WEBVTT

00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.439
 Go ahead and open your Bibles up to Acts chapter 9.

00:00:07.440 --> 00:00:21.440
 And before we get going this morning, I just want to confess to you that I have a very heavy heart for what we're going to talk about today.

00:00:21.440 --> 00:00:22.440
!

00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:32.340
 Cheers to hear from His Word today.

00:00:34.159 --> 00:00:37.899
 I had a hard time actually narrowing down what to say and what not to say.

00:00:38.740 --> 00:00:41.980
 And I pray that as I go, I can continue to kind of do that.

00:00:43.359 --> 00:00:44.859
 Just join me in a word of prayer.

00:00:44.859 --> 00:00:58.820
 Father, we come together as Your people, people that have been purchased by the blood of Your Son and who belong to You.

00:01:00.000 --> 00:01:02.039
 And God, we come to Your Word this morning.

00:01:02.619 --> 00:01:04.400
 We love it.

00:01:04.640 --> 00:01:05.859
 We respect it.

00:01:06.060 --> 00:01:08.260
 We wish to obey it.

00:01:10.060 --> 00:01:15.219
 Because it is Your Word, it's not just a book with paper and print.

00:01:15.219 --> 00:01:19.620
 It is Your inspired Word that is living and active.

00:01:19.980 --> 00:01:26.840
 I pray it will work in our hearts today and that it would have its desired effect on each one of us.

00:01:26.840 --> 00:01:29.420
 In Christ's name, Amen.

00:01:31.880 --> 00:01:41.219
 So, in Acts 9, we have been, the last two weeks, covering the conversion of Saul of Tarsus into the Apostle Paul.

00:01:42.300 --> 00:01:45.879
 And if you just look at verse 31, we'll kind of just start there.

00:01:46.460 --> 00:01:47.780
 Just kind of walk through it together.

00:01:48.180 --> 00:01:51.100
 But just sort of an introduction, we see in verse 31,

00:01:51.099 --> 00:02:03.239
 So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up and walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit.

00:02:03.479 --> 00:02:04.379
 It multiplied.

00:02:04.379 --> 00:02:10.740
 So after this brief period of persecution that we read about, we've been looking at the last couple of weeks,

00:02:11.400 --> 00:02:15.919
 after this period of persecution, it was more of a Jewish persecution.

00:02:16.079 --> 00:02:16.900
 That's what I've said before.

00:02:16.960 --> 00:02:19.000
 It wasn't a persecution from the empire.

00:02:19.680 --> 00:02:25.879
 And some of the political changes by Rome actually ended the persecution against the Christians.

00:02:25.879 --> 00:02:31.759
 Because they just kind of saw it as, you know, the Jews are just making an uproar over nothing, quit causing trouble.

00:02:32.759 --> 00:02:34.859
 And so more or less, the persecution ended.

00:02:35.280 --> 00:02:37.340
 And then Saul was converted.

00:02:38.500 --> 00:02:40.719
 And we see that they were walking in the fear of the Lord.

00:02:40.799 --> 00:02:43.879
 The people were being built up, living before God.

00:02:43.900 --> 00:02:45.979
 And they were being comforted by the Holy Spirit.

00:02:45.979 --> 00:02:55.599
 And it's always sweet to remember that after a time of trial or persecution, God always will come to you and comfort you.

00:02:56.219 --> 00:02:57.839
 And that's kind of what happens here.

00:02:57.879 --> 00:03:02.759
 He's taking his people and building them back up after this trial that they have faced.

00:03:03.780 --> 00:03:05.299
 And so we move on.

00:03:05.379 --> 00:03:11.780
 And something that Luke does here, Luke, who wrote the book, the Gospel of Luke, also wrote Acts, if you don't know that.

00:03:11.780 --> 00:03:15.300
 He was a doctor and like a historian.

00:03:16.640 --> 00:03:24.319
 So Luke shifts from Paul back to Peter and goes back to the ministry of Peter.

