What to Do About Arthritis by Frederick Hoehn, copyright 2015, all rights reserved. Chapter 1 I was watching the news until they came to a subject I didn't care about, so I channel surfed. I came to a movie that had an actor whose hands had been rather crippled with Arthritis. I would like to tell you what to do about Arthritis. There are, of course, conflicting opinions about this. Doctors have been dealing with Arthritis for years. They have certain medicines that they prescribe. No doubt some of those medicines provide some relief. But they don't get at the root of the problem. Arthritis is caused by demons of Arthritis. A demon is a fallen angel that rebelled against God when Satan rebelled against God. The Lord revealed to Howard Pittman that demons are specialists, not general practitioners. Thus, the demon that tempts a man to rob a bank is not the same demon that tempts people to commit adultery. Demons are the cause of many diseases, including Cancer, and including many of the mental diseases, and various forms of insanity. But a Christian neighbor of mine, when I lived in the Silicon Valley area of California, told me that Arthritis is caused by unforgiveness. My neighbor got that from a preacher he knew. Jesus spoke of unforgiveness in Matt chapt 6-- 5 And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites are, because they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, so they'll be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward. 6 But you, when you pray, enter into your closet, and when you've shut your door, pray to your Father in secret, and your Father who sees in secret shall reward you openly. 7 But when you pray, don't use useless repetitions, like the heathen do, because they think they'll be heard for their many words. 8 Therefore, don't be like them, because your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 9 Therefore, pray like this, Our Father who is in heaven, your name be honored. 10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth, like it is in heaven. 11 Give us our daily bread today. 12 And forgive our debts, like we forgive our debtors. 13 And don't lead us into temptation, but give us deliverance from evil, for yours are the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen. 14 For if you forgive men their wrong doing, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, 15 But if you don't forgive men their wrong doing, neither will your Father forgive your wrong doing. (Matt 6:5-15) Notice in vs 14 & 15 that if we forgive others, God will forgive us. But if we don't forgive others, God won't forgive us. I answered my neighbor, "Yes, probably unforgiveness has something to do with Arthritis." My neighbor answered, "That's all it is, is unforgiveness." My neighbor believed that unforgiveness was the only cause for Arthritis, based on what he had been taught. I believe that unforgiveness can allow the demons of Arthritis to enter a person, but I believe that there are other things that can bring the demons of Arthritis, such as using pornography. Pornography is wrong because Jesus said, "He that looks at a woman to lust for her has committed adultery with her in his heart." (Matt 5:28) But there's a kind of porn that is not visual. It's dirty books and dirty stories. That's covered under "Don't love the world, nor the things that are in the world. If any man loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passes away and its lust, but he that does the will of God lives forever." (1 Jhn 2:15-17) But for the person with Arthritis, what needs to happen is cast out the demon of Arthritis. Chapter 2 If you're a Christian, Jesus has given us the authority to cast out demons in Luke 10:19, and in Mark 16:17,18. If you're not a Christian, then you don't have the authority to cast out demons. So then, in that case, step one for you is to become a born again Christian. You become a Christian by obeying Rom. 10:9,10-- "That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart God raised him from the dead, you're saved. For with the heart man believes for righteousness, and with the mouth, confession is made for salvation." In John chapt 3, Jesus tells us, "You MUST be born again." But if you're unforgiving of others, then it's going to be hard to get rid of Arthritis. You cast out demons, once you are a Christian, by opening your mouth, and commanding them to go, in Jesus' name. You do that, putting your faith with your words. Read how Jesus cast out demons in the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John in the Bible. When Jesus cast out demons, sometimes he asked their name, and sometimes he found out how many of them there were. More on this in my book, "How to Cast Out Demons." But Jesus did say that some kinds of demons don't go out except by prayer and fasting. However, Jesus didn't give us a list of which demons those are. When Lester Sumrall cast out demons from a demon-possessed female prisoner in the Philippines, he first fasted for twenty four hours. I believe the record of that is in his book, "Demons, the Answer Book," by Lester Sumrall, in the chapter, "Bitten by Demons." It is probably available from LESEA Broadcasting. I believe they have a website. Lester Sumrall Evangelistic Association, and LESEA Broadcasting have their headquarters in So. Bend, IN, last I heard. Sumrall was an authority on casting out demons, and wrote books on the subject. Sumrall said that homosexuality is a demon that needs to be cast out. He said it gets into the person through lust. Another authority on casting out demons is Kenneth E. Hagin, who has books at www.Amazon.com, and at www.Rhema.org And so is Dr. Norvel Hayes, who has books at Amazon, and at www.nhm.cc Dr. Hayes also spoke on what to do about Cancer. The scripture reference is Mark 11:23-- "For truly I say to you, that whoever shall say to this mountain, be removed, and be thrown into the sea, and doesn't doubt in his heart, but believes that the things that he says shall happen, he shall have whatever he says." (Mark 11:23) Hayes says, "If you have Cancer, then that's your mountain, COMMAND IT TO GO." If you have Arthritis, command it to go, in Jesus' name. (This is for Christians. Don't command a mountain to go if you're not a Christian. I don't think there's any penalty for doing so, but it just won't work.) I met a man when I lived in Houston, TX. He was a neighbor