Why Is Sound Doctrine Important For Healing?
For years I couldn’t answer the question, “Why is sound doctrine important.” I wasn’t able to distinguish between false and sound doctrine. Consequently, I spent considerable time unlearning teachings I received as truth at church and from other Christians about an important topic: sickness and disease. Therefore, I wrote this short sermon on sound doctrine.
Teachers, pastors, family, and friends blinded by tradition and misinformation pass on knowledge that has no Biblical or spiritual basis. Satan knows how to infiltrate teachings into the church as sound doctrine when they are lies from hell. Therefore, Christians die early deaths because they believe sickness is from God.
So, I’m setting the record straight.
Here’s the first truth.
Any Disease is from Satan, not God. God heals sickness and disease.
Jesus came to earth to deliver both your spirit and body. However, traditional teachings keep sick people in bondage. Second truth: Lies don’t produce faith but truth does.
Before learning about some of these unsound teachings, I suggest that you read this short Bible Study, “God’s Will to Heal Hasn’t Changed” Knowing what God thinks about healing changes how you see sickness and receive healing.
Unscriptural teachings regarding sickness and disease keep us bound and sick. Wrong teachings lodge deep in our spirits unless we seek the Holy Spirit for help to erase untruths.
Be prepared. Satan distorts the full Gospel message Jesus preached and taught his disciples. By now, he’s probably whispered to hold onto established church doctrine. Just know, the doctrines of men are not the truth of God.
Also remember, the reality of sickness isn’t a believer’s truth. Everything Jesus taught (2,000+ years ago) about healing is what a Christian should believe. If you don’t think Jesus came to heal and pass on that truth to future generations, read Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. You’ll be a believer. And a believer’s job is to believe.
Why Is Sound Doctrine Important to Detect Lies?
Knowing the truth sets you free. Here’s the first lie: The Lord chastens us with sickness.
Hebrews 12:6-7
For the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child. As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Whoever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father?
When someone asks why they’re sick and God hasn’t healed them, Christians try to provide reasons. One of the erroneous teachings is that God uses sickness to chastise believers. To chasten means discipline, rebuke, subdue, and to humble.
At no place in this scripture does it say that God makes people sick to teach them a lesson. What good parent wants their child sick with cancer, a deformity, or some other debilitating disease? That’s especially true for God. We are His children and He doesn’t want us bound and infirm. Traditional theology teaches that God’s chastening rod is sickness and that’s His best representation of love and we’re to patiently endure. That’s nonsense.
So what does God use to chasten us? The Bible.
2 Timothy 3:16-17
All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.
Another Lie: Christians must suffer for a while and the best way to do that is through sickness.
I Peter 5:10
In his kindness, God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation.
Why Is Sound Doctrine Important To know God’s Truth?
It’s true that Christians suffer. We’re persecuted for what we believe, face tumults and hardships, encounter all kinds of evil, and other tribulations. Those are the endurances for which we receive a crown of righteousness (2 Timothy 4:8), not for bearing up under sickness and disease honorably. Yes, we lean on Jesus to endure burdens. But don’t confuse that with sickness and disease which He already bore for us by dying on the cross.
Isaiah 53:4-5
Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.
Look closely at I Peter 5:10. It says nothing about God putting sickness on us so we suffer long and hard. People even go so far as to refer to I Peter 5:10 as a Ministry of Suffering.
At no time do I excel spiritually when suffering from the flu or any other sickness. I don’t have the energy to pursue God and His plans for me. What I do notice is that every time I stay in the Word of God my health improves.
Ask an unbeliever if sickness is a blessing and they say no. But if you ask religious believers, they answer differently. To sound more spiritual, they say sickness is a blessing in disguise. If you could see them at home, they do everything they can naturally to improve their health. They go to doctors, take medicine, and search for a cure.
Another Lie: We Glorify God Through Being Sick
Satan uses this falsehood to put sickness and disease on a pedestal. The notion is when people see how gracefully we suffer, they glorify God. Do you feel like praising God when you’re sick? I don’t. It’s just the opposite.
Christians can’t live an abundant life, bear good fruit, and change the world for Christ when they don’t have physical strength.
The testimonies we enjoy reading about are those that glorify God because a person was totally healed by God when doctors only gave them months to live. Sickness doesn’t glorify God but God healing you does. That’s why Christians feel compassion for anyone who doesn’t feel well and pray they recover.
Why Is Sound Doctrine Important to Understand Paul’s Thorn?
Take a close look at this scripture.
2 Corinthians 12:7-9
And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing, I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 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.
Theologians go off the deep edge on this lie. Some believe Paul had an incurable disease that God refused to heal. Others believe God put sickness on Paul to keep him humble. This scripture doesn’t imply any of that.
Sound Biblical Doctrine:
- Can anyone debate that Paul received an abundance of revelations? And for that reason, Satan targeted him.
- When used elsewhere in the Bible, a thorn in the flesh indicates inhabitants (Numbers 33:55) and heathen nations (Joshua 23:13).
- Scripture implicitly implies what the thorn in the flesh is—a messenger of Satan. According to T. L. Osborn, “The word messenger is translated from the Greek word Angelos. In the Bible, it’s translated 181 times as an angel and 7 times as a messenger. In all instances, it’s a person, not a thing.” The messenger of Satan is a demonic spirit.
- This messenger’s job was to buffet Paul. Buffet means to strike sharply with a blow. This spirit attempted to stop Paul’s ministry and the abundance of revelations.
- There was no physical sickness for God to heal. God wanted Paul to depend on Him for these ongoing harassing blows targeting his faith.
Why Is Sound Doctrine Important For Your Mind and Body?
Mark 7:13 indicates that the traditions of men make the Word of God null and void. However, when allowed, the truth of God’s Word sets people free. Religious lies harden our hearts and turn us away from God. That’s exactly what Satan wants. He wants you sick, impoverished, and to grow weaker every day (without depending on God).
By reading this far, you’re either furious or realize God wants you well.
Serious students of the Word of God search for sound doctrine and depend on the Holy Spirit to guide them. Dig deep into the four Gospel accounts for yourself and see if you believe any of Satan’s lies about sickness and disease. If you do, ask God to purify your mind and heart so you see Jesus as your Healer.
Then, seek the Holy Spirit as to why you’re sick instead of whole and how to specifically receive healing.