Does Satan Heal?

This diabolical counterfeit has caused the world to sneer at God’s true healing power!

A good friend of mine had spoken much of a famous “healer” prevalent in the 1950s. He soon became one of the major “healing” evangelists on the healing revival circuit, much like Jack Coe, and William Branham. My friend, when he was young, had been taken by his devout mother to many of these tent revivals. And he truly believed that this man could heal. You can still find a great many of his “healing” gatherings on YouTube. “Paralyzed Man Walks Out Of Wheelchair” is one among several. He was charismatic, entertaining, and was a great showman.

A well-dressed usher rolls the wheelchaired man in front of the stage.

“Here’s a man bound with arthritis and paralyzed and dead from the waist down. Absolutely impossible to walk. Doctors say there is no help for him! That he’ll NEVER walk again!”

“Do you believe you’ll walk again?” the showman asks the man in the wheelchair.

“Yes,” the man replied.

He then asks, “When?”

“Right now!’ the man exclaimed!

The crowd goes wild with shouts and clapping.

“I’m gonna speak the word. To him, I’m gonna speak the word for you here. And, I’m gonna speak the word for you in your home – and you in your home, and you there in your home! My God is gonna move the mountain!”

Speaking again to the wheelchaired man, “Brother, you got a mountain. Yes?”

“Yes,” he replied. “I have a mountain.”

“Do you wanna walk again?” the showman asks.

“Yes,” he answers.

Again, the showman asks, “Do you wanna walk again?”

“Yes.”

“Do you believe you will tonight?”

“Yes. I believe.”

“But you know you can’t unless God heals you,” this showman states.

“That’s right.”

The crescendo begins ── “Get ready. This is a mountain.”

The showman raises his hands to those on stage, “Stand with me, brethren. Pray with me. Get ready.”

Again, he calls the wheelchaired man a mountain ── of arthritis.

The showman then lifts the footplates out of the way of the man’s feet, turns to the audience, and asks, “Will he walk?”

The audience screams, “Yes!”

He asks, “Will you walk!?”

The audience screams, “Yes!”

He asks, “Will your cancer drop off?”

The audience screams, “Yes!”

He asks, “Will God set you free?”

The audience again screams, “Yes!”

── “Get ready.”

Announcing to the audience, “What God will do for one, He’ll do for everyone! And if God will not do it for everyone, He’ll not do it for anyone!

The wheelchaired man sitting in his wheelchair, supposedly “paralyzed and dead from the waist down” was moving his feet in anticipation.

And then the showman reaches the climactic moment ──

“O’ you foul devil! Well… it’s a mountain. I’m so used to calling things devils. But, this is a demon. But, I’m calling it a mountain. Now, Jesus don’t You fail me. God, there are too many people watching tonight. You can’t fail me.”

Pointing at the wheelchaired man, he begins his “exorcism.”

“Foul mountain of helplessness. Foul mountain of destruction. Foul mountain of arthritis. FOUL MOUNTAIN OF DEMONIC POWER!”

Kneeling down and grabbing the man’s legs and jerking on them, he continues his show, “Bind these limbs! In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth! You devil, I charge you!”

The crowd is talking among themselves, some are shouting out, “Hallelujah!”

“I command this mountain go. Be thou [garbled word] removed!”

The showman places his hand on the wheelchaired man’s knee, and screams,  “AND PLACED INTO THE SEA!”

Then standing, the showman slaps his hand on top of the man’s head and shouts, “O’ you mountain! [garbled words]. Go!”

And the wheelchaired man quickly stands, and takes a few baby steps!

The audience erupts in cheers and clapping!

When this so-called “healing” revival gathering was over ── had there truly been a healing?

The wheelchaired man ── who, we were originally told ── was supposed to have been “paralyzed and dead from the waist down” was moving his feet while sitting in the wheelchair. He had NOT been healed. Even though this man got up out of the wheelchair and walked, we do not know that he had been genuinely healed because we did not have any previous proof that he was actually “paralyzed and dead from the waist down.”

HEALING

The forgiveness of sins

It’s important that we properly understand what healing really is.

HEALING is the FORGIVENESS OF SINS ── physical sins.

“But immediately, when Jesus perceived in His spirit that they reasoned thus within themselves, He said to them, ‘Why do you reason about these things in your hearts? 9) Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise, take up your bed and walk’? 10) But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth TO FORGIVE SINS’ ── He said to the paralytic, 11) ‘I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.’” – Mark 2:8-11.

The definition of sin is the transgression of God’s Law – 1 John 3:4.

And indeed, there are two types of laws – physical laws, and spiritual laws.

Also, and sadly this is a truth that apparently so many people around this world don’t understand ── the very penalty of sin is DEATH! – cf. Genesis 2:17; Ezekiel 18:4, 20; Romans 6:23.

Now, the LORD God is telling us that breaking the spiritual Law of God is ETERNAL DEATH from which there will never be a resurrection.

“Then Death and Hades [the grave] were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.” – Revelation 20:14.

“But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” – Revelation 21:8.

I underlined the word sorcerers because it means so much more than just witches and warlocks – it also encompasses ── “Big Pharma.”

Now, the penalty for breaking God’s physical laws results in pain, suffering, and then ── quite possibly an early first death that passes upon all mankind – Hebrews 9:27.

Q: How is it possible for us to be healed ── to have our physical sins forgiven?

A: When our Lord Jesus Christ came to Earth and suffered horrifically, and died on the cross, pouring out His very life’s blood, He paid the penalty for both our spiritual and physical transgressions.

Through the very blood of Christ, our spiritual and physical sins are forgiven. It is through the terrible scourging and sufferings of our Lord Jesus Christ that our physical sins are pardoned.

Our Lord and Savior Jesus, on our behalf, paid for our physical and our spiritual transgressions. “who HIMSELF bore our sins in His own body on the [cross], that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness ──by those stripes you were healed.”

