"It would do us well to learn from the test that King Asa failed. "In the thirty-ninth year of the reign of Asa, he had a sickness in his feet until his sickness became grave. Even in his disease he did not seek after the Lord, but the physicians" (2 Chron. 16:12). The next verse displays very clearly what this strategy of healing results in: "And Asa slept with his fathers; he died in the forty-first year of his reign" (2 Chron. 16:13). If we allow fear to drive us, we will have no choice but to defer to the physicians in our search for health and safety. Fear destroys faith. The only way we can approach God for healing or anything else is by faith. Unfortunately, it's obvious that many in the church haven't learned from King Asa. Calls to stand in confident faith are rejected as a nonsensical threat to their safety. What they don't realize is a refusal to believe sets them up as easy targets of the enemy." - John Burton
The key in this story is Asa did NOT seek the Lord and only sought physicians. I would agree that is not a biblical or Christian strategy. Once again however, I have seen no Christian suggest that the virus is too big for the Lord to heal. Is Burton however actually suggesting that God cannot use physicians to heal us? Has his theology of healing on demand warped that badly? Seriously, look at the dichotomy Burton presents here. You either stand in confident faith OR seek medical assistance. That is not the definition of faith but rather folly. This reminds me of the story of a Kenneth Copeland congregant who came down with cancer. Copeland also preaches this nonsense of false faith over wisdom so much that this victim refused to seek medical help insisting to her family that it would show a lack of faith. She just kept increasing her tithe and standing on faith until she died from the cancer. If our faith is not grounded in scripture, then we know not what we are trusting. Do not trust calls to check your brain at the door because you are Christian. There is already enough brainless Christianity in the world.
"It truly is shocking that many Christians today don't live in the supernatural realm that is so obvious in the Word of God. As believers, we have access to mind-boggling benefits that few take advantage of. In fact, many fully reject these spiritual realities. They become offended when faith-filled Christians challenge them. "Where did you get all these things?" is the question they ask. Where did you get these bizarre beliefs that are contrary to common sense? The Bible. That's the answer to their strange, humanistic question. "He Himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses" (Matt. 8:17b). The truth is that the blood of Jesus is sufficient for coronavirus. If we are afraid and default to human wisdom as we fight against it, we will lose. There will be no protection beyond what science can provide. If we live as supernatural people and expect miracles and wonders to surround us, we will thrive no matter what plague may befall us. Healing, authority, power, freedom, joy and absolute victory are all ours as believers! Fear, worry and defeat cannot stand against mighty, supernatural faith! The church should be sounding a universal proclamation that Jesus heals, and fear can't stand! The world should be amazed and provoked by a joyful, fearless and faith-filled church. Life for Christians is radically, wildly, supernaturally different than those who haven't surrendered to the Lord. No weapon formed against us can prosper! Instead, so much of the church is nervous, afraid and campaigning for worldly potions, provision and protection." - John Burton
Ahhh, now we come to the supernatural realm. The false signs and lying wonders heresies are always the source for the mandatory healing teaching. Instead of Christianity being about what God HAS done for us on Calvary, it is about all the goodies we can get now. All of the power we possess now. All of the "mind-boggling" benefits we have now. Christianity is about being saved from out of this world, not to be empowered to thrive within it. This world and this country will be judged by God. Burton then takes the spiritual healing Christ brings as prophesied in Isaiah and teaches that it actually means physical healing in this life. Before John MacArthur joined the "must open" movement he once taught against this usage beautifully:
"The belief that Christ's physical suffering somehow guarantees our physical healing in this life isn't merely an abuse of Scripture--it's a form of mental and spiritual torture to those who sit under such false teaching. It's a lie that has left many churchgoers disappointed with the gospel. Rather than longing for their heavenly home, they are gripped by unrealized expectations in the here and now. The sickness they struggle with leaves them feeling like failures who lack the necessary faith to claim the healing that's rightfully theirs."
Sadly, this was said truthfully and accurately. The sliver of truth running through Burton's false teaching remains within God's sovereignty. The blood of Jesus is always sufficient but the decision to heal always remains with a sovereign God. Consider how cruel this statement actually is from Burton - "If we live as supernatural people and expect miracles and wonders to surround us, we will thrive no matter what plague may befall us. Healing, authority, power, freedom, joy and absolute victory are all ours as believers!"
Really? For all believers in every case of sickness? The gnostic secret is to live as "supernatural people?" That's it? What does that even mean? The person who dies from their illnesses just wasn't living supernaturally enough? Are you kidding me? Let me ask you something Pastor Burton. Why do you wear corrective eyeglasses if no plague should be able to stand next to your ginormous faith? When you have a cold do you seek an antibiotic? If you break your arm would you have it set? Why? Shouldn't all of these instances be resolved with miracles and wonders brought about by your supernatural lifestyle? Or do you reserve that for global pandemics?
'"For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds, casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ" (2 Cor. 10:3-5). Wash your hands. Wear a mask if called for. Go to the doctor if needed. Do your due diligence. But don't put your faith in such things. Our faith is in the miraculous. It's in the invisible wonders of a loving, omnipotent God. Don't get offended when someone challenges your response to the threat of a virus. Instead, admit your unbelief, repent and determine to live in a realm entirely different than where the world lives. As Christians, we should be experiencing supernatural power and incredible miracles regularly. The authority we have over the enemy is extreme. The promises of God open up a world of wonder to all of us who walk in the mysterious realm of faith. To think we are limited by science and human wisdom is silliness at best and blasphemous at worst. It's time for the supernatural, fearless church to arise! "And without faith it is impossible to please God, for he who comes to God must believe that He exists and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him" (Heb. 11:6).' - John Burton
