What is an autoimmune disease?
First of all, let me briefly explain that an immune system is the series of organisms in our body that use T-cells which attach to and destroy foreign tissues that invade our bodies to produce disease and infection. It is the way the body is designed to keep itself healthy and functioning in life and wholeness.
Therefore, when you have an autoimmune disease the body is somehow compromised into believing that the healthy, productive cells are actually foreign tissues and the immune system begins to attack the healthy body parts designed to bring healing and life. In other words, the body attacks itself and begins to “self destruct” causing sickness, rather preventing it.
According to the web site Medicine Plus http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000816.htm, there are more than 80 types of autoimmune diseases and they cause the body to become sickly, weak, tired, and achy making it difficult to function in healthy and productive day-to-day living. Autoimmune diseases can attack any part of your body such as connective tissues, muscles, joints, nerves, skin, heart, and lungs to name a few. Some examples of autoimmune diseases that you may be familiar with are multiple sclerosis, arthritis, lupus, thyroid disease, Marfan syndrome.
Marfan syndrome for example is a connective tissue disorder that affects a particular gene called fibrillin-1. The fibrillin-1gene is part the connective tissues in the body that provide the body with elasticity enabling it grow and function properly. When Marfan syndrome is present, the fibrillin-1 gene mutates and causes problems with the tissues surrounding the heart, bones, joints, eyes, blood vessels, skin and lungs and they become weak and may separate from each other creating life threatening medical conditions.
As I struggle myself, watch friends and family fight against autoimmune and other diseases it makes me wonder about the church and the implications of being called the body of Christ. I began to ponder this as I study the Word of God and I read the news of current events occurring within the church and the world.
1 Corinthians 12:27 “Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.” (KJV)
One only has to read the daily news to recognize that life today is far from the church that Jesus Christ established over 2000 years ago. It is obvious that much of the church has left their first love for Jesus and the authority of the Bible to follow a more “palatable” gospel where almost anything goes, it says “let’s compromise and embrace all”. The dividing lines between the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the “palatable” gospel seem to become clearer with each passing day. It is time to take a stand for the reality of eternal life provided by the blood of Jesus and the judgment that is soon coming, first to the church and then to the earth.
1 Peter 4:17-18 “For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?” (KJV)
My heart is filled with joy of the Lord because of the relationship we have with him, yet it is burdened with the news of events occurring within the church as well as the condition of my own heart at times. When I read Ezekiel 44, I am motivated by the sons of Zadok who took a stand against unrighteousness while the rest of Israel left God to follow after idols. God said that those who went astray would bear the burden of their choices but those that took a stand for him were invited into his sanctuary to minister to him. They were to enter into his holy place wearing linen clothing (so as not to rely on their own labors) because they knew it was by the grace of God alone that they could approach him. They were also charged to teach the people the difference between what is holy and what is unholy, in other words they had to not only be living examples of the truth but also speak out.
Now, fast forward to the book of Acts 4 where the apostles were threatened not to speak or teach in the name of Jesus but what was there response? They lifted their voice up to God and said,
Acts 4: 29-33, “And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus. And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness. And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.” (KJV)
We are facing that same choice today and it is beginning to crescendo into a type autoimmune disease wherein the body of Christ is attacking itself. We were warned about this repeatedly in the Word of God.
Matthew 24:4-13, “And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” (KJV)
Matthew 24:24-25, “For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before.” (KJV)
2 Peter 2:2-4, “That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour: Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.” (KJV)
It is a critical time in history to know them that labor among us, to love, encourage and exhort each other to move forward with the Lord Jesus Christ and his ways. I am not talking about being perfect, none of us are but as we build relationship with each other we are able to help each other through the difficult times. It is by the grace of God alone that we will be able to stand during the end times and he commands us to know and love one another.
1 Thessalonians 5:12-24, “And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves. Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men. Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Quench not the Spirit. Despise not prophesyings. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil. And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.” (KJV)
What does all this mean? How are we to treat those that hate us, persecute us and say all manner of evil against us? Our natural response is to retaliate, defend ourselves and expose our persecutors. This is a human desire, of course we feel that way, and thankfully we have each other to talk with, confess to and work out these feelings together taking them to Jesus, our high priest who has been touched by the feelings of our infirmities.
Hebrews 4:14-16, “Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” (KJV)
John 15:17-21, “These things I command you, that ye love one another. If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me.” (KJV)
John 16:1-3, “These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended. They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.” (KJV)
It is true, this is a very difficult time in history and we are indeed facing some challenges but the good news Christ has won the victory for us. Jesus Christ has risen from the dead, he is alive forevermore and we will spend eternity together with him in the New Jerusalem.
As I read the book of Nehemiah the prayer in Nehemiah 1:5-11 engages my heart to cry out for repentance on behalf of the Body of Christ. Pray this prayer with me as it has been rewritten for this purpose.
O Lord God of heaven armies, the great and awesome God, that keeps his promises and shows mercy to those that love him and obey his Living Word:
Listen to us, hear our prayers and and answer us as we cry out day and night before you on behalf of the body of Christ., We are your servants and we confess that we have sinned against you: in our thoughts, words, attitudes, actions and in things we have failed to do. We have sinned corporately as the body of Christ and have dealt very corruptly against you, and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the judgments, which you have commanded us in your Word. We have judged each other, spoken against your anointed ones and railed against you as a nation.
Lord, we petition you to forgive us our sins both individually and corporately as we throw ourselves on the mercy of the shed blood of Jesus Christ.
O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, we turn to you and through the power of your wonderful Holy Spirit we ask you to give us the grace to love you with all of our heart, all of our soul, all of our mind and all of our strength and to love our neighbors as ourselves. Lord, we are your people that you have chosen and redeemed through your precious Son, Jesus who rose from the dead and sits at your right hand in heaven interceding on our behalf.
Thank you Lord for the provision you made on our behalf and we are assured that you keep your promises and have heard us from heaven. Amen.
Deborah Neiberger
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