JESUS,THE HEALER(12:3:2000)
Newsletter 26:3:00
JESUS, THE HEALER
I believe we are to have a fresh look at the Gospel Truths about healing:
To build faith for you to receive your healing,
To better inspire and equip you to minister healing to others,
That we would experience an even greater level of anointing, as God confirms His word.
Any study on healing , while it will eventually lead us back to the source of all, Jehovah Rapha (The Lord that Heals You Ex 15:26) must center around Jesus, The Healer. Take a look at a 'day in the life of Jesus.' ( Luke 4:31-41)
He was in the synagogue teaching. A man who had a spirit of an unclean demon cried out, and Jesus rebuked it, and commanded it to come out of him. He was delivered. Afterwards, He went to Simon's house, where they found Simon's wife's mother was sick with a high fever. Luke tells us He stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. "Now when the sun was setting (the end of the sabbath) all those who had anyone sick with various diseases brought them to Him, and He laid His hands on every one of them and healed them." Luke tells us He also rebuked demons, not allowing them to speak, and casting them out.
What was Jesus busy doing that day? What He was called to do, what He was anointed to do, and what He was authorized to do - preach, teach and heal.
It is interesting that Matthew's account of the healing of Simon's mother-in-law differs slightly from Luke's in that he tells us Jesus touched her hand, and the fever left. I believe He probably did both.
Luke was a doctor, and with a doctor's eye and training he watches The Healer in operation. What He observes and records in chapter 4, and in chapter 5 with the paralyzed man, is The Healer exercising His Authority. Rebuking the demons, rebuking the fever, telling a paralyzed man to "arise, take up your bed and go to your house." Healing not through medicine, or even prayer, but commanding power.
Peter and John didn't pray for the lame man at the gate of the temple. (Acts 3) They commanded him: "In the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!
Paul didn't pray for the cripple at Lystra. He said with a loud voice: "Stand up straight on your feet! There are obviously situations then that call for the exercise of the Authority of the name of Jesus. Spirits and symptoms that must be rebuked, fever being one. I believe that there are times believers have been less than effective because they are petitioning God and praying for healing, rather than exercising their authority! An emergency phone call was put out to a well known 'Father of the Faith.' A niece had just given birth to a child with water on the brain, and a grossly enlarged head. The doctors were speaking hopelessness and death. She said to her husband: "Ring Uncle." He did just that on a hospital phone. When appraised of the situation, Uncle said: "Jesus said I can have what I say, and I say that child will live and not die. You go back and tell her I that I said: ' That child will live, and not die." I believe that by the time he got back into the room to tell her, the head had reduced to normal, the water gone!
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Paul didn't pray for the cripple at Lystra. He said with a loud voice: "Stand up straight on your feet! There are obviously situations then that call for the exercise of the Authority of the name of Jesus. Spirits and symptoms that must be rebuked, fever being one. I believe that there are times believers have been less than effective because they are petitioning God and praying for healing, rather than exercising their authority! An emergency phone call was put out to a well known 'Father of the Faith.' A niece had just given birth to a child with water on the brain, and a grossly enlarged head. The doctors were speaking hopelessness and death. She said to her husband: "Ring Uncle." He did just that on a hospital phone. When appraised of the situation, Uncle said: "Jesus said I can have what I say, and I say that child will live and not die. You go back and tell her I that I said: ' That child will live, and not die." I believe that by the time he got back into the room to tell her, the head had reduced to normal, the water gone!
However, Matthew's account reveals another aspect of the operation of the healer.
The transference of the anointing. The anointing that destroys the yoke of bondage!
That's what the laying on of hands is: the transference of the anointing. Not necessarily a formal ceremonious ritual, but simply a touch of faith!
"And He touched her hand, and the fever left her." (Matthew 8:15)
Let's look at another day in the life of The Healer: Matthew 9.
He got into a boat and crossed over to his own city. They brought to him the paralytic, whom he commanded to take up his bed. Moving on, He saw Matthew and told him: "follow me." He was challenged by the scribes and pharisees because of the tax-collectors and sinners who sat with the disciples and Him. Then Jairus, worshipping, beseeched Him to come lay hands on his dying daughter, and she would live. He was honoring Jesus the Healer, but he was also honoring the anointing - Christ, the anointed one. On his way there the woman with the issue received her healing from the anointing. He healed Jairus' daughter, both taking her by the hand (anointing) and commanding her to rise (authority.) As He left, two blind men followed Him to His house, crying out for mercy, so He touched their eyes and said: "According to your faith be it unto you." As they went out, there was brought to him a man with a mute spirit, which he cast out.
Then He went about all the cities and villages teaching, preaching and healing.
And He was moved with compassion for the people. Sympathy feels for the person suffering, compassion does something for the person suffering. The need was too great for one man, even the Son of God, to deal with. So compassion moved Him to enlist some helpers - as recorded in Matthew 10:1; He gave His twelve disciples power - supernatural ability, the authority and the anointing - to cast out demons and to heal. Later He appointed seventy others, and finally all believers. (Mark 16:15)
He made His anointing, and His authority available to all who would take up the call. To be moved with compassion. When confronted with sickness and suffering, ask yourself: "What would Jesus do, if He was here now." Well, He's not, but you are, that's why He gave it to you! The anointing must be released, the authority exercised. That's our job, He's already done His! And He has shown us how!
It's that simple - just do what Jesus would do.
Steve & Jenny
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