Joseph Goebbels was a German politician and Minister for Public Enlightenment and Propaganda in Nazi Germany from 1933 to 1945. He was one of German dictator Adolf Hitler's closest associates and most devout followers. When Joseph Goebbels made this statement he in no way was referring to the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Nevertheless, since Satan himself is the father of all lies¹ he also is the source of the lies that flooded Nazi Germany in the early 1930’s thru the mid 1940’s.

I find in more than just an interesting comment that he declared “the truth is the mortal enemy of the lie...and the truth is the greatest enemy of the State.” In the case of the Church the same is true: The enemy must continue to perpetuate a lie in order to prevent the reality of a Truth being experienced.

2000 years ago the early church embraced the fact all sickness was from satan. Luke, under direct inspiration of the Holy Spirit declared it this way -

“How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and He went about doing good and healing all that was oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.” Acts 10:38

No excuses. No “if’s,” “and’s,” or, “but’s,” period. End of discussion. Jesus Himself said it was the enemy who came to steal, kill, and destroy^2. His purpose was to destroy the works of the devil^3.

I have come to the conclusion that for many segments of the Church, and Christianity in general, this is just too good to be true. As Joseph Goebbels put it, in my paraphrase: the lie can only be maintained as long as the State, in this case the Church, can shield the truth from the people. For the truth is the greatest enemy of the lie.

How far the Church has fallen in 2000 years to accept the lie, straight from the pit of hell, to believe and actively embrace that God either sends sickness and disease to His children, or at best permits it for the purpose of “teaching us a lesson.”

I have never met one person who could tell me what they have learned from their sickness or disease. And, the lie continues to perpetuate, and replace the Divine and Supreme Holy Spirit, whom Jesus said, would guide and lead us into all truth. Not some truth. All truth⁴.

Jesus never turned anyone away who came to Him for a healing, or miracle by telling them, “I’m sorry - but this sickness is for your benefit, or the benefit of those around you.” Sorry folks. It’s time for the lie to end! It is time to embrace the Truth as Jesus declared it: “I came to give you life, (Greek zoe: the God-kind-of-life) and give it to you more abundantly.”⁵ Sickness, not included.

It is equally amazing to me, that while “we preachers” occasionally tend to blame someone’s lack of faith for not receiving their healing, Jesus worked with any kind of faith - even faith that said, “Help my unbelief!”⁶

Bottom line: Jesus is extravagantly good and continues to ignore the “cover up” that He sometimes allows sickness and disease for our benefit. I am convinced He enjoys “messing with our theology” that doesn’t line up with His character and nature. Including my own.

On the 4th Tuesday in April I was wrapping up a “devotional” at the Bremen Food and Clothing Bank. Very much a “non-church setting”. Minutes before a woman deaf in one ear was healed. Another received a “new” knee from “Heaven’s Body Parts Bank.” Many more were instantly healed of joint pains. With time running out, I asked all who were still in pain to raise their hands and I would command the pain in Jesus Name to leave.

Several hands went up. Including Mrs. Leroy Dickerson. She and her husband have volunteered every Tuesday to help the less fortunate for months on end. For several weeks she had been in severe back pain. Even taking strong prescription pain-killers, and trips to the chiropractor had not helped.

At the request to “lift your hand if you’re in pain,” her husband told her to raise her hand as well. She flatly told him, and later me, “No, I don’t believe in that.” In fact, she told me she was raised to believe that God “just wouldn’t take somebody’s pain that simply.”

At the continued urging of her husband she raised her hand. As she did, all the pain was washed out of her body by the power of the Name of Jesus. Almost 8 weeks later, she is still pain free.

The point? Regardless of her belief He wouldn’t, and my belief He wouldn’t work where there is total unbelief, still, He proves He is Sovereign, and can do whatever He desires.

This Gospel - Good News - of the Kingdom IS too good to be true! BUT IT IS! That’s why it is such great news. Its time to end the lie that God is sometimes good.

We are not living blindly as though we just ignore the fact there is indeed sickness within the Body of Christ. However we do adamantly deny that God is the Source or cause of the sickness. Directly or indirectly. Paul told the Corinthian church that if they would “judge themselves” in return, they would not be judged. ⁷ But, as it was, many of them were sick and had even died because they had not rightly discerned the Body of Christ.

