spiritual Illness

By: Rev. Robert Vergeson D.D.

Why Some Suffer Spiritual Illness

I have of late been concerned about what I can best describe as “The Spiritually Ill”. Those who are in all sense and purpose Christian’s who suffer the kind of spiritual illness that affect how they may appear to others and to God. Now you might ask if “appearance is important to a Christian”. We all know that we have those in our Christian community people who’s outward appearance are greater then other’s. This is true when we look at our Spiritual Leaders, those Saints who are ordained by the Holy Spirit to lead the church as appointed by Christ, having a inward appearance filled with the Holy Spirit. But is there an unhealthy appearance that belies deeper issue that affect how we may appear to others, or how the appearance of others appear to us? What does the scripture say about appearances?

1 Samuel 16:6-7

[6] When they arrived, Samuel took one look at Eliab and thought, "Surely this is the Lord's anointed!" [7] But the Lord said to Samuel, "Don't judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn't make decisions the way you do! People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at a person's thoughts and intentions."

We are told here that the Lord looks at a persons thoughts and intentions, the inward appearance, while some judge others by outward appearances. What we see in others is biased by our conceptions of what society tells us should be the appearance of a person, both inward and outward. A wealthy man who dresses in rich silks and wears designer loafers, eats the best food is seen as a either a good man or a vain man. While a poor man, who wears rags, dirty face and eats the leftovers of a rich man, is seen either a stupid man or a content man. Everything is based on what society see’s as the outward appearance of man, but seldom do they factor in the inward appearance. Both the rich man and the poor man can be devote and spirit filled people, but we would see the rich man as one more favored by God, rather then the poor man. These are the outward appearances we all to often judge man’s inward appearances on. But is the rich man closer to God because he is rich, or is the poor man farther from God then the rich man because he can offer nothing to God? These outward appearance many may say, tell us the rich man is faithful to God because his riches came from God, while the poor man is not worthy of God because of his poverty. For isn’t the wealth the rich man has, a gift from God for his faithfulness, while the poor man receives no wealth therefore, he is faithless. Therefore we use outward appearances to judge others, while God uses the inward to judge man’s soul. God tell’s us differently that we should not judge others by their outward appearance, nor should we judge others saying that we know what is in their hearts. For such inward appearance is God’s domain and judgement of the inward is his alone, for only he knows truly what is in the heart of every man and women whether they be rich or poor.

Therefore our outward appearance is not as important as the inward appearance that which God see’s always and we can not. But when does our inward appearance become a fraud when we say we are Christian, yet in our hearts we deny Christ by what our heart fails to believe. Many outward appearing Christians put on an appearance while in Church or among the Christian community while at home away from the church they are truer to there inward appearance. God knows what condition the heart is in always, you can not hide this condition from him. It is this fraudulent heart, for many that will condemn them to a harsh judgement by God, for God see’s all and knows all. You might present a spirit filled life when in church, your outward appearance, but when at home in privacy you present contradictions by your actions outside of the Christian community. Why is this so, for many who present two faces, one for the Christian community and another for the world. Do they not know that they can’t serve two master’s at once. It must me one or the other. Paul tells us that we were once slaves to sin, but when we accepted Christ, we are free of sin, our old master.

Romans 6:17-18
Thank God! Once you were slaves of sin, but now you have obeyed with all your heart the new teaching God has given you. [18] Now you are free from sin, your old master, and you have become slaves to your new master, righteousness.

When we accepted Christ, we accepted a responsibility to live in Christ, walk in Christ, and allow both our outward and inward appearance to be like Christ. Therefore for those who put on two faces, or offering many faces, each for a different person or circumstance in our life. We continue to sin when we take great care to hide that sin under our outward appearances, thus presenting a fraudulent Spiritual life. In Romans we find just what Paul says about the Death of Christ and through him our sins are dead to us, or they should be.

