SABBATH THOUGHT 2025-04-26—SUFFERING IS A GIFT OF GRACE

May God bless you on His Sabbath day!

Some are reluctant to ask for prayers for healing, whether of brethren or elders. Others do not ask because they are resigned to their disease, illness, or sickness that was not healed in the past. What lies behind this, I believe, is confusion and a misunderstanding about the faith required for healings.

The Bible records many stories of healings by Jesus and the apostles; however, they are unique because they all happened before the Holy Spirit was given on that notable Pentecost day. During His ministry, Jesus healed many, many people. Crowds followed Him around just to be healed. What was common to all those stories is faith as in the story of the two blind men:

MATTHEW 9:27-29 When Jesus departed from there, two blind men followed Him, crying out and saying, “Son of David, have mercy on us!” 28 And when He had come into the house, the blind men came to Him. And Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They said to Him, “Yes, Lord.” 29 Then He touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith let it be to you.”

Having faith was required for healing. Even Jesus Christ, the Son of God, could not heal anyone without faith:

MARK 6:5-6 Now He [Jesus Christ] could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. 6 And He marveled because of their unbelief. Then He went about the villages in a circuit, teaching.

But faith was not only required for healing, it was intimately tied to the earthly ministry of Jesus. His main purpose for coming in the flesh was to preach the Gospel of the Kingdom of God:

LUKE 4:18 “The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me [Jesus Christ], because He has anointed [sanctified, set apart] Me to preach the gospel …

Jesus obviously came to be the Passover sacrificial Lamb for the sins of the world, but that was only necessary for God to have children in His Kingdom. His primary purpose was to preach the Gospel of the Kingdom and He was even ANOINTED by God for that reason. In fact, the first recorded words of Jesus after His baptism when He began His ministry were His ‘mission statement’:

MATTHEW 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom of God was also the mandate of Jesus to the disciples on their ‘training runs’:

LUKE 9:1-2 Then He [Jesus Christ] called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases. 2 He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.

They were told to heal people as they preached the Gospel of Jesus. Why? Word of miraculous healings spread far and wide, drawing many with that hope. That was when they also heard the Gospel. Miraculous healings were “signs and wonders” that gave legitimacy to those who preached the Gospel. The people knew that God was the One with power to heal (“I am the LORD who heals you.”—Exod. 15:26). The authority of those who healed the people was the same authority behind the Gospel message. In short, healings were signs that the Gospel was from God:

MARK 16:20 And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word [of the Gospel] through the accompanying signs.

HEBREWS 2:3-4 how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken [the Gospel of the Kingdom] by the Lord [Jesus Christ], and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, 4 God also [testifying] [of that Gospel] both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?

ACTS 14:3 Therefore they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who was bearing witness to the word of His grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands.

So what does faith sufficient for healing have to do with the Gospel? Everything. Those who had the faith to be healed later became followers of Christ because they already faith by which they believed the message of the Gospel. In a large sense, Jesus and the apostles sought out those who had the faith to be healed because they were also prepared to receive the Gospel. Just as healings do not happen without faith, those without faith are blind and deaf to the Gospel message:

HEBREWS 4:2 For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it.

When the Gospel of the Kingdom of God was first preached, people were attracted to it because they were initially drawn to the miracles of healing. But things flipped around after the Holy Spirit was given. Before the Holy Spirit, healings drew people to the message of the Gospel. Nowadays, most hear the Gospel before they have need of healings. In all cases, however, the faith required for healing is the faith required to believe the Gospel.