00:03:25.099 --> 00:03:32.719
 And Peter begins to leave Jerusalem to kind of go up to the coastal plain of Judea to kind of take the Gospel up there.

00:03:33.479 --> 00:03:39.259
 And we first see that he kind of stops in Lydda, which is about 23 miles northwest of Jerusalem.

00:03:39.259 --> 00:03:44.219
 And we witness then on up to Joppa, the big coastal city of Joppa.

00:03:44.519 --> 00:03:47.159
 So he's kind of going traveling northwest along this road.

00:03:48.039 --> 00:03:57.659
 And during this journey, God uses him to bring about two different healings, physical healings, miraculous healings.

00:03:57.659 --> 00:04:00.319
 So he records that.

00:04:00.719 --> 00:04:04.219
 And so we're going to go on into verse 32.

00:04:05.439 --> 00:04:06.319
 It says,

00:04:06.319 --> 00:04:36.319


00:04:36.319 --> 00:04:44.939
 So we first get a story, a picture of a man named Anais, and he was paralyzed.

00:04:45.599 --> 00:04:52.639
 And the idea that he was paralyzed for eight years kind of emphasizes the severity of how bad his paralysis was.

00:04:53.339 --> 00:05:00.699
 As well as if it had been eight years, most people probably knew this guy and knew like how bad his infirmity was.

00:05:00.699 --> 00:05:03.159
 So he was known in that regard.

00:05:03.920 --> 00:05:06.459
 So it wasn't like he got hurt yesterday and was healed the day after.

00:05:06.560 --> 00:05:10.000
 He had been there bedridden for a long time.

00:05:11.259 --> 00:05:12.800
 Anybody ever been bedridden before?

00:05:14.740 --> 00:05:16.240
 I definitely have.

00:05:16.360 --> 00:05:20.279
 And it's a very disheartening, discouraging experience.

00:05:20.279 --> 00:05:26.699
 And I was more or less laying in bed for about a month.

00:05:26.919 --> 00:05:30.739
 And when I came to, I didn't have any memory of that month.

00:05:31.439 --> 00:05:34.139
 But when I came to, like, you had to learn how to walk again.

00:05:34.259 --> 00:05:35.519
 Like, you're just so disoriented.

00:05:35.679 --> 00:05:38.719
 It's a very, can't move around.

00:05:38.799 --> 00:05:40.079
 A very disheartening thing.

00:05:40.439 --> 00:05:44.899
 You're totally dependent on other people all the time to do everything for you.

00:05:45.559 --> 00:05:48.359
 So it's a bad, bad thing to have.

00:05:48.360 --> 00:05:49.400
 So he was bedridden.

00:05:50.319 --> 00:05:56.500
 And so Peter comes to him gently and compassionately, just like he has seen Jesus do over and over.

00:05:57.439 --> 00:06:00.680
 He says, Anais, Jesus Christ heals you.

00:06:01.480 --> 00:06:02.939
 Rise and make your bed.

00:06:03.699 --> 00:06:05.280
 And then immediately he rose.

00:06:06.080 --> 00:06:08.360
 So not gradually, but like instantaneously healed.

00:06:09.160 --> 00:06:09.860
 He stood up.

00:06:09.860 --> 00:06:19.639
 So then, if you also notice, Peter kind of humbly points away from himself and points to Christ as the one who's actually healing him.

00:06:20.240 --> 00:06:27.319
 The reality of this, the authority of Jesus and the power of Jesus and to the glory of Jesus that he was healed.

00:06:27.319 --> 00:06:36.920
 So in situations like this, Peter was aware that Jesus was spiritually present working in and amongst the situation.

00:06:37.800 --> 00:06:39.379
 And we see the result.

00:06:39.480 --> 00:06:43.079
 The result was overwhelming joy and celebration.

00:06:44.379 --> 00:06:45.219
 And what was it?

