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Writer's pictureChris Finn

Separate The Precious from the Vile!

All sickness can be very deliberating and very frightening, especially when given a diagnosis of an incurable illness! We often hear of life changing injuries from car related incidents, war, acts of terrorism, knife and gun crimes. acid attacks, arthritis, back problems, Crohn’s disease, Cystic Fibrosis, depression, diabetes, epilepsy, glaucoma, lupus, multiple sclerosis, blindness, Parkinson’s disease, Motoneuron disease, Covid, flu and the countless other sicknesses that steal our physical and mental wellbeing. Not only does it affect the person, but it also affects their families. It can be a life sentence or a death sentence that affects the whole family!


Like many of you reading this, you have either gone through some form of life-threatening illness yourself or supported a loved one or are coping with some form of sickness that is preventing you from living a full life, or you have lost a loved.


In my own family, there have been early deaths from cancer and accidents. My own mother died at 55 from cancer, she never got to see or enjoy her grandchildren, and they lost out on a relationship with their grandmother. It’s all too common a story of people’s lives. Sickness of any kind is never a blessing and it’s certainly not from God! It’s certainly not to teach us anything or a punishment from Him!


If you truly believe sickness is from God, then why do you go to a doctor or hospital? By that logic, going to a doctor would be in violation of God’s will!

Who gave the medical profession it’s gifting? God of course! Why? Because it’s his will for everyone to be healed and made whole!


Yes, some say, but we all have to die at some point! True, but why die sick, when you can pass away peacefully in your sleep! Healing is part of our inheritance.


Healing is often a very contentious topic, especially in Christian circles.

Since Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8), He is just as much the Healer He was when He walked the earth.


I have had people telling me that the gifts have passed away with the death of the apostles, that God gives people sickness because he wants to teach them something. My own mom believed that ‘she must have done something terrible’ for God to give her cancer. That we don’t know God’s will concerning healing, or ‘que sera sera!’


When we think like this, we have no firm foundations to stand upon, we become double minded.


“Dear brothers and sisters when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.”

James 1:1-8NLT


Some people have stopped praying for the sick because those they have prayed for have died! Some blame the persons own lack of faith, or their lack of prayer and so forth. Do we stop praying for people to get saved because not everyone who is given the opportunity to become a Christian takes it! Of course not! We keep witnessing to them, in the hope that they will receive the gift of eternal life! Healing is no different, it’s part of the complete package when we give our lives to Jesus.


My hope is that when we lead someone to Jesus, they not only get saved, but if sick, in whatever form, they receive their healing and the baptism of the Holy Spirit (speaking in tongues) at that same time! Why make a person wait? Faith is at it’s highest at that moment of salvation!


When a person becomes born again, they know Jesus is real, you can’t tell them He isn’t real and alive. When a person gets healed by Jesus, you can’t tell them He doesn’t heal today, when a person speaks in tongues you can’t tell them it’s rubbish. It’s too late they have already received what Jesus promised in the bible, salvation!


Salvation is the Greek word Sozo: A verb that means salvation, to be saved, to be healed, or to be delivered. It can also mean to be set free, to redeem, to restore, to make whole, or to keep whole. In the King James Bible, sozo is translated in a variety of ways, including "to save", "to make whole", and "to heal".


Paul said this: “Beloved, I pray that in every way you may succeed and prosper and be in good health [physically], just as [I know] your soul prospers [spiritually].

“3 John 2:2 AMP


Keith Moore says, “If healing isn’t for today, then neither is faith.”

Salvation hasn’t passed away, faith hasn’t passed away, miracles haven’t passed away, and healing hasn’t passed away. A lack of understanding or the application of God’s Word does not mean a disappearance of truth.


There are a staggering number of scriptures that confirm healing is for today. Don’t rely on religious tradition, what Grandma taught, or even your pastor taught or the experience of anyone else. Go to the Word of God and see for yourself. Healing is for today—and Jesus paid for it for YOU.


Let’s take a look at Isaiah 53:1- 5(AMPC)

“Who has believed (trusted in, relied upon, and clung to) our message [of that which was revealed to us]? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been disclosed? (John 12:38-41. Rom:10:16)

For [the Servant of God] grew up before Him like a tender plant, and like a root out of dry ground; He has no form or comeliness [royal, kingly pomp], that we should look at Him, and no beauty that we should desire Him.

