Sunday
May 26
1. SIN AND DISEASE
a. What is the relationship between sin and disease? Psalm 103:3, 4; John 5:14.
“There are today thousands suffering from physical disease who, like the paralytic, are longing for the message, ‘Thy sins are forgiven.’ The burden of sin, with its unrest and unsatisfied desires, is the foundation of their maladies. They can find no relief until they come to the Healer of the soul. The peace which He alone can impart would restore vigor to the mind and health to the body.”—The Ministry of Healing, p. 77.
b. Who only can provide the antidote? Malachi 4:2.
“Many are suffering from maladies of the soul far more than from diseases of the body, and they will find no relief until they shall come to Christ, the wellspring of life.”—My Life Today, p. 154.
Monday
May 27
2. THE EXPERIENCE OF ISRAEL
a. What promises did God make to Israel regarding their health, and how was He going to fulfill these promises? Exodus 23:25.
“The Lord gave His word to ancient Israel, that if they would cleave strictly to Him and do all His requirements, He would keep them from all the diseases such as He had brought upon the Egyptians; but this promise was given on the condition of obedience. Had the Israelites obeyed the instruction they received, and profited by their advantages, they would have been the world’s object lesson of health and prosperity. The Israelites failed of fulfilling God’s purpose, and thus failed of receiving the blessings that might have been theirs. But in Joseph and Daniel, in Moses and Elijah, and many others, we have noble examples of the results of the true plan of living. Like faithfulness today will produce like results.”—Testimonies, vol. 9, p. 165.
b. What was the physical condition of the Israelites as they journeyed through the wilderness? Psalm 105:37. What does this tell of the power of God?
“By a miracle of mercy He fed them with the bread of heaven. The food provided for them was of a nature to promote physical, mental, and moral strength, and . . . the wisdom of God’s choice for them was vindicated in a manner that they could not gainsay. Notwithstanding the hardships of their wilderness life, there was not a feeble one in all their tribes.”—This Day With God, p. 77.
c. How does obedience to God bring deliverance from disease? Exodus 15:26; Deuteronomy 7:12, 15.
“God desires us to reach the standard of perfection made possible for us by the gift of Christ. He calls upon us to make our choice on the right side, to connect with heavenly agencies, to adopt principles that will restore in us the divine image. In His written word and in the great book of nature He has revealed the principles of life. It is our work to obtain a knowledge of these principles, and by obedience to cooperate with Him in restoring health to the body as well as to the soul.”—The Ministry of Healing, pp. 114, 115.
Tuesday
May 28
3. JESUS, THE HEALER
a. What did Christ suffer so that we might have deliverance from both sin and disease? Isaiah 53:5.
“Behold the Son of God in the wilderness of temptation, in the time of greatest weakness assailed by the fiercest temptation. See Him during the years of His ministry, attacked on every side by the forces of evil. See Him in His agony on the cross. All this He suffered for us.”—Testimonies, vol. 8, p. 209.
b. What brings healing to body and soul? Proverbs 4:20–22; 3:7, 8.
“The assurance of God’s approval will promote physical health. It fortifies the soul against doubt, perplexity, and excessive grief, that so often sap the vital forces and induce nervous diseases of a most debilitating and distressing character. The Lord has pledged his unfailing word that his eye shall be over the righteous, and his ear open to their prayer, while he is against all them that do evil.”—The Review and Herald, October 16, 1883.
“The exalting influence of the Spirit of God is the best restorative for the sick. Heaven is all health, and the more fully the heavenly influences are felt the more sure the recovery of the believing invalid.”—Testimonies, vol. 1, p. 556.
c. How does Jesus help us when we are ill? Matthew 8:17; 11:28–30.
