Word for Today, Tue 09 Mar 2004: The Ministry of Healing
Posted by: masinick <masinick@...>
Dear friends,
Today's message is from the weekly devotional series called
Sowing Seeds of Faith. As long time readers know, I've been
regularly sharing the Sowing Seeds messages for several years
now. This message is the fourth in a series of messages about
the power of healing and the comfort that God provides as He
heals His people.
Note how God uses people - ordinary people like you and me - as
instruments of His healing. He also uses His Spirit that moves
within us in ways that we simply cannot adequately explain.
Larry uses a number of illustrations, including personal ones, to
share how healing comes.
My own experiences of healing have resulted from personal
experiences of brokenness - in broken relationships - where there
was deep emotional pain and loss, in loss of work - where both
income and self esteem were impacted, in loss of loved ones,
including grandparents, cousins my age, and my father (thankfully
my mother is still alive). I've personally lived through
extended periods of depression, I've done wrong things, I've had
others do wrong things to me. In all of it, my healing and
redemption, as well as my recovery was found both in the
encouragement and prayers of people, and ultimately in the saving
power of Jesus Christ Himself, who brought me hope and a reason
to believe and believe again.
Yours in Christ,
Brian
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Providers. All rights reserved.
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SOWING SEEDS OF FAITH... "Healing Comfort and Ministry" Part 4
The following two requests were on yesterday's prayer list. As
part of your healing ministry you can respond to both by email
and then click on the web site below and join our prayer team.
Name: Diane, Address: Ohio
Email: mailto:Electron28@Excite.com
Comments: My son, Andy, has suffered from depression for two
years. He spends most of his days when he is not working in bed
and on the computer. He has given up playing his clarinet; he
is a gifted musician. He sees a psychiatrist. He is afraid of
taking medicine. Please help him understand that he needs
treatment and that doctors are God's technicians and are here to
help him. Thank you.
Name: Debbie, Address: Louisiana
Email: mailto:debbie_h_pepper@yahoo.com
Comments: My son's girlfriend, age 21, was just diagnosed with
colon cancer. The doctors are surprised to find this in a woman
of her tender age. She's a Christian & believing God is
creating her healing testimony. Please remember Autumn in
prayer. Thank you!
You can become one of our over 8,000 prayer partners by clicking
here: http://www.sowingseedsoffaith.com/sign-up.htm
You can read part one through three of our series on healing and
comfort by clicking here:
http://www.sowingseedsoffaith.com/weeklydev.htm
"Healing Comfort and Ministry" Part 4 by Larry Davies
A woman dying of emphysema taught me that God will not often
physically heal just because we ask: rather healing is a miracle
never to be reduced to an everyday occurrence. However, God
always provides healing comfort if we are alert to recognize and
accept what is offered.
"Peter and John went to the Temple one afternoon to take part in
a prayer service. As they approached the Temple, a man lame from
birth was being carried in. Each day he was put beside the
Temple gate so he could beg from people going into the Temple.
When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for
some money." (Acts 3:1-3)
Joni Eareckson Tada's struggle as a quadriplegic showed how
God's healing comfort became an opportunity for ministry. Joni
eventually became a painter, author and founder of the Christian
organization, "Joni and Friends" which allowed her the
opportunity to be God's witness worldwide.
"Peter and John looked at him intently, and Peter said, 'Look at
us!' The lame man looked at them eagerly, expecting a gift. But
Peter said, 'I don't have any money for you. But I'll give you
what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and
walk!'" (4-6)
My personal encounter with divorce, taught me that God will
allow us to go through pain, disappointment and heartbreak but
in the midst of the crisis, God stands ready to offer healing
comfort and then provides an opportunity for us to offer that
same comfort to others.
"Then Peter took the lame man by the right hand and helped him
up. And as he did, the man's feet and anklebones were healed and
strengthened. He jumped up, stood on his feet, and began to
walk! Then, walking, leaping, and praising God, he went into the
Temple with them." (7-8)
Over the years these three stories helped me understand and
believe in the miracle of God's healing and healing comfort.
This revelation was a critical turning point in my life and
ministry.
. Healing is... a loving act of God's compassion and mercy not a
performance or act.
. Healing involves... spiritual, emotional and physical
wholeness more than physical deeds.
. Healing occurs... in God's way and God's time not simply
because of what we say or do.
. Healing can include... responses such as nursing care,
counseling and acts of friendship.
. Healing may... mean courage to endure suffering and hardship
not an instant reprieve.
. Healing ultimately... trumpets our earthly death as victory
ensuring eternal life in heaven.
"All the people saw him walking and heard him praising God. When
they realized he was the lame beggar they had seen so often at
the Beautiful Gate, they were absolutely astounded! They all
rushed out to Solomon's Colonnade, where he was holding tightly
to Peter and John. Everyone stood there in awe of the wonderful
thing that had happened." (9-11)
During a recent worship service, I shared our intention as a
church to expand our healing ministry in several spiritual and
practical directions. That afternoon we offered our first
healing service. After sharing Scripture and appropriate prayers
our Parish Nurses and pastors stood at the altar and offered an
opportunity for people in the congregation to receive prayers of
healing.
For the longest moment, nothing happened: then the miracle of
God's healing began. First one woman needed help in dealing
with a death. Right behind her was another suffering from
chronic back problems. One man confessed an addiction and asked
for help. While a musician quietly played in the background
others patiently waited their turn as for over an hour we prayed
for one person after another. I never before witnessed such a
spiritual and emotional outpouring.
The Scripture above illustrates a chance encounter between Peter
and a man born lame. One is looking for a handout while another
plans to attend a prayer service. Yet, somehow God turns this
ordinary event into a miracle of healing. What should be our
response? We can only stand in awe.
Read Sowing Seeds of Faith... everyday! Click here:
http://www.sowingseedsoffaith.com/Devotions.htm
Are you receiving prayer concerns from around the world? Join
our prayer team today. Check it out by clicking here:
http://www.sowingseedsoffaith.com/sign-up.htm
How can I regularly support your ministry? Become a Sowing Seeds
Ministry partner. Click here:
http://www.sowingseedsoffaith.com/ministry_partner.htm
Jesus said: "You are the light of the world--like a city on a
mountain, glowing in the night for all to see. Don't hide your
light under a basket! Instead, put it on a stand and let it
shine for all." (Matthew 5:14-15)
"Breaking the Peanut Butter Habit: Following God's Recipe for a
Better Life" now on sale only through our website.
http://www.sowingseedsoffaith.com/peanbutt.htm
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Brian Masinick, mailto:masinick@yahoo.com
Home page: http://www.geocities.com/masinick/
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