of mine. He had been a partner in business with one or more others. Apparently, his partner or partners in business had cheated him out of what was rightfully his. So, he hated them, and was unforgiving toward them. I told him that if he wouldn't forgive them, God wouldn't forgive him of his wrongdoings. And the Bible says, "All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." (Rom 3:23) You don't have to fret yourself about how the people who have wronged you will get what they deserve. God says, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord." (Rom 12:19) Just leave it up to the Lord, and forgive, and go on about your life. The Lord will bless you for it. The churches have been neglecting this casting out of demons. In Mark 16:17,18, Jesus said, "And these signs shall follow those who believe, in my name they'll cast out devils, they'll speak with new languages, They shall pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it won't hurt them. They shall lay hands on the sick, and they'll recover." Notice that the very first sign following that the Lord mentioned is, "In my name, they'll cast out demons." But in my experience, it is difficult to find a church that casts out demons. There is the Hegewische Baptist Church in Highland, IN that has done some casting out of demons. But generally, Christian churches don't seem to cast out demons, as far as I can tell. On Judgment Day, there will be many Pastors who will have a lot to answer for, because at their churches, demons were not cast out. ___James chapter 1 1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes that are dispersed around, greetings. 2 My brothers, count it all joy when you fall into various temptations, 3 Knowing this, that the testing of your faith works patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, so you'll be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God for it, who gives to all men liberally, and won't find fault, and it shall be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavers is like a wave of the sea driven by the wind and tossed. 7 For let that man not think that he'll receive anything from the Lord. 8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. 9 Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted, 10 But the rich, in that he is made low, because as the flower of the grass he'll pass away. 11 For the sun has no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withers the grass, and the flower of it falls, and the grace of the fashion of it perishes, so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways. 12 Blessed is the man that endures temptation, for after he's been tested, he'll receive the crown of life, that the Lord has promised to those who love him. 13 Let no man say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God," for God can't be tempted with evil, nor does he tempt any man, 14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away by his own lust, and enticed. 15 Then when lust has conceived, it produces sin, and sin when it's finished, produces death. 16 Do not err, my beloved brothers. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, nor shadow of turning. 18 He chose to father us with the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits of his creatures. 19 So, my beloved brothers, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger, 20 For the anger of man doesn't accomplish the righteousness of God. 21 So, lay apart all filthiness and the unnecessary naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like a man seeing his natural face in a mirror, 24 For he sees himself, and goes his way, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25 But whoever looks into the perfect law of liberty, and continues in it, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. 26 If any man among you seems to be religious, and doesn't bridle his tongue, but deceives his own heart, this man's religion is for nothing. 27 Pure religion and undefiled before God the Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. ___James chapter 2 1 My brothers, don't have the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. 2 For if a man with a gold ring comes to your assembly in fancy clothes, and a poor man in dirty clothes comes in also, 3 And you have respect to him that wears the fancy clothes, and say to him, "Sit here in a good place," and say to the poor, "Stand there, or sit here under my footstool," 4 Aren't you then partial in yourselves, and have become judges with evil thoughts? 5 Listen, my beloved brothers, hasn't God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him? 6 But you have despised the poor. Don't rich men oppress you, and bring you before the judgment seats? 7 Don't they blaspheme that worthy name by which you're called? 8 If you fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, "You shall love your neighbor like yourself," you do well, 9 But if you have respect of persons, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as sinners. 10 For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. 11 For he that said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not kill." Now if you don't commit adultery, yet if you kill, you've become a breaker of the law. 12 Speak in such a way, and do, as those who'll be judged by the law of liberty. 13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that has shown no mercy, and mercy rejoices against judgment. 14 What does it profit, my brothers, though a man says he has faith, and doesn't have works? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister needs clothes, and lacks daily food, 16 And one of you says to them, "Depart in peace, be warmed and filled," but you don't give them the things that are needed for the body, what good is that? 17 Even so faith, if it doesn't have works, is dead, being alone. 18 Yes, a man could say, "You have faith, and I have works, show me your faith without your works, and I'll show you my faith by my works." 19 You believe that there is one God, you do well, the devils also believe, and tremble. 20 But don't you know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Wasn't Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22 Do you see how faith worked with his deeds, and by works faith was made perfect? 23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness, and he was called the friend of God." 24 You see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. 