CHURCH LEADERS reports that Tom Patton, an elder with Grace Community Church (“GCC”), recently provided an update on Pastor John MacArthur’s health. Pastor MacArthur (85), who has been GCC’s teaching pastor for more than 55 years, has suffered health issues related to three surgeries, including a heart valve replacement, which kept him out of the pulpit for more than half of 2024.
According to Patton, Pastor MacArthur is currently hospitalized and “his recovery has been slower than expected, with occasional setbacks affecting his heart, lungs and kidneys.”
The CHURCH LEADERS article may be read HERE.
My brothers and sisters, a mighty man of God is in need of healing, and as believers, let’s exercise the privilege we have to petition the Father, in Jesus’ name, for God’s healing touch upon Pastor MacArthur. Until the Lord determines it is time for Pastor MacArthur (or any one of us) to come home to Jesus, it is absolutely the will of God that we seek healing and walk in faith.
As demonstrated to us throughout the Bible, and especially in the New Testament gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, as Jesus walked upon the earth during His earthly ministry, He healed multitudes by casting out unclean spirits and removing sickness or infirmities. We should not question if it is God’s will for His children to be healed and to walk in the fullness of God, as it is clear through scripture that IT IS HIS WILL for us to be healed!
Exodus 15:26 (NKJV)
The LORD Speaks to Moses
“…If you diligently heed the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the Lord who heals you [emphasis mine].”
Isaiah 53:5 (NKJV)
“But He (Jesus) was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; [t]he chastisement for our peace was upon Him, [a]nd by His stripes we are healed [emphasis mine].”
Matthew 9:35 (NKJV)
The Compassion of Jesus
“Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease [emphasis mine] among the people.”
Matthew 12:10-16 (NKJV)
Jesus Heals Them All
“And behold, there was a man who had a withered hand. And they asked Him, saying, ‘Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?’—that they might accuse Him. Then He said to them, ‘[w]hat man is there among you who has one sheep, and if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not lay hold of it and lift it out? Of how much more value then is a man than a sheep? Therefore[,] it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.’ Then He said to the man, ‘[s]tretch out your hand.’ And he stretched it out, and it was restored as whole as the other. Then the Pharisees went out and plotted against Him, how they might destroy Him. But when Jesus knew it, He withdrew from there. And great multitudes followed Him, and He healed them all [emphasis mine].”
Mark 6:53-56 (NLT)
“After they [the disciples] had crossed the lake, they landed at Gennesaret. They brought the boat to shore and climbed out. The people recognized Jesus at once, and they ran throughout the whole area, carrying sick people on mats to wherever they heard [H]e was. Wherever [H]e went—in villages, cities, or the countryside—they brought the sick out to the marketplaces. They begged [H]im to let the sick touch at least the fringe of [H]is robe, and all who touched [H]im were healed [emphasis mine].
Disease is the result of sin—original sin (the Garden of Eden) and ongoing sin or misguided actions by ourselves and others in this fallen world in which the evil one prowls and seeks those whom he may devour.
1 Peter 5:8 (Amplified Bible)
“Be sober [well balanced and self-disciplined], be alert and cautious at all times. That enemy of yours, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion [fiercely hungry], seeking someone to devour.”
Although God can turn or use any situation, whether positive or negative, to our benefit and to bring Him glory, it is not the will of God for us be sick. Neither does He ‘make us sick’ to teach us a lesson! Sickness is never a ‘blessing’ and it is not ‘put upon us’ by God, even though He sometimes allows sickness in our lives.
Romans 8:28 (NLT)
“And we know that God causes everything [emphasis mine] to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.”