Why Do Faithful Believers Still Get Sick?
1) Direct Answer
Faithful believers still get sick because we are living in mortal bodies in a fallen world. Sickness is an enemy and often an oppression of the devil, but God sometimes permits it as a test, a chastening, or a platform for His glory. Healing is in the atonement and we are commanded to pray and believe, yet the full redemption of the body is future at the resurrection; until then, even the righteous may face infirmity.
2) Scriptural Explanation
- Our bodies are not yet redeemed: “We… groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body” (Romans 8:23). “The outward man perisheth; yet the inward man is renewed day by day” (2 Corinthians 4:16).
- Sickness is an oppression of Satan: Jesus “healed all that were oppressed of the devil” (Acts 10:38). The woman was “bound by Satan” (Luke 13:16). Job was smitten by Satan though he was upright (Job 2:7).
- Not all sickness is because of personal sin: The man born blind—“that the works of God should be made manifest” (John 9:3).
- God provides healing now: “By His stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5; fulfilled in Matthew 8:16-17). “Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders… the prayer of faith shall save the sick” (James 5:14-16).
- Yet choice servants still faced infirmities: Timothy’s “often infirmities” (1 Timothy 5:23). Trophimus left sick (2 Timothy 4:20). Epaphroditus was sick nigh unto death, but God had mercy (Philippians 2:27). Paul’s “thorn” remained so that God’s grace would be magnified (2 Corinthians 12:7-9).
- Final, perfect health is at the change: “This mortal must put on immortality” (1 Corinthians 15:53-54).
3) Simple Clarifying Logic
- New birth changes your soul; the Holy Spirit dwells in you. But the body remains mortal until the resurrection. That’s why a Spirit-filled believer can still get sick.
- Healing is provided by the cross. We stand on the promise, pray, lay on hands, anoint with oil, and believe. Sometimes God heals instantly, sometimes progressively, and sometimes He reserves the perfection of it for the resurrection.
- Sickness is not always a sign of unbelief. If it were, why were Timothy, Trophimus, and Epaphroditus sick, and why did Paul carry a thorn? The Bible says God used those circumstances for humility, mercy, and testimony.
- God may allow sickness for chastening (Hebrews 12:6-11) or for His works to be revealed (John 9:3). But we never glorify sickness—we resist it as an enemy and trust God for deliverance.
- Even those who were healed eventually died; that shows present healing is real but temporary, while the eternal cure is the body change.
4) Reinforcing Statement
Now notice, the same Lord who forgives your sins is your Healer. Stand on His Word, call for prayer, keep confessing His promise, and rest in His wisdom. You see, we fight the good fight now, and we will have the final victory when this mortal puts on immortality.
Ask a Follow-up Question
What did the Laodicean Church Age (our age) Angel (- messenger) Say about this?
Ranked passages from the local William Branham sermon and Church Age Book database. Relevance is relative, not a statement of doctrinal certainty.
Being led by the Holy Spirit
55-0819 §11
Now, if it goes away from you... And what if you got feeling better, you get amongst unbelievers where all them unbelieving spirits are? They get on you, down in your heart, and the first thing you know, you can't hear again, or you can't see again, I've seen men that was totally blind, read this Bible---this same Bible---and come back two nights later, couldn't see how to get in the tent. Do you believe you can lose your salvation, backslide from God? So can you for healing, you see, same way. You've got to keep y...
Why?
59-0813 §9
If there's sin in your life, get it out. If there's condemnation, get it out. If there's doubt, get it out. Until you can see perfectly that it's God's will, it's God's plan, and you're included in that, then say, "Sickness, in the name of Jesus Christ, get away from me." And remember, you might not feel any better for a week. But as soon as you said that word, something happened. God has to keep His Word. That sickness shakes, and he begins to turn loose. He will go if you'll just believe it. Don't doubt. Like Pet...
Obey the voice of the Angel
50-0713 §10
...st speak when He speaks through me. I can say nothing unless He says it to me first. But He promised me that I would be able to do this, to--for the faith of the people, to get them to believe that He sent me to pray for the sick; not to heal the sick, to pray for the sick. "And the prayer of faith shall save the sick." Now, He's the Gift. Someone said, not long ago, to me, said, "Brother Branham, Angels was ministering spirits in the Old Testament, but since the Holy Spirit has come, we don't have ministering Ange...
What it takes to overcome all unbelief: Our faith
60-0729 §34
...t I mean---big things, because the... You know, we American people are looking for big things, great things, lot of noise to it (See?), oh, lot of Hollywood. God help us to get away from that and get back to the gospel. That's right. I'm so sick and tired of Hollywood evangelism, and seeing millions dying yonder without knowing Christ at all, see. It certainly is sickening. How contrary that is to God. Elijah ... the rushing wind didn't attract him; the noise of the thunder didn't attract him; the earthquaking didn...
Works is faith expressed
65-1126 §30
I pray tonight, Lord, that somehow You'll build faith in these peoples' hearts, that every one of them will be delivered, all these sick and afflicted people. May it be so simple, Lord, just let us... As we try to teach the Word, let the Holy Spirit take my mistakes, Lord, and correct them in the hearts of the people. And make it a real, real night that He can bed Himself into the heart of each believer here. We sit this night for that purpose, Lord. May those who are not saved, above all things, be ready; get read...