25 Likewise also wasn't Rahab the prostitute justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? 26 For like the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. ___James chapter 3 1 My brothers, don't be many masters, knowing that we'll receive the greater condemnation. 2 For in many things we offend all. If any man doesn't offend in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. 3 See, we put bits in the horses' mouths, so they'll obey us, and we turn around their whole bodies. 4 Look also at the ships, which though they're so large, and are driven by fierce winds, yet they're turned around by a very small helm, wherever the captain wants. 5 Even so, the tongue is a little member, and boasts great things. See how great a matter a little fire kindles! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of sin, so is the tongue among our members that it makes dirty the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature, and it is set on fire by hell. 7 For every kind of animals, and of birds, and of snakes, and of things in the sea, gets tamed, and has been tamed by mankind, 8 But no man can tame the tongue, it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless God, the Father, and with it we curse men, who are made after the likeness of God. 10 Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be. 11 Does a fountain send out at the same place sweet water and bitter? 12 Can the fig tree, my brothers, produce olive berries? Or a vine, figs? So no fountain can yield both salt water and fresh. 13 Who is a wise man, possessing knowledge among you? Let him show out of a good lifestyle his works with meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, don't glory, and don't lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom doesn't descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. 16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. 17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be reasoned with, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. 18 And the fruit of righteousness is planted in peace by those who make peace. ___James chapter 4 1 Where do wars and fightings among you come from? Don't they come from your lusts that war in your members? 2 You lust, and don't have, you kill, and desire to have, and can't obtain, you fight and war, yet you don't have, because you don't ask. 3 You ask, and don't receive, because you ask wrongly, so you can consume it on your lusts. 4 You adulterers and adulteresses, don't you know that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world is an enemy of God. 5 Do you think that the scripture says for nothing, "The spirit that lives in us lusts to envy?" 6 But he gives more grace. So he says, "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble." 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he'll run away from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double minded. 9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and cry, let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he'll lift you up. 11 Don't speak evil about each other, brothers. He that speaks evil about his brother, and judges his brother, speaks evil about the law, and judges the law, but if you judge the law, you're not a doer of the law, but a judge. 12 There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy, who are you that judges someone else? 13 Go on now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we'll go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and make a profit," 14 Actually, you don't know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is a puff of steam, that appears for a little time, and then vanishes away. 15 For you ought to say, "Lord willing, we'll live, and do this, or that." 16 But now you rejoice in your boastings, all such rejoicing is evil. 17 Therefore to him that knows to do good, and doesn't do it, to him it is sin. ___James chapter 5 1 Go on now, you rich men, cry and howl for your miseries that shall come on you. 2 Your riches are corrupted, and your clothes are moth eaten. 3 Your gold and silver are rusted, and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh like fire. You've heaped treasure together for the last days. 4 See, the wages of the laborers who have reaped down your fields, which you've kept back by fraud, shouts, and the shouts of those who've reaped have entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabbath. 5 You've lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton, you've nourished your hearts, like in a day of slaughter. 6 You've condemned and killed the just, and he doesn't resist you. 7 Be patient therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See, the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, and has long patience for it, until he receives the early and latter rain. 8 You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is getting near. 9 Don't grudge against each other, brothers, so you won't be condemned, see, the judge stands at the door. 10 Take, my brothers, the prophets, who've spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. 11 See, we count them happy that endure. You've heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord, that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy. 12 But above all things, my brothers, don't swear, not by heaven, nor by the earth, nor by any other oath, but let your yes be yes, and your no, no, so that you don't fall into condemnation. 13 Is anyone among you afflicted? Let him pray. Is anyone merry? Let him sing psalms. 14 Is anyone sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord, 15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up, and if he has committed sins, he'll be forgiven. 16 Confess your faults to each other, and pray for each other so you'll be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man is does a lot of good. 17 Elijah was a man subject to the same kind of passions that we are, and he prayed earnestly that it wouldn't rain, and it didn't rain on the earth for three years and six months. 18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit. 19 Brothers, if any of you strays from the truth, and someone converts him, 20 Let him know, that he that converts the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.