HLM Live | UNDERSTANDING THE SOURCES OF SICKNESS pt.2 | Healing Series | Elvis Ghansah

Today, we gathered to exalt the name of the Lord, recognizing Him as our healer, our rock, and the One who keeps covenant with His people. We entered His presence with praise, acknowledging that there is none like Him, and that He alone deserves all glory and adoration. As we continued in worship, our hearts were directed to the reality that God desires us to walk in health, wholeness, and abundant life. Sickness is not His will for us; rather, He wants us to experience His healing power and to respond to every challenge with faith and wisdom, not fear.

We explored the various sources of sickness, building on previous teachings. The fall of man, satanic oppression, disobedience, unhealthy lifestyle choices, and natural human frailty were discussed as initial sources. Today, we delved deeper, examining how emotional and mental stress can manifest as physical illness. The state of our hearts—whether joyful or burdened—directly impacts our physical well-being. Inner wounds, bitterness, unforgiveness, and guilt can all lead to distress in our bodies, but God is the healer of the brokenhearted, and emotional healing often precedes physical recovery.

We also considered the importance of spiritual discernment. Treating the things of God with irreverence or neglect can open doors to affliction. Reverence, holiness, and discernment are safeguards that keep us under God’s protection. Sometimes, sickness may be permitted for God’s divine purpose, as seen in the story of the man born blind or Paul’s thorn in the flesh. In such cases, God’s grace is sufficient, and He uses these moments to demonstrate His power and build our faith.

Testing and refinement of faith, as in the life of Job, can also be a source of affliction. Not all sickness is punishment; some are tests that produce perseverance and maturity. Even generational patterns or ancestral issues can play a role, but in Christ, every curse is broken, and we are given a new spiritual DNA. No matter the source, God’s power to heal is greater. We are called to walk in faith, align ourselves with His will, and declare our freedom and healing in Christ. As we prayed and declared healing, we trusted that God is still Jehovah Rapha, our healer, and that His desire is for us to walk in divine health, free from every affliction.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Emotional and mental stress can be a hidden source of physical sickness. The state of your heart—whether filled with joy or weighed down by bitterness and unforgiveness—has a profound effect on your body. True healing often begins with releasing inner wounds and allowing God to heal you from within. [37:28]
• 2. Spiritual discernment and reverence for God’s presence are essential for protection against affliction. Treating holy things carelessly, or approaching God with a casual attitude, can open doors to unnecessary harm. Reverence and holiness are not just religious acts, but spiritual shields that preserve your well-being. [44:42]
• 3. Sometimes, God permits sickness for a divine purpose, not as punishment but as a platform for His glory. The story of the man born blind and Paul’s thorn in the flesh remind us that God can use our trials to reveal His power and grace. Even when healing is delayed, God’s grace is often the greater miracle, sustaining and refining us. [50:24]
• 4. Not all suffering is a result of wrongdoing; some afflictions are tests that refine our faith and character. Like Job, enduring hardship can lead to a deeper trust in God and ultimately to restoration and blessing. Temporal pain, when surrendered to God, produces eternal strength and maturity. [55:24]
• 5. Generational patterns and ancestral issues may influence our health, but in Christ, every curse is broken. Accepting your new identity in Christ means refusing to accept inherited sickness or defeat. The blood of Jesus gives you a new beginning, a new spiritual DNA, and the authority to declare freedom and healing over your life. [60:06]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [26:45] - Exalting God’s Name and Worship
• [33:17] - Testimonies and Introduction to Healing
• [34:03] - Understanding the Sources of Sickness
• [36:06] - Review of Previous Points
• [37:28] - Emotional and Mental Stress as a Source
• [41:02] - The Power of Peace and Joy
• [44:42] - Spiritual Discernment and Reverence
• [50:24] - Sickness for Divine Purpose
• [55:24] - Testing and Refinement of Faith
• [60:06] - Generational and Ancestral Roots
• [64:58] - Christ Our Healer and New Identity
• [65:36] - Declarations and Prayer for Healing
• [70:52] - Healing Worship and Testimonies
• [91:03] - Offering, Announcements, and Closing

Bible Reading

Proverbs 17:22 (NKJV) — > A merry heart does good, like medicine,
> But a broken spirit dries the bones.

2. John 9:1-3 (NKJV)
> Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth.
> And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
> Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him.”

3. Galatians 3:13 (NKJV)
> Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”).

Observation Questions

1. According to Proverbs 17:22, what is the effect of a joyful heart compared to a broken spirit?
2. In John 9:1-3, what reason does Jesus give for the man’s blindness, and how does it challenge the disciples’ assumptions?
3. What does Galatians 3:13 say about Christ’s work regarding curses, and how does this relate to generational issues?
4. The sermon mentions several sources of sickness. Can you list at least three that were discussed?

Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think the state of our emotions and heart can have such a strong impact on our physical health? How does this connect to the idea that “emotional healing often precedes physical recovery”?
2. Jesus said the man was born blind “so that the works of God should be revealed in him.” What does this teach us about God’s purposes in allowing certain challenges or afflictions?
3. The sermon warns that treating spiritual things carelessly can open doors to affliction. What might it look like to approach God’s presence with reverence and discernment in daily life?
4. How does understanding that Christ has redeemed us from every curse affect the way we view family or generational patterns of sickness or struggle?

Application Questions

1. The sermon teaches that bitterness, unforgiveness, and guilt can lead to physical distress. Is there any area in your life where you are holding onto these emotions? What practical step can you take this week to begin releasing them?
2. When you face sickness or challenges, do you tend to respond with fear, or with faith and wisdom? What is one way you can shift your response to align more with faith this week?
3. Are there any spiritual practices (like prayer, worship, or communion) that you have been treating casually or neglecting? What would it look like to approach them with greater reverence?
4. Have you ever experienced a situation where God did not heal or answer as quickly as you hoped? How did you see His grace at work during that time, and what did you learn about trusting Him?
5. The sermon says that not all suffering is punishment, and sometimes it is a test that refines our faith. Can you recall a time when a difficult season led to spiritual growth or maturity in your life?
6. Do you see any generational patterns or family health issues that you have accepted as “normal”? How can you begin to declare your new identity and freedom in Christ over these areas?
7. The pastor encouraged making declarations of healing and freedom. What is one specific declaration you can speak over your life this week, based on God’s promises?