Loaded
Pt. 1- Benefit 2
I. Introduction
We have been commanded repeatedly to be thankful. Over and over again gratitude is commanded because God is worthy and because the writers understand that He responds to grateful people. With that said there are times when we must make the conscious choice and decision to take a posture of thanks. Circumstances, trials and life in general can push us to a place where we forget and overlook just how blessed and favored we already are. We have to practice this and rehearse this in settings like this so that when we are up to our necks in chaos, pain, and in the fight of our lives instead of winding up shaking our fist at God we have our hands raised to God in thanksgiving. So in this safe environment with a little swag and attitude let's practice.
Touch your neighbor and tell them "Don't let what you see today fool you . . . I am loaded!"
So, let's go back to our text and remind ourselves of the benefits we are loaded with! Just like you do with your job examining the benefits helps us to keep going because we realize it is worth what we are dealing with in this moment.
Text: Psalms 103:1-5
Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits (There is the choice - control your soul - make yourself praise instead of complain) — (VERSE 3) who forgives all your sin and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
a. We are loaded with healing.
David now takes us to another level of benefit. He starts with the greatest benefit . . . forgiveness. It would have been enough if God had decided to send His son to simply bring a solution for our iniquity and our transgressions. However, we are so loaded that God then makes provision for more than just a spiritual benefit but a natural benefit as well. He goes beyond just dealing with our eternal issues and deals with the physical, in the moment issues. His forgiveness deals with the spiritual fallout of sin. His provision for healing now addresses and confronts the physical fallout of sin! We are loaded with healing!
In fact, we need to remember the power of Isaiah 53. The Messianic proclamation addresses forgiveness. He was wounded (outward bleeding) for our transgressions and bruised (inward bleeding) for our iniquities. And then this passage takes on the physical.
Isaiah 53:4-5 Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.
But the fact is, it was our pains he carried—our disfigurements, all the things wrong with us. Through his bruises we get healed. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.
So it is clear provision has been made for our physical healing. Our challenge this morning is the benefit has been discussed, described but so often we don't see it is deployed. In fact, I believe what may be the biggest challenge today is that many of us have no problem believing that God forgives sins! We just struggle to believe that He heals our bodies. We trust Him with the spiritual but the physical is a challenge. Jesus apparently knew we would struggle with this and that there would be days that we would question or doubt this benefit existed. So, He plainly and forcefully address this in Luke 5.
Friends, moved on by compassion, lower their friend through the roof to get him to Jesus. Jesus acknowledges their efforts and heals the man. The Pharisees get angry because instead of addressing the physical Jesus said "I forgive your sins." Jesus' response confronts our challenge and our doubt. Luke 5:23-24 Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.”
Did you hear it? Jesus makes it clear that dealing with sin or dealing with sickness are equally easy for Him. We like to act like forgiving sins is easy and healing is difficult. Jesus says there is no difference.
In fact, I find it very interesting that in Isaiah 53 and in Psalm 103 the benefit of forgiveness of sin and healing are addressed in the same verse and breath! Nothing is too difficult for God. Nothing includes sin and sickness!
It is time for us to realize again that we are loaded. We have a benefit called healing. It is ours. It is one of our rights as heirs and joint heirs. I want to challenge you not to only access and enjoy benefit 1 but accept, believe and live in benefit 2.
So here are the 2 million dollar questions. Number 1 is "How"? If it is a benefit, then how do I access it and get it to happen? Question #2 is "Why"? Why don't we see everyone healed? Why do I get sick if this is a benefit with which we are loaded?
b. If we are loaded, then how are we healed?
I am going to make a startling statement to you. I will intentionally overstate it so that you will listen. Our access to this benefit has very little to do with our faith! If healing is based on our level of faith, then we have slipped over into the dangerous area of works based belief. That gives rise to the concept if you are sick, then you must lack faith. If you only had a little more faith, then you would be well!
Should we have faith . . . yes! Based on His track record. Everywhere He went Jesus healed folks physically. His record reveals He can be trusted and believed for healing. But our faith is based on the grace that He gives and provides us.
Belief is important. Jesus' didn't perform miracles in some places based on their lack of belief! So did their lack of faith steal or diminish Jesus' power? If it did, then doesn't that make those people more powerful than God? Jesus still had the power but lack of faith/belief simply caused Him to withhold or choose not to extend the grace of healing!
I think it is important to see that the benefit of forgiveness and healing are linked together numerous times throughout Scripture (even beyond the two I have shown you). I think we need to realize that we receive healing the same way we receive forgiveness! How did you receive forgiveness? By faith? By works? By effort? By jumping through hoops? No! You accessed the benefit of forgiveness solely by grace. Forgiveness was by His goodness. By His efforts. By His sacrifice. Did you put your faith in Him? Yes, but your faith isn't what produced forgiveness or it would have been based on your works. No . . . forgiveness came as a direct result of His grace. We access the benefit of forgiveness by faith! Forgiveness is there . . . faith unlocks the door to that forgiveness.
I can and should have faith in His record. But I realize that this benefit isn't based on my level of belief it based on His grace!
If you are sick this morning, then you are released from guilt, shame and feeling like a faithless, second-class citizen in the kingdom. Because . . .
We are loaded with healing because He is loaded with grace not because we are loaded with faith!
So there may be times you have no faith . . . that is why it is important for you to be a part of the body so that we can have faith for you to access that grace. The gift of faith and healing is set in the body! That is why James says "call for the elders who can pray the prayer of faith".
c. If we are loaded with healing, then why are we sick?
Let me ask you a question that may help you with this question. How many of you are saved? You have experienced life-changing relationship with Jesus! He has dealt with the punishment of sin. Right? Do you still sin? Do you still battle sin? You are loaded with forgiveness but you still fight sin? Why? The punishment of sin has been addressed but we still live in a fallen world where the power of sin and the presence of sin is still active and experienced. So by His stripes we are healed. The provision is made. So why do we still get sick? Why are we sick? Because we live in a fallen world where the power and presence of sickness is still active and experienced.
However, the good news is we are loaded! Listen to a passage that we quote about the spiritual and realize that it has implications for the physical too.
Hebrews 4:14-16 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
I know it is a challenge but don't let sickness cause you to question His power or His provision!
Even when we are loaded with sickness we can still be loaded with thankfulness and trust!
