MS affects the nervous system. It is a very rare degenerative disease. There are no known causes, only speculations. The first historical mention of anything relating to MS (that I have seen) is a mention of it by a doctor in 1868, so it seems to have risen sometime during the Industrial Revolution. Because MS affects women more than men, it was initially believed to be caused by “female hysteria.” Nice one, guys. :-p Women have more fat in their bodies than men, and are therefore more susceptible to consequences of long-term exposure to toxins.

MS may or may not be genetic; it may or may not be affected by geographic location, lack of sunshine, or environmental toxins. Nobody really knows!

Ah, but God knows. Just like with those people in Miss Kuhlman’s book, people with MS can be healed. And there is talk about a Multiple Sclerosis Diet to treat the disease, eating– guess what of all things– fresh, raw fruits and vegetables, the gifts of God’s good earth! I know several people on the raw food diet, and they no longer have diabetes and high cholesterol!

Anyway, with all this attention on MS and raising funds, please remember and pray for those suffering from the disease. I know that God can do it again. :D

This post was brought to you by AllAboutMS.com.

And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And, as His custom was, He went in to the synagogue on the Sabbath day and stood up to read.

And the book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. And unrolling the book, He found the place where it was written, “The Spirit of the Lord is on Me; because of this He has anointed Me to proclaim the Gospel to the poor. He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim deliverance to the captives, and new sight to the blind, to set at liberty those having been crushed, to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”

And rolling up the book, returning it to the attendant, He sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fastened on Him. And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your ears.” –Luke 4:16-21

I suppose you could spend a lifetime, looking closely at the message and intent and evidences of this section of scripture. I spent three days on “to heal the brokenhearted,” and I only just scratched the surface! But so far as I have studied, He heals the brokenhearted as easily and completely as He heals diseases as He forgives sin.

I went through the New Testament, looking for instances for the Greek words iaomai (to heal) and suntribo (brokenhearted). Here is a sampling of the list I made.

Suntribo: literally and figuratively “shattered into shivers or pieces” or “bruised”; As in broken bones, a broken piece of pottery, or something that is totally destitute or worn out.

• The alabaster box that was broken open to allow the perfume out. Mark 14:3
• The demon-possessed boy’s condition often threw him down, breaking and bruising him. Luke 9:39
• Broken as compared to bones broken. John 19:36
• God breaking satan under our feet (destroying his influence and activity). Romans 16:20
• Compared to a vessel of pottery being shattered by an iron rod, and of ungodly power being dashed away. Revelation 2:27

Iaomai is simply “to heal” or “to make whole.” It’s used for physical, spiritual, and mental healing. So the implication is that just as we believe Christ can heal a broken heart, just as Christ can heal your understanding to acknowledge exactly what He has done for sinners, He can heal a body or mind, too.

• The healing of the centurion’s servant Matt 8:8; Luke 7:7
• Christ speaks of healing in the way of conversion, understanding, and beholding Matt 13:15; John 12:40; Acts 28:27
• The Gentile woman’s daughter was healed Matt 15:28
• The woman’s physical infirmity was healed in Mark 5:29; Luke 8:47
• The power of the Lord was present in an area where Pharisees and doctors of the law had gathered, to heal them. Christ forgave a man’s sins and healed him as proof. Luke 5:17; John 5:13
• People came to be healed of diseases Luke 6:17; Luke 9:11
• The “virtue” (literally, dunamis) went out from Him to heal them all. Luke 6:19
• Christ sent His disciples to preach and to heal the sick. Luke 9:2
• A boy was healed of demon possession. Luke 9:42; John 4:47
• A man’s cut off ear is healed. Luke 22:51
• A lame man at the temple walks again. Acts 3:11
• A man sick with the palsy walks again. Acts 9:34
• Christ healed all oppressed of the devil. Acts 10:38
• Paul prayed for the ruler of Malta, who was healed. Acts 28:8
• Pray for one another, to be healed. James 5:16
• By the sufferings of Christ we are healed. 1 Peter 2:24

I am one of those who don’t believe that God is frivolous or wasteful with His words (Matt 12:36). I believe He uses certain words and certain language intentionally. Therefore, I come to the conclusion that God can heal the sick just as easily and completely as He can heal broken hearts, and vice versa.

