THAT THE POWER OF CHRIST MAY REST UPON ME

“And as Jesus passed by, He saw a man which was blind from his birth.  And His disciples asked Him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?” (John 9:1, 2).

 

Like Jesus’ disciples, somewhere in the back of our minds we tend to think of sickness and physical affliction as punishments from God that He sends to those who have done something wrong and offended Him in some way.  If we are walking obediently, we reason, our loving heavenly Father will preserve our health and heal us miraculously if we do get sick.  In practice, we know this does not always happen, so we’re left with a lot of unanswered questions.  This type of thinking can make us very critical of our brothers and sisters and create a rift between us and the very ones that we should be ministering comfort to.  Do you remember Job’s three “friends”?  They were very sure that Job had sinned because of the awful things that had befallen him, but they couldn’t put a finger on anything that Job had done wrong!  This didn’t stop them from accusing Job, however, which only added to their poor friend’s vexation.  We can also be very hard on ourselves when we are sick or afflicted in body, retreating within ourselves and feeling discouraged thinking we have somehow failed God.

 

“Jesus answered [His disciples], Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.” (John 9:3).

 

Jesus made it very clear to His disciples that sin did not play a part in the blind man’s story.  It was neither his parents’ sin nor his own that caused him to be born blind.  It was so that God’s works could be manifested in him.  This is God’s ultimate purpose for each of us and a basic principle of godliness: we are created to show the glory, virtue, and praise of Jesus our Lord in our mortal flesh.  In Revelation 4 we get a glimpse of the twenty-four elders who have been given crowns and thrones falling down before the Creator, casting their crowns at His feet, and shouting, “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created.” (Revelation 4:11).  To bring glory to our God and Savior through the things that we encounter in life is our greatest calling.

 

There are a few other principles concerning healing that we can be very sure of.  First of all, God can and does work miracles today.  They were not only for another time and another age.  Many times I have seen Him heal instantly and completely just through the faith of His children and a simple prayer.  I have also been miraculously healed myself.  Miracles are but one way in which God’s works are manifested in us, though.  The Lord is also glorified when we endure sufferings and trust in His grace each step of the way.  Some are called to such a path, but God gives them sufficient grace to walk it. 

 

The Bible tells us about a family who lived in Bethany during the time of Christ.  The family consisted of Lazarus and his two sisters, Mary and Martha.  These three loved the Lord with all their hearts, and the Lord loved them dearly as well.  St. John tells the story of Lazarus falling fatally ill after his sisters had summoned Jesus to come and heal him.  The scripture firmly establishes the fact that Jesus loved these three dear souls.  When the sisters sent for Jesus they said, “…he whom Thou lovest is sick.”  Then, a verse later, we’re told, “Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.” (John 11:5).  After emphasizing Jesus’ love for them, though, we read, “When He [Jesus] had heard therefore that he [Lazarus] was sick, He abode two days still in the same place where He was.” (John 11:6).  This was after Jesus had told His disciples that Lazarus’ sickness would not result in his death, but would be for the glory of God.  In the light of what is written, we are forced to believe that God not only allowed Lazarus to get sick, but that Jesus deliberately waited two days for Lazarus to succumb to his illness before He went to him.  Jesus knew what God was about to do in raising his friend from the dead, and so He waited. 

 

When Jesus and His disciples finally got to Bethany, their friend Lazarus had been in the tomb for four days!  Jesus then went to the tomb and told them to remove the stone that sealed it, but Martha protested, saying, “Lord, by this time he stinketh.”  Jesus responded to her by saying, “Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?”  We know what happened next.  Jesus said a simple prayer and then called out, “Lazarus, come forth.”  His friend then emerged from the tomb still bound in grave clothes!

 

What can be said about all this except that God is glorified sometimes through miracles and sometimes through sickness, trials, and physical affliction!  The whole time that Lazarus was suffering from his illness, he was still trusting God with his soul.  He didn’t know the path that was before him, but Jesus did.  The Lord could have gone to his friend’s side the minute He knew he was sick and saved him from some suffering, but the suffering was part of Lazarus’ journey just as surely as his healing was. 

 

St. Paul was mightily used of God and was a man of great faith and yet he suffered many things for the sake of Christ during his ministry.  Here is a catalog of Paul’s trials that he lists for us: “Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.  Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.  Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.” (2 Corinthians 11:24-28).

