PREFACE
The publication of this work may be regarded as a testimony of my faith in divine healing.
After being stopped for more than two years in the exercise of my ministry, I was healed by the
mercy of God in answer to the prayer of those who see in Him "the Lord that healeth thee"
(Exodus 15:26).
This healing, granted to faith, has been the source of rich spiritual blessing to me. I have
clearly seen that the Church possesses in Jesus, our Divine Healer, an inestimable treasure,
which she does not yet know how to appreciate. I have been convinced anew of that which the Word
of God teaches us in this matter, and of what the Lord expects of us; and I am sure that if
Christians learned to realize practically the presence of the Lord that healeth, their spiritual
life would thereby be developed and sanctified. I can therefore no longer keep silence, and I
publish here a series of meditations, with the view of showing, according to the Word of God,
that "the prayer of faith" (James 5:15) is the means appointed by God for the cure of the sick,
that this truth is in perfect accord with Holy Scripture, and that the study of this truth is
essential for everyone who would see the Lord manifest His power and His glory in the midst of
His children. -- ANDREW MURRAY
WStS NOTE: We do well to "be followers together of [Mr. Murray],
and mark them which walk so as ye have [him] for an ensample"
(Philippians 3:17). We have been "rooted and built up in [Christ Jesus],
and stablished in the faith, as [we] have been taught" (Colossians 2:7) by
the Scriptural insights shared in this volume (a book which has been a
great favorite of ours for over 25 years).
Even so, we respectfully must mention an additional thought which
we believe to be included among those that come from "the mind of
Christ" (1 Corinthians 2:16) regarding "Divine Healing." Mr. Murray has
linked together the occasion of sickness in response to the condition
of sin, i.e., "sin and sickness are as closely united as the body and the
soul". We believe that this is entirely true of those who refuse to
"walk worthy of the LORD unto all pleasing" (Colossians 1:10), whether
they be those who vainly profess Christ, or those who make no boast
in Him whatsoever. However, we believe that "every one that nameth
the Name of Christ [and does truly] depart from iniquity" (2 Timothy
2:19), may also suffer with infirmities for reasons other than sin.
(Unlike the tenacious, and still prevalent, "original sin" doctrine, we
believe that a true Christian does not abide in sin, nor is any man born
in sin. There is a difference between moral depravity and physical
depravity. Moral depravity is sin, or sinning. It results from
willfully choosing that which is wrong. "To him that knoweth to do
good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin" (James 4:17). Physical depravity
is our inheritance from Adam's fall, a tendency for the flesh to satisfy
itself. Physical depravity is not sin, but gives us the negative
consequences that Mr. Murray associates with sickness.
"'Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one'
(Job 14:4). Job remarks about the plight of man, that the
run down physical condition of man (physical depravity)
is passed on to the next generation of man by physical
birth. Physical depravity is not sin. Physical depravity is
the resulting run down physical condition due to the
actual commission of the first sin. Spiritual death comes
to all who sin. Adam was warned: 'in the day that thou
eatest thereof thou shalt surely die' (Genesis 2:17). Scripture
makes plain about sin... commit it and die. 'The soul that
sinneth, it shall die' (Ezekiel 18:20). 'The wages of sin is
death' (Romans 6:23). Moral depravity is sin. Moral
depravity is sinning. The flesh is the opportunity. The
flesh is the occasion for sin to take place. The flesh itself
is not sinful, but when we attempt to satisfy a proper
desire of the flesh (i.e., procreation), when specifically
told not to (i.e., 'Thou shalt not commit adultery' (Exodus
20:14), that is sin... 'for sin is the transgression of the law'
(1John 3:4)... Physical depravity is the physical
consequence of sin. Adam's sin had physical
consequences. Physical death must now be the rule for all
man. The flesh, once an occasion for good... 'And out of
the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is
pleasant to the sight [the flesh], and good for food' (Genesis
2:9)... now becomes the occasion for much evil. Man's
environment, as well as body, have been beat as a result
of sin. This is physical depravity, which is not sin.
However, when man obeys the normal, proper desire of
the flesh, when commanded by the LORD to contain it,
then man commits sin. This is moral depravity- the act of
sinning. Physical depravity precedes moral depravity, but
no man has the right to say that he committed adultery
because his body forced him! So it would be proper for
Job to assert in Job 14:4 that a physically depraved
human will only beget another physically depraved
human." --from "" --
http://WhatSaithTheScripture.com/Fellowship/Exposition.Perfection.html --, An Exposition
of the Doctrine of Christian Perfection by Tom Stewart, --
http://WhatSaithTheScripture.com/Fellowship/Exposition.Perf.III.html#sinful and holy --.
Mr. Murray, because of his doctrine concerning "original sin" or "sin
nature," attributes all sickness to sin, either personally committed or
resulting from "the preponderance of sin which weighs upon the
entire human race." We agree that all sickness results from sin-- but
only indirectly-- when referring to honest-hearted Christians. Almost
all of the sickness endured in this world is because of sin. But the
presence of sin need not be a factor at all, were an honest Christian to
bear an infirmity. Mr. Murray agrees in Spirit, stating: God "teaches
us not to accuse every sick person of sin." When dealing with an
honest Christian (or, one who has "an honest and good heart, having
heard the Word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience" [Luke
8:15]), physical infirmity can have a sanctifying effect-- diverting the
Christian from sinning-- even as it happened for the Apostle Paul. "7
And lest I should be exalted above measure [Paul hadn't sinned--
'lest I should be'] 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. 8 For this thing I
besought the LORD thrice, that it might depart from me. 9 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. 10
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" (2 Corinthians 12:7-10). Of course, this
example does not deny the Scriptural fact that "the LORD [is] for the
body," (1 Corinthians 6:13). It was "for the body" that the "thorn in the
flesh" was allowed, God thus providing a sanctifying warning for
Paul to refrain from the sin of pride. While infirmities give us the
opportunity to be refined, we are to "be careful (or, anxious) for
nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with
thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God" (Philippians
4:6). "Jesus Himself who is always the first, the best, the greatest
Physician," as Mr. Murray so excellently affirmed, is "the LORD that
healeth thee" (Exodus 15:26).
[Please see our "" --
, for much more on this subject.]
http://WhatSaithTheScripture.com/Fellowship/mmm --
Together with Paul, we "will not glory, but in [our] infirmities" (2
Corinthians 12:5). And that said, we hope you will be enriched and
edified by Mr. Murray's offering to the Church-- "Divine Healing."
It's a wonderful book! --Tom and Katie Stewart
