Monday, August 17, 2009

The Healer

Jesus asked,
"Do you believe I am able to do this?"
"Yes, Lord," they replied.
"Because of your faith, it will happen."
And suddenly they could see! Matthew 9:28-30
You gotta believe!
"If you study the healing ministry of Jesus in the Gospels,
a recurring pattern emerges —
again and again,
Jesus looked to see if the sick person was showing faith to be healed.
Healing is "according to your faith." Matthew 9:28-30
Jesus had all the faith and healing power necessary, even to heal blindness.
There were no questions, no doubts, in His mind about His ability to heal these two blind men.
The variable was not Jesus' faith,
but the faith of the men desiring to be healed.
And when Jesus had determined that they did indeed have faith in His healing power,
He cured them of their blindness.
This same pattern is seen in the ministry of the apostle Paul.
A lame man was listening to Paul preaching the Gospel.
During this sermon, Paul looked directly at him,
saw that he had faith to be healed
and called out, ‘Stand up on your feet!’
At that, the man jumped up and began to walk". Acts 14:8-10
Did the apostle Paul have the "gifts of healing"? 1 Corinthians 12:9
Apparently so.
But the healing did not occur until the lame man himself "had faith to be healed."
Therefore,
it is urgent that we grow in faith to be healed.
Jesus’ apostles understood the importance of this.
Luke 17:5 The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith!"
Romans 10:17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Faith grows as we focus on Jesus the Healer.
Acts 9:34 records the apostle Peter ministering healing to a lame man.
He simply said to the paralytic,
"Aeneas,... Jesus Christ heals you."
Matthew 8:2-3 A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said,
"Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean."
Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man.
"I am willing," he said. "Be clean!"
Immediately he was cured of his leprosy.
"I am willing," Jesus said.
Let His own words establish the fact that it is His will to heal!
Psalm 103:2-3 Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits
who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases...
Faith for healing grows as we realize that Jesus has provided
both the forgiveness of our sins and the healing of our diseases.
1 Peter 2:24 ...by his wounds you have been healed.
Faith for divine healing grows as we remember that from God’s standpoint,
healing is already DONE — "You have been healed."
Matthew 8:16-17 "...Jesus healed all the sick.
This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:
"He took up our infirmities and carried our diseases."
Matthew 4:23-24 Jesus went throughout Galilee
healing every disease and sickness among the people.
Jesus’ will to heal includes YOUR sickness!
He healed "every disease and sickness."
1) Remember that faith comes by hearing God’s Word.
2) Focus on Jesus the Healer.
3) Remember His words to the man who was uncertain about Jesus’ will to heal: "I am willing."
4) Don’t forget the salvation benefits of forgiveness of sins and healing of sickness.
5) Remember that Jesus "took up our infirmities and carried our diseases." Don’t you carry them a minute longer!
6) Any affliction you have can be healed — Jesus healed "every disease and sickness."
7) And thankfully, "Jesus Christ is the SAME yesterday and TODAY and forever". Hebrews 13:8
Jesus healed His people 20 centuries ago, and He is still the same — He will heal you today!" Have an AWESOME DAY! Love you all, Jason