Is sickness a blessing?

God has the power - period.

Lazarus' faith was non existent, the cripple at the temple gate wanted a hand-out. the Centurion's servant wasn't involved, but his boss had faith. On the other hand the woman with the issue of blood KNEW what she had to do to be healed, and the woman with the demonized daughter knew that Jesus was the answer.

Who has to have faith?? Somebody, if you KNOW what's going to happen, but then sometimes (most of the time these days) we're pleasantly surprised when a healing takes place as a surprise, when NOBODY had "faith", just because God surprised us by doing what we asked Him to.

FAITH is when you KNOW what's going to happen - like Peter did with the cripple.

The problem with "Word of Faith" teaching is that there's really no "Faith" in it, just methods, meaningless "professions", and bucket loads of "Presumption". Mark 11:21-23 gives the clue "NOTHING DOUBTING". if you have doubt, then all you have is "Belief". FAITH has substance, and KNOWS that God intends to do what you say.

Yes and no. Sometimes it can benefit us, keep us from sinning and humble us and bring us to Christ.
Other times its just a hindrance.

There are many reasons for sickness and suffering, and sometimes indeed it can be a blessing. the blessing may not always be felt by the suffering one but others can be blessed by seeing a Christian sufferer still praising God in all circumstances. To study the Book of Job is a good start to understanding suffering. Also i recommend viewing/listening to the Limbless Preacher Nick Vujicic on U Tube or Face Book.

Nick Vujicic introduces new questions about Christian sicknesses and disabilities.

Hello,
Sickness, death, pain etc... are all a product of SIN namely the FALL IN THE GARDEN..However, God uses each of those things to Grow us in our faith and walk with him.....
Let me share a brief story...
..
I wasnt raised in a Christian home, My parents had a head knowledge of Jesus but didn't actively participate in any religion...
I prayed for them always...and attended church most of my life....on the day my Father would die I called my Pastor to come meet with my father and perhaps share the gospel one more time before he passed ...I my Pastor and My Mother were present in the room... dad couldnt speak due to a stroke but he understood all that was said or going on....The pastor asked Dad what he was going to say to Jesus when He met him and why should Jesus let him into Heaven......Dad began to well up with tears...and shook his head....pastor asked him if he would like to know what needed to be said and done to which my father nodded.....the pastor prayed the sinners prayer and said for my Father to pray silently in his head....I felt an overwhelming peace wash over me knowing my Father prayed te prayer....he slipped away a little later that evening...................THAT'S NOT THE END OF THE STORY........

A SHORT TIME LATER I was visiting my mom and she had Elvis Gospel album playing...which wasn't to unusual she liked Elvis and all the CROONER singers....but she asked me an odd question... she asked if I could find her a large print bble..cause she was haveing a hard time reading hers......She began to attend church with us...and prayed...ad read the Word...I asked her what had happened...she said when Pastor was Praying with you father I PRAYED TOO!!!!

I can think also of a story in scipture where a man was eaed and the Pharisees asked Jesus who was the one who sinned.. Parents or the man who was blind...JESUS REPLIED "NEITHER HE WAS BORN BLIND FOR THIS MOMENT SO THAT YOU MIGHT BELIEVE"!!
THE BATTLE RAGES TIL THE LION ROARS!!,
Clarence

God does love His children so much that He chastens them, tests them, rebukes them, reproves them, and inflicts them with pain as necessary for their growth.

Cameron143 said:
What, I wonder, is the purpose of the Book of Job?

Satan challenged God ------so God took the challenge and gave Satan his way ----God already knew that Job would not Curde Him to His face ---that Job no matter what came against Him he would remain Faithful ----

Satan said to God -----verse 11

9Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for no reason?10Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land.

11But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.”

12And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your hand

The Challenge was on ---and God won --------

Some would say the impetus was God who brought up Job. Evidently Satan had considered Job before because he knew God had put a hedge around him.
You are correct that God won, as always. What is interesting is in what it teaches about how God wins and what that teaches us about how we will have victory as well.

There are many major lessons in Job, including, but certainly not limited to:
1. Christians should never complain about anything in life because God is in charge of all circumstances and He knows what he is doing.
2. No Christian should think troubles, sicknesses, diseases, losses, or other dismaying circumstances are always the result of God's judgment of sin.
3. One 'golden key' to be found hidden in the book of Job is the fact that Christians often find the worst of tragedies and heartaches are where they discover the magnitude and depth of God's love for them.