Romans 6:1-23
Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more kindness and forgiveness? [2] Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it? [3] Or have you forgotten that when we became Christians and were baptized to become one with Christ Jesus, we died with him? [4] For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives. [5] Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised as he was. [6] Our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. [7] For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin. [8] And since we died with Christ, we know we will also share his new life. [9] We are sure of this because Christ rose from the dead, and he will never die again. Death no longer has any power over him. [10] He died once to defeat sin, and now he lives for the glory of God. [11] So you should consider yourselves dead to sin and able to live for the glory of God through Christ Jesus. [12] Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to its lustful desires. [13] Do not let any part of your body become a tool of wickedness, to be used for sinning. Instead, give yourselves completely to God since you have been given new life. And use your whole body as a tool to do what is right for the glory of God. [14] Sin is no longer your master, for you are no longer subject to the law, which enslaves you to sin. Instead, you are free by God's grace. [15] So since God's grace has set us free from the law, does this mean we can go on sinning? Of course not! [16] Don't you realize that whatever you choose to obey becomes your master? You can choose sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God and receive his approval. [17] Thank God! Once you were slaves of sin, but now you have obeyed with all your heart the new teaching God has given you. [18] Now you are free from sin, your old master, and you have become slaves to your new master, righteousness. [19] I speak this way, using the illustration of slaves and masters, because it is easy to understand. Before, you let yourselves be slaves of impurity and lawlessness. Now you must choose to be slaves of righteousness so that you will become holy. [20] In those days, when you were slaves of sin, you weren't concerned with doing what was right. [21] And what was the result? It was not good, since now you are ashamed of the things you used to do, things that end in eternal doom. [22] But now you are free from the power of sin and have become slaves of God. Now you do those things that lead to holiness and result in eternal life. [23] For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:1-4
So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. [2] For the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you through Christ Jesus from the power of sin that leads to death. [3] The law of Moses could not save us, because of our sinful nature. But God put into effect a different plan to save us. He sent his own Son in a human body like ours, except that ours are sinful. God destroyed sin's control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins. [4] He did this so that the requirement of the law would be fully accomplished for us who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit.

Now we have just learned that the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ our Lord, and in the process of earning that gift, we made a choice between two masters. The master of sin which is death or the master of eternal life, which is the Son our Lord Jesus Christ. And when we make that choice for the Spirit we put off the old and put on the new. Those who fail to do this inwardly, are rebuking the Holy Spirit, thus they struggle to obey God’s words when it regards serving two masters. God sacrificed his son for our sin’s, Christ died for our sin’s, and when we accepted Christ in our lives, we also accepted a new master, one that gives life, rather then death as the old master promised us. If we don’t totally put off the old master, divorce ourselves from this master of death, then we find ourselves trying to wear the old and the new at the same time. The new in most cases becomes our outward appearance, while the old remains our inward appearance, that which God see’s and knows. It is paramount that we put aside the old completely, allowing the Holy Spirit to reside, to live in our bodies, becoming the new us, which is life eternal when our mortal bodies die. In 2 Corinthians we discover this very promise God gives us when we die as a child of God.

2 Cor. 5:2-5
We grow weary in our present bodies, and we long for the day when we will put on our heavenly bodies like new clothing. [3] For we will not be spirits without bodies, but we will put on new heavenly bodies. [4] Our dying bodies make us groan and sigh, but it's not that we want to die and have no bodies at all. We want to slip into our new bodies so that these dying bodies will be swallowed up by everlasting life. [5] God himself has prepared us for this, and as a guarantee he has given us his Holy Spirit.

2 Cor. 5:13-17
If it seems that we are crazy, it is to bring glory to God. And if we are in our right minds, it is for your benefit. [14] Whatever we do, it is because Christ's love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for everyone, we also believe that we have all died to the old life we used to live. [15] He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live to please themselves. Instead, they will live to please Christ, who died and was raised for them. [16] So we have stopped evaluating others by what the world thinks about them. Once I mistakenly thought of Christ that way, as though he were merely a human being. How differently I think about him now! [17] What this means is that those who become Christians become new persons. They are not the same anymore, for the old life is gone. A new life has begun!

