666 The Spiritual Man
and forsaken. If that sin has clone harm to others then he must do his
best to make it up, meanwhile believing that God has accepted him.
He should offer himself afresh to God and be disposed to obey His
will fully.
God “does not willingly afflict or grieve the sons of men” (Lam.
3.33). He will cease chastening when He realizes the objective of
self-judgment is attained. God is most happy to withdraw His
chastisement when no longer needed. The Bible assures us that if we
judge ourselves we will not be judged. God desires us to be freed
from sin and self; once that end has been reached the sickness will
disappear because it has accomplished its mission. What the
Christian needs to understand today is that God chastens him for a
specific purpose. Accordingly, always allow the Holy Spirit to
uncover what the sin is so that the aim of God may be achieved and
the chastisement may no longer be necessary. Then will God heal.
Once the saint has confessed and forsaken his sin and in addition
believed for forgiveness, he can trust God’s promise and know
without fear that He will make him well. With a conscience void of
accusation he has the boldness to approach God for grace. It is when
we are far away from Him that we find it hard to believe or that we
dare not believe; but after sin is forsaken and forgiven through the
enlightening of, and obedience to, the Holy Spirit, we have free
access to God. Since the cause of the sickness has been removed, the
sickness itself shall be removed. Now the sick believer has no
difficulty in believing that “the chastisement of our peace was upon
(Christ) ; and with his stripes we are healed.” At that moment the
presence of the Lord will be manifested abundantly and the life of
the Lord will enter his body to make it alive.
Are we really aware that the heavenly Father is not pleased with
us in many areas? He uses sickness to help us perceive our
shortcomings. If we do not suppress the voice of conscience the Holy
Spirit shall most certainly show us the reason for the chastisement.