Deliverance from Pain

Last year (2007) it happened that a piece of a frontal, upper tooth broke.  In a few months, it developed pain that was easily triggered when eating and at other times.  I would not describe the pain as severe, but there were times when it interfered with sleep, and I was very aware when it would throb and ache. 

Then I remembered a teaching from Isaiah 53:4 "Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows; yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted."

The Hebrew word for "sorrows" is:  anguish or (figuratively) affliction: - grief, pain, sorrow.

As I began to confess this word over the tooth,  the pain left.  Every time the pain tried to return, I would take up the "sword of the spirit, which is the Word of God" and confess in prayer "Thank you Father, He bore my pain", and every time the pain left.  PRAISE the LORD.

This was not the first time either my wife or I have been delivered of pain by believing and confessing this passage from Isa 53. 

A Chastisement

Recently I began to visit a Christian website that also featured an interactive forum.  In doing so, I began to slip into a habbit of spending time either posting, reading, or even somewhat debating scripture. The Lord began to correct me, first through a casual word spoken by a brother.  I was easily able to justify myself and continued to "hang out" on their forum.

Next, God raised up an adversary who began to oppose some of my postings. It did not matter who was correct or in error, this person seemed to always be looking over my shoulder and was attempting to intimidate.  It was then I realized it was God using this adversary to push me off the forum in order to correct me.  My flesh wanted to defend itself not only on the forum but also to continue going there!

So I finaly, after another round of opposition, I gave in and left off going to that forum.

However, a few days later, I went back and revisited the site, thinking "just a short time might be OK".

That night I began to suffer a skin affliction which worsened the next day.

Now, I KNEW for certain God was saying "LEAVE IT ALONE!".   Praise His name. Yes, He was out of His love, chastising me, just as the scripture says He does. Why? So we learn obedience.  Can you see why it is so important we connect the cause and effects of afflictions with what God says about them?

5   and ye have forgotten the exhortation which reasoneth with you as with sons, My son, regard not lightly the chastening of the Lord, Nor faint when thou art reproved of him;
6   For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, And scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
7   It is for chastening that ye endure; God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father chasteneth not?8   But if ye are without chastening, whereof all have been made partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
9   Furthermore, we had the fathers of our flesh to chasten us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
10  For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed good to them; but he for our profit, that we may be partakers of his holiness.
11   All chastening seemeth for the present to be not joyous but grievous; yet afterward it yieldeth peaceable fruit unto them that have been exercised thereby, even the fruit of righteousness.

So in this case, deeper repentance was needed, and God was gracious to bring correction in order to bring me into obedience. By the way, as I repented and received forgiveness, I was also quickly healed.

God bless you and may your faith be encouraged.

Study words:

Chastening:  From G3811; tutorage, that is, education or training; by implication disciplinary correction: - chastening, chastisement, instruction, nurture.

Wrath: (from Romans 1:18)  properly desire (as a reaching forth or excitement of the mind), that is, (by analogy) violent passion (ire, or [justifiable] abhorrence); by implication punishment: - anger, indignation, vengeance, wrath.  God's wrath is revealed to Christians for their disobedience and this explains why Paul wrote the church "For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep." -1 Corinthians 11:30 

The Curse: Pronounced on disobedience, Deut. 28 gives a list,  also in Deuteronomy 11:26 Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse;   Proverbs 26:2 As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come.  The curse includes sickness, affliction, family problems, financial problems, people problems,  and more.  The purpose of the curse is to cause us to repent and return to the Lord.  Many times, satan and his demons are the administrators of the curse.  The afflictions of the curse may also be inherited from our family.  Many diseases, afflictions, and inlinations toward things like alcoholism, molestation, divorce, and anger may commonly run generationaly in famlies.