Healing Church - Words Series

1. From E. Ray Clendenen, “Blessing and Cursing,” ed. Chad Brand et al., Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2003), 224.

h. To create a healing church means we commit to sharing our testimonies with others.

I. We must tell people about how we have been healed and transformed.

1. We need to tell people about our testimony and even share others’ testimony’s.

a. Revelation 12:11: “They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony…”

i. In today’s culture and society people want to hear true-to-life stories about others not just word studies or hermeneutics they want real life dramas with miracles endings.

2. They want reality life stories.

a. Share Paulleta’s story, BJ’s story, Waynes’ story – reference the New Life Testimony book.

II. They want to hear that Jesus still heals today and here is proof – look at this real-life person.

1. 1 Corinthians 5:17: 17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

T.S. – To create a church with a healing environment means we must emphasize the good news and cut out the bad news which is associated with gossip and divisionary statements. The church must guard their words!

Conclusion:

Murren states, “It’s true: A church that is consciously pursues a healing environment by encouraging optimistic, hope-filled thinking will positively affect the physical health of its members. According to scientific studies, the body’s T cells (the kind that drive the immune system) actually increase when optimistic thinking is applied. In a positive environment, the immune system works better, and overall health is approved” (177).

When love is central in the church a healing environment rolls in and it mends the broken hearts. So we must commit to do our part as the Body of Christ to see to it that our church is known as a place that brings healing and not hurt.

The church people must be committed to promoting good news and overlooking the bad news for the sake of healing in the church. Creating a healing environment starts with your words and my words.

Words matter – your words create worlds around you! It’s time to take inventory.

• Are your words reconciling or dividing?

• Are your words encouraging or discouraging?

• Are your words helpful or hurtful?

• Are your words blessing or cursing?

Do you need to put a gag order on your words?

Story from mark Batterson: “There is a Jewish story about a woman who visited a rabbi and confessed to spreading falsehoods about another person. The rabbi gave her two tasks. The first task was to take feathers from a pillow and put one at the doorstep of every home in the village. After doing this, she returned to the rabbi and said, “What’s the second task?” The rabbi said, “Go and gather up all the feathers from each of the houses.” “But, Rabbi, that’s impossible,” the woman objected. “The wind has spread them far and wide.” “Indeed it has,” said the rabbi. “To gather those feathers is as impossible as taking back the harsh words you have spoken. You would do well to remember that before you speak in the future.”