SUBJECT: The three Witnesses
I was taught many years ago that we can use these scriptures as witnesses to our healing according to the Old Testament (Exodus 23:25) where God promised His people healing. Isaiah, Matthew, and I Peter 2:24 are our witnesses.
Isaiah 53:5 (Old Testament)
"But He was woundedfor our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed."
God still works to heal people in ways that defy medical knowledge. It is never wrong to pray for healing, either for ourselves or others. The Bible tells us to pray for whatever we need, and that surely includes freedom from pain. But healing does not always occur, even to the most loving, God-centered people. Why not? We don't know, but according to Jesus in the Bible, lack of faith. But the Bible does promise us that if we are not healed in this life, there is something greater awaiting us afterward. "O LORD, you alone can heal me; you alone can save. My praises are for you alone!" Jeremiah 17:14 "I will give you back your health and heal your wounds, says the LORD." Jeremiah 30:17. We can be healed if we believe!
Matthew 8:17 (New Testament)
". . . that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: "He Himself took our infirmities, and bore our sicknesses."
We read right past that phrase without thinking about it, but when you pause on it there is a peculiarity to it. What exactly does that mean?
I want to stop and think about it for a moment. - In what sense did He receive our sickness? In what sense did He bear our diseases? - We usually think of the work of Christ on the cross in terms of spiritual impact. We don't think of it usually as far as sickness and disease. Before He went to the cross He was beating with many stripes for our healing.
This happen in the stripes which the stripes caused blood to flow! It was a two-fold coverage!
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
Jesus apparently not only died for spiritual sin, but also took the physical implications of sin upon Himself. - Isaiah 53:3-5, 10-12; Matthew 8:17.
- This chapter up to here has focused on physical healings and spiritual healings:
a.) vv. 1-4 – Physical healing of leprosy.
b.) vv. 5-13 – Physical healing of paralysis.
c.) vv. 14-15 – Physical healing of fever.
d.) v. 16 – Spiritual healing of demons.
e. ) v. 16 – Physical healings of "all the sick."
The repeated focus has been on physical healing. It is following those statements that this verse is quoted, so the focus is clearly on physical healing. We also see this as we study the passage that Matthew quotes from, (Isaiah 53):
a.) v. 4 – This is the quoted verse from the passage in Matthew 8.
b.) v. 3 – He was familiar with suffering.
c.) v. 5 – This is a more traditional thought, having to do with our sinfulness.
d.) v. 12 – He bore the sin of many.
e.) v. 10 – This suffering was the Lord's will. Why? It was the only way to bring our healing!
f.) v. 10 – His suffering will prolong our lives. How long? Eternal life.
g.) v. 11 – After the suffering, He will see the light of life and be satisfied.
I Peter 2:24 (The Epistles)
"Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed."
I have did some research on the internet, and that was not a good ideal. I was so surprise to see how many Christian organizations did not believe in healing ministry today. They believe that was year ago, and God do not heal today, and they believe these scriptures are only talking about a spiritual healing; WOW!!! I read so much of this that it is unbelievable to read their unbelief and come against faith-healing ministries. This is coming from Christian-science/medical science. They are working together on this, just as the Pharisees/Sadducees worked against the apostles in biblical days.
It is the very thing Satan wants to happen to this generation. He wants everyone to believe God don't heal anymore. But I say, God never change nor do His Word (Malachi 3:6; Psalm 15:4). Christian Science are saying there are too many Christian dying today due to not being healed, but that is because some just don't have the faith, or some just want to be with the Lord. We are sure why some Christians dye today without healing! The bible says it's a lack of faith in God's Word. Jesus had to teach and teach and teach to get the Word in those who were healed. Disbelief is the problem.
Let's talk more about the difference between Spiritual and Physical healing now:
Spiritual Healing:
First, let's look at how we became spiritually dead; we were separated from God.
Genesis 2:17 (KJV)
17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
Genesis 3:3
3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.
Genesis 3:22-24:
And the Lord God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever: 23 Therefore the Lord God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.
Isaiah 61:1 King James Version (KJV)
61 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
God sent Jesus to restore us back to Him. Romans give us information on this; (Romans 8:11; 6:23; 8:6.) Read Psalm 41:4, Proverbs 8:36, Isaiah 53:5; 1:5, Ezekiel 18:20; Malachi 4:2; Jeremiah 8:22; 3:22, Hosea 6:1, Micah 1:9, Mark 2:17, Luke 4:18, James 1:15; 5:20, Revelations 21:8; 22:2.
Spiritual Blindness:
There is a physical blindness and a spiritual blindness. Spiritual blindness is when you can't see the things of God; God is a spirit and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and truth. Let's read (John 3:3, Matthew 15:14; 23:19, 6:23, 2 Kings 6:17, Isaiah 59:10, 2 Corinthians 3:3;3:14; 4:4 Ephesians 4:18, 1 John 2:11.
