pathoflifedevotions Devotions, March 18

March 13 “Healing”

Healing

Signs and wonders followed Jesus as He taught and preached in the synagogues throughout Galilee.
Every kind of sickness or affliction departed the victims at His touch or His command. This kind of thing cannot be kept quiet. His fame began to spread throughout Galilee bringing multitudes to find Him wherever He might be. The news spread even to Syria where sick people and those tormented by demons and others plagued with diseases came to Him and were healed. Even those whose minds were defective and those who were paralyzed found sanity and mobility at the command of Jesus. All the while, He was preaching the Good News, calling for repentance, and teaching about the New Covenant to come. Attendance at the synagogues broke all records when He was scheduled to be there.

Healing and the Gospel
Today some believe that such Divine Healing somehow escaped this world when the Apostles died out. It is true that no one has walked this earth with healing in his wake the way Jesus did. Still, He promised that we would continue His work in the world. He even said that we would do greater things than He did. This is beyond my ability to explain, so I just believe it.

The preponderance of Scripture indicates that it has always been God’s plan to heal the sick as the Gospel is preached.

  • Isaiah predicted that the cruel stripes on Messiah’s body would be for our healing.
  • Malachi prophesied that The Sun of Righteousness would arise with healing in His wings.
  • In Mark when Jesus gave the Great Commission, He said signs like healing the sick would follow those who preached the Gospel.
  • Plural “gifts of healing” are mentioned in Paul’s marvelous list of spiritual gifts for public worship.
  • James even tells us how to pray for the sick by anointing them with oil as the elders of the assembly pray.

Is this all for show? Is it just for the cameras? Sometimes it is faked but God doesn’t need actors and Divine Healing is not theatre. As the old time Pentecostals used to say, “Healing is the children’s bread.” Two great purposes arise for Divine Healing:

  1. To ease the suffering of the sick because God loves us and cares for us and,
  2. To confirm the reality of the Gospel. “Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today and forever!”

What about those who are not healed when prayed for?
Divine Healing is not always instantaneous. God uses time, medicine, rest, and good life habits to heal—it is all His work. We must be careful to see His hand in all of these methods and to give Him glory for His faithfulness.

When we see someone go to the grave with their illness when countless prayers have gone up in their behalf, we are puzzled and our hearts break. One such couple lost their only daughter to leukemia. Before she died she shared with her mother the answer to this dilemma:

“God heals everyone. Some of us He takes to heaven first.”

Great Multitudes
The crowds continued to grow and not just from Galilee but from the politicized south–Jerusalem, Judea—and even beyond the Jordan. Soon a crowd gathered on a mountain to hear the most famous sermon ever preached.

Matthew 4:23-25
And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people. Then His fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments, and those who were demon-possessed, epileptics, and paralytics; and He healed them. Great multitudes followed Him — from Galilee, and from Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan.
Isaiah 53:5
But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.
Malachi 4:2
But to you who fear My name The Sun of Righteousness shall arise With healing in His wings;
Mark 16:15-18
And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
John 14:12-14
“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.
1 Corinthians 12:4-11
There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.
James 5:14-15
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.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank You for Your healing power. In Your name we can ask for healing and expect a touch. The cruel stripes on Your back were put there to heal our sicknesses and diseases. I know that Your healing is a surety, even if You take us to heaven first. No one on the other side is sick or lame or blind or impaired in any way. Help me be a healer in this world as You walk in me in joy and strength. Thank You, Lord Jesus! Amen.

Song:
The Healer
Words and Music: Lois Irwin

1. On the Cross crucified
In great sorrow my Saviour died.
Oh the Giver of so much life was He.
Yet my Lord was despised and rejected of men
Oh this Jesus of Calvary

Refrain:
He was wounded for our transgression
He was bruised for our iniquities
Surely he bought our sorrows
And by His stripes we are healed.

2. Price for healing was paid
When those cruel stripes were made
Within Pilate’s judgment hall.
Now His suffering affords Perfect healing for all.
This wonderful Healer is mine.

Refrain

3. He has healed my sick soul
Made me every whit whole
And He’ll do the same for you.
He’s the same yesterday and today and for aye
This Healer of men today.

Refrain

Semper Reformanda!
Stephen Phifer

© 2018 Stephen R. Phifer All Rights Reserved

TheJesusStory devotions are also found at KingdomWinds.com.
pathoflifedevotions Devotions, January 18

January 13 “Jairus”

Jairus

Not all of the religious leaders were hostile to Jesus.
Jesus took the boat and crossed back over to the side opposite the country of the Gadarenes who had rejected Him. When he landed a crowd was waiting for Him. In the crowd was a leader of the local synagogue named Jairus. He had watched with great interest the ministry of Jesus in his town. The healings were undeniable. The displacement of demons was remarkable. The teachings of Jesus rang true in Jairus’ deep understanding of the scriptures concerning Messiah.

