United Church of God

Your Responsibility in Healing, Part 2

You are here

Your Responsibility in Healing, Part 2

Downloads
MP3 Audio (10.14 MB)

Downloads

Your Responsibility in Healing, Part 2

MP3 Audio (10.14 MB)
×

Are we claiming the promise to be healed? One of God's names is "The Eternal Who Heals You". But, does God do this for anyone for any reason? How do we get sick in the first place? What is our role? What are the conditions for being healed? Let's examine these questions and see how the scriptures answer them.

Sermon Notes

These are the notes taken live during services as captioning for the deaf and hard of hearing. This is not a word for word transcript. For the exact wording, please consult the audio recording.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Do you want to be healed? No doubt we have all been sick at some point. I think this question applies to all of us. Some weeks back, I gave part 1 of a sermon titled, “The Promise of Healing Part 1”. This is part 2. There is a story about the crackers and cheese diet. In the 1920s, people crossed the Atlantic in steam ships. A man thought the meals would be too expensive. So, he packed a suitcase of crackers and cheese. He said to the steward, he couldn’t afford to eat in there. The steward explained that the meals were included. We have to get off our crackers and cheese diet. As part of our calling and our relationship with God and Christ, healing is included. It is part of our baptism. It is part of our Passover service. It is time to get off our crackers and cheese diet. Jesus Christ paid for our healing. Are we claiming the promise of healing, or are we stuck on our crackers and cheese diet. God has absolutely promised to heal you. When did you last claim that promise? God, please help me with this cold, or this body part. What is a promise? God has promised to do something for us, but what does that mean. A promise is a commitment by one person to another person agreeing to do something in the future. God has this agreement based on His calling and your baptism in which He has promised to heal us. If we get sick or have injuries or aches and pains, He agrees to heal us.

Psalm 103:1-3 We read this in part one. Let’s read it again. Vs. 2 – “Benefits” in Hebrew means promises. H1576 גּמוּל gemûl ghem-ool' From H1580; treatment, that is, an act (of good or ill); by implication service or requital: - + as hast served, benefit, desert, deserving, that which he hath given, recompense, reward. BDB Definition: 1) dealing, recompense, benefit 1a) dealing (of one’s hand) 1b) recompense 1c) benefit Part of Speech: noun masculine A Related Word by BDB/Strong’s Number: from H1580 Same Word by TWOT Number: 360a Vs. 3 – “Iniquities” is sins or transgressions. “Diseases” is any malady. H5771 עוון עון ‛âvôn ‛âvôn aw-vone', aw-vone' From H5753; perversity, that is, (moral) evil: - fault, iniquity, mischief, punishment (of iniquity), sin. BDB Definition: 1) perversity, depravity, iniquity, guilt or punishment of iniquity 1a) iniquity 1b) guilt of iniquity, guilt (as great), guilt (of condition) 1c) consequence of or punishment for iniquity Part of Speech: noun masculine A Related Word by BDB/Strong’s Number: from H5753 Same Word by TWOT Number: 1577a H8463 תּחלא תּחלוּא tachălû' tachălû' takh-al-oo', takh-al-oo' From H2456; a malady: - disease, X grievous, (that are) sick (-ness). BDB Definition: 1) diseases Part of Speech: noun masculine plural A Related Word by BDB/Strong’s Number: from H2456 Same Word by TWOT Number: 648a Spiritual healing of sin, and physical healing of illness. God wants to heal you. He can heal you. He will heal you. Exodus 15:26 God has many, many names. Let’s read about one. He signs off as “I am the Lord who heals you.” Others say “the eternal.” The name here is “Yahweh rapha”.

This is one of God’s names: The healing God. H7495 רפה רפא râphâ' râphâh raw-faw', raw-faw' A primitive root; properly to mend (by stitching), that is, (figuratively) to cure: - cure, (cause to) heal, physician, repair, X thoroughly, make whole. See H7503. BDB Definition: 1) to heal, make healthful 1a) (Qal) to heal 1a1) of God 1a2) healer, physician (of men) 1a3) of hurts of nations involving restored favour (figuratively) 1a4) of individual distresses (figuratively) 1b) (Niphal) to be healed 1b1) literal (of persons) 1b2) of water, pottery 1b3) of national hurts (figuratively) 1b4) of personal distress (figuratively) 1c) (Piel) to heal 1c1) literal 1c2) of national defects or hurts (figuratively) 1d) (Hithpael) in order to get healed (infinitive) Part of Speech: verb A Related Word by BDB/Strong’s Number: a primitive root Same Word by TWOT Number: 2196 Read these later. Exodus 23:25 Deuteronomy 7:15; 32:39 Psalm 30:2 God wants to heal you. He is in the healing business, among other things. He can heal us. He wants to heal us. But there are conditions. In Exodus, he put conditions on it. There is expectation on our part. We can’t just show up at church and expect to be healed. We have to diligently heed God and do what is right in His sight, not ours. It is all or nothing. He won’t half heal you if you half keep His commandments.

