© 19 Colin Melbourne
And took pleasure in infirmities!
Q: You teach that physical healing is included in the Gospel, and that all Christians can enjoy perfect health by faith in God. Yet in 2 Cor. 12 Paul writes that he boasts in his infirmities, that he may be able to glorify God despite them. How do you answer that?
A: Easily, you have misunderstood both the Gospel, and what the Holy Ghost was saying in 2 Co. chapter 12. Let’s hear it uncorrupted, 2 Co. 12:2-10 KJV;
I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven. And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities. For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me.
And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
Glory & Pleasure in Infirmities?
Was Paul, as you imply, boasting about being sick, and taking pleasure in being ill?
You ask because you desire to find a way to justify your claim to be “a believer in Christ”, whilst remaining in bondage to physical infirmity, sickness and disease.
That is an entrenched error, and serious false-teaching of withered, unbelieving, moribund denominations.
Please get out, and come into Christ, or you too will die unfulfilled, and prematurely.
Comprehend Redemption
Firstly, understand the heart of the Gospel of Christ, which is; God in the Flesh identifying with sinful man, taking on the nature, sin, sickness, and infirmity of condemned humanity, whilst never yielding to sin Himself, and then paying the total cost to redeem us from our captivity to Satan, sin, and disease.
The point being; God came and bore the full penalty of mankind’s condemnation, to redeem and set free each person who repents and believes in The LORD Jesus Christ: The Risen and Living God!
Halleluia! Oh how I love to tell it!
The truth is so wonderful, so perfect, so liberating, and so enjoyable to share: Please tell the world what Christ has done for you. You will get a thrill, and so will Father.
The Holy Ghost Never Contradicts Himself
Secondly, since that is the case, God the Holy Ghost cannot teach something in one scripture, and contradict it in another.
If Paul was truly boasting in physical infirmities such as, sickness and disease, he would not be speaking by the Holy Ghost, and it would not be in the Holy Bible.
Therefore that could not possibly be the correct meaning of his statements in 2 Cor. 12.
So what is the way to understand his remarks about infirmity in that chapter?
The Teacher Inside
Read it in the Holy Ghost, and He will show you personally; that is why Father has given us His Spirit to live inside and teach us.
Knowing that Paul could not possibly be implying that; a believer ought to boast of, and take pleasure in, suffering infirmities that Christ bore on the Cross, in our stead, we see that Paul must have used the word infirmity in one of its many other senses.
What other senses does the word infirmity have?
In both Bible Greek, and in English, the word infirmity has a broad range of meanings.
There’s infirmity of the flesh; sickness and disease, which as we have seen, it cannot possibly mean here.
There’s also infirmity of the mind, which sadly we observe all around, not just in mental hospitals.
There’s the natural infirmity of old age, a gradual diminution in physical and mental ability.
Each of these was borne by Christ on the Cross, so you do not have to bear them: Only believe!
Is there any other meaning for infirmity?
Yes indeed, there’s moral infirmity, which is regrettably on display everywhere you look today.
The decadence of moral values will continue to plummet daily until Christ returns.
As an Apostle, Paul could not glory in immorality of any kind, so he wasn’t referring to that sort of infirmity either.
What else does infirmity cover?
Human weakness, lack of knowledge, limited understanding, and inability.
This is the point the Holy Ghost was making through Paul.
As a man, he was not God, not divine, he was limited in ability compared to our Creator.
I’m happy to say, that’s true of me too.
Just like you, I cannot; work a miracle, drive out a demon, heal a sick person, open blind eyes, heal a cripple, loosen a tongue, unstop a deaf ear, nor give a spiritual gift of any kind.
That is what Paul was referring to when he said he gloried in his infirmities: His weakness and inability to do what only God could do.
Oh Glory what a place to live!
Have you made that discovery yet?
You must, if you are to do the greater works Christ promised believers would do.
Wake up, and realise that; in and of yourself, you are nothing, and like me, and like Paul, completely incapable of doing anything divine.
Jesus of Nazareth lived there voluntarily all the time, Jn. 5:19 KJV;
Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.
I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.
Jn. 5:30 KJV
God in The Flesh taught that He could do nothing of Himself.
Since Jesus could not do God’s work of Himself, what makes you think you can?
Christ couldn’t, Paul couldn’t, I can’t, and you cannot.
That was what the Holy Ghost meant in 2 Co. 12 by infirmity: The weakness and inability of humans to do anything divine apart from God.
Jesus taught His disciples, Jn. 15:5 KJV;
I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
Now you comprehend.
And that ought to make you hungry.
© 19 Colin Melbourne
Spirit-filled Teaching on Healing