I received a letter from a woman who was confused by a TV preacher who said God put sickness and disease on people to teach them lessons.

She had thought that God wanted her to be healthy. This preacher had put doubt in her mind when he said, "God uses the devil to teach His children lessons."

This woman could not understand why God would want the devil to make her sick. If He was using the devil, what was she supposed to be learning?

She was sick and tired of being sick and tired. She wanted to know if I thought God sent the devil to teach her something, and if I thought God might not want her healed.

I knew I had to be careful how I answered. This woman was bedfast. She was at risk of dying at an early age. If I did not answer her carefully, I knew her life might be at stake. She had believed God for her healing, and now she was being taught that He had brought the problem on her to teach her something.

What Does the Bible Say About Evil?
I told this woman, "Since you asked me, let's look at what the Word says. You have to look at the whole Bible to understand what God is doing, and God does not use evil to tempt His children."

I told this woman to read James 1:13-17. These Scriptures plainly say God does not use evil to accomplish his purposes. I told her, "God did not send the devil to teach you a lesson. God wants to heal you."

Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man.
(James 1:13)

Another word for tempting is testing. God is not tested by evil and He does not test anyone with evil circumstances. This goes against His nature.

I have seen many sick people who are in bad shape from cancer and other illnesses. Sickness or a disease is an evil thing. Anybody who says sickness and disease is something good has never spent time in the hospital praying for sick people.

Sickness and disease kills people and destroys lives. Sickness and disease is evil. God does not use evil to test his children.

I have a difficult time believing God wants anyone to be sick. Jesus came to show us how to have abundant life (John 10:10). Abundant life must include health. I believe sickness and disease is a limit from which Jesus can set us free.

Jesus Carried Your Sicknesses and Pains
Healing has been controversial among churches for a long time. Many people do not believe healing is for today. This is one subject to which I have given much thought.

I believe many people are limiting God in the area of healing because of their religious tradition. Many will gladly teach spiritual healing is for today, but they will stop short of saying physical healing is for today.

I believe it is just as much the will of God to heal you physically as it is to heal you spiritually. Jesus' death on the cross paid the price for the redemption of humanity from sin.

Jesus' death settled the sin issue and made a way for us to receive access to the favor of God. I believe physical healing is part of the plan of redemption.

I believe when you deny that physical healing is part of your redemption, you are limiting God. When you deny that physical healing is part of redemption, you are not properly discerning the Lord's body and blood which was shed for you.

Jesus' death on the cross was spiritual...and physical.

From now on, make sure you're listening to God and His Word instead listening to the "wisdom" of man.

Source: No More Limits by Happy Caldwell.
Excerpt permission granted by Harrison House Publishers