Sunday
October 17
1. SICKNESS AND PAIN
a. Why is there so much sickness and pain around us? Isaiah 24:4–6.
“It is a great thing to ensure health by placing ourselves in right relations to the laws of life, and many have not done this. A large share of the sickness and suffering among us is the result of the transgression of physical law, is brought upon individuals by their own wrong habits.”—Counsels on Health, p. 49.
b. What can we do to avoid sickness? Exodus 15:26.
“In regard to that which we can do for ourselves, there is a point that requires careful, thoughtful consideration. I must become acquainted with myself. I must be a learner always as to how to take care of this building, the body God has given me, that I may preserve it in the very best condition of health. I must eat those things which will be for my very best good physically, and I must take special care to have my clothing such as will conduce to a healthful circulation of the blood. I must not deprive myself of exercise and air. I must get all the sunlight that it is possible for me to obtain. I must have wisdom to be a faithful guardian of my body.”—Child Guidance, pp. 366, 367.
Monday
October 18
2. HEALING POWER
a. Who is it that heals our sickness, both physical and spiritual? Psalm 103:3.
“[The Lord Jesus Christ] is the only source of healing.”—The Upward Look, p. 141.
b. What should always be borne in mind about who is the Doctor of doctors? Luke 8:43–48.
“Christ is the true head of the medical profession. The Chief Physician, He is at the side of every God-fearing practitioner who works to relieve human suffering. While the physician uses nature’s remedies for physical disease, he should point his patients to Him who can relieve the maladies of both the soul and the body. That which physicians can only aid in doing, Christ accomplishes. They endeavor to assist nature’s work of healing; Christ Himself is the healer. The physician seeks to preserve life; Christ imparts life.”—The Ministry of Healing, p. 111.
c. What power is revealed through the agencies of nature? John 9:5–7; Isaiah 38:21.
“When any part of the body sustains injury, a healing process is at once begun; nature’s agencies are set at work to restore soundness. But the power working through these agencies is the power of God. All life-giving power is from Him. When one recovers from disease, it is God who restores him.”—Ibid., pp. 112, 113.
d. On what condition does God want to restore our health—and how far-reaching is this restoration? John 5:14; 1 Thessalonians 5:23.
“It is labor lost to teach people to look to God as a healer of their infirmities, unless they are taught also to lay aside unhealthful practices. In order to receive His blessing in answer to prayer, they must cease to do evil and learn to do well. Their surroundings must be sanitary, their habits of life correct. They must live in harmony with the law of God, both natural and spiritual.”—Gospel Workers, pp. 215, 216.
Tuesday
October 19
3. NATURE’S AGENTS
a. What should we recognize as nature’s remedial agencies approved by God to heal sickness? Ezekiel 47:12.
“There are many ways of practicing the healing art, but there is only one way that Heaven approves. God’s remedies are the simple agencies of nature that will not tax or debilitate the system through their powerful properties.”—Testimonies, vol. 5, p. 443.
“We have the sanction of the word of God for the use of remedial agencies. Hezekiah, king of Israel, was sick, and a prophet of God brought him the message that he should die. He cried unto the Lord, and the Lord heard His servant and sent him a message that fifteen years should be added to his life. Now, one word from God would have healed Hezekiah instantly; but special directions were given, ‘Let them take a lump of figs, and lay it for a plaster upon the boil, and he shall recover’ (Isaiah 38:21).
“On one occasion Christ anointed the eyes of a blind man with clay and bade him, ‘Go, wash in the pool of Siloam. . . . He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing’ (John 9:7). The cure could be wrought only by the power of the Great Healer, yet Christ made use of the simple agencies of nature. While He did not give countenance to drug medication, He sanctioned the use of simple and natural remedies.”—The Ministry of Healing, pp. 232, 233.
“Pure air, sunlight, abstemiousness, rest, exercise, proper diet, the use of water, trust in divine power—these are the true remedies. Every person should have a knowledge of nature’s remedial agencies and how to apply them.”—Ibid., p. 127.
b. What else has the Lord provided for the cure of diseases? Psalm 104:14.
“The Lord has provided antidotes for diseases in simple plants, and these can be used by faith, with no denial of faith; for by using the blessings provided by God for our benefit we are cooperating with Him. He can use water and sunshine and the herbs which He has caused to grow, in healing maladies brought on by indiscretion or accident. We do not manifest a lack of faith when we ask God to bless His remedies.”—Selected Messages, bk. 2, p. 289.
Wednesday
October 20
4. AVOIDING DRUGS
a. Name a physician among the early disciples. Colossians 4:14. What advice is given to physicians?
“In their practice, the physicians should seek more and more to lessen the use of drugs instead of increasing it.”—Selected Messages, bk. 2, p. 282.
b. What advice works better than the use of drugs in many cases? Proverbs 3:7, 8; 4:20–22.
“You should avoid the use of drugs, and carefully observe the laws of health. If you regard your life, you should eat plain food, prepared in the simplest manner, and take more physical exercise.”—Counsels on Diet and Foods, pp. 82, 83.
c. What work should be done among our people so that they will depend more and more on God’s remedies? Proverbs 3:6; Deuteronomy 6:1, 2.
“Educate away from drugs. Use them less and less. . . . Then nature will respond to God’s physicians—pure air, pure water, proper exercise, a clear conscience. . . . Many might recover without one grain of medicine if they would obey the laws of health. Drugs need seldom be used.”—Selected Messages, bk. 2, p. 281.
d. In extreme cases, what should the patient do? James 5:14–16.
“It is our privilege to use every God-appointed means in correspondence with our faith, and then trust in God, when we have urged the promise. If there is need of a surgical operation, and the physician is willing to undertake the case, it is not a denial of faith to have the operation performed. After the patient has committed his will to the will of God, let him trust, drawing nigh to the Great Physician, the Mighty Healer, and giving himself up in perfect trust. The Lord will honor his faith in the very manner He sees is for His own name’s glory.”—Ibid., pp. 284, 285.
Thursday
October 21
5. OPPOSING METHODS
a. Who falsely attributes to himself the power to heal sickness? 2 Corinthians 11:3; Revelation 12:9.
b. Through whom does Satan deceive, and what are some of his methods? Acts 8:9–11; Deuteronomy 18:9–14; Matthew 7:21–23; 24:24.
“The apostles of nearly all forms of spiritism claim to have power to heal. They attribute this power to electricity, magnetism, the so-called sympathetic remedies, or to latent forces within the mind of man. And there are not a few, even in this Christian age, who go to these healers instead of trusting in the power of the living God and the skill of well-qualified physicians.”—Mind, Character, and Personality, vol. 2, p. 701.
“We need not be deceived. . . . God’s Word declares that Satan will work miracles. He will make people sick, and then will suddenly remove from them his satanic power. They will then be regarded as healed. These works of apparent healing will bring Seventh-day Adventists to the test. Many who have had great light will fail to walk in the light, because they have not become one with Christ.”—Selected Messages, bk. 2, p. 53.
c. What is the big difference between God’s method and Satan’s method?
“Christ’s remedies cleanse the system. But Satan has tempted man to introduce into the system that which weakens the human machinery, clogging and destroying the fine, beautiful arrangements of God.”—Ibid., p. 289.
Friday
October 22
REVIEW AND THOUGHT QUESTIONS
a. What pledges should we make to ourselves in order to maintain health?
b. What do the very best doctors realize about restoring health?
c. Name some of Heaven’s choicest remedies.
d. What should we consider in cases of extreme illness?
e. What test may come even to the very elect with regard to healing?