00:06:45.319 --> 00:06:49.500
 Residents heard about this and they turned to the Lord.

00:06:49.500 --> 00:06:52.060
 So like news spread about this.

00:06:52.680 --> 00:06:55.639
 And that brought people to kind of come and see what was going on.

00:06:56.439 --> 00:06:59.480
 The word turn to the Lord is really almost the idea of repentance.

00:06:59.639 --> 00:07:00.600
 It means to turn around.

00:07:01.319 --> 00:07:04.740
 So it was like people came to hear the message that Peter bore.

00:07:05.600 --> 00:07:07.439
 And they turned to the Lord.

00:07:07.540 --> 00:07:10.139
 They believed in the gospel message.

00:07:10.139 --> 00:07:14.000
 They had a change of heart and mind and became followers of Jesus.

00:07:14.000 --> 00:07:19.259
 As a result of him getting their attention through this healing.

00:07:20.680 --> 00:07:23.480
 So then Peter gets up.

00:07:24.139 --> 00:07:27.560
 And later on, we get in verse 36.

00:07:28.639 --> 00:07:29.120
 It says,

00:07:29.399 --> 00:07:35.660
 Now there was in Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which translated means Dorcas.

00:07:37.120 --> 00:07:39.000
 Don't name your child Dorcas.

00:07:39.100 --> 00:07:39.800
 It's just a rough name.

00:07:40.300 --> 00:07:41.540
 One of the rough ones in the New Testament.

00:07:41.540 --> 00:07:45.740
 So Tabitha, which translated in Greek, means Dorcas.

00:07:46.660 --> 00:07:49.560
 She was full of good works and acts of charity.

00:07:50.460 --> 00:07:52.939
 In those days, she became ill and died.

00:07:53.780 --> 00:07:56.720
 And when they had washed her, they laid her body in an upper room.

00:07:57.540 --> 00:08:02.520
 Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there,

00:08:02.700 --> 00:08:04.379
 sent two men to him, urging him,

00:08:05.040 --> 00:08:06.900
 Please come to us without delay.

00:08:07.800 --> 00:08:09.620
 So Peter rose and went to them.

00:08:09.620 --> 00:08:13.120
 And when he arrived, they took him to the upper room.

00:08:14.319 --> 00:08:21.879
 All the widows stood beside him, weeping and showing their tunics and other garments that Dorcas made while she was with them.

00:08:22.800 --> 00:08:25.220
 But Peter put them all outside.

00:08:25.680 --> 00:08:27.620
 And he knelt down and prayed.

00:08:28.579 --> 00:08:30.500
 And turning to the body, he said,

00:08:30.840 --> 00:08:32.419
 Tabitha, arise.

00:08:32.419 --> 00:08:34.819
 And she opened her eyes.

00:08:35.639 --> 00:08:37.879
 And when she saw Peter, she sat up.

00:08:38.479 --> 00:08:41.179
 And he gave her his hand and raised her up.

00:08:42.019 --> 00:08:45.799
 Then calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive.

00:08:46.459 --> 00:08:48.839
 And it became known throughout all Joppa.

00:08:49.500 --> 00:08:51.519
 And many believed in the Lord.

00:08:51.519 --> 00:08:56.460
 And he stayed in Joppa for many days with Simon, a tanner.

00:08:57.699 --> 00:08:59.220
 So, a second miracle.

00:08:59.579 --> 00:09:04.220
 This one, almost more extreme, more dramatic than the first one.

00:09:04.279 --> 00:09:06.579
 He raised someone from the dead.

00:09:06.759 --> 00:09:09.819
 God used Peter to raise someone from death to life.

00:09:09.820 --> 00:09:18.860
 And if you think about this woman, Tabitha, she was full of good works and charity.

00:09:19.040 --> 00:09:26.240
 She was that woman known in that city for kindness and reaching out to the poor and to the needy and the widows.