Our Lord Jesus lived a perfect life. He never once violated God’s spiritual or physical laws. But, He did allow Himself to be beaten and scourged with a Roman flagrum to pay the penalty of sickness and sufferings that our physical sins bring upon us.

Only the LORD God

Can Forgive Sins

To prove to the Pharisees and the scribes that healing was the FORGIVENESS of our physical sins, our Lord Jesus said what we just read in Mark 2:8-11. After our Lord healed another person, He commanded him, “’ See, you have been made well. SIN NO MORE, lest a worse thing come upon you.’” – John 5:14.

Did that charlatan I speak of at the beginning of this article tell that man, “Go, and SIN NO MORE”? I think not. Our Lord Jesus Christ knew and understood that if this man ── who was breaking God’s physical laws for a long time, continued in his physical sins ── something even worse would come upon him. Therefore, He gave him a solemn warning, “’ Sin no more.’”

Since true healing is the FORGIVENESS OF SINS, only the LORD God (the family of God, which at this time consists of God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ) can heal. Only the LORD God can forgive sins! Neither Satan the Devil nor his minions can heal.

Satan the Devil Afflicts

It is interesting to note that even though Satan the Devil and his minions (demons) cannot heal, they can certainly cause afflictions. THEY ARE AFFLICTORS! And they spiritually influence the majority ── either directly or indirectly ── of this world’s sicknesses, diseases, and sufferings. Yet, never will he liberate mankind from these sufferings. Because to do so would be contrary to his twisted and vile character. His nature has become evil and prideful.

In the Book of Job, the LORD God allowed Satan (the Adversary) to afflict the prophet Job, but commanded him to not “lay a hand on his person.”

“Now there was a day when the sons of God [the sons of God, as in the descendants of Seth (Genesis 4:25-26)] came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them. 7) And the LORD said to Satan, ‘From where do you come?’ So Satan answered the LORD and said, ‘From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it.’

8) Then the LORD said to Satan, ‘Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?’ 9) So Satan answered the LORD and said, ‘Does Job fear God for nothing? 10) Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. 11) But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!’

12) And the LORD said to Satan, ‘Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person.’” – Job 10:6-12.

The apostle Paul wrote concerning an affliction that he was suffering ──

“And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, A THORN IN THE FLESH WAS GIVEN TO ME, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure.” – 2 Corinthians 12:7.

“Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 9) And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’” – vs. 8-9.

As there is some vile spiritual sickness, some sexual immorality that is continuing in God’s Church ──and I speak of a “minister of righteousness,” a Liberace of his ministry in my latest sermon that is not only spiritually rotting, but physically as well. The apostle Paul, writing to the Church in Corinth, spoke that there was sexual immorality among them ── and such sexual immorality that wasn’t even named among the Gentiles. And, sadly, those who are listening to him cannot discern the spirits. They are ‘puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he who has done this deed might be taken away from among them.’ I ── absent now in the body from him, but present in spirit, have judged him who is continuing to do this filthy deed (1 John 4:1). And like what the apostle Paul told the Corinthians in approximately 55 A.D., I say as well, “In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with power of our Lord Jesus Christ, deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.” – cf. 1 Corinthians 5-1-5. So that he might be brought to repentance.

Our spiritual and physical enemy, Satan the Devil, not only AFFLICTS people with illnesses, diseases, and infirmities ── but also one or a legion of his wicked demons will possess a person and will cause them to go insane! THIS TRUTH IS IN GOD’S LIVING WORD!

These vile humans ── who appeared “normal” for the majority of their lifetime (note: the latest terrorist of New Orleans had served in the U.S. Army from 2007 to 2020!) ── suddenly commit heinous and horrific crimes!

Healing Is A Gift of God’s Spirit

Healing is a glorious gift of God’s Spirit that is bestowed upon mankind for our benefit.

The apostle Paul asks, “Do all have gifts of healing? …” – 1 Corinthians 12:30. Of course not. But, our Lord Jesus Christ has set some in His Church, “first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues.” – vs. 28.

Through God’s Spirit, there are different spiritual gifts bestowed upon His servants. “But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: 8) for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit. 9) to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, 10) to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11) But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.” – vs. 7-11.

So, since HEALING is a good and perfect gift, divine healing power can only come from the LORD God, for “every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.” – James 1:17.

Any person who is not of God (the fruits of their character reveal them for who they are), yet claims to have the power of healing from God──is a liar and a charlatan.

True Servants of God Are Empowered to Heal

Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ commissioned His servants to “’ Go not all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.’” – Mark 16:15.

“’ And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues [languages]; 18) they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.’” – vs. 17-18.

In the Book of James, true Christians are told, “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. 15) And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.” – James 5:14-15.

Now, does the LORD God hear every prayer? No.

“Now we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshiper of God and DOES HIS WILL, He hears him.” – John 9:31.

The majority of mankind has been led to believe that God answers all prayers offered in the name of Jesus Christ. But He does not!

Notice 1 John 5:14 – “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything ACCORDING TO HIS WILL, He hears us.” Also, “whatever we ask we receive from Him, BECAUSE WE KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.” – 1 John 3:22.

Anyone not keeping God’s commandments and who is not doing those things that are pleasing to God will not receive an answer to their prayers. It’s truly as simple as that.

Our Lord Jesus prophesied that there would come charlatans. “’ Take heed that NO ONE deceives you. 5) For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.’” – Matthew 24:4-5. We are told that they are “false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming THEMSELVES into apostles of Christ. 14) And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. 15) Therefore it is no great thing if HIS MINISTERS also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.” – 2 Corinthians 11:13-15.

Satan the Devil’s Ministers Can Perform “Miracles”

So, according to the living word of the Eternal One, Satan the Devil has his own ministers, who come as “ministers of righteousness,” who can perform counterfeit “miracles.”