He was despised and rejected and forsaken by men, a Man of sorrows and pains, and acquainted with grief and sickness; and like One from Whom men hide their faces He was despised, and we did not appreciate His worth or have any esteem for Him.

Surely, He has borne our griefs (sicknesses, weaknesses, and distresses) and carried our sorrows and pains [of punishment], yet we [ignorantly] considered Him stricken, smitten, and afflicted by God [as if with leprosy]. (Matt 8:17)

But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our guilt and iniquities; the chastisement [needful to obtain] peace and well-being for us was upon Him, and with the stripes [that wounded] Him we are healed and made whole”.

All we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned everyone to his own way; and the Lord has made to light upon Him the guilt and iniquity of us all. (1Peter 2:24)

Having faith in what the bible has to say about healing.


‘My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.’ Hosea 4:6

Get your mind renewed to the word of God. It’s not enough to listen to sermons or go to church (even the devil attends church). Read the bible for yourself with the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth. (John 14:25-26 NLT)


“And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free”. John 8:32 NLT


‘Don’t copy the behaviour and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.’ Rom 12:2


God said, “If you listen, listen obediently to how God tells you to live in his presence, obeying his commandments and keeping all his laws, then I won’t strike you with all the diseases that I inflicted on the Egyptians; I am God your healer.” Exodus 15:26 MSG


“But you—you serve your God and he’ll bless your food and your water. I’ll get rid of the sickness among you; there won’t be any miscarriages nor barren women in your land. I’ll make sure you live full and complete lives. Exodus 23:25-26


Bless (affectionately, gratefully praise) the Lord, O my soul; and all that is [deepest] within me, bless His holy name!

Bless (affectionately, gratefully praise) the Lord, O my soul, and forget not [one of] all His benefits—

Who forgives [every one of] all your iniquities, who heals [each one of] all your diseases, Psalm 103:1-3AMPC


My child, pay attention to what I say. Listen carefully to my words.

Don’t lose sight of them. Let them penetrate deep into your heart,

for they bring life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body. Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. Proverbs 4:20-23 NLT

O Lord, if you heal me, I will be truly healed; if you save me, I will be truly saved. My praises are for you alone! Jeremiah 17:14NLT


"I will give you back your health and heal your wounds,” says the Lord. Jeremiah 30:17NLT


Suddenly, a man with leprosy approached him and knelt before him. “Lord,” the man said, “if you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean.”

Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” he said. “Be healed!” And instantly the leprosy disappeared. Matt 8: 2-3 NLT


That evening many demon-possessed people were brought to Jesus. He cast out the evil spirits with a simple command, and he healed all the sick. This fulfilled the word of the Lord through the prophet Isaiah, who said, “He took our sicknesses and removed our diseases.” Matt 8:16-17 NLT


A vast crowd brought to him people who were lame, blind, crippled, those who couldn’t speak, and many others. They laid them before Jesus, and he healed them all. The crowd was amazed! Those who hadn’t been able to speak were talking, the crippled were made well, the lame were walking, and the blind could see again! And they praised the God of Israel. Matt 15:30-31NLT


“I tell you the truth, whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.

“I also tell you this: If two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you. Matt 18:18-19NLT


Then Jesus told them, “I tell you the truth, if you have faith and don’t doubt, you can do things like this and much more. You can even say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. You can pray for anything, and if you have faith, you will receive it.” Matt 21:21-22NLT


And then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone. Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned. These miraculous signs will accompany those who believe: They will cast out demons in my name, and they will speak in new languages. They will be able to handle snakes with safety, and if they drink anything poisonous, it won’t hurt them. They will be able to place their hands on the sick, and they will be healed.”

Mark 16: 14-18


Then he sent them out to tell everyone about the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick. Luke 9:2 NLT


Crowds came from the villages around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those possessed by evil[a] spirits, and they were all healed. Acts 5:16


And you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. Acts 10:38NLT


It was by faith that even Sarah was able to have a child, though she was barren and was too old. She believed that God would keep his promise.

Hebrews 11:11NLT


Are any of you sick? You should call for the elders of the church to come and pray over you, anointing you with oil in the name of the Lord. Such a prayer offered in faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will make you well. And if you have committed any sins, you will be forgiven.

Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. James 5:14-16 NLT


He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed. 1Peter 2:24NLT


Dear friend, I hope all is well with you and that you are as healthy in body as you are strong in spirit. 3 Jn 2 NLT


And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony. Rev 12:11 NLT


But don’t let it faze you. Stick with what you learned and believed, sure of the integrity of your teachers—why, you took in the sacred Scriptures with your mother’s milk! There’s nothing like the written Word of God for showing you the way to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another—showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God’s way. Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us. 2 Timothy 3:16-17AMPC


When we question God!

Jeremiah the prophet faced constant opposition from the political and religious leaders, and it frustrated and wore him out at times, causing him to question God.


“Why has my pain been perpetual and my wound incurable, refusing to be healed? Will you indeed be to me like a deceptive brook like waters that fail and are uncertain”?

Jeremiah 15:18AMP


Several years back, I was in a meeting where leaders were asked to come forward for prayer. There must have been over 500 leaders that went forward, and the speaker prayed a corporate prayer. There were no catchers and people began to fall under the power of God. I was on the floor when I felt this tremendous weight hit my legs! It was a very large man who had fallen under the power of God and landed on my leg. I thought that my leg was broken such was the intense pain.

I eventually got up; friends prayed for my leg. It was very painful but I managed to enjoy the remainder of the conference. When I returned to the UK, I noticed a dent in my left leg, and it was starting to go black. I went to the doctors and was prescribed antibiotics. Nothing was working. My wound was incurable!


A few days later one of our church folks went to another leader and asked if they could pray for my leg. I agreed and she asked if she could spit on my leg!

How could I refuse? (The thought of her spitting on my leg didn’t grab me!!)

I decided to close my eyes, I heard her begin to pray and was bracing myself for her spit on my leg. Well, as she spat on my leg, she slapped her hand down on the wound! Wham, I thought I was going to scream with the pain. However, as the pain vibrated through my leg, within moments it stopped, the blackness had gone and there was no longer a dent in my leg! Why the spitting and slapping? I don’t know and I don’t care, it was completely healed!

Thank God that I hadn’t said no! I would have missed my day of visitation!


When was the last time that you questioned God? Jeremiah was in constant pain, we don’t really know if it was physical, emotional or mental pain, but he referred to it as a wound that wasn’t healing!

Maybe you are questioning him right at this moment.


This was God’s response to Jeremiah, and it’s his response to us now.

Therefore, thus says the Lord [to Jeremiah],

“If you repent [and give up this mistaken attitude of distrust and self-pity], then I will restore you [to a state of inner peace]

So that you may stand before Me [as My obedient representative];

And if you separate the precious from the vile [examining yourself and cleansing your own heart from unwarranted suspicions concerning My faithfulness], You will become My spokesman ( but do not yield to them) Let them return to you, not you to (the people) Jeremiah 15:19 AMP


What is God talking about? What is the precious and the vile?

It sounds like something out of ‘The Lord of The Rings!’


How do we separate the precious from the vile?

Jeremiah was complaining about his unhealed wound, he was doubting the goodness of God, suggesting that God was full of empty words and was incapable of delivering the goods!

God was telling Jeremiah that his words were vile!

He was telling Jeremiah that his heart was full of unwarranted suspicions.

In other words, Jeremiah, you have so much vile unbelief and anger towards me in your heart, it’s time to deal with it and repent otherwise the door that you have opened to the enemy will run rampant in your life. Stop partnering with such vile lies!



'Death and life are in the power of the tongue,

And those who love it and indulge it will eat its fruit and bear the consequences of their words'. Proverbs 18:21AMP


Ouch! Do those words of Jeremiah sound familiar? We may not outwardly voice them but at times it’s what we believe in our hearts!




God doesn’t hold a grudge thankfully, otherwise we would all be in trouble!

With the help of Holy Spirit, we can examine our own hearts.


‘Investigate my life, O God, find out everything about me;

Cross-examine and test me, get a clear picture of what I’m about;

See for yourself whether I’ve done anything wrong— then guide me on the road to eternal life’. Psalm 139:23-24MSG



Repent and break agreement with all those vile lies and cling to the truth of Isaiah 53.

“But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our guilt and iniquities; the chastisement [needful to obtain] peace and well-being for us was upon Him, and with the stripes [that wounded] Him we are healed and made whole”.









“We don’t have the capacity to exaggerate God’s goodness. We can distort it, or even misrepresent it, but we can never exaggerate it.

Any time we go outside of the boundaries of God’s goodness in our thinking we get into trouble.” Bill Johnson

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