COME AND SEE #6: SIGNS AND WONDERS #2: JESUS IS THE MIRACLE WORKER
BACKGROUND TO THE STORY:
“Now after the two days He departed from there and went to Galilee. For Jesus Himself testified that a prophet has no honor in his own country.” (John 4:43-44).
CROSS REFERENCE:
“54 And when He had come to His own country, He taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished and said, "Where did this Man get this wisdom and these mighty works? 55 Is this not the carpenter's son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas? 56 And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this Man get all these things?" 57 So they were offended at Him. But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in his own house." 58 Now He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief.” (Matt. 13:54-58).
• Even though Jesus is the miracle worker, there were times He couldn’t do miracles!
• This is why we laid the foundation last week in 10 Biblical Reasons Why Healing is God’s Will Today. This would be a great CD to get, to build your faith in God’s Word.
THE BIBLE STORY:
45 So when He came to Galilee, the Galileans received Him, having seen all the things He did in Jerusalem at the feast; for they also had gone to the feast. 46 So Jesus came again to Cana of Galilee where He had made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman whose son was sick at Capernaum. 47 When he heard that Jesus had come out of Judea into Galilee, he went to Him and implored Him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. 48 Then Jesus said to him, "Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will by no means believe." 49 The nobleman said to Him, "Sir, come down before my child dies!" 50 Jesus said to him, "Go your way; your son lives." So the man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and he went his way. 51 And as he was now going down, his servants met him and told him, saying, "Your son lives!" 52 Then he inquired of them the hour when he got better. And they said to him, "Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him." 53 So the father knew that it was at the same hour in which Jesus said to him, "Your son lives." And he himself believed, and his whole household.” (John 4:45-53).
• This is one of many stories in the Gospels of Jesus healing sick people.
• Jesus is compassionate and He is willing to heal the sick!
• The result of this miracle was not just the healing, but the whole family believed in Jesus
THE BIG IDEA: There are many reasons why people don’t receive their healing from the Lord. As we look at these obstacles and overcome them, we will open the door to experience more healing in our lives.
1. UNBELIEF:
“And when they had come to the multitude, a man came to Him, kneeling down to Him and saying, "Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and suffers severely; for he often falls into the fire and often into the water. So I brought him to Your disciples, but they could not cure him." Then Jesus answered and said, "O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him here to Me." And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him; and the child was cured from that very hour. Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, "Why could we not cast it out?" So Jesus said to them, "Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.” (Matthew 17:14-20).
• Sometimes we don’t get healed because we don’t believe God’s promise of healing.
• This is why it’s important to feed on God’s Word, and read books and listen to audio sermons that will strengthen our faith!
2. UNFORGIVENESS:
“Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your sins. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your sins.” (Mark 11:24-26).
• Sometimes we don’t get healed because of unforgiveness in the heart.
3. UNCONFESSED SIN:
“Confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” (James 5:16).
• Last week we looked at the story of a sinful man who was healed by Jesus:
“Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, "See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.” (John 5:14).
• Sometimes we don’t get healed because of unconfessed sin in our lives.
4. DEMONS:
“Then Jesus called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases.” (Luke 9:1).
• Demons not only cause sickness, but they also hinder healing today.
• Sometimes it is not a matter of praying for healing, but casting out devils.
o Spirit of Infirmity - Luke 13:10-11
o Spirit of Epilepsy - Matt 17:14-15
o Spirit of Depression (Heaviness) - Isaiah 61:3
o Deaf and Dumb (Mute) Spirit - Mark 9:25
o Spirit of Blindness - Matt. 12:22
o Sickness is Demonic Oppression - Acts 10:38
5. A GENERATIONAL CURSE:
“You shall not bow down to idols nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the sins of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me.” (Exodus 20:5).
• Sometimes we don’t get healed because we need to break a generational curse first.
6. LACK OF PERSEVERANCE:
“Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart.” (Luke 18:1).
“And He said to them, "Which of you shall have a friend, and go to him at midnight and say to him, 'Friend, lend me three loaves; for a friend of mine has come to me on his journey, and I have nothing to set before him'; and he will answer from within and say, 'Do not trouble me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give to you'? I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs.” (Luke 11:5-8).
• Sometimes we don’t get healed because we don’t persevere in prayer.
• We need to P.U.S.H. in our prayers – Pray Until Something Happens!
• One time Daniel prayed and fasted for 21 days before the answer came (Dan. 10:12-13).
7. LACK OF HONOUR TOWARDS LEADERS:
“So they were offended at Him. But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in his own house." Now He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief.” (Matt. 13:57-58).
• Sometimes we don’t get healed because we don’t honour those God sends to us.
8. NEGLECTING NATURAL MEANS:
“Then Isaiah said (to Hezekiah), "Take a lump of figs." So they took and laid it on the boil, and he recovered.” (2 Kings 20:7).
• Sometimes we don’t get healed because we don’t take care of our bodies.
• God requires us to use wisdom (nutrition, diet, vitamins and exercise).
• God will use doctors and natural medicine, too.
9. A BROKEN SPIRIT:
“A merry heart does good, like medicine, But a broken spirit dries the bones.” (Prov. 17:22)
“The spirit of a man will sustain him in sickness, But who can bear a broken spirit?” (Prov. 18:14).
• Sometimes we don’t get healed because of trauma and wounds from the past.
“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, Because the Lord has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted… To comfort all who mourn… To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness.” (Isaiah 61:1-3).
• Sometimes we need to receive emotional healing before physical healing.
10. IGNORANCE OF GOD’S WORD:
“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” (Hosea 4:6).
“So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10:17).
• Sometimes we don't receive blessings because we don't know what our inheritance is!
11. LACK OF PRAYER AND FASTING:
“However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.” (Matthew 17:21).
“Is this not the fast that I have chosen: To loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, To let the oppressed go free, And that you break every yoke? Then your light shall break forth like the morning, Your healing shall spring forth speedily, And your righteousness shall go before you; The glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.” (Isaiah 58:6,8).
• Sometimes we don’t get healed because we haven’t sought God in prayer and fasting.
12. THE MYSTERY OF THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD:
“The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever.” (Deuteronomy 29:29).
• Sometimes there is no answer to the question of why we didn’t receive our healing.
• Then our response must be, as Job’s was: “The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; Blessed be the name of the Lord.” (Job 1:21).
• Our job is to pray for the sick – God’s job is to heal the sick.
• God can’t always be explained, but He can always be exalted.
CLOSING: Prayer for the sick.
Beausejour Community Church Website: www.beausejourchurch.ca
Pastor Chris Jordan’s Blog: http://pastorchrisjordan.wordpress.com/
