Who Healeth All Thy Diseases
By D. H. KRESS, M. D.
“If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ.” There is a most wonderful and intimate relation between God and man, between the visible and the invisible. God works through human instrumentalities. Human tongues, trained and tamed by the Spirit of God, speak forth his praises, and are used by him in proclaiming the good news of man’s redemption, and in making known God’s love. Human hands are employed by heavenly agencies in ministering to the sick, in supplying the needs of the fatherless and widows. Human agents stand as visible instruments to confer God’s blessings upon men. Human tongues bring comfort to those who are cast down. Hands that can be seen and felt are laid upon the sick, and are otherwise employed in the work of the ministry. To the impotent man who was laid daily at the gate of the temple to ask alms, Peter said, “Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.” A human tongue was needed to speak the life-giving word, and human hands were employed in lifting the impotent to his feet. At Joppa, Dorcas, a woman “full of good works and almsdeeds,” had died. Peter was notified. When he arrived, he entered the upper chamber, and after putting them all forth, “kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up. And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive.” “Yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.” “For we are laborers together13with God.” “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.” The tongue that God employs to beseech people to be reconciled to him, is my tongue. The hand he stretches forth in blessing, is my hand. The man who recognizes and acknowledges this in his daily life has true faith—a saving faith. There is a faith that has become quite popular. It acts as an opiate to those who possess it. It does not lead them to stretch forth their hands to satisfy humanity’s needs. The one who possesses it does not acknowledge that the silver and gold are God’s, neither does he consider himself God’s steward, and his hands, God’s hands. James, in speaking of this delusion, says: “If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, and one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? . . . Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.” God supplies the needs of the poor. Abundant provision has been made for all, that suffering need not exist. But he says to those who have food, “Give ye them to eat.” “Deal thy bread to the hungry.” To those who have no homes he says, “Bring the poor that are cast out to thy house,” “let mine outcasts dwell with thee; . . . be thou a covert to them from the face of the spoiler.” “A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation. God setteth the solitary in families.” Ps. 68:5, 6. “When thou seest the naked, . . . cover him; and . . . hide not thyself from thine own flesh.” A blessing is in it. “Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily.” “In blessing I will bless thee.” In order to receive the benefit of electricity in the treatment of disease, it is necessary to form a circuit; it is necessary to be in touch with both electrodes. With the positive electrode in one hand and the negative in the other, the current flows through the body. Simply taking hold with one hand on the throne of grace, delighting to approach unto God in prayer, will not bring his blessing. Let the other hand take hold of some poor suffering one, and at once the circuit is formed, God’s blessing flows to the needy one. Thus in stretching forth the hand to bless, we are blessed. While we are unconsciously engaged in restoring others, God’s vital, life-giving current flows through the diseased body and mind, restoring them to health. Thousands who are perishing physically and spiritually would have physical and spiritual health if they would only put forth an effort to help some one who is in need of the help they could give. Thinking of our ills will never help us. “Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him? . . . Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily.” “For I am the Lord that healeth thee.” This is God’s way of healing. “In blessing [others] I will bless thee.” Many a church that is apparently dead would receive new life should its members follow out the directions given in Isaiah 58.