Medicine or Jesus?

[Chad]

Let's see what the comparison is between medecine [man made pharmaceutical medicine] or Jesus [Creator of the Universe].

Medicine: always comes with a 'warning' label, harmful side effects.
Jesus: always comes with Heaven sent resolutions, deliverance, comfort, healing.

Centurion's servant is healed
Matthew 8:13
And to the centurion Jesus said, "Go; let it be done for you as you have believed." And the servant was healed at that very moment.

Man healed from a withered hand
Matthew 12:15
[ God's Chosen Servant ] Jesus, aware of this, withdrew from there. And many followed him, and he healed them all

Canaanite woman's daughter healed of demon oppression
Matthew 15:28
Then Jesus answered her, "O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire." And her daughter was healed instantly.

Boy healed of demon possession
Matthew 17:18
And Jesus rebuked him, and the demon came out of him, and the boy was healed instantly.

Soldier's cut off ear restored after a disciple struck him with a sword
Luke 22:51
But Jesus said, "No more of this!" And he touched his ear and healed him.

Crippled man healed
John 5:13
Now the man who had been healed did not know who it was, for JesusAfterward Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, "See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you."
had withdrawn, as there was a crowd in the place.

Conclusion?

Matthew 17:20
He said to them, "Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you."

Medicine is temporary relief with side effects. Your body gets used to it, you need more and result? More side effects. Jesus is eternal, Heavenly, Creator, Healer. You can never have too much of Jesus Christ. Side effects? Healing, joy, happiness, freedom.

I choose faith in Christ with a prayer like Jabez over any man-made-full-of-side-effects medicine.

Please note I am *not* encouraging you to stop taking your own medicine. That is not my position.
I simply encouraging faith first, foremost in Jesus Christ. Do as the Spirit guides you.

 

[Dreamer]

Well said, and great scriptures. The fact remains, however, that some people need medication. A diabetic, for example, should take his/her medicine until the doctor says he doesn't need it any longer. One of my sisters is diabetic, but she monitors her blood sugar and diet very carefully. People with move severe cases of diabetes must stay on their medication.

An asthma attack is painful and frightening. People with asthma should take maintainence medicine, or at least have an emergency inhaler. My daughter has that, and a breathing machine that dispenses medicine through her lungs. It is emergency only, because it makes her jittery and hurts her stomach.

This may not be well-accepted, but I happen to know that many people need to stay on anti-depressants. One of those persons, is me.

Sincerely,
Dreamer.

 

[Dreamer]

If one of our loved ones has leukemia or cancer, we pray with all of our hearts, but we don't try to stop them from going to the doctor or getting treatments. Chad, there are cases where it is not "Jesus OR Medicine", but Jesus AND medicine. Medicine can never take the place of Jesus. But God uses people in the medical field to help us. Are they perfect and infallible? No. Is medication necessary at times? Yes.

I wanted to add this scripture: Proverbs 17:22: " A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones." If the scriptures mention good medicine, then I believe there are some good medicines. Paul even exhorted Timothy to "take some wine, for his stomach's sake". Evidently, Timothy had a nervous stomach.

 

[stephen]

Some lovely scriptures Chad showing us, reminding us "I am the Lord that healeth thee" It was His Almighty power which lifted Israel above all other nations. Making them the head.........God was with them, able to supply.

The book of Hebrews records "Jesus, the same yesterday, today, and forever". He is the SAME.......WE all believe it without any doubt.

When I was a young man 20 something, I preached divine healing, and I saw divine healing. Now I am a senior citizen, with some physical defects. I am looking to Jesus every day, to bless and heal. Amen I remember the days when I saw His healing, and I know that He remains the same.

Was it Spurgeon who said "Mans extremity is Gods opportunity" Do we ever reach the extremity today? Have I reached the extremity physically? Taking life prolonging addatives, ect. I ask myself?

God is the Almighty Healer. He is the Deliverer. Without doubt, absolutely, no doubt, whatsoever.

Nations are in such a mess. Physically, Morally, Spiritually. Only God can help us........I am sure He will

 

[Dreamer]

Medicine or Jesus. A controversial subject indeed. There's Jesus, there's medicine. The two don't necessarily have to be together--or apart.

For sure I know---that God is my healer. Has God healed me? Yes, He has. Recently I have noticed that I may not be needing my anti/depressant medicine any longer. So I am starting to pray today about this. I will stay on my medicine for the time being, but I'm in a process of asking God what He wants. And I will be talking to my MD, who is a Christian also.

