Praying for the Sick
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give honor to the body, the temple of God, but by wrong habits have
degraded the body which is Christ’s property, make confession of these
things to God. Unless you are wrought upon by the Holy Spirit in
special manner to confess your sins of private nature to man, do not
breathe them to any soul.
Christ is your Redeemer; He will take no advantage of your humil-
iating confessions. If you have sin of a private character, confess it to
Christ, who is the only Mediator between God and man. “If any man
sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.”
1 John 2:1
. If you have sinned by withholding from God His own in
tithes and offerings, confess your guilt to God and to the church, and
heed the injunction that He has given you: “Bring ye all the tithes into
the storehouse.”
Malachi 3:10
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A Most Solemn Experience
Praying for the sick is a most solemn thing, and we should not
enter into this work in any careless, hasty way. Examination should
be made as to whether those who would be blessed with health have
indulged in evilspeaking, alienation, and dissension. Have they sowed
discord among the brethren and sisters of the church? If these things
have been committed they should be confessed before God and the
church. When wrongs have been confessed the subjects for prayer
may be presented before God in earnestness and faith, as the Spirit of
God may move upon you.
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But it is not always safe to ask for unconditional healing. Let your
prayer include this thought: “Lord, Thou knowest every secret of the
soul. Thou art acquainted with these persons; for Jesus, their advocate,
gave His life for them. He loves them better than we possibly can. If,
therefore, it is for Thy glory and the good of these afflicted ones to
raise them up to health, we ask Thee in the name of Jesus, that health
may be given them at this time.” In a petition of this kind, no lack of
faith is manifested.
The Lord “doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of
men.”
Lamentations 3:33
. “Like as a father pitieth his children, so
the Lord pitieth them that fear Him. For He knoweth our frame; He
remembereth that we are dust.”
Psalm 103:13, 14
. He knows our heart,
for He reads every secret of the soul. He knows whether or not those