Category: Healing - GOSPEL OF MARK PROJECT

GOSPEL OF MARK PROJECT

Gennesaret

7/25/2022

Scripture Reading: Mark 6:53-56 NASB95
When they had crossed over they came to land at Gennesaret and moored to the shore. [54] When they got out of the boat, immediately the people recognized Him, [55] and ran about that whole country and began to carry here and there on their pallets those who were sick, to the place they heard He was. [56] Wherever He entered villages, or cities, or countryside, they were laying the sick in the marketplaces, and imploring Him that they might just touch the fringe of His cloak; and as many as touched it were being cured.

In the early days of Jesus' ministry, He spent most of His time in the region of Galilee. Jesus fed 5,000 people near the Sea of Galilee. Jesus preached His most famous sermon on a mountain over-looking the Sea of Galilee. He called His "fishermen" disciples while they were fishing on the Sea of Galilee. By the time Jesus landed with His disciples in the land of Gennesaret, He was well-known in the villages and cities around the Sea of Galilee.

When Jesus landed in Gennesaret He was immediately recognized. Word of mouth was spreading His fame in that region. Jesus was doing "things" that no-one had seen since the time of Elijah. Jesus was doing miracles. He was healing the sick. He raised a young girl from the dead. It also seemed as if He taught with a spiritual insight and authority that was missing in the teaching of the Pharisees.

As Jesus traveled the dusty trails of Judea, and sailed across the Sea of Galilee, He was always advancing the Kingdom of God. In fact, part of His message was, "Repent, for the Kingdom of God is at hand." Jesus was a light in the darkness; He was the Kingdom of God at hand. Jesus was establishing His Kingdom in every heart that believed in Him. Finally, Jesus was setting an example for His followers (the Church) to follow. Jesus was and is the light of the world. That is also the role of the Church in the world today. We (the Church) are the light of the world. Jesus has given us the mandate and the power to extend the Kingdom of God. We extend the Kingdom of God with every new convert who makes the decision to follow Jesus.

Questions to Consider:

Do you think that you would have been a good candidate to become one of the 12 disciples? (Why or why not)
What can you do to help raise the visibility of Jesus in this Post-Modern world?
What does the concept of "repentance" mean to you?

A Culture of Honor

6/17/2022

“Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? Are not His sisters here with us?” And they took offense at Him. 4Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and among his own relatives and in his own household.” Mark 6:3-4 NASB

Jesus went back to His hometown of Nazareth with a desire to bring miracles, revelation, healing, and salvation to His own people. But when He gets there and begins teaching in the synagogue, His own people and family begin to question who He is and how He is capable to doing the miracles and powerful teaching. In context, there have been 400 years of silence as it pertains to a prophetic voice. Then suddenly John the Baptist and Jesus come onto the scene and the people begin wondering if Jesus is the Messiah that they have been hoping and waiting for. The same story in the gospel of Luke tells us that Jesus reads Isaiah 61:1-2 and tells the people that this prophecy has been fulfilled in their hearing. Jesus is declaring Himself to be the fulfillment of the words of Isaiah and the people are astonished. But they began to realize that this is Jesus; the carpenter, the son of Mary, and the sibling of those who lived with them. They were amazed one minute and then offended the next. They couldn't see how one of there very own people was seemingly special. They missed out on who Jesus was and what He was bringing because they did not honor Him. No miracles took place in Nazareth because of the people's unbelief and their lack of honor.
Honor is a vital attribute in the church that is desperately lacking today. To be blunt, we do not honor one another rightly and because of that we are lacking as the church in America. To honor someone means to give "weight", worth and value. That means that whenever someone speaks or acts we pay attention to what they are saying and doing as if it actually matters and as if it has value. Honor means we see who they are (through the eyes of God) instead of what they lack. When Jesus would heal people, He would often allow the people to share what they or someone else needed healing from. He was listening to their request as if their request and petition had value; then He would act.
In the same story found in Luke 4:16-30, Jesus gives two Old Testament examples of how God bypassed Israel to bring provision and healing to other nations because of Israel's lack of honor.
“But I say to you in truth, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the sky was shut up for three years and six months, when a great famine came over all the land; 26and yet Elijah was sent to none of them, but only to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. Luke 4:25-26
God's people missed out on supernatural provision during a time of drought and famine because they lacked honor of Elijah and God. Yet, a widow in the land of Sidon received supernatural provision because she honored Elijah who was sent by God to her. Her honor of Elijah, and belief in a miracle released supernatural provision.
“And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.” Luke 4:27
Jesus also says that God's people missed out on supernatural healing during the time of Elisha because they did not honor Elisha or God rightly. Jesus says that there were many lepers in Israel, yet God healed Naaman the Syrian. Naaman (eventually) honored Elisha and the word of the Lord that Elisha spoke to him to go wash 7 times in the Jordan to be cleansed. His honor of Elisha, and belief of the word of the Lord released supernatural healing.
What could be possible with us if we begin to truly honor one another simply for the Spirit living inside of us, and the gifting's that God has given to each on of us? I surely do not want to miss out on what God is doing through others because I do not honor the people that God has brought into my life. Let us develop a culture of honoring one another in our church today and see God move through His church in mighty ways.
Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king. 1 Peter 2:17 NASB

