Are We Redeemed from Mental as Well as Physical Illness?
Absolutely, positively, definitely yes!
Some of the afflictions in Deuteronomy 28:15-68 were mental illnesses. Of course, any illness of any kind is covered by verse 61 of that chapter, so you would know that you are redeemed from mental illness on that basis alone. But look at some of the parts of the curse from which you are redeemed: Vexation, madness, astonishment of heart, groping at noonday as the blind gropeth in darkness (this isn’t normal behavior, is it?), your eyes failing with longing, having no might in your hand, being oppressed, crushed, and mad for the sight of your eyes, a trembling heart, failing of eyes, sorrow of mind, your life hanging in doubt before you, fearing night and day, having no assurance of your life, always wishing it were later because of fear. Yes, the curse from which you are redeemed includes mental illness!
The behavior described in the similar curse in Leviticus 26:14-39 is also that of mentally ill people: Having a faint heart, falling on each other when no one is pursuing, and running from the sound of a shaken leaf. These all demonstrate a fear that is totally out of control. You are redeemed from this!
Another giveaway is the fact that Jesus healed the mentally ill as well as the physically ill. Some of the ill people He ministered to had no known physical problem.
God has given you the spirit of sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7). This actually means self-control or sober-mindedness in the Greek. If you have a mental problem that involves lack of self-control, this verse is for you! Given that “sound mind” does not literally mean “a mind free from mental illness,” I will not cite this as a proof-text for healing from mental illness, and neither should you. Nor will I attempt to stretch the Scripture about having the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16) to say that you have perfect mental functions. 1 Corinthians 2:16 in context in fact says something very different, that you have the mind of Christ and not just a natural mind that can understand natural things. You are able to think the way Jesus thinks. But there is enough Scripture already to prove the point; you don’t need to drag out 1 Corinthians 2:16 and try to make it say something it doesn’t say. It is possible to use the wrong verses to make a correct point, and I try to avoid that.
Many in our day have been set free from mental illness. I knew a preacher who laid hands on a young woman who had the mind of a two-year-old. Instantly she was able to speak two languages and use college-level words. Not all mental healing miracles are that instantaneous, but they are still miraculous even if they unfold over time. We had one young person in our church who was discharged from mental health care that he been receiving all his life. Another man in our church was totally mute for some time; he had been in every mental institution in the state and was still schizophrenic. After we laid hands on him, there was some improvement – he spoke, but he would just repeat everything you said like a parrot. If you asked, “How are you?” he’d reply “How are you?” If you asked, “Are you going to repeat everything I say?” (I did ask that), he’d reply, “Are you going to repeat everything I say?” I sought the Lord about what to do with him, and He told me. I said to him, “I am healed by the stripes of Jesus,” and he replied, “I’m healed by the stripes of Jesus.” I said, “God heals ALL my diseases,” and he replied, “God heals ALL my diseases.” You get the idea. I kept doing that. The man ended up able to work a normal job and converse just like everyone else. The Word worked mightily in him!
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