00:09:27.080 --> 00:09:29.879
 The stuff that the church is instructed to do, even today.

00:09:29.879 --> 00:09:33.340
 And you see, the widows were weeping.

00:09:34.200 --> 00:09:39.259
 So, apparently, she had a great desire to care for the widows in that city.

00:09:40.120 --> 00:09:43.740
 And widows at that time didn't have all the government support that they might today.

00:09:43.919 --> 00:09:48.919
 But then they had no one to protect them, no one to provide for them.

00:09:49.019 --> 00:09:52.179
 They were very, very weak and vulnerable and needy.

00:09:52.659 --> 00:09:56.220
 And this woman was taking care of them, as it seems.

00:09:56.620 --> 00:09:58.559
 So, that's why they were so disheartened.

00:09:58.559 --> 00:10:03.959
 And it's like losing someone in your church or your community that meant so much, and now all of a sudden they're gone.

00:10:04.519 --> 00:10:09.039
 And you don't know, like, how to respond or who's going to take their place, so to speak.

00:10:10.179 --> 00:10:11.500
 So, they call Peter.

00:10:11.599 --> 00:10:12.679
 They say, come on, we're here.

00:10:12.979 --> 00:10:13.699
 You know, you're nearby.

00:10:13.939 --> 00:10:14.599
 So, he comes.

00:10:15.439 --> 00:10:17.179
 And they take him up into the upper room.

00:10:18.000 --> 00:10:19.119
 And she's laying there.

00:10:19.979 --> 00:10:22.500
 And I think it's very interesting that he kind of dismissed everyone.

00:10:22.639 --> 00:10:23.699
 He sent everybody out.

00:10:24.859 --> 00:10:28.000
 So, very, very humble.

00:10:28.000 --> 00:10:29.460
 He didn't want to create a scene.

00:10:29.559 --> 00:10:33.460
 He didn't want to put on a performance of, like, I'm going to rise this woman from the death.

00:10:33.519 --> 00:10:35.159
 He kind of shut the door.

00:10:35.320 --> 00:10:36.139
 And he got on his knees.

00:10:36.240 --> 00:10:38.899
 And he asked God to heal this woman.

00:10:40.019 --> 00:10:43.500
 And, again, she stood right up.

00:10:43.580 --> 00:10:44.179
 She was healed.

00:10:44.179 --> 00:10:49.959
 And this idea for raise her up is the same New Testament word for resurrection.

00:10:50.299 --> 00:10:52.159
 Like, he raised her up.

00:10:53.179 --> 00:10:57.459
 So, Tabitha's physical body was restored from death to life.

00:10:57.460 --> 00:10:59.800
 And immediately, right?

00:11:00.220 --> 00:11:02.460
 Immediately, people heard about this.

00:11:02.519 --> 00:11:06.080
 And they came more than likely to hear Peter share.

00:11:06.180 --> 00:11:07.759
 And it says they believed in the Lord.

00:11:08.500 --> 00:11:10.500
 They believed in his power and his grace.

00:11:10.600 --> 00:11:14.040
 And so, the church grew because of these miracles.

00:11:14.039 --> 00:11:17.399
 So, Peter remained in Joppa.

00:11:17.500 --> 00:11:19.899
 And he stayed with Simon, who was a tanner.

00:11:20.240 --> 00:11:23.240
 So, that didn't mean he owned a tanning salon.

00:11:23.439 --> 00:11:27.779
 It meant, like, that he worked with animal hides.

00:11:28.599 --> 00:11:29.980
 Like a taxidermist, sort of.

00:11:29.980 --> 00:11:33.980
 But, to the Jews, that was, like, a very nasty profession.

00:11:33.980 --> 00:11:36.600
 Because you were touching, like, dead animals, unclean.

00:11:37.180 --> 00:11:41.259
 So, you see the gospel breaking down the cultural barriers.

00:11:41.379 --> 00:11:44.759
 And he goes and he stays with this man who would otherwise have been dishonored.

