Introduction:
Man has been aptly described as a two-fold being. There is the outward man that we see; and there is the inward man or spirit, which is often called the unseen essence that lends to a person's reason, character, and distinction. The physical body often becomes ill and will cause one to travel far to secure the services of a doctor who can make him well again. The inward man can also become sick, but this type of illness is often overlooked and neglected.
Our physical bodies become ill when we disobey the laws of nature. Just so, our spiritual bodies become affected when God's spiritual laws are violated. Israel of old is described as diseased and unsound from head to foot because of their many sins. (Isa. 1:3-6).
When Jesus was criticized for eating with publicans and sinners, He said, "They that are whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." His association with them was to influence them to accept His remedy for sin. Let us notice a few spiritual ailments from which many unknowingly suffer today.
Body:
I. HEART TROUBLE
The nation's number one killer is heart trouble. One type of this ailment is HARD-NESS OF THE HEART. "Wherefore as the Holy Ghost saith, today if ye will hear his voice harden not your hearts." (Heb. 3:7,8). This condition results from persistently refusing to accept and obey the words of Christ.
Another heart ailment is SLOWNESS OF THE HEART. "O fools and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken." (Lk. 24:25).
On rare occasions the medical doctor will discover a person with a DISLOCATED HEART. This is a very serious and dangerous condition. Dislocation of the heart is very common in the spiritual realm, but it is just as dangerous. Jesus said, "For where a man's treasure is there will his heart be also." God, the great Creator of us all, intended that we have our heart and trust placed in Him and His teachings. Paul said, "Set your affections on things above and not on things on the earth." (Col. 3:2). But, Oh how carnal and temporal we all are at times! Perhaps even our worship at times may fall into the same category with that of the Pharisees. Jesus said, "This people draweth night unto me with their mouth and honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me." (Matt. 15:7,8).
II. EYE TROUBLE
This spiritual woe may be anything from faulty vision to complete blindness. Peter tells us to add to our faith the Christian graces. But he says, "He that lacketh these things is blind and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins." Paul said, "If our gospel be hid, it hid to them that are lost: in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them that believe not, less the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them." (2 Cor. 4:3,4)
III. EAR TROUBLE
We read of ear ailments also. "For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing." (Matt. 13:15). The Jews were so prejudiced and devoted to religious traditions that they hardly heard the plain teachings of Christ. The Hebrew Christians had failed to study and develop; therefore the inspired writer says, "We have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing." (Heb. 5:11).
IV. ANEMIA
Anemia is a condition characterized by low iron in the blood, causing weakness and fatigue. When a person fails to assimilate the spiritual food given in the Word of God, he loses his vigor and strength. Paul spoke of those Christians at Corinth who were "weak and sickly." (1 Cor. 11:30).
V. INDIGESTION
"And I brethren could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat for hitherto you were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able." (1 Cor. 3:1,2). If Paul had fed them with meat, or the deeper spiritual truths, then INDIGESTION would have been the inevitable result. We need to grow in grace and knowledge of the truth, leaving the first principles behind and going on to perfection.
VI. SLEEPING SICKNESS
This is a very common ailment in the body of Christ. Many Christians, who were once faithful, have simply gone to sleep on the job of living for God. Paul told the church at Corinth that many of their number were asleep. (1 Cor. 11:30). To the Ephesians he wrote, "Awake thou that sleepest and arise from the dead and Christ will give thee light." (Eph. 5:14). Idleness is generally the cause of this disease and spiritual indifference is the first symptom.
VII. STIFF NECK
Many suffer from a STIFF NECK. In the spiritual realm this ailment simply means a stubborn or rebellious attitude. Remember Stephen's bold message to the Jews: "Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears. ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye." (Acts 7:51). Today some people will reject the simple commands of Christ regardless of all the scriptural proof you may offer.
VII. LAMENESS
This condition will keep a person from walking uprightly as he should. LAMENESS is often caused from carelessness or walking in darkness. Jesus said, "I am the light of the world. He that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." (Jno. 8:12). The apostle admonishes us to walk circumspectly or cautiously, redeeming the time. (Eph. 5:15). If we are spiritually lame, our influence will be shadowed and we won't be able to carry the gospel of Christ to the dark world.
Friends, if you suffer from any of the above ailments, I heartily recommend unto you Jesus, the Great Physician. His blood cleanses from all sin. His Word is the perfect prescription, the perfect diet. There is no spiritual malady that He cannot cure.
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