Healing 4 November 14, 2012 Dr. Mike Fogerson
A Jesus told us that His church/disciples would do greater things than He did during His healing ministry.
1 How do we release healing in today’s church?
2 Mark 3.1-6 (One of Jesus earliest healings)
1 He entered again into a synagogue; and a man was there whose hand was withered.2 They were watching Him to see if He would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse Him.3 He said* to the man with the withered hand, "Get up and come forward!"4 And He said* to them, "Is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the Sabbath, to save a life or to kill?" But they kept silent.5 After looking around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, He said* to the man, "Stretch out your hand." And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored.6 The Pharisees went out and immediately began conspiring with the Herodians against Him, as to how they might destroy Him. Mark 3:1-6 (NASB)
a The setting was the synagogue at Capurnium (equivalent to the church house today)
aa Jesus had been here many times, so had the man with the withered hand.
bb Had the man missed previous opportunities when Jesus had ministred?
b The man’s condition is of significance.
aa The hand represents authority/ability.
bb “Withered” (perfect passive, GK) means the man’s hand had been injured by something done to this man. (Tragic event, attack)
cc He had not always been without the use of his hand!
c There had been good times in the past when he could hold his wife, play with his kids, take care of things around the house.
aa Now the hand just hung useless by his side.
bb He was the victim of some act that was not his doing. (Wasn’t his fault)
B Notice, although life had been “unfair” he had not given up on God! (Worship & Faith)
1 Lesson one: Healing often takes place where the people of God are gathered!
2 Lesson two: Healing only happens when Jesus Christ’s presence is experienced.
a We experience His presence today spiritually.
b And through the power of the Holy Spirit.
3 Lesson three: Healing may require public exposure of the need.
a Jesus asked this man to stand up in the middle of the congregation. Everyone could see his need.
b We have done this a hundred times!
4 Lesson four: The man received his healing by doing what the Lord asked him to do.
a “Stretch out your hand.” THE WORD OF HEALING.
b I believe his hand would have remained unhealed if he had not seized the moment by faith the Word of the Lord.
aa This man must have been familiar with Ps. 107.20. (Promise by God!)
20 He sent His word and healed them, And delivered them from their destructions . Psalms 107:20 (NASB)
bb As his faith laid hold of the promise of the Word, his hand was restored!
cc The healing had been released by answering the Word’s of Jesus with faith. (Expected his healing to be there!)
C Healing can come for you when . . .
1 You are in a congregation that welcomes the presence of Jesus.
a Nurtures faith in an atmosphere of expectancy that God keeps His promises!
b The Word of the Lord endures forever!
2 He healed by His Word but we don’t stop at the word.
II Jesus healed by faith.
A Story of Indian chief/ National Weather Board
1 What is the greatest example of faith you have ever witnessed?
a You expect among God’s people to have much faith
aa Religious people can be disappointing at times.
bb Jesus found precious little faith among His people.
b 1 When He had completed all His discourse in the hearing of the people, He went to Capernaum.2 And a centurion's slave, who was highly regarded by him, was sick and about to die.3 When he heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders asking Him to come and save the life of his slave.4 When they came to Jesus, they earnestly implored Him, saying, "He is worthy for You to grant this to him;5 for he loves our nation and it was he who built us our synagogue."6 Now Jesus started on His way with them; and when He was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends, saying to Him, "Lord , do not trouble Yourself further, for I am not worthy for You to come under my roof;7 for this reason I did not even consider myself worthy to come to You, but just say the word, and my servant will be healed.8 "For I also am a man placed under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to this one, 'Go!' and he goes, and to another, 'Come!' and he comes, and to my slave, 'Do this!' and he does it."9 Now when Jesus heard this, He marveled at him, and turned and said to the crowd that was following Him, "I say to you, not even in Israel have I found such great faith."10 When those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the slave in good health. Luke 7:1-10 (NASB)
aa Jesus discovered the greatest faith in Israel was from a Roman soldier.
bb During Jesus’ ministry it was a Gentile who showed the most faith!
