Ministers and ministries/churches will often concentrate on one or two aspects of the good news and we could miss God's intentions for our life if we limit ourselves to one or two facets only of what God supplies.

Some concentrate on being saved; some on healing only; some on deliverance only; some on financial wellbeing only; on one area almost to the exclusion of the other areas.

They are all benefits/blessings from God to the believer though. So they are all of importance to the man or woman of God. Together they make up what could be called the 'four part gospel'.

The first benefit in the list above is being saved spiritually; spiritual wellbeing.

Jesus died for us so that our sins would be forgiven. This is probably the aspect most often emphasised to the exclusion of others. One can get the impression in some churches that God is able to and does save spiritually, but in other aspects he could do anything but mostly does nothing!

By no means should we play down so great a salvation as we have been afforded by Jesus Christ, of course. We have eternal life because of Jesus and his voluntary sacrifice of his sinless life, on the cross.

Save and saved = "Sozo" in the greek. It means 'to save', 'to heal' and 'to deliver'. If we look through the new testament we will see how this same word is used in all these ways to show what Jesus does for us.

In Mat 1:21 it is written...

Mat 1:21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins."

'Save' here is 'sozo' used to refer to 'saveing' from sin.

Mat 18:11 For the Son of Man came to save the lost.

Here we see the same thought given later in Jesus' life, and the same word 'sozo' used for 'saving the lost'.

This is the first aspect of the saving work of Jesus the Christ and is available now for those who accept Jesus as Lord and Saviour by faith.

1Th 5:9-10 For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live together with him.

Jesus the Christ is not dying every day on an ad-hoc basis for anyone who turns to him and asks for forgiveness of their sins. Forgiveness for all their sins, past, present and future, has already been provided by Jesus on the cross. That's true for all of us. It's there in the spirit realm. We have to accept it by faith through grace and then it's manifested into our lives now.

Heb 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

It's not the evidence of things that don't exist; there is none! It's the evidence of things not seen in the natural. It's in the Spirit realm!

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The second benefit in the list is being healed; physical wellbeing. In a sense though all the last three are referring to our physical wellbeing and can be considered together.

Isaiah prophesied that Jesus would take our sins on himself and would be chastised and beaten to bring us peace and healing. The peace here is 'shalom' which means welfare, prosperity, rest, health, and favour as well as peace. The healing is 'raphah' which means to cure, repair, make whole as well as heal.

Isa 53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed.

This is an area many churches struggle with. They believe God could heal or deliver from oppression, or help financially, but it isn't his will to do so most of the time. In fact some preach that God will bring sickness on his people to humble them and teach them lessons. This means that church members are not sure what God's intensions are and so have doubts as to whether they will be healed or helped in their lives now! It may not be God's will (they are told); the sickness or other setback could be his doing. This teaching encourages unbelief, doubt and fear.

It seems to have slipped the notice of many people that the bible says sickness is brought on us by the devil!,

Act 10:38 God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, and he went around doing good and healing (curing) all who were oppressed by the devil, because God was with him.

This verse is talking about physical illnesses and says they come because the people are being oppressed by the devil. If you want a list of many of the diseases that the Devil inflicts on people because they cannot gain righteousness through law keeping and so give him an inroad into their lives through sin then read Deut 28:15-68 later.

For now though, let's look at Mark 3, verses 1 through 4.

Mar 3:1-4 He entered again into a synagogue; and a man was there whose hand was withered. They were watching Him to see if He would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse Him. He said to the man with the withered hand, “Get up and come forward!” And He said to them, “Is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the Sabbath, to save a life or to kill?”

Notice that Jesus compares 'healing and not-healing' with 'doing good or evil' and also with 'saving life or killing'.

Sickness and disease are curses and are never portrayed as blessings in the bible. Good health is the blessing that God gives us!

We can see how we came to receive this blessing by looking at Gal 1:13-14.

Gal 3:13-14 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: that upon the Gentiles might come the blessing of Abraham in Christ Jesus; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

We have been redeemed from the curse of the law. The curse includes sickness and disease, poverty, mental illness, depression and oppression, not just death because the law give strength to sin and sin makes inroads into our lives for Satan to bring all kinds of sickness. (Read Deut 28:15-68 to see what he can do)! Jesus became cursed for us so that we would be freed from the curse of the law. That's why that mode of death, on a tree. That's why the pain and suffering. Because by his stripes we were healed. Or to put it another way - If Jesus was not going to pay for our healing there was no need for him to suffer in death. A quick, clean death would have sufficed. But he became a curse for us; as it is written, "Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree".

Praise God that Jesus did not just come to redeem us from the wages of sin, which is death, but from the curse of the law. Now that through Jesus we have the blessing of Abraham (Righteousness) we can be free of all the things Satan can bring on the un-righteous! Deut 28:15-68 is just a sample!. In other words Jesus through his finished work on the cross has freed us from sickness, disease, poverty, oppression and depression, and death (premature and spiritual).

To make it obvious that he came to heal us physically as well as spiritually, Jesus demonstrated this during his ministry and said that the same signs and wonders would follow the believers to confirm the word that they preached.

Mar 16:17-18 And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up serpents; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover."

Now this does not mean that someone who does not demonstrate signs and wonders is not teaching the truth, but someone who is shown to be walking in miracles of healing, etc., is according to the scriptures, having God back up what he says.