They had in essence created their own dilemma by not properly esteeming the communion table as righteous and holy. It represents the perfect sacrifice and complete and finished work of Calvary. It was the redemption of body, soul, and spirit. His blood eternally covers our sins, and His stripes forever settles my healing, and His will to heal. He has already paid the price! He legally owns our salvation. As it is in Heaven means:

Not sometimes. All the time. The problem is never on God’s end. The problem lies on our end. For many it is easier to justify sickness and disease, by vindicating themselves that it is God’s will for them, as though, somehow they are above God’s abilities, or desire to heal them. They have become an exception to the rule, and are above the rest of redeemed humanity. They are “special”, in as much God will use them to sacrifice their health, so “others” will learn to be grateful for what they have.

Blinded by the lie, pride is the source of this thinking. Pride in the attention certain diseases garner from the public domain. We wear ribbons, go on walks for cures, build houses, and build monuments for the “cure.”

Still, others seem ironically dependent on their particular disease, or illness for their personal survival. I have been actually told to my face, “If I get healed, I’ll lose my disability check and have to get a job.”

And the problem is?

I am fully aware that much of what I’m saying is controversial, and against the grain of much of church doctrines and teaching. So, why would I subject myself to the criticism of my peers? Is it because I thrive on controversy? The answer is, “No.” Do I like stirring up argumentative spirits? Again, the answer would be... “No.”

The partial answer lies in these parables from Matthew 13:44-45 -

Our traditional interpretation of these parables, of which, I do not disagree, would indicate “we” are the man, and the merchant. Jesus is the treasure in the field, as well as, the pearl of great price. “We” sell all, and abandon our lives to Him. I have no problem receiving that revelation.

However, the Holy Spirit revealed a “twist” on that logic. What if Jesus is the Man, and the Merchant? What if we are the treasure, and the pearl of great price?

Then the interpretation would be as follows:

Jesus, seeing the completed work of the cross from beginning to end, saw in us: “Christ in me, the hope of Glory“.⁸ He saw men and women carrying this “treasure” in earthen vessels.⁹ He saw redeemed mankind continuing to enforce Kingdom realities by releasing the captives of darkness, mending the brokenhearted, healing the sick, (not just praying for them) and becoming dispensers of Truth, and not converts of religion.

He left His Glory, in essence, “sold all”, to buy the field as Savior of the world¹⁰ for the sole purpose of exposing this treasure, this pearl of great price to the world. How can I deny Him what belongs to Him? We often hear about our inheritance in Him, but equally so, He has an inheritance in us.¹¹

He has a right to receive everything He has already, past tense, bought and paid for. I owe it to my Master to be the channel, or conduit through which His miracles, healings, and salvations flow. I am the servant that delivers the “goods’ that He has purchased. But more that a servant. A son, an heir, a king and a priest to reign on the earth.¹²

When I wavered in my belief that it was God’s will to heal, I saw limited success in ministering to the sick. James used “wisdom” as the example, in regards to asking for something from God. Let’s use the same principle in ministering to the sick.

By using the Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, as well as the book of Acts, as the blueprint for healing. I became fully persuaded, without doubting, God’s desire and willingness to heal the sick. The results have been an exponential increase in seeing both miracles, instant, and healings, recovering from a sickness.

His will has been revealed in Jesus. The book of Hebrews says that Jesus is the “express image”, the exact duplication of the heart of the Father.¹³ Jesus told the leper in Matthew 8:2-3, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Ending any doubt as to whether or not it is His will to heal.

You cannot read the Gospels and Acts, and reach the conclusion God sometimes heals, and sometimes He doesn’t. You need help to come to that decision. Help that usually comes in the form doctrines of men. Rather than believing I’m the one that could be wrong. It is easier to accept, “it’s just not God’s will.”

It has been my observation that the men and women that have the most success in the realm of miracles, signs, and wonders, are all equally emphatic regarding His will and desire to heal. This is a pattern that points to the “Good News” of the Kingdom.

After the commissioning of the disciples to preach this great message of the Kingdom, and will of the Father, the Bible says:

The Lord only confirms Truth! Not speculation, not theory, not possibilities, and certainly not doubt.

As long as parts of the Church continue to protect the lie that miracles have past, we will be limited to what our personal faith will allow. When the Truth is proclaimed without fear of man, or reprisals from peers, the Lord Himself will validate both the message, and the messenger. Not because of who we are, but rather, because of Who He is. His character, nature, and faithfulness is on the line. Faith is still spelled r-i-s-k.

Do we see everyone healed? No. But, I never focus on that. Do you see everyone saved? No. Nor, do I focus on that. Jesus must be embraced as Savior, Healer, and Deliverer. The facts are not everyone believes that. But the GOOD NEWS IS: THE TRUTH IS GREATER THAN THE FACTS! Facts are temporal, the Truth is Eternal. In and through the person of Jesus Christ. He is the Good News; and He is both, too good, and too True.