Where Does Sickness Come From?

As a registered nurse, I have seen the good, the bad, and the ugly when it comes to sickness and disease. People long for health and healing more than almost anything else in life. Although I have not been a sickly person, even as a child I dreamed of an existence where there was no sickness or disease.

So where does sickness come from and why are people sick? These are very important questions that need clear scriptural answers. You see, in order to receive healing from God, the first thing that must be established is the origin of sickness and disease.

Jesus said:

John 10:10 NKJV

The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

This scripture reveals to us that anything that steals, kills, or destroys comes from Satan. Sickness and disease have never blessed anybody’s life. Rather, they have stolen from people, they have killed people, and they have destroyed people’s lives. I want to state emphatically that God is NOT the author of sickness and disease. Jesus said that He came to give us a life that’s filled with abundance.

Thank God one of the reasons Jesus came was to reveal the will of the Father God. If we want to know what God is like and see Him at work, we must look at Jesus. Jesus is the will of God in action. I challenge anyone to find even one place in the gospels where Jesus put sickness or oppression on people. The Gospels reveal that Jesus healed and blessed people everywhere He went.

Acts 10:38 KJV

How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.

We see from this passage that healing is doing good. We also see that people with sickness were oppressed by the devil. The devil is responsible for sickness and oppression. Jesus does good and heals people who are oppressed by the devil. This means that everyone who was healed under the ministry of Jesus was oppressed by the devil.

In the same manner, God is not responsible for natural disasters in the earth.

It’s difficult for some people to understand that the laws that govern this earth today came into being through the fall of Adam. When Adam sinned, the curse came upon the earth. There was no sickness or disease in the garden of Eden before the fall of man, and there is no sickness in Heaven.

Because people don’t understand this, they often blame God for sickness, accidents, tragedy, and even storms and natural disasters that occur. Insurance policies label these events as “acts of God”. However, they are not acts of God. They are acts of the devil.

Watch Christine Miller's teaching on "The Origin of Sickness".

Jesus never brought any storms on people. He rebuked storms. One time a storm had arisen on the Sea of Galilee and Jesus was asleep in the back of the ship. The disciples awoke Him and said, “Master, carest Thou not that we perish?” Jesus arose and rebuked the wind. He wasn’t rebuking something God did. He was rebuking something the devil had stirred up. The way some people or even ministers talk, you would be led to believe that God and the devil swapped jobs. God is still good and He never contradicts Himself.

Why would Jesus tell us to heal the sick if God wanted some to stay sick?

Mark 16:15-18 NKJV

And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover."

This would confuse people if it was God’s will for only some to be well. Therefore, it can’t be the will of God for any in the church to stay sick.

Here’s another great passage. The word “save” in the Greek also means heal.

James 5:14-15 NKJV

Is anyone among you sick? 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. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.

Jesus’ attitude toward sickness was warfare with Satan. He dealt with sickness the same way He dealt with demons. Since sickness and disease are of the devil, we must follow in the footsteps and attitude of Jesus and deal with disease as Jesus dealt with it. He commanded it to leave, so we command it to leave. You don’t have to put up with another day of sickness because it did not originate with God!

If you're in the Aurora/Naperville area and are looking for a church that teaches the uncompromising Word of God, we invite you to visit Abundant Life Family Church. As a Word and Spirit church, we are committed to helping believers grow in faith, experience the power of God, and walk in His promises. Our services are filled with dynamic worship, Bible-based teaching, and an atmosphere where the Holy Spirit moves. Whether you’re searching for a church home or seeking a deeper relationship with God, we welcome you to join us and be part of a thriving community of faith!