00:11:46.620 --> 00:11:53.139
 So, that is a quick little exposition of our text today.

00:11:54.539 --> 00:11:56.420
 But we're going to go a little further.

00:11:58.120 --> 00:11:59.399
 So, what about healing?

00:12:00.879 --> 00:12:03.100
 It's clearly in our text today.

00:12:04.420 --> 00:12:06.019
 How should you respond?

00:12:06.120 --> 00:12:07.080
 How should we respond?

00:12:08.019 --> 00:12:11.840
 How many of you, if you were forced to give an answer, would say,

00:12:12.340 --> 00:12:17.480
 I believe that we serve the same God and the same Christ who did these things we're reading about?

00:12:18.259 --> 00:12:20.940
 Or is it more of like, well, that was cool that happened back then.

00:12:21.039 --> 00:12:22.920
 And probably won't really happen today.

00:12:23.120 --> 00:12:24.420
 I don't expect it to.

00:12:25.840 --> 00:12:27.039
 How would you respond?

00:12:27.039 --> 00:12:31.779
 Does God still heal people in the manner that we just read about?

00:12:32.480 --> 00:12:37.719
 And if you're a genuine follower of Christ, can he do the same kind of miracles in your own life?

00:12:37.720 --> 00:12:43.779
 What should you believe with all the hysteria in the church in regard to physical healing?

00:12:44.779 --> 00:12:48.240
 Or has the wonders of such things kind of ceased?

00:12:48.899 --> 00:12:50.279
 Do they no longer exist?

00:12:50.279 --> 00:12:55.319
 So, we're going to walk through this together.

00:12:55.459 --> 00:12:57.459
 We're just going to talk about healing.

00:12:57.699 --> 00:12:58.699
 Then and now.

00:12:58.939 --> 00:12:59.679
 Like, where are we going?

00:12:59.679 --> 00:13:09.539
 So, before we get going, I just want to say that the origin of sickness and suffering and disease,

00:13:10.099 --> 00:13:14.159
 they are rooted in the fall of man into sin.

00:13:14.699 --> 00:13:16.719
 They're a consequence of sin.

00:13:18.039 --> 00:13:19.819
 It was not meant to be that way.

00:13:19.820 --> 00:13:26.420
 And so, because of sin, because of your sin and my sin, we all will endure this stuff.

00:13:26.760 --> 00:13:28.040
 If you don't now, you will.

00:13:28.200 --> 00:13:28.840
 It's a promise.

00:13:30.040 --> 00:13:36.420
 And then it goes on that all those who have suffered physically and eventually we will die.

00:13:37.180 --> 00:13:40.720
 That's a part of the judgment on us because of sin.

00:13:41.420 --> 00:13:45.660
 So, the origin of sickness is sin itself.

00:13:46.020 --> 00:13:47.200
 That's where it comes from.

00:13:47.200 --> 00:13:53.320
 So, without giving you a full, full story,

00:13:54.040 --> 00:13:57.440
 because I think a lot of you already know me and know my background,

00:13:57.700 --> 00:14:02.540
 but I was born with a respiratory disease called cystic fibrosis.

00:14:02.720 --> 00:14:06.960
 I was diagnosed at age four, which is kind of late.

00:14:06.960 --> 00:14:09.460
 They usually catch it a lot earlier now with babies.

00:14:10.740 --> 00:14:16.960
 It's an upper respiratory disease that builds up abnormally thick mucus in the lungs.

00:14:17.200 --> 00:14:20.980
 And it can also affect the pancreas and digestive system.

00:14:22.060 --> 00:14:27.160
 I thankfully just had the respiratory part, the respiratory end of it.

00:14:27.159 --> 00:14:32.939
 And for the most part, I lived my life pretty normal up until I was maybe 16 to 18.

00:14:33.219 --> 00:14:38.179
 And then I started noticing like a decline of like physical energy, stamina.