“The love which Christ diffuses through the whole being is a vitalizing power. Every vital part—the brain, the heart, the nerves—it touches with healing. By it the highest energies of the being are roused to activity. It frees the soul from the guilt and sorrow, the anxiety and care, that crush the life forces. With it come serenity and composure. It implants in the soul, joy that nothing earthly can destroy—joy in the Holy Spirit—health-giving, life-giving joy.
“Our Saviour’s words, ‘Come unto Me, . . . and I will give you rest’ (Matthew 11:28), are a prescription for the healing of physical, mental, and spiritual ills. Though men have brought suffering upon themselves by their own wrongdoing, He regards them with pity. In Him they may find help. He will do great things for those who trust in Him.”—The Ministry of Healing, p. 115.
Wednesday
May 29
4. LIVING IN HEALTH
a. What is God’s desire for His people today? 3 John 2.
“You are the Lord’s; for He created you. You are His by redemption; for He gave His life for you. . . . Preserve every portion of the living machinery, that you may use it for God. Preserve it for Him. Your health depends upon the right use of your physical organism. Do not misuse any portion of your God-given powers, physical, mental, or moral. All your habits are to be brought under the control of a mind that is itself under the control of God.”—Sons and Daughters of God, p. 171.
b. What attitude assists us in overcoming disease? Proverbs 17:22; 13:12.
“The consciousness of right-doing, is the best medicine for diseased bodies and minds. He who is at peace with God has secured the most important requisite to health. The blessing of the Lord is life to the receiver.”—The Signs of the Times, June 15, 1882.
“The condition of the mind has much to do with the health of the physical system. If the mind is free and happy, under a consciousness of rightdoing and a sense of satisfaction in causing happiness to others, it will create a cheerfulness that will react upon the whole system, causing a freer circulation of the blood and a toning up of the entire body.”—Testimonies, vol. 4, p. 60.
c. What selfless actions help in the restoration of our health? Isaiah 58:6–8, 10, 11.
“You who are suffering with poor health, there is a remedy for you. If thou clothe the naked, and bring the poor that are cast out to thy house, and deal thy bread to the hungry, ‘then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily.’ Doing good is an excellent remedy for disease.”—Ibid., vol. 2, p. 29.
“If you forget self in your interest for others, you gain a victory over your infirmities. The satisfaction you will realize in doing good will aid you greatly in the recovery of the healthy tone of the imagination. The pleasure of doing good animates the mind and vibrates through the whole body.”—Ibid., p. 534.
Thursday
May 30
5. FINDING DELIVERANCE TODAY
a. What does God require of us today in regards to our physical life? Romans 12:1; 1 Corinthians 6:19, 20.
“The Lord requires a living sacrifice of mind, soul, body, and strength. All that we have and are is to be given to Him, that we may answer the purpose of our creation. But unless we take heed to the light and instruction given us in the Word of God, that in the matter of eating and drinking we may speak and act intelligently, we shall bring feebleness upon our selves. . . .
“It is necessary for every believer to be strictly temperate. The people of our world indulge pernicious habits, thus destroying their God-given susceptibility and the power of discerning sacred things. The moral sense of many of those living at the present day is clouded by wrong habits.”—Manuscript Releases, vol. 20, pp. 3, 4.
b. What prayer can we offer to the Lord for help? Psalm 119:153, 154.
“God has not changed, neither does He propose to change our physical organism, in order that we may violate a single law without feeling the effects of its violation. But many willingly close their eyes to the light. . . . By indulging their inclinations and appetites, they violate the laws of life and health; and if they obey conscience, they must be controlled by principle in their eating and dressing, rather than be led by inclination, fashion, and appetite.”—Counsels on Diet and Foods, p. 161.
Friday
May 31
PERSONAL REVIEW QUESTIONS
1. How does forgiveness of sin affect the physical health?
2. What keeps us from being the world’s object lesson of health today?
3. How does living with God’s approval affect my health? How can I have this approval?
4. What is the best medicine for those with physical and mental illnesses?
5. How can I be “strictly temperate” today? Why is this so important?