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Section 1—Healing Power and Its Source
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We cannot heal. We cannot change the diseased conditions of
the body. But it is our part, as medical missionaries, as workers
together with God, to use the means that He has provided. Then we
should pray that God will bless these agencies. We do believe in a
God; we believe in a God who hears and answers prayer. He has
said, “Ask, and ye shall receive; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and
it shall be opened unto you.”—
The Review and Herald, December
5, 1907.
When Prayer for Healing Is Presumption
Many have expected that God would keep them from sickness
merely because they have asked Him to do so. But God did not
regard their prayers, because their faith was not made perfect by
works. God will not work a miracle to keep those from sickness
who have no care for themselves, but are continually violating the
laws of health and make no efforts to prevent disease. When we do
all we can on our part to have health, then may we expect that the
blessed results will follow, and we can ask God in faith to bless our
efforts for the preservation of health. He will then answer our prayer,
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if His name can be glorified thereby. But let all understand that they
have a work to do. God will not work in a miraculous manner to
preserve the health of persons who are taking a sure course to make
themselves sick, by their careless inattention to the laws of health.
Those who will gratify their appetite, and then suffer because of
their intemperance, and take drugs to relieve them, may be assured
that God will not interpose to save health and life which are so
recklessly periled. The cause has produced the effect. Many, as their
last resort, follow the directions in the word of God, and request
the prayers of the elders of the church for their restoration to health.
God does not see fit to answer prayers offered in behalf of such, for
He knows that if they should be restored to health, they would again
sacrifice it upon the altar of unhealthy appetite.—4SG 144, 145.
Provision for Gospel Medical Missionary Work
The way in which Christ worked was to preach the word, and to
relieve suffering by miraculous works of healing. But I am instructed