healing

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Sickness and the Bible.

Sorry for the delay. I was sick all night with some kind of stomach ailment – perhaps food poisoning. It was enough to keep me from going to work and, later, sleep with socks on, both are unusual for me.

The Bible has quite a bit to say about sickness.

In the Law it says,

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. Ex 23:25

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, Deut 7:15

And while it seems that God wants to protect His people from sickness. For this to happen it appears the people would need to serve Him with all their heart, mind, and soul; to follow His commandments and statutes, which did not happen.

Sickness knows no bounds and affected kings, priest, and prophets alike.

Elisha had become sick with the illness of which he would die. 2 Kings 13:14

Elisha did die.

Hezekiah was sick and near death. Isa 38:1

Hezekiah did not die at this time but would fifteen years later.

Jesus was well known for preaching and teaching the Gospel to the people and

healing every sickness and every disease among the people. Matt 9:35

And while there is a gift of healing through the Holy Spirit, it is evident that not everyone receives healing.

There was the infirmity of Paul, which he sought three times for God to remove. And there was a man that Paul also did not heal.

Erastus stayed in Corinth, but Trophimus I have left in Miletus sick. 2 Tim 4:20

Sickness is a part of life and I believe sickness is a result of bacteria, viruses, impurities, and sin.

My sickness was through violating some food law and eating spoiled meat. Did I know this at the time? No, had I, I would never have eaten it.
Yet I feel that God has delivered me from this sickness.

by whose stripes you were healed. 1 Peter 2:24

Probably the best part about being sick, if there is one, is my wife anointing me with oil and praying over me for healing.

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Seeing Clearly

Then He came to Bethsaida; and they brought a blind man to Him, and begged Him to touch him. So He took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the town. Mark 8:22-23

All of us know someone that needs healing. Despite some of my infirmities, there are others that need healing more than me. That’s not to say that I would turn down a healing.

But the healing of this blind man is a lesson for all to learn.

And when He had spit on his eyes and put His hands on him, He asked him if he saw anything. Mark 8:23

Don’t get caught up in the spit. I’ve read and heard a lot of things about this – things like spittle was considered medicinal or that it was used to moisten the eyelids, which may have been stuck together because of natural eye secretions that hardened over time.

To set your mind at ease, Jesus could have had the man use his own spit on his own eyes.

Nevertheless, he was asked what he saw.

And he looked up and said, “I see men like trees, walking.” Mark 8:24

It’s true the man was no longer blind!
Neither can he really see.

It’s a reality that exist today – people not blind but not clearly seeing.

Far too often Christian’s close their eyes to many things – the poor in need of food or shelter, the prostitute or addict in need of a loving friend, a child in need of authority, and even God!

God’s own people can have their eyes wide open and not see clearly the gifts of the Spirit, the miracles of God, or the outpouring of grace available to everyone.

Then He put His hands on his eyes again and made him look up. And he was restored and saw everyone clearly. Mark 8:25

Only a touch of Jesus can open your eyes and give you real sight.
Only a touch from Jesus can allow you to see what was always right in front of you.

I do not see all that is of God but I see more than I use to!

I can repeat the same words of the old hymn Amazing Grace, which reiterate the words of another blind man,

One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see. John 9:25

Abba, open my eyes that I may see You more clearly in all things. In Jesus name, YES&AMEN

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Remove the boundary of sin!

Sin can be embarrassing. There are things you do that you just don’t want anyone to know about.

You create a boundary that holds in sin. You believe it is safe. You believe it is secret. No one knows.

God knows. His word tells you what to do with it.

James 5:16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

God says you shouldn’t bind yourself to that sin but loose yourself from it.

The confession of sin is one of the hardest acts you will ever do. I know because I have done it before. I discovered that God’s promise of healing far outweighed my fear of embarrassment.

One other thing I’ve noticed. Confession of sin will loosen others to also confess.

Don’t keep things to yourself – no matter how embarrassing.

If your marriage is haven’t problems share it with your church. If you’re addicted to porn, it’s embarrassing but confess and start healing. If you can’t control your mouth then confess it and start healing.

I know this may step on some toes but one thing I just don’t understand is the unspoken prayer request. In my opinion it sounds like something embarrassing. I’m not saying just blurt it out. Use some discretion and get some healing.

Abba, Your word is healing. Following all that You say is meant to heal and complete me. Teach me Your ways, in Jesus name, YES&AMEN

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Dog

Matt 15:26 He answered and said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.”

I remembered being called a dog. I was in the fifth grade or so. I didn’t like it. Though dogs are wonderful creatures and can be very loving and useful – being called a dog is not a compliment.

It’s hard to imagine Jesus saying something like this. But this was a Canaanite woman and perhaps it is in reference to the curse of Noah on Canaan. (Gen 9:25)

Despite the fact that she is Canaanite, she has done what very few of the children, that is, the Jews have done – she came and worshipped Him. (vs 25)

Her response was not one of rebuke or anger. She did not get mad and argue back. Perhaps her answer is in reference to the promise given to Abraham that all the nations would be blessed through him. (Gen 18:18)

She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.”(vs 27)

She persisted in faith believing that Jesus was the only answer for her problem.

And He was. And He is!

No matter who you are faith in Jesus is the answer to your problems and your prayers.

Abba Father, even dogs are precious in Your sight. You have given salvation to everyone that comes by faith in Jesus’ name. YES&AMEN

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Always Hope with Prayer

Matt 9:18 As Jesus was saying this, the leader of a synagogue came and knelt before him. “My daughter has just died,” he said, “but you can bring her back to life again if you just come and lay your hand on her.”

What faith this dad had! You know he has to be very distraught that his only daughter has died – she is daddy’s little girl Continue reading →

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No Fear

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Luke 8:35 – A crowd soon gathered around Jesus, and they saw the man who had been freed from the demons. He was sitting at Jesus’ feet, fully clothed and perfectly sane, and they were all afraid. Continue reading →

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Giving Up!

ephphathaMark 7:33, 35 – Then, spitting on His own fingers, He touched the man’s tongue. Instantly the man could hear perfectly, and his tongue was freed so he could speak plainly!

If a doctor with a 100% reputation for healing said he could heal you but would have to spit on your tongue – would you let him? Continue reading →

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Trial for Life

Refining-GoldSo be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while.
These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold Continue reading →

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The Fullness of God

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I have always tried to be open to the Holy Spirit. If God ask me to do it, I wanted to do it.
Truthfully, God can have you do some really strange things. Continue reading →