Spiritual Roots of Disease Part 2
What does loving my neighbor have to do with my health?
God designed us to thrive as we walk in the fullness of His love towards Him, ourselves, and others. When love is not flowing in one or more of these three areas, we can tell that the enemy has gotten in somewhere to cause troubles. Once we’ve realigned our hearts with God and His love for us, we need to look into our relationships with others. You need to understand how your relationships affect your health. It is essential for your health and healing that you walk in forgiveness and love with others as our Father in Heaven does with us.
A perspective change
An important aspect of overcoming is to change our perspective from the physical to the spiritual. When we are dealing with another person who isn’t exactly operating according to the Holy Spirit, it’s hard to get past the face that is in front of us. Yet, we can learn how to love the person and hate the sin within them. We have to recognize that their battle is internal, as ours is, and that there is something in them that has deceived them into acting out the way that they are.
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high [places]. Ephesians 6:12 KJV
If reconciliation is not possible
Here is where healing begins in our relationship with others: Even if we are unable to come to reconciliation with them for a time or maybe not ever because of the hardness of their heart, God can give us a compassion for them in their bondage to sin. God can also give us the faith to pray for their recovery to be restored to the person that He created them to be. God knows the person that He created, and that is the person He loves no matter what is manifesting on the outside.
This is not a codependent love that calls evil good in the name of love. There may be times when it is necessary to be removed from direct contact with a person who is acting out against us. Yet even in physical separation, we can still love a person from our heart, we can still have compassion on them, we can still pray for them, and we can still have hope for their recovery.
Plugged in
When we are plugged into Father God and His love, when we are able to receive that love and love ourselves, then we can begin to learn to see others through God’s perspective too. And just as we have received His grace and mercy for our hearts, we can, in turn, give that same grace and mercy to others.
Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. 1 John 4:7-8 KJV
We can choose to forgive even when someone else won’t recover themselves; even if it cannot be made right. If a relationship can be restored that is a bonus. It is essential for us to forgive and release others to God for our own health and well-being. Only He knows the deep places of their heart, and only He knows what they need in order to be recovered. We cannot fix them.
The enemy will try to prevent love
The enemy will try to put things in the way to prevent us from being able to operate in love at this level. He will bring bitterness with all of its companions: unforgiveness, resentment, retaliation, anger, hatred, violence, all the way to murder (including murder with the tongue- speaking evil about someone else).
When someone wrongs us, the world says that we have a right to be bitter. Unforgiveness and bitterness are a major block to healing, they will never bear good fruit in our lives. If we truly want to be like our Father in Heaven, there is a more excellent way that He has called us to.
Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more [than others]? Do not even the publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. Matthew 5:43-48 KJV
Growing up
There is a process of growing up into love, it is not an instant occurrence. In fact, it should be our lifelong pursuit to continue to grow up in love. The reality is that we’ve been trained by the kingdom of sin and iniquity not to operate this way. Therefore, we need to be renewed in our mind and our spirit by the Word of God and His grace in our hearts (which is the working of His divine nature in us by the Holy Spirit).
1 Corinthians 13 clearly defines what God’s love looks like. When we find that we are struggling in relationships, we can come back to this scripture and see which areas we need to grow up in. Then we can ask Father God to help us recover ourselves.
Charity suffereth long, [and] is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth: but whether [there be] prophecies, they shall fail; whether [there be] tongues, they shall cease; whether [there be] knowledge, it shall vanish away. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 KJV
We cannot do this in our own strength
This kind of love is something that cannot be fabricated or acted out by sheer willpower alone. This type of love is an attitude of the heart that can only be developed by the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. It is unconditional because it is the steadfast nature of our Heavenly Father.
When we begin to mature in this area, we will see the good fruit of love in our lives. We will develop an attitude of forgiveness. We will have love and compassion for others that we had not previously known.
Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord [is], there [is] liberty. But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, [even] as by the Spirit of the Lord. 2 Corinthians 3:17-18 KJV
All of this works by choice. You have been given the free will to choose to submit to God in this way, and you also have the free will to choose to continue to walk in your own ways.
