Wednesday, July 16, 2008

The Power of God to Heal: Part 2

Gtcotr/ws071608

Key Scripture: 1 Peter 2:24 who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.

The reason healing is an important a part of the covenant we have with God is because there is such need.

When sin entered into mankind and separated man from right relationship with God, death became a reality and every man’s destiny. Man became a natural man instead of a spiritual man. What causes the natural death of all natural men?

Death is the result of a deteriorating natural process of life. This deteriorating process we see and feel in our ever aging bodies can be called sickness and disease. Some people are genetically resistant to many sicknesses and diseases and others take excellent care of their body … but no one, not even those who are genetically superior or physically fit will escape the law of God that says every one will die. And unfortunately for many, death will be the result of some sickness, some accident or disease. Some die healthy but not many and yet death will happen even to the best and most spiritual of us.

2 Kings 13:14 Now Elisha was fallen sick of his sickness whereof he died. And Joash the king of Israel came down unto him, and wept over his face, and said, O my father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof.

However, there is supernatural intervention available. Not to say that some will escape death, oh no, all will die, but we can defeat sickness and disease in this life because Jesus paid the price for our healing. It is a part of the covenant gift of God for every believer.

This covenant provision of divine healing is often experienced through the grace of God and visited upon us even when we are not aware. God’s goodness spills over upon His children and those in need and He blesses both the just and the unjust, daily loading us with benefits while He perfects that which concerns us.

However, there are times when we need to directly petition God to access the healing provisions of His covenant due to discovering that we are being attacked by some sickness or disease. Once an enemy of God gets root in a person’s life it can be a battle to get it out. We can fight that battle by our faith and the spiritual weapons of war.

As with any conflict, especially one which has the potential to destroy the quality of life or life itself, defeating the onslaught of sickness and disease can be a serious matter. In order to successfully maneuver this particular battleground it is extremely helpful if we have confidence in our approach. Thank God that He has not left us without strategy. Knowing the will of God gives us confidence.

To bolster that confidence lets look at His will together from scripture and lay a foundation with God’s Word. God has provided healing for His children and we can gain confidence in our approach.

Exodus 23:25 "So you shall serve the LORD your God, and He will bless your bread and your water. And I will take sickness away from the midst of you.

Deuteronomy 7:15 "And the LORD will take away from you all sickness, and will afflict you with none of the terrible diseases of Egypt which you have known, but will lay them on all those who hate you.

Exodus 15:26 … "If you diligently heed the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the LORD who heals you."

Greek: rapha' raw-faw'

AV-heal 57, physician 5, cure 1, repaired 1, misc 3; 67


Psalms 103:3 Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases.


One of my favorite passages in the whole bible is:

Isaiah 53
4 ¶ Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted.
5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.

Our Key Scripture is a quote from this passage:

1 Peter 2:24 who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.

The New Testament continues to reveal God’s will and intent through Jesus.

The Gospel of John begins by telling us that Jesus was with God in the very beginning and that He took upon Himself the image of mankind so that He might reveal the Father to us. Later Jesus responded to His disciple’s request for Him to show them the Father by telling them that if you have seen Him, you have seen the Father.

Jesus declared in:

John 14:10 "Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works.

The New Testament continues to give us confidence concerning the will of God to provide healing to His children. Scriptures such as:

Matthew 4
23 ¶ And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people.
24 Then His fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments, and those who were demon-possessed, epileptics, and paralytics; and He healed them.

Luke 4:40 Now when the sun was setting, all they that had any sick with divers diseases brought them unto him; and he laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them.

Luke 6
17 And He came down with them and stood on a level place with a crowd of His disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem, and from the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear Him and be healed of their diseases,
18 as well as those who were tormented with unclean spirits. And they were healed.
19 And the whole multitude sought to touch Him, for power went out from Him and healed them all.

Matthew 8:8 The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.

The reality tonight is that Jesus has shown us the Father and His compassion. God is easily touched with the feelings of our infirmities and has made provision for our healing.

The very best thing we can do is to begin putting a hedge of protection around us and our family by sowing seeds of divine health from God’s Word. Faith in God and confession of His Word will build a barrier against the enemies which desire to destroy your life. Confidence in God’s will gives us the edge we need to destroy the devil’s attempts to destroy our life & quality of lie.

Once an enemy breaks through, we must stand against him by faith.

Other Notes:

The lame man’s friends brought him to Jesus
And when they had knowledge of Jesus they came to Him
They came to hear and to be healed

I. The Reason Jesus Came (1 John 3:8b)
II. The Power of Confession (Romans 10:1-17)
III. Some Get It, Some Don’t (Mk 16:15-20)
IV. The Window of Opportunity (Mt 13:10-15)
V. Power Over All (Matthew 10:1)
VI. Spirits of Infirmity ((Lk 13:10-17)
VII. Laying On of Hands (Acts 28:1-10)
VIII. Sin (John 5:14 & 1 Corinthians 11:30)
IX. Health (Pro 26:2)
X. Finally
2 Corinthians 13:11 Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.
Ephesians 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
Philippians 3:1 Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe.
Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
2 Thessalonians 3:1 Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you:
1 Peter 3:8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: