Avoiding and Overcoming Diseases

A strategy used by the devil to try and gain the advantage over people is “the spirit of disease". A disease is a particular destructive process in an organ or organism, with a specific cause (known or unknown) and characteristic symptoms. Some people see every disease as caused by Satan and their prayer for the sick is affected by this belief. They try to cast demons out of people whose disease have nothing to do with demons. Because of this approach their prayers are ineffective and they see little results. Some people don't believe that people can have demons today and their prayer for the sick is also affected by this belief. They fail to recognize that the sickness is caused by a demon and therefore their prayer for the demon possessed sick person is ineffective. Satan does not care on which side we err; whether we think everything is demoniac and therefore fail to help people whose problem requires another solution or whether we think that nothing is demoniac and fail to drive out the demon that may be causing the sickness.

What causes disease? There are four major causes.

1.     Disease caused by direct demoniac attacks

Then they brought him a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute, and Jesus healed him, so that he could both talk and see (Matthew 12:22).

2.     Disease caused or allowed by God due to sin

"But if you will not listen to me and carry out all these commands, and if you reject my decrees and abhor my laws and fail to carry out all my commands and so violate my covenant, then I will do this to you: I will bring upon you sudden terror, wasting diseases and fever that will destroy your sight and drain away your life" (Leviticus 26:14-16).

3.     Disease caused or allowed by God for specific purposes

As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" "Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, "but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life (John 9:1-3).

4.     Disease caused by improper diet, lack of exercise, inadequate sleep, and inability to handle stress

"Everything is permissible for me"--but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible for me"--but I will not be mastered by anything (1 Corinthians 6:12).

A person can also contract a disease by:

·         Contact with a diseased person

·         Contact with or prolonged use of substances harmful to the individual

·         Genetic factors

Because demons, sins, God's purpose, diet, etc. can cause disease; we need the spirit of discernment from God to know how to pray for the sick. The right kind of prayer offered in faith will bring healing to the sick. May God give us this wisdom!

Pastor Earl