The “angels who sinned” – demons – are wicked spirits, and they are increasingly leading all humanity astray. Satan’s ministers can indeed perform counterfeit “miracles.”

These false ministers are “spirits of demons, performing signs” and lying wonders to deceive the ignorant. (See: Revelation 16:14).

The apostle Paul tells us that towards the close of this present evil age, “the coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders.” – 2 Thessalonians 2:9. This “lawless one” will be a Vicar of Christ. We are told that this false prophet (this spiritual leader of the Roman Catholic Church) will work “signs” in the presence of a final “beast power” – a seventh revival of the Holy Roman Empire (See: Revelation 19:20).

God’s living word elsewhere speaks concerning those who use demonic powers such as palmistry, Wicca, sorcery, witchcraft, alchemy, necromancy, wizardry, and the like. “’ For all who do these things are an abomination to the LORD, …’” – Deuteronomy 18:12.

Satan the Devil CAN’T Cast Himself Out!

The apostle Luke writes, “He [our Lord Jesus Christ] was casting out a demon, and it was mute. So it was, when the demon had gone out, that the mute spoke; and the multitudes marveled. 15) But some of them said, ‘He casts out demons by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons.’”

“But He, knowing their thoughts, said to them: ‘Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and a house divided against a house falls. 18) If Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? Because you say I cast out demons by Beelzebub. 19) And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? … 20) But if I cast out demons with the finger of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you.’” – Luke 11:14-20.

Satan will never cast out his own demons!

There was a time when the apostle John had said to our Lord Jesus, “’ Teacher, we saw someone WHO DOES NOT FOLLOW US casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow us.’ 39) But Jesus said, ‘Do not forbid him, for no one who works miracles in My name can soon afterward speak evil of Me. 40) For he who is not against us is on our side.’” – Mark 9:38-40.

Our Lord Jesus told His disciples that this man was a man of God ── even though he was not following them. Otherwise, he would not have been able to cast out demons in the glorious name of Jesus Christ.

Let us always keep this in mind: a true minister of God may be true to what he knows at the beginning of his ministry. However, if he refuses to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” and to change, the LORD God will cut that minister that doesn’t bear fruit from His tree (See: John 15:2). □

Make Obesity Great Again?

The cesspool that is the new San Francisco, Californication wants all its citizens to feel comfortable with their weight ──

Fat-Shaming ‘Expert’ Goes To Work For San Francisco. Her Mission? Make Obesity Great Again

In the lovely cesspool of San Francisco, it’s time to Make Obesity Great Again.

Never mind the poop and dirty drug needles littering the streets; the San Francisco Department of Health seems to want fat citizens to feel comfortable in their own bodies, to feel accepted by society, to feel like they can live their truth without any fear of judgment. To do so, they apparently hired a fat-shaming expert to work as a consultant — two labels that should send chills down your spine — on “weight stigma” and “weight neutrality” — two buzz phrases as hollow as they are silly.

Virgie Tovar, a self-described “plus-size Latina” and “leading expert on weight-based discrimination,” announced Monday she will work with the city’s health department to achieve the aforementioned “weight neutrality,” which, in my estimation, entails yet another feckless waste of taxpayer dollars for some unbelievably stupid liberal theory.

“I’m UNBELIEVABLY proud to serve the city I’ve called home for almost 20 years in this way! This consultancy is an absolute dream come true, and it’s my biggest hope and belief that weight neutrality will be the future of public health,” Tovar wrote on Instagram.

With all due respect to my weight-challenged brothers and sisters in America, you have no business eating up taxpayer dollars working for the city health department to “make weight neutrality … the future of health.” On its face, it is an absurd notion.”

(READ MORE: https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/mindandbody/fat-shaming-expert-goes-to-work-for-san-francisco-her-mission-make-obesity-great-again/ar-AA1w2W6k).

San Francisco Health Department hires ‘fat positivity’ expert to consult on ‘weight stigma and neutrality’

The San Francisco Department of Public Health has hired a self-described “anti-weight-based discrimination” expert to consult on “weight stigma and weight neutrality.” …

Tovar's website lists her as a “plus-size Latina author, lecturer, and leading expert on weight-based discrimination and body positivity with over a decade of experience.” She is a contributor for Forbes, where she covers stories on the “plus size market.” Her most recent articles include features about hosting a “size inclusive” Thanksgiving and alleged “fatphobia” in current TV shows.”

(READ MORE: https://www.foxnews.com/media/san-francisco-health-department-hires-fat-positivity-expert-consult-weight-stigma-neutrality?msockid=1422941e837d60df3c3b8140823261f3).

Without getting too political, (and let us all pray that President Donald Trump’s new health secretary will be able to make some headway towards a healthier Western society!) it’s tough because of the gauntlet of influences in our societies towards an unhealthy lifestyle to maintain a healthy weight.

Any obesity promoter should be ashamed of themselves!

I have had over 4 decades of faith-based discrimination, does this make me an “expert” in discrimination?

We should NEVER go about making light or fun of people who are obese or even morbidly obese ── we should also NOT EVER encourage anyone to just accept their unhealthy weight and lifestyle.

Always remember that when you point your finger at someone, three fingers are pointing back at yourself.

Whether someone wants to argue this fact or not ── obesity is unhealthy. Especially, class III obesity (Formerly Known as Morbid Obesity)! 1

Some insist on "health at any size." But, isn't obesity and health an oxymoron? 

God’s living and immutable word tells us to eat what is good ──

“’ Why do you spend money for what is not bread, And your wages for what does not satisfy? LISTEN CAREFULLY TO ME, and eat what is good, …’” – Isaiah 55:2.

A large part of the problem is that in our Western societies (and even those of North America, Western Europe, India, China, and Japan) our peoples don’t know what is “good” to eat.

