Being a Believer and Being Sick

At Shepherd of Hope Ministry we have a view of "Being a Believer and Being Sick."
We believe that healing is taught in the gospels and in the writings of the Apostles to the Churches.
We believe that God still heals today, both supernaturally and naturally. "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights." James 1:17
We believe in ministering to the sick.
In Matthew 25:31-46 Jesus reveals a future judgment. In this judgment, Jesus says. "I was sick and you visited me." Notice that
1) Jesus IDENTIFIES with the sick person.
2) Jesus does not say, "I was sick and you HEALED me" and
3) Jesus does not say, "I was sick and you REBUKED ME FOR MY LACK OF FAITH."We are trying to say that you can be sick and still be all that God wants you to be. Being sick does not mean there is something wrong with you spiritually.
Next, let's look at 2 Kings Chapter 13:14, 20-21.
14 Elisha had become sick with the illness of which he would die. Then Joash the king of Israel came down to him, and wept over his face, and said, "O my father, my father, the chariots of Israel and their horsemen!"
20 Then Elisha died, and they buried him. And the raiding bands from Moab invaded the land in the spring of the year 21 So it was, as they were burying a man, that suddenly they spied a band of raiders; and they put the man in the tomb of Elisha; and when the man was let down and touched the bones of Elisha, he revived and stood on his feet.Elisha was a prophet, he was a servant of Elijah, he had a double portion of Elijah's spirit, he performed more miracles in the old testament than anyone else, including raising people from the dead. And in Chapter 13:20-21 he had so much of God's Spirit that when a dead man touched his body, the dead man was brought back to life.
From this we see you can be sick, and still be used of God. In verse 14, Elisha was still being used as a prophet to the King of Israel even though he was sick and in bed. Notice that Elisha did not go to bed healthy and 'die in his sleep'. He BECAME sick, he WAS sick for a period of time, and EVENTUALLY died from this sickness. Even though he was sick, God was using him.
You may be sick, but what Jesus said in Matthew 25 still applies. You will either be one who, visited the sick, fed the hungry, clothed the naked; or one who did nothing. Being sick does not give us an excuse to not minister, nor does it disqualify us from being used of God.
God wants to use all believers. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 reads, "9 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. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong."When we say "Lord, here am I, use me" He will. He puts us in places where we must depend on His grace. He puts us in ministries that we cannot do in our own power. We must be totally dependant on Him, then He works through us and He gets the glory. God is not a wasteful steward; if you belong to Him, He has placed you where He can use you.
In closing let me remind you that Jesus did not come to take us OUT of this world, but to go with us THROUGH this world. Jesus says in Matthew 28:20, "I am with you always, even to the end of the earth."Written by Harold Wilson, Inspired by the Word of God If you wish to share this with an individual, please do so with credits to the writer and the website. If you wish to use it in any other form, please contact us first. Thank you.

Shepherd of Hope Christian Chat and Chronic Illness Support
From March 2008 Guest Chat - "Being a Believer and Being Sick", Harold Wilson (PDF file available)