1 Thessalonians 5 16 Rejoice always 17 pray

1 Thessalonians 5 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Learning to trust God despite the headlines The Big C

In the UK 1 in every 2 people will be diagnosed with cancer in our lifetime

These things we know God loves us God has a plan and purpose for us God has and does heal People get sick When someone is sick we are instructed to pray

In the Old Testament God promises to heal the Israelites of their Egyptian diseases 9 times in the gospels it says Jesus heals all the sick In Acts, Peter, Paul and Philip are all involved in healing

Does healing always occur in the Bible? John 5 Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, . . . 3 Here a great number of disabled people used to lie – the blind, the lame, the paralysed. 5 One who was there had been an invalid for thirtyeight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, ‘Do you want to get well? ’

Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses. 1 Timothy 5: 23 As you know, it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you, 14 and even though my illness was a trial to you, you did not treat me with contempt or scorn. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus himself. Galatians 4: 13

How we live matters – Exodus 15: 25 -26 Sickness used to be an indication of disfavour But be careful about speculating over why someone is unwell

Keep our focus on what’s important In biblical times the means of healing was not important God is not just concerned about the physical - Don’t miss God’s healing whilst looking for a cure. Our lives are so much more than the number of days we spend on earth. Healing is linked to the arrival of the Kingdom of God which is both PRESENT and FUTURE