Questions to Consider:

1. What are ways that we can develop a culture of honor in our church today?

2. Can you think of someone that you have dishonored in the past or recently? What are some ways that you can restore that relationship through humility?

Drawing Close or Touching Him?

6/9/2022

A woman who had had a hemorrhage for twelve years, 26and had endured much at the hands of many physicians, and had spent all that she had and was not helped at all, but rather had grown worse— 27after hearing about Jesus, she came up in the crowd behind Him and touched His cloak. 28For she thought, “If I just touch His garments, I will get well.” Immediately the flow of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction. 30Immediately Jesus, perceiving in Himself that the power proceeding from Him had gone forth, turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched My garments?” 31And His disciples said to Him, “You see the crowd pressing in on You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’” Mark 5:25-31 NASB

There was a large crowd following Jesus when He stepped foot on the other side of the sea of Galilee. In that crowd was people who had seen Jesus' miracles while others had just heard the stories. But everyone in that crowd had a sense of awe and expectation while they were following Jesus. They would ask one another: "Who is this Man and how is He able to do these things; What is He going to do next?" But in the midst of the crowd was one individual who was not content to remain a spectator. There was a woman that had a hemorrhage for twelve years that had endured much at the hands of doctors and spent every bit of money she had to find healing from her affliction. Scripture tells us that she thought to herself "If I just touch His garments, I will get well." Where did this thought come from? How did she have that type of faith to believe that simply touching the cloak of Jesus would bring about complete healing? Anything that encourages us to press in and touch Christ originates from the Holy Spirit. This thought came to her as a whisper to her spirit from the Spirit of God. The healing result came about because of her obedience to that word.
Jesus knowing what had happened asked "Who touched My garments?" The disciples are confused because there are possibly hundreds of people pressing in on Jesus and Jesus wants to know who touched Him. Here is one of the keys to this passage: "There are many who draw close to Christ and many who press in on Him but very few have the faith to reach out and touch Him". We live in a time today like what we see in this passage. A time where following Jesus is popular and the cool thing to do but could easily be replaced by something more exciting. We are living in the midst of an epidemic of nominal Christianity where "pressing in" on Jesus once a week may make us feel good but doesn't bring about lasting or noticeable transformation. A time when being lukewarm is labeled as "hot" and being truly hot causes you to be labeled as "fanatical". "By the time the average Christian get his temperature up to normal, everybody thinks he has a fever!"- Watchman Nee
What did this woman have to overcome internally and externally to reach out and touch Jesus? She had to overcome the fear of man and doubts on the inside and the potential judgments from others on the outside. She had to overcome the fear of having the reputation of being the only one to touch this "celebrity" figure. She had to overcome her doubts that said "He may not be able to heal you". She had to lay down her pride and dignity to experience Christ the way that she did. Do you desire to experience Christ at a greater level? Are you in need of a touch from Christ? The one thing that must be crucified within all of us is the desire to look dignified. No man or woman of God has ever done anything great for the kingdom while carrying the desire to look good for men. Those are polar opposites and one must, and will be crucified for the other. This woman laid everything down and was the only one from the crowd that we see receiving a healing touch. Press in and draw close to Jesus every chance you get; but don't stop there. Take a risk like this woman did and go beyond everyone else to reach out and touch Christ. Faith is always risky but the reward is even greater.

Questions to Consider:

1. What are the things holding you back from experiencing more of Christ?

2. How would you honestly and truthfully describe your relationship with Christ at this moment? How can we as a church come alongside of you to help you grow?

