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"We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ and this is true for anyone who believes no matter who we are"
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Sermon Archive
Facing Serious Illness
1. Tell God what's on your heart.
2. Get the medical help God provides.
3. Live the life God grants.
4. Grow through suffering.
Facing serious illness
Act like a Christian #7
2 Kings 20:1-3
No one wants to suffer. No one wants to die. Jesus didn't. The night before his death he knew what was coming and pleaded with God for relief. He referred to his suffering as his "cup" and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me." (Matthew 26:39)
Even though we don't want sickness, suffering or death we all get them. The circumstances vary and there are infinite degrees of intensity but we all suffer and we all die.
You've heard all the explanations. There have been millions of books, sermons and conversations to tell us why bad things happen to good people, why there is pain and suffering and what happens when we die. Those are very important lessons to learn but today our focus is not on who or why we suffer but on how.
What is a Christian to do when diagnosed with cancer, struggling with depression, dealing with chronic pain or otherwise suffering from maladies we never would choose and cannot make go away? How do we act like Christians when facing serious illness?
Honestly, these are not easy questions to answer. But, let's try. Let's attempt to build a list of Christian actions in the midst of sickness and suffering.
I. Tell God what's on your heart
Christians start with God. The minute we're hurt. The first concern. The day of diagnosis. Whenever we're scared and filled with uncertainty we go to God.
Hezekiah was the 39-year-old king of Israel (Judah) when he became desperately ill. He was too young to be so sick; too young to die so soon. Dr. Isaiah came and spoke the prognosis that no doctor wants to give and no patient wants to hear.
2 Kings 20:1 In those days Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to him and said, "This is what the Lord says: Put your house in order, because you are going to die; you will not recover."
2 Kings 20:1 In those days Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to him and said, "This is what the Lord says: Put your house in order, because you are going to die; you will not recover."
What Hezekiah did next is what all godly people should do when told they are going to die – he told God what was on his heart.
2 Kings 20:2-3 Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord, "Remember, O Lord, how I have walked before you faithfully and with wholehearted devotion and have done what is good in your eyes." And Hezekiah wept bitterly.
2 Kings 20:2-3 Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord, "Remember, O Lord, how I have walked before you faithfully and with wholehearted devotion and have done what is good in your eyes." And Hezekiah wept bitterly.
Hezekiah wanted to be alone. This was between God and him. He was scared. His heart was broken. He sobbed. He tried to bargain with God, saying he had been good and done well. He was pleading for his life.
I think I would do what Hezekiah did. I would want to be alone. I would pray to God. I would pour out my heart. I would cry. Probably I would be filled with emotions more than with reason.
Do I believe God can heal me even after a prognosis of death? Yes, I believe he can and that he does.
Do I believe that God owes me? That God is somehow obligated? I do not. I know that Christians get sick and Christians die just like everyone else. But, I still would ask.
As Christians we go to God first. As Christians we trust God the most. As Christians we tell God what is on our heart. It is how a Christian acts when facing serious illness.
II. Get the medical help God provides
Amazingly, God immediately granted Hezekiah a fifteen year extension to life. 2 Kings 20:4-6 Before Isaiah had left the middle court, the word of the Lord came to him: "Go back and tell Hezekiah, the leader of my people, 'This is what the Lord, the God of your father David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will heal you. On the third day from now you will go up to the temple of the Lord. I will add fifteen years to your life.'"
God gave Hezekiah some very good news. It is not always this way and seldom this quick. Also, he was to remain seriously sick for three more days before he got better. And, he was promised 15 more years for a life expectancy of 54.
How old will you be in 15 years? Would you consider that to be long enough?
How old will you be in 15 years? Would you consider that to be long enough?
It wasn't a direct healing. God specifically instructed Hezekiah to get the best available medical treatment. 2 Kings 20:7 Then Isaiah said, "Prepare a poultice of figs." They did so and applied it to the boil, and he recovered.
We may wonder what good a pack of fig-paste would do for a dying man. I guess that's not really the point. The point is that God told him to go to the doctor. Even when God supernaturally intervenes he often utilizes the best human resources as well.
We may wonder what good a pack of fig-paste would do for a dying man. I guess that's not really the point. The point is that God told him to go to the doctor. Even when God supernaturally intervenes he often utilizes the best human resources as well.
