DIVINE HEALING: TAKE THE DEVIL TO COURT
Mt. 26:27-28
INTRODUCTION
A. HUMOR
1. During the years when Poland was still a communist bloc country, and the Christian church was still persecuted, it was very difficult for Christians to go to an underground church meeting. There were sentries stationed on street corners throughout the cities watching for any movement at particular times.
2. One Sunday an underground church member was on her way to church, carefully avoiding the sentries as best as she could. But as she crossed the street she was seen and questioned about where she was going.
3. She did not want to lie so she prayed for the Holy Spirit’s wisdom in answering the questions. When asked where she was going and why, she responded, "My brother died and my family is gathering to read the will and find out what He left us." She was allowed to proceed without delay. And how true was her statement about what she was doing!
B. TEXT
“And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink ye all of it; For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins,’” Matt. 26:27-28.
C. THESIS
1. Today I’m explaining some of the benefits that you are eligible for in the Word of God. The Book of Hebrews 9:15-16 makes it clear that the Bible is a Will and Rom. 8:17 says we are “heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ.”
2. Whatever is promised in the Bible is for us to claim and appropriate. Divine Healing is one of those benefits; it’s a finished work, just like salvation.
3. The same Jesus that bore our sins (1 Pet. 2:24) also bore our sicknesses (Mt. 8:17). But we’ll find today that we must press our claim.
4. The title of this message is “Divine Healing: Take the Devil to Court.”
I. WILLS ARE OFTEN CHALLENGED
A. DEFINITION OF A WILL
1. A “Last Will & Testament” tells you what you get when someone dies. It’s a document that records the wishes of the deceased concerning the disposition of their possessions; who's supposed to get what.
2. Before He died, Jesus made out His will and named YOU as the beneficiary to all His riches and estates. All Children of God can receive all the blessings God has ever promised!
B. WILLS ARE OFTEN CONTESTED
1. Wills are often contested, especially if there is considerable wealth at stake. And sometimes, if people are negligent, lawyers can twist the facts so cleverly that they can take away people's inheritance and they end up losing what was supposed to be theirs (cheated).
2. If you haven't learned it yet, the devil will contest "the will" (God’s Word) every time you start to claim one of its blessings. But you must press your claim. At times, you must confront him and say, "It's In The Will! I’m a Child of God and heir to the promises!" Some of them are salvation, the baptism in the Holy Spirit, physical Healing, Deliverance, Blessings, prosperity, etc.
C. PEOPLE ARE IGNORANT OF WHAT’S THEIRS
1. Often people are ignorant of what’s theirs. They live like beggars even though they are millionaires, because they don't know what's in the will/Word.
2. Like William Lyons, 87, of Brighton, England, who dressed like a hobo and refused to buy a newspaper when the price went up 10 cents! Yet when he died he left more than ¾ of a million dollars!
3. You can bet, if I was called and told that my name was recorded in a Will, and asked if I'd like to be present at the reading of the will, I'd say "Yes!" And I’d be there listening for my name and when it was read, I'd be all ears listening for what was mine. Well, Jesus, the son of God, has written a Will with YOUR name in it -- He's died and left everything to YOU!
3. He’s even left us a copy of the will; the Bible. It's up to us to read it and find out what He left us in the will.
D. HUMOR ABOUT BIBLE IGNORANCE
1. Most people never read the Bible to find out what’s theirs. Like the old lady who testified at church, “I always get a lot of help out of the Bible verse which says, ‘Grin and bear it.’”
2. Of course, that’s not in the Bible, but let me tell you some promises that are:
II. GOD HAS PROMISED US HEALING
A. O.T. PROMISES/ HEALINGS
1. Exodus 15:26, "I am the Lord that heals you.” Exodus 23:25, "And you shall serve the Lord your God, and He shall bless your bread and your water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of you." Deuteronomy 7:15, "And the Lord will take away from you all sickness...."
2. Psalm 41:3, "The Lord will sustain him on his sick bed and restore him from his bed of illness." Psalm 103:3, "Who forgives ALL your iniquities, Who heals ALL your diseases."
B. JESUS HEALED EVERYTHING & ALL
1. “…healing every disease and sickness among the people” Mt. 4:23.
2. “…healing every disease and sickness” Matt. 9:35.
3. “He healed all who were sick” Matt. 12:15.
4. “He…healed [all] their sick” Matt. 14:14.
5. “People brought all their sick to him…and all who touched it [cloak] were healed” Matt. 14:34-36.