00:14:38.519 --> 00:14:40.919
 I couldn't really keep up with the sports that I was playing.

00:14:40.919 --> 00:14:45.839
 So, hopes of going to college and playing baseball kind of went down the drain.

00:14:47.839 --> 00:14:50.559
 Hopes of joining the military kind of went down the drain.

00:14:51.699 --> 00:14:58.740
 And God was just slowly just stripping away like a lot of the things that I wanted to make ultimate in my life.

00:14:58.740 --> 00:15:04.460
 So, but throughout that time, even though I probably didn't become a believer until I was 18,

00:15:05.220 --> 00:15:14.299
 my parents and my grandparents and friends, they were constantly praying for healing, for restoration of my health.

00:15:14.299 --> 00:15:19.879
 And so, all these questions are questions that I've asked.

00:15:19.919 --> 00:15:24.059
 And if you go through some physical suffering in your life, like you'll ask them too.

00:15:25.399 --> 00:15:28.799
 For most of you, you may be feeling great right now.

00:15:28.899 --> 00:15:30.959
 And maybe those questions will just come later in life.

00:15:30.960 --> 00:15:36.940
 But I think it's important now to begin building that solid foundation so when that time does come,

00:15:37.019 --> 00:15:38.900
 you're not trying to just figure it out.

00:15:38.960 --> 00:15:42.900
 You'll have some stuff to stand on and be like, this is what God says.

00:15:43.080 --> 00:15:44.660
 And you'll stand there.

00:15:45.500 --> 00:15:48.400
 So, I've asked a lot of these questions.

00:15:48.840 --> 00:15:57.840
 And as most of you know, I got very, very sick around the time I graduated from North Georgia around 2007.

00:15:58.280 --> 00:16:00.240
 Jeez, when you say it that way, it seems so long ago.

00:16:01.960 --> 00:16:09.200
 And so, we used to have college Bible study and all that at Wes and Liz's apartment and Nathan and Sam's apartment.

00:16:09.759 --> 00:16:17.040
 And they would tote the oxygen tanks out of my truck so I could come to Bible study and be there because I was on oxygen during that time.

00:16:17.200 --> 00:16:21.620
 And then eventually, I got on a lung transplant list at Birmingham at UAB.

00:16:22.580 --> 00:16:27.139
 And then May 25, 2008, I had a double lung transplant,

00:16:27.139 --> 00:16:31.539
 which ended up bringing a whole other wave of suffering to really go through.

00:16:32.799 --> 00:16:36.399
 But as a result, I'm doing okay today.

00:16:37.039 --> 00:16:39.699
 Not fully up to par, but okay.

00:16:39.700 --> 00:16:39.740
 Okay.

00:16:40.980 --> 00:16:43.560
 So, what about healing?

00:16:43.800 --> 00:16:44.400
 What about it?

00:16:45.320 --> 00:16:51.640
 And I guess I decided to do this by just walking through just some questions and maybe trying to answer those.

00:16:51.639 --> 00:16:58.480
 First of all, what are some misconceptions about healing?

00:16:59.240 --> 00:17:00.319
 We've got to start there.

00:17:00.460 --> 00:17:01.360
 What is it not?

00:17:02.639 --> 00:17:04.839
 What are some misconceptions about healing?

00:17:04.839 --> 00:17:12.299
 And there are two main groups that I kind of wanted to tell you to avoid because I think they're untruthful.

00:17:12.439 --> 00:17:15.279
 They're not quite biblical.

00:17:16.240 --> 00:17:18.579
 But they probably are obvious to you.

00:17:18.579 --> 00:17:25.079
 But one is an extreme group of charismatics in the church.

00:17:26.179 --> 00:17:32.059
 The groups of people who seek to practice all the spiritual gifts in the New Testament, tongues, prophecy, healing.

00:17:33.199 --> 00:17:37.879
 But I do want to tell you that term alone and that idea alone is not what I'm talking about.

