Jehovah Rophe Series

Revelation 22:17 "The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life."

But in God’s wisdom and economy there is a priority list

- Getting right with God comes first. (and getting right with others)

- The healing of the Spirit

- Then the healing of the mind. Peace! How often is that mentioned in the Bible? 365 times!

- The body.

- Because that does matter to God!

- They needed a DRINK, here! God knew that

- Look at all of the physical healings of Jesus

And so all get healing of the spirit. 100%. Ask God to be forgiven, restored to Him and it will be yours! "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved" (Acts 2:21).

- But physical and psychological healing often flows from that.. or comes directly

- But, in it’s complexity, sometimes it takes time… sometimes it does not come until death

- All Christians get healed 100%. And it’s not to be feared. It’s when we get taken to be with the Lord

Illustration: Rob Lacey. I read back over some of my notes from my Nigeria visit-and I went with a number in mind. Tony. Rob.

- I remember visiting Rob and praying for him, thinking I’d be at his funeral. But found faith rising up within me. Had an incredible healing. Wrote "Why me". So used! But now it’s back. Maybe he’s done his job? The respite/remission has fulfilled its purposes. Maybe God will glorify Himself? (I hope so- one way or another!)

- But he’s ready for it. (Schizoid is his poem, up here at front)

JESUS

But wanna know if God is for healing? You?

- Look at Jesus.

- WWJD? - He’d heal.

Look to Him. Have confidence. Look to the cross

- In closing, in a moment, I’ll read Isaiah 53

Do what YOU can.

- Come to Him.

- Confess. Get right. Look after yourself.

But there ARE times when we say "How I need you, Lord, you are my only hope!"

- Will you be Jehovah Rophe to me?

- In fact… we say that to Him first.

Isaiah 53:3-6 "He was despised and rejected by men,

a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering.

Like one from whom men hide their faces

he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely, He took up our infirmities,

and carried our sorrows,

yet we considered him stricken by God,

smitten by him, and afflicted.

But he was pierced for our transgressions,

he was crushed for our iniquities;

the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,

and by his wounds we are healed.

We all, like sheep, have gone astray,

each of us has turned to his own way;

and the LORD has laid on him

the iniquity of us all.

_________

Schizoid

A poem by Rob Lacey

Sometimes I’m the apostle Paul thinking I can rationalise it all

But falling into poetry when it all gets too much for me.

Asking three times to get the all clear,

To get a thorn-ectomy; get the pain out of here.

Getting the answer I don’t want to hear:

About letting grace prove that it’s enough,

About getting weakness to do its stuff.

About knowing I’ve not got Strength sewn up,

About showing off about being shown up.

Then I’m switching role, like I’m the old man John