By Tom Dill – Associate Pastor
Amid the health concerns in the world today, we who believe that the Word of God (in writing, the Bible) is truth need to keep our thoughts and words in alignment with Scripture.
Do we believe that the Word of God is reality for us? Or is it just a collection of positive words? Do we depend solely on our workouts and diet to maintain health, or do we depend on the power of the living Word of God and the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ?
A good diet and physical activity do benefit the physical body. But do those things have as much power as the Word in the believing heart and on the lips of a person of faith?
“…for bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.” 1 Timothy 4:8 NKJV
“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged 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.” Hebrews 4:12 KJV
No natural action or activity can claim to be sharper than that!
Many times, we can be tempted to look past scriptures, mostly because we have thought we already know what it says. Sometimes we know a promise of God, but is it in our hearts resulting in faith or is it just in our heads?
Faith for salvation is highlighted in Romans:
“The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach [emphasis mine].” Romans 10:8 KJV
There are many variables which are not in our control. Jesus asked, “can you add a cubit?” I wanted to be 6’-2:” tall, dark and handsome. I’m 5’-8” and bald!
A Healing Effect
But, I must believe and confess that I am what God needs me to be. My faith must not be in what I see in the mirror, but what it says in Scripture.
Jesus said to his disciples:
“It is the spirit that quickeneth: the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” John 6:63 KJV
In the Psalms, God through David wrote:
“He sent his word and healed them and delivered them from their destructions.” Psalm 107:20 KJV
His word still heals and delivers. And consider that Jesus is the Word in the flesh!
Proverbs has many verses that show how the Word of God in our hearts and on our lips has a supernatural effect on our bodies and minds.
“My son forget not my law, but let thine heart keep my commandments. For length of days and long life and peace, shall they add to thee.
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil. It shall be health to thy navel and marrow to thy bones.” Proverbs 3:1,2; 5-8 KJV
A Holy Direction
The Lord will direct our paths. By the holy spirit, God can also give us practical direction in our physical world that encourages and maintains our good health and gives us peace.
“My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes: keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them and health to all their flesh.” Proverbs 4:20-22 KJV
Can we come up with a better remedy than the words of the Lord?
In the next two verses, we see that the words we hear have an effect on our bodies and souls. These can be words in a conversation, on television, or through other social media.
“There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword, but the tongue of the wise is health.” Proverbs 12:18 KJV
“Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul and health to the bones.” Proverbs 16:24 KJV
The Best of All
And now, the best gift that God gave to us for the healing of our whole being…
“Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop or your souls.” 1 Peter 2:24,25 KJV
We must be diligent so that when we don’t see the results we desire, we don’t seek another avenue, as did Abraham with Hagar. That only results in a work of the flesh.
Our hearts must be fixed, trusting in him. When Jesus walked the earth, he went about healing the people.
“Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.” Matthew 9:35 NKJV (see also Matthew 4:23-25)
Jesus is still the healer! Let’s encourage each other to trust in him.