00:17:38.659 --> 00:17:43.659
 It's another group inside that where there's various different views and they go to the other extreme with it.

00:17:43.660 --> 00:17:52.200
 So, I personally am not against some of the stuff that you may see in some gospel-centered charismatic circles.

00:17:52.860 --> 00:17:55.640
 But there is another extreme that I'm talking about.

00:17:56.740 --> 00:18:03.040
 And so, the term alone isn't bad, but it's kind of carried a little further by these other viewpoints.

00:18:03.320 --> 00:18:08.980
 And some that are not biblical, they're dishonoring to God and they're hurtful to people.

00:18:08.980 --> 00:18:15.539
 So, really, they're the advocates of what we would call the prosperity gospel today.

00:18:16.160 --> 00:18:22.599
 Which basically says God's main aim is to make you in this life as a believer, in this present life,

00:18:22.720 --> 00:18:27.900
 God's goal is to make you healthy, wealthy, and just prosperous.

00:18:28.140 --> 00:18:31.079
 To help you live a long, successful life.

00:18:31.160 --> 00:18:35.259
 Like, that's why God exists, is to kind of improve your life.

00:18:35.259 --> 00:18:41.759
 So, not just accompanying the gift of eternal life, but you also get to have eternal life here almost.

00:18:41.960 --> 00:18:49.359
 You get to enjoy all these things that God promises to literally heal you, to sustain you, to prosper you.

00:18:49.879 --> 00:18:51.900
 It's a part of the package of becoming a Christian.

00:18:52.960 --> 00:18:54.579
 And He promises it to you.

00:18:54.960 --> 00:18:56.299
 It's like a guaranteed promise.

00:18:56.299 --> 00:19:03.159
 So, healing is in our reach, but however, like we have to reach out and embrace that stuff.

00:19:03.259 --> 00:19:04.579
 Like, all that stuff is there.

00:19:07.599 --> 00:19:10.480
 Okay, I will read this briefly.

00:19:10.639 --> 00:19:15.079
 But it's summed up by one of his earlier popular teachers, Kenneth Hagin.

00:19:15.139 --> 00:19:16.799
 This was back probably like in the 60s.

00:19:17.639 --> 00:19:18.240
 But he said,

00:19:18.240 --> 00:19:22.859
 Jesus came to redeem us from Satan's dominion over us.

00:19:23.980 --> 00:19:25.419
 True so far, right?

00:19:26.299 --> 00:19:29.720
 We are to reign as kings in life.

00:19:30.599 --> 00:19:33.639
 That means that we have dominion over our lives.

00:19:34.079 --> 00:19:36.659
 We are to dominate and not be dominated.

00:19:37.799 --> 00:19:39.779
 Circumstances are not to dominate you.

00:19:40.480 --> 00:19:43.619
 Disease and sickness are not to rule and reign over you.

00:19:44.240 --> 00:19:46.919
 You are to rule and reign over sickness.

00:19:47.740 --> 00:19:52.379
 We are to reign as kings in life by Jesus Christ in whom we have redemption.

00:19:52.380 --> 00:19:56.380
 So, that movement has skyrocketed.

00:19:57.420 --> 00:20:00.380
 And it's the kind of stuff you see on TV most of the time.

00:20:01.300 --> 00:20:10.160
 It's TV celebrity preachers like Benny Hinn, Creflo Dollar, Rod Parsley, T.D. Jakes, Joyce Meyer, Joel Osteen.

00:20:10.160 --> 00:20:15.440
 These are all flashy, dramatic advocates of the prosperity gospel.

00:20:15.440 --> 00:20:19.080
 And their main goal is the here and now.

00:20:19.660 --> 00:20:21.740
 And they don't exalt Jesus Christ.

00:20:21.860 --> 00:20:25.759
 They draw attention to themselves and tell you what you want to hear.