Galatians 5:15-18
But if instead of showing love among yourselves you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another. [16] So I advise you to live according to your new life in the Holy Spirit. Then you won't be doing what your sinful nature craves. [17] The old sinful nature loves to do evil, which is just opposite from what the Holy Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are opposite from what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, and your choices are never free from this conflict. [18] But when you are directed by the Holy Spirit, you are no longer subject to the law.

We have learned in Galatians chapter 5, to live according to the new life in the Holy Spirit. If we have truly put on the new and putting aside the old us that was us before we accepted Christ, then the new is a permanent fixture or should be. Our sinful nature is gone, and the Holy Spirit is present. Yet, if we have remained divided between the old and the new we are serving two masters by virtue of having never truly allowed the new to be reborn in us completely, to actually make that final change Christ offered us through his death. For his death was real, he suffered the pain and anguish of his sacrifice so that the Holy Spirit may rise along with him so that we may live as Christ lives forever in heaven. The Holy Spirit can not work the change in us that is needed when we still find ourselves in situations when we still serve two masters, having two faces. Fo no matter how the good face may appear to others our outward appearance, the other darker face our inward appearance, rules out any goodness we may appear to offer others. For God see’s through the fraud and no matter how you may deny this fraud, God will judge you for your deceit, and when that deceit leads others to stumble, God’s judgement will be severe when we cause others to stumble in their walk in Christ. This denial of the Holy Spirit so that it may work its grace on us is often the cause for many who walk in Christ to falter and stumble themselves in becoming the Christian God wants us to be.

Now for many, denial is the “Spiritual Illness” they suffer. Why? Because denial is a tool used by demons to continue their enslavement of your body. It does not serve( the demons) to have you totally committed to the Holy Spirit, serving one master only. When you accepted Christ in your life, you accepted that which is righteous in God eyes, and that is a life in Christ allowing the Holy Spirit to work its wonders and miracles in your life. When denial creates this division in God’s purpose for you, the lies of these demon’s appear to be spiritual truths, when in fact there are lies to confuse and miss direct you to believe you are right with God, while others who see the fraud are the liars. This “Spiritual Illness” many suffer allows them to continue serving two masters and sadly they do not know they are serving two masters. The devil is the creator of our denial that we are serving two masters. For it is always his purpose that you never truly know that he is the wolf in disguise that is behind your suffering as a Christian. Lets take a look at scripture in Colossians, and learn what we are told about those claim to be humble but are not. We also learn about what we should be wearing, the type of clothes that cover us with a brand new nature.

Col. 2:16-19
So don't let anyone condemn you for what you eat or drink, or for not celebrating certain holy days or new-moon ceremonies or Sabbaths. [17] For these rules were only shadows of the real thing, Christ himself. [18] Don't let anyone condemn you by insisting on self-denial. And don't let anyone say you must worship angels, even though they say they have had visions about this. These people claim to be so humble, but their sinful minds have made them proud. [19] But they are not connected to Christ, the head of the body. For we are joined together in his body by his strong sinews, and we grow only as we get our nourishment and strength from God.

Col. 3:8-12
But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. [9] Don't lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old evil nature and all its wicked deeds. [10] In its place you have clothed yourselves with a brand-new nature that is continually being renewed as you learn more and more about Christ, who created this new nature within you. [11] In this new life, it doesn't matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us. [12] Since God chose you to be the holy people whom he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.

John 8:43-45
Why can't you understand what I am saying? It is because you are unable to do so! [44] For you are the children of your father the Devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning and has always hated the truth. There is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies. [45] So when I tell the truth, you just naturally don't believe me!

