him to do.
It was by following God’s instructions explicitly that Noah and his family would be saved.
God not only made the PROMISE, God also gave the PROCESS by which His PROMISE was to be accomplished.
Disease is a Spiritual Problem
When God PROMISES to “heal ALL our diseases,” God also gives us the PROCESS by which His PROMISE is to be accomplished. We are not allowed to consult human “experts” on healing, such as the orthodox medical doctors, but we must follow ONLY God’s way.
God not only has made the PROMISE, God also gives us the PROCESS by which His PROMISE is to be accomplished.
Disease, virtually ALL disease, BEGINS as a Spiritual problem. It begins in the “heart” because we want to live, eat, think, act, and handle stress our OWN way, rather than GOD’S way. We are in rebellion against God, whether we realize and acknowledge it or not. Only MUCH later do the physical symptoms appear - as a result our OWN bad decisions.
We believe we have Free Will and the right to exercise it, but Jesus said,
“I came NOT to do My OWN will, but the WILL of Him who sent Me.” John 6:38
We give ourselves disease, one day at a time, by following OUR OWN will, rather than following GOD’S WILL for our life.
Shouldn’t I Pray for a Miraculous Healing?
Certainly God can perform a miraculous healing, but what good would that do in your life? It would allow you to continue to live, eat, think, act, and handle stress your OWN way, rather than changing your heart. It would just be another carnal wish for a “Quick Fix” and you would eventually develop your disease again because you would not have CHANGED the way you were living, eating, thinking, acting and handling stress.
Christians, particularly, are looking for a miraculous healing – a Quick Fix, even though miraculous healings do NOT change lives. When Jesus healed the Ten Lepers, how many came back to thank Him? Only one! Their hearts were not changed.
The "Latter Rain" - How will we recognize it? Is it Already Here?
The Christian churches are praising the Lord for what they consider to be the present-day "outpouring of the Holy Spirit" in signs and wonders, including speaking in tongues and miraculous healings just like the events that occurred with the apostles in the Upper Room at Pentecost fifty days after the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus, 2000 years ago.
Often quoted is the passage in Joel that refers to God's Spirit being poured out on all flesh.
"And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions. . . and I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth. . . before the great and the terrible day of the Lord come." Joel 2:28-31
Two specific time periods for the "outpouring of the Holy Spirit" are spoken of in the Bible where they are referred to as the "Early rain" and the "Latter rain," symbolized by the early and latter rains of the harvest season. Leviticus 26:1-14, Deuteronomy 11:14, Proverbs 16:15, Hosea 6:3, Matt 5:45, James 5:7.
As mentioned, the "Early Rain" is considered by most Christians to have been given to the apostles in the Upper Room at Pentecost. In speaking of this occurrence, the Bible says the apostles were together in the upper room with over 100 other Christians. "And they were filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them the ability to speak clearly (literal translation). . . and they were all amazed and marveled, saying one to another, 'Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? And yet we hear in the dialect in which we were born, Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites. . . in Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt, and the regions of Libya…We hear them speaking in our own language…" Acts 2:7-11
Obviously, the languages (tongues) in which the apostles were speaking were known languages of the time. Their languages were perfectly understood by those from the various respective countries. What they were speaking was NOT an unknown tongue because everyone "understood in his own dialect (dialektos - in Greek)." Acts 2:8
In the subsequent weeks and months, the apostles performed many miraculous healings (See Acts 3:1-13, 6:8) and spoke boldly about the resurrection of Jesus even after they were strongly warned against it, and even after they were imprisoned and beaten.
Characteristics of the "Early Rain" included:
1) Miraculous, instantaneous healings
2) Bold speaking for the Lord
3) Speaking in known languages
4) Preaching of the true Gospel
5) The Spirit fell ONLY on those who had left the organized church. We have NO record that it fell on ANYONE who was IN the organized church of those who considered themselves the "Chosen People."
6) It not only fell ONLY on those who had LEFT that church, but it fell ONLY on those who were being PERSECUTED BY that very same "Church." (The apostles were hiding in the Upper Room "for fear of the Jews.")We have reason to believe that the "Latter Rain" will have similar manifestations. In fact, many Christians believe that this predicted "Latter Rain" is going on right now in the churches, exemplified by an exciting movement of "Spirit-filled" Christians who are speaking in unknown languages and are being miraculously "healed!"
But we must carefully search the Scriptures to understand the characteristics of the "Latter Rain" and how they relate to the "Early Rain", the apostles Day of Pentecost.
What are the "keys" in the analysis of the "Early Rain"
to unlock the understanding of the "Latter Rain"?Jesus received a visitor one evening, Nicodemus, a respected religious leader, a Pharisee, inquiring about Jesus' teachings. "You must be born again," Jesus told him. "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?" Nicodemus asked.
Jesus explained that the first birth, is physical, natural, but the second birth is a spiritual birth. "That which is born of flesh is flesh and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." John 3:6 He went on to chide Nicodemus saying, "You are a master of Israel and you don't know these things?" In other words, "You are one of the main leaders, one of the Biblical scholars, of the most religious people on earth and you don't understand this basic spiritual principle?"
The key is found in 1 Corinthians 15:44-49. Here Paul speaks of two situations, first the natural or physical, and secondly the spiritual.
"And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul (a physical, natural human being); the last Adam (Christ) was made a life-giving spirit (a spiritual being).
"However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural; then the spiritual.
"The first man is from the earth, earthy; the second man is from heaven."
This passage gives a very important interpretive rule; the first is ALWAYS natural, or physical, and the second is ALWAYS spiritual.
Jesus was explaining this principle to Nicodemus when He said, "The first birth is physical, but the second birth, being born again, is spiritual.
First birth = physical
Second birth = spiritual1 Cor 2:14 says, "The unspiritual man (the natural, or "soulish" man) does not accept the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness to him; and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned (understood)."
This text tells us that the natural man, the unspiritual man, cannot understand spiritual things. "They are foolishness to him."