When Push Comes to Shove

6/6/2022

Scripture Reading: Mark 5:21-24 NASB95
When Jesus had crossed over again in the boat to the other side, a large crowd gathered around Him; and so He stayed by the seashore. [22] One of the synagogue officials named Jairus came up, and on seeing Him, fell at His feet [23] and implored Him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter is at the point of death; please come and lay Your hands on her, so that she will get well and live.” [24] And He went off with him; and a large crowd was following Him and pressing in on Him.

Jairus was a religious person, an official of the synagogue. He was facing a desperate situation. His 12-year-old daughter was sick to the point of death. If this story took place in the Post-Modern world of today, this young girl would have been in intensive care at the local hospital. Jairus was facing an impossible situation. No doubt, push had come to shove in Jairus' life.

Jesus' fame had been spreading throughout the country. (Which is what happens to the person who is healing the sick, casting out demons, and performing miracles) Jairus was convinced that Jesus could make the difference between life and death. He spoke a word of faith to Jesus. "My little daughter is at the point of death; please come and lay your hands on her, so that she will get well and live."

Have you ever faced an impossible situation where you needed a miracle? That is where Jairus was at...he needed a miracle. Notice that he did not consult with the religious rulers of the synagogue. He went to the source of life and salvation. He was not disappointed!

Questions to Consider:

What or who do you put your trust in when you are facing a difficult or impossible situation?
Are you convinced that God is a good Father? (Do you believe that God is your rock, shield, strong tower and hope?)

Naaman is Healed

5/30/2022

Scripture Reading: 2 Kings 5:2-14 NASB95
Now the Arameans had gone out in bands and had taken captive a little girl from the land of Israel; and she waited on Naaman’s wife. [3] She said to her mistress, “I wish that my master were with the prophet who is in Samaria! Then he would cure him of his leprosy.” [4] Naaman went in and told his master, saying, “Thus and thus spoke the girl who is from the land of Israel.” [5] Then the king of Aram said, “Go now, and I will send a letter to the king of Israel.” He departed and took with him ten talents of silver and six thousand shekels of gold and ten changes of clothes. [6] He brought the letter to the king of Israel, saying, “And now as this letter comes to you, behold, I have sent Naaman my servant to you, that you may cure him of his leprosy.” [7] When the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes and said, “Am I God, to kill and to make alive, that this man is sending word to me to cure a man of his leprosy? But consider now, and see how he is seeking a quarrel against me.” [8] It happened when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, that he sent word to the king, saying, “Why have you torn your clothes? Now let him come to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel.” [9] So Naaman came with his horses and his chariots and stood at the doorway of the house of Elisha. [10] Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh will be restored to you and you will be clean.” [11] But Naaman was furious and went away and said, “Behold, I thought, ‘He will surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, and wave his hand over the place and cure the leper.’ [12] Are not Abanah and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?” So he turned and went away in a rage. [13] Then his servants came near and spoke to him and said, “My father, had the prophet told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more then, when he says to you, ‘Wash, and be clean’?” [14] So he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God; and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child and he was clean.

The story of Naaman makes several points concerning healing clear:

God was healing people in the Old Testament
God heals people who are not people of faith
God does not follow a specific pattern to bring about a healing event

What an amazing story. Through the proxy of Elisha, a prophet of Israel, God healed Naaman. The method by which the healing took place was rather unorthodox. Elisha did not pray over Naaman; in fact, when Naaman came to the door of Elisha's house, Elisha did not even meet with Naaman. Instead, Elisha sent his servant to deliver some special instructions. Naaman was furious and probably frustrated. He was expecting Elisha to put on a show.

Naaman was angry enough that he was not going to follow Elisha's instructions. Naaman's servant posed a question to Naaman: (My paraphrase) "Naaman would you rather have a show and die from leprosy or follow the instructions of the prophet and be healed?" Naaman decided he would humble himself and do as instructed. Down to the muddy Jordan River Naaman went to dip himself seven times. (What a crazy thing to do? Or maybe not...) Naaman was healed!

We need to remind ourselves that God does not always work according a formula or as we expect Him to do. I also think that we need to realize that perhaps God wants to heal people who are not people of faith. God heals so that faith is birthed in the hearts of those that do not believe in him. In the case of Naaman, the intervention of God could not be denied.

Questions to be Considered:

How would you have responded to the prophet's seemingly slight?
What would you do if God somehow gave you some "weird" instructions outside what is expected?
Why do you think God would heal a man like Naaman?

Transformation & Habitation

5/13/2021

Text: Mark 3:13-19 NASB 13 And He went up on the mountain and summoned those whom He Himself wanted, and they came to Him. 14 And He appointed twelve, so that they would be with Him and that He could send them out to preach, 15 and to have authority to cast out the demons. 16 And He appointed the twelve: Simon (to whom He gave the name Peter), 17 and James, the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James (to them He gave the name Boanerges, which means, "Sons of Thunder"); 18 and Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Zealot; 19 and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Him.

