The Healing

Introduction

Anyone have a twenty dollar bill? (No, not a sermon on tithing)

Anti counterfeit measures:

Unique serial numbers printed twice on the face of the note

Raised Printing Move your finger along the note’s surface to feel the raised printing, which gives genuine Federal Reserve notes their distinctive texture.

Lower right - color-shifting number

Security thread

Watermark

Federal Reserve note paper is one-fourth linen and three-fourths cotton, and contains red and blue security fibers. 

small printed text USA20 along the border of the first three letters of the blue TWENTY USA ribbon to the right of the portrait and THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 20 USA 20 in black in the border below the Treasurer’s signature.

*It has these features to authenticate itself and let you know it’s real.

However, other than these cool features, what is money really?

up until 1971, paper money was backed by gold

*Paper money pointed to the real thing of value.

Paper Currency - authenticates itself and points to something of greater value.

Same is true of a miracle - it authenticates itself in that it is a rare event, but it also points to something else of real value.

Walk through this passage then I’d like to give some truths about healing that might answer some common questions I hear when we examine a passage like this.

first of fourteen physical healings recorded in the book of Acts.

Acts 3:1-10

3 Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour.

2 major times of prayer at the temple

3pm

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.

‘Lame from birth’ - been like this forever - all he knows.

‘laid daily’ - this was the usual - in the midst of the usual God is about to the most unusual

laid at Beautiful Gate because that is where the most worshippers would go in - get most alms.

Pointing Backward - All brokenness and suffering is a result of sin.

Romans 5:12

12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—

All of Jesus’ miracles were either to directly confront and reverse the brokenness caused by sin or to show his power over creation.

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.

‘What could have been simply the occasion of mechanical charity is turned into a personal encounter’

I Howard Marshall

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!”

Pointing Inward - Our greatest need is not physical.

What was the man expecting? Money for his pocket - perhaps one meal - instead, God wanted to give him strength for his legs - a changed life.

What are you expecting form Jesus?

Sometimes we are more concerned about getting what we expect than looking to God to see what wants to give.

P and J endgame is to have this man led to worship

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.

Pointing Upward - The power of miracles points people to Jesus.

Just like a 20-dollar bill has features that authenticate it, healings and miracles authenticate God’s work

Jesus was still at work.

‘in the name of Jesus’

‘leaping up’

Isaiah 35:4 -5

4 Say to those who have an anxious heart, “Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you.”

5  Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; 6  then shall the lame man leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute sing for joy.

Even though we know God can heal it does not mean he will do it immediately.

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.

Pointing Outward - Jesus works through his followers to heal people’s deepest need.

Who were the ‘they?’

They were the religious of the day! They ‘believed’ in the God of miracles or so they said they did.

ILLUST - favorite part of singing or talent competitions is watching the judges become surprised when someone ordinary-looking does something extraordinary. I imagine those who knew the person well so it as ordinary - If we are stunned that God would be able to do a miracle, what does that say about our relationship and knowledge of him?

11 While he clung to Peter and John, all the people, utterly astounded, ran together to them in the portico called Solomon’s. 12 And when Peter saw it he addressed the people: “Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk? . . . 15 and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. 16 And his name—by faith in his name—has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all. . .

19 Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, 20 that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, 21 whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago.

The greatest need we all have is to be healed spiritually - to have our broken relationship with God due to our sin healed by Jesus.

Is 53 - “By his stripes we are healed”

physical needs are important - not a cop-out to only point to spiritual healing, but neither can we negate the ULTIMATE hope of healing that salvation brings

21 whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago.

The lame leaped - when was the last time you leaped?

The healed holler - you’ve been healed spiritually - are you leaping?

What if we as a church became known as a ‘place of healing?’

People knew the brokenness of the world could be fixed here?

What would that take?

honesty

openness

prayer

expectation

leaping

We know the Jerusalem church was already a mega church (more than 3000)

We know they met regularly in the Temple as well as their homes

We know this lame man was regularly at the Temple.

How many times did a Spirit-filled follower of Christ step over this man before one of them offered him healing?

Jesus works through his followers to heal people's deepest needs.

Some truths about healing:

This man may have seen Jesus

Others who marveled at this man may have had a limp to get there. There are many who struggle with the thought, “If God can heal, why doesn’t he?”