As we get ever closer to the end of this present evil age, extremely overweight people appear to be consistent with the following prophecy from our beloved minister to the Gentiles, teacher, mentor ── and prophet, the apostle Paul ──

“But know this, that IN THE LAST DAYS perilous times will come: 2) For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3) unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, WITHOUT SELF-CONTROL, brutal, despisers of good, 4) traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5) having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!” – 2 Timothy 3:1-5.

Besides any health issue, e.g. an underactive thyroid, a lack of self-control is certainly a contributing factor in obesity.

According to the Health Policy Institute, “Obesity rates for older adults may be even higher in the future. Since 1991, rates of obesity have increased dramati-cally. Substantial increases among adults of all ages suggest that obesity among older Americans is likely to become a greater problem in the future. Among the obese population age 51 and older, a disproportionate share — three-quarters — are age 51 to 69, yet this age group comprises only two-thirds of the general pop-ulation age 51 and older.” 2

Sadly this new “Woke Ideology” that has spread like a cancer around the globe ── and a definition of “woke” is ever-changing depending on what side of the fence you’re standing on at any given time ── truly wants to try and force you to believe that what is “bad” (defined by the LORD God) is now “good.”

God’s living word WARNS us ──

“’ WOE TO THOSE WHO CALL EVIL GOOD, AND GOOD EVIL; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! 21) WOE to those who are wise in their own eyes, And prudent in their own sight!’” – Isaiah 5:20-21.

Truly, it is evil to tell anyone that it is perfectly alright to be obese! That certainly is “bearing false witness against your neighbor” ── which is breaking the Commandments of the Eternal our God!

Although, sadly, the overall majority of self-proclaiming Christians were taught to just “come as you are,” what our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ truly says is ──

“’ The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. REPENT, and believe in [as well as “on”] the gospel.’” – Mark 1:14-15.

And the very word “repent” means CHANGE!

True──God our Father calls out of this world the foolish, the weak, the base, and those that are despised (1 Corinthians 1:26-31; 2:5), but He certainly doesn’t want us to stay that way. He expects us to prosper after we obey. He expects us to change our way── which includes a proclivity to being lazy, or having a lack of self-control when it comes to overeating.

Obesity is not only terribly unhealthy for a person, it’s also bad for society.

“A recent report released by the Milken Institute shows that the annual cost and the economic impact of obesity in the United States exceeds $1.4 trillion. This number includes costs associated with obesity treatment and obesity-related conditions and costs associated with attendance and productivity at work as they relate to obesity. The report also suggests how obesity can be addressed to combat its growing health and economic impact. Read the full report from the Milken Institute.” 3

God’s living word teaches against obesity ── notice these valuable passages ──

“Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things, AND BE IN HEALTH, just as your soul prospers.” – 3 John 1:2.

“For BODILY EXERCISE profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come. 9) This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance.” – 1 Timothy 4:8-9.

The LORD God does focus more on our spiritual health within the pages of His living word ── and we certainly need to be strong in spiritual health ── but we also need to glorify the LORD God through our physical health as well. God’s living word shows us how we should treat our bodies in the Way that the LORD God intends.

“My son, do not forget my law, But let your heart keep my commands; 2) For length of days and long life … 8) It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones.” – Proverbs 3:1, 2, 8.

What is the definition of obesity?

According to Wikipedia – “Obesity is a medical condition, sometimes considered a disease, in which excess body fat has accumulated to such an extent that it can potentially have negative effects on health.” 4

God’s living word also warns us of gluttony ──

“Do not mix with winebibbers, Or with gluttonous eaters of meat; 21) For the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, …” – Proverbs 23:20, 21.

Yes. OVERCOMING TEMPTATIONS and ADDICTIONS, i.e. overeating can be difficult ── and seemingly impossible. True Christians should know and believe the following ──

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; 6) In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” – Proverbs 3:5-6.

“’ Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.’” – John 14:1.

With fervent and never-ending prayer and trusting always in the LORD God, overcoming addictions can happen ── including maintaining a healthier lifestyle and losing weight (if needed). □

There are several helplines available for obesity and eating disorders:

1-800-684-3263

info@americanobesityfdn.org

Or, contact the Obesity Society

Phone: (301) 563-6526 or email contact@obesity.org

Sources:

1) https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21989-class-iii-obesity-formerly-known-as-morbid-obesity.

2) Obesity Among Older Americans, Health Policy Institute, retrieved 23 Dec. 2024.

3) How Much Does Obesity Cost the U.S?, Obesity Medicine, 25 July 2023 Retrieved 23 Dec. 2024

4) Wikipedia contributors. (2024, December 15). Obesity. In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved December 23, 2024, from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Obesity&oldid=1263202796

Commentary: The Anointing of Cloths

 by Guy C. LaMar

If you prefer listening to audio? Then click the play button.

COJCOM · Commentary: The Anointing of Cloths - Audio Article

Just after the New Testament Church of God was built, the apostles and the evangelists continued the HEALING OF THE SICK, as well as preaching the true gospel!

And almost immediately AFTER the Day of Pentecost when the glorious Holy Spirit came down, Apostles Peter and John – in the name of Jesus Christ – healed the cripple and lame from birth – cf. Acts 3:1-11.

As a result, they were thrown into prison. After they were released they met with the other apostles and prayed earnestly to Father God, saying –

“Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, 30) by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.’ 31) And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness” – Acts 4:29-31.

Friends, this “boldness” will also come up in the second part of this commentary.

So, afterward, with the mighty power of the Spirit of God – so much so that even the Apostle Peter’s shadow passing over the sick resulted in their healing (Acts 5:15)! ALL THRU THE POWER OF GOD!

All those that came to these men of God – these ministers of Christ – for healing, PRAYER TO GOD, “were all healed” – Acts 5:16.

Philip the Evangelist traveled down to Samaria, and the sick were HEALED! – Acts 8:5-7.

Also, through the Apostle Paul’s ministry, the LORD our God healed the sick.

