17.3.14
The God who loves to heal
Read Isaiah 61: 1 – 3. It’s great to know that as a church we have some amazing stories of break- through in healing in recent months. It feels like we are in a season of learning around healing and we can have permission to put on the L – plates (learner plates).
In looking at healing we know God is good and loves to heal us. In the Old TestamentIsrael recognises God as a healer in one of the Hebrewnames for God – Jehovah Raphe. In the New Testament we see Jesus effectively reaching out to people and many were healed. Jesus came to set people free and this includes freedom from sickness. His mission in coming and dying has freed us from sin and he has disarmed the arsenal of Satan including sickness.
When looking at healing we can draw on the evidence of Kingdom of God here now and Kingdom of God not yet to better understand what is happening.When Jesus came on earth he proclaimed the good news of kingdom of God(Luke 8: 1). He also gave his disciples authority to drive out demons, cure diseases and preach the kingdom of God (Luke 9:2). However, we see Revelation 11:15 talks of the end of the age and the kingdom of God being established at that point. This and other scriptures (Luke 11:2) suggest that the completion of the kingdom is yet to come. When the kingdom of God fully comes there will be no more death, no more sickness.
What does this mean for us today? Rather than being resigned to the kingdom of God not having fully come as our explanation for not always seeing healing, we should step out and look for opportunities to see healing as evidence of the kingdom breakingthrough,based on Jesus dying on the cross, conquering sin and sickness.
After hearing amazing stories of healing on Sunday we can confidently continue to step out as learners in the gift of healing. Here are a few practical ideas around stepping out. a.Get to know God–the God who heals. Enjoy pursuing his presence knowing all healing comes from Him. b. Celebrate healing. Get good at rejoicing when people are healed. c.Have faith. The centurion in Matthew 8.5 had faith and did not even want Jesus to come to his home;he believed a word was enough. d. Have compassion. Jesus was motivated by compassion. We see this in Matthew 9. e.Be courageous.Being courageous will lead us to take risks in the knowledge that we are loved unconditionally. f.Address disappointments. This is not easy. It can be difficult when healing does not come. Be reminded of God’s character and love for you and refuse to believe the lie that God has abandoned you. Get around community who can stand with you and pray when facing disappointment is tough.
Questions
1Which of the stories shared on Sunday stood out for you and why?
2Do you have any of your own stories of healing, or people who you know who have been healed? Share these stories.
3Have a time of singing and praying thanks giving for God’s goodness including healing.
4Do you carry disappointments about times where healing has not occurred? How can you address disappointments?
5Are there people around you who you recognise are unwell and who you want to pray for?
6Spend some time laying hands on each other and believing for healing.