God has given us weapons to defend our health with. Ephesians 6:13-18 says, “Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.”

I want you to begin looking at the pieces of the armor with me. The first piece listed is the belt of truth. Jesus said in John 8:31, 32, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” You have probably heard people use a part of this passage saying, “You know the truth will set you free.” Jesus said however, that it is a knowledge of the truth that makes us free.

The Greek word in verse 32 that is translated “know” is “ginosko”. This word is more than just an accumulation of facts, but could be defined as a working knowledge. It was understood by those Jesus spoke these words to that a person did not truly “ginosko” a thing until it had changed their life.

Knowledge doesn’t come all at once. Isaiah 28:9, 10 says, “Whom will he teach knowledge? And whom will he make to understand the message? Those just weaned from milk? Those just drawn from the breasts? 10 For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept, Line upon line, line upon line, Here a little, there a little.” Wouldn’t it be nice if the Lord would just open the top of our heads and dump everything we need to know in? It doesn’t work that way however. Just as a baby learns bits and pieces at a time, so we learn the things of God. This is why I’m writing these lessons, so that day after day, lesson by lesson, truth will come into your heart.

While I may have knowledge of the truth in one area, I may lack knowledge in another. Jesus told us that knowing the truth would make us free, so every time I gain a truth in any area, I get a little freer. I encourage you not to just read these lessons, but put on the belt of truth by studying them and building each truth down into your heart, and get freer and freer and freer from sickness, disease and pain.

God has given us weapons to defend our health with. Ephesians 6:10-18 says, “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.”

My purpose here is not to teach in depth on the armor of God, but to hit a few points that will help you in this issue of defending your health. Let’s look first of all at the opening statement in verse 10. Notice that Paul tells us to “be strong IN THE LORD and in THE POWER OF HIS MIGHT.” You must realize that in your own might you are no match for the devil. Verse 12 tells us that our conflict is not “against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” You cannot fight against a spiritual enemy with physical, flesh and blood weapon. There is nothing you can do to physically injure the devil, because he is not a physical being.

Verse 10 in the Amplified Bible says, “be strong in the Lord <be empowered through your union with Him>”. Look at what Romans 8:11 says, “But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.” The Spirit that raised Christ from the dead is resident on the inside of you. Understand this is the SAME Spirit – not a similar Spirit; not even a part of the same Spirit; but the SAME Spirit. Get this—Jesus was DEAD—as dead as any person you know who has died, but this Spirit, the SAME Spirit that dwells in you, energized that dead body of Jesus empowering Him to stand up and walk out of the tomb. Romans 8:11 says that Spirit in you “will also give life to your mortal bodies”. Ephesians 6:10 in the Amplified goes on to say, “draw your strength from Him <that strength which His boundless might provides>.” This is why you can be strong in the Lord—because His might has no bounds, and is in you!

When any army goes to war, they will either be fighting an offensive battle, or a defensive battle. We could define an offensive battle as an endeavor to take control of territory you have not previously controlled. A defensive battle is to defend territory you already control.

In Joshua chapter 6 we read of the children of Israel beginning their conquest of the promise land. The first obstacle they faced was the walled city of Jericho. They had spied out the land, and finally the day came for them to take the land. They were waging offensive warfare to take possession of what God had promised them. In 2 Chronicles 20:1-30 the children of Israel had inhabited the land for a while when they faced an enemy who’s aim was to take away their possession. King Jehoshaphat began to seek the Lord for help. In verse 15 Jehoshaphat delivered a word from the Lord and said, “Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.” In verse 17 he continues, “You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the LORD, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem! Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the LORD is with you.” This battle was about defending what was theirs.

In Adam’s fall the territory of health was lost. Jesus came and waged an offensive war against the devil to take back what he had taken from Adam. Today the offensive battle for our health has already been won and we as believers now possess the land. I want to change your thinking so that you no longer think of yourself as sick – trying to get healed, but as the healed of the Lord who must from time to time defend your health. Health belongs to you, fight to keep it.

A few years ago I heard a television interview with an NFL quarterback who had played several years for a team that was not very good. He had moved to a team that was pretty good. He was commenting on how much easier it was to play with a lead than to playing from a deficit. I’ve always said it is easier to keep the devil out of your business than to get him out.

God has given us weapons with which to defend our health. In our next lesson we will begin looking at those weapons and how to use them to defend what belongs to you as a believer.

Psalm 23:4 says, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” The rod and staff speak of the correction and discipline of the Lord. How can correction and discipline bring comfort, you might ask? Appropriate response to correction will protect you. For instance, the Lord may correct you about your diet. If you will obey that correction, it may bring healing to your body, or perhaps be preventative. It is comforting to know the Holy Spirit is on the job and will keep you from harm if you will obey Him.

Proverbs 4:20-21 gives us very specific instructions. “My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. 21 Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart.” Notice the result of obedience to these instructions listed in verse 22, “For they are life to those who find them, And health to all their flesh.” Many people however will not follow these instructions.

James 1:22 says, “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” James tells us that the man who will not do the word, or will not follow the instructions is self deceived if he believes that somehow he will receive the promised result.