The demand on his time became so great – and many were at a distance he himself couldn’t reach and so desperately wanted to be healed – so God honored a SPECIAL MEANS. The Apostle Paul prayed over and anointed pieces of cloth – from that of handkerchiefs and aprons – and sent them to these requesting prayers for healing – and THEY WERE HEALED! – Acts 19:11-12.

We know and understand that through the same example, of laying on of hands for healing, the use of pure virgin first cold pressed olive oil is required. And, never forget – the pure olive oil – which has been blessed by God in which His true servants use in anointing has no power to heal. Also, there is no healing power that resides within the hands of the physical individual who is anointing – the healing power is not the audible prayer given – nor is there any healing power in the threads of an anointed cloth. GOD IS THE HEALER!

So, on the cloths, as a minister of Jesus Christ would on the forehead of the person with their hand (and NOT in the shape of a cross), so will the minister of Jesus Christ place some pure virgin first cold pressed olive oil upon a cloth.

Now, the LORD our God (the very Being who we know as our Lord Jesus Christ) is “the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8) – and hundreds and hundreds in this 21st century are being healed by this very method – given to us in the living word of God!

All who request a special prayer are prayed for by a true and loyal Christian or one of the ministers of Jesus Christ. All who ask for prayers for HEALING are given special consideration and prayers.

Since it is impossible for a single minister of Jesus Christ in any one location to visit each of those who are sick in their homes or a hospital. The minister of Jesus Christ will pray over and anoint with pure virgin first cold pressed olive oil a piece of white cloth for each case – following the example given to us by the Apostle Paul – and this cloth will be mailed to the person who is sick and requesting it.

The anointed cloth is sent in a small plastic bag (because it’s been anointed with the olive oil which represents God’s Holy Spirit).

With Boldness of Speech

A person asked me – why did I use a particular word, which is considered offensive to the ears of a great many, in a recent sermon.

Here’s the skinny –

I was telling a story of a woman who was cheating on her husband sexually with another man.

This woman gets pregnant from this other man – while still being married to her husband.

She ABORTS the unborn baby.

Thus, in the eyes of our Eternal God, she has not only committed adultery, but she also is a MURDERER!

Yet, this woman is unrepentant and revels in her lustful actions!

Friends, where is her ACCOUNTABILITY!?

The Apostle Paul – under the inspiration of God’s Spirit – writes –

“For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are THE ENEMIES OF THE CROSS OF CHRIST: 19) whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is their SHAME – who set their mind on earthly things” – Philippians 3:18-19.

SHAME, SHAME, SHAME on such “enemies of the cross of Christ”! 😢

The very definition of such a woman is found in the Merriam Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary –

Slut \`slət\ n [ME slutte] (15c) 1 chiefly Brit : a slovenly woman 2 a : a promiscuous woman; esp : PROSTITUTE b : a saucy girl : MINX – slut∙tish \`slə-tish\ adj – slut∙tish∙ly adv - slut∙tish∙ness n – slut∙ty \`slə-tē\ adj

So, not only are a great many trying to change the very definition of “recession”! These same self-righteous people are trying to change the word “slut” to an “archaic” and “disparaging” – as in this new Woke Culture movement – a term that “belittles a particular ethnic, religious, or social group.”

Well, if it looks like a duck and walks like a duck – it is a duck!

It is a word that has been used by other ministers of Jesus Christ when speaking of such women. Sadly, that is what such a woman can be called.

Truly, there are a great many such words found in God’s living word – the Holy Bible – that don’t sit well with the sheltered fluffy fakes that claim that they read the Bible and know the truth of God.

To label such a sinful woman is not against God.

Our Lord and Savior Himself – while in the flesh – used some very abrasive and “disparaging” words in His description of certain types of people – e.g. calling them snakes and dogs.

There are a great many in this world that get too self-righteous in order to back up their own definition and ideologies of what words should be used and what shouldn’t.

May I suggest you do a word search of God’s living word – maybe using a Bible concordance – to see for yourself the many “archaic” words that are now, in this 21st century, considered vulgar or too “disparaging” – i.e. ass, whore, sinner, piss, dung. □

Additional Commentaries

Women in the Church - As we go along in this journey towards the end of this age we are seeing more and more a great weakness within the Church of God.

Should Christians Vote? - THERE are a lot of arguments involving this question. Both sides of the argument are good ones. Either may be acceptable points of view.

Let NOTHING Get In The Way of Jesus! - THE point is: that it is a struggle to NOT allow the snares of this world - things that are material - to get in the way of JESUS!

Commentary: Long Life

by Guy C. LaMar

In the Book of Genesis chapter 6, the LORD God says –

“ … ‘My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, for he is indeed flesh; yet his days shall be ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY YEARS’” – Genesis 6:3, NKJV throughout.

Now what the LORD God is saying here is that beginning from that time forward mankind only had 120 years left to live upon the earth, because the LORD God was going to allow the Great Flood to occur upon the world.

So, mankind only had 120 years to live at that time.

It does not mean that mankind cannot live past 120 years. According to a Twitter tweet, a 300-year-old Pakistani woman is alive and well!?

So, the LORD God’s reference here to 120 years was a countdown until the Great Flood.

Now obviously mankind cannot live 1,000 years in the flesh.

The oldest patriarch in God’s living word – the Holy Bible – recorded was Methuselah, the grandfather of Noah, and he lived 969 years of age; and he died. Patriarch Noah lived 950 years; and he died. Our father Adam lived 930 years; and he died.

Now, Methuselah’s grandfather was the pre-Deluge Patriarch Enoch, who ‘walked with God 365 years, and God took him’ – and he eventually died.

Methuselah’s son Lamech, the father of Noah, lived 777 years; and he died.

These four men all died natural deaths before the Great Flood.

Patriarch Noah died a natural death after the Great Flood.

Now, why were humans living so long!?