As long as you suffer from this Spiritual Illness, you may well believe you are walking in Christ, where your outward and inward appearance is a true appearance even unto God’s all knowing eye. When in fact, God is not fooled. Only you can rid yourself of these demons and the lies that create this Spiritual Illness in you. In John 8 we have learned who the father of lies really is. His lies try to cover up the truth of Christ and when we continue to serve two master’s, the master of lies as always hated the truth of Christ. The devil will always make it his highest priority to make his lies seem like truth. A time will come when you need to rise above the fog of denial and accept Christ wholly into your heart, the inward part of you. Just as you initially asked Christ in your life, which was a voluntary response, the same voluntary response must take place to rid yourself of these demons that fog your sight and prevent you from seeing who really is your master, the devil. Before you ever asked Christ in your life, you performed a voluntary function of asking for Christ to inter into your life. Before that God took no steps on his own to force you to take this step. Instead through the Holy Word of God, he gave us a opportunity to accept Christ and receive our salvation. Again before this asking God did not do anything to rid you of your demons until you first realize that there is a problem. From denial there is two directions we can take, remain in denial or recognize that we are in denial and move away from the sin of denial and fully accept Christ in our lives, to allow the Holy Spirit to live where shadow still resides. It is this light that will drive out the shadow, the very demons who seek to dominate your inward side. When we do this, we are then victors over our demons, no longer serving two masters, but the One Master, our heavenly Father. Let’s return to 2 Corinthians and learn how darkness is defeated by light.

2 Cor. 6:14

[14] Don't team up with those who are unbelievers. How can goodness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness? [15] What harmony can there be between Christ and the Devil? How can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever? [16] And what union can there be between God's temple and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God said:
"I will live in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people. [17] Therefore, come out from them and separate yourselves from them, says the Lord. Don't touch their filthy things, and I will welcome you. [18] And I will be your Father, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty."

Here we find that God does not want us to have two lives, we must choose one or the other, not both. And to choose is as simple as just believing and confessing with your mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord for He died for our sins, so that we, not may, but will have life eternal. Remember, words like may, maybe, might be, possible, and similar words cause doubt in our acceptance of the promise God made to us when he sacrificed his Son for our sins. In Romans 10:6-13, we read that God doesn’t say, may be saved, but “will be saved”, or “Anyone who believes in him”, not doubt in him. With trust comes belief, and when Paul said, “Anyone who calls on name of the Lord will be saved.” Paul is not saying “Some who call on the name of the Lord might be saved, but telling us that will be saved and that is anyone who calls on the Lord.

Romans 10:6-13
But the way of getting right with God through faith says, "You don't need to go to heaven" (to find Christ and bring him down to help you). [7] And it says, "You don't need to go to the place of the dead" (to bring Christ back to life again). [8] Salvation that comes from trusting Christ—which is the message we preach—is already within easy reach. In fact, the Scriptures say, "The message is close at hand; it is on your lips and in your heart." [9] For if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. [10] For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved. [11] As the Scriptures tell us, "Anyone who believes in him will not be disappointed." [12] Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect. They all have the same Lord, who generously gives his riches to all who ask for them. [13] For "Anyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

Trust is as important to God as it is to us. Another “Spiritual Illness” is lack of trust in God. This lack of trust can lead us to serve two masters just as Denial serves two masters. Our outward appearance may accept Christ as our Lord, but our inward fails to trust in God what he has promised us. Often this lack of trust is a element of our life before Christ came into our life, when in some manner or another we have been hurt by those we trusted. Therefore we carry over that lack of trust into our relationship with God. We fail to believe the covenant God makes with us once we accepted Christ as our Lord. Forgiveness is a key factor when it comes to trust, for if we cannot forgive others, then can we actually trust God to keep his promise. Hebrews 6 and 9 speaks of the oath God bound himself with.

Hebrews 6:17-20
God also bound himself with an oath, so that those who received the promise could be perfectly sure that he would never change his mind. [18] So God has given us both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can take new courage, for we can hold on to his promise with confidence. [19] This confidence is like a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain of heaven into God's inner sanctuary. [20] Jesus has already gone in there for us. He has become our eternal High Priest in the line of Melchizedek.

Hebrews 9:14-15
Just think how much more the blood of Christ will purify our hearts from deeds that lead to death so that we can worship the living God. For by the power of the eternal Spirit, Christ offered himself to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins. [15] That is why he is the one who mediates the new covenant between God and people, so that all who are invited can receive the eternal inheritance God has promised them. For Christ died to set them free from the penalty of the sins they had committed under that first covenant.

