In part 4 we looked at Hebrews 11:1, Romans 10:17, 12:3 and Hebrews 11:6, which tells us that our faith pleases God, that He gave us the measure of faith and that faith comes by hearing His word. Today I want to look at the origin of sickness and disease.

Genesis 3:17 - And unto Adam He said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;

Deuteronomy 28:15 - But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all His commandments and His statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee:

Corinthians 4:4 - In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

John 10:10 - The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

The Bible tells us that sin and death entered the world when Adam and Eve disobeyed God and ate of the tree that He told them not to eat of Gen 2:17. Their disobedience to God's command brought the curse mentioned in Deut 28:15, 27-29 and 60-61 unto all mankind. Praise be to God that Jesus freed us from the curse of sin and death Romans 8:2 and Gal 3:13. They gave Satan their authority over the earth Gen 1:28 making Satan the god of this world 2 Cor 4:4, John 14:30, John 12:31 and 16:11.

Jesus gives us some insight into the works of Satan and who he is. In John 8:44 Jesus calls Satan a murderer from the beginning and a liar. We see in John 10:10 that Jesus identifies him as the thief that steals, kills and destroys. 1 Peter 5:8 says he is a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. Look at Mark 4:14-15 and Luke 8:12. Satan comes immediately to steal the Word that was sown. He comes to steal the Word because he knows the power that lies in the Word of God; it builds our faith and when we stand on Gods Word that negates Satan's control over us.

Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil, to give life and heal all that were oppressed by the devil Acts 10:38 and to destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil Heb 2:14b. While teaching in a synagogue, Jesus healed a woman whom He said, "Satan hath bound" for some eighteen years Luke 13:11-16. I believe that Jesus has clearly established that Satan is the author of sickness, disease and death in the world.

Sickness and disease are a part of the spiritual warfare that Ephesians 6:11-12 tells us about. We do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Jesus defeated Satan through his death and resurrection Colossians 2:15 and John 12:31. "I am He that liveth, and was dead; and behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death" Revelation 1:18.