As Christians we turn to God and we take our medicine. It is not either/or. Prayer and poultice. Prayer and penicillin. God first and doctors too.
III. Live the life God grants
When we face serious illness and suffering we usually don't know how long we have to live. Hezekiah was the rarest of exceptions. What we do know is that every day is a gift from God and that we should live every day for God.
It is true that we prefer our lives to be pain and problem free. For most of us we have more of those good days than 99% of the rest of the human race throughout human history. We have a lot of good days. When life is good we should live them for God and when life is painful we should live them for God. As Christians we consider every day as God's gift to be lived for God's glory. Phil 1:27 Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. In other words, our purpose in life is to make God look good no matter what happens. And, some of what happens is likely to be hard.
Philippians 1:29 For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him.
Philippians 1:29 For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him.
This is at the core of Christianity. We are to live for Jesus. We are to conduct our lives in ways that honor Jesus. We are to live out our Christian faith in the best of days and the worst of days, in pleasure and pain, in safety and danger, in grief and joy.
My own words scare me! Here's what I fear. I'm afraid that what I am saying will echo through my mind when I am paralyzed by a car crash. I'm afraid someone will play what is recorded today over the phone when I'm diagnosed with cancer. I'm afraid that I'll reread my own notes when I'm in the pits of depression. I'm afraid I can't do what I'm teaching.
But that also comes back to the core of Christianity. We live by faith. We are convinced that our God is a God of grace. He will be there for us. He will give the strength, courage, help and hope when the suffering comes. He will not abandon us. He does not expect us to do this alone. God may not give us the same answer he gave to Hezekiah but he will be there for us just as much as he was there for Hezekiah.
IV. Grow through suffering
There is one more point to hear for when Christians suffer with serious illness. It sounds so strange to the ears of unbelievers that we may be reluctant to tell. It is the sort of thing that you need to be a disciple of Jesus to fully understand.
When we suffer we have the opportunity to grow as Christians and especially to grow close to Jesus. It is because Jesus suffered and died for us. When we suffer we make a spiritual (and even supernatural) connection to Jesus Christ that cannot be made in health and ease.
1 Peter 1:3-7 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead… In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith – of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire – may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
When we suffer we know it is temporary – eternity is ahead.
When we suffer we see our faith tested and confirmed.
When we suffer we are closer to Jesus than ever before.
When we suffer we grow as Christians.
When we suffer we see our faith tested and confirmed.
When we suffer we are closer to Jesus than ever before.
When we suffer we grow as Christians.
For some, the growth is in trusting God to provide daily grace for suffering as God provided daily manna like bread in Exodus 16 when the people of Israel were stranded in the wilderness.
Example: Jeffrey H. Boyd is a medical doctor from Waterbury, Connecticut, whose wife did not receive healing like Hezekiah:
"My first wife, Pat, had diabetes, two heart attacks, bypass surgery, two strokes, went on dialysis, went blind, and had both legs amputated above the knee. She and I went every week to a healing service at our church. The clergy would lay hands on us and pray, while Pat and I cried uncontrollably. She was never healed. There was no evidence that healing prayer had any positive effect in terms of miraculous cures. But every week this intimate prayer gave us enough spiritual strength to endure another week. Thus my own experience was that healing prayer was like manna for Pat and me. Every Sunday we were given enough to get us through. We were not given more nor less manna than we needed to survive. It was exactly like Exodus 16, and like the Lord's Prayer, 'Give us today our daily bread.'
In other words, Pat and I experienced healing prayer to have a curative power not in terms of a change in medical outcome, but in terms of keeping us in touch with our Lord, who spiritually sustained us. [1]
Example: Jeffrey H. Boyd is a medical doctor from Waterbury, Connecticut, whose wife did not receive healing like Hezekiah:
"My first wife, Pat, had diabetes, two heart attacks, bypass surgery, two strokes, went on dialysis, went blind, and had both legs amputated above the knee. She and I went every week to a healing service at our church. The clergy would lay hands on us and pray, while Pat and I cried uncontrollably. She was never healed. There was no evidence that healing prayer had any positive effect in terms of miraculous cures. But every week this intimate prayer gave us enough spiritual strength to endure another week. Thus my own experience was that healing prayer was like manna for Pat and me. Every Sunday we were given enough to get us through. We were not given more nor less manna than we needed to survive. It was exactly like Exodus 16, and like the Lord's Prayer, 'Give us today our daily bread.'