Broken relationships hurt our health
There are diseases that come as a result of a breakdown in relationships with others. This includes but is not limited to cancer, cardiovascular disease, and strokes. If these diseases are present, we know that bitterness is getting in the way of relationships with one or more people. This can include unforgiveness- the inability to forgive and to move on from an offense. Or a spirit of anger that could have come in generationally (working in the lives of family members in our generations) that acts out towards anyone and anything that gets in its way.
Some of it can be stuffed so deep it may be hard to recognize, that’s where we have to ask Father God to show us what is in our hearts.
Dr. Henry Wright says this in his book, Bitterness:
“Now you know why we have so many problems with disease. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. Rage and Anger, Bitterness, and Hatred are responsible for a good 50% of all diseases that are incurable and result in death. This is dangerous to your health.”
He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose, the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.
For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. Not as Cain, [who] was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous. Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you. We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not [his] brother abideth in death. Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. 1 John 3:8-15 KJV
Honesty before God
As we learn to walk in openness, honesty, and transparency before God in humility, He will be able to minister to those deep places of our hearts. He will shed light on the darkness that is hidden within and expose it so that we can recover ourselves with joy.
My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing [this], that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have [her] perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. James 1:2-4 KJV
When we recognize the things that are not of God in our lives that are keeping us from loving God, ourselves, and others, we can repent, renounce them, and ask for forgiveness in Jesus’ mighty name. Then, by the power of the Holy Spirit, we have the authority to remove them and command them to leave us alone.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9 KJV
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:7 KJV
Unforgiveness keeps us from our freedom
Perhaps the prospect of recovery and forgiveness in relationships may seem overwhelming. Forgiveness does not by any means discount the evil that another person has done. God still holds them accountable for their agreement with sin until they repent and recover themselves. Can we leave that between them and God? Choose to yield them to God as the righteous judge thereby liberating yourself from the position of judge and jury. It is a burden you were not designed to carry. God cares about your future, and He does not want you to lose the hope of your future because of what happened in your past.
He asks us to lay down the old things that try to tangle us up and to press forward towards the mark of the prize. No matter what has happened in your past, it does not have to define your future. In fact, you can use it as an opportunity to rise up and become stronger against the works of the enemy in your life. That way, instead of being a victim, you can be an overcomer!
Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but [this] one thing [I do], forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:13-14 KJV
Let healing begin today
Take this time now to talk to Father God about any broken places in your heart that need to be healed. Use this opportunity to forgive anyone who has wronged you and to submit them to God. Ask Him to strengthen you by His Spirit to be able to discern and overcome the works of the enemy that you have come into agreement with. Then ask Him to begin His work of restoration and healing in your heart.
The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles. The LORD [is] nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. Many [are] the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all. Psalm 34:17-19 KJV
You are such a treasure to God and He is looking forward to meeting you in ways that are even beyond what you could have hoped for or imagined.
Blessings,
The Be in Health® Team
This article is part 2 of a three part series on the Spiritual Roots of Disease. Click the following links to read the rest of the articles in this series:
1. Spiritual Roots of Disease
2. Relationships Affect Your Health
2. Walking in Wholeness
A More Excellent Way:
If you are new to our ministry, Dr. Henry W. Wright’s book, A More Excellent Way, is a great place to start. It supplies profound knowledge about the secrets of healing and the prevention of disease. Using sound scripture and scientific observation, Dr. Henry Wright leads the reader on a journey of personal responsibility, identifying root causes to specific diseases and offering pathways of healing and wholeness that were never meant to remain dormant in the body of Christ. Here, you will understand why mankind has disease, identify specific blocks to healing, and discover spiritual pathways to health.
Resources and For My Life®:
Be in Health® offers the For My Life® Retreat in addition to reading materials and teachings. The For My Life Retreat® is a one-week getaway where participants can come and receive the insights and instruction that they need in order to be recovered in their spirit, soul, and body. The fruits of this retreat have been profound; tens of thousands of people have experienced healing not only in their bodies and hearts but also in their relationships. Our team members are excited to come alongside you in your overcoming journey to discovering God’s true heart and plans for your life and for your health.