When I get up in the morning, I have joy and I look forward to the events of the day. This is not how I was before, believe me. God has done a work in me these past few months.

In my twenties, I was not following God. In fact, I had completely walked away from Him. And I battled suicidal thoughts on a regular basis. After coming to Christ, I still battled mild depression, but never suicide. These past 8 years of my life have been utter chaos, and I have needed a small dosage of medicine to balance me and stabilize me, so that I could be a good parent and hold down a job--regular everyday stuff that has to be done, you know?

I won't pretend I've had an easy life, or that medicine made it that much easier. But medicine had a noticeable physical and mental effect on me. Whenever I tried to go off my medicine, it was quite evident that I needed it.

But I ask God, and myself this morning... Do I still need it? I have been healed. Can I not step out onto the water like Peter did? I believe that is what God is asking me to do.

I am in no way encouraging anyone who is depressed or suicidal to go off of their medicine. I am just saying that Christ has healed me.

Suicide is a serious thing which we should pay attention to. Medicine (the right type and the right amount) can help bring someone through to the other side: The side where the person wants to live and reach out for God and others;The side that helps us to reach out for hope and help.

A couple things I wanted to add, about what the LORD had done: My thoughts seem more organized. I attempt household chores now that I gave up on before. I have more determination and fortitude to get the job done. I stay calm (mostly) when arguments start in our family. Another improvement God has given me is that I have a normal confidence in myself to approach people and finish things that I have started. Low self-esteem is part of depression, at least for me, and God is healing me of that too.

I am a cautious person, so for me to come out and say, "The Lord has healed me!", I must really believe it. I do believe in You, Jesus, and I thank You. Please keep me centered in You. Amen.

I love every one of you at talkJesus.

 

[pixie]

Hey Dreamer

I love to hear of your success story. I just wrote a note in Health and Fitness, re: feeling tired and worn. I am not at the point where you are i.e. having the fortitude to do the extra household work.
I think that medicine is needed sometimes, just as you were saying. Prayer for healing is important too. I can see that both could work, side by side.

A lot of folks in the Bible suffered great illnesses. Job for one.

# Matthew 4:23 (Whole Chapter)
[ Crowds Follow Jesus ] Jesus traveled throughout the region of Galilee, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness.

1. Proverbs 17:22 (Whole Chapter)
A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

And God gave food for healing, just as He promises that in Heaven.

Ezekiel 47:12 (Whole Chapter)
Fruit trees of all kinds will grow on both banks of the river. Their leaves will not wither, nor will their fruit fail. Every month they will bear, because the water from the sanctuary flows to them. Their fruit will serve for food and their leaves for healing."

Love and Amenixie :rainbow:

 

[Dreamer]

I am back on my medicine now. After a few months, I discovered that I need to take a low-maintainence dose daily. I don't feel that I have disappointed God or myself or anyone else. It's just a fact that I need it still for now.

 

[ladylovesJesus]

We have to do whats best for us sister dreamer.

I have to take blood pressure tablets now. The good news is my blood pressure is reading correctly and am on a low dose too.

God bless you :rose: :rainbow:

 

[Dreamer]

I was thinking about this the last hour or so. You know, medicine can't be all bad all the time, since in Proverbs it says that 'Laughter is like good medicine.'

I want to honor both my mother and my father today.

Although it was not easy, they remained Christians in spite of trials and sicknesses. My father suffered severe mental illness in early adult life, due to child abuse when he was younger. My mother also suffered depression and anxiety in her mid-life. Yet they stayed true to God.

It is very easy for me to look at the negative in my early life. Yet because of my father and mother's examples I have always known in my heart since a child, that I could go to God. I have not praised God enough for my christian upbringing. Over and over, I have looked at the glass as half-empty instead of half-full.

The Lord seems to be telling me---that I ought to be more thankful for the medicine He has provided for me through modern means. You know, if either or both of my parents had available the many myriad of medical/psychological helps that are available today---they might have suffered much less.

One of our precious and active members had a bad headache yesterday and today, here at talkJesus. Teraside wisely told him, "Go ahead and take some aspirin."

We can go overboard with medicines and prescriptions, that's for sure. But to say that medicine is wrong in every instance--is a fallible statement.

I'm presently going to see a Christian counselor, and she is assisting me in some emotional healing needed. She cannot and could not ever take the place of Jesus. But I believe that God helps her....to help me....with some issues that need taken care of. God never said we had to do it all alone.

It's okay to rely on other strong Christians and it's okay to take medicine for mental illness issues, or other physical issues, if we need it.

Faith is first. Everything else follows.