The original Greek word translated as "natural" in the King James Version, is more accurately translated "soulish." The word "soul" is applied in the Bible to any creature that has the five senses (sight, hearing, taste, smell and touch), such as birds, beasts, and man. The word "soul" in the Bible is never used to describe plants and trees, etc. or non-living things, things which do NOT have the five senses.
Therefore, we can see that the "natural" man, also called the "soulish" man, CANNOT understand spiritual things. In other words, spiritual things CANNOT be understood with the five senses. They can only be discerned (understood) spiritually. Spiritual understanding does NOT use the five senses.
We have already learned that the "first" is always natural or physical, such as the "first" birth (it's the natural birth of a child) but the "second" birth, or being "born again" is spiritual. The natural birth of a child can easily be detected by the five senses. It can be seen, heard and felt.
However, the "second" birth, being "born again" CANNOT be detected with the five senses. God changes the heart quietly and slowly which cannot be detected by the senses. Only the result can be seen, just like the working of the wind. The wind itself cannot be seen, only the result of the wind. John 3:8
The Lamb of God
The same principle operates for many things in the Bible. The lamb sacrificed for sin in the temple in the Old Testament was the "first" - the physical. But it looked forward to the "Lamb of God" who by His physical death would give us spiritual salvation. Jesus, the Lamb of God, was the "second" - Spiritual fulfillment of the literal, physical sacrificial lamb in the Old Testament sanctuary service.
Manna - Bread from Heaven
The manna that rained down from heaven when the Israelites were in the wilderness was the "first" bread, looking forward to the "second" - the spiritual bread from heaven, Jesus Christ. (John 6:47-52). But the Jews of Jesus' time ONLY understood it literally. They could not understand the spiritual application because "spiritual things are (ONLY) spiritually discerned."
The Old and New Covenant
The Old Covenant was the Ten Commandments written in stone. They were physical, they could be seen and touched. And most importantly, humanity was unable to keep them under their own power.
The New Covenant is the SAME Ten Commandments, all ten of them, but now they are no longer written in stone, but Jesus says, "I will write my law on the fleshy tables of your heart." (2 Cor 3:3) Now humanity CAN keep them but ONLY through the power of Jesus living in you.
Some say that since Jesus died on the Cross, we're now living under grace, we are NOT under the law because the law was done away at the Cross. However the law was NOT done away with at the Cross, it is still the very same law that is operating, but the NEW Covenant is Jesus' promise to write that very same law in our hearts, so we will do right because it IS right, not just because we are told to do it.
The First and Second Deaths!
The first death is in us when we are born. As soon as a baby is born, its cells begin to die. That is the "first" death. The "second" death according to 1 Cor 15:44-49, MUST be a spiritual death. That's the death Paul talks so much about: "I die daily", (1 Cor 15:31), "I am crucified with Christ" (Gal 2:20), "putting off the old man of sin" (Col 3:9). This is obviously a spiritual, not a physical, death.
In Rev 20:14 we are told that "Death and Hades (the unseen) are thrown into the lake of fire." How can "Death and the Unseen" be thrown into a literal "lake of fire?"
Obviously the "lake of fire" is symbolic. So what does it mean? We are told in Revelation that "waters" mean people and multitudes. (Rev 17:15) The "Beast" comes up out of the "sea" (Rev 13:1,2) which means it rises in a populated area. So "sea", because it is water, means people. A "lake" is also water, so it also must mean peoples and multitudes.
The word "fire" is used symbolically and spiritually repeatedly in the Bible. We go through "fiery trials" (1 Peter 4:12). "Buy of Me gold tried in the fire" (Rev 3:18). "Heap coals of fire on his head. . ." (Romans 12:20).
So the "lake of fire" according to the symbology of Revelation, means fiery trials caused by reaping what we have sown. We are put right back in the midst of the people we have wronged in order to reap what we have sown in order to be spiritually purified.
Faith based on miracles is NOT faith!
Simon (Magus) (Acts 8:9) was amazed at the power of the apostles. His case is an example of "faith" founded on miracles, which is very different from the faith which is based on God's word, apart from the evidence of the senses. Many believed in the Lord when they beheld the signs which He did, yet Jesus did not entrust Himself to them, because He knew what was in humanity (John 2:23-25) (Concordant Commentary pg 190).
Acts 8:19: Among the nations in Paul's later ministries, the spirit is received on believing, without the intervention of apostles, or baptism, or laying on of hands (Eph 1:13). It is no longer manifested by signs and miraculous healings
Signs and Wonder
Paul performs miracles early in his ministry
The need for signs and wonders, in order to believe, is a sign of spiritual immaturity. Early in his ministry Paul performed many miracles. People were healed if they just touched his handkerchief.
"And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul: So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them." Acts 19:11,12
Paul raised Eutychus from the dead. Acts 20:9-12
Later in Paul's ministry, NO miracles are seen.
Healings are by NATURAL REMEDIES.
But later in Paul's ministry he tells Timothy to drink (unfermented) wine for his stomach troubles, a natural remedy, rather than sending him a handkerchief so he could be instantly healed (1 Tim 5:23). Also Paul does not miraculously heal his co-worker, Epaphroditus, who almost died. He obviously got well the long, slow way.
"Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labor, and fellow soldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants.
"For he longed after you all, and was full of heaviness, because that ye had heard that he had been sick.
"For indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow." Philippians 2:25-27
Paul obviously did NOT heal Epaphroditus miraculously.
To Summarize:
The Early Rain, the "First of the two "Rains", was characterized by visible miracles, including resurrections and miraculous healings. These could easily be detected by the 5 senses. No one had to be "spiritual" in order to detect and understand these healings. Even pagans were able to detect these signs.
According to 1 Cor 15:44-49, the "First" is always "natural or physical" so the "Early Rain" as we see, is able to be detected by the "natural" or "soulish" man, meaning it can be detected with the five senses.
But the "Second" is ALWAYS "Spiritual." It CANNOT be detected with the five senses.
Some say that means that "healings" will not be a part of the "Latter Rain." But that is NOT the correct conclusion.