One could also ask, if Jesus and the disciples and early followers like Paul & Peter needed the word to be backed up why should one feel that our teaching of the word today needs no confirmation from God?

But Paul says...

1Co 4:20 For the kingdom of God is not in word (only), but in (Miracle Working) power.

Now just as 'sozo' is used for spiritual healing it's also used to show that physical healing is part of the package. In James 5:15 'sozo' is used to refer to physical healing. There are other words that could have been used meaning heal rather than 'save'!

Jas 5:15 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.

The word save is 'sozo' referring to Jesus bringing physical healing (salvation).

Mar 5:34 And he said to her, "Daughter, your faith has 'made you well'; go in peace, and be healed of your disease."

'Made you well' here is 'sozo', and it's also used in Act 4:9 and other places. The name of Jesus 'sozo's (saves) us from physical sicknesses and diseases, etc., as well as sin.

In the same way that spiritual salvation is reserved for us to accept by faith, healing and all God's other benefits are kept for us in the spirit realm also for us to manifest in our lives and the lives of others by faith. They were all provided 2000 years ago by Jesus.

Mat 10:7-8 And as you go, preach, saying: The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out devils: freely have you received, freely give.

Yes, Jesus redeemed us from the curse of the law. Satan's hand can be removed when he attempts to reprove us of sin, bring sickness on us, oppress us, or attack our overall well being.

Our God is a GOOD God!

Act 10:38 God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, and he went around doing good and healing (curing) all who were oppressed by the devil, because God was with him.

Some miss this fact and even teach that it's God who inflicts diseases and sickness on people to teach them lessons and to make them humble! This could not be further from the truth. God's word, as you see, says differently.

It's the devil who brings diseases, etc., to oppress people. As Holy Spirit intercedes for us with groanings God will turn all things to good for those who love him and are the called according to his purpose; But don't mistake the work of the devil, which God overturns for your good, with God's work in your life!

It's Jesus who heals, delivers, brings prosperity and saves. Whatever we need God supplies. It's ready, in the spirit realm, to be manifested by faith. Jesus is not being beaten and tortured today for our healing today, or being chastized today for our 'shalom' today; just as He is not being killed today on an ad-hoc basis every time a new person wants spiritual salvation. It was all 'paid in full' for us 2000 years ago.

Isa 53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace (shalom), and with his stripes we are healed.

Knowing our needs God redeemed us from the curse of the law through Jesus so that...

Php 4:19 ... my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

It's all in the Spirit realm. Now, we receive by faith. And remember faith is a law (Rom_3:27). Laws are universal and constant until recinded or made obsolete! You can depend on them! You can depend on the faith of Jesus which is in all believers.

God gave us a promise of a new spirit and this promise was fulfilled in Jesus. His life, death and resurection made it possible for us to live eternally with a heart and spirit at one with God; provided we put faith in him.

Eze 36:26 And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit within you. And I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh.

Because we have put faith in Jesus we have been given a new spirit, perfect and clean, and we have been sealed with the Holy Spirit so that our spirit cannot change.

Eph 4:30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you are sealed until the day of redemption.

Because we have Holy Spirit in us we have God and Christ in us 'the hope of glory'. They live in us. See John 14:23....

Joh 14:23 Jesus answered and said to him, If a man loves Me, he will keep My Word. And My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him.

And also 1 John 2:24....

1Jn 2:24 Therefore what you heard from the beginning, let it abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning remains in you, you will abide in both the Son and in the Father.

We have Jesus the Christ, Holy Spirit and God, the Father of us all, in us.

Through Jesus we have eternal salvation confirmed by our new spirit and through being sealed until the day of dedemption of our bodies.

2Co 1:22 And He has sealed us and having given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.

Through Holy Spirit we have perfect peace which we can share as long as we put faith in Jesus.

Mat 10:12 And when you come into a house, greet it. And if the house is worthy, let your peace come on it. But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you.

This peace (Holy Spirit) is now in us guiding us to a right knowledge of God's will and helping us make right decisions.

Act 10:38 God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, and he went around doing good and healing (curing) all who were oppressed by the devil, because God was with him.

This is everything that God promised us in Isa 53:5...

Isa 53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace (shalom), and with his stripes we are healed.

And because we have been redeemed from the curse of the law and not just the wages of sin everything that God has promised is now available through faith in Jesus.

Php 4:19 ... my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Satan though will try, through anxiety, to take away your joy of the reality that your salvation is sure, suggesting that God does impute your sins against you and so every time you sin you lose right standing with him.

He will try to convince you, through fear, that you do not have the peace of God in you.

He will try to convince you, through sickness, that you do not have healing in you.

But the scriptures say...

1Jn 4:17 By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he (Jesus) is so also are we in 'this' world.

This is the situation in our spirit. By faith it is manifested in our soul and in our bodies. We are clothed in Christ. Jesus is our wings! Mal 4:2

And, as Heb 11:1 says - "Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen". It's not the evidence of things that don't exist. It's the evidence of things not seen in the natural.

That's why Peter could say to the crippled man "What 'I' have I give to you; In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!"

It's in the Spirit realm! We don't have to work for it. We rest in Jesus and claim His promises for others and for ourselves. We have it!

Amen
 

Attlee.