The Need for Healing Feb 01 09
The Need for Healing
Sunday, February 01, 2009
Acts 9:32-43
Introduction: Over the last several weeks we have talked about Acts chapter 9—specifically we talked about the need for both persecution and peace—that as witnesses of the Lord Jesus, which is our primary role as Christians, we need to have times of persecution and peace in our life so that we will become effective witnesses. This morning, I would like us to look at the need for healing—and healing and its relationship to our being witnesses for the Lord Jesus Christ. Is physical, emotional, and spiritual healing important to God? The answer is a resounding—YES. Healing is mention over 150 times in the Bible. The Gospel accounts tell us that Jesus went about healing every affliction and disease (Matthew 9:36). Those same accounts tell us that Jesus gave his disciples….. “authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction.” (Matthew 10:1, ESV)
The Prophet Isaiah speaking of Jesus the Messiah said, “Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53:4-6, ESV) The Hebrew word (rapa) for healed means “to make healthy, to heal.” One of the Old Testament names of God is healer (Exodus 15:26—“I am the Lord, your healer.”)
This morning as we look at the healing of Aeneas in Act 9—we recall Peter’s words from his 1st Epistle, “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed (made whole, cured, healed).” (1 Peter 2:24, ESV) Let’s look at Peter’s account of that healing in Acts 9 beginning in verse 32,
“Now as Peter went here and there among them all, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda. There he found a man named Aeneas, bedridden for eight years, who was paralyzed. And Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; rise and make your bed.” And immediately he rose. And all the residents of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord. Now there was in Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which, translated, means Dorcas. She was full of good works and acts of charity. In those days she became ill and died, and when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room. Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, urging him, “Please come to us without delay.” So Peter rose and went with them. And when he arrived, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood beside him weeping and showing tunics and other garments that Dorcas made while she was with them. But Peter put them all outside, and knelt down and prayed; and turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. And he gave her his hand and raised her up. Then calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive. And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. And he stayed in Joppa for many days with one Simon, a tanner.” (Acts 9:32-43, ESV)
It is pretty clear to me that healing of Aeneas and the raising of Dorcas from the dead served several purposes: Aeneas received a healing from paralysis and because of his healing, everybody in Lydda and Sharon turned to the Lord. Dorcas, a woman full of good works and acts of charity, is raised from the dead and many believed in the Lord.
Does God want to heal? Yes. Does He heal? Yes. Healing is a witness—gives opportunity for those who have not turned or believed in God to turn to him, to believe in Him. Healing is also the mercy of God. God loves us—he wants us whole.
James gives us some guidance in praying for healing,“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. 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. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” (James 5:14-16, ESV)
“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. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 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.” (James 5:14-16, NKJV)