You can be sick and be in the will of God, Part 2

The Sick Man Left Behind



I will  attach a link to the sermon. Here is the text from which Spurgeon preached. Erastus remained at Corinth, but Trophimus I left sick at Miletus (2 Timothy 4:20).
by CH. Spurgeon
Let me share a portion of the great sermon, The Sick Man Left Behind by the Prince of Preachers, Charles Spurgeon. He was no stranger to sickness and sorrow.
Spurgeon said, From the fact that Paul left Trophimus sick at Miletum we learn that, IT IS THE WILL OF GOD THAT SOME GOOD MEN SHOULD BE IN ILL HEALTH. Whatever the malady may have been which affected them.


Regarding Trophimus, Paul could certainly have healed him if the Divine Spirit had permitted the use of his miraculous powers to that end. He had raised up Eutychus from death and he had given back the use of his limbs to the cripple at Lystra. We feel, therefore, fully assured that had God allowed the Apostle so to use his healing energy, Trophimus would have left his bed and continued his journey to Rome.

Holy reasons and ends for why Trophimus must be left sick
We are not wounded by arrows shot at a venture, but we smart by the determinate counsel of Heaven! An overruling hand is everywhere present, preventing or permitting ill and no one shaft of disease is ever let fly by stealth  If someone must be ill, it was a wise Providence which selected Trophimus, for it was better for him to be ill than Titus, or Tychicus, or Timothy; Not so, however, had the Lord willed. The good fruit-bearing vine must be pruned and Trophimus must suffer—there were ends to be answered by his weakness which could not be compassed by his health. Instantaneous restoration could have been given, but it was withheld under Divine direction. This doctrine leads us away from the

This also delivers us from regarding affliction as being always brought upon men by their personal sin.   Many a sickness has been the direct result of intemperance, or some other form of wickedness—but here is a worthy, well approved Brother laid aside and left on the road through a malady for which he is not blamed in any measure. It is too common, nowadays, for men to be of a hard and cruel spirit and ascribe the illnesses, even, of those who are true children of God to some fault in their habits of life. We wonder how they would like to be dealt with in this manner if they were suffering and could wash their hands in innocence in reference to their daily lives?

Lord, he whom you love is sick

In our Lord’s day the sisters of John of Bethany, told Him, “Lord, he whom You love is sick.” Our Lord Jesus let him die. But later He raised Him in the sight of many. And Solomon, long before that time, wrote, Whom the Lord loves He corrects; even as a father the son in whom he delights. This was a much better, more humane and more truthful speech than the frozen philosophy of modern times which traces each man’s sickness to his own violation of natural law and, instead of pouring in the balm of consolation, pours out the sulfuric acid of slanderous insinuation! Fore more please go to the link.http://www.ccel.org/ccel/spurgeon/sermons25.toc.html

 

If you would like to learn more about trials and difficulties that Robyn and I have experienced, please read about our book Broken Minds Hope for Healing When You Feel Like You're Losing It at http://www.amazon.com/dp/0825421187/?tag=mh0b-20&hvadid=1464974030&ref=pd_sl_6ooxcpjb36_e

This is a re-post.