It has seemed out of vogue (for past, oh, 1900 years!) to hold to a doctrine that God no longer heals people. But if He still heals broken hearts, if He still heals us of our sin to give us newness of life, then He still heals our bodies and minds. I don’t see any place in scripture where this is not so (and I’ve been studying scripture for almost 25 years). I say we should ditch the religious doctrines, stop studying religions and religious people and the students of the Bible (theology-ology, Keith Green used to call it)— and study GOD as He is revealed in the scriptures and to our hearts by His Spirit.

But first things first. The heart needs to be healed– to be made right. That severed communication between you and God needs to be restored. This is why Christ came as a man– to bridge that vast gap between a holy God and an unholy person. He really does heal the brokenhearted.

Read more Word For Wednesday!

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.

Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and depart from evil.
It will be health to your flesh, and strength to your bones.
–Proverbs 3:5-6

In so saying, this does not mean that people do not get sick, that people do not get weak, and that people do not get into tribulations and travails. And it also doesn’t mean we can be stupid, cast off restraint concerning our health– eat junk, smoke, live immorally– and God will reward us with good health. Quite the contrary! He gave us wisdom to know how to take care of ourselves, that’s for sure. And God said that He would provide the way of healing, strengthening, and protecting. Bad things do happen– that’s part of life, the life we live in. But it won’t always be this way:

For the earnest expectation of the creation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
–Romans 8:19-21

I think sometimes we look for “magic,” cures too, which leads us to disappointment. Sometimes we just don’t get that quick fix. But like the marvelous Kathryn Kuhlman used to say, “I believe in miracles, because I believe in God.”

I know that there have been volumes upon volumes of books and theses written about “IF” God can heal, “IF” He does heal, or “IF” He will heal. People make things so complex sometimes. All I know is that– at face value– God has said He heals. That’s how I want to take things, simply at face value.

God is good. :wubs:

For more of The Word For Wednesday posts and participants, see Yeah, Right!

Anyway, I am very much in favor of more natural medicine. It is with some interest that I am reading a Resveratrol forum. Resveratrol is a natural chemical produced by some plants (Japanese knotweed and red grapes), and can be synthesized, too. It’s been used to lengthen the lifespans of some animals, and is currently being experimented with as a cancer-treating drug. No one really knows if it will work, but there are some brave people willing to try it.

I think our medical industry has, in many ways, failed us. When we are sick or suffering, what is handed to us? Another drug or devastating treatment (like chemotheraphy). My young niece suffered from leukemia, and OH what those nasty treatments did to her poor little body. All that money for all those decades going to the American Cancer Society and all we have to show for it is chemo??

I believe in healing. I believe that God heals people. That’s the best way. I don’t know why some people are healed and some are seemingly not… but I believe it is possible and I have seen it happen with my own eyes. But God is merciful, too– He has provided us with a world full of provision for our health and happiness. That’s why I am in favor of natural methods for relief and cures.

I have a back injury that sometimes gives me great pain. But besides that, I am as healthy as a horse, and still stronger and more fit than even my own kids! The back injury came from abusing my own body, by making it work much more than it should have. So sometimes I re-strain it and I have pain. But I am trying to get away from pain-relieving drugs and really trying to trust God. And I am trying to take care of my body, to know my limits. For me, that is the hardest thing of all, knowing my limits, because I want to do everything, ya know?

What do you think? Do you hate all the drugs and advertisements for drugs? Do you think God has provided us with natural things– like plants and the chemicals in our own bodies– to heal us? <