I had never thought of sickness before until recently as a form of spiritual warfare. But upon Joseph’s recent seizure (during VBS week in July), it came to me that any act of the body defending itself is an act of offense against the body and therefore an attack on the body. And as I had made the point earlier in a blog post that the mortal nature is intrinsic to the spiritual nature which together make up our whole being, any physical attack on the body is also a spiritual attack on the body and soul.
Most people view sickness and injury as just an ordinary part of our lives but if you look theologically you will see that sickness and injury are nothing short of spiritual warfare since the Angel of Darkness loves our sorrow and anguish. He loves suffering because he knows what it is—-it is a result of sin and death that entered this world from our first parents, from the first Fall, the pit of pride, the greatest vice that separates us from God and His eternal love.
Sickness and injury is an attempt to destroy the body which in itself is a machine. But this machine is uniquely intertwined with the spirit and the soul which give it life eternally in spite of the mortal nature. The two natures-spirit and mortal—are our identity as children of God and God made everything good. The body, made in His image, by the glorious Incarnation which shows us just how good it is, is also something most hated by our Enemy. Because all sickness and injury are a result of sin and death—sickness and injury are outward signs of our fallen nature. These signs glorify the Enemy. They make him feel triumphant even for just a moment.
This is also why redemptive suffering flips the power of the Enemy unto Jesus-because when we crucify sickness and injury to the holy Cross, we reverse the glory unto God. How important then it is to sings song of praise and worship when we are sick and injured because it drives the Enemy nuts! Therefore, immediately when you are attacked with sickness or injury, rejoice in the Lord aloud—verbally rejoice in the Lord—-let the Enemy hear you—-look up tot he heavens and glorify aloud. Make the enemy know where you stand.
“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” Philippians 4:4