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Is it Gods desire that everyone who is sick be healed? If so, is there something spiritually wrong with an individual who prays for healing but remains ill?And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me . . . Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore, I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christs sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong (2 Corinthians 12:7-10).Note that Paul did not assume God would heal him. He asked for healing, but was refused. God told Paul that His grace was enough. This caused the apostle to be strong in his weakness.
Erastus stayed in Corinth, but Trophimus I have left in Miletus sick (2 Timothy 4:20).Why Not Exercise?
No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for your stomachs sake and your frequent infirmities (1 Timothy 5:23).Timothy certainly was a man of faith, but Paul nevertheless told him to drink wine for his infirmities. The Bible says nothing of a divine right to be healed. In fact, this Scripture passage indicates that Timothy would continue at times to be sick.
Yet I considered it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus . . . since he was longing for you all, and was distressed because you heard that he was sick. For indeed he was sick almost unto death; but God had mercy on him (Philippians 2:25-27).Paul says that Epaphroditus was healed due to Gods mercy. Epaphroditus did not invoke a certain claim to be healed. Although God does not promise to supernaturally heal everyone, it is perfectly proper to pray that he will. The Bible says, "You do not have because you do not ask" (James 4:2).
The Blue Letter Bible ministry and the BLB Institute hold to the historical, conservative Christian faith, which includes a firm belief in the inerrancy of Scripture. Since the text and audio content provided by BLB represent a range of evangelical traditions, all of the ideas and principles conveyed in the resource materials are not necessarily affirmed, in total, by this ministry.
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