Jeremiah 8:22 - Is there no ebalm in Gilead, Is there no physician there? Why then is there no recovery for the health of the daughter of my people?
Introduction
We are living in a time in which millions of people are exploring alternatives to traditional Western Medicine. This has been called an “holistic health explosion”. We realize, of course, that traditional Western Medicine is very valuable and, for most of us, when we get sick, it is the first place we turn to. It is a gift from God, and we thank God for the dedicated persons who serve their fellow human beings through the practice of traditional Western Medicine.
But, today, millions and millions of people are exploring a growing list of alternative healing methods: Bio Feedback, Autogenics Training, Kenesiology, Acupuncture, Guided Imagery, Bio Energetics, Reflexology, Stress Management, Gestalt Therapy, Therapeutic Touch, Homeopathy, Naturopathy, Macrobiotics (and that’s just a partial list.).
Many people are finding help in some of these alternative healing methods. But people are discerning, more and more, that the actual healing is in none of them. They can remove some of the obstacles to healing. They can help to evoke it, but the healing itself is in the power of God through the blood of Christ.
1. THERE IS HEALING RIGHT HERE AT THE CHURCH
God’s question to is People (Israel): Is there balm in Gilead?
1.Balm was a healing salve or ointment used to treat wounds and diseases
2.Gilead was a place in Israel where healing balm was produced in great abundance; many physicians set up there practice there because it was such a great source of balm
The answer to this question then is, “Yes there is a balm in Gilead. Yes, there are physicians in the land." The problem was that Israel had failed to use what God made available. Today the Church is God’s people and we are failing to understand that there is healing available as we pray and claim the blood of Jesus over our lives.
Matthew 4:23-25
23 Jesus traveled throughout Galilee teaching in the synagogues, preaching everywhere the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed people who had every kind of sickness and disease.
24 News about him spread far beyond the borders of Galilee so that the sick were soon coming to be healed from as far away as Syria. And whatever their illness and pain, or if they were possessed by demons, or were epileptics, or were paralyzed–he healed them all. 25 Large crowds followed him wherever he went–people from Galilee, the Ten Towns,* Jerusalem, from all over Judea, and from east of the Jordan River.
2. HEALING IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF CHRIST’S MINISTRY.
Jesus was teaching, preaching, and healing. These were the three main aspects of his ministry.
a.Teaching shows Jesus’ concern for understanding;
b.Preaching shows his concern for commitment;
c.Healing shows his concern for wholeness.
His miracles of healing authenticated his teaching and preaching, proving that he truly was from God.
Jesus can heal any sickness and he is here today! Are you ready for your healing?
3. JESUS WANTS TO HEAL BOTH PHYSICAL AND SPIRITUAL SICKNESS.
Jesus preached the gospel-the Good News-to everyone who wanted to hear it. The gospel is that the kingdom of heaven has come, that God is with us, and that he cares for us. Christ can heal us, not just of physical sickness, but of spiritual sickness as well.
here’s no sin or problem too great or too small for him to handle. Jesus’ words were good news because they offered freedom, hope, peace of heart, and eternal life with God.
4.FORGIVENESS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT GIFT GOD CAN GIVE US.
Matthew 9:1-8
1 Jesus climbed into a boat and went back across the lake to his own town.
2 Some people brought to him a paralyzed man on a mat. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “Take heart, son! Your sins are forgiven.”
3 “Blasphemy! This man talks like he is God!” some of the teachers of religious law said among themselves.
4 Jesus knew what they were thinking, so he asked them, “Why are you thinking such evil thoughts?
5 Is it easier to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven’ or ‘Get up and walk’?
6 I will prove that I, the Son of Man, have the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, “Stand up, take your mat, and go on home, because you are healed!”
7 And the man jumped up and went home!
8 Fear swept through the crowd as they saw this happen right before their eyes. They praised God for sending a man with such great authority.
The first words Jesus said to the paralyzed man were “Your sins are forgiven.” Then he healed the man. We must be careful not to concentrate on God’s power to heal physical sickness more than on his power to forgive spiritual sickness in the form of sin.
Jesus saw that even more than physical health, this man needed spiritual health. Spiritual health comes only from Jesus’ healing touch.
Both the man’s body and his spirit were paralyzed-he could not walk, and he did not know Jesus. But the man’s spiritual state was Jesus’ first concern.
If God does not heal us or someone we love, we need to remember that physical healing is not Christ’s only concern. We will all be completely healed in Christ’s coming kingdom; but first we have to come to know Jesus.
Most of us think of healing as “getting rid of the disease.” It’s like running the clock of life backwards and restoring the person to their previous state. But healing is a very broad concept that involves coming into a right relationship with God first and foremost. Then it touches every part of life -- body, soul, and spirit. It involves the healing of all broken relationships and brings us to a place where we can receive God’s blessings in a new and powerful way.
CONCLUSION
There are 3 Kinds of prayer in what concerns healing
James 5:13-16
13 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms.
14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.
15 And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.
16 1Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
1.First, we are to pray for ourselves in verse 13: “Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray…”
2.Second, we are to call for the elders of the church when we are really sick in verses 14-15: “Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him…”
3.Third, we are to pray for each other in verse 16: “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed…”
Disclaimer: I made this sermon from my own study and notes and researching messages and studies from many sources. If you made a sermon similar to this one this may be a coincidence but if you think there is any copyright infringement please feel free to contact me. God Bless!