So what continues to cause Christians to suffer “Spiritual Illness” when in all sense and purposes we have asked and received Christ and yet still have the old face and the new face. Well some may say pride, self-righteousness, false status, and our need to appear better then what we really feel about ourselves. Self esteem is important in our walk with Christ. Genesis 1:27 , So God created people in his own image;... God is the embodiment of Self-esteem, therefore we are created in his image, and when we suffer low self-esteem we are seeing ourselves as a lessor being in God’s image. But we are not less in God’s eyes, but equal in God’s eye. Therefore there is no issue of pride, false status, or self-righteousness over others. For to be made in God’s image is to be like God no less no more. When we fail to realize our own worth in God’s eye, not vain or self-glory or self worth, but equal worth in God’s eyes, we are able to live the life God wants for us to live. Paul speaks of this in Roman 12

Romans 12:1-10
And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will accept. When you think of what he has done for you, is this too much to ask? [2] Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is.
[3] As God's messenger, I give each of you this warning: Be honest in your estimate of yourselves, measuring your value by how much faith God has given you. [4] Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, [5] so it is with Christ's body. We are all parts of his one body, and each of us has different work to do. And since we are all one body in Christ, we belong to each other, and each of us needs all the others. [6] God has given each of us the ability to do certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out when you have faith that God is speaking through you. [7] If your gift is that of serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, do a good job of teaching. [8] If your gift is to encourage others, do it! If you have money, share it generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly. [9] Don't just pretend that you love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Stand on the side of the good. [10] Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.

Hebrews 3:4-8
For every house has a builder, but God is the one who made everything.
[5] Moses was certainly faithful in God's house, but only as a servant. His work was an illustration of the truths God would reveal later. [6] But Christ, the faithful Son, was in charge of the entire household. And we are God's household, if we keep up our courage and remain confident in our hope in Christ. [7] That is why the Holy Spirit says, "Today you must listen to his voice. [8] Don't harden your hearts against him as Israel did when they rebelled, when they tested God's patience in the wilderness.

Hebrews 3 tells us we often as Christians when we are wronged, we harden our hearts, the inward appearance, while on the outside we continue to put on a face that we are right with God. When in fact we have harden our hearts in most cases, it is some foolish slight we felt by others rather then some serious hurt. Bitterness even that which is carried over from our old life, hardens our heart to which God is very much aware of. Let me remind you, that in 2 Cor. 5:17 we learned that when we become Christians, we become new persons, We are not the same anymore, for the old life is gone, and a new life has begun. When those who suffer from “Spiritual Illness” they have not truly allowed the old life to be gone, and that means, our low-self esteem, our lack of trust, our prideful ways, self-righteousness, Bitterness, and just about any thing that was wrong with our old life, SIN remains in the new life. And by hanging on to these SIN’S, we fail to allow the Holy Spirit to cleanse our bodies of this Illness that prevents us from truly walking in Christ. Yes, on the outward we may pray, go to Church, read the scriptures and even say we are saved. Meanwhile our hearts split in half by that which we failed to really sacrifice to God, the old us, for the new us.

As long as we continue to live with this inward division we will always serve two masters. We may outwardly serve Christ, but inwardly, serve the old master that ruled our lives before Christ was asked into our lives. It is harder to inwardly see our hearts from our own self observation when denial prevents this observation from revealing the truth that lies there. For only God see’s and knows our inward condition. Lack of Trust in others, those who may be more attuned to the Holy Spirit and see us serving two masters can cause us to deny the truths they want us to know. This Lack of trust leads us to believe in what others see as truth, while our denial see it as lies. This is what the devil wants us to believe and as long as we serve two masters, we will always believe in the lies the devil tells us. When Bitterness hardens our heart, when we carry over those ills from the old us into the new us, we fail to provide a healthy vessel for the Holy Spirit to live in. For it is the Holy Spirit that heals our heart, allowing us to serve the right master, our Lord Jesus Christ.