If a person will not obey the general instructions given in God’s Word, that apply to everyone, why would the Lord give that person a specific instruction? James 3:16 gives an important instruction. Although it is not worded as such, an instruction is none the less there. James says, “For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.” The instruction is to get envy and self-seeking out of your life because it opens the door to “every evil thing” (which certainly includes sickness). If a person will not root these things out of their lives, why would the Lord give any further instruction.

As you read your Bible keep your heart open for the Lord to instruct you from its pages. The be sure to obey the instruction. Many, if they will do this, will find there is no need for more instruction, for healing will follow.

In John 4 we read of a nobleman whose son was sick. Verse 46 says, “So Jesus came again to Cana of Galilee where He had made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman whose son was sick at Capernaum. 47 When he heard that Jesus had come out of Judea into Galilee, he went to Him and implored Him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. 48 Then Jesus said to him, ‘Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will by no means believe.’ 49 The nobleman said to Him, ‘Sir, come down before my child dies!’ 50 Jesus said to him, ‘Go your way; your son lives.’ So the man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and he went his way. 51 And as he was now going down, his servants met him and told him, saying, ‘Your son lives!’ 52 Then he inquired of them the hour when he got better. And they said to him, ;Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.’ 53 So the father knew that it was at the same hour in which Jesus said to him, ‘Your son lives.’ And he himself believed, and his whole household. 54 This again is the second sign Jesus did when He had come out of Judea into Galilee.” This nobleman received information that Jesus was coming into his area. Notice that he asked Jesus to come to his house, but Jesus told him to go home. He could have been offended, but instead said, I have a word from the Lord, that’s enough for me.

In John 5 we see Jesus at the pool of Bethesda. Beginning with verse 2 we read, “ Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, having five porches. 3 In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water. 4 For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had. 5 Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, ‘Do you want to be made well?’ 7 The sick man answered Him, ‘Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me.’ 8 Jesus said to him, ‘Rise, take up your bed and walk.’ 9 And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked. And that day was the Sabbath.”

This story is especially interesting considering the man who was healed didn’t even know who it was that told him to take up his bed and walk. Verse 12 says, “Then they asked him, ‘Who is the Man who said to you, ‘Take up your bed and walk’?’ 13 But the one who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, a multitude being in that place.’” This man simply considered, “I’ve been laying here for thirty-eight years and nobody ever told me to get up and walk until this man. Why not try?” What does that say to those who say, “I’ll obey the Lord but not some man.”?

In Mark 2, Luke 5 and Matthew 9 we read about a paralytic brought to Jesus. Let’s read Matthew’s account in chapter 9, verses 1-7. “So He got into a boat, crossed over, and came to His own city. 2 Then behold, they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, ‘Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you.’ 3 And at once some of the scribes said within themselves, ‘This Man blasphemes!’ 4 But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, ‘Why do you think evil in your hearts? 5 For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise and walk’? 6 But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins’ ——then He said to the paralytic, ‘Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.’ 7 And he arose and departed to his house.”

In Matthew 11 Jesus was in the city of Nazareth where He had been brought up. Marks account tells us (Mark 6:5) “He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them.” Here in Matthew 9 we see Jesus in His own city. It is generally agreed upon by scholars that this was not Nazareth, where He was brought up, but Capernaum, the location of His residence.

Notice in Matthew 9:2 Jesus saw their faith. What was it Jesus saw that indicated faith? “They brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed.” Jesus then caused quit the stir by saying to the man, “Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you.” Jesus then issued His command to the paralytic, “Arise, take up your bed and go to your house.” Notice, the man obeyed the command – he did exactly as he was told, and was healed. Also notice that Jesus did not heal the man first, and then tell him to arise. Jesus spoke to a paralytic and told him to arise…

Let’s look at one more example today. Matthew 12:9 says, “Now when He had departed from there, He went into their synagogue. 10 And behold, there was a man who had a withered hand. And they asked Him, saying, ‘Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?’ ——that they might accuse Him. 11 Then He said to them, ‘What man is there among you who has one sheep, and if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not lay hold of it and lift it out? 12 Of how much more value then is a man than a sheep? Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.’ 13 Then He said to the man, ‘Stretch out your hand.’ And he stretched it out, and it was restored as whole as the other.”

In both examples we looked at today, healing power met the action. The recipients received their respective healings as they acted in obedience to the word of the Lord. Neither were healed first, then called upon to act, but were called to action, and healing met their action.

With our last lesson we began a new series in which we will deal with the issue of obedience and the effect it has on whether or not you receive your healing. Jesus often called for an act on the part of the recipient. Many people want to modify the instructions for personal comfort or convenience. However when an instruction comes from the Lord, regardless of how it comes, it is absolutely imperative that there be strict adherence to the instruction.