Questions to Consider:

1. Are you in need of a touch from Christ in this season of your life? Will you reach out to someone and ask for prayer today so that we can all witness the power of God?

2. Do you know people who need a touch of Christ but are not wanting to submit to Christ? Will you take a moment to pray for them right now?

3. What is in an area of your life that God is asking you to submit currently?

13 And He went up on the mountain and summoned those whom He Himself wanted, and they came to Him.

Mark tells us that Jesus 'went up on the mountain'. Before this trip up the mountain, Jesus has just been with crowds of people healing them and casting out demons. So much supernatural activity was taking place that people were pushing in around Him just to touch Him and receive some sort of healing or transformation, physically. Jesus leaves this place and heads up the mountain where He calls His disciples to Him.
This is a key point for us to understand, especially in the world we live in today; not everyone who wants a touch from Jesus will follow Him up the mountain. There are those who seek a touch from Jesus but not a relationship with Jesus. They believe that to receive a touch from Christ is devoid of a relationship with Christ. The gospel of Jesus is a gospel of transformation and habitation; you cannot have one without the other. We are transformed by Christ (new creature in Christ- 2 Cor 5:17) and inhabited by Christ (Christ, who lives in me- Gal 2:20).
We live in a world and a culture today where the majority are seeking the benefits of Christ but not Christ Himself. If we were to take a poll of how many WANT to go to hell when they die, very few people would raise their hands, understandably so. If we were to poll the same people and ask "how many of you want to advance the kingdom of heaven on earth?" Would we have the same amount of hands raised? I'm sure a few more would raise their hands, but it is certainly a possibility that it would still be the minority; and that is my point. There is nothing wrong with seeking what Christ offers like healing, salvation, reconciliation and deliverance. In fact there are times when we are in seasons of need and our Father is there to meet all of our needs according to His riches in glory (Phil 4:19).
But, we must understand how Christ and our Father operates. Jesus does not just send down healing, salvation or deliverance from heaven like a bolt of lightning or like a genie snapping his fingers. Instead, Jesus literally comes down with the Holy Spirit and inhabits a place and while He is present, healing, salvation, deliverance and revelation all begin to flow. So to seek the benefits of Christ without seeking the person of Christ is misinformed.
Disciples are those who seek after Christ, Himself. Disciples are those who follow Him into the sea of healing (Mark 3:7-12) as well as up to the mountain of mission (Mark 3:13-18). Disciples are those who follow Christ to the point where they are summoned to participate with Christ. Which is exactly what we see in verses 14 & 15.
When we follow Christ we are following the Healer, we are following the Deliverer, we are following the Savior. As we follow, we will see Him acting in power.
The cry of the heart of disciples of Jesus is "Where Christ is, He will be moving" so... "Where Christ is, is where I want to be."

A Healing Touch

4/28/2021

Luke 8:43-48. 43 And a woman who had suffered a chronic flow of blood for twelve years, and could not be healed by anyone, 44 came up behind Him and touched the fringe of His cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped. 45 And Jesus said, “Who is the one who touched Me?” And while they were all denying it, Peter said, “Master, the people are crowding and pressing in on You.” 46 But Jesus said, “Someone did touch Me, for I was aware that power had left Me.” 47 Now when the woman saw that she had not escaped notice, she came trembling and fell down before Him, and admitted in the presence of all the people the reason why she had touched Him, and how she had been immediately healed. 48 And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.”

Jesus could heal with a touch. Mark 3:10 tells us that afflicted people crowded in close to Jesus in order to "touch" Him. Luke 8:43-38 records the story of the woman with the issue of blood. She had suffered for twelve years and no physician had been able to cure her problem. When she heard about Jesus' healing power, she sought Him out.
She got close enough to Jesus to touch Him. In fact, she was only able to touch the fringe of His cloak; but it was close enough to release Jesus' healing power. The woman was instantly healed when she touched Jesus.
Jesus was aware that someone had touched Him, because He felt the power or healing virtue as it left Him. You can imagine why the crowds were following Jesus, and why those same crowds wanted to get close enough to Jesus as to touch Him. This is another example of a work of God's grace (1 Corinthians 12 speaks of the gift of healing as a work of God's grace) being imparted through physical contact.