There are many theories which abound. One of which is “Perhaps a canopy of water vapor surrounded the earth before the flood, providing the massive volume of water required for a global flood. If so, this continual blanket of clouds could have shielded the earth from the effects of harmful cosmic radiation, creating ideal living conditions and resulting in longer lives.” 1

Indeed, the oxygen level in Earth’s present atmosphere is 21%. Earth’s ancient atmospheric oxygen level, according to the analysis of air bubbles trapped in ancient amber, was at one time 35%!

Also, they WORKED WITH THEIR HANDS! They certainly were not lazy gluttons, and they were not sitting around living off the government, popping pills, drinking alcohol to excess, smoking funny cigarettes, and eating junk food!

They also were not overcrowding their minds with pure junk that is offered in the world!

They were physical and active people!

Also, the men mentioned, abided in the dietary laws commanded by the LORD God – cf. Leviticus 11. These men lived by the commanded laws of the LORD God.

Their focus was on the LORD God.

Patriarch Mahalalel (which means “the shining one of El”), lived 895 years; and he died. Seth, a son of Adam, when men began to ‘call on the name of the LORD’ – meaning, they began to include the name of God within their own name, such as Mahalalel – lived 912 years; and he died. Enosh, one of Seth’s sons, lived 905 years; and he died. Cainan, a son of Enosh, lived 910 years; and he died. Patriarch Jared lived 962 years; and he died.

After the Great Flood, the life of mankind began to shorten.

This was due in part to climate change, environmental change, oxygen levels, diet, along with the way that people began to live as they crowded themselves into cities.

Postdiluvians Arphaxad lived 403 years, Salah lived 403 years, Eber lived 430 years, Peleg lived 209 years, Reu lived 207 years, and Serug lived 200 years.

Now, lifespans are not based upon how well one may look as one grows in age. Often I hear people say that this person or that person looks so old at 50 or 70 years old. Well, it could be possible that a particular individual actually LIVED and not just existed.

That individual actually DID SOMETHING with their life – as in, they made a difference in others’ lives. And, mostly for the betterment of others, not for the detriment of others. The individual “gave” of themselves – to the degree that he/she now has stress-lines upon his/her face.

Also, of course, physical abuse of the body can bring upon early death. If a person does not physically take care of themselves they can easily hurt themselves and greatly shorten their life.

Make no mistake – if a person truly applies themselves, lives right, applies God’s Way, then they can be assured a much longer and more fulfilling life.

Also, if they apply a more positive mindset and stay clear of negative people, then they may indeed live a much longer life.

Trusting in man over the LORD God will certainly hinder one’s life!

Yet, and it may be true, that a person may pack in their life so much living that by the time they reach 50 or 70 years of age, they have truly lived more than someone who had lived 300 years of age!?

King David was like that. He died at the age of 70 (2 Samuel 5:4), and had lived a long and fulfilling life! He truly did more in 70 years than most people do in 300 years!

When we place the LORD God as the main focus in our life, we live our life in service to God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, we will truly experience a far more fulfilling life. We will know just what fulfillment is all about.

The KINGDOM to come to this EARTH will last a THOUSAND YEARS to begin the establishment of the ETERNAL RULE of God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ’s Way under the direction of the saints of God. □

Bibliography

1) “Why Did People Live So Long Before The Flood?” Pursuegod.org. https://www.pursuegod.org/people-live-long-flood/. Retrieved 2 Oct 2021.

Additional things to think about...

Just What Is The New Testament? - In this mostly humanist world today, many view the New Testament as nothing more than a collection of very cleverly concocted myths and stories designed and established around a religious movement or created by an ecclesiastical empire to rule over others. [...]

Debt Forgiveness - When people do good deeds for others and expect something in return for those good deeds, then that person is offering a loan. [...]

How God Is Called God - how is it that “God” is called “God” by the native tongues of various regions around the world!? [...]

Will You Recognize Jesus!? - MOST people who profess Jesus Christ will not recognize Him when He returns!

Walk With God! - We understand that God’s living word says, “it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment.” It’s given to every human being to live a life – and then to eventually die.

Being Anointed - HAVE you ever wondered just how sick you should be before you call upon a servant of God ... [...]

Repent For Salvation - When most people contemplate the concept of “bad things” happening to themselves and or their loved ones, they normally think of health-related issues. [...]

Being Anointed

Greetings, dear friends. The other day, in prayer to God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, I had asked Them if there was anyone in my area who needed my help! The following day, a neighbor a few houses down, using a walker, walks down, approaches me in the yard, and asks for my help! She wanted to know if I would be willing to help her sell some of the things in her garage with a garage sale, letting me know that she has terminal cancer. Of course, I said, “Absolutely!”

Now, the question should be asked: Did God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ send her down to me just to help her with a garage sale?

HAVE you ever wondered just how sick you should be before you call upon a servant of God (an elder of the Church – James 5:14) for anointing and prayer to be healed?

How can you know when you should call on Almighty God to be forgiven of your physical sins and be healed? And, if you wonder whether you should ask, can you have faith in asking? And, what if the elder refuses to anoint you – should you go to another for anointing?

Truly, it is a matter of balance and wisdom and a matter of knowing when and for what to apply the living sacrifice of our Lord and Master Jesus Christ.

Now, I know that God can and will heal her completely! Healing is one of the greatest blessings from God Almighty!

“Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: 3) Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases” – Psalm 103:2-3.

HEALING is truly an office that God holds – an office He has mercifully exercised for thousands of years!

“ … ‘ For I AM the LORD who heals you’” – Exodus 15:26.

This high office belongs exclusively to GOD!

“’ Now see that I, even I, AM He, And there is no God besides Me; I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal; Nor is there any who can deliver from My hand’” – Deuteronomy 32:39.