Let’s review God’s promise of healing. There are two ways to become sick. Very broad ways. But two. 1. Break a law. The law of gravity. Some other law. You will get hurt. 2. In order to show glory to God. A blind man in John 9 was sick solely for the purpose of glorifying God. Let’s look at some detail. 1. Break a law. God set in motion laws that govern the universe. Many operate around our bodies. When they are broken there is a penalty. Examples: Law of Gravity. Jump out of a second story window. You will get hurt. Objects in motion tend to stay in motion. Judy Werner totaled her car. She went into the embankment. The car came to an abrupt stop. God intervened and she walked away with just bruises. We break these laws and we get hurt. Our bodies have systems. Respiratory system. Circulatory system. Diet, exercise, and proper sleep are involved. The digestive system. Leviticus gives strict examples of foods we should not eat. If we do, we spend time curled up on the bed. God designed our bodies to process certain types of foods. He gave us those laws. Every 10 seconds, 7 people die of a circulatory sickness. 1 person dies of a digestive issue. God has set in motion these systems. When we break some sort of law, things go out of whack. These systems work in harmony. Talk to anyone with problems with one system; they will tell you how it effects others. Diabetes. High blood pressure. High cholesterol. There are things that go wrong. Sanitation laws. Deuteronomy 23:12, 15 People in Europe got sick with the plague because of disregarding these laws. There are cancers and other environmentally induced diseases.

In Mr. Armstrong’s booklet, The Plain Truth about Illness, he says, when a person is sick, he is paying the penalty of breaking some sort of law. 1 John 3:4 When a law is transgressed, a penalty has to be paid. God forgives the sin. He removes the penalty for the sin, but not the consequences. God never promised to get rid of the consequences of our breaking the law; only the penalty. 2. Glorification for God. One himself may not have broken a law. Think of Job. What did Job do wrong? Doesn’t appear to be anything. It was a challenge between God and Satan. God asked Satan if he had considered Job. Job 2:6-7 What was King Hezekiah’s sin? He was a righteous king. What law did he break? 2 Chronicles 21 What about Paul? He had some sort of illness. We don’t know what it was. 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 Paul said, “I take pleasure for Christ’s sake. Regardless of the source, he was willing to do whatever it took. John 9:1-3 Sometimes it seems we are sick for no reason at all. Like Job, King Hezekiah, Paul, and this blind man, we are sick simply to further the purpose of God in our life. There is a tremendous Passover connection. Both spiritual and physical healing. Matthew 8:16-17 Here a direct connection is made between Christ’s beaten body and healing. It wasn’t at the point of death. He took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses. Let’s read where this was quoted from.

Isaiah 53:4-7 Vs. 4 – “Griefs” is from Hebrew meaning diseases. Vs. 7 – Quote connecting these two from UCG study paper on divine healing: For this prophecy to be sited in conjunction with physical healing is significant. While there is no doubt that it means the spiritual healing, we cannot ignore the fact that it includes physical healing. He paid the price to make us whole in every sense of the word. 1 Peter 2:21-25 The spiritual application of Christ’s sacrifice is clearly noted. Our sins are forgiven by His sacrifice. We are healed by His beatings and scourgings. The primary focus here is on spiritual healing, but it doesn’t preclude physical healing. Read these three scriptures later about His scourging. Matthew 27:24-26 Mark 15:15 John 19:1 These all discuss the severe scourgings that Christ went through prior to His crucifixion. It is this that heals us physically. Remember the tremendous price He paid to make us whole. Healing is absolutely a miracle. Many of you have been healed over the years. God gave His only servant who didn’t sin to be beaten so we could be healed physically and spiritually. God never compromises on His laws or the penalties of His law. Would it be easier for God to just to remove the penalty or just prevent it from taking effect? Trick question. Neither. If He did either, He would be compromising. He will not remove the penalty. That is what Satan wants; compromise. He wants that law to be abolished. He wants to live with no restrictions and no commandments. He wants to deal with the effect and not the cause. That is what society is doing so much. Let me clarify something. There is only one sacrifice. I mentioned the scourging separate from the crucifixion. Same paper: There is only one sacrifice for sin.