In 2 Kings chapter 5 we read the story of Naaman. Naaman was the commander of the army of Syria – and also a leper. A slave girl in his house, who was from the land of Israel, suggested that he go to the prophet Elisha and be healed. In verses 9-14 we read, “Then Naaman went with his horses and chariot, and he stood at the door of Elisha’s house. 10 And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, ‘Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored to you, and you shall be clean.’ 11 But Naaman became furious, and went away and said, ‘Indeed, I said to myself, ‘He will surely come out to me, and stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, and wave his hand over the place, and heal the leprosy.’ 12 Are not the Abanah and the Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?’ So he turned and went away in a rage. 13 And his servants came near and spoke to him, and said, ‘My father, if the prophet had told you to do something great, would you not have done it? How much more then, when he says to you, ‘Wash, and be clean’?’ 14 So he went down and dipped seven times in the Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God; and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.”

The first thing we see is that Naaman was angered by Elisha’s failure to even come out to him. Notice that Elisha sent word by a messenger – Was he not an important man, worthy of the prophets personal attention? Naaman was obviously a proud man. Many people have missed their healing because they became offended at the messenger the Lord used. Many have said in their pride, “I’ll do what the Lord tells me to do, but not what some man tells me.” They have disrespected the messenger the Lord sent, just like Naaman disrespected Elisha’s messenger. Jesus said in Luke 10:16 “He who hears you hears Me, he who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me.”

Naaman was also too proud to dip in the Jordan River. He thought it was about the quality of the water, stating that the rivers of Damascus were of better quality than anything Israel had. He didn’t understand that there was no miracle cure in the water. The cure was in the obedience. What did Naaman’s obedience do? First it rooted out pride. Naaman had to humble himself in order to obey the command. Secondly, as we have discussed before, it gave God permission to work.

I urge you today, if you have an instruction from the Lord, regardless of how it came, regardless of how illogical it may seem to you, OBEY IT! Don’t modify it to your liking. To modify the instruction is to say, “God, I want to stay in charge here”, and it will keep you from your healing.

In 1 Samuel 15 King Saul had been given a very specific instruction concerning the destruction of the Amalekites. Saul thought he had a better idea. In verse 22 Samuel expresses the Lord’s displeasure with Saul’s modification of His instructions. “Then Samuel said: ‘Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams.’” Partial obedience is equivalent to disobedience.

There is a spiritual truth, that if understood, will completely change your thinking on this subject. Genesis 1:26 & 28 say, “Then God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.’” “Then God blessed them, and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.’” Numbers 23:19 says, “God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?” If God said man would have dominion He meant what He said.

Because God gave His word that man was to have dominion, He Himself will not violate that word. Consequently, when God desires to do something for man He must have man’s permission, or cooperation. Remember a couple of lessons back we talked about Jesus returning to His home town. Mark 6:5 says, “Now He could do no mighty work there.” We showed it was because of their unbelief. Perhaps their unbelief was evidenced by a refusal to follow Jesus’ instruction. Perhaps He told someone to rise, take up their bed and walk; and the response was, “can’t you see I’m lame?” Perhaps He told a leper to go show himself to the priest, and the leper wouldn’t go.

You see, to obey the Lord’s instruction is to give the Lord permission to work in your life. Since the Lord’s return to heaven it often comes through a man of God (your pastor, and evangelist, etc.), maybe by the still small voice in your spirit, or it may come directly from the pages of the Bible (i.e. Luke 6:27 “But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you.”). However the instruction comes, obedience will release the power of God on your behalf.

In Luke 17:12-19 we read, “Then as He entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off. 13 And they lifted up their voices and said, ‘Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!’ 14 So when He saw them, He said to them, ‘Go, show yourselves to the priests.’ And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed. 15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, 16 and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan. 17 So Jesus answered and said, ‘Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? 18 Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?’ 19 And He said to him, ‘Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well.’”

In our last lesson we looked at blind Bartimaeus. We realize, from his statement, “have mercy on me” that he understood that the healing of his blind eyes would not be because of anything he had done, but because of the mercy of God. Like blind Bartimaeus, the ten lepers also asked for mercy.

Note that Jesus did not pray for them or even lay hands on them. He simply told them “Go, show yourselves to the priests. They had to start the act of obedience before the healing manifested. Notice they didn’t say, “As soon as the healing manifests, then I’ll go.” Verse 14 says, “as they went, they were cleansed”. Showing themselves to the priests was the procedure one would go through according to the levitical law, if their leprosy was healed. Leviticus 14:2-4 says, “This shall be the law of the leper for the day of his cleansing: He shall be brought to the priest. 3 And the priest shall go out of the camp, and the priest shall examine him; and indeed, if the leprosy is healed in the leper, 4 then the priest shall command to take for him who is to be cleansed two living and clean birds, cedar wood, scarlet, and hyssop.” To go to the priest when there was no evidence of healing was an act of faith. Their cleansing did not manifest until they were already on their way to see the priest. Like the woman with the issue of blood, and like Bartimaeus, the lepers’ faith healed them.

On numerous occasions in the ministry of Jesus we see an act of obedience is called for. Many people today miss their healing because they are unwilling to act on the Word of God.

In verses 15 we see that only one of the lepers returned to give thanks to Jesus. Verse 14 tells us that all 10 were cleansed. The word indicates the disease was stopped. In verse 19 Jesus tells the one, “Your faith has made you well.” For the one, the disease was not just stopped, but he was completely restored.