When someone suffers from “Spiritual Illness” this illness will cause division in the church and among other Christians. Spiritual Illness blinds the sufferer from knowing they are afflicted with a illness that is robbing them from a Spirit filled life with Christ, and the kind of fellowship with Christians, that God wants us to enjoy. Until this Spiritual Illness is recognized can we begin the process of healing the afflicted through prayer, and as always, prayer is our most important tool to seek God’s help in healing the Spiritually Ill afflicted among us. Second, is Love, equal to prayer, for there is no greater power then the love of Christ to affect change in our life. Third, is education, the Holy Word in teaching the afflicted the errors of their ways. The afflicted must realize they are under the devils influence when it comes to denial, when they refuse to believe they are Spiritually Ill. After this, the afflicted will have need to trust in others to show them the path to a healthy Spiritual life. And when prayer, love, Holy Scripture, and trust are restored in the afflicted then the heart will heal and when the heart is healed, it is a proper vessel for the Holy Spirit to live in. When the Holy Spirit is allowed to live in you, not only will your outward appearance be true in Christ, you inward appearance will also be true in Christ.

This healing process is something the afflicted must never attempt on their own, for to do so is to be defeated the moment you find an obstacle in your way. Often this obstacle is created by the very nature of being afflicted. Therefore the Spiritually Ill must allow others, those Spiritually healthy to aid them in the process of healing. With these saints do the afflicted have the love of Christ in the process of healing. Nor shall we allow the Spiritually Ill remain in any role that puts them in a position that allows them to influence others, especially those still on the milk of the Holy Word. Those afflicted need a time to heal, a period of discipline that is grounded in the Word of God given by those Saints who have gone from the milk of the word to the meat of the word, appointed by the church to lead. It is these Saints that should be involved in the discipline of those “Spiritually Ill”. The best form of discipline is the Holy Scripture, the Word of God. Hebrews 12 speaks of discipline and why God disciplines his children.

Hebrews 12:6-12
For the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes those he accepts as his children."
[7] As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Whoever heard of a child who was never disciplined? [8] If God doesn't discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children after all. [9] Since we respect our earthly fathers who disciplined us, should we not all the more cheerfully submit to the discipline of our heavenly Father and live forever? [10] For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God's discipline is always right and good for us because it means we will share in his holiness. [11] No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it is painful! But afterward there will be a quiet harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way. [12] So take a new grip with your tired hands and stand firm on your shaky legs.

Ephes. 6:3-5
And this is the promise: If you honor your father and mother, "you will live a long life, full of blessing." [4] And now a word to you fathers. Don't make your children angry by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction approved by the Lord.

1 John 5:15-18
And if we know he is listening when we make our requests, we can be sure that he will give us what we ask for. [16] If you see a Christian brother or sister sinning in a way that does not lead to death, you should pray, and God will give that person life. But there is a sin that leads to death, and I am not saying you should pray for those who commit it. [17] Every wrong is sin, but not all sin leads to death. [18] We know that those who have become part of God's family do not make a practice of sinning, for God's Son holds them securely, and the evil one cannot get his hands on them.

Yes, God has given us a process to which we can affect healing of the Spiritually Ill. This process will allow us to take aside another in the church and affect healing through the word of God. As we may discipline a unruly child and always in love, we also have to at times discipline an unruly member of the church. This is what makes us accountable not only to the Holy Spirit, but to the Church and to the Christian community. But with discipline comes learning and with learning comes change, and with change comes a new person in Christ. And with the new person in Christ, comes forgiveness of their sins and the salvation that forgiveness grants us. This redemption through discipline fails when we fail to use love in our discipline, or when we fail to understand the true purpose of Gods discipline. Which is to allow the Spiritually Ill to find redemption through healing not through discipline alone, but through the love of Christ. Discipline that is too harsh or too weak or discipline that is built on a foundation of anger, bitterness, or hatred, is discipline that fails to serves God purpose of discipline. Discipline is an act of forgiveness, not punishment. For God forgave us of our sin’s, when we choose a life in Christ. If those afflicted with “Spiritual Illness” are not forgiven by us, then we are in danger of being afflicted ourselves with a “Spiritual Illness”.