Questions to Consider:

How did the woman with the issue of blood demonstrate her faith?
What is the connection between faith and healing? (refer to James 5:13-16)
What Biblical instructions are we given concerning those that are sick that would apply to the church today?

"We Have Never Seen Anything Like This!"

3/18/2021

Text: Mark 2:1-12 When Jesus came back to Capernaum a few days later, it was heard that He was at home. 2 And many were gathered together, so that there was no longer space, not even near the door; and He was speaking the word to them. 3 And some people came, bringing to Him a man who was paralyzed, carried by four men. 4 And when they were unable to get to Him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above Him; and after digging an opening, they let down the pallet on which the paralyzed man was lying. 5 And Jesus, seeing their faith, said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” 6 But some of the scribes were sitting there and thinking it over in their hearts, 7 “Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins except God alone?” 8 Immediately Jesus, aware in His spirit that they were thinking that way within themselves, said to them, “Why are you thinking about these things in your hearts? 9 Which is easier, to say to the paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven’; or to say, ‘Get up, and pick up your pallet and walk'? 10 But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—He said to the paralyzed man, 11 “I say to you, get up, pick up your pallet, and go home.” 12 And he got up and immediately picked up the pallet and went out in the sight of everyone, so that they were all amazed and were glorifying God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”

Questions to Consider:

1. Have you ever experienced something so amazing at the hand of God that caused you to say "I've never seen anything like this!"?

2. What is it that keeps us from experiencing things today, like what took place in the story of this man?

3. What do you think is needed for our church and for the church at large to have people come and go saying "I've never seen anything like this!"?

And he got up and immediately picked up the pallet and went out in the sight of everyone, so that they were all amazed and were glorifying God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”

This sentiment of "We have never seen anything like this!" was common in the life and ministry of Christ and the first church.
Is it the same with the church today?
From RJ Dugone:
Let me propose something radical: We need less tradition and more, “We have never seen anything like this!” We need less tried and true and more, “We have never seen anything like this!” We need less of mundane, same old, same old, and more, “We have never seen anything like this!” We need to experience God in a way that causes people to say, “We have never seen anything like this!” To experience something that is so outside the box, so outside the expectation, so outside experience that people would proclaim, “We have never seen anything like this;” It would need to be something that is out of the ordinary. Perhaps even supernatural. By definition “supernatural” is a force that is beyond scientific understanding or the laws of nature.
When it comes to a supernatural move of God—where do we even begin? Well, you begin by believing enough to make God your first stop in prayer. You begin by believing enough to bring your two loaves and a few fishes to Jesus, so that He can feed 5,000. You begin by believing enough to haul your friend who is paralyzed to Jesus by any means possible. You begin by fighting through the crowd to touch the hem of Jesus’ garment. You make running to Jesus (who is your advocate and makes intercession for you) the person that you turn to when you are faced with things that are difficult, and maybe even impossible—never forgetting that with God, all things are possible!
Missionary/Author Nik Ripken was asked, “Why don’t we see God doing miracles in our time like we read about in the Book of Acts?” (Let me paraphrase Nik’s answer) “If you want to see healings, and demons being cast out, and miracles; go serve as a missionary in a third world country where Believers are forced by circumstances to trust in God. When there are no doctors, no hospitals, no medical facilities of any kind; going to God becomes the default position for Believers. They ask for prayer and they are healed. In the American church, going to the doctor has become our default position, and we have not, because we ask not.”
Listen to the exhortation of James. He is giving us the default position of faith when we are sick. James 5:14-15 (NASB) 14 Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; 15 and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him.
Is anyone among you sick? HE MUST call for the elders of the church. He must…we must! This is our default position when it comes to sickness. We start by calling for the elders to pray for us. Why do we call for the elders to pray over us? Because we know that the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick. When we do this, we have taken the first step to move away from the mundane.
Do we want to see God move in a way that causes people to say, “We have never seen anything like this?” It all starts with believing in Jesus enough to ask, to knock and to seek. In the case of the paralyzed man, his friends believed enough to push through all the natural barriers that stood between them and Jesus. Even the roof was not enough to deter them from the miracle that was waiting to happen.

