Getting To Know God - Part 2 - The God Who Heals
Please stand as we read our newest memory Scripture together …
John 14:23-24
“Jesus said, ‘If anyone loves Me, he will obey My teaching. My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make our home with him.
“He who does not love Me will not obey My teaching. These words you hear are not My own; they belong to the Father who sent Me.”
And our memory refresher verse(s) for today is(are) …
Galatians 2:20
“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me; and the life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”
Please open your Bibles to 2 Kings 20:1-11
Last week we started taking a look into WHO God is.
It is difficult to love someone you know nothing about.
How much do we REALLY know about the One we call God?
We know that we can see God in Christ as it says in Colossians 2:9 AMPC
“For in Him (Jesus) the whole fullness of Deity (the Godhead) continues to dwell in bodily form [giving complete expression of the divine nature].”
And, we wholeheartedly believe that to be true.
And even though we can see the fullness of God in Jesus, it is good to look into the Old Testament and see the attributes of YHWH also called Jehovah. These names may be used interchangeably.
Last week we took a look at the account of Moses and the Burning Bush and we saw that the Lord’s name is YHWH, substituted with the two word description of, “the LORD”.
We also saw that YHWH is identified as “I AM WHO I AM”.
He is the same wherever He may be encountered at any point of eternity. He is immutable, which means that He never changes.
Today we are going to take look at another one of YHWH’s attributes which is often called Jehovah-Rapha and we find the meaning of that name in
Exodus 15:26 where Moses says …
“If you listen carefully to YHWH your God and do what is right in His eyes, if you pay attention to His commands and keep all His decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I AM YHWH, who heals you.”
YHWH-Rapha or Jehovah-Rapha = the God Who Heals You
There is a lot of talk today about divine healing and there is a lot in the Bible about divine healing. Some of it seems pretty unusual and other instances seem perfectly normal.
Let’s read about one of the more unusual healings …
But, before we read we see in 2 Kings 19 that Hezekiah has become the King of Judah, the southern kingdom of Israel after their civil war.
The Kingdom under Hezekiah is strong because he is following after YHWH.
Hezekiah is destroying all of the pagan idols and their worship sites throughout his kingdom.
Eventually, King Sennacherib king of Assyria attacks and conquers many of the cities of Judah and is poised to overwhelm Jerusalem the city of God.
Sennacherib has overwhelming forces and he has destroyed many armies and cities and he believes that YHWH of Israel will be no different.
But Hezekiah trusts in YHWH and the Angel of YHWH defeats the army of Assyria in the night.
Sometime later Hezekiah becomes deathly ill and that is where pickup the account …
Read: 2 Kings 20:1-11
(Prayer for help …)
This is REALLY odd, right?
Isaiah tells Hezekiah, “You are going to die from this illness.”
Hezekiah turns his fact to the wall, reminds YHWY of how he has been a faithful servant and weeps.
YHWH-Rapha, the God who heals, heals him and gives him 15 more years.
But … these would NOT be the best years of Hezekiah’s life.
That’s what immediately comes to mind when we think about healing, right?
Physical healing …
But, what about Hezekiah? He was dying from some type of boil.
Is that what we need to do if we have a fatal boil; turn our face to the wall, tell YHWH what a great job we have done for Him and weep bitterly?
And, we see physical healing everywhere in the Bible.
In Exodus 21 we see that the Israelites in the wilderness are being punished with the bites of poisonous snakes because of their disobedience and YHWH instructs Moses to place a bronze snake on a pole and every snake-bitten person who looks at the bronze serpent will be healed.
What do we see here? We see YHWH-Rapha, the God who heals.
Is that what we should do if we are bitten by poisonous snake; put up a bronze serpent on a pole and look at it?
In 2 Kings 5 we see Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Aram being healed when he obeyed the message from YHWH and dipped himself in the Jordan river seven times.
What do we see here? We see YHWH-Rapha, the God who heals.
Is that what we need to do if we have leprosy; fly to Israel and dip ourselves in the Jordan River seven times?
