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Nugget 8 Health, Healing and Happiness June 1982 The Living reality of the above words speak of Christ and the atonement. Recently, the Lord has been bringing to my attention the fact of how much we fall short of taking hold of and appropriating the fullness of the ATONEMENT. We lack because we ask not and discern not; yes, we fail to lay hold of so many of the promises of God. God's whole operation is based on laws and principles, thus the law of Cause and Effect, or in other words, the Law of Sowing and Reaping. These laws and principles govern our whole life. For example, in the natural, the law of gravity holds some life forms on the surface of the earth, and others above the earth. The principle of cohesion holds matter together. One could go on and on with these laws and principles which God has established in the earth. By these, God has set boundaries which He does not allow anyone to violate. In this, He provides protection for His creation from the forces of darkness. Through these laws and principles, God is able to bring deliverance to man by the offering of the Blood of His own Son Jesus Christ, and with Him freely give us all things. The redemption of the whole man (His purchased possession) and obtaining our inheritance is based on God's divine laws and principles. There is the need to look into some of these principles, as also the examples set in the Word, which are experiences of those who have passed on. The Law of Sowing and Reaping affects everyone's life consciously or unconsciously. "For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlastmg," Galatians 6:8. In thoughts and actions, we are always sowing - carnal sowing, carnal reaping; spiritual sowing, spiritual harvest. Hence we are involved in the battle of the laws. The Law of Life in Christ Jesus makes us free from the Law of Sin and Death; however, we must have our daily operations under the Law of Life in Christ Jesus, in order to maintain this freedom from the Law of Sin and Death. We are in a moving battle; there is no holding of ground and relaxing in a static position. The Scripture says, "Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound," Romans 5:20b. This means that we can apply His Grace to deliver us anytime and anywhere and in any circumstance. JESUS OUR SAVIOUR: Let us take a look into what Jesus has done for us. He is our Saviour, which means our salvation basically from the power and penalty of sin, but this very fact causes two reactions in opposite directions: when sin goes, the death recedes and so does sickness, fear and a whole host of other negative things which work against the human race. On the other hand, health, healing, safety, protection, preservation, freedom and promise of perfection or wholeness are all part of the new vista opened to the believer in Christ Jesus. Whatever, therefore, is lacking in our lives is that which we fail to lay hold upon or walk in, probably. sometimes, only because of lack of knowledge or lack of faith. Let us take some time here to look into a few passages of Scripture which should throw greater light on this subject. "And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, and wilt do that which is right in His sight, and wilt give ear to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the Lord that healeth thee." Exodus 15:26. This sounds as if the Lord sends evil diseases upon the people, but not so; it is the consequence of their not keeping His words and walking in the path of righteousness, which He has prepared as a way of escape and deliverance. VINDICATION OF JUSTICE BECAUSE OF VIOLATION OF LAW: The laws of the universe seem to be designed to vindicate themselves automatically when violated. A man jumps from a cliff and automatically sets in motion the laws of gravity. He is pulled with ever-increasing speed to his doom, and if he must be saved, God will have to use other laws to intervene to save him, but, invariably, justice is done without intervention. So many places in the Word it is written "if thou wilt" do this or that, then this evil will not befall you. In the converse, however, if we do not do that which we are commanded, advised or entreated not to do, then we reap the consequences of our disobedience. Surely, it is God's laws that did it to us, but could we fairly say that God did it to us? "My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh." Proverbs 4:20-22. HEALTH: The guarantee of a sound mind and healthy body is in Christ; as we consent, submit and allow the living Word to permeate our beings, we receive of His Life through the Spirit, into the soul, to the body. For those who miss Divine Health, God gives Divine Healing. HEALING: Healing is restoration of health and deliverance from the oppression of the enemy. The promises of God are true and real, but must be sought after and embraced with our whole heart. "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." Philippians 4:8. Paul encouraged the Philippian brethren (who were only a few, but faithful; among them Lydia, the seller of purple, and the Philippian jailer) to be truthful, honest, just, pure and virtuous; to practice what they had learned, heard and seen for their well being. Every action has a reaction or fruit. Galatians 5:19-26 shows the two kinds of fruits. Verses 19-21 show the product of the flesh (which is death), while verses 22-23 show the fruit of the Spirit (which is life and peace). "For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. For this cause many are WEAK AND SICKLY among you, and many sleep." 1st Corinthians 11:29-30. Here, Paul clearly states that sickness and death result from not being able to see the Body of Christ. It would not be right to say that all sicknesses comes from disobedience or sin of the individual, but what we do know is that some do. The basic principle is this: God provided for our health and healing and happiness in Christ, but there are negative agents that we sometimes allow to block the flow of life which comes from Him to us. Hate, malice, jealousy and all the works of the flesh and the devil militate against the flow of this energy from the throne of God. We pray in the Lord's prayer "Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us." It would seem that my unforgiveness toward others becomes a block to my receiving the forgiveness, which rightfully is mine from the Lord.
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