The Power of Healing

Saturday September 11, 2010

Today's Passage: 2 Chronicles 7:14
Memory Verse:  Matthew 8:6-7, 13 - Hosea 14:4

The Abundant Life Ministries staff and family would like to take this time to offer our thoughts and prayers to the victims and survivors of the 9/11 tragedy.  "We will always remember!"

Pastors Chad & Antoinette Willis

Hello Td Nation!  I pray you had a prosperous week in the Lord.  I also pray that every broken place in your life is being healed as you pursue God with all your heart.  In fact, let's talk about healing.  What is healing?  How does something get healed?  To heal is to make healthy, sound; or to restore to health.  This is what takes place in the body when its touched by God.  When the Roman captain came to Jesus in Matthew 8:6-7 (Mess.), he told Jesus his servant was sick.  He said he couldn't walk and was in terrible pain.  Jesus responded to him and said "I'll come and heal him".   Any ailment we submit to the power of God can be healed.  But there's an element that has to be noted.  Jesus told the captain "I'll come".  However, the captain had a remarkable revelation.  He told Jesus he believed Him to be a Man of authority.  Being an authority figure himself, he believed if Jesus would just "order" it, it would be made so.  Jesus tells the captain in verse 13, "Go. What you believed could happen HAS happened".  The servant was healed at that moment because the captain believed.  He maximized his time with Jesus with faith, not whining,or begging, or bartering.  When we have a need to be healed, we must have this mentality.   We must believe that healing takes place "because He said so".  Standing firm on who we know God to be will go along way for our faith and health.

The second meaning for healing is to free from evil; cleanse, or purify.  Most of us don't think healing takes place when we give our lives to the Lord, but it does.  In Hosea 14:4, God says "I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely, for my anger has turned away from him".  When we give God control of our lives, He has to take all the broken pieces and make something fresh, new, and useful.  Think about it.  When we live lives that displease God, its usually because we've not been healed from something in our past.  It's not just the physical hurt.  God knows emotional pain is just as significant.  The third and final meaning of healing is to bring to and end or conclusion; to reconcile.  This particular description goes beyond anything we can see or understand.  For instance, in 2 Chronicles 7:14, God says "If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves, pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from Heaven, and will forgive their sin and HEAL their land".   God wants us to understand this life is not about us, its about Him.  He also wants us to stop being so non-chalant about or values and stand for holiness and righteousness.  When we do this, He'll bring an end to the things that cause us to suffer.  He'll bring us back to His heart even if He has to end this world to do it.  Don't you want to live in a country that honors God and His standard for life?  Or do you wish to live in a Godless nation that prides itself on casting morality away all for the sake of "freedom"?  This country belongs to God, so we as Christians should want to keep it that way.  Well, its not going be what God intended it to be until God's people sincerely seek Him.  So pray for healing today.  Pray that healing comes into our bodies, our lives, and our land.

Prayer:  Lord I submit myself to You for Your healing power.  Not only do I desire to walk in health, I also want to live holy and righteously before You.  I want my life to represent You and You only.  Heal us Lord.  Heal our hearts, and heal our land....in Jesus' name, Amen.