Instruction For The Sick:

[Brother Love]

Instruction For The Sick:


("Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities." I Timothy 5:23)

In this verse we find a remarkable instruction given by Paul, the Apostle, to Timothy. The dispensational light which is given by this passage on sickness is often overlooked! Timothy, according to this scripture, was plagued by stomach problems and "often infirmities". These could have been easily relieved under the program of the kingdom (i.e., that of the twelve apostles) and in the early transitional ministry of Paul. But in Paul's latter ministry, after having received the full knowledge of the mystery, he no longer had such powers, (Philippians 2:24, II Timothy 4:20).

Paul's instruction to Timothy was not:

That he had sinned and needed to confess his sin to be healed.
That Satan had inflicted this upon him and that he must "deny it".
That his faith was weak or lacking and that if he would only believe God's promises and pray the "prayer of faith" that he would receive deliverance from his sickness.
That he should call for the elders of the church (he was one!) and have the anointing with oil.
That his healing was in the atonement and that he was to "claim it'.
That he should use special handkerchiefs or aprons.
That he should get into a "healing line".
That he should simply "pray about it".
NO! Paul gives Timothy only one piece of instruction: Paul prescribed the common medicine of that day - wine (it must be remembered that Luke, the beloved physician, was a companion of Paul). Paul prescribed medicine. Did you see that?

"...use a little wine..."

Paul's instruction was for medical attention to be given to the weakness and frailty of his corruptible body. Paul gave no further hope than that which could be received through medical resources. Does that seem strange or "unspiritual' to you? What happened to the ministry of Paul? A new order (or dispensational change) had completed it's transition and was now in full operation. No longer was the attention of the believer placed upon the "physical" aspect, with it's many miraculous signs, wonders and hearings, but now was focused upon that which was real and lasting - the eternal, the unseen (II Corinthians 4:18).

"Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God," (Colossians 3:2-3).

We can learn much from Paul, our pattern (I Timothy 1:16), and apostle (Romans 11:13). We learn from him that deliverance is not the answer to our physical infirmities.

"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. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities..." (II Corinthians 12:9-10).

"...For I have learned, in whatsoever state I am therewith to be content ... I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me," (Philippians 4:11,13).

 - by Clyde L. Pilkington, Jr.

[lucy smith]

 Jesus Christ came to set men free, from the law of sin and death.
 He made a NEW CREATURE, bormn again from above, walking in a new and living way  as Roms.8.v.1-2 explains = how a saint has to walk in the Spirit of life.

 I do not feel, we truly understand the in's and out's of some verses, and we always need the first hand information, from the Holy Spirit on how to overcome all things in Christ.

Jesus ''success'' in ministry was,  HE ALWAYS DID the will of the Father, and never made up His mind, to divert from this goal.
Men, seem to veer off this divine walk, and  back into depending only upon themself and make their own way of escape.
 I do believe, the ministry of Christ, comes first and foremost and when we stay with this, it would be very hard to go wrong.

[gary cook]

Gee lucy that is wise ,but some do not have faith to recieve ,But I have find that james
am 5:13  Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.
Jam 5:14  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:
Jam 5:15  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.
because the flesh still reaps what it sows.and some sins bring sickness

[lucy smith]

yes indeed, they are lovely words to see, I agree with you. but one thing... does it work?
 In all church services i went too i never saw this happen once.
sick people, then dead people and the grave yards.
 Then i went to the pentecostals and they have a slogan ''fake it till you make it''  there i overheard once, so it was hard to say with that lot.
I left. i could not stand their ''tongues'' and their hype that never seemed to work. It was like window dressing to me.
so.... i turned to the bible and found healing is found in Jesus Christ and i guess it never really works outside of HIM, very well, for, the church is now divisional and disobedient to the Word of God [1 corn 1.v.10]  I dont think you can have a disobedient groups and expect too much.
 However, it takes the Holy Spirit, to confront us, over true healing issues and unless HE does, it is really hit and miss and what we think.
 I dont like that form of religion to tell the truth, cuz  it makes the hope deferred somehow. I have seen people loose their faith, when healing  never came. That is so sad,....

[gary cook]

Lucy those people do not heal ?It is the simple act of obeying .And it works EVERY TIME . You can see with naman how he obeyed and went to the river as well with every healing .The LORD showed it is obeying . Such a little thing ,to obey .But BOY will it give results .I have seen it over and over .lucy I know you desire TRUTH .The holy spirit waits for you and me to onl;y ask believing .in faith .AsK HIM anything ?try HIm .HEv is the one tell us anything .Sometimes we wait on the ansure .But HE never fails ever . I would be LOST with out .I have learned to trust HIM for everything in my life .I am not good at explain .Iam sure if you experiance all I have you would be on t.v. The world would follow you with a camera.But I"m just a dum guy the LORD picked to reveal a few things WHY .I always ask HIM .WHY me LORD .YOu know YOU can do a LOT better .HE has never told me ,I know of ? ME I"m a worker type I can work really hard .