It has been clearly stated not all sin leads to death, and “Spiritual Illness”, is certainly not a sin that leads to dearth, unless the ill refuses discipline believing they are not in the wrong, and due to their illness, believe wrongly on there interpretation of the Holy Word. We are told that the one sin God can’t forgive is the sin of Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.

Mark 3:27-29
Let me illustrate this. You can't enter a strong man's house and rob him without first tying him up. Only then can his house be robbed! [28] "I assure you that any sin can be forgiven, including blasphemy; [29] but anyone who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven. It is an eternal sin.

Thus, we come to a point were “Spiritual Illness”, can lead to death, when we blaspheme the Holy Spirit by our actions when we know we are ill, refuse healing andt refuse to be disciplined by God and the Saints he appoints to be our spiritual teachers. When the writing on the wall is clear to those afflicted and they still refuse to believe that they still serve two master’s, they bar the Holy Spirit from their hearts, they no longer serve two masters, but one, the devil. And by this do they blaspheme the Holy Spirit and that sin will be judged most harshly above all other sins, even unto to death. This is why those Saints appointed by God, stand firm in their instructions, teachings and prayer, so that they properly teach those who are newly reborn in Christ. A sound doctrine will avoid “Spiritual Illness” that can afflict these new Christians, and even those who have been elders in the Lord can be afflicted when they open their hearts up to weaknesses that allow “Spiritual Illness” to enter. For we must always be vigilant in our battle against evil influences in our lives.

Ephes. 6:10-18
A final word: Be strong with the Lord's mighty power. [11] Put on all of God's armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies and tricks of the Devil. [12] For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against those mighty powers of darkness who rule this world, and against wicked spirits in the heavenly realms. [13] Use every piece of God's armor to resist the enemy in the time of evil, so that after the battle you will still be standing firm. [14] Stand your ground, putting on the sturdy belt of truth and the body armor of God's righteousness. [15] For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News, so that you will be fully prepared. [16] In every battle you will need faith as your shield to stop the fiery arrows aimed at you by Satan. [17] Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. [18] Pray at all times and on every occasion in the power of the Holy Spirit. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all Christians everywhere.

Spiritual Illness doesn’t have to be fatal. In God’s eyes, He expects us from time to time to be bombarded by attacks from the enemy. Ephesians 6 gives us the final word on how we are to prepare ourselves for those battles we face daily. Prayer is our most powerful weapon, right along with Faith. In prayer should we be vigilant every moment of our lives in Christ.
There is a Prayer Creed that I have written, that I have framed and set up in just about every room of my house, even the bathroom. It reminds me that I should be praying daily and nightly.
This Prayer Creed asks us to constantly enter into prayer not just when we are in church, but at home, at work, and on the streets when we travel from here to there. When we place the full armor of God, and constantly reinforce that armor daily, we walk stronger in faith, and in faith, all things are possible.

Prayer Creed
Prayer should never cease always before and after Anything you do each day and night. Put on the Armor of God, with the Belt of Truth, The Breastplate of Righteousness with the Readiness The Gospel of Peace, the Shield of Faith, The Helmet of Salvation, the Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God. And pray in the Spirit, so that the Holy Ghost may Know your Heart in Prayer

Prayer is a life line to God, his Son, and the Holy Ghost. Prayer builds faith, instills patience, creates devotion and love for Christ. Pray for loved ones, pray for peace. Pray for the Church Pray for God to Forgive, Pray for your government, Pray for the ill, and Pray for the lost. Pray for the orphaned, Pray for the wicked, Pray for wisdom, Pray for strength, Pray for insight, Pray for yourself, Pray for the Saints around you, Pray when you are suffering, and Pray when you are happy. Pray when your lost, Pray when you need love, Pray when you need nothing, thanking God always for His gift of life eternal. Amen.

All scriptures quoted come from the NLT Bible.