Healings WILL be part of the "Latter Rain", but the healings characteristic of the "Latter Rain" will NOT be miraculous, they will occur slowly and imperceptibly, first by a change in the heart, and then by a slow progressive improvement in the disease by following God's totally natural Health Plan. This is in accord with the way the Holy Spirit works in the Second Birth (being born again.)
This PROCESS will NOT be detectable with the five senses, only the result will be detected. The ability of God's Natural Health Plan to heal even the most advanced cancer will NOT be understood by those who are not spiritual, because "Spiritual things are spiritually discerned."
"The natural (soulish or unspiritual) man receiveth NOT the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because spiritual things are spiritually discerned." 1 Cor 2:14
This is the reason that doctors, scientists, Bible scholars, many theologians and most ministers CANNOT understand how people with advanced, life-threatening diseases can get well by following God's Natural Health Plan. They are totally UNABLE to understand it because they can only obtain information through their five senses. They are UNABLE to understand Spiritual things.
"And they preached the GOSPEL" boldly!
The word "gospel" means GOOD NEWS! Is it "Good News" that God will save only a small minority of all those who have ever lived on the earth, maybe 20% or so, and the rest will be doomed to burning forever - or a period of time, (i.e. "as long as they deserve") or they will be permanently annihilated or permanently separated from God in some, as yet unknown, manner?
Saving 20% and destroying 80%! That is NOT Good News no matter how you look at it!
The "Good News" shown throughout the entire Bible is that God is going to save EVERYONE! He's not going to destroy ANYONE by burning or permanent annihilation. Of course, He won't save anyone IN their sins, only FROM their sins.
Look at these examples in the Old Testament.
1) The lamb was brought to the sanctuary by the Israelite. The Israelite symbolically transferred his own sin to the lamb by placing his hands on the lamb.
2) Then the lamb was burned up - NOT the Israelite, showing us that it was the sin that was burned up, NOT the sinner!
This clearly shows us that the "sin" will be burned out of our lives by "fiery trials", we will be "gold tried in the fire." The sinner will NOT be burned up.
3) When Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were thrown into the fiery furnace, what was burned up? Certainly NOT them! It was their bonds that were burned off, the ropes that held them in bondage. The ropes represented the bondage of sin. These were burned off, but the three young men were not touched with the fire. In addition, a fourth person was in the fire with them, "One like the Son of Men" - Jesus.
This episode of the three young men in the fiery furnace is the Old Testament "Physical" representation of the New Testament "Spiritual" application of the Third Angel's Message in Rev. 14:9-12.
Verse 10: Those who take the Mark of the Beast "shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb."
The Greek word for brimstone is theion, which means divine. It comes from the root word Theios which means divinty or the Godhead.
This torment with fire and brimstone occurs "in the presence of the Lamb" meaning that Jesus promises to go through the fire with us, just as He did with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. That is truly Good News! Only this time the fire symbolizes the "fiery trials" that the New Testament speaks about, not literal fire.
If you think it is a "stretch" to interpret this "fire" of Rev 14:10 as the "fiery trials" of purification form sin, then you must explain why the "fire" must be interpreted literally when all the rest of the passage is interpreted symbolically, such as: beast, image, mark, forehead, hand, drinking wrath, pouring indignation into a cup.
ALL of these terms are interpreted symbolically, NOT literally. Then WHY would anyone just pick ONE term from that passage, the term "fire and brimstone" and interpret that literally?
Also remember the rule of "firsts" and "seconds", the first being physical and the second being spiritual. (1 Cor 15:44-49) The wicked cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed by literal fire and brimstone. The wicked resurrected in the second resurrection will be spiritually "destroyed" by having the sin purified out of them by going through "fiery trials" - reaping what they have sown.
Other New Testament texts that reveal that God is going to save EVERYONE!
1) How long did the shepherd search for the sheep? (Luke 15:4) Answer: Until he found it. There was NO cutoff time. (text) Note also that at the time he went looking for the sheep, ALL the rest were ALREADY in the fold. Only ONE was missing, and he searched until he found THAT LAST ONE!
2) How long did the woman search for the coin? (Luke 15:8) UNTIL SHE FOUND IT! Again there was NO cutoff time.
3) Jesus said He came to "seek and to save that which was lost." (Luke 19:10) EVERYONE has been "lost" at one time or another. So that means Jesus will save EVERYONE!
For many more texts showing that God will save everyone, see the study entitled "What Happens At The Judgment" at www.goodnewsaboutgod.com
In Conclusion:
The Latter Rain has the following five characteristics:
1) There will be many healings from advanced life-threatening diseases, but they will not be instantaneous, miraculous healings. They will NOT be "Quick-Fix" healings. Miraculous healings do NOT change the heart.
Before Jesus healed the paralyzed man whose friends let him down through the roof, Jesus said, "Your sins be forgiven you." (Mark 2:5) That was the PRELUDE to the man being healed. Forgiveness of his own sins was necessary before his healing could take place.
Notice that Jesus did NOT say that the man was sick because he lived in a sinful world. No, Jesus said, "YOUR sins be forgiven YOU!"
Christians often say that sickness is the inevitable result of living in a sinful world, and that it really has nothing to do with how we specifically live our own lives. They believe that diseases just happen! But they DON'T just happen. Disease is the inevitable result of that individual violating God's ten natural laws of health. Disease, in virtually ALL instances, is a result of our OWN sin. It occurs because we refuse to give up our right to ourselves and we insist on making our own decisions, instead of giving EVERY decision over to the Lord and following HIS directions rather than our own.
Psalm 103:3 reveals the SAME sequence: "He forgives ALL our sins, and (THEN) heals ALL our diseases." The repentance FOR, and forgiveness OF, sins is absolutely necessary before complete healing can occur!
The healings will be the result of true repentance of sins, a change in the heart, and a desire to do God's will by following His Health Plan followed by slow, progressive healing of the physical disease.