 

[ladylovesJesus]

Amen dreamer. God uses doctors and nurses too. We need one another to lift up and help us which is why it says do not stop meeting together.

My daughter is on tablets for the rest of her life. Without them she would not live and would be very ill. They have to regularly check via blood tests that she is on the correct dosage too.

I too, had Christian Counselling and it was extremely helpful and Jesus set me free from so much stuff.

Praise God and God bless you dreamer for sharing with us. :rainbow: :rose:

 

[Faithin1]

You make an excellent point Dreamer, sometimes both medicine and Jesus are needed. For sure, Jesus is always needed. Both of my parents are in their seventies and although they are Christians, they take medicines to control their physical problems. My mom is a diabetic and also has high blood pressure, my dad is in stage 4 (final stage) prostate cancer (spread to his bones) and has undergone chemotherapy. He also suffered a stroke last year. As a result, he is under the care of several doctors. Incidentally, one of his cancer doctors said he wouldn't last more than 18 months. That was well over 2 years ago. Glory to God, he is still here!

In the final analysis, it is always God who is in control. He, and only He, determines when and if one is to be healed. In spite of medicine, people sometimes do not improve. Conversely, some people improve without medical intervention. However, I do believe that God uses the medical profession to help people. Unfortunately, many in the medical profession take credit for improving the health of patients and don't realize that it is God alone who has made it possible.

I thank God for allowing man to advance in medicine. As a result, many people have benefited. Chad is also right. Most prescription medications have side effects. Often the side effects are worse than the condition being treated. One thing for sure, we can't go wrong as long as we put our faith and trust in the Lord.

Good thread! Thought provoking.

James 5:13-16

Is any among you afflicted? Let him pray. Is any merry? Let him sing psalms.

Is any sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:

And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.

Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

 

[ladylovesJesus]

Faithin1 thank you for this posting. I was just reminded then about when I first had my medication for blood pressure as the doctor told me there can be side effects from it.

I said there will be no side effects in Jesus' name.

I had no side effects Praise the Lord.

God bless :rose: :rainbow:

 

[SpiritLedEd]

This is a very interesting thread. Thanks for starting it, Chad. John 1:3 says that, "Through him (Jesus) all things were made and without him nothing was made that has been made." This means that all the elements that are combined to create our medicines were created by Jesus and, therefore, could and should be considered part of his plan of physical healing for us.

Also, I think it may very well be that one of the reasons Paul took Luke, a physician, along on his missionary journeys was that he needed a team doctor, which would mean that the practice of medicine was part of the church from the very beginning.

I realize that I may be opening up a very large can of worms here, but, the relationship between medicine and Jesus is an important topic and should be explored.


SLE

 

[Dreamer]

You have brought up a good point, SpiritLedEd. And, oh, yes this is a can of worms, lol.

I know medicine is not the best way to approach healing. If it were up to me, I'd go off my medicine. In fact, I have tried going off of it several times.

I would much prefer that I would have been immediately healed by Jesus....and never had to take any medicine or go to any counseling. Yet God uses these things to assist in the process of healing my emotions.

It hurts my pride to have to take meds. And the reason I do discuss it here is that I might be of help to someone who is ashamed of taking an anti-depressant and needs to do so. As soon as I'm healed and able to go off of medicine, I will do so with great joy.

It seems it took some time for me to develop all these emotional wounds; so it also takes time for God to heal wounds and for me to submit to God's healing.

When my general practitioner first suggested anti-depressants, he didn't jam them down my throat. He said that I didn't have to take them, but that he felt it would be helpful if I did. He also said, "Jan, if you had diabetes, I would put you on insulin. Since you are clinically depressed, it would be good if you take this medication." That made sense to me.

 

[ladylovesJesus]

I have found this information and think it would help others understand about depression more.

Question: "What does the Bible say about depression? How can a Christian overcome depression?"

Answer: Depression is a widespread condition, affecting millions of people, Christian and non-Christian alike. Those suffering from depression can experience intense feelings of sadness, anger, hopelessness, fatigue, and a variety of other symptoms. They may begin to feel useless and even suicidal, losing interest in things and people that they once enjoyed. Depression is often triggered by life circumstances, such as a loss of job, death of a loved one, or divorce, or psychological problems such as abuse or low self-esteem.

The Bible tells us to be filled with joy and praise (Philippians 4:4; Romans 15:11), so God apparently intends for us all to live joyful lives. This is not easy for someone suffering from situational depression, but it can be remedied through God's gifts of prayer, Bible study and application, support groups, home groups, fellowship among believers, confession, forgiveness, and counseling. We must make the conscious effort to not be absorbed in ourselves, but rather to turn our efforts outward. Feelings of depression can often be solved when the sufferer takes the focus off himself and puts it on Christ and others.