In 2 Kings 13 we see the ultimate end of disease or injury to the human body which is death. Here we see that a dead man was thrown into a tomb with the bones of Elisha and when his dead body touched the bones of Elisha he was brought back to life.
What do we see here? We see YHWH-Rapha, the God who heals.
So, is that what we should do? Should we find the grave of Elisha and keep tossing corpses in there and if the body hits the bones of Elisha it’s kind of like getting a ringer in horseshoes and the person is revived?
And, what about the New Testament?
In John 9 we see that Jesus healed the eyes of a man born blind by spitting on the ground, making mud which he put on the man’s eyes and then telling him to go wash in the pool of Siloam.
What do we see here? We see YHWH-Rapha, the Son of God who heals.
Is that what we should do? When we see a blind man should we spit on the ground, make mud, put it on the man’s eyes and then buy him an airline ticket to Jerusalem so he can go to wash in the pool of Siloam?
Everyone wants YHWH-Rapha, the God who heals, to heal them, right?
That’s only natural. No one likes to suffer and disease or injury always causes suffering.
We want to be healed. But, our God, in His unfathomable wisdom, does not desire for all of us to be healed. We do not know why …
There are some crazy things that go around in Christianity when it comes to divine healing.
There is a Bible in a room in Dalton, GA that is supposed to be “overflowing with oil from heaven.” This oil is being sent to people who request it for the purpose of anointing the sick for healing.
Is this the only oil that should be used for healing?
Will people be healed when anointed with this oil if they were not healed when anointed with other oil?
Was any other oil to be used for healing before 2017 when this oil became available?
What about the disciples in Mark 6 or the admonition to anoint with oil in James 5? What kind of oil did they use?
We all know it’s not the oil that heals, it is YHWH-Rapha who heals when it is His will.
One woman who makes green prayer cloths for sale at $14 each says, “It is not the cloth itself that is responsible for the healing, however. Rather, it is the prayer infused in its creation and the subsequent faith accompanying the use of the cloth that brings forth healing. It (the cloth) is a sacred object, and whoever possesses the sacred prayer cloth exercises faith by trusting that God has the power to heal with it.”
The obvious question would be, “Can God heal without the sacred green prayer cloth?”, and, “What if it’s not green?”
Just imagine … this is mind boggling?
Do you remember reading about the woman in the New Testament who was suffering from bleeding for twelve years?
In Mark 5 you can read of how this woman pushed her way through a throng of people in order to touch the edge of Jesus’ garment and she was healed instantly!!!
Can you just imagine if someone would be able to find that robe?
If you could find it, the best thing to do would be to burn it and throw the ashes into the sea!
Why?
It’s NOT the robe, it’s YHWH-Rapha, the God who heals!
It’s NOT the prayer cloth, it’s YHWH-Rapha, the God who heals!
It’s NOT the oil coming from the Bible, it’s YHWH-Rapha, the God who heals!
We are just like the ancient Israelites!
They had YHWH, the God of Israel, and they chose idols instead!
We have the Holy Trinity, The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit and our sinful instinct is to want idols too!
Can we become so focused on our healing that our own health becomes the idol we worship instead of worshiping God and allowing Him to do with us as He wishes?
Again, we do not understand why the Lord chooses to physically heal some and not others. But, whether He chooses to heal or not He is still YHWH-Rapha, the God who heals.
The God Who Heals may choose to heal other afflictions.
Psalm 34:18 says
“The LORD (YHWH) is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
Have you ever been broken hearted and crushed in spirit, emotionally injured?
This can show up in many ways
- Anger always beneath the surface, ready to erupt at any time
- Withdrawal from society and hiding in seclusion
- Drug and alcohol abuse
- Cutting and other forms of self injury
The God Who Heals sees this as well.
We know that the God Who Heals does not heal every physical ailment but what about emotional damage? What about those who are crushed in spirit and broken hearted?
What about those who have lost a spouse or a child?
What about someone whose spouse has committed adultery?