Yet we read in 1 Corinthians 11 that proper understanding of the sacrifice is necessary for healing. This doesn’t divide the sacrifice of Christ into two parts. 1 Corinthians 11:23-30 Vs. 30 – RSV concludes vs. 30: “That is why many of you are weak and ill and some have died.” He relates that those who are sick have not discerned the Lord’s body. Not the blood. There is a connection between the beaten body of Christ symbolized by the bread at Passover and the healing of our body. There are two conditions to healing. We talked about the promises being conditional. There are two conditions. 1. Faith. James 5:14-15 The prayer of faith will save the sick. Faith is a requirement for healing. Without faith, the sick will be sick. Faith is definitely a requirement for healing. Hebrews 11:1 Vs. 1 – This is the definition of faith. This is an obscure passage. What does that mean? Faith is the substance of things hoped for. Faith comes before possession. Once we receive it, we no longer hope for it. I have faith that I will have dinner tonight. I hope for it. But once I have it, I no longer hope for it. Before we receive it, we have it in substance. We have the assurance that we will possess it; that is faith. Evidence of things not seen. Faith precedes the receiving of what you are asking for. Faith is the evidence before you have. Faith is the evidence that we will have it at some point. How does this apply to our topic today? God promises to heal us. But we have to have faith that He will heal us. We have hope and faith that we will be healed. But we have a cold, flu, bad back, or some ailment. But we have faith that in the future we will possess a body free of ailments. But we can’t see it or touch it now.

Read Romans 4:13-22 later. This discusses the faith of Abraham. This is what faith is. What it looks like. What it touches like. We have to have unwavering faith that we will be healed before we are healed. It is hard. We want to be healed today. But tomorrow would work today. One lady said, “I’ve tried everything else; I might as well give God a try. Will you anoint me?” I said yes, but I doubted He would hear. You have the assurance that you will be healed because you have faith that He inspired the Bible and will do what He said He would do. As humans, we want to be able to see it, hear it, or feel it. We want to use our five senses. How confident are you in your faith that you will be healed? When you are sick, you need to tell God boldly that you are claiming that promise. Hebrews 4:16 That should not be equated to demanding healing. We come with confidence. With assurance that one day in the future we will be healed. We don’t come haughty demanding healing. We need to come boldly with respect and confidence in His promise. We need to then leave it in God’s hands; that He will heal when it fits His time schedule. In severe illnesses, that is tough. When we have short-term vomiting, that will pass. But when we live with something day in and day out, that is the test. Remember the blind man?

John 9:1-3, 6-8 Vs. 8 – After the anointing, our faith must continue. It is not good enough to have faith up to that point and then when you are not healed immediately, lose all faith. How many of you would look at me funny if I spat and made mud and stuck it on whatever part of you hurt? Christ did that. This man’s faith had to continue. There was no doubt in this man’s mind. His faith did not waver. 2. Obedience. 1 John 3:22 Again, this exhortation to keep God’s commandments. It is full on obedience, not just when it is convenient. We can’t justify our lives around the commands of God. God says to do certain things. We must do them. God give us certain things, but He does it because of obedience. God can’t be around sin. When we sin, we break His commandments. God can’t be around sin. As all the sins of mankind were heaped on Christ, God the Father turned His back. If we are sinning, how does that affect our ability to be healed? It has a tremendous effect. We are not just a church-going Christian who reverts back and blends into the world later. We should stick out like a big red thumb. Like Daniel and his friends. There was no wavering in their obedience. Read later: Revelation 22:14 Acts 5:32 Matthew 19:16-17 Mark 7:7-8 We can’t be wishy-washy in our obedience. How often have you said or heard these words: “I know God can heal me if it is His will.” Is it God’s will to heal us?

Matthew 8:1-3 Vs. 2 – “I know God can heal me if it is His will…” Vs. 3 – It is God’s will to heal us. He wants to heal us. Psalm 103:3 Jesus’ pouring out of blood. His scourging. Is it God’s will to heal us? Absolutely yes. His promise to heal us is right next to His promise to forgive our sins. The man on the steamship didn’t realize the meals were included; we have to realize that healing is included. Christ paid for it and gave us the promise. Hebrews 11:13 These individuals died before they received it. Yet it was still God’s will to give them the promises. They were strangers and pilgrims. There was no attempt to blend into society. Full on obedience is what is implied. In conclusion, there is one question remaining. When? When will I be healed? I was anointed years ago, and I’m still sick. Healing is in God’s time. That might seem the preachy, easy way out. But it is true. Remember the scriptures we read in part one regarding the timing. Some immediately. Some later. Some a lot later. Some not in this lifetime. If not now, then at the return of Christ God guarantees healing. If I’m not healed does that mean I don’t have enough faith? Only you and God know the answer to that. Only you and God know what goes on in your head after the anointing. God wants to heal you. He desires it. He will give it to you. Your job is to continue and grow in faith. Don’t lose your faith in God’s promise of healing because of time. Pray that God will increase your faith. Luke 17:5 Continue to practice obedience. God may not have healed you yet, but He will. He promises. God has never, He can’t, and never will break a promise.

John 11:25-26 That is ultimate healing. It will occur in God’s time. We have our marching orders. We have to build faith and call upon the promises of healing. Press to the kingdom of God and build godly righteousness. Colossians 3:1-4 Healing is coming. It is the prayer of faith that saves the healing. Divine healing is a promise of God. We must claim it in faith. Thanks to God’s promise, you can and you will be healed.