Clinical depression is a physical condition that must be diagnosed by a physician. It is not caused by unfortunate life circumstances, nor can the symptoms be alleviated by one's own will. Contrary to what some in the Christian community believe, clinical depression is not always caused by sin. Depression can sometimes be a disorder that needs to be treated with medication and/or counseling. Of course, God is able to cure any disease or disorder. However, in some cases, seeing a doctor for depression is no different than seeing a doctor for an injury.

There are some things that those who suffer from depression can do to alleviate their anxiety. They should make sure that they are staying in the Word, even when they don't feel like it. Emotions can lead us astray, but God's Word stands firm and unchanging. We must maintain strong faith in God, and hold even tighter to Him when we undergo trials and temptations. The Bible tells us that God will never allow temptations into our lives that are too much for us to handle (1 Corinthians 10:13). Although being depressed is not a sin, one is still responsible for how he responds to his affliction, including getting the professional help he needs. "With Jesus' help, let us continually offer our sacrifice of praise to God by proclaiming the glory of his name" (Hebrews 13:15).

Recommended Resource: How to Win Over Depression by Tim Lahaye.

 

[EuphoricForest]

This is a great topic to bring up Chad. I always am skeptical towards medications, and not the big stuff like medicines for diabetes, im just talking about cold medicines and the like. My opinion is its all a money making business. They will come out with one medicine that supposedly will cure say a sore throat, but it has side effects, and then they have medicines to deal with those side effects. I read somewhere that the creators of these medications do have cures for such sicknesses, but if they created just a few medications that could cure sicknesses then they would lose a great deal of money. Its disgusting really, thats why Im 100% for the natural cure and Jesus' help to get through sickensses. Even diseases I assume can be dealt with this way, because like Chad pointed out, Jesus did cure numerous diseases in his day, so with prayer and a healthy lifestyle, Im sure we can all live through our sicknesses without giving money to these greedy companies.

:shade: Hooray for Jesus!

God Bless you all!:boy_hug:

 

[Word of Life]

I am glad this topic has come up, because I am feeling terribly guilty. God helped me come of my panic attack tablets around July 2005, I was off them for about year. Then I gave up smoking around Nov last year. About a week later the panic/afraid feelings started coming back.

On and off I have tremendous spiritual warfare's going on in my mind, Jesus helps me get through them, I do ask him to intercede in prayer for me, when it gets really bad.

But the sad news, I went back on the tablets again, coz I felt depression and panic attacks coming back again. I went to the doctor and he prescribed about 3 months supply to me. I feel extremely bad in myself, as it was only last year I was trying to help someone on here to get off similar medical tablets and now I am back on them. The dosage is small, as I am only taking half of a .5 mg tablet at night. Some nights I miss them, just depends on how I feel. Monday, Tues & Wed I didn't take anything, but last night, I felt I had world war III going on in my head. I went to prayer, but it didn't help me, so not long afterwards I was in the kitchen taking the tablet.

I feel extremely guilty, which makes this even worse. I know I can heal in Jesus' name, but is there something I am lacking or don't I believe enough?

Next week I am going on an interaction 9 week course on spiritual warfare. I do believe God is leading me in this direction. Meaning that some time later, I will council others who are going through these similar battles, like I have been through. You see I need to learn from experience.

 

[ladylovesJesus]

I believe everything we go through in life enables us to help others. Stop feeling guilty. The enemy puts the guilt feelings on us.

He that is in you is greater than he that is in the world. Stand firm in the faith. Remember to put on the armour of God daily. This is your protection from the darts being thrown.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths. Prov.3.5-6.

God bless you for giving up smoking. I pray you will learn how to overcome the enemy better after your course.

We are in a spiritual battle.

Eph 6.10
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.

Just keep your focus on Jesus and stay prayed up sister

God bless you for sharing. :rainbow: :rose:

 

[Word of Life]

Thank you ladylovesJesus, I will remember this scripture. I have printed it off, in big bold letters and I am going to hang it in my bathroom and at my office at work.

1Jo 4:4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

 

[ladylovesJesus]

Thank you ladylovesJesus, I will remember this scripture. I have printed it off, in big bold letters and I am going to hang it in my bathroom and at my office at work.

I am happy to be able to help you sis. I think what you have done is a great idea too.

God bless you and make His face shine upon you :rose: :rainbow: