Jehova Rapha = the LORD that healeth
This title is used more than 60 times in the Old Testament
It literally means to RESTORE, to HEAL, or to CURE; refering to the physical, the emotional, the spiritual, and in some instances, even the moral.
Ex. 15:26
26 And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee. (KJV)
26 y dijo: Si oyeres atentamente la voz de Jehová tu Dios, e hicieres lo recto delante de sus ojos, y dieres oído a sus mandamientos, y guardares todos sus estatutos, ninguna enfermedad de las que envié a los egipcios te enviaré a ti; porque yo soy Jehová tu Sanador. (RVG04)
Ps. 6:2,3
2 Have mercy upon me, O LORD; for I am weak: O LORD, heal me; for my bones are vexed. (KJV)
2 Ten misericordia de mí, oh Jehová, porque yo estoy debilitado; sáname, oh Jehová, porque mis huesos están conmovidos. (RVG04)
3 My soul is also sore vexed: but thou, O LORD, how long? (KJV)
3 Mi alma asimismo está muy turbada: y tú, Jehová, ¿hasta cuándo? (RVG04)
Emotional---I am weak
Physical---my bones are vexed
Spiritual---my soul is in anguish
I. Give Honest Recognition to Your Hurts
-You may try denial, but the pains will continue and not go away
-You may try to busy yourself more, but you will run out of energy and still hurt.
-You may try pills and antedotes that only cover up the hurt temporarily.
ADMIT and CONFESS
If you will not be honest with yourself, then you will only become more ill.
Pointing the finger at others who are weak or failing will not make you any stronger.
Come to the point where you can say---"It's me, it's me, it's me, O Lord, standing in the need of prayer"
II. Get the Right Treatment for the Source of Infirmity
You wouldn't go to the candy store to get your vehicle repaired. You wouldn't make a dentist appointment to get a hearing aid.
So don't ask the church to pray for your headache, when your real dilemna is that your marriage is on the rocks.
Why do people try to camaflouge their real problem.
III. Getting to the Root of the Problem
On the surface it may look physical.
It may be bitterness
Heb. 12:15
15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; {fail...; or, fall from} (KJV)
15 Mirad bien que ninguno caiga de la gracia de Dios; no sea que brotando alguna raíz de amargura, os perturbe, y por ella muchos sean contaminados; (RVG04)
You will feel all out of sorts until you can forgive and go on. You may have to forgive yourself first.
Jesus paid the price for that as well. He also gave us a great example of not holding a grudge. You may not be able to change the person who you feel has wronged you or hurt you, but you can change your own attitude about the situation.
IL.: A MILLIONAIRE DESPISED HIS NEIGHBORS AND DECIDED TO SELL OUT AND MOVE. HE OFFERED HIS PROPERTY TO EACH NEIGHBOR FOR A CERTAIN SUM OF MONEY. BOTH OF THEM WANTED TO BUY IT, BUT AT A REDUCED PRICE. SO HE DECIDED TO BUILD A SMALL ORDINARY HOUSE ON THE PROPERTY TO SPITE THEM. HE COULD NOT STAND THE HOUSE, BUT HE CONTINUED LIVING THERE, THINKING THAT IT WAS HURTING THE PRIDE OF HIS NEIGHBORS MORE THAN IT WAS AFFECTING HIM.
It may be fear.
Luke 21:26
26 Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. (KJV)
26 desfalleciendo los hombres a causa del temor y expectación de las cosas que vendrán sobre la redondez de la tierra; porque las potencias de los cielos serán conmovidas. (RVG04)
It may be the guilt of that secret (hidden) sin.
Ps. 90:8
8 Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret sins in the light of thy countenance. (KJV)
8 Pusiste nuestras maldades delante de ti, nuestros pecados secretos a la luz de tu rostro. (RVG04)
It will weigh on you and wear you away, trying to live that hypocritical life.
James 5:14-16
14 Is any sick among you? 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: (KJV)
14 ¿Está alguno enfermo entre vosotros? Llame a los ancianos de la iglesia, y oren por él, ungiéndole con aceite en el nombre del Señor. (RVG04)
15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. (KJV)
15 Y la oración de fe salvará al enfermo, y el Señor lo levantará; y si hubiere cometido pecados, le serán perdonados. (RVG04)
16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. (KJV)
16 Confesaos vuestras faltas unos a otros, y rogad los unos por los otros, para que seáis sanados. La oración eficaz del justo, puede mucho. (RVG04)
Ps. 34:18
18 The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. {unto...: Heb. to the broken of heart} {of a contrite...: Heb. contrite of spirit} (KJV)
18 Cercano está Jehová a los quebrantados de corazón; y salvará a los contritos de espíritu. (RVG04)
IV. Avail yourself to the Ready Resource
Jer. 8:22
22 Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there? why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered? (KJV)
22 ¿No hay bálsamo en Galaad? ¿No hay allí médico? ¿Por qué, pues, no se ha restablecido la salud de la hija de mi pueblo? (RVG04)
Israel was hurting in a big way. They were infected with many types of sin and troubles.
This balm or "balsam" was a derivitive of the resin drawn from a turpentine tree, believed to have healing virtues. The question of this verse is rhetorical, due to the fact that Gilead was a place where there was an abundance of balsam and many physicians had set up their practice in that area.
The problem was/is that the people of God failed to use what God made available.
Isa. 53:4-6
4 ¶ Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. (KJV)
4 Ciertamente llevó Él nuestras enfermedades, y sufrió nuestros dolores; y nosotros le tuvimos por azotado, por herido de Dios y abatido. (RVG04)
5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. (KJV)
5 Mas Él herido fue por nuestras rebeliones, molido por nuestros pecados; el castigo de nuestra paz fue sobre Él; y por su llaga fuimos nosotros curados. (RVG04)
6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. (KJV)
6 Todos nosotros nos descarriamos como ovejas, cada cual se apartó por su camino; mas Jehová cargó en Él el pecado de todos nosotros. (RVG04)
1 P. 2:24
24 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. (KJV)
24 Quien llevó Él mismo nuestros pecados en su cuerpo sobre el madero, para que nosotros, siendo muertos a los pecados, vivamos a la justicia; por las heridas del cual habéis sido sanados. (RVG04)
Isaiah said "were healed" and Peter said "are healed". The prophet wrote some 750 years before Christ was even born as a babe. Peter is speaking after the fact.
Thus, we see that God has provided healing that is definitely available for us today.
Healing is the childrens' bread.
The blood of Jesus was shed for the sins of humanity.
The stripes on His back were for our healing. That healing power is much broader than we can comprehend. Whether it be physical, mental, psychological, moral, or otherwise; Jesus cared enough to provide your healing.
Don't carry that load unnecesarily. If you believe, you shall receive.
