Believer’s Rights & Privileges

... One of the foremost rights of a believer is divine health and long life. Divine health is a state of perfect health; life without sickness or disease. Sickness or disease was not part of God's original design and plan for Adam and his descendants. When Adam was created, there was not an iota of weakness or infirmity in him. The testimony of the Bible is that ‘everything God created (including Adam) was good. (Gen 1:31). Good means perfect without defects, without blemish, without weakness. Sickness is a child of its mother sin, and father Satan. Sin is the main cause of sickness or disease. And death comes from diseases. Satan is the author, manufacturer and distributor of sin. The Bible calls sin the works of Satan (1 John 3:8); unfruitful works of darkness (Eph. 5:11; Gal. 5:19-20). Adam was created with divine health - not to be sick, not to die. Sickness and death came into the world as a result of sin (Rom. 5:12). But quite early in His dealings with children of Israel, His servant, God made it absolutely clear He will not permit them to be afflicted with diseases. He made it known that divine health was His design and plan for them. But to enjoy this, they were to fulfill a condition, which is, to listen carefully to His voice; do what is right, and obey His commands and decrees. Exod. 15:26 26 and said, “If you diligently heed the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the Lord who heals you." 'I am the Lord who heals you' This was a solid, unbreakable, unbeatable assurance from God. They would enjoy divine health, if and only if, they would obey Him. This was to be a covenant blessing unto them - a reward of their obedience and love of their God and Maker.... New Covenant, Better Promises We have said so much about children of Israel, who were servants of God. What about the believers, who are the sons of God? The Bible confirms that believers have a better covenant through Jesus Christ (Heb. 7:22; 8:6). Divine health is the birthright of believers, and it is anchored on the new covenant, which was guaranteed by the blood of Jesus Christ. Some 500 years before the birth of Jesus, Isaiah prophesied of the arrival of this new covenant. Isa. 53:4-5 4 Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. Who is this, who was to bear our griefs and sorrows? Who is He, who was to be chastised for our peace? (This includes the peace of the body, which is healing). Who is He, whose stripes were to bring healing to the children of Jacob? It is Jesus Christ - the Savior of the world (Acts 8:26-35). Jesus is the personality to whom Isaiah's prophesy referred : the One who procured salvation, deliverance and healing for the children of Jacob. Matthew the evangelist confirmed this in the gospel. Matt. 8:17 17 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: "He Himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses." Jesus did not only work out our salvation when He went to the cross, He also carried our infirmities and bore our sicknesses. Isaiah's was a prophecy; Matthew's is a testimony of its fulfillment. That's why Jesus went about doing good, casting out demons and healing multitudes of diverse afflictions. Acts 10:38 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. Jesus also gave His disciples the power to heal (Luke 9:1; Matt. 10: 1); and power over the devil and demons (Luke 10:19). You cannot give or share what you don't have. The disciples through Christ received divine health, and then were empowered to heal the sick (Mk. 16:16-18). Divine healing is the right of believers. In His dialogue with a woman of Canaan, Jesus said to her, "it is not good to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs." (Matt. 15:26). The dogs refer to unbelievers, while children refer to believers. Jesus confirmed in the above Scripture that healing is the right of children of God (believers). God does not get glory from our sickness or weakness. Infirmity cannot be His delight and design for His children. Our healing is His will and delight. Ps 35:27 27 Let them shout for joy and be glad, who favor my righteous cause; and let them say continually, "Let the Lord be magnified, who has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant." God has pleasure in our prosperity (which includes sound health), not in our poverty or sickness. Some years ago, I read a testimony of a Pastor. He was driving on a highway when suddenly he felt a sharp pain on the left side of the chest. And Satan whispered to his ear, 'heart attack' yes your two other brothers have had heart attack previously.' He said to Satan, 'you are a liar, I don't have heart attack, and can't have heart attack. He quickly packed his car on the side curb, got down from the car, and jogged on the side walk to over 1 km distance and back. Got into his car and drove off. That was the end of the story of heart attack. That story was the beginning of my own testimony - my journey to divine healing...