Some have asked, “Can I use my faith and believe God in any situation even though I violate natural safety and health principles?” This was asked and believed by many during 2020.
Let me tell you this true story. There was a young pentecostal, faith couple that had a little toddler child. They both worked at a spirit-filled ministry office and took their child to work with them. The ministry they worked for had a large property, with a swimming pool on it. One day the maintenance man, for the ministry, came hurriedly into the office and told them they better watch their child because he might drown if he fell in the swimming pool. The faith couple spoke up and told him not to make that negative confession over their child because God and the angels would protect their baby.
The maintenance man said, “You better watch your baby” and left. They failed to watch their child like they should have. The next day, the child fell into the pool and drowned. They could not use their faith and violate the principle of watching their child. Their precious little child was dead because they violated good safety principles. In deep grief and sorrow, they realized how foolish they had been. We can’t override good safety principles with our faith.
Dad Hagin, was preaching years ago. He used to be a fiery, pentecostal faith preacher in his early days of ministry. He got sweaty and wet while he was preaching one night. He and his wife, Mrs. Oretha got ready to leave the building after church. She told Dad Hagin that he better put his topcoat on because it was cool outside and he was wet. He confessed, “I’ll be alright,” and went on outside. That night he started wheezing, coughing and running a fever. He prayed and realized he had violated health principles. He repented and promised the Lord he would not do that anymore. The Lord had mercy upon him and healed him.
This was who some call the founder of the modern faith movement. He could not use his faith to violate good health principles. You and I can’t either. You may not know that every time he prayed for a lot of people or shook a lot of people’s hands, he would always go and wash his hands and clean them. He taught many of us preachers around him that too and said it was tempting God if you didn’t. When he was preaching two meetings a day, he would always lie down and rest his body in the afternoon. On occasion, I personally escorted him to his room so he could rest. He always told me I should rest too and not wear myself out so I would last longer to preach the gospel. I was much younger than he was, but I obeyed him. I am still obeying what he taught me to this day. He had a lot of wisdom, you know. He was a man with much faith in God, but he also used wisdom.
Many may remember Rev. John G. Lake and his great success over the Bubonic plague in Africa years ago. People were dying all around him with the plague, but not him or his family. I believe it was because the revelation of faith and the gift of faith were operating in him. He was so anointed the bubonic plague cells would die in his hand. What you may not know is that his wife died during this same time because she overworked her body and failed to eat properly. He or she could not use their faith and violate good health principles. You and I can’t either. Rev. Lake, the one mightily used of God, died of a stroke at 65 years of age because he violated natural and spiritual principles in his life and ministry. Being a faith person does not make you invincible, as some would think. That is why God has given us wisdom.
That is why I always follow the example of Dad Hagin. He was the most balanced minister I have ever known. He did not get into extremes in any area of his personal life or ministry, nor did he follow anyone who did. He lived a full, successful, rich life and moved to heaven in his 87th year. He was filled with the wisdom of God. I encourage you to walk by faith and the wisdom of God in these days.