Spiritual Eyes:
John 3:3 ESV
Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God."
Soul:
Our souls need to be saved and this is a spiritual revival for the soul. We need to be forgiven by God. This is spiritual blindness.
Physical Healing:
Listen to this, "we are a spirit that has a soul who lives in a body."
Bodily Infirmities:
Diseases and other infirmities are put upon God's people by Satan himself because of sin. God has promised us His healing power by the laying on of hands or just speak in faith to these issues. Infirmity is an unsound or unhealthy state of the body; weakness or feebleness. (Luke 7:21).
Physical Blindness:
Apostle Paul was blinded by God so he could see the light of God's glorious gospel. This is a physical blindness, (Acts 9:8; 13:11). God allowed this to happen, so Paul could be born-again by the Spirit of God (spiritually).
Laying on of Hands:
Mark 6:5; 7:32; 16:18, Luke 4:40; 13:13, Acts 28:8
Health Promised:
Read Exodus 15:26; 23:25, Deuteronomy 7:15, Psalm 103:3, Proverbs 4:22, Psalm 107:20, Isaiah 53:5, Jeremiah 30:17, Matthew 8:17.
Isaiah 53:1 (KJV)
53 Who hath believed our report? And to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?
If man gives you a report which is contrary to the word of God, "let God be true and every man a liar" (Romans 3:4). "Blessed are those who do not follow the advice of the ungodly, but delight in the law of the Lord (Psalms 1:1-3).
Abraham was convinced that what God promised, He was also able to perform.
A lot of people may advise you to do things contrary to God's word. For example: Believing that a certain kind of sickness is incurable. In Romans 4:17-21, Abraham did not consider his body or the deadness of Sarah's womb, but he believed the report of the Lord saying "so shall your seed be." Abraham was convinced that what God promised, He was also able to perform. God's report says, by the stripes of the Lord Jesus you are healed (Read Isaiah 53:1, Isaiah 53:4-5, Peter 2:24); the world's report says cancer is incurable; HIV is incurable, sugar diabetes incurable and all of the others. Whose report will you believe?
PRAYER:
Glory to God in the highest! God, You are to be praised. We worship You always and forever. We are Your witnesses! We will share Your works to all men. Glory to God! Help our unbelief, Lord. Help us to know in our hearts the difference between spiritual and physical healing, so we can have both in Jesus' name. Father God, there are so many people who need to know the truth about Your Word as to healing is still for us today. Bless those who want it for themselves, who want healing in their bodies, souls, and spirits. This we pray in Jesus' name. AMEN.
CONFESSION:
The Lord is taking away from me all sickness. His Word contains the ability to do what it says. His Word will not return void but will accomplish what it was sent to do. The Lord is taking away from me all sickness, every trace of weakness and deficiency. Sickness is going out of me now. Thank You, Father, for taking away from me all sickness like You said. Sickness is a sign of the power of the devil. I trample on all the power of the devil. I trample on disease. I stomp on disease. I tread every evil underfoot. The Lord Jesus Christ Himself gave me authority over all the power of the enemy. I have authority over sickness. Sickness, I trample on you! I tread on you! I stomp on you! Get out, get out, get out! You have no right to dominate me. Get out of my body in Jesus' Name. Sickness and disease are under my feet because it says in Ephesians 2:6 that I am seated with Christ above all the power of the enemy.
Read John 5:1-9:
"1 After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 2 Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches. 3 In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water. 4 For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had. 5 And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole? 7 The impotent man answered him, Sir I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me. 8 Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk. 9 And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath."
QUESTIONS:
1). Explain the three witnesses.
2). Explain Isaiah 53:5.
3). Explain Matthew 8:17.
4). Explain 1 Peter 2:24.
5). Whose report will you believe?
6). What is lack of faith?
7). Read Jeremiah 17:14 and Jeremiah 30:17
8). In what sense did Jesus receive our sickness?
9). In what sense did Jesus bear our diseases?
10). What is spiritual healing to you?
11). Read Malachi 3:6 and Psalm 15:4
12). What is spiritual death?
13). Explain what you know about the spirit, soul, and body.
14). Read this lesson confession for as long as God's Spirit led you.
True/False:
1). Spiritual blindness is when you can't see the things of God. ____
2). Physical blindness is when you can't see the things in the natural realm. ____
3). Whosoever means: adverb. at all; in any case; of any kind; in any way (used with generalizing force after who, what, when, where, how, any, all, etc., sometimes separated by intervening words): Choose what thing soever you please. ______
4). Jesus came to heal all who believe. ____
5). If we don't believe we shall surely die both spiritually and physically. ____
Reading Assignment: Sunday-Saturday Matthew and Luke
THEME SONG: God's Life, Nature, and Ability
I've got the life of God in me
I've got the life of God in me
I've got His life His nature and His ability
I've got the life of God in me
God bless you and keep you,
Evangelist Claudia Jordan
https://plus.google.com/communities/109037404889561052022
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