From Theology of Healing & Miracles: Syllabus – Volume II by Dr. Sandra Kennedy & Rev. Velda Schirhart
Let me say this strongly and clearly – no where in the Word of God does it ever say that taking medicine is a lack of faith. A detailed teaching on this subject is part of the Principles of Healing and Miracles Class, but let me review a few key points. Please remember, there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.
GOD IS THE HEALER
In Exodus 15:26, God establishes Himself as Jehovah Rapha, the Lord who heals you. Rapha can also be translated as physician; God is our Great Physician. It is in Him and Him alone that we live and move and have our being. God wants us well and has provided for us to live in Divine health at the Cross of Calvary where Jesus took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses. (Isaiah 53:4, 5; Matthew 8:17; 1 Peter 2:24) Healing is a part of the atoning and redemptive work of Christ.
God desires that our faith be in Him, and His desire is for us to be in health. (3 John 1:2) God has provided many things on this Earth to help us live abundant lives, and medication is a means for us to use to promote healing. We need to do what is necessary in the natural, until the supernatural takes over. Whenever we receive medical care, we keep our focus on and our faith in God, Who is our Healer, not on the medicine or the treatment.
As we mature in our relationship with God, and in our faith in Him (faith comes from hearing and hearing the Word of God), we experience a greater understanding of Who He is. God loves us. We are His sons and daughters. He wants us well in every area, so we can join Him where He is working to bring people out of darkness and into His marvelous light. As our faith grows, we will need less medication, and more of Him. I used to grab an aspirin for a headache, and then pray. Now I take authority in the Name of Jesus and command the headache to go. The majority of the time, that’s all there is to it, but occasionally the headache will linger. I check with Holy Spirit, and take the aspirin if He directs, praising God that He made all things good. Our focus should always be on God our Healer, not on the tools we may use to facilitate healing.
GOD MADE ALL THINGS GOOD
In the beginning God created … there is not one thing on this Earth that God did not create. “Man can combine, formulate, imitate, or duplicate, but only God can create.”[1] As people, we can use the resources God has provided for good or for bad. For example, morphine is from the poppy flower that God created. It can be used for good to relieve pain, especially if the pain is severe, such as after surgery, or it can be used as an addictive drug. The responsibility belongs to man. Would you really want to have a root canal without pain medication? Of course not! 1 Timothy 4:4 says, “For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving …” (NIV). Medications are not the enemy, nor are the physicians. I often say that God and doctors are on the same side, they both want you well. We do have a responsibility to select our physicians wisely and to pray for them.
HEZEKIAH AND ASA
The Bible does give us some examples of the use of medicine and the role of physicians.
When God healed Hezekiah and added fifteen years to his life, God did not do an instant miracle. God directed Isaiah to make a lump of figs to treat Hezekiah’s ailment, and then Hezekiah recovered. The use of a poultice of figs sounds like a form of medicinal treatment to me. The main point to remember is that Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall and prayed to the Lord first. Hezekiah’s focus was on God, and then he was obedient to follow God’s instructions. (2 Kings 20:1-7, Isaiah 38:1-21)
Asa’s experience was different. He had a severe disease in his feet. 2 Chronicles 17:12 says that he did not seek the Lord but the physicians. The result of his decision was that he died. The crisis was caused because Asa never sought God! The physicians were not the problem.
These two examples show us the importance of seeking God first, and then applying any medical treatment or taking medication in obedience to God.
HOW TO TAKE MEDICINE IN FAITH
Here are fours points we give to our participants at the Healing Place to use when they take any type of medication. (This includes everything from injections and IV’s to vitamins and supplements.)
- Lay hands on the medication and praise God for He made all things good –
- Genesis 1:31
- 1 Timothy 4:4, 5
- Command the medication: (Matthew 18:18, Matthew 28:18, Luke 10:19)
- To go where it needs to go
- To do what it needs to do
- Nothing more and nothing less
- Command your body to:
- Extract or absorb the good
- Reject the bad or any negative side effects
- Praise and thank God that by the stripes of Jesus:
- You have been healed (1 Peter 2:24)
- That you will not need to take this medication forever!
- Psalm 34:1 and Romans 8:28
The best way to eliminate sickness and disease is to take authority over the attack of the enemy at the very first sign of a symptom. (As taught by Gordon Lindsay) Never lie down and see if you will feel better in a little while. That just gives the enemy a foothold. Keep your eyes on Jesus. If the enemy does get in, take authority, praise God, ask Holy Spirit to guide you, do what He says, and do what is needed to stay in health. Taking medicine is not a lack of faith.
(Special thanks to Velda Schirhart for her teaching on Faith and Medicine)
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