Hello Pastor Roger,
I once had a person tell me that I did not have enough faith because of my infirmities and that I had slipped away from God or I would not be going through these things. This person even went on to say, "Look at me. I have perfect health and loads of money. God blessed me because I am doing what I should and am closer to him than you are." I simply referred them to 2 Co 11: 15-31 and 2 Co 12: 5 - 9.
YES!, I have heard this many times before, and this really bothers me. If this was true, maybe this would also be the reason why all people physically die. The last person I heard say something like this was wearing glasses. I didn't say anything, but you can probably guess what I was thinking. It dealt with hypocrisy.
Romans 8:22-28 NASB For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it. In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
God will give all of HIS children Glorified bodies one day at his appointed time, but we must all learn how to deal with this weak human body of flesh during our short journey here. We will also war with the flesh and the old man until we are completely freed of it.
In the meantime, we can pray that GOD gives us the strength and Grace to overcome the flesh and persevere through injury and illness that is SURE to come. I would like to say something very positive HERE for CHRISTIANS. At our worst and weakest, it is then that many Christians grow closer to JESUS and stronger in HIM. We are weak, and we should know that. HE is STRONG, and it is good for us to learn to depend on HIS STRENGTHS, not our own.1 Peter 5:10 NASB After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.
Judges 16:28 NASB Then Samson called to the LORD and said, "O Lord GOD, please remember me and please strengthen me just this time, O God, that I may at once be avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes."
Psalms 10:17 NASB O LORD, You have heard the desire of the humble; You will strengthen their heart, You will incline Your ear
Isaiah 35:3 NASB Encourage the exhausted, and strengthen the feeble.
Isaiah 41:10 NASB 'Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.'
Zechariah 10:6 NASB "I will strengthen the house of Judah, And I will save the house of Joseph, And I will bring them back, Because I have had compassion on them; And they will be as though I had not rejected them, For I am the LORD their God and I will answer them.
Zechariah 10:12 NASB "And I will strengthen them in the LORD, And in His name they will walk," declares the LORD.
1 Thessalonians 3:2-3 NASB and we sent Timothy, our brother and God's fellow worker in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you as to your faith, so that no one would be disturbed by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we have been destined for this.
2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 NASB Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope by grace, comfort and strengthen your hearts in every good work and word.
James 5:7-8 NASB Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until it gets the early and late rains. You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near.
Love In Christ,
Tom
Romans 10:8-10 NASB But what does it say? "THE WORD IS NEAR YOU, IN YOUR MOUTH AND IN YOUR HEART"--that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.