 

A second important principle about healing that we can be sure of is: it isn’t God Who puts sickness or affliction on man.  That is the work of Satan, and it is just one of the items from his bag of tricks that he uses to sift us and derail our faith.  When we are tried by hardships, it is our faith that sustains us through our trials.  As St. Peter tells us, “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing [unusual or abnormal experience] happened unto you: but rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when His glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.” (1 Peter 4:12, 13).  In another place Peter writes, “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 1:7).  The Apostle knew a thing or two about testing and trials.  Jesus had warned Peter about the fiery trials that he would face in his life when He told him, “…behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: but I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.” (Luke 22:31, 32).

 

A third thing that we should understand about healing is that we must first take our burdens of whatever sort they are to God before we consult the doctors, lawyers, bankers, or councilors.  There was a king in the Old Testament by the name of Asa who got in trouble with God because he sought the help of doctors before he sought God’s help and direction.  It is God Who has the answers to all of our problems, but we must learn to give Him an opportunity to work on our behalf before we immediately go running for help elsewhere.  God may surely choose to direct us to someone else for help, but we mustn’t pre-empt His will by not going to Him first.

 

A fourth thing to consider regarding healing is that God may sometimes allow trouble and infirmities in our lives to get our attention and change our point of view.  The sifting that takes place in us while we are experiencing hardships is meant to remove the dirt and debris from the flour so that it becomes pure.  In the same way, the intense heat of the cauldron is meant to melt the precious metal and release the dross (impurities) trapped within.  In Christ, there is always an upside to our sufferings because He has said that all things are working together for our good according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).  Although God doesn’t always allow sickness and adversity into our lives BECAUSE of our sin, He often can use it to make us AWARE of our sin.  Trials may reveal something in our nature that we were willing to ignore before, but are now forced to look at.  I think that some introspection is always appropriate when we find ourselves experiencing some suffering.  The Lord may just use it to produce some spiritual maturity and growth in us.  I once prayed for a dear saint who was in excruciating pain.  After the prayer I asked if the pain had left and they told me it had not.  In that moment, I was moved to ask if there was anything hindering their fellowship with the Lord.  They responded that there was and they confessed that thing to the Lord right then and there.  I then asked if we could pray once more and anoint them with oil.  When we prayed this time, the Lord witnessed in a powerful way and they were delivered instantly and completely from the pain!  It is good for us to consider the words of James, “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: 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.  Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed.  The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” (James 5:14-16).

 

St. Paul had an interesting experience with healing.  He had an affliction in his body that he referred to as a “thorn in the flesh.” He also called it “the messenger of Satan” that was sent to “buffet” him (literally, to strike with the fist, or give one a blow with the fist).  Paul said the purpose for his affliction was so that he wouldn’t be excessively exalted with pride because of the wonderful revelations and visions that God had given him (see 2 Corinthians 12:7).  He said that he prayed three separate times about this affliction in his flesh.  Each time, he specifically asked God “…that it might depart from me.” (2 Corinthians 12:8).  And how did the Lord answer?  He told Paul, “My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9a).  No matter what we go through in this life, we must understand that God’s grace is always sufficient for our need.  He gives us grace to overcome and to persevere.  We can do all things – anything and everything – through Christ Who strengthens us!  When we choose to trust in Him in all our ways, then we discover that His strength is made perfect in our weakness - every time. 

 

Paul’s response was exactly what God was looking for in His servant, and exactly what He wants to see in you and me.  The Apostle wrote, “Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, THAT THE POWER OF CHRIST MAY REST UPON ME.” (2 Corinthians 12:9b).  As far as we know, Paul had that affliction for the rest of his life, but he had learned to bear it “most gladly.”  Not only that, but he learned to “glory” in his infirmities as well.  The reason?  That the power of Christ might rest upon him.  We mostly recognize the power of Christ only in miracles and in signs and wonders.  To see the works of God manifested in our sufferings, and the power of God revealed through our weakness, however, is an extraordinary gift!

 

Paul’s final word on the subject was this: “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:10).  When we not only endure our infirmities, necessities, and distresses but take pleasure in them for Christ’s sake, we know that we have put on more of the nature and character of our Lord and Savior.  This is called the fellowship of Christ’s sufferings and it is most precious.

 

In the end, the blind man that Jesus encountered in the way was healed completely and became a powerful witness to his fellow Jews.  We see that the years that he spent in blindness were as important a part of his story as his healing was.  Lazarus’ sickness and four days he spent in the grave were also as important to his story as his resurrection was.  Job’s trials and losses were as important to his story as his restoration.  Two things that Job said which reveal his faith and maturity are, “What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?” (Job 2:10), and, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him.” (Job 13:15).  We can learn much by applying these convictions to our own lives and experiences. 

 

“The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and a man is tested by his praise.” (Proverbs 27:21 NKJV).