Chronic Illness

[renee819]

As many times as I've read these scriptures, I just noticed something about them, I never saw before.

James 5:13 Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.
: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

.

“ Is any among you afflicted? let him pray”

I would think, this is a chronic illness, and it does not say that God will heal that. I don't believe that God healed Paul.
Of course the “Positive Confessors” will deny that Paul had an illness. But look at the word, affliction.

English Words used in KJV:
endure hardness 1
suffer trouble 1
endure affliction 1
be afflicted 1
[Total Count: 4]

from the same as <G2552> (kakopatheia); to undergo hardship :- be afflicted, endure afflictions (hardness), suffer trouble

.

2 Corinthians 12:9 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.

infirmitties----English Words used in KJV:
infirmity 17
weakness 5
disease 1
sickness 1
[Total Count: 24]
..
from <G772> (asthenes); feebleness (of body or mind); by implication malady; moral frailty :- disease, infirmity, sickness, weakness

Paul's “thorn in the flesh” was his “infirmity.”

So what are we supposed to do? This is kinda bad news for me. I've been pretty weak, this winter, but still felt like that God would heal me. But since my problem is chronic, God has not promised to heal. I know, 'by His stripes we are healed” but everyone is not healed.

Is there more insight that I have overlooked?

[mfblume]

I think God ordained that everyone be healed by the New Covenant blessings through the blood. But so many factors and variables may be hindering that, so it is not so simply explained why some are not healed.

[mfblume]

Also, I believe that God spoke to Paul about his infirmity in a way not easily recognized. I think he implied that Paul ought to rebuke the thing himself, instead of asking God to remove it. GRACE is divine empowerment. It reminds me of Jesus telling us to command the mountain to be removed and cast into the sea, instead of asking God to remove it. So many ask God to heal them, when they are supposed to command the sickness to go, themselves.

[Jermyn Davidson]

Originally Posted by mfblume

Also, I believe that God spoke to Paul about his infirmity in a way not easily recognized. I think he implied that Paul ought to rebuke the thing himself, instead of asking God to remove it. GRACE is divine empowerment. It reminds me of Jesus telling us to command the mountain to be removed and cast into the sea, instead of asking God to remove it. So many ask God to heal them, when they are supposed to command the sickness to go, themselves.

I never thought of this before, but it now gives validity to what I've witnessed from older people and from some of the over-zealous nutjob types.

"I rebuke this diabetes in the Name of Jesus!"
"I rebuke this sore throat in the Name of Jesus!"

Or even...

"I rebuked that cancer, that pain, etc. and in Jesus Name I can tell you it's gone!"

[Abiding Now]

Ooooops.....


Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all. (Psalms 34:19 KJV)

[Abiding Now]

And then there was.....


Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word. (Psalms 119:67 KJV)

[houston]

Paul's thorn was the messenger of Satan...

[houston]

Originally Posted by mfblume

Also, I believe that God spoke to Paul about his infirmity in a way not easily recognized. I think he implied that Paul ought to rebuke the thing himself, instead of asking God to remove it. GRACE is divine empowerment. It reminds me of Jesus telling us to command the mountain to be removed and cast into the sea, instead of asking God to remove it. So many ask God to heal them, when they are supposed to command the sickness to go, themselves.

very Word Of Faith of you

[renee819]

Originally Posted by Jermyn Davidson

I never thought of this before, but it now gives validity to what I've witnessed from older people and from some of the over-zealous nutjob types.

"I rebuke this diabetes in the Name of Jesus!"
"I rebuke this sore throat in the Name of Jesus!"

Or even...

"I rebuked that cancer, that pain, etc. and in Jesus Name I can tell you it's gone!"

Jermyn, I have always felt, that if they say, "It is gone." and it is not, they have just lied to the person or to themselves.

[renee819]

Originally Posted by houston

Paul's thorn was the messenger of Satan...

And Houston, what was the messenger of Satan? A demon?
Paul had authority over demons. He would have just cast it out. Or off of him.