Anticipating Miracles of Healing
Copyright: South Bay Community Church
Sermon Reflections: Anticipating Míracles of Healing
Date: 12th November 2023
Speaker: Lead Pastor: Tammy Long
Sermon Texts: Psalm 103:1-5
Sermon Reflections: Anticipating Míracles of Healing
Date: 12th November 2023
Speaker: Lead Pastor: Tammy Long
Sermon Texts: Psalm 103:1-5
Sermon Preamble
This message continues our mini-series on Anticipating Miracles. God is so much more active than we notice. God is performing miracles all around us each and every day through both supernatural and natural means. As I have been communicating about anticipating miracles, my prayer is that your antenna has been raised, and you have become more aware of God’s orchestrations, interventions, and numerous acts of love. Whenever, however, and in whatever form there is healing, God (Jehovah Rapha) is the originator. In Jesus, Jehovah Rapha became flesh and dwelt among us. Jesus’ healing miracles: (1) demonstrated Jesus’ power, authority, and divinity; (2) reflected God’s heart of compassion; (3) illustrated God’s kingdom and wholeness; (4) invited us to follow Jesus and love Him with one’s whole heart, soul, mind, and strength.
David was well acquainted with the blessings and benefits of God’s miracles
Psalm 103:1-5 is an anthem of praise: “Let all that I am praise the Lord; with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name.2 Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me. 3 He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. 4 He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies.5 He fills my life with good things. My youth is renewed like the eagles!” (Psalm 103:1-5). God (Jehovah Rapha) heals even when we don’t know God is healing. As we focus on anticipating miracles of healing, David noted that God heals all my diseases. Whenever there is a healing, however there is a healing, whatever form that healing may take, God is the originator.
God has created our bodies to heal
Even as we age and our bodies begin the natural journey of decline, there is still healing in our bodies. God designed our bodies that way. In the next hour alone, your body will shed about 600 thousand skin cells, but you won’t notice because simultaneously your body will also produce 600 thousand more skin cells. Every second of your life, 2 million red blood cells return to your bone marrow to die, and they are replaced every second by another 2 million red blood cells. These red blood cells will make a quarter million round trips around your body before they too return to the bone marrow to die as the healing cycle continues.
Our bodies work even harder when we get sick. Colds typically get better if we give our body enough time to recover. Broken bones mend. Cut fingers heal. While our bodies cannot deal with every sickness without medical intervention, it is obvious that our bodies have an incredible inbuilt capacity to heal what is sick and mend what is broken.
Even though our bodies are mortal, and we all will die a physical death because of sin, God is still committed to healing and wholeness. Healing and wholeness is an expression of God’s character. God is Jehovah Rapha, which is the Hebrew name for the God who heals.
In Jesus, Jehovah Rapha became flesh and dwelt among us
Jesus was known for his healing miracles. The healing miracles were an affirmation and sign of Jesus’ power, authority, and divinity as Messiah.
The prophet, Isaiah, foretold: “5And when he comes, he will open the eyes of the blind and unplug the ears of the deaf. 6 The lame will leap like a deer, and those who cannot speak will sing for joy!” (Isaiah 35:5-6a). The prophecy foretold by Isaiah is exactly what Jesus did! The New Testament Gospels record 26 specific healings by Jesus. In addition, there are blanket healings such as recorded in Luke 4:40: “40 As the sun went down that evening, people throughout the village brought sick family members to Jesus. No matter what their diseases were, the touch of his hand healed every one.”
Jesus did not heal everyone with the same method; Jesus’ healings were custom
Jesus often healed through touch. But sometimes, Jesus would declare it, and it would be true like when in Luke 5, Jesus told the paralytic to take up your mat and walk. In John 9, Jesus used a prescription and applied mud and saliva to one blind man’s eye. In Mark 8, for yet another blind man, Jesus used a two stage healing technique: upon first touch, the blind man’s sight was blurry, then after a second touch from Jesus, the blind man’s sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly.
Jesus’ healings were custom to the person, custom to the need, and custom to place and instruction.
Every healing miracle had certain things in common
Jesus’ healing miracles demonstrated Jesus’ power and authority as God. Jesus’ healing miracles reflected God’s heart of compassion for the hurting and those in need of physical and mental healing care. Jesus’ healing miracles illustrated God’s Kingdom of restoration and wholeness. It also illustrated what God’s Kingdom is truly like, and illustrated the complete healing and wholeness that followers of Jesus will experience one day. Jesus’ healing miracles were invitations to follow Jesus and love Jesus with one’s heart, soul, mind, and strength.
God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, so those truths are just as real today as they were in Jesus’ day
What do miracles look like today? How is Jesus the healer (Jehovah Rapha)? Can we still anticipate miracles? Healing miracles come in so many ways. It isn’t always the healing we are expecting or in the time frame we want. But God is always right there by our side. We can anticipate miracles.
