Healing

Introduction

Pastor Duane Miller was forced to take a sabbatical for three years when a virus damaged his vocal cords, prohibiting him from talking above a whisper. Throughout his illness, he felt as though someone’s hand was around his neck. Miller was so desperate to recover his voice, he consulted over 200 doctors, including 63 specialists. All to no avail. He took a year sabbatical and his voice didn’t return, so he not only lost his voice he stepped down as lead pastor. It was hard for him to work so his wife went back to work. They were in a pit but God has other plans. I want you to hear the moment when God restored Duane's voice, which was captured in an audio recording of him teaching a Sunday School class. Ironically, he had just read Psalm 103:4-5 which says, “God redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion.” After three years in the pit, God crowned Miller with compassion, prompting him to say three words with his revitalized voice: “Thank you, Lord!”

After that miracle he went to the doctor and the doc said not only are you o.k., I can't find the voice problem at all! I listened to him give and interview with Dr. James Dobson online (the Episode will be on our Facebook after the service today) and Pastor Duane said as if a hand that was choking him for 3 years was gone! He had shared that this meeting for him was planned, he didn’t pick the scripture it was from a baptist Sunday school literature, much like we use and it just so happened that as he taught it God used that to re-enforce his message.

God is good yall!

The Text

Let's look at the Text we are going to launch from today

Mark 5:21–43 ESV

21 And when Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered about him, and he was beside the sea. 22 Then came one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name, and seeing him, he fell at his feet 23 and implored him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well and live.” 24 And he went with him. And a great crowd followed him and thronged about him. 25 And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, 26 and who had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better but rather grew worse. 27 She had heard the reports about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his garment. 28 For she said, “If I touch even his garments, I will be made well.” 29 And immediately the flow of blood dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. 30 And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone out from him, immediately turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my garments?” 31 And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing around you, and yet you say, ‘Who touched me?’ ” 32 And he looked around to see who had done it. 33 But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling and fell down before him and told him the whole truth. 34 And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.” 35 While he was still speaking, there came from the ruler’s house some who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?” 36 But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.” 37 And he allowed no one to follow him except Peter and James and John the brother of James. 38 They came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and Jesus saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. 39 And when he had entered, he said to them, “Why are you making a commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but sleeping.” 40 And they laughed at him. But he put them all outside and took the child’s father and mother and those who were with him and went in where the child was. 41 Taking her by the hand he said to her, “Talitha cumi,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” 42 And immediately the girl got up and began walking (for she was twelve years of age), and they were immediately overcome with amazement. 43 And he strictly charged them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat.

Healing then

Miracles as a sign to what God is up to

The Doctrine of God Have Miracles Ceased?

Although the Bible seems full of miracles, these events were not common during the biblical period. Of course, by definition, miracles are uncommon or “extraordinary.” But even in the biblical period, in which many miracles took place, these events were not evenly distributed over time. Many centuries went by (as from Noah to Abraham, Abraham to Moses, and Malachi to Jesus) without many miracles39 being recorded. During Abraham’s lifetime, there were theophanies and the miraculous birth of Isaac. But Abraham lived many years without seeing any miracle. For most of his life, he was made to wait, anticipating the fulfillment of God’s promise. That he was, for the most part, patient during this waiting period is one of the exemplary features of Abraham’s faith. Similarly, Moses spent forty years in the wilderness before God appeared to him in the burning bush and inaugurated a new era of miracles. So God evidently reserves miracles for special occasions, including the attestation of his messengers, as we have seen.

So while the Bible is full of them, this book has LARGE gaps of time in it, Miracles of Natural law breaking events are very uncommon.

I’ve been reading the early church to see what we can do to stand up to the rising Pagan Godlessness in our culture and I came across this:

2000 Years of Christ’s Power, Volume 1: The Age of the Early Church Fathers Section 3: The Montanists

Origen,14 who was born in AD 185 and brought up in a Christian family, stated the case thus:

There were signs of the Holy Spirit at the beginning of Christ’s teaching. Immediately after He ascended into heaven, He showed forth more of these signs; but afterwards there were not so many. Still, even now there are traces of them among a few who have had their souls purified by the Gospel.

That was a church Father Origen who said that. These gifts of the Spirit, like the gift of healing are increasingly rare in the 2nd and 3rd century of the church.

That is because the Miracles of healing pointed to salvation

Look at this text

Acts 3:1–10 ESV

1 Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. 2 And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple. 3 Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms. 4 And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.” 5 And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. 6 But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” 7 And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. 8 And leaping up, he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. 9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10 and recognized him as the one who sat at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, asking for alms. And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

Peter and John healed this lame man and it lead to amazement

But here is what happened

Acts 4:8–12 ESV

8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders, 9 if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, 10 let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing before you well. 11 This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. 12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

Even in our passage today

Mark 5:42 ESV

42 And immediately the girl got up and began walking (for she was twelve years of age), and they were immediately overcome with amazement.

The crowd was amazed

Miracles point to salvation

Healing Today

Applications

1) Prayer for healing

Praying for yourself Mark 5:28

Mark 5:28 ESV

28 For she said, “If I touch even his garments, I will be made well.”

You have permission from God to pray for yourself. (repeat that)

We see this lady she had been bleeding for years and she went to Jesus on her own. This women would have been seen as unclean because her bleeding most likely was coming from her womb. She may have been anemic.

Basically we are looking at a women with Chronic illness. Maybe you or some you know is chronically ill and the doctor says it’s irreversible. You can pray to God to do something

Another thing, maybe you feel marked unclean that doesn’t keep you from Jesus

Praying for others

Do you notice men?

Bring your petitions to the church

2) Have faith Regardless

It’s OK for you to seek medical help

3) Miracles bring you face to face with God

Jairus had to go to Christ’s face to seek his aid

The woman, though she tried to hide was brought face to face with Christ

When your at the bottom God call’s you to still see his face. Your sick he looks you in the face, your kid’s are off the rails he sees you face to face, your marriage is collapesing he see

4) For Men (and Ladies)

Look at your problems in the face.

Jairus went to Jesus with what was wrong

Jesus went to Jerusalem knowing that they were going to kill him for our sins

When Things are wrong men we need to look the problem in the face.

4) The Healing you can have now, Salvation

As we saw with the Lady