6. “…power was coming from Him and healing them all" Luke 6:17-19.
7. If it wasn’t God’s will to heal ALL, then in those large crowds of thousands, there certainly would have been some it wasn’t God’s will to heal; yet Jesus healed them ALL! This shows it's the will of God!
C. THE CURSE OF THE LAW (ON SIN) INCLUDED SICKNESS
1. Deut. 28:61 says the Curse of the Law also
includes not only the diseases and sicknesses just mentioned, but ALL the other diseases/ sicknesses that exist!
2. The point is, if the Curse of the Law could be lifted (because sin were eradicated), so would be lifted all the effects of that Curse!
3. WHAT DID CHRIST DO WITH THE ‘CURSE OF THE LAW’? “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us...” Gal. 3:13; “having canceled the written code...HE TOOK IT AWAY, NAILING IT TO THE CROSS” Col. 2:14.
4. SO IF THE DEVIL TRIES TO PUT SICKNESS ON YOU THEN...
III. TAKE THE DEVIL TO COURT
A. PERSONNEL. Imagine the court room scene: The Judge = God; the Plaintiff = devil; the Defendant = You; the Counsel for the Defense (Our Lawyer) = Jesus.
B. PROCEEDINGS
1. Devil brings charges; “The defendant has sinned, violated the Law of God and is therefore ineligible for all the rights and privileges of the Child of God. To him/ her must cling the curse of sickness, because they’ve broken the Law of God!”
2. Jesus stands for my/your defense. "Your Honor, I wish to present evidence of my client's innocence, and for their right to Divine healing, salvation, baptism in the Holy Spirit, prosperity, and all the other blessings of God."
"EXHIBIT A" -- "the NAIL PRINTS in my hands & feet. These wounds were received when I took his/ her place and paid the penalty for all their sins
"EXHIBIT B" -- "The SPEAR WOUND in my side, penetrated My heart and reveals that I paid the deepest price for their sins – a broken heart.”
"EXHIBIT C" -- "the STRIPES ON MY BACK" were put there to atone for all sickness & disease, so that _____ (your name) is not only eligible for healing, but I’ve already carried his/her sicknesses on My body (Mt. 8:17).”
“EXHIBIT D" -- “And if that’s not enough, Your Honor, THERE’S MY BLOOD, testifying that I died and My life has been forfeited in payment of their sins!"
3. Sometimes the decease’s will is overturned, because the testator is dead and is not there to speak for himself; but, praise God, Jesus has risen and appears for us in the Father’s presence to testify on our behalf!
C. THE JUDGE’S RULING
1. “I find the defendant “NOT GUILTY” for...
2. JESUS “was wounded for their transgressions, He was bruised for their iniquities: the chastisement of their peace was upon Him; and with His stripes they were healed!” Isa. 53:5
CONCLUSION
A. ILLUSTRATION: THE SCARS OF LIFE
1. Some years ago, on a hot summer day in south Florida, a little boy decided to go for a swim in the old swimming hole behind his house.
2. He flew into the water, not realizing, as he swam toward the middle of the lake, that an alligator was swimming toward him. His father, in the yard, saw the two as they got closer and closer. He ran toward the water, yelling to his son as loudly as he could.
3. Hearing his voice, the little boy became alarmed and made a U-turn to swim to his father; it was too late. Just as he reached his father’s arms, the alligator closed his jaws on his legs. Then began an incredible tug-of-war between the two. The alligator was stronger, but the father was more passionate. A farmer, driving by, heard his screams, & raced from his truck and shot the alligator.
4. Remarkably, the little boy survived. His legs were scarred by the vicious attack of the animal. And on his arms, were deep scratches where his father's fingernails dug into his flesh to hang on to the son he loved.
5. A newspaper reporter, asked the boy to show him his scars. The boy lifted his pant legs. And then, with obvious pride, he said to the reporter, "But look at my arms. I have these great scars on my arms, because my Dad wouldn't let me go!"
6. Such are the wounds that our Savior has on his body, because He wouldn’t let US go! No matter what it took, no matter how high the price, Jesus wouldn't let us go! What love!
B. THE CALL
1. If you’re here today and if you’re very confident that if you died today, that you’d go straight to Heaven, raise your hand. If you couldn’t raise your hand, you need to pray the Sinner’s Prayer with me right now. PRAY.
2. How many of you need a physical healing today? Please stand. We’re going to pray and receive our healing by faith. PRAYER.
C. LORD’S SUPPER