This process will NOT be perceptible to the five senses, nor will it be understood by those who are not spiritual. It will not be perceptible nor understood by doctors, scientists, philosophers, scholars, including most Bible scholars, nor will it be understood by the vast majority of ministers and religious leaders. In fact, they will deny that it can happen, and will even attack those who get well by that method.
Remember that the Pharisees, the religious leaders of the "Chosen people", wanted to kill Lazarus because He exhibited what Christ could do. (John 12:10)
Miraculous healings don't change lives. Look at the story of Jesus healing the Ten Lepers. Only ONE came back to thank Jesus. Obviously the hearts of the other nine were not changed.
In addition, miraculous healings do not bring about a change in diet and lifestyle so the body and mind can repair themselves. Miraculous healings allow the person to eat and live as they did before, so they will just get sick again.
2) The TRUE GOSPEL will be preached. The GOSPEL means "Good News." The knowledge that God is going to save EVERYONE is truly Good News! It is the Gospel of Universal Restoration! God loves EVERYONE the same. He has no favorites that He prefers above others.
3) The Gospel will be preached BOLDLY! Those who know this Good News will share it with everyone who will listen. They will not keep silent in proclaiming the wonderful character of God, and they will preach this Gospel WITHOUT fear!
Look at the difference between Peter's behavior towards the Pharisees BEFORE and AFTER the Day of Pentecost.
BEFORE Jesus was crucified, Peter denied Jesus three times, then later hid in the Upper Room "for fear of the Jews."
AFTER the Day of Pentecost, Peter had NO fear of the Pharisees. Even though they beat him and put him in prison, he went right back to the synagogue boldly preaching the Good News!
4) The Latter Rain will fall ONLY on those OUTSIDE the organized church, NOT those INSIDE the organized church.
5) The Latter Rain will fall on those who are NOT ONLY OUTSIDE the organized church, but it will fall on those who are being PERSECUTED by THAT VERY SAME CHURCH!
The Latter Rain will be silent, hidden and undetected by the vast majority of Christians who will be looking for a repeat of the Day of Pentecost with visible miracles and other obvious manifestations. The Latter Rain will ONLY be received and recognized by those who are spending daily time with the Lord in DILIGENT Bible study and prayer and who understand the spiritual nature of the Latter Rain.
Is the Health Message the “Right Arm” of the Gospel?
Some Christians believe that the Health Message is the “Right Arm” of the Gospel. By this, they mean that it can be used as an evangelistic “tool” – as an “opening wedge” – to attract the attention of the unbeliever who, as he or she develops an illness or is just in poor health, will be interested. Once the person is attracted by the Health Message, then the Christian can witness to the Unbeliever about the Gospel.
But this is all wrong.
In truth, the Health Message IS the Gospel – the FULL Gospel. Jesus said so, Himself. When Jesus performed physical healings, such as the man with the withered hand – and even resurrections from the dead - such as Jairus’ daughter, He used the Greek word sozo, which means, “to make whole.”
Jesus also used the same word, sozo, when he spoke of salvation, because the word means, “to make whole.” Jesus is making clear to us that when the “heart” is right, when we have given up our right to ourself and have given it over to God,
when we have had a CHANGE of heart, when our heart is one with God, THEN we will want to follow GOD’S way of fulfilling HIS PROMISE of healing. We will follow GOD’S PROCESS – His Natural Ten Step Health Plan - and we will abandon completely and permanently, any way that is devised by man – by doctors!
We will trust ONLY the Great Physician, Jesus Christ, who CREATED us, and wants to Re-Create us into His image – into a New Creation in Christ.
Sozo Means – Healed AND Saved!
The word sozo in the Greek was used by Jesus for both physical healing and spiritual salvation. The Lord is sending us a very clear message: When the heart is right - - THEN healing will occur. Disease begins in the heart – in the attitudes and in the disposition. Since that’s where disease begins, that is where it must first be addressed. God does not look on the outward appearance. He looks at the heart. Doctors cannot look there, they cannot heal the spiritual nature, and that is why they cannot heal disease!
SOZO: Strong’s Concordance, #4982
HEALED:
Mark 5:23: And besought Him greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray Thee, come and lay Thy hands on her, that she may be healed (sozo), and she shall live.
Luke 8:26: They also which saw it told them by what means he that was possessed of the devils was healed (sozo).
Acts 14:9: The same heard Paul speak, who steadfastly behold him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed (sozo).
SAVE (36 entries)
Matt. 1:21: And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call His name JESUS: for He shall save (sozo) His people from their sins.
Matt 18:11: For the Son of man is come to save (sozo) that which was lost.
Luke 9:56: For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save (sozo) them.
Luke 19:10: For the Son of man is come to seek and to save (sozo) that which was lost.
John 12:47: And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I cam not to judge the world, but to save (sozo) the world.
Romans 10:9 (The text at hand.) That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved (sozo).
1 Tim 1:15: This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save (sozo) sinners, of whom I am chief.
Heb 7:25: Wherefore He is able also to save (sozo) them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them.
James 2:14: What does it profit, my brethren, though a man say he has faith, and has not works? Can faith save (sozo) him?
James 4:12: There is one lawgiver, who is able to save (sozo) and to destroy; who art thou that judgest another?
James 5:15: And the prayer of faith shall save (sozo) the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he has committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
SAVED
(57 entries, all but 4 of them are “SOZO”)Matt 10:22: And you shall be hated of all men for My name’s sake; but he that endureth to the end shall be saved (sozo).
John 3:17: For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved (sozo).
Acts 2:21: And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved (sozo).
Acts 4:12: Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved (sozo).
Romans 10:13: For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved (sozo).
Eph 2:5: Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, by grace ye are saved (sozo).
Eph 2:8: For by grace are ye saved (sozo) through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.
1 Timothy 2:4: Who will have ALL mankind to be saved (sozo), and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
1 Peter 4:17,18: For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved (sozo), where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?
Revelation 21:24: And the nations of them that are saved (sozo) shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.