I have learned to seek God in sickness and in health, so, I have been able to see Him in both. I think that is the lesson of illness: that we may know His presence regardless of the circumstance.

However, I would run away from a pastor that says illness is a blessing. It's not the illness that blesses us, but rather, if we are able to receive it, the maturity and obedience that comes from suffering.

John 11:35 plus Hebrews 5:8-9

I challenge anyone to give me a Scripture that says Jesus and His 12 disciples were so sick that they couldn't go to share the Good News in a town -----

Jesus Healed peopled and He have His Disciples the power to Heal ythe sick -------there was no sickness that ever stopped Jesus or the Disciples from going to town to town to preach the Gospel --------

this is where sickness comes from ------THE CURSE------ NOT THE BLESSING ------

Curses for Disobedience-----DEUTERONOMY 28 -----

19 You will be cursed when you come in and cursed when you go out.

20 The Lord will send on you curses, confusion and rebuke in everything you put your hand to, until you are destroyed and come to sudden ruin because of the evil you have done in forsaking him.[a]

21 The Lord will plague you with diseases until he has destroyed you from the land you are entering to possess.

22 The Lord will strike you with wasting disease, with fever and inflammation, with scorching heat and drought, with blight and mildew, which will plague you until you perish.

27 The Lord will afflict you with the boils of Egypt and with tumors, festering sores and the itch, from which you cannot be cured.

28 The Lord will afflict you with madness, blindness and confusion of mind.

29 At midday you will grope about like a blind person in the dark. You will be unsuccessful in everything you do; day after day you will be oppressed and robbed, with no one to rescue you.


35 The Lord will afflict your knees and legs with painful boils that cannot be cured, spreading from the soles of your feet to the top of your head.

59 the Lord will send fearful plagues on you and your descendants, harsh and prolonged disasters, and severe and lingering illnesses. 60 He will bring on you all the diseases of Egypt that you dreaded, and they will cling to you. 61 The Lord will also bring on you every kind of sickness and disaster not recorded in this Book of the Law, until you are destroyed.

There the Lord will give you an anxious mind, eyes weary with longing, and a despairing heart. 66 You will live in constant suspense, filled with dread both night and day, never sure of your life.

i say ----see Deuteronomy 28 --the Blessings ----which Jesus brought back into play for Believers
Now go read the Blessings which all who have received Jesus is under ---not one disesas --or illness mentioned


ONLY HEALTH and Prosperity ------OH Ye of LITTLE FAITH of Those Who DOUBT

Jesus defeated the Curse and brought Back the Blessings FOLKS ------anyone who Is Born Again is under the Blessings ------if you are sick it is because your allowing sickness in ---by the CARES of This world -----Stress ---anxiety ---fear ---doubt ---unbelief ----etc -----

Oh look you have to show it by scripture, you have to SHOW where Jesus ever made somebody ill in order to teach them or even to chasten them.

It is true when people fall away but that is because they are away from teaching, away from the Healer the Life giver.

Under the law, in the OT times sickness was a curse for disobedience but we have been redeemed from the curse of the law.

Lack of knowledge, not recognising the body and blood of Christ in the Lord's supper and lack of faith that are the cause of sickness.

Some conditions would require a miracle and not simple healing. That is a whole different area.

There are trials can you see how important it is to KNOW where a trial comes from?

If the devil punches you on the nose and you thank God for punching you. you had better watch out he doesn't knock you through the wall next time

totally

Christian never did have power to heal the sick, Jesus is the Healer and He dwells in us [in His church] He will MANIFEST Himself when the church start believing in Him ... He will demonstrate that He is the same, yesterday and today and forever.

And start obeying Him.

Well said

I agree, Job was perfect in God's eyes, why do folks accuse him of self righteousness? They are joining hands with Job's comforters.

God says to the comforters "you have not spoken what is right as My servant Job has" God was quite angry with them.

The FABULOUS lesson we learn from Job is that sickness [poverty] does not come because of personal sin and healing [prosperity] does not come by obedience to the law righteousness.

God's blessings ALL come through the Advocacy and Redemption that is in Jesus Christ. "I know that my Redeemer lives and He shall stand upon the earth at the last day and though my body rot away, eaten by worms yet shall I see God in my flesh"

if He tell you something ... it won't be the law for the law came by Moses but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ

His commands are to only believe and to love.