Osteoarthritis is often described as the “wear and tear” of the joints, but for the person living with it, the experience is far more than a clinical definition. It is the sharp pain when standing after rest, the stiffness in the knees or hips during a cold morning, and the audible “grating” sensation in the joints. As the protective cartilage wears thin, the resulting inflammation and swelling can make simple tasks—like opening a jar or walking to the mailbox—feel like insurmountable hurdles.
In the midst of this physical struggle, the greatest barrier to healing is often an uncertainty regarding the will of God. While many acknowledge that God “can” heal, modern theology has sometimes obscured the brilliant fact that He is “willing” to heal. Faith cannot boldly claim a blessing that it is unsure is offered. To move forward, we must realize that the power of God is only claimed where the will of God is known.
The Bank of Heaven
Imagine you have a thousand dollars deposited into a bank account in your name as a gift. Even if you have not seen the physical cash or held it in your hands, that money is legally yours. You act on that faith by drawing checks on that account to meet your needs. You aren’t “hoping” the money will appear; you are counting on something you do not see or feel because you have a record of the deposit.
Healing for our bodies operates on this same principle of the “emancipation proclamation.” Through the finished work of Christ, a treasury of health has been established for you. Osteoarthritis, from which you have been redeemed, does not belong to you, but healing does. You “check” on that healing by attempting in His name what you cannot do without Him. This is acting faith—drawing strength from the bank of God regardless of what the physical senses report.
Scripture 1: Jeremiah 30:17
“For I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith the Lord…”
The Good Shepherd’s Care
In the book of Ezekiel, the Lord reproved the shepherds of Israel because they failed to strengthen the diseased, heal the sick, or bind up what was broken. Because of this neglect, the Lord declared, “I, even I, will search my sheep and seek them out.” He took personal responsibility for the health of His flock.
If you feel like a “scattered sheep” dealing with the pain of bone-on-bone friction, know that the Good Shepherd is seeking you out. He does not desire for you to be malnourished or broken. He leads you into “fat pastures” and causes you to lie down in a good fold. This is a picture of prosperity and richness for your physical frame. He is not a distant observer of your pain; He is the One who binds up the broken and strengthens the sick.
A Choice of Polarity
The Scriptures set before us a choice: a blessing or a curse. This is not about God’s mood, but about the “polarity” of the power flowing into our lives. When we align our words and thoughts with the promises of God, the blessing causes a flow of increase and help. If we rebel or remain in unbelief, we inadvertently reverse that flow.
The Lord is the same yesterday, today, and forever. If He was “Jehovah-Rapha” (the Lord our Healer) and “Jehovah-Nissi” (the Lord our Victory) in the Old Covenant, He has not abandoned those offices now. In fact, we are in a “better covenant” established on better promises. By what logic would He withdraw His mercy from us now? He still stretches forth His hand to heal, and He still delivers from every evil work.
Scripture 2: James 5:14
“Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.”
Faith Above Senses
One might say, “But I don’t feel healed. My joints still ache.” Feelings have very little to do with the legal reality of your redemption. It would be foolish to doubt the promise of Christ’s second coming simply because you woke up feeling weak or in pain. If a physical sensation is not a good reason to doubt one promise, it is not a good reason to doubt any promise.
True Christianity is the “Gospel of Evidence”—not the evidence of our symptoms, but the evidence of the supernatural presence of God touching the physical body. Just as Peter’s shadow became a point of contact for healing, the Word of God is your point of contact. You are to hold fast to your “profession” or “confession.” If He says you are healed by His stripes, your response must be, “I am healed,” even while the “mini-quickening” is beginning to work in your joints and bones.
The Earnest of Our Inheritance
While we wait for the day when our bodies are changed from corruptible to incorruptible, we can claim the “earnest” or the “firstfruits” of that life now. Think of it as a “mini-resurrection” for your joints. The same Spirit that will raise your whole body can reach over and touch your heart, your blood vessels, and your cartilage right now.
This life comes from God, through your spirit, and into your body. The brain is not the source of life; the Spirit of God is. When you abide in the Vine as a branch, there is a living connection maintained hourly and daily. The “sap” of the Holy Spirit flows unceasingly to strengthen what is sick and restore what has been worn down. You are a laborer together with God, and He girds you with strength for the journey.
Scripture 3: Psalm 18:32
“It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect.”
Leap for Joy
The promise is that you will go forth and “leap for joy” like calves released from the stall. Osteoarthritis may have tried to stall your progress and limit your mobility, but the Word of God is an emancipation proclamation. You don’t lack healing, you don’t lack strength, and you don’t lack the days of life needed to finish your course.
Refuse to let tradition or “modern theology” rob God of His glory. Jesus healed everyone who appealed to Him, and He never suggested that staying sick was a better way to glorify the Father. Rise up and take your place in the Kingdom of evidence. Draw on the bank of heaven today, for the Treasury is full and the Master is willing.
Helpful Resource: To learn about the stages and natural management of joint health, visit the Arthritis Foundation’s Guide to Osteoarthritis.
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About the Authors:
Tony and Lorna Egar are Christians based in Brisbane, Australia.
Lorna moves in a gift of healing.
She has seen God’s power, heal many people.
Tony is a Christian author with 30 books published.
His most popular book is called, “A Gift of Healing.”
It is on Amazon and Google Play.
Medical Disclaimer The content on PrayerForFree.com is provided for spiritual support and encouragement purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.