There is a lot I do not understand about why God chooses to heal some and not others. But there are a few things I DO understand:

A lack of healing does not always indicate a lack of faith. 

Paul

Spring Valley COG

However, rarely does healing take place without any faith

"The reason is this: faith glorifies God. Faith points us away from ourselves to him. Faith turns us away from our own power and resources to his. Faith says, "Lord, I am nothing and you are everything. I entrust myself to your care. I cling to you alone. My confidence is in your word and character no matter what happens.”” - Sam Storms. (https://www.samstorms.com/all-articles/post/why-god-doesnt-always-heal--2-cor--12:8-10-)

Faith is not something we use to make God move. Faith by definition is an admission cannot move without God. 

A lack of healing does not always indicate the presence of sin in one’s life.

However, we know there is a correlation between the confession of sin and healing.

James 5:13-16

13 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed.

A lack of healing may indicate a lack of desire to be healed. 

John 5:5-6

5 One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be healed?”

Why would Jesus ask him if he wanted to be healed? Seems a silly question.

Jesus was asking if he understood that a change would happen - he could no longer be a victim.

ILLUST - Brooks and his leg falling asleep. Was unwilling to step with his leg after resting it for fear of it not supporting him. Would rather continue as a victim then test the changes of healing.

However, a desire to be healed is not an indication we WILL be healed.

Does it take greater faith to trust God in comfort or trial?

The real question is, do we desire more to have great faith or have great comfort?

A lack of healing does not always indicate a lack of prayer.

King David prayed for his son, but his son died anyway.

However, rarely does healing take place without humble, persistent prayer and even fasting.

James 4:2 -3

2 You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.

“This kind only comes out with prayer and fasting"

Persistent widow

Luke 18

18 And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.

A lack of healing does not always indicate a demonic presence.

Not looking to blame or ‘find a demon under every rock.'

However, demonic affliction should not be overlooked.

it is interesting, is it not, that in Paul's case God used "a messenger of Satan" to inflict the thorn.

There is also the case of the woman in Luke 13 "who had a disabling spirit [or, a spirit of infirmity] for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not fully straighten herself" (Luke 13:11). According to Jesus, "Satan" had "bound" her (Luke 13:16; see also Acts 10:38).

Must be remembered, though, that demons are simply leashed dogs of our Creator. They can only affect what he allows.

A lack of healing never indicates that God does not see or care.

“Yet while we pray, we must attend to a critical distinction: although God can heal us, we must never presume that he must.”

Kathryn Butler, If God Doesn’t Heal You

Instead, a lack of healing may indicate God cares more about our faith and spiritual growth than he does our physical health. 

Holiness over health.

It is not necessarily the case, but if God offered you the choice of having perfect faith and knowledge of God or perfect health, which would you choose?

This may indicate we either have an improper view of the greatness of God and heaven or an improper bent of our heart toward our selves and comfort. 

ILLUST - I would gladly give my life and comfort if it I knew it would have a direct result on the physical health or safety of my children (jumping in front of a car, fighting off an attacker, running into fire, etc). Would I do the same if I knew the giving of my life or comfort would have a direct result on the spiritual health or safety of another? (#fullydevoted) We are promised that that IS the case (Rom 8:28) 

Conclusion

The beauty of the gospel is that when you are suffering and you bring it to Jesus, you either lose it or use it.

2 Corinthians 12:7-10

7 So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Dr. Dorsey:

David taught Old Testament at Evangelical Seminary for 34 years, from 1979 until his retirement in June, 2013. He authored two significant books, The Roads and Highways of Ancient Israel (Johns Hopkins, 1991), and The Literary Structure of the Old Testament (Baker, 2004). David wrote dozens of articles for various scholarly and popular journals, Bible encyclopedias, Bible dictionaries, and archaeological encyclopedias. He served on the translation team that produced the New Living Translation. He also served as the founder and curator of the seminary’s Pense Archaeological Museum and was a beloved professor to several generations of students. Every other year he conducted study tours to Israel, helping students from Evangelical experience the Holy Land first hand. He spoke regularly at churches, retreats, camps, and seminars.

had debilitating disease for decades

unknown disease

almost died once a year

honest about his pain yet joyful through it.

I often thought his illness limited him

at his funeral I saw it empowered him.

Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

This person, who suffered more than most, showed me Jesus more than all.

Pray for Healing. Expect Grace.