[Soldier4Christ]

Yes, Lucy, it does work when it is within Gods will. One thing that is often overlooked in healing is Gods Will. Sometimes, no matter what we do or say or pray, Gods answer is no.

I have seen people with cancer that Drs said were beyond all hope that were healed. People that had diabetes that for many, many years had to use insulin shots that were healed and never had to use another shot. One child that had a disfiguring disease with legs and arms twisted beyond use that was healed without Drs assistance and was able to not only walk but run. All of this in answer to prayers.

Yet others that were very good, strong, faithful Christians that would get a disease and die even though they did all that is mentioned in the above posts.

An example of this is given in 2 Cor 12 where Paul was given an affliction. God was healing people through Paul before and even after this. Yet God did not heal Paul of his affliction even though Paul took it to Him three times. Paul told us that in this instance Gods reason was:

2Co 12:9  And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.

We may not always understand, but God has His reasons for whatever the answer may be. We are still to take it to Him, in complete faith, that He will answer our prayers.

Yes, I agree with you that there are people that use this "healing" falsely to be "eye candy" to draw people in to their churches. This does not make healing false it only makes those individuals false.

[gary cook]

Yes ,GOD let some one be sick ?But in pauls case ,He knew too much was ,and needed to be humbled .as you know he suffered much and was healed or could not have traveled like he did .but this whatever it was ?was to keep him humble . But I don"t believe the LORD wants us sick ? The bible says ?MY people perish for lack of understanding ?not because they got sick . I really believe we should not be a sickly people .I"V had all kinds of junk .shot stabbed ate bad sea food .been on the death bed a few times .had 11kids ,they all were always well except for a cold now and then .only took them to doctors when the law said i had to .They are healthy and smart .some of the smartest in our nation . But I always gave the LORD the 1st chance .but left the door open if HE did not . But many times ,they said if I did not go along with them ?I was dead .But I said well I"ll be with the LORD then ? well HE has never failed me or mine .But to be honest is it FAITH or What ? as I see myself no different than my brothers and sisters ? But where does FAITH start and STOP ? How far should we TRUST HIM ? Well I could never find a END ?So I keep right on trusting ,as i never liked this world anyway .But with my wife and childern ?i don"t think I have the right to force them to believe .I do take them before the elders 1st .But then would go to the doctor .This has never taken place YET ?? But my one boy did die in a hospital ,but the nurses killed him on purpose ? and I think i gave that testamony .But i warned him a long time the LORD would not let him live in evil .he was 26 I love him very much .it broke my heart ,

[gary cook]

But I knew this boy was never mine ,nor any of my childern ,as they belong to the LORD .I just baby sit them for HIM .I find I can love any child as my own .as I had a little boy for about 6or6.5 years and his mother wanted him back .I miss him as my own .He loved me as his dad too .but he had no other dad .I think because I had no dad [he died when i was around 5 ] I seem to really love kids .and they always love me . Here is my personal thought on the matter .if we belong to JESUS CHRIST ?we can not lose living or dyiong .But if we are not sure ,try everything to live .because who knows what time may do for you .

[lucy smith]

God's will, for all men, is in the atonement of Jesus Christ.
When Jesus died, He died for everything about each person, that was  under the curse that  people had  inherited from the adam-nature of a wicked heart.
 JESUS CHRIST is our saviour~!
 He saves, and He heals.
It is all God's will and part of the true salvation message.
What person, who is forgiven and turned away from  sin and all its laws, can be left out of so  great a salvation.?
 YET, it is not very often, we such healing in a church, as happened in the first days after pentecost. Hardly any if we are truthfull. Infact, in many towns, the church is often right next door to the grave-yard.
 I have often wondered why this is so, and have come to the conclusion it is because of sheer disobedience and even ignorance,  regarding divisions, no unity, no one accord [ 1 corn.1.v.10] describes this terrible blight, that has become a standard for generations, but we are all advised, '' a divided house cannot stand''.
 When, people are in disobedience to the written word, nothing much can happen and if we all take time to look back, we can see those GLORY days have long vanished.
People pretend, all is well, but it is like a gaping gash covered-up by a band-aid. To me it is like a hope, that gets deferred.
 When i first discovered this, many yrs ago, i was so saddened at this deception being played out, then, i found the answer of ''seek ye first, the kingdom of heaven and all else, shall be added unto you''  = the bible's recommendation...
What can we consider as ''the all else''?  = everything Jesus obtained for us on the Cross = true freedom and real life living salvation.24/7.
People perish, from lack of knowledge the Word tells us, and people listen to others, to tell them how to think, when, they have their Teacher, called Holy Spirit, who can draw alongside and minister out any time and tell them how and what HE MEANT, when He ordained men to write on His behalf.
 I love that, for it strips away, sacred -religious-cows and incorrect doctrines and false teachings.

 amen