Praying For The Sick

 Jesus never met a disease that he liked. The fact is, sickness is an enemy in both Old and New Testaments. God can indeed teach us perseverance and patience through our infirmities. And no one should feel condemned for being sick. But the Health and Wealth prosperity message has caused some Christians to feel spiritually inferior for having health problems. And this is sad because all sickness is not the result of personal sin. I believe the Bible encourages us to pray for the sick. And as followers of Jesus, we must pursue healing as part of our journey as his disciples. So let’s pray aggressively for the health of those who God puts in our paths.

(I copied the Scriptures below from Sam Storms blog http://www.samstorms.org. )

Some New Testament Verses on Sickness and Disease

Just consider this tiny sampling:

• And he [Jesus] went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people. So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, those having seizures, and paralytics, and he healed them. (Matthew 4:23-24)

• And he [Jesus] called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal. (Luke 9:1-2)

• Then a demon-oppressed man who was blind and mute was brought to him [Jesus], and he healed him, so that the man spoke and saw. (Matthew 12:22)

• Now he [Jesus] was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. And behold, there was a woman who had had a disabling spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not fully straighten herself. When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said to her, “Woman, you are freed from your disability.” And he laid his hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and she glorified God. (Luke 13:10-13)

• God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. (Acts 10:38)

• But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins” — he said to the paralytic — “I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home.” And he rose and immediately picked up his bed and went out before them all, so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!” (Mark 2:10-12)

• Is anyone among you sick? 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 will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. (James [Jacob] 5:14-15)