At the start of this mini-series, we discussed the principles in anticipating miracles that also apply to miracles of healing
The principles for anticipating miracles are: (1) Make your request known and leave it in the Lord’s hands; (2) God’s will is always the priority; (3) God’s timing is not our timing, but worth the wait; (4) Tell the story of God’s miracles and give God all the praise; (5) Allow miracles to strengthen and deepen our faith to trust God.
We can tell others God’s miracle of healing and give God praise in a 90 second testimony
The key points to make in sharing your testimony about God’s miracle, including the miracle of healing, are: (1) When did it happen? (2)Where did it happen? (3) Who was involved? (4) What happened? (5) What did you do in response?
In South Bay Community Church, many members have testimonies about miracles of healing.
For example, Rev. Robert Johnson was a member of our church for many years and is now a Chaplain serving in Turlock. His testimony noted miracles from friendship and provision, encouragement and hope, God’s strength through resilience and perseverance, walking through cancer, acts of grace and love, God as a personal trainer to regain his strength, and miracles of medical intervention through the doctors’ use of technology. Even when Robert wanted to go home to be with the Lord, God communicated, not yet, and he was healed from cancer.
Another example is Pastor Tammy Long who was hit by a car that broke part of her knee. The recovery went well allowing her to resume all activities. There is a plate in her knee to help her remember the miracle of her recovery. She is here to tell the story because being hit by a car could have gone any number of ways.
Another example is Edie O’Guinn, one of our members whose testimony is about God sustaining her through the years. About 35 years ago, she was injured and immobilized for close to two years taking pain pills and could not function. God communicated to her, “Get up and live your life.” God instructed her to take half of a pain pill since she had a four year old son to attend to. She then realized that she could function well. As time went on, she became stronger and began functioning like nothing was wrong. With a pinched nerve in her left hip, she lived with pain, but God and her husband got her through.
Another example is Pastor Emeritus Stan Long. Pastor Stan Long had a recent bout with cancer. When it comes to healing, it is a matter of trusting God and not a matter of lacking enough faith. Despite the plans for chemotherapy, all evidence of cancer was completely gone, with nothing there! Pastor Stan Long advised that we pray for healing until God declares: “No.”
Application for activation – a healing prayer in your group with boldness and humility
We invite you in your groups to engage in a healing prayer like we did during the worship service for this message. First, identify those who have experienced a healing miracle. Then, identify those who need healing today. The need for healing could be for yourself or someone for whom you are interceding. The need for healing could be not only for physical challenges, but also mental health challenges in need of healing. Those who have experienced healing gather around and pray for those who need healing.
In Luke 5, the man with the disease of leprosy came to Jesus with boldness and humility: “When the man saw Jesus, he bowed with his face to the ground, begging to be healed. ‘Lord,’ he said, ‘if you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean.’13 Jesus reached out and touched him. ‘I am willing,’ he said. ‘Be healed!’ And instantly the leprosy disappeared.” (Luke 5: 12b-13). We don’t know God’s will in each circumstance, and we know that there are many ways God can heal. The man Jesus healed came both boldly and humbly. We invite you to pray for healing with boldness and humility.
Review again our scripture text, Psalm 103:1-5. Like a bookend, we are ending with how we began – declaring the goodness of God.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS INCLUDING FOR USE IN FAMILY GROUPS
Sermon Preamble
-In what ways have you become more aware that God is the originator of miracles of healing, both by supernatural and natural means?
David was well acquainted with the blessings and benefits of God’s miracles
-In Psalm 103:2, David encourages you to never forget the good things God does for you. The opposite of praising God is to forget what God has done. In what ways can we praise God not only for forgiveness of sin, but also for healing of diseases based on God’s design? Why is praise, instead of forgetting what God has done, more difficult when we are unaware of the many ways God heals?
God has created our bodies to heal
-What are some examples of how God designed your body to heal what is sick and mend what is broken?
In Jesus, Jehovah Rapha became flesh and dwelt among us
-Based on the biblical record of the prophet, Isaiah, and the life and words of Jesus on earth, is the healing only for forgiveness of sins? Explain why the biblical record includes healing of diseases beyond forgiveness of sins.
Jesus did not heal everyone with the same method; Jesus’ healings were custom
-What were different methods Jesus used in healing? In what ways were the healings by Jesus customized to each person?
God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, so those truths are just as real today as they were in Jesus’ day
-What do healing miracles look like today? Can we still anticipate both supernatural and natural miracles?
At the start of this mini-series, we discussed the principles in anticipating miracles that also apply to miracles of healing
-What are the key principles in anticipating miracles of healing?
-What principle in anticipating miracles do you need to consciously apply over the next few weeks?
We can tell others God’s miracle of healing and give God praise in a 90 second testimony
-What is your 90 second testimony praising God for the miracle of healing?