His interest in Jesus went deeper than events and theology. His 12 year old daughter was ill and at the point of death. Jesus was her last hope. Despite his lofty position in the community, Jairus was desperate for what Jesus could do. Before that huge crowd, he fell at His feet crying,

“My little daughter lies at the point of death. Come and lay Your hands on her,
that she may be healed, and she will live.”

The people knew Jairus. He was no extremist; he was a careful man. His desperation and his faith in Jesus became the focus of the multitude as Jesus went with him toward his home.

An Interruption
On the way, a woman who was wasting away from a 12 year blood disease somehow pressed through the crowd and touched the hem of the robe Jesus wore. At that moment, healing virtue flowed from Jesus into her frail form and she was healed. She had summoned the strength to brave the crowd, saying,

“If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.”

She did and she was! Jesus stopped, asking who had touched Him. The disciples rebuked such foolish question—the whole crowd was jostling Him! When the woman stepped up, she too fell at His feet and worshiped Him, confessing that she was the guilty one. Gently lifting her to her feet Jesus replied,

“Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.”

While he was speaking, word came that Jairus’ little girl had died. The man’s broken heart broke again and he collapsed at Jesus’ feet. Lifting Jairus to his feet Jesus said,

“Do not be afraid; only believe.”

When they arrived a Jairus’ house, the mourners were there making the noise of grief.

“Why make this commotion and weep? The child is not dead, but sleeping.”

The mourners ridiculed Jesus so He put them out of the house. Taking Peter, James, and John with Him, Jesus entered the house. He bent over the little girl and breathed a command to her,

“Little girl, I say to you, arise.”

She did exactly that.

12 Years in the Making
12 years before this moment a little girl was born and a woman contracted a blood disease. Their stories were not at all connected until Jesus, rejected by one community, came to their town. Now forever their stories share a page in the Jesus Story.

Who can say what miracles are in the making for us? No one knows what tomorrow may bring. Some of us may suffer from long-term, debilitating circumstance. What we must see is this: Jesus is here among us! Let us call out to Him again and press through the circumstances around us. He has the touch we need.

Scriptures:
Mark 5:21-43
Now when Jesus had crossed over again by boat to the other side, a great multitude gathered to Him; and He was by the sea. And behold, one of the rulers of the synagogue came, Jairus by name. And when he saw Him, he fell at His feet and begged Him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter lies at the point of death. Come and lay Your hands on her, that she may be healed, and she will live.” So Jesus went with him, and a great multitude followed Him and thronged Him. Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years, and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse. When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment. For she said, “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.” Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction. And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that power had gone out of Him, turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched My clothes?” But His disciples said to Him, “You see the multitude thronging You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?'” And He looked around to see her who had done this thing. But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth. And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.” While He was still speaking, some came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?” As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, He said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not be afraid; only believe.” And He permitted no one to follow Him except Peter, James, and John the brother of James. Then He came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and saw a tumult and those who wept and wailed loudly. When He came in, He said to them, “Why make this commotion and weep? The child is not dead, but sleeping.” And they ridiculed Him. But when He had put them all outside, He took the father and the mother of the child, and those who were with Him, and entered where the child was lying. Then He took the child by the hand, and said to her, “Talitha, cumi,” which is translated, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” Immediately the girl arose and walked, for she was twelve years of age. And they were overcome with great amazement. But He commanded them strictly that no one should know it, and said that something should be given her to eat.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, I call out to You today and I know You will respond. You are with me in my home in Your healing power. In the marketplace, I will press through this moment, the crowds, the spiritual opposition, anything that comes between us! I will touch the hem of Your garment and Your healing virtue will flow to me this day. Lord, I believe! Amen.

Song:
Only Believe
Traditional

Only believe! Only believe!
All things are possible, only believe!
Only believe! Only believe!
All things are possible, only believe!

Jesus is here! Jesus is here!
All things are possible. Jesus is here!
Jesus is here! Jesus is here!
All things are possible. Jesus is here!

Lord, I believe! Lord, I believe!
All things are possible. Lord, I believe!
Lord, I believe! Lord, I believe!
All things are possible. Lord, I believe!

Semper Reformanda!
Stephen Phifer

© 2018 Stephen R. Phifer All Rights Reserved

TheJesusStory devotions are also found at KingdomWinds.com.