2 Roman soldiers were unwelcome, enemies of Israel but this soldier was the exception.
a He walked in the favor of the local Jews of Capernaum. (The locals gave witness of his character.)
b The fact that he cared about the health of one of his servants spoke volumes of this man’s character.
aa The leadership of the synagogue respected the soldier, begged Jesus to heal the servant/help the Roman.
bb He loved the nation of Israel.
cc He paid for and had constructed their house of worship!
c This soldier was unique! (Fell in love with the people, land he came to invade!)
aa Embraced the religion, faith (funded the building of their church/house of worship.)
bb Yet today, Christians will argue over whether or not they should tithe or give monetary offerings to their churches.
B What is it that made this man qualified to know Jesus’ favor?
1 He had mercy on the hurting. (Jesus promised blessing on the merciful.)
2 He respected the anointed elder over the place he lived.
a The Roman was a high ranking officer in the Roman Legion yet he submitted to the spiritual authority of the Jewish elders.
b Had that submission not been there, healing wouldn’t have came.
3 He loved the nation of Israel. (Gen. 12.1-3)
1 Now the Lord said to Abram,"Go forth from your country, And from your relatives And from your father's house, To the land which I will show you;2 And I will make you a great nation, And I will bless you, And make your name great; And so you shall be a blessing;3 And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse . And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed." Gen 12:1-3 (NASB)
4 He had built God a house!
a God gives favor to those who provide a place for Him to be worshiped.
b We give memorials from those who have passed away (Praise God!), but this man’s life was a memorial before God that released double blessings and favor.
C After Jesus heard the testimonies of the elders, He went to the man.
1 The man called Jesus, “Lord.”
a Many had rejected Jesus as Messiah, Lord, but the Roman’s faith embraced Him.
aa The soldier through his faith, himself before the feet of Jesus.
bb Declared his own unworthiness.
b The Roman officer, under the authority of Rome, knew how to take orders and give orders.
aa When he gave an order, whether he was present or not, the orders were carried out.
bb The soldier understood the authority of Jesus, “If you’ll just say the word my servant will be healed.”
c This soldier understood the power in the word from Jesus’s mouth!
aa He knew Jesus wasn’t limited by a building, a ritual, a certain race, or a certain time.
bb He believed that if Jesus said it/declared it, it would be done.
2 Truth is . . . Jesus simply released the Roman’s faith, and that healed the servant.
III What does great faith look like?
A The greatest faith needs no sign, no religious hocus pocus, no certain person, simply Jesus.
1 Faith is believing/acting on what Jesus has promised as if it is so when it does not seem so, until it is so.
2 Faith draws on the invisible resources of the kingdom and moves them to a life situation.
a Faith isn’t simply a feeling; faith confesses the promise of Jesus no matter the circumstances or feelings.
b Why made this Roman’s faith so great?
aa He didn’t need hands laid on him, anointing oil, prayer cloths, or a special healing service.
bb All he needed was Jesus’s word, and he believed.
c Compare him to Jairus (Who required Jesus to come to his house/daughter)
aa Mary/Martha angry @ Jesus because he didn’t come quickly enough when Lazarius was sick.
bb Healing faith takes Jesus at His word!
B The greatest faith comes when you put no limit on the authority and word of the Lord Jesus.
1 8 But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart"—that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, Romans 10:8 (NASB)
a Faith is first found in your words (mouth) and then “in your heart.”
b This man said to Jesus, “Say the word and it will be done.”
aa This is raw, naked, and unyielding faith.
bb Nothing religious, ritual . . . faith.
2 Here is the faith that crosses oceans, miles, moves mountains, brings prodigals home, and heals our sick friends.
3 Great faith flows out of a heart of character, of caring, and of covenant!
a Want some healed?
b Come to Jesus, loving His people and believing His word.
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Respectfully,
Mike Fogerson