Today, there is an assumption that there were more healings in biblical times. That is true in the days of Jesus and the apostles when the Gospel was FIRST preached. What many do not consider is that healings likely changed after the Gospel started spreading in earnest. Not understanding this is why some think they lack the faith required for healing. Because the Bible records many healings by faith, they assume they do not have enough faith when they are not healed today. However, they often overlook something—the Bible does not mention healings after the Gospel really spread into the world. It is likely that healings fell dramatically at that point and were similar to today. There is not only evidence of that, but there are reasons for it. The evidence comes from Paul himself. No one questions Paul’s faith and, yet, he was not healed:

2 CORINTHIANS 12:7-9 And lest I [Paul] should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. 8 Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” …

Paul’s example is evidence that God does not always miraculously heal those who have the Holy Spirit. But his answer also provides the REASON—perfection. Those with the faith to hear and receive the Gospel are given the Holy Spirit. Why? For the purpose of perfecting eternal children. The hard reality is that perfection only comes through suffering, just as Paul told us. Notice:

1 PETER 5:10 But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.

Suffering is the tool that God uses to perfect everyone, including JESUS CHRIST:

HEBREWS 2:10 For it was fitting for Him [Jesus Christ], for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

The sufferings of Christ were the crucible in which God proved that Jesus, who always perfectly submitted to and obeyed God, continued to do so even under the most extreme sufferings and temptations:

HEBREWS 5:8 though He [Jesus Christ] was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered.

HEBREWS 2:18 For in that He Himself [Jesus Christ] has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.

Obedience under duress is the standard by which God tests the heart of all flesh and blood, without exception:

JAMES 1:2-4 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

If Christ was tested through sufferings, would God require less of us? Not at all:

1 PETER 2:21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:

1 PETER 4:1-2, 12-13 Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin [are perfected], 2 that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. … 12 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; 13 but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.

Sufferings are the standard for achieving perfection AND the Kingdom of God:

2 TIMOTHY 3:12 Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.

ROMANS 8:17 and if children, then heirs–heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.

COLOSSIANS 1:24 I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the [ekklesia],

2 THESSALONIANS 1:3-5 We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other, 4 so that we ourselves boast of you among the [ekklesia] of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure, 5 which is manifest evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you also suffer;

Sufferings are the “manifest evidence” of being worthy of the Kingdom of God; therefore, partaking of the sufferings of Christ is not given to just anyone:

PHILIPPIANS 1:29 For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake,

The Greek word translated “it has been granted” is a form of the word for grace (Gk: charizomai). The TS2009 translates it as, “it has been granted as a favor.” What this says is that sufferings are A GIFT OF GOD’S GRACE because we are to partake of the sufferings of Christ so that we are perfected in His image[1]! Understanding this provides a new perspective. Although no one wants to suffer, it is now apparent why Paul said of his affliction:

2 CORINTHIANS 12:9-10 … Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

But just as Paul asked God for healing three times, God’s people should continue to pray for healing while also recognizing that suffering is a gift of God’s grace and The Way[2] of perfecting His children in the likeness or image of His Son[3]:

ROMANS 8:28-30 And we know that all things [including sufferings] work together for good [perfection] to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.

Hopefully, it is now clear that everyone who attains unto the Kingdom of God MUST partake of Christ’s sufferings and they are upon us by the grace of God. Afflictions increase faith and agape love. A godly life is one of suffering. The premier example of godliness was Jesus Christ who lived a life of suffering. Overcoming this world requires enduring suffering. Jesus overcame this world[4] and so must we. If this life is not one of suffering, then what is the appeal of the Kingdom?

Faith is usually not the issue when someone is not healed. Those with faith sufficient to believe the Gospel and have the gift of the Holy Spirit certainly have faith for healing. Can everyone benefit from more faith? Absolutely. Rather than reflecting a lack of faith, NOT being healed is most often a sign of those who are being perfected in the image of Christ by the grace of God! Sufferings test whether we are worthy of the Kingdom of God as we imitate Christ’s obedience through sufferings. This is why James wrote:

JAMES 5:13, 14-16 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. … 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the [ekklesia], and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

This is a message that the saints “always ought to pray and not lose heart.”[5] That includes praying for healings but with the realization we are partaking of Christ’s sufferings by which He was perfected. James was focused on TOTAL healing—physical and spiritual—but his message is heavily weighted on spiritual perfection through sufferings: faith, forgiveness of sin, reconciling offenses (“confess your trespasses to one another”), agape love, and salvation. These matters are salvational and WHY sufferings are by the grace of God!

May God’s grace and peace be upon you!

Steven Greene

https://sabbathreflections.org

sabbathreflections@gmail.com