A Story of Healing

2/26/2021

I performed a wedding ceremony. (It was the wedding of the now Lieutenant Governor of the State of Idaho) What an event! The reception has all the expected food; and an amazing array of deserts were calling my name. I ate a large piece of carrot cake with thick cream-cheese frosting. It was delicious; and to this day, I cannot eat carrot cake with cream-cheese frosting, now let me tell you the rest of the story. Jody left the wedding reception earlier than I did, to take care of our two young children. About an hour later I walked into the house and the first words that I spoke to Jody was this: "I'm not feeling very well. I feel sick at my stomach, but it feels different. I just hurt." I spent the next 6 hours trying to find a position that would relieve the pain. I threw-up the carrot cake with cream-cheese frosting. No relief. I took a hot bath. No relief. I laid on the bed. No relief. I laid on the floor. No relief. I curled up into a ball. No relief. I finally, after 6 hours of no relief, had Jody call my mom and dad and asked them to take me to the hospital. Mom came to watch our children, and dad and Jody rushed me to the hospital. I could hardly walk into the emergency room. Seeing my distress, the doctor on duty immediately put me on a gurney and had the nurse take my vitals. The blood work and a quick examination revealed that my appendix was swollen and that my white blood count was elevated. It was all in keeping with someone with appendicitis. I was still in incredible pain. The doctor left to schedule the surgery ASAP. In the meantime, Jody laid a hand on my stomach and prayed a short fervent prayer of faith. "Jesus, please take Ron's pain away. Amen!" I felt a rush of warmth that seems to move from Jody's hand and filled my abdominal cavity. In one instant I went from excruciating pain to absolutely no pain. When the doctor returned, he asked me how I was feeling. I said, "I feel great! My wife prayed for me and the pain went away." He said, "That may not be good. Your appendix may have ruptured. We will get you into surgery as soon as possible. He did one last check by pressing on my appendix, and asked if I was feeling any pain. I assured him that I felt no pain. He said, "Well, either you do not feel pain or you are the most stoic patient I have ever had." I was wheeled into surgery and the next thing I knew I was waking up in recovery. The surgeon came in a short time later and confirmed that my appendix did indeed need to be removed, but that it had not ruptured. One more word concerning Jody's prayer for my pain. While in the hospital I never required a shot for pain; never took any pain medications at all. Jody prayed for Jesus to take away my pain and He did.

My Takeaways: To this day, I cannot abide eating carrot cake, especially not with cream-cheese frosting. In fact, I cannot eat cream-cheese unless it is not noticeable to my taste-buds.

Appendicitis is not a fun experience. The doctor compared it to the pain that a woman suffers during labor. If that is true, then my concern and respect for women who bring children into this world is off the charts.

Prayers do not need to be fancy to work. Jody's prayer for me only contained seven words. "Jesus, please take Ron's pain away. Amen!" Seven words prayed in faith and the pain was gone. I do not mean that it was reduced but still there--no, it was gone!

Our first response to any crisis should be prayer. I kind of wish that Jody had prayed that prayer about 6 hours earlier. Whatever we are going through or whatever trouble that may have found us, our default position as Believers should be to turn to God in prayer.

Questions to Consider:

Do you think that "we" might see more miraculous events if we turned to God and prayed about the troubles we face?
Do you think that God is inclined to "hear" and answer our prayers?
What does the fervent prayer of a righteous person "look like" to you?

Explaining Healing Away

2/25/2021

John 14:10-14 (NASB)
10 "Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works. 11 "Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe because of the works themselves. 12 "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father. 13 "Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 "If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.

2 Timothy 3:1-5 (NASB)
1 But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. 2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, 4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these.

Apologetics/Theology: In addressing His disciples, Jesus declared that they would do the same works that He did and even greater works. (John 14:12) If you examine the "works" that Jesus did it is a pretty extraordinary thought to suppose that we would engage in the "same" works. I do not believe that this gives the church of today, the permission to explain away the possibility of healing through the ministry of the saints. It is difficult to maintain a cessationist view of healing and other spiritual gifts in light of Christ's declaration. Why are "we" instructed to pray for the sick if we do not expect the sick to be healed? Make no mistake, Jesus is the healer, but He uses us as His vessels that continue to administer His grace; and so, we lay hands upon the sick and pray with the expectation that the atoning work of Christ is still in force and that the sick will be restored to health.

A Sign of the Times: The Apostle Paul declares that the last days will be difficult times. One of the more subtle signs will occur in the circle of religious people. v.5 "Holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power."
The attempt to put theological limits on the power of God in and through the people of God is a dangerous proposition. So dangerous that Paul told us to "avoid such men as these." Does God heal, save, restore and transform people today? "Yes!"

Questions to Consider:

What would motivate religious people to deny the power of God working in their generation?
How would you describe, "doing the same works" as what Jesus did?
Have you ever personally experienced an event that you would describe as a miracle?