WHOLE
(In the New Testament, 90 entries: 11 entries are #4982 – sozo)
Matt 9:21,22; Mark 5:28, 34; Luke 8:48,50 the woman who had an issue of blood for twelve years, and merely touched the hem of Christ’s garment was told her faith had made her whole (sozo).
Mark 6:56: And whithersoever He entered, into villages, or cities, or country, they laid the sick in the streets, and besought Him that they might touch if it were but the border of His garment: and as many as touched Him were made whole (sozo).
Mark 10:46-52 In Jericho, Jesus healed the Blind man Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, and said, “Go your way; your faith has made you whole (sozo). And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.
Luke 17:12-19: Ten lepers came to Jesus, asking for healing. Jesus healed them all, but only one returned to thank Him. Jesus said to him, Arise, go your way; your faith has made you whole (sozo).
THE OLD TESTAMENT
In the Old Testament, HEAL (in all 21 entries, HEALED and HEALETH are #7495 – the Hebrew equivalent of sozo in the Greek?
HEAL
Hosea 14;4: I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him.
Jer 30:17: For I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith the Lord; because they called thee an outcast, saying, This is Zion, whom no man seeketh after.
HEALED
2 Kings 2:21,22: And he went forth unto the spring of the waters, and cast the salt in there, and said, Thus saith the Lord, I have healed these waters; there shall not be from thence any more death or barren land. So the waters were healed unto this day, according to the saying of Elisha which he spake.
HEALETH
Psalm 103:3: Who forgives all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases.
Is there ANY use for present-day doctors?
There are three different categories of medical problems: 1) Trauma,
2) Congenital Deformities, and 3) Disease.
God’s Promise is to “Heal ALL our DISEASES.” Psalm 103:3. The text says nothing about Trauma or Congenital deformities.
Trauma means “injury” such as when one breaks a leg, or is in a motor vehicle accident, or is the victim of a gunshot wound. Jesus had Trauma. He was beaten before He was crucified and He was injured when a crown of thorns was placed on His head. This is NOT “Disease.”
Trauma is NOT caused by the way one eats, lives, and handles stress. Trauma needs to be treated and repaired surgically by a Trauma Surgeon.
Congenital Deformities or Congenital Anomalies are in the category of Birth Defects. A child may be born with a cleft palate, or an extra digit, or a club foot, or some other anomaly. These are NOT caused by the way the child has been living, eating, and handling stress – although, in certain instances, it MAY have been caused by the way the mother was eating, living, and handling stress while she was pregnant.
This is NOT “Disease.” Congenital Deformities need to be surgically corrected by an appropriately trained Surgeon.
Diseases ARE CAUSED by the way we live, eat, and handle stress. In order to get well, we must CHANGE the way we live, eat and handle stress. We must follow GOD’S way, and NOT the ways of “man” – the ways of doctors! (For more information, see www.drday.com)
Doctors learn only TWO methods of treatment: 1) Give DRUGS, to cover up the symptoms by Poisoning or Burning the patient, or 2) Take out – or cut off – the “problem” organ by mutilating surgery.
Drugs never solve the underlying problem. They only “treat” symptoms, and they ALL have side effects. Drugs only change the form or location of the disease, they NEVER cure the disease. That is why, in many instances, the doctor will tell you that you have to be ON the drugs for the rest of your life.
God tells us in Revelation 18:23 that He abhors the use of drugs, because when a person is sick, and has symptoms, it is supposed to be a Red Flag warning to Turn to the Lord for the answers. Something is wrong with the life of the person who is sick, and ONLY the Lord’s Plan can make the person well.
Only GOD can show us how to live, how to eat, how to think and act, and how to handle stress. “Man’s” ways – the ways of “science and medicine” NEVER work in the long run. They may make a person FEEL better temporarily, they may temporarily appear to “shrink” a tumor, but they NEVER work to REVERSE the underlying disease, because NO doctor can address the problem of the “heart.”
THAT is God’s domain. Only God can reach down into your heart, and open up for you the things you need to CHANGE in your life, who you need to forgive, how to love your enemies, how to get the selfishness out of your life. THAT is where DISEASES begin, and NO doctor can touch that area.
God did not give us an extra supply of organs. And organ donations are certainly NOT God’s way.
God tells us that those who give out Drug Medications are an “Abomination to the Lord” and that the WHOLE WORLD will be DECEIVED by their “sorceries.”
“. . . for by thy (the Beast power’s) sorceries were ALL NATIONS deceived.” Revelation 18:23
The word “sorceries” in this text, is the word pharmakeia in the Greek – pharmacy - DRUGS - in English.
The WHOLE WORLD will be deceived by the DRUG medications prescribed by doctors. God defines them as Sorceries and Witchcraft. Because Drug medications are essentially the same as street drugs. They are given to make a patient FEEL better, or to make the lab test numbers LOOK better, but they are only a temporary “Quick Fix.” They NEVER solve the underlying problem, - the actual CAUSE of the disease, which always begins in the “heart” because we want to live, eat, and handle stress OUR way, rather than GOD’S way.
The English words sorceries and witchcraft are the numbers 3784 and 3785 in Strong’s concordance. These words are found in: Exodus 7:11, 2 Kings 9:22,2 Chronicles 33:6Jeremiah 27:9, Daniel 2:2, Malachi 3:5, Isaiah 47:9,12, Micah 5:12, Nahum 3:4.
The equivalent words in the Greek – sorceries, and witchcraft – are numbers 5331 and 5332 in Strong’s Concordance, as found in Galatians 5:20, Revelation 9:21; 18:23; 21:8; 22:15.
That Greek word is pharmakeia, or pharmacy – drug medications – Sorceries and witchcraft, according to the Bible.
The Bible terms drug medications, prescribed by doctors, as Sorceries and Witchcraft – because disease is a Spiritual problem. It begins in the “heart” – in the attitudes and disposition because we want to live, eat and handle stress our OWN way, rather than learning to trust God.
So ANYTHING – including doctor-prescribed drug medications – that pulls us away from God and HIS wisdom - and towards the world and so-called “worldly wisdom” is anti-Christ. God says, “The wisdom of man is foolishness with God.”