What about a child who has been beaten and berated and belittled from his earliest memories until he could get away from home?
What about them?
Can The God Who Heals heal them as well?
Yes, He can because The God Who Heals also can give you a peace which passes understanding …
Philippians 4:4-9 says,
“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things.
“Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me - put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”
And Galatians 5:22-23 says,
“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”
The God Who Heals wants to give this to every person who is filled with the Holy Spirit.
The God Who Heals wants to give this to everyone regardless of whether they are physically well or not.
The fruit of the Spirit is not dependant on the condition of the body.
The God Who Heals:
- Does not always heal physically
- Has made a provision for emotional healing through the gifts of the Holy Spirit
Can The God Who Heals also heal mental disorders?
Can The God Who Heals heal insanity?
Daniel 4:29-37 NIV says:
“Twelve months later, as (King Nebuchadnezzar) was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, he said, “Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?”
“Even as the words were on his lips, a voice came from heaven, ‘This is what is decreed for you, King Nebuchadnezzar: Your royal authority has been taken from you. You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like the ox. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone He wishes.’
“Immediately what had been said about Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled. He was driven away from people and ate grass like the ox. His body was drenched with the dew of heaven until his hair grew like the feathers of an eagle and his nails like the claws of a bird.
“At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified Him who lives forever.
“His dominion is an eternal dominion; His kingdom endures from generation to generation. All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as He pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back His hand or say to Him: What have you done?
“At the same time that my sanity was restored, my honor and splendor were returned to me for the glory of my kingdom. My advisers and nobles sought me out, and I was restored to my throne and became even greater than before. Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything He does is right and all His ways are just. And those who walk in pride He is able to humble.”
Does this example apply to all mental illness? Probably not.
Is The God Who Heals able to heal mental illness? Yes, He is.
This mental illness was a punishment for extreme arrogance but when he humbled himself before The God Who Heals he was made whole.
Does that mean that The God Who Heals will deliver everyone with a mental illness who cries out to Him? I don’t know, but it sure wouldn’t hurt!
Finally, we arrive to the healing that is available for everyone!
Spiritual healing.
Is it possible to be so evil that it is impossible for The God Who Heals to heal you from a lost sinner and to transform you into a child of God?
David Berkowitz, the Son of Sam murderer, killed 6 and wounded 7 others.
He was demon possessed by a demon he called Sam. Sentenced to over 300 years in prison he attempted suicide and was nearly murdered by another inmate.
Ten years into his prison sentence he was befriended by another inmate and given a Bible to read. Since the other inmate knew he was raised as a Jew he encouraged David to start reading in the Psalms. David knew it was of no use since he was unforgivable. But when he got to …
Psalm 34:6 NKJV
“This poor man cried out, and the (YHWH-Rapha; The God Who Heals) heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.”
… he began to weep uncontrollably and got down on his knees in his cell and cried out to The God Who Heals. When he got up from his knees he knew that something had changed. He didn’t know the sinner’s prayer. He didn’t know the right words; he just cried out to Jesus and The God Who Heals healed him right there in the dark in a prison cell.
Did The God Who Heals save David Berkowitz out of all his troubles?
No, not from the repercussions of his sin; he will still live out his days behind bars.
But, was he delivered out of all of his troubles:
- On earth, emotionally, yes.
- On earth, mentally, yes.
- On earth, spiritually, yes.
- Eternally, yes.
You see, The God Who Heals sees beyond the hospital bed and the grave.
The God Who Heals sees the unending expanse of eternity and He knows that eternity is where true healing is most needed but it begins right here on earth.
Do you want emotional healing?
Turn to The God Who Heals, the One Who sent His One and Only Son to die on a cross in your place for your salvation.
Do you want mental healing?
Humble yourself before The God Who Heals, the One to whom the arrogant King Nebuchadnezzar called out to and was healed.
Do you want spiritual healing?
Turn to The God Who Heals, the One Who is The Way, The Truth and The Life. No one comes to The God Who Heals except through Him.
Come and be healed.
Final thoughts and prayers.
