WHAT THE SCRIPTURES SAY ABOUT HEALING

INTRODUCTION:

        Today’s homily will consist primarily in reviewing what the Scriptures teach about Healing.

          With little comment.

1  -  THE SCRIPTURES TEACH THAT OUR HEALING WAS PART OF JESUS’ ATONING WORK.

          a. This was foretold by the Prophet Isaiah. 

                   Chapter 53: 3 He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.  And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.

                   4 Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.
                   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.

          b. NT writers connect the prophecy to the work of Jesus.

                   Matt 8: 16  When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick.

                   17  This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: "He took up our infirmities and carried our diseases."

          c. The words of the Apostle Peter sound almost like a paraphrase of Isaiah.

                   1 Peter 2:23-25 …when He was reviled, (he) did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously;

                   24 who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.

                   25 For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

2  -  THE APOSTLES ANOINTED WITH OIL WHEN HEALING THE SICK.

          1. Mark 6:12, 13  (The Disciples) went out and preached that people should repent.  They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.

          Note: I have found no record of Jesus anointing with oil. 

          But the disciples did so, while Jesus was healing w/o using anointing oil.

          So where did the Apostles get the idea?

          2. Anointing was an intricate part of Jewish holy history and ritual.

                   Ex 29: Aaron and his sons were anointed with oil to consecrate them to priestly ministry.

                   1 Sam 10, Samuel anointed Saul, later David, King

                   Numerous references to Tabernacle/Temple rites both in the wilderness journeying and in the Temple in Jerusalem

3  -  FAITH PLAYS AN IMPORTANT ROLL.  

          1. In the person seeking healing. 

                   Matt 9: 20 …a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak.                      21She said to herself, "If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed."  

                   22Jesus turned and saw her. "Take heart, daughter," he said, "your faith has healed you." And the woman was healed from that moment.

          2. The skepticism of the community plays a part. 

                    Matt 13: 54 Coming to his hometown, (Jesus) began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. "Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?" they asked.

                   55 "Isn't this the carpenter's son? Isn't his mother's name Mary, and aren't his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas?

                   56 Aren't all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?"

                   57 And they took offense at him.  But Jesus said to them, "Only in his hometown and in his own house is a prophet without honor."

                   58 And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.

4  -  ALL AREN’T HEALED (St. Paul’s thorn in the flesh)

                   Gal 4:  13 As you know, it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you.

                   14 Even though my illness was a trial to you, you did not treat me with contempt or scorn. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus himself.

                   Gal 6:11 See what large letters I use as I write to you with my own hand! (Chronic eye disease?)

5  -  HEALING IS NOT ALWAYS INSTANTANEOUS. 

          Mark 8:22-25

                   - Jesus spat on the man’s eyes, touched them.

                             Q, Do you see anything?

                             Answer, I see men as trees walking

                   - Jesus put touched the eyes again.

                             Then the man’s eyes were opened and his sight restored. 

6  -  WE HAVE A PART TO PLAY IN OUR HEALING

          John 9:1-7  (Clay and spittle event)

                   a. Sickness not always a direct result of personal sin.

                   c. We have a part to play in our healing:

                             - Go to a certain place (Pool of Siloam)

                             - Get water in his hands

                             - Wash his eyes.

                             - Our part is to believe and obey.

7  -   ST. PAUL URGED PRACTICAL STEPS ALONG WITH FAITH. 

          I Tim 5:23  Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses.

                   JEHOVAH-ROPHE, the God who heals, is one of the many names God calls himself in the Hebrew Scriptures.

                   God heals in a variety of methods (medicine, diet, faith, etc.)

                   Illus: I saw my primary care physician Friday, Friday.  I told him about this service, and said, “George, God heals in many ways.  He has also used you to heal me."

8  -   THE APOSTLE JAMES INSTRUCTED IN THE METHOD OF ANOINTING WITH OIL AND THE LAYING ON OF HANDS.

          1. James 5:  

                   13 Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise.

                   14 Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord.

                   15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven.              16Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

          2. Yet, all is subject to the will of God.  Made clear in chapter 4.

                   (i.e. why all aren’t healed)

                   James 4: 13 Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money."   15 Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that."

APPLICATION

          1. You will receive something from your obedience in this matter: a grace, a spiritual blessing.

                   BECAUSE No obedience to God’s word is ever wasted.

                   Illus: An email pen pal wrote: “over the years I’ve anointed with oil and they all died.  Now I am totally embarrassed before God, to even try it again.”

          I wrote back: your humility in this is admirable, but we pray for the sick because the Scriptures tell us to...not as bait and switch, not to draw a crowd, but in obedience to God.       

           Because no obedience to Holy Scripture is ever wasted.  Those who come forward will receive something, some grace, some spiritual or physical result.  In coming forward they will be  drawn closer to God, and that obedience will be a powerful testimony to their trust in God and his word. 

          Also, there are other healings that are important, and sometimes the “other” healings are a necessary first step in the physical healing.  It isn’t about the minister.  It is about God.  He is the healer. 

          2. What are some of the “other” healings that are important?

                             Unforgiving heart

                             Angry spirit

                             Emotional distress

                             Persistent Depression

                             Anxiety

                             Broken relationship

                             Impatience

CONCLUSION

                   We will invite you to come for the Anointing with Oil and the Laying on of Hands.

                   We will trust God to give the healing that is according to his will.