Those who prescribe drug medications – doctors, pharmacologists, and pharmacists, are termed witches and sorcerers and poisoners (pharmakos) in the Bible. God is so much against drug medications, because they lead people away from Him, that in the Old Testament, God told Israel:
“Thou shalt not suffer a witch (#3784) to live.” Exodus 22:18 (According to the Bible, a witch is one who dispenses drug medications.)
“There shall not be found among you anyone that makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, or that uses divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch (#3784),
“Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer
“For all that do these things are an abomination unto the Lord.” Deuteronomy 18:10-12
It is not surprising to see that the Greek root “Phar. . .” is in all of the following words that are associated with the enemies of God and Christ:
Strong’s Concordance number:
#5328 – Pharoah – enslaved and tried to destroy the Israelites, the followers of God.
#5329 – Pharisees – those who murdered Christ
#5331 – Pharmakeia – drug medications – sorceries, also often kill those who
take them
#5332 – Pharmakeus – one who drugs or poisons people – druggist (and
physicians who give out drugs. Actual definition – poisoner or sorcerer
– one who poisons or kills.
#5333 – Pharmakos – the same as #5332
“By their sorceries (#5332 – drug medications) were ALL nations deceived.” Revelation 18:23
These five Greek words, all beginning with “Phar”, define those who, 1) have tried to enslave and destroy the followers of God, and 2) those who murdered Christ, and 3) those who are attempting to annihilate the rest of the population of the world with drug medications.
God states anyone who gives out Drug Medications (defined as witchcraft in the Bible), should NEVER be allowed to be a part of God’s people. In today’s era, that would mean doctors, pharmacists, nurses, and anyone else who prescribes or administers Drugs.
Witch houses and Drug stores
In the guide book “Visitor’s Guide to Salem, Massachusetts”, written in 1895 about the town where the famous Witch Trials took place, the following quote appears on page 6:
“If a stranger inquires for a “Witch house” he will be directed to a dark scowling building which is set back far enough from the sidewalk for a drug store to stand in front of it.” (Published by Essex Institute, Salem, Mass.,1895)
Witchcraft and Drugs have been associated with each other in America for over a hundred years, and they have been associated in the Bible for thousands of years!
How long have DRUGS been around?
The origin of modern Drug medicine (“Quick Fix” medicine) in “treating” disease is considered to have begun in the 1930’s and 1940’s with the discovery of the first antibiotic, Penicillin, by Sir Alexander Fleming in 1928. Subsequently, the Drug industry exploded, and today there are more drugs (ALL of which are harmful) than one can count.
But as long ago as the 17th century, the phrase patent medicine was known, and referred to the marketing of medical elixirs. The “medicines” were not really patented but if a particular product found favor with royalty, a letter patent authorizing the use of the royal endorsement in advertising, was issued.
The name stuck until well after the American Revolution made these endorsements by the crowned heads of Europe obsolete. As noted, few if any of the nostrums were actually patented, as chemical patents came into use in the USA in 1925. And in any case, attempting to monopolize a drug, medical device, or medical procedure was considered unethical by the standards upheld during the era of patent medicine. Furthermore, patenting one of these remedies would have meant publicly disclosing its ingredients, which most promoters wanted to avoid.
Within the English-speaking world, patent medicines are as old as journalism. The use of letters of patent to obtain exclusive marketing rights to certain labeled formulas and their marketing fueled the circulation of early newspapers.
Please note, nothing has changed!
A number of American institutions owe their existence to the patent medicine industry, most notably a number of the older almanacs, which were originally given away as promotional items by patent medicine manufacturers.
Many patent medicines contained herbs, or were composed of Native American recipes, and others invoked the power of electromagnetism to heal ailments. Toward the end of the period, a number of radioactive medicines, containing uranium or radium, (Radiation) were marketed. These apparently actually contained the ingredients promised, and there were a number of tragedies among their devotees: most notoriously, steel heir Eben McBurney Byers was a supporter of the popular radium water “Radithor”. He contracted fatal radium poisoning and had to have his jaw removed in an unsuccessful attempt to save him from bone cancer after drinking the “radium water.” (Cancer is CAUSED by radiation!) Water irradiators were sold that promised to infuse water placed within them with radon, which was thought to be healthy at the time.
Those who, even today, believe that Doctors and Scientists know what they are doing when it comes to treating disease, need only to look back at the last couple of paragraphs. All doctors admit that Radiation CAUSES cancer. Yet, when a patient already HAS Cancer, the doctors give that patient Radiation – a “treatment” that CAUSES Cancer!
This is outrageously stupid on the part of “modern” medicine and the doctors who practice it!
When journalists and physicians began focusing on the narcotic contents of the patent medicines, some of their makers began substituting acetanilide, a particularly toxic non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, discovered in 1886, for the laudanum they used to contain. This ingredient change probably killed more of the nostrum’s users than the narcotics did, since the acetanilide was toxic to the liver and kidneys. This compound has largely been replaced by the use of the supposedly less toxic acetaminophen, a drug that is in the same category.
Those who sold or prescribed acetanilide-containing medicines in the 1800’s are now referred to as “Quacks.” However, acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol (a truly “Patented” medicine), considered by the U.S. government and the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) as a generally safe and effective pain reliever, is responsible for 56,000 injuries, 25,000 hospitalizations, and 450 deaths every year.
The use of acetaminophen for a period of more than 10 days has been shown to cause risk of severe liver damage, according to the FDA’s own advisory panel. The U.S. Acute Liver Failure Study Group found that acetaminophen poisoning is the leading cause of liver failure in the nation. Some of these instances of liver failure occur even when following the dosage recommendations printed on the bottle.
The risk of liver failure is dramatically increased if a person is taking more than one acetaminophen-containing drug at a time, and there are more than 200 over the counter products that contain acetaminophen, including medicines for pain, fever, colds, and coughs.
So WHO are the present-day “Snake Oil Salesmen”?
