| During the early 1990’s Jackie Perkins pastored Friendship Baptist Chapel in Eatonton, Georgia. I was having a health problem that caused me to seek God for a miraculous cure. I also wanted to be healed from my disability. Therefore, I did according to James 5:14 – 5:16 which reads “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; 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. Confess your faults one to another and pray one for another, that ye may be healed.” At that time I had faith that God would heal me and I think that faith was larger than the grain of mustard seed that Jesus spoke about. I was expecting a miraculous cure but it didn’t come. The specific health problem was healed through a physician a couple of years later. I think it was an answer to those prayers, but the paralysis is still with me. |
| I did the same thing a short while back asking Ron Watson, pastor of Morningside Baptist Church to do according to James 5:14 – 5:16. I was seeking healing from a recent diagnosed blood sugar problem and from the paralysis. I believe that God answered me through a new released song by Greg Long called “Sufficiency of Grace.” This song was written in reference to II Corinthians 12:7 – 12:9 which reads “And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the LORD thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, MY GRACE IS SUFFICIENT FOR THEE; FOR MY STRENGTH IS MADE PERFECT IN WEAKNESS. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” The Apostle Paul had sought the LORD for deliverance from this thorn in the flesh, from this infirmity, but God didn’t give him his request. I believe that Paul’s thorn in the flesh was an eye problem. Galatians 4:15 reads “Where is then the blessedness ye spake of? For I bear you record, that, if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and given them to me.” It seems to me that the Galatians Christians were aware of an eye problem that Paul had and perhaps even his desire for healing from it. They had once loved Paul so much that they would have given their own eyes to him, if it were possible to do so in order for him to be healed. But that was not possible. This scripture from Galatians gives strong evidence that Paul had an eye problem. Galatians 6:11 reads “Ye see how large a letter I have written unto you with mine own hand.” This verse and other verses from Paul’s writings lend further evidence that Paul had an eye problem that affected his writing. |
| I once had the faith necessary for supernatural healing. But when I sought that healing, I believe God answered me from the Apostle Paul’s experience, saying no that his grace is sufficient for me also. Because of this I don’t think it is God’s will and best that I be healed. I believe God can and will perform supernatural healing at times, but that is a rarity and not the norm. There are those who God will not heal and their bodily troubles are meant to accomplish things only God knows and understands. Paul is one example of this and another is found in the teachings of Jesus in Luke 16:19 – 16:26 that reads “THERE WAS A CERTAIN RICH MAN WHICH WAS CLOTHED IN PURPLE AND FINE LINEN, AND FARED SUMPTUOUSLY EVERY DAY: AND THERE WAS A CERTAIN BEGGAR NAMED LAZARUS, WHICH WAS LAID AT HIS GATE, FULL OF SORES, AND DESIRING TO BE FED WITH THE CRUMBS WHICH FELL FROM THE RICH MAN’S TABLE: MOREOVER THE DOGS CAME AND LICKED HIS SORES. AND IT CAME TO PASS THAT THE BEGGAR DIED, AND WAS CARRIED BY THE ANGELS INTO ABRAHAM’S BOSOM: THE RICH MAN ALSO DIED AND WAS BURIED; AND IN HELL HE LIFT UP HIS EYES, BEING IN TORMENTS, AND SEETH ABRAHAM AFAR OFF, AND LAZARUS IN HIS BOSOM. AND HE CRIED AND SAID, FATHER ABRAHAM, HAVE MERCY ON ME, AND SEND LAZARUS, THAT HE MAY DIP THE TIP OF HIS FINGER IN WATER, AND COOL MY TONGUE; FOR I AM TORMENTED IN THIS FLAME. BUT ABRAHAM SAID, SON, REMEMBER THAT THOU IN THY LIFETIME RECEIVEDST THY GOOD THINGS, AND LIKEWISE LAZARUS EVIL THINGS: BUT NOW HE IS COMFORTED, AND THOU ART TORMENTED. AND BESIDE ALL THIS, BETWEEN US AND YOU THERE IS A GREAT GULF FIXED: SO THAT THEY WHICH WOULD PASS FROM HENCE UNTO YOU CANNOT; NEITHER CAN THEY PASS TO US, THAT WOULD COME FROM THENCE.” I conclude that it is not God’s will to heal everyone. He is working in the life of some like Lazarus to prepare them for an eternity of good, wherein there is no more pain, suffering, tears, and such. Most people look at life from a view of the here and now, but I think God looks at life from an eternal perspective. It may be that people who are afflicted with evil things like paralysis and such are being prepared to receive their good in eternity. Christians need to be careful not to condemn the physically afflicted of having a faith problem that keeps them from being healed. |