D-Day: Disease Dr. Mike Fogerson April 7, 2013
Biblical Healing is first & foremost spiritual in matter
1 Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha.2 It was the Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.3 So the sisters sent word to Him, saying, "Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick."4 But when Jesus heard this, He said, "This sickness is not to end in death, but for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by it."5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.6 So when He heard that he was sick, He then stayed two days longer in the place where He was.7 Then after this He said* to the disciples, "Let us go to Judea again."8 The disciples said* to Him, "Rabbi, the Jews were just now seeking to stone You, and are You going there again?"9 Jesus answered, "Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world.10 "But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him." John 11:1-10 (NASB)
5 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies,26 and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?"John 11:25-26 (NASB)
39 Jesus said , "Remove the stone." Martha, the sister of the deceased, said to Him, "Lord, by this time there will be a stench, for he has been dead four days."40 Jesus said to her, "Did I not say to you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?"41 So they removed the stone. Then Jesus raised His eyes, and said, "Father, I thank You that You have heard Me.42 "I knew that You always hear Me; but because of the people standing around I said it, so that they may believe that You sent Me."43 When He had said these things, He cried out with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come forth."44 The man who had died came forth, bound hand and foot with wrappings, and his face was wrapped around with a cloth. Jesus said to them, "Unbind him, and let him go."45 Therefore many of the Jews who came to Mary, and saw what He had done, believed in Him.46 But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them the things which Jesus had done. John 11:39-46 (NASB)
Who needs healing?
I His love
Jesus was familiar with these folks and they were family to Him.
A Probably had some money, influence as evidences by them having the resources to house Jesus & his 12 disciples on numerous occasions (Mary had a very expensive perfume she would put on Saviors feet)
3 Mary then took a pound of very costly perfume of pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped His feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. John 12:3 (NASB)
1 They sent a messenger to Jesus with a simple message, “Lord, behold the one you live is sick.”
a They tell Jesus their need, make Rabbi Jesus aware of situation, & let Him decide what to do.
b They made no demands, commands, no requests.
aa They don’t come to Jesus like He’s a waiter at a restaurant, Amazon.com
bb Jesus doesn’t work like that
c “The one you love is sick”
aa Lazarus is loved by the Savior.
bb 20 "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. Gal 2:20 (NASB)
Paul, “He Loved me; John called himself the disciple Jesus loved; Pater declared Jesus loves us.
cc And by the way, Jesus loves you, me... anyone who is a child of God is one whom Jesus loves.
2 Lazarus was loved by Jesus yet he was sick.
a Just because your ill, children are sick, diagnosed with a disease it does not mean God doesn’t love you!
aa 1 For I have taken all this to my heart and explain it that righteous men, wise men, and their deeds are in the hand of God. Man does not know whether it will be love or hatred; anything awaits him. Eccl 9:1 (NASB)
bb In other words, you can’t tell by the circumstances your in to determine if God loves you... we don’t have that right.
5 Therefore do not go on passing judgment before the time, but wait until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men's hearts; and then each man's praise will come to him from God. 1 Cor 4:5 (NASB)
Sometimes we just have to simply trust Him even when we don’t understand.
b Jesus loved Lazarus when He was sick... still loved him - even let him die - still loved him
B Jesus loves you when you are sick, diseased, children when they’re ill, abnormal chromosome... Jesus still loves you.
1 We are wrong in believing if we are sick, not healed, them God’s favor is not on us.
a You, your family, do not have to be “well” or “whole” for God to love you, accept you, cherish you.
aa God didn’t require you to be “fixed” or “good” before He accepted us.
bb His love for us isn’t based upon your performance, ability, holiness.
cc It was because of God’s own love, goodness & existence that I can cry out, “Abba, Father... daddy”
15 For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!" Romans 8:15 (NASB)
b You can’t keep Him from loving you.
aa If He loves me why do I have cancer, lose my husband, wife have alzheimers?
bb I don’t know the reason – but I do know He loves you.
cc You can’t stop the sun from shining, but you can get out of the sunshine - you have a choice in keeping the love of God from shining into your life.
2 It’s because He does love us we can come to Him with confidence, boldness to tell Him our problems.
a Boldness is freedom of speech, it isn’t putting demands on God: It’s when we are driven to our knees that our faith increases.
aa Moses went to God all the time with problems in the wilderness
Hezekiah took the hateful letter of the Assyrians to God.
14 Then Hezekiah took the letter from the hand of the messengers and read it, and he went up to the house of the Lord and spread it out before the Lord.15 Hezekiah prayed before the Lord and said, "O Lord, the God of Israel, who are enthroned above the cherubim, You are the God, You alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth.16 "Incline Your ear, O Lord, and hear; open Your eyes, O Lord, and see; and listen to the words of Sennacherib, which he has sent to reproach the living God. 2 Kings 19:14-16 (NASB)
bb The disciples of John the Baptist came to Jesus with heartbreaking news that John had been beheaded.
b Its in the valleys, disease, darkness that we must learn to trust Him
aa Teaches us patience, rest in Him, & He does all things well.
bb Sometimes we’ve got to look through tear soaked eyes, sorrows, trials of life & see that God has a purpose for everything.
c IL.
II His Glory
4 But when Jesus heard this, He said, "This sickness is not to end in death, but for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by it."John 11:4 (NASB)
A Jesus permitted Lazarus’ illness/death because God and the Son of God would get the glory in it.