Application for activation – a healing prayer in your group with boldness and humility
-What benefits do you see from a healing prayer in your group including those who have experienced a miracle of healing and those who need a miracle of healing either for yourself or someone for whom you are standing?
This message continues our mini-series on Anticipating Miracles. God is so much more active than we notice. God is performing miracles all around us each and every day through both supernatural and natural means. As I have been communicating about anticipating miracles, my prayer is that your antenna has been raised, and you have become more aware of God’s orchestrations, interventions, and numerous acts of love. Whenever, however, and in whatever form there is healing, God (Jehovah Rapha) is the originator. In Jesus, Jehovah Rapha became flesh and dwelt among us. Jesus’ healing miracles: (1) demonstrated Jesus’ power, authority, and divinity; (2) reflected God’s heart of compassion; (3) illustrated God’s kingdom and wholeness; (4) invited us to follow Jesus and love Him with one’s whole heart, soul, mind, and strength.
David was well acquainted with the blessings and benefits of God’s miracles
Psalm 103:1-5 is an anthem of praise: “Let all that I am praise the Lord; with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name.2 Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me. 3 He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. 4 He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies.5 He fills my life with good things. My youth is renewed like the eagles!” (Psalm 103:1-5). God (Jehovah Rapha) heals even when we don’t know God is healing. As we focus on anticipating miracles of healing, David noted that God heals all my diseases. Whenever there is a healing, however there is a healing, whatever form that healing may take, God is the originator.
God has created our bodies to heal
Even as we age and our bodies begin the natural journey of decline, there is still healing in our bodies. God designed our bodies that way. In the next hour alone, your body will shed about 600 thousand skin cells, but you won’t notice because simultaneously your body will also produce 600 thousand more skin cells. Every second of your life, 2 million red blood cells return to your bone marrow to die, and they are replaced every second by another 2 million red blood cells. These red blood cells will make a quarter million round trips around your body before they too return to the bone marrow to die as the healing cycle continues.
Our bodies work even harder when we get sick. Colds typically get better if we give our body enough time to recover. Broken bones mend. Cut fingers heal. While our bodies cannot deal with every sickness without medical intervention, it is obvious that our bodies have an incredible inbuilt capacity to heal what is sick and mend what is broken.
Even though our bodies are mortal, and we all will die a physical death because of sin, God is still committed to healing and wholeness. Healing and wholeness is an expression of God’s character. God is Jehovah Rapha, which is the Hebrew name for the God who heals.
In Jesus, Jehovah Rapha became flesh and dwelt among us
Jesus was known for his healing miracles. The healing miracles were an affirmation and sign of Jesus’ power, authority, and divinity as Messiah.
The prophet, Isaiah, foretold: “5And when he comes, he will open the eyes of the blind and unplug the ears of the deaf. 6 The lame will leap like a deer, and those who cannot speak will sing for joy!” (Isaiah 35:5-6a). The prophecy foretold by Isaiah is exactly what Jesus did! The New Testament Gospels record 26 specific healings by Jesus. In addition, there are blanket healings such as recorded in Luke 4:40: “40 As the sun went down that evening, people throughout the village brought sick family members to Jesus. No matter what their diseases were, the touch of his hand healed every one.”
Jesus did not heal everyone with the same method; Jesus’ healings were custom
Jesus often healed through touch. But sometimes, Jesus would declare it, and it would be true like when in Luke 5, Jesus told the paralytic to take up your mat and walk. In John 9, Jesus used a prescription and applied mud and saliva to one blind man’s eye. In Mark 8, for yet another blind man, Jesus used a two stage healing technique: upon first touch, the blind man’s sight was blurry, then after a second touch from Jesus, the blind man’s sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly.
Jesus’ healings were custom to the person, custom to the need, and custom to place and instruction.
Every healing miracle had certain things in common
Jesus’ healing miracles demonstrated Jesus’ power and authority as God. Jesus’ healing miracles reflected God’s heart of compassion for the hurting and those in need of physical and mental healing care. Jesus’ healing miracles illustrated God’s Kingdom of restoration and wholeness. It also illustrated what God’s Kingdom is truly like, and illustrated the complete healing and wholeness that followers of Jesus will experience one day. Jesus’ healing miracles were invitations to follow Jesus and love Jesus with one’s heart, soul, mind, and strength.
God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, so those truths are just as real today as they were in Jesus’ day
What do miracles look like today? How is Jesus the healer (Jehovah Rapha)? Can we still anticipate miracles? Healing miracles come in so many ways. It isn’t always the healing we are expecting or in the time frame we want. But God is always right there by our side. We can anticipate miracles.