The present day doctors and pharmacists prescribe and sell drugs that are just as harmful, or even more so, than the supposed “Snake Oil Salesmen” of a hundred years ago.
What is the difference? The only difference is whether Organized Medicine endorses them. If a medicine is not controlled by the pharmaceutical companies or by Organized Medicine, it, by (their) definition, is “Quackery” because it will cut into the profits of those two groups.
If they cannot control it, they will brand it “Quackery”!
Patent medicines were supposedly able to cure just about everything. Nostrums were openly sold that claimed to cure or prevent venereal diseases, tuberculosis, and cancer. Clark Stanley the “Rattlesnake King” produced Stanley’s snake oil, publicly processing rattlesnakes at the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago. His liniment, when seized and tested by the federal government in 1917, was found to contain mineral oil, 1% fatty oil, red pepper, turpentine and camphor, similar to today’s capsaicin and camphor liniments.
Thus, the term “Snake Oil salesman” was born.
Who are the REAL “Quacks”?
In the late 19th century, a chemical compound named Calomel was frequently prescribed by orthodox physicians as a “tonic” – taken internally - to make one “healthy and energetic.” Calomel is Mercury chloride, a highly toxic compound. All mercury-containing compounds are toxic to the body.
George Washington may have died prematurely at the age of 67 because his physicians treated a respiratory illness with bloodletting and calomel. (Vadakan, M.D. V.V., (Winter/Spring 2005) “A Physician Looks at the Death of Washington.” Early America Review, Archiving Early America.
My paternal grandfather died in 1923 from bone cancer, his body wracked with pain caused by the horrifically toxic, mercury-containing Calomel “tonic” prescribed for him repeatedly by his physician. He died at the age of 38 leaving a young widow and six children, the oldest (my father) was 16, and the youngest was 3 years old.
My father told me many times how he would visit his father in the hospital as he lay dying as a result of the doctor-prescribed death potion, and how, as he walked down the hospital corridor towards his father’s room, he could hear him screaming in pain every time he moved the slightest amount in his bed.
Present-day doctors shake their heads about these supposedly “unintelligent” occurrences by doctors a hundred years ago. They think that today’s science has advanced remarkably. But they are doing the same stupid things today. They give numerous mercury-containing vaccinations to tiny babies and young children and claim that they are good for them, even though they cause autism and other types of brain damage, dentists put mercury-containing amalgam fillings in everyone’s teeth and claim they are harmless in one’s mouth, even though the government demands that the material must be treated as highly toxic “hazardous waste” when the filling is removed from the patient’s mouth, and is in the dentist’s hand.
In 1943, my maternal grandmother was sent to her death by doctors who gave her the poisonous chemotherapy treatments for her cancer, by the “world-renown experts” at Memorial Hospital in New York (now known as the “famous” Memorial-Sloan Kettering Hospital). They continued the “treatments” as she became weaker and weaker, until she and my grandfather (a well-to-do dentist) were broke from the costs. Then they referred her to Kings’ County Hospital for the indigents, to continue the horribly painful and life-destroying chemotherapy and radiation – until they finally were successful in killing her.
So, again, just WHO are the “Snake Oil Salesmen”?
More “Brilliance” in Orthodox Medicine
While working at the Vienna General Hospital in Austria, Ignaz Philipp Semmelweis discovered in 1847 that the incidence of puerperal fever, also known as childbed fever could be drastically reduced by the use of hand washing standards. Up until that time, doctors delivered babies with their bare unwashed hands, having no idea that cleanliness was important to decrease disease. Without the use of hand washing, 5-30 percent of mothers died after giving birth. After the institution of hand washing, that figure was reduced to 1-2 percent.
At that time, diseases were attributed to many different and unrelated causes. Each case was considered unique, but Semmelweis’ hypothesis was that there was only one cause – all that mattered was cleanliness. This was an extreme assumption at the time, and was largely ignored, rejected and ridiculed. Even though his patients’ survival was vastly increased over all the other doctors in the hospital, he was dismissed from the hospital and had difficulty finding employment as a medical doctor.
Semmelweis was outraged by the indifference of the medical profession and began writing open and increasingly angry letters to prominent European obstetricians, at times denouncing them as irresponsible murderers. His contemporaries, including his wife, believed he was losing his mind and he was in 1865 committed to an insane asylum. Semmelweis died there only 14 days later, possibly after being severely beaten by guards.
Semmelweis’ practice only earned widespread acceptance years after his death. He is now, 150 years later, considered a pioneer of antiseptic procedures.
Nothing has changed!
Nothing has changed in modern medicine. Those who do not conform to the corporately-endorsed medical norms of orthodox medicine, even if their modalities of treatment can be proven to be far superior to the establishment’s ways, are ignored, rejected and ridiculed – and their license to practice is often revoked. That is the power of Organized Medicine. Its power – and its practices - approach that of the Mafia!
Do it OUR way, or WE will destroy you!
It is just as true today as it was 150 years ago – a physician is not allowed to vary from the establishment in the treatment of any disease, even if he or she can prove it to be superior. Yet that archaic, contemptible, and stifling attitude is described by those who have it, as “progressive” and “scientific.”
God help us all!
Drugs NEVER Cure Disease
But Drugs NEVER Cure Disease and Diseases DON’T Just Happen. We GIVE them to ourselves by the way we live, eat, and handle stress. This is Satan’s way to take us down. God says to us, “Turn to Me. I want to CHANGE your life in every way.”
But Satan whispers in our ear, “You don’t need to change anything. You can keep living, eating, acting, thinking, and handling stress the way you always have. Here, take a PILL. It will make you FEEL better.” And that it will, but your disease will continue to progress, and will eventually kill you.
That is why doctors Never Have, and Never Will, find a Cure for ANY disease, because they only “treat” symptoms – with innately harmful and poisonous drugs, or by burning radiation, or by cutting out organs, none of which can CURE anything.
And organ donations are NOT the answer, because in order to receive an organ donation, the physician will have to DESTROY what is left of your immune system by giving you POISON – chemotherapy – that, in this instance, they call “Immunosuppressive therapy.” But the drugs used are the identical drugs that are used for “chemotherapy” when you have cancer.