1 He knew what He was doing, when He was going to do it, how He was going to do it... and most importantly He knew why.
a I’m going to be praised, honored, glorified!
aa Not to make Mary, Martha feel good.
bb So Lazarus would get better.
b Jesus was going to heal Lazarus to get recognized for being God. (It’s all about Him!)
aa Jesus waited four days to show up at Mary & Martha’s, not to keep them waiting, go through a tearful funeral.
bb 9 Jesus answered, "Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world.10 "But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him." John 11:9-10 (NASB)
There is a time to do something, & when the time comes to do something, do it without fear.
cc He & the Father had a plan that nothing could stop.
2 We must learn that we are not the center of the universe & God’s not working on our schedule.
a Our church, our family, our town, our ministry isn’t either. (God doesn’t love you anymore than He loves the drunk that is just waking up right now)
b The headquarters of everything is heaven, and everything is for His glory.
aa Nothing will enter your or my life without His permission.
bb And it’s going to be for His glory!
c God doesn’t have to heal (or keep you or me healthy) for Him to be glorified.
d If God is glorified we ought to be satisfied.
e God has given each of us a certain amount of things to do in our one life we’re given.
aa If your following Him, nothing can stop you from fulfilling your ministry. (Nobody, not even Satan)
bb 10 foot tall & bullet proof... your invulnerable.
cc Failing to follow, your in dangerous water.
dd It’s not about us, it’s about His Kingdom, Power, & Glory.
III His purpose to heal
A The N.T. uses many words for both physical and spiritual healing; sozo, hugies, iaomai & therapuo.
1 Some refer to physical healing, the curing of a physical condition.
a 22 But Jesus turning and seeing her said, "Daughter, take courage; your faith has made you well." At once the woman was made well. Matt 9:22 (NASB)
When Jesus spoke to the woman with the issue of blood (sozo)
aa 8 "Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give. Matt 10:8 (NASB)
Jesus commissioned the 12 discipes with a mandate to “heal the sick” (therapeuo)
bb Sozo is used here for physical healing, but not always – sometimes for spiritual.
b 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; Eph 2:8 (NASB) (Sozo)
24 and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross , so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed. 1 Peter 2:24 (NASB) (Iaomai)
2 Spiritual healing has to do with the salvation of your soul, and even when someone receives a physical healing (miracle, therapy, medication) this doesn’t mean salvation/true spiritual healing has taken place.
a Healing refers to “being made whole” in spirit, as in our healing from sin.
aa There is a misconception that “wholeness” has to do with being healthy, without pain, physically in our bodies/lives.
bb Wholeness is a matter of contentment based on a relationship, not the physical.
b Christ’s primary mission was to redeem us for eternal life, right relationship with the Father, Spiritual healing of our soul (Jn 3:16)
B Spiritual healing includes two important caveats: right relationship with God, right relationship with others.
20 "I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word;21 that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me. John 17:20-21 (NASB)
1 If Jesus could cure somebody physically to achieve these caveats He did so. (Otherwise, His ministry was to the heart & soul of mankind.)
a 17 One day He was teaching; and there were some Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting there, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem; and the power of the Lord was present for Him to perform healing.18 And some men were carrying on a bed a man who was paralyzed; and they were trying to bring him in and to set him down in front of Him.19 But not finding any way to bring him in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down through the tiles with his stretcher, into the middle of the crowd, in front of Jesus.20 Seeing their faith, He said, "Friend , your sins are forgiven you."21 The scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, "Who is this man who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?"22 But Jesus, aware of their reasonings, answered and said to them, "Why are you reasoning in your hearts?23 "Which is easier, to say, 'Your sins have been forgiven you,' or to say, 'Get up and walk'?24 "But, so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins,"—He said to the paralytic—"I say to you, get up, and pick up your stretcher and go home."25 Immediately he got up before them, and picked up what he had been lying on, and went home glorifying God.26 They were all struck with astonishment and began glorifying God; and they were filled with fear, saying, "We have seen remarkable things today." Luke 5:17-26 (NASB)
Jesus healed a paralyzed man whom had been lowered down through the ceiling by his homies.
aa “I forgive you of your sins.” -Healed
bb He was already in right relationship with others as evidenced by his caring friends.
cc Only after He read the thoughts of the Pharisees did he cure the mans physical condition “So that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.”
b Jesus’ main goal wasn’t phys healing - right relationship with God
2 At the tomb where Lazarus was placed, notice Jesus’ prayer just prior to raising Lazarus.
41 So they removed the stone. Then Jesus raised His eyes, and said, "Father, I thank You that You have heard Me.42 "I knew that You always hear Me; but because of the people standing around I said it, so that they may believe that You sent Me." John 11:41-42 (NASB)
a His goal was to get people to “believe,” right with God.
b Lazarus’ soul was in paradise, his body was resting.
aa What do you think Lazarus thought when he heard his name being called by Jesus?
3 The Father loved Jesus yet permitted His Son to die.
C When we find ourselves confronted with disease, disaster, death, our encouragement is the Word fo God.
1 He’s the master over every situation.
a When your sick, you don’t want a medical book, you want a Doctor: When your being sued you don’t want a law book you want a Lawyer.
b When you facing disaster, disease, and death you don’t want a doctrine written in a book, you want a Savior.
aa Jesus is every doctrine made personal.
30 But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, 1 Cor 1:30 (NASB)
bb When you belong to Him, you can face anything life throws at you!
2 here are two preparations you can make when disease comes.
a Believe God is big enough to do miracles & the supernatural.
aa He created the universe, & He’s big enough to call the shots, cure cancer, etc...
bb He can make you whole... Spiritually & Physically.
b Get near Jesus & His Word
aa As Mary/Martha/Lazarus knew Jesus very well, spent time with Him.
bb Go to Israel! Go to church! Go to the word!
cc If you are near Him, you are going to find peace! Healing!
68 Simon Peter answered Him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life. John 6:68 (NASB)
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Mike Fogerson
