Wings of Glory

The healing balm of Gilead

Scripture reading (Jeremiah 8:18-22)

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The other day in my enthusiasm to keep my wife company while she exercisesd, I joined her for a 3 km run. I have not run seriously for a number of years and the last time I ran 3 kms, was before Christmas, so when I went with her last week, I was not at all strong muscularly for it. We have been doing a lot of bike riding so I have been cycling fit, my cardio vascular fitness is there, but the muscle fitness is down for running. Well to get to the point even though I felt good the run caused my back muscles to go into spasm.

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I needed a balm. Like the healing balm of Gilead. When the people of Israel are troubled in Jeremiah 8:22, the prophet Jeremiah asks this question about the Lord’s people because of their ongoing rebellion, the healing remedies from God and the protection for His people was witheld and Israel suffered.

God in His mercy has always provided a means and materials through which people can obtain healing. If they were to be faithful instead of rebellious they would always find a solution to their problems. God would see them through. Today its the same as then. If we would be faithful God will see us through all circumstances with our faith and reward intact.

It was some 58 years that I suffered from Asthma. As a child of about two I suffered a bout of Bronchial Pneumonia which damaged my lungs and set me on a path to developing asthma. Not as bad as some, but still requiring regular medication. Never so bad to require hospitilisation, but inhalers and pills yes definitely. But then about 5 years ago a couple of friends from the Kaikohe church asked me to see them along with Heather to try their juicefasting and raw diet treatments for various ailments. After a month of being on the fast and diet my asthma cleared and I have not had a recurrence since. I asked myself a number of times, “Why did I wait so long to trust the Lord with my health?” Partial ignorance and secondarily unawareness of the value of our superb Health message. Even as a minister I am still learning to trust in the everpresent power of God in all of lifes circumstances.

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Our God is truly a great Physician. He can heal any and all of our ailments. He makes a promise to us all through the words of King David in Psalm 103:2–4 “Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; Who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; Who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies:”

I want to take you to an instance where a woman of some faith finally finds the cure to her ailments and deepend her faith. This woman takes a journey that resembles many of ours. Resembling ours ,in that we often rely on our own wisdom or others despite not having success and spending copious amonts of money and time . When we should always combine our best efforts with what God provides for us.

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Have you ever wondered at the story of the woman who had the issue of blood for twelve years. The story is found in Mark 5 and its predetrmined protocol follows the instructions found in Leviticus 15:19-30. I have included this just to remind us that the difficulties of some are not just related to a physical malady but impact our relationships too.

Mark5:25-34.

This is a powerful story which has some fascinating aspects.

Before the time of this woman we can go back into the OT and consider the promise God made in Malachi 4:2. Just before the intertestamental silence between the OT and NT.

Now coming forward to the NT we find Jesus amongst His people, the true sun of righteousness which has risen with healing in His wings. ( Psalm 84:11, Psalm 27:1, John 8:12 ) The word translated wings in the OT, is the word kenape. It is used to designate the wing of a bird but it can be used to describe the edge, skirt, hem or extremity of a garment.

Consider Mark 6:56 The word for the edge of a garment is krespadou which again means edge, hem and extrimity and is similar to the word for wing in the OT. The promise in Malachi, is to be remembered in that Jesus who is the light of God was one who rose amongst the people or if you like the sun of righteousness, who rose and he brought healing in His wings. That means that you and I with the smallest measure of faith can also reach out to Jesus with our belief in Him and He can bring healing that no-one else can provide.

But lets not stop there but consider the apostles and the healing thaat Jesus brought through His faithful servants for the gentiles and jews alike.

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Acts 5:15-16

Acts 19:11-12.

Today we can witness the reality of Gods desire to heal people both in the content of scripture and personal testimony. People who have suffered every kind of ailment from a grazed knee, to an arthritic one, from a headache to schizophrenia, from depression to evil spirit posession. From a relationship of convenience to an outright betrayal, God can help each one of us. But he cannot help those that still keep a foot in the world. Those that will not submit to him wholly. For whoever cherishes any form of rebellion is proud and arrogant thinking they know better than the Almighty. For the sin of intentional rebellion there is no mercy and there can be no healing.

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But for those that are of a pure and contrite heart the Lord can and will do much. And lets not be narrow minded when we speak of healing. Lets again call to mind that which King David wrote in the Psalm 103:2–4 “Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; Who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; Who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies:”

So whether sin, or betrayal or illness or accident or whatever it may be, God will and does bring healing of one kind or another to all of us. And when we consider the anointing service for the sick, we are always careful to remind ourselves that God brings healing as he sees fit and when he determines it. I struggled with asthma for many years perhaps 58 before he helped me find healing. But it will come and it is for everyone. So hold on friends because the Lord has more than enough balm from Gilead for us all.