And please notice that they term it a “therapy” when they are DESTROYING the ONLY system in your body that can get you well.
And an organ recipient must stay on these drugs – ALL of which will eventually CAUSE cancer – permanently, or they may reject their donated organ.
That is why it is obvious that God does NOT approve of organ donations. God has given us the way to GET WELL – by HIS Natural Ten Step Plan. He does not want us to have our organs removed. He has given us the way to get our sick organs well. All we have to do is REBUILD our immune system by following GOD’S way.
But How About Alternative – “Holistic” – Doctors?
Many people are realizing that Orthodox Doctors and their use of Drug Medicine do NOT cure disease. On the contrary, they often result in severe pain for the patient, and major damage to the patient’s body. Because of this, many are turning to Alternative therapies and “Holistic” doctors who rarely, if ever, use Drug “medicines.”
Aren’t they the answer to this dilemma?
“Holistic” doctors claim to treat the mind, body, and “spirit.” That certainly sounds good. But what do they mean by that?
They believe that the way a person eats is important – and they are right, but the “diet” they promote is NOT God’s Ideal Diet. In fact, the vast majority of these Alternative, “holistic” practitioners don’t even believe in God. The majority of them don’t believe in God at all, and if they do, it’s a New Age god of Eastern Medicine – a combination of Hinduisum/Budhism/New Ageism. They promote yoga, Eastern meditation – a dangerous emptying of the mind, a “spirit force” that is NOT the God of the Bible. And it is the antithesis of Jesus Christ.
When one develops a disease and experiences symptoms, those are blessings from God and should be recognized as such. They should be generate huge RED FLAG WARNING to you that something is wrong in your life, and that you should turn to the Lord, and that you should follow HIS ways and His ways only – NOT the ways of “man” – whether they are orthodox doctors or alternative practitioners.
Orthodox doctors will prescribe harmful DRUGS to cover up your symptoms or mutilating SURGERY to cut off your body parts or cut out your organs, “therapies” that will NEVER address the root cause of your problem. They will o turn you AWAY from the Lord, from learning what you really need to do to get well. Everything they promote will seduce you AWAY from changing your life – from changing your habits – from learning to know God and HIS ways.
But Alternative doctors will do the same thing, even though what they promote may be less expensive and less damaging to your body. They will prescribe bushel baskets full of man-made vitamins, minerals, and other types of supplements, and machines, devices and black boxes that they claim will measure intermediate end-points, such as pH, and they will try to manipulate those parameters artificially.
But what they are doing is still directing you AWAY from turning to God and HIS ways – AWAY from learning GOD’S totally Natural Health Plan. They, too, are only treating symptoms, rather than the “heart” – the root cause of the problem. They are incapable of treating the “heart” - because that is God’s domain.
So, whether the doctor uses orthodox therapies or alternative therapies, they are treating you in “man’s” way – NOT God’s way. They offer you a “Quick Fix” – a way to feel better fast without having to change your lifestyle, your habits, and your way of handling stress – a way to feel better fast without having to learn to know God, up close and personal.
God wants you to get to know Him – that is the whole purpose of life. God wants to straighten out everything in your life, so you will be healed (sozo) spiritually first – HIS way – and then, when you follow His Health Plan – and HIS Health Plan only, with 100% commitment – you will be healed (sozo) physically as well.
God’s Way is the ONLY Way
We are on this earth for one reason only – to learn to Know God and to learn to Trust Him – for everything, including our health, our life, and the lives of our family. That’s why Disease is such a blessing. It is meant to show us that we are incapable of running our own life, to make us realize our need for God to run every aspect of our life, to turn us to God to learn HIS ways, to teach us that God’s ways are true and right and that man’s ways, including the ways of the doctors, can never solve the problems of humanity.
“There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof is death.” Proverbs 14:12
God says to us, “Turn to Me and LIVE!”
“And the LORD thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live.” Deuteronomy 30:6
“In that I command thee this day to love the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply: and the LORD thy God shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it.” Deuteronomy 30:16
“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:” Deuteronomy 30:19
God’s way to physical and spiritual health has been around for 6,000 years. It is available to everyone on the face of the earth, rich or poor, educated or uneducated. It consists ONLY of the things that God has made, in the exact form that God has made them. It has NO harmful side effects and it is virtually FREE. And it will make you completely WELL. God GUARANTEES it!
Man’s ways (the ways of “modern” medicine) have only been available for the last 70 years, or so. They do terrible harm to the body God has given you, they are excruciatingly painful in most instances, and they are exorbitantly expensive. And they will NEVER make you well, they will only make you worse – much worse – in the long term, and NO doctor will ever guarantee that their “therapies” will make you completely well.
So why do the vast majority of people – including “Christians – choose MAN’S way over God’s way? Because they do NOT trust in God. They trust in “man” – they trust in “science” – instead of trusting in God and His Word.
But the Bible tells us, “We Ought to Obey GOD – rather than man.” Acts 5:29 We ought to Obey GOD – rather than Doctors – and science (which is constantly changing) – and medicine (which is in total darkness) – and DRUGS (that cannot cure ANY disease)!
God has promised – “I am the Lord who HEALS YOU!” Exodus 15:26
God has promised to “heal ALL our Diseases.” (Psalm 103:3) And He doesn’t need any help from “modern” medicine, drugs, or the doctors who use them. In fact, God refers to all of them as an “abomination.”
God needs NO help from “man” when it comes to healing disease!
The Greek word meaning both Saved and Healed is sozo. God tells us that when our heart is truly and permanently changed so we want to follow Jesus and HIS ways, instead of following the world’s way – the way of the worldly “experts” (doctors, ministers, government leaders) - when we truly receive salvation, THEN our physical healing will begin.
Choosing your treatment is a matter of allegiance, “Will you serve God, or will you serve man (doctors)?”
God instructs us to, “Turn to Me and be Saved/Healed.” Isaiah 45:22
Turn to God – and Choose Life!