Now, as I stood in my driveway speaking to my neighbor, whom God loves (cf. John 3:16), a car drove up to take her to church on Sunday - I was unable to let her know that I am a servant of God. So, surely she believes in Almighty God and our Lord Jesus Christ! Surely she knows that faith comes by hearing –

“So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” – Romans 10:17.

Sadly, some fakes and charlatans have come through history and have pretended to heal, who have the arrogance of claiming to heal, within their tent revivals. They dare to take unto themselves this high office which belongs to the Creator – our great and High Priest! Also, some mix up an oil and wine concoction and, upon dipping their finger into it, place a cross on a person's forehead – unknowingly propagating THE MARK OF THE BEAST!

Friends, our God is a jealous God, and He jealously guards His high office!

“Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed; Save me, and I shall be saved, For You are my praise” – Jeremiah 17:14.

God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ are the ONLY ONES who can provide TRUE HEALING! Just as Jesus Christ is the ONLY ONE who can provide TRUE SALVATION!

God’s true healing is not a natural process of healing. IT IS AN OUTRIGHT REMOVAL OF THE AFFLICTION! A DIRECT MIRACLE!

I myself have been healed by Almighty God! One time while I was watching a sermon on YouTube, the minister held up the Bible to the screen and said, “If there is anyone that needs healing from Jesus, and IF you believe He will heal you, touch the screen and you will be healed! If you believe!” I touched the screen while praying to God the Father and Jesus Christ for the healing of my heart from scar tissue buildup, which was causing my heart to develop atrial fibrillation (an abnormal heart rhythm), and as I did, I began to feel a warm sensation cover my whole body, from the soles of my feet to the top of my head and then back to my heart. God had healed my heart of scar tissue!

Now, while it is true that sometimes God heals a person over time, nonetheless, it is a direct intervention of God and not a natural, bodily healing. Then, like what happened to me, there can be an instant healing!

“When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven you’” – Mark 2:5.

Jesus Christ – the Son of God – who came to bear our sin in His own body as a living sacrifice for us –

“Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, ‘I am willing; be cleansed’” – Mark 1:41.

He made it so plain to understand that the healing of our physical bodies involves DIRECT FORGIVENESS OF SINS!

“’But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins’ – He said to the paralytic” – Mark 2:10.

And, even though the healing of our physical bodies is purely a physical effect – and is but temporary – this forgiveness of our sins (which is spiritual) has a DIRECT and tangible physical effect which leads us to see just how much our Father God loves us and can and will forgive our spiritual sins and will indeed grant us eternal life and eternal good health!

Indeed, God is the personification of true love. And friends, as it happened to me, it too can happen to you - once while I was in prayer and meditation Almighty God allowed me to feel just a small portion of the love that He has for me, and in my mind whispered, ‘I cannot let you feel all the love I have for you because your physical body wouldn’t be able to handle it.’ And the very next day, I was baptized and hands were laid upon me. For Scripture says, ‘Perfect love casts out fear.’ And, it also says that ‘love covers a multitude of sins.’

Friends, 1,991 years ago, the Son of Man – Jesus Christ – who lived a perfect life, was beaten, rejected, scoffed, denied, ridiculed, mocked, scourged, spat upon, nailed to a cross, lifted up, and bled to death in the sun – and was MURDERED! But He was resurrected – the firstborn of many brethren – as a Spirit being – of the God family! He, who now sits at the right-hand side of Father God, and still offers the sacrifice of His broken body to be applied for the forgiveness of our sins. To mankind, centuries have passed. There is NO WAY within the limitations of our own physical understanding can the suffering of another human being can erase the suffering of another. It is truly beyond our physical understanding or ability – IT IS SPIRITUAL!

Important To Christ’s Ministry

HEALING has always been an integral part of the ministry of Jesus Christ!

“And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people” – Matthew 4:23.

“But when the multitudes knew it, they followed Him; and He received them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who had need of healing” – Luke 9:11.

It was an integral part of the ministry of the New Testament Church of God!

“And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, ‘By what power or by what name have you done this?’ Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, ‘Rulers of the people and elders of Israel: If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well, let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’ Nor is there salvation in any other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved’” – Acts 4:7-12.

“’ saying, ‘What shall we do to these men? For, indeed, that a notable miracle has been done through them is evident to all who dwell in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. But so that it spreads no further, among the people, let us severely threaten them, that from now on they speak to no man in this name’” – vs. 16-17.

“how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, and went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. And we are witnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom they killed by hanging on a tree. Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly” – Acts 10:38-40.

It is a sign of God’s true servants and the ministry of Jesus Christ!

“And He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.’ So then, after the Lord had spoken to them. He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen” – Mark 16:15-20.

Now, God’s true servants and the ministry of Jesus Christ – the Church of God – certainly do not make any show of these accompanying signs, for my neighbor does not yet even know that I am a minister of God. Nonetheless, thousands are healed every year!! And she, too, will be healed!

Now, the holy oil – the pure olive oil – which has been blessed by God, in which His true servants use in anointing, has no power to heal. Also, there is no healing power that resides within the hands of the physical individual who is anointing – the healing power is not the audible prayer given, nor is there any healing power in the threads of an anointed cloth.

GOD IS THE HEALER! And He heals through the power of His Holy Spirit and by the direct application of the punishment that Jesus Christ suffered.

Friends, the miraculous healing of our physical body is a true physical and real benefit and blessing from Almighty God! It is a way to good health when we are sick or diseased. DO NOT be guilty along with some who believe – one should not go to a doctor. This ministry, the Church of Jesus Christ Online Ministries, believes that one can and should go to a doctor when needed. You must realize that whether you live or whether you die – because death is always a possibility as long as we are physical – YOU BELONG TO JESUS CHRIST!

“For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s” – Romans 14:8.

You should, if possible, go to a doctor for health benefits. Yet, as stated earlier, no human being can heal you. And, it is not within another human being to have the power to FORGIVE YOU OF SIN!