At the start of this mini-series, we discussed the principles in anticipating miracles that also apply to miracles of healing
The principles for anticipating miracles are: (1) Make your request known and leave it in the Lord’s hands; (2) God’s will is always the priority; (3) God’s timing is not our timing, but worth the wait; (4) Tell the story of God’s miracles and give God all the praise; (5) Allow miracles to strengthen and deepen our faith to trust God.
We can tell others God’s miracle of healing and give God praise in a 90 second testimony
The key points to make in sharing your testimony about God’s miracle, including the miracle of healing, are: (1) When did it happen? (2)Where did it happen? (3) Who was involved? (4) What happened? (5) What did you do in response?
In South Bay Community Church, many members have testimonies about miracles of healing.
For example, Rev. Robert Johnson was a member of our church for many years and is now a Chaplain serving in Turlock. His testimony noted miracles from friendship and provision, encouragement and hope, God’s strength through resilience and perseverance, walking through cancer, acts of grace and love, God as a personal trainer to regain his strength, and miracles of medical intervention through the doctors’ use of technology. Even when Robert wanted to go home to be with the Lord, God communicated, not yet, and he was healed from cancer.
Another example is Pastor Tammy Long who was hit by a car that broke part of her knee. The recovery went well allowing her to resume all activities. There is a plate in her knee to help her remember the miracle of her recovery. She is here to tell the story because being hit by a car could have gone any number of ways.
Another example is Edie O’Guinn, one of our members whose testimony is about God sustaining her through the years. About 35 years ago, she was injured and immobilized for close to two years taking pain pills and could not function. God communicated to her, “Get up and live your life.” God instructed her to take half of a pain pill since she had a four year old son to attend to. She then realized that she could function well. As time went on, she became stronger and began functioning like nothing was wrong. With a pinched nerve in her left hip, she lived with pain, but God and her husband got her through.
Another example is Pastor Emeritus Stan Long. Pastor Stan Long had a recent bout with cancer. When it comes to healing, it is a matter of trusting God and not a matter of lacking enough faith. Despite the plans for chemotherapy, all evidence of cancer was completely gone, with nothing there! Pastor Stan Long advised that we pray for healing until God declares: “No.”
Application for activation – a healing prayer in your group with boldness and humility
We invite you in your groups to engage in a healing prayer like we did during the worship service for this message. First, identify those who have experienced a healing miracle. Then, identify those who need healing today. The need for healing could be for yourself or someone for whom you are interceding. The need for healing could be not only for physical challenges, but also mental health challenges in need of healing. Those who have experienced healing gather around and pray for those who need healing.
In Luke 5, the man with the disease of leprosy came to Jesus with boldness and humility: “When the man saw Jesus, he bowed with his face to the ground, begging to be healed. ‘Lord,’ he said, ‘if you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean.’13 Jesus reached out and touched him. ‘I am willing,’ he said. ‘Be healed!’ And instantly the leprosy disappeared.” (Luke 5: 12b-13). We don’t know God’s will in each circumstance, and we know that there are many ways God can heal. The man Jesus healed came both boldly and humbly. We invite you to pray for healing with boldness and humility.
Review again our scripture text, Psalm 103:1-5. Like a bookend, we are ending with how we began – declaring the goodness of God.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS INCLUDING FOR USE IN FAMILY GROUPS
Sermon Preamble
-In what ways have you become more aware that God is the originator of miracles of healing, both by supernatural and natural means?
David was well acquainted with the blessings and benefits of God’s miracles
-In Psalm 103:2, David encourages you to never forget the good things God does for you. The opposite of praising God is to forget what God has done. In what ways can we praise God not only for forgiveness of sin, but also for healing of diseases based on God’s design? Why is praise, instead of forgetting what God has done, more difficult when we are unaware of the many ways God heals?
God has created our bodies to heal
-What are some examples of how God designed your body to heal what is sick and mend what is broken?
In Jesus, Jehovah Rapha became flesh and dwelt among us
-Based on the biblical record of the prophet, Isaiah, and the life and words of Jesus on earth, is the healing only for forgiveness of sins? Explain why the biblical record includes healing of diseases beyond forgiveness of sins.
Jesus did not heal everyone with the same method; Jesus’ healings were custom
-What were different methods Jesus used in healing? In what ways were the healings by Jesus customized to each person?
God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, so those truths are just as real today as they were in Jesus’ day
-What do healing miracles look like today? Can we still anticipate both supernatural and natural miracles?
At the start of this mini-series, we discussed the principles in anticipating miracles that also apply to miracles of healing
-What are the key principles in anticipating miracles of healing?
-What principle in anticipating miracles do you need to consciously apply over the next few weeks?
We can tell others God’s miracle of healing and give God praise in a 90 second testimony
-What is your 90 second testimony praising God for the miracle of healing?
Application for activation – a healing prayer in your group with boldness and humility
-What benefits do you see from a healing prayer in your group including those who have experienced a miracle of healing and those who need a miracle of healing either for yourself or someone for whom you are standing?
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