Spiritual Encounter Part 3

New Abilities

1 Cor 12:7-11

But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: 

8 for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.

Understand Healing (cure) ~vs~ Miracles (power)

Causes of Sickness 

• Original Sin; fall of man:  Not caused by sin in the individual, but because we live in a fallen world, where sickness and disease lives.  Ex. Viruses, bacteria, carcinogens
• Rom 5:12.  Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned

• Sin, directly – in the individual – Matt 9:2 NLT
• Some people brought to him a paralyzed man on a mat. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, "Be encouraged, my child! Your sins are forgiven."

• John 5:14.  But afterward Jesus found him in the Temple and told him, "Now you are well; so stop sinning, or something even worse may happen to you."  NLT

• Unforgiveness – Matt 6:14-15

• Not discerning the Lord’s Body – 1 Cor 11:28-30
• But let a man examine himself… For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. 30 For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep.

• Dishonoring Parents – Eph 6:1-3
• Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 "Honor your father and mother," which is the first commandment with promise: 3 "that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth."

• Disregarding Principles – Prov 4:20-22
• My child, pay attention to what I say.  Listen carefully to my words. 21 Don't lose sight of them.  Let them penetrate deep into your heart, 22 for they bring life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body.

• Generational curses, i.e. Sin (John 9:2-3), DNA, genetic traits, etc.

• Not taking care of your Body – bad eating habits, lack of exercise, nicotine, drugs

• Emotional state / Stress – Prov 17:22
• A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person's strength.

• Environmental factors, poisons, medical treatment, etc.

Jesus came to reverse the effects of sin 

1 John 3:8.  For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.

Isa 53:5.  He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.

Ps 103:3.  He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases.

He gave His life for our freedom from sin and sickness 

Jesus wants us to be healed! – It’s His Will!

It’s also His will that we do what He did!

Mark 16:17-18

These signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover."

Healing is not just to you, but through you

          You have New Abilities to do what Jesus did – HEAL

Different practices for healing:

•        Laid hands on, or touched the person – Luke 4:40, et al
•        Used spit – Mark 7 (tongue) & 8 (eyes)
•        Commanded the person – “stretch out hand” Lk 6:10
•        Spoke to the condition – “rebuked the fever” Lk 4:39
•        Sent His Word – Matt 8:5-10; Ps 107:20
•        Made new eyes – John 9:6
•        Addressed the sin first – paralyzed man Matt 9
•        Separated from spectators and faithless (controlled environment) – Mark 5:35-43
•        It took more than once – Mark 8:22-25   So He took the blind man by the hand… out of the town. He spit on his eyes and put His hands on him, He asked him if he saw anything.  ²⁴ He… said, "I see men like trees, walking."  ²⁵ Then He put His hands on his eyes again and made him look up. And he was restored and saw everyone clearly.

•        Anointing with oil (Disciples & Elders) – Mark 6:13; James 5:14-15
•        Prayer cloths (Paul) – Acts 19:11-12
•        Shadow (Peter) – Acts 5:17

Sometimes, healing takes time

Isa 38:1. Hezekiah was sick and near death…   5. God promised him healing.

2 Kings 20:8.  It took 3 days for his healing, after the application of medicine

Sometimes Jesus operated in His gift of healing

• “Take up your bed and walk” to the man at the pool – John 5
  • The man’s healing was not based on his faith

Sometimes, it was the person’s faith

• Woman w/ issue of blood – Matt 9:22 “your faith has made you whole”
• Blind Bartimeaus – Mk 10:46-52 “be it unto you according to your faith”

Or lack of faith

• Mark 6:5.  Now He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them.

Retaining Healing

Thanksgiving & Testifying finishes the process

Luke 17:12-19 – Ten Lepers

He said to them, "Go, show yourselves to the priests." And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed.

¹⁵ And one of them, when he saw that he was healed (cured), returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, ¹⁶ and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan.

¹⁷ So Jesus answered and said, "Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine?  ¹⁸ Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?" 

¹⁹ And He said to him, "Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well [whole]."

Testimonies

1. Increase Faith
2. Rev 19:10.  For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."

• What Jesus has done is a testimony to what He will do

1. Jesus comes to where He is honored

Increase happens with proper use of what I’ve been given

To the healed & the healer:

References to medical treatment in the Bible

• ·       Matt 9:12
• ·       Col 4:14
• ·       1 Tim 5:23
• ·       Prov 17:22
• ·       Is 38:21
• ·       Jer 8:22

James 5:14-16

Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer of faith will save (make whole) the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.