Now, an exact understanding of what I speak is truly found in God’s living word -

“For he who eats [the Bread of Life] and drinks [the Blood of Christ] in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s Body. For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep [are dead]” – 1 Corinthians 11:29-30, the New King James Version.

We partake of the Lord’s Passover every year! We take the symbol of Christ’s broken Body – the unleavened bread – which represents the broken and sinless Body of Jesus Christ sacrificed for our physical sins – sacrificed for our physical healing. Truly, CHRIST IN US!!!

We should trust completely in Almighty God for our physical healing as we trust in Him for our spiritual salvation. We should fully understand the true meaning of the sacrifice of the Body of Christ!

Also, it is gravely IMPORTANT to understand what you are asking for when you ask to be anointed – so that you DO NOT regard it lightly. In a sense, you are asking for the pain, suffering, and punishment, the beating, the scourging, the humiliation, and hatred which was hurled upon Jesus Christ – and applied for YOUR physical sins.

“who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness – by whose stripes you were healed” – 1 Peter 2:24.

“But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed” – Isaiah 53:5.

Truly, from the waist up, the Body of Jesus Christ was ripped to shreds. Great chunks of His flesh hung down! In some places, his very bones were exposed!

“For dogs have surrounded Me; The congregation of the wicked has enclosed Me. They pierced My hands and My feet; I can count all My bones. They look and stare at Me. They divide My garments among them, And for My clothing they cast lots” – Psalm 22:16-18.

“Just as many were astonished at you, So His visage [His face] was marred more than any man, And His form more than the sons of men” – Isaiah 52:14.

Friends, I remind us of these Scriptures so that we will remember and understand just what we’re asking for when we are anointed.

Let us understand –

“ … two pieces of wood, or other material, so placed in juxtaposition to one another, are understood to form a cross. … Punishment by crucifixion was widely employed in ancient times. It is known to have been used by nations such as those of Assyria, Egypt, Persia, by the Greeks, Carthaginians, Macedonians, and from very early times by the Romans.

In both of these the criminal was first of all usually stripped naked, and bound to an upright stake, where he was so cruelly scourged with an implement, formed of strips of leather having pieces of iron, or some other hard material, at their ends, that not merely was the flesh often stripped from the bones, but even the entrails partly protruded, and the anatomy of the body was disclosed. In this pitiable state he was reclothed, and, if able to do so, was made to drag the stake to the place of execution, where he was either fastened to it, or impaled upon it, and left to die.” 1

This gives you an idea of what our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ had to endure through the night for YOU! It was only because He was in excellent condition that He was even able to walk after receiving such a beating. These are the stripes by which YOU are healed! These are the stripes you ask to be applied to the bare back of our Savior in YOUR stead when you ask to be anointed.

YOU Must Ask

Once I go to her and tell her that I am a servant of God, she must ask for an anointing.

Though she may indeed have come to recognize and understand the awesomeness of our living sacrifice, she may be relying on those who DO NOT truly obey God!

Once one has repented of their sins, been baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, and had hands laid upon them, having received the glorious Holy Spirit, it is no longer a matter of choice. It is only a matter of deciding when to call for this living sacrifice. IT IS A DIRECT COMMAND FROM GOD!

“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 sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven” – James 5:14-15.

This expression “let him call” is not a suggestion – it is a command!

The Living Bible translation makes it much clearer in that it reads, “Is anyone sick? He SHOULD CALL for the elders of the Church and they should pray over him and pour a little oil upon him, calling on the Lord to heal him.”

Now, some will reason amongst themselves that they do not deserve this living sacrifice. And this is true – no one deserves this living sacrifice! Yet we are commanded to repent and be baptized – which means we MUST CLAIM the death of Jesus Christ to be applied in our stead!

Once His death has been claimed, you no longer belong to yourself. You are PURCHASED – you are paid for – completely with a price beyond our physical understanding. You are no longer responsible for just yourself, an individual apart from others. YOU ARE A MEMBER OF THE BODY OF CHRIST!

“Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit [which] is in you, [which] you have from God, and you are not your own?” – 1 Corinthians 6:19.

YOU are no longer free to selfishly do with your physical body as you wish to do. You are now responsible for seeing to it that you are in good health, strength, and energy to use the body in the service of the whole Body of Christ – the Church of God.

“For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s” – 1 Corinthians 6:20.

You glorify Almighty God by allowing Him to live within you. You repent of your sins, both physical and spiritual, and ask for the living sacrifice of Christ to pay for both. And then you use this cleansed body to serve Him in body, mind, and spirit.

A Wrong Attitude To Have

The other day, I was asked if I would be willing to drive to Tampa to anoint a sister in Christ who is in the Tampa General Hospital. It was suggested that I may be her only hope – it sounded as if she really needed an anointing. I said that I would be more than happy to go and help in any way possible. They are both from another church group. Her husband declined. He only requested prayers for his wife. Some people believe that only a minister (or an elder) from their own group can anoint them. Many feel odd when other people from other churches that aren’t their home church try to help. The question was asked – is this how our Lord Jesus Christ would be!?

In my healing, which I spoke of earlier, it WAS NOT any human being that healed me – it was ALMIGHTY GOD HIMSELF! 

CONCLUSION

When a true servant of God, in the glorious and holy name of Jesus Christ, calls on God the Father in the upper heavenly realms and by the anointing with oil as a symbol of God’s Holy Spirit, it then becomes GOD’S RESPONSIBILITY! The servant of Christ, laying his hands upon the head of the individual to set him apart, places the responsibility for your healing in God’s hands. Now it is up to Him to decide whether He will apply the living sacrifice of Jesus Christ, His Son. It is up to Him to decide when He will apply that sacrifice – and how! □

Bibliography

1) Encyclopedia Britannica – Vol VII, Cross and Crucifixion, New York, Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc. 1911, pp. 505-506.