I Have Seen Your Tears

Let us look at Hezekiah for a moment. He became King when he was only 25 at a time when many of his subjects were idol worshippers. He spent most of his life getting people to turn back to God. He cleaned out the idols from the temple and brought worship back to Jerusalem. He ruled wisely and saved up a lot for his country. In every sense, Hezekiah was a good man. Verse 3 tells us that he walked before the Lord in truth with a perfect heart always doing the will of God. Yet, death was knocking on his door prematurely. Hezekiah had good reason to complain and be bitter with God but instead he prayed and begged God to change his mind. Hezekiah did not let the bad news take him to the grave. He was an overcomer. He probably clasped his hands and fell on his knees and went to God in prayer. I am reminded of Jesus’ words when he said “in this world you will have tribulation, but be of good courage because I have overcome this world”. Hezekiah was an overcomer and I know some of you here are overcomers too; but not all of you. Some of us do not receive because we do not ask. My friends, when all else has failed you know you can trust a faithful and loving God.

Hezekiah was broken but not defeated. He did the right thing when he turned his face to the wall, and prayed unto the Lord. He also wept bitterly. The most amazing response came from God barely minutes later when God said “ I have heard your prayer and seen your tears, indeed I will heal you”. Friends, your tears can break the heart of God. It doesn’t take long for God to respond to a tearful heart. A time is coming and I believe it is not far away when God shall wipe away every tear from our eyes; there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain. But until then we must be of good courage and fight the good fight trusting in our Lord to bring healing and wholeness to our life.

When Jesus walked this earth, many went to him and were healed. After He arose, the new testament Church continued to heal through the apostles who became the hands and heart of Jesus to a needy world. Today, God uses millions of anointed men and women to heal in his name. Our reading from James tells us that “if any of us be sick, we are to call upon the elders of the Church who will pray over us and anoint us with oil and we will be healed”. Perhaps you might say, “That sounds good, but what if I do that and nothing happens?” But let me say this - what if you do that and something does happen! I am not suggesting that you can’t be healed in the quiet of your home but I am suggesting that if you can’t trust God to do a good job while you are right here, how does it get any better in your home? In fact, Hezekiah was skeptical too and was not very sure if God had healed him, so he asked God to show him a sign. You know from the story that God proved his love to Hezekiah by moving the sun back 10 degrees.

Friends, God is willing to move heaven and earth for us if we will only receive him in faith. Hezekiah was not healed with the poultice figs but by God and likewise, the power of healing is not in your Pastor or in the rail or in the oil, but in the mighty name of Jesus! Friends, may be you have been burdened with some kind of health problem for yourself or for a loved one; may be it is a financial problem or a personal matter that has been weighing you down. May be you are in a sinful situation or relationship and you find yourself in a mess; or may be you haven’t given your life to Jesus - whatever your need, I invite you to come to the rail and be healed. God changed his mind when he saw the tears of Hezekiah. God can change his mind for you too, if you will only believe and cry out in your heart and ask for help. Just as we meet Christ through the bread and wine at the communion table, the oil is a symbol of God’s anointing and healing and when received in faith, will bring healing to your life. The rail is open and God is here, it is now up to you to come. Amen.