In other words, Pat and I experienced healing prayer to have a curative power not in terms of a change in medical outcome, but in terms of keeping us in touch with our Lord, who spiritually sustained us. [1]
Conclusion
If none of this sounds easy it is because it is not easy. Serious illness and suffering are never easy. Yet in suffering we want to act like Christians:
1. Tell God what's on your heart.
2. Get the medical help God provides.
3. Live the life God grants.
4. Grow through suffering.
Before we leave our conversation about suffering and serious illness let's make one more list. Not a list for those of us who are sick but a list for those of us who are healthy – some advice on how a Christian acts toward those who are suffering.
1. See the person not the sickness Don't define anyone by a disease or disability. Whether someone is suffering from a mental illness or a physical injury, always treat that sufferer with respect as a person.
2. Realize that looking okay on the outside doesn't mean okay on the inside Be sensitive to the soul as well as the face.
3. Remember that chronic pain varies Just because someone isn't hurting now doesn't mean their pain is not severe.
4. Understand that depression is a frequent side effect Our bodies, minds and souls are wired together and the best of people become depressed.
5. Beware of playing doctor Resist the temptation to diagnose, tell about a better doctor or offer some alternative medicine.
6. Beware of playing God Give a verse from the Bible but don't speak for God as if you know some secret or supernatural perspective.
7. Offer emotional support Just be there. You don't have to cure. You don't have to fix. Just be a friend.
8. Say you'll pray and do it Sometimes when we're seriously ill we're not very good at praying for ourselves.
We need the prayers of others. Pray every day. Pray through the pain. Pray through the discouragement. Pray for the caregivers. Pray with zeal and persistence.
1. See the person not the sickness Don't define anyone by a disease or disability. Whether someone is suffering from a mental illness or a physical injury, always treat that sufferer with respect as a person.
2. Realize that looking okay on the outside doesn't mean okay on the inside Be sensitive to the soul as well as the face.
3. Remember that chronic pain varies Just because someone isn't hurting now doesn't mean their pain is not severe.
4. Understand that depression is a frequent side effect Our bodies, minds and souls are wired together and the best of people become depressed.
5. Beware of playing doctor Resist the temptation to diagnose, tell about a better doctor or offer some alternative medicine.
6. Beware of playing God Give a verse from the Bible but don't speak for God as if you know some secret or supernatural perspective.
7. Offer emotional support Just be there. You don't have to cure. You don't have to fix. Just be a friend.
8. Say you'll pray and do it Sometimes when we're seriously ill we're not very good at praying for ourselves.
We need the prayers of others. Pray every day. Pray through the pain. Pray through the discouragement. Pray for the caregivers. Pray with zeal and persistence.
On November 5, 1994, former President Ronald Reagan wrote a letter to the American people. Listen to some of its lines:
I have recently been told that I am one of the millions of Americans who will be afflicted with Alzheimer's Disease. So, now we feel it is important to share it with you. At the moment I feel just fine. I intend to live the remainder of the years God gives me on earth doing the things I have always done.
Unfortunately, as Alzheimer's Disease progresses, the family often bears a heavy burden. I now begin the journey that will lead me into the sunset of my life. May God always bless you. Sincerely, Ronald Reagan. [2]
I have recently been told that I am one of the millions of Americans who will be afflicted with Alzheimer's Disease. So, now we feel it is important to share it with you. At the moment I feel just fine. I intend to live the remainder of the years God gives me on earth doing the things I have always done.
Unfortunately, as Alzheimer's Disease progresses, the family often bears a heavy burden. I now begin the journey that will lead me into the sunset of my life. May God always bless you. Sincerely, Ronald Reagan. [2]
When facing serious illness, when suffering pain, when beginning our journey into the sunset of our lives, may we trust God and act like Christians. May God bless us all.
9-25-05 Leith Anderson
[1] Jeffrey H. Boyd, "A Biblical Theology of Chronic Illness," Trinity Journal (TRINJ 24NS 2003), page 191.
[2] Nancy Reagan, Ronald Reagan, An American Hero, DK Publishing, pages 264-265.