Walk in Love and Live Healed (Part 2)

Although Christians are redeemed from the curse of sickness and disease, they can still open a door to the devil that allows sickness to come upon them. There are reasons why believers suffer sickness, and we see a key scriptural passage that brings out this truth.

Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep.

1 Corinthians 11:27-30 NKJV

The way we receive communion will affect our health. Not properly discerning the Lord’s body is the reason many are weak and sick, and many die prematurely. There are two applications of discerning the Lord’s body that are important to know:

1. Discerning Jesus’ physical body.

2. Discerning Jesus’ spiritual body.

We are taught that before we receive communion, we are supposed to examine ourselves. If I was suffering with sickness and disease that was stubbornly hanging on, the first place I would examine is my love walk.

How am I treating other people? We have to realize that what we do has an effect on those around us, positive or negative.

“…from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.”

Ephesians 4:16 NKJV

When we become a member of the body of Christ, and particularly of a local church, the Bible says we become joined and knit together. What we are joined to will be affected by what we do. We should always be asking ourselves, “How is this action I’m about to take going to affect those around me?” If it will cause injury, then we shouldn’t do it.

Speed Up Your Healing by Changing How You Treat Others

One of the greatest areas to guard is our mouth. How is what I am about to say going to affect the other person? Is what I’m about to say going to bring edification or destruction?

Sometimes we get to talking about something another person has said or done, and they could have already repented of it. If the Lord has forgiven them, He has forgotten it. If we bring it up again, we violate the law of love.

Did you know that walking in love is a ROYAL LAW?

If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself," you do well;

James 2:8 NKJV

Loving your neighbor as yourself is the Royal Law of love. Would you want someone to talk about you the way you are talking about them?

Would you want someone to treat you the way you are treating them?

Let’s take this a step further: Would you say it or do it to Jesus?

If we are His body, then when we mistreat a member of the body, we are mistreating Jesus. Jesus made this clear when speaking to Saul of Tarsus:

Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?"

And he said, "Who are You, Lord?"

Then the Lord said, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.

Acts 9:4-5 NKJV

Saul was arresting and killing Christians. But Jesus said Saul was persecuting Him. So we can see that how we treat the body is part of discerning the Lord’s body. If I love my fellow church members, I will be careful to share the load in serving at church so that another is not overburdened. If I love my fellow church members, I will be careful about what I say about them. If I love my fellow church members, I will be mindful about my giving so that the whole church can accomplish its mission. We must discern that we are not an island, and selfishness has no place in the church of the Lord Jesus Christ.

One of the reasons we see more sickness in the church today than in the past is that more people are slandering and hurting others than in the past. They have been influenced by the spirit of the world.

Bitterness and unforgiveness have a high price tag. We must ask ourselves if we can afford to have strife, bitterness, and unforgiveness in our lives? The answer is, “Not if we want to live healed!”

One of Jesus’ greatest teachings on faith and prayer reveals the importance of forgiveness.

 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.

"And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses."

Mark 11:24-26 NKJV

You cannot receive answered prayer if you have unforgiveness toward anybody for any reason! Answered prayer includes healing of sickness and disease.

Jesus also taught us to pray, “Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. If we are quick to forgive others when they mistreat us, we will be quick to receive healing. Let’s practice the law of love, and live the healed life that Jesus paid for us to have!

If you're in the Aurora/Naperville area and are looking for a church that teaches the uncompromising Word of God, we invite you to visit Abundant Life Family Church. As a Word and Spirit church, we are committed to helping believers grow in faith, experience the power of God, and walk in His promises. Our services are filled with dynamic worship, Bible-based teaching, and an atmosphere where the Holy Spirit moves. Whether you’re searching for a church home or seeking a deeper relationship with God, we welcome you to join us and be part of a thriving community of faith!