00:20:25.759 --> 00:20:32.500
 So, just very unlike Peter who is humbly healing someone off to the side in the background.

00:20:33.299 --> 00:20:34.720
 This is all for show.

00:20:35.680 --> 00:20:38.940
 So, just know that like Satan, he likes to show off.

00:20:39.059 --> 00:20:42.559
 And so, wherever there is healing that's being hyped up for publicity,

00:20:42.779 --> 00:20:46.059
 like always be aware that it could be a counterfeit.

00:20:46.059 --> 00:20:55.039
 And each one of these men that I named and woman in that group have definitely denied the gospel.

00:20:55.859 --> 00:20:58.019
 They say a lot of truthful things.

00:20:59.099 --> 00:21:03.779
 But inside that, their main goal is the glory of man and not the glory of God.

00:21:05.019 --> 00:21:08.619
 And so, don't be fooled by just something that just may sound good.

00:21:08.619 --> 00:21:19.099
 And so, that's one extreme is the charismatic chaos that we see on TV and in some other places.

00:21:19.799 --> 00:21:20.899
 But hear me say that.

00:21:20.939 --> 00:21:24.000
 It's not every charismatic circle that I think is there.

00:21:24.099 --> 00:21:24.459
 It's some.

00:21:25.459 --> 00:21:32.639
 So, the other extreme, which is one that we're probably closer to probably erring in than this other one,

00:21:32.640 --> 00:21:38.320
 is just some evangelical conservatives are on the other extreme,

00:21:38.420 --> 00:21:41.720
 and they basically believe that like the spiritual gifts seen in the New Testament

00:21:41.720 --> 00:21:49.160
 have completely ceased in practice within the church, including healing and things like that.

00:21:49.680 --> 00:21:53.940
 But the problem, firstly, is they equate the gifts of healing.

00:21:53.940 --> 00:21:56.840
 So, just write this down, like just for sake of time.

00:21:57.080 --> 00:22:02.440
 Like just, if you want to go look, 1 Corinthians 12, 9 through 12.

00:22:02.640 --> 00:22:32.620
 1 Corinthians 12, 9 through 12.

00:22:32.640 --> 00:22:35.500
 Inside the church, not the apostles, not Jesus.

00:22:35.759 --> 00:22:40.700
 He's referring to ordinary common people in the church that God is gifting for those reasons.

00:22:41.560 --> 00:22:47.200
 So, very just clearly, it's saying that it wasn't just meant for Jesus and the apostles.

00:22:47.200 --> 00:22:54.259
 It was meant for ordinary people inside the church to exercise that gift to heal for the glory of God.

00:22:54.259 --> 00:22:58.700
 And so, when you read the very simple thing in 1 Corinthians,

00:22:59.480 --> 00:23:07.500
 they're given according to God's will for the common good and edification of the church to various and ordinary people.

00:23:08.420 --> 00:23:11.859
 It's the gift, you can see it in verse 28, the gift of healing and miracles.

00:23:11.859 --> 00:23:15.259
 They seem clearly distinct from the other gifts that are mentioned.

00:23:15.399 --> 00:23:23.159
 Apostle, teacher, they're in that little list, like as if this is another gift that God can give to people.

00:23:23.160 --> 00:23:34.040
 So, many conservatives rightly, okay, rightly, you know, reject the hysteria that they see in the charismatic movement.

00:23:34.039 --> 00:23:41.960
 But yet, I think that a lot of them have overreacted and allow the pendulum to kind of swing to the other side.

00:23:42.579 --> 00:23:46.720
 And they wrongly just sort of throw the baby out with the bathwater, so to speak.

00:23:46.720 --> 00:23:55.319
 And they, by just saying, well, we're just going to say that stuff doesn't exist anymore because of all the hysteria we see out there.

00:23:55.420 --> 00:23:56.559
 It's better just to kind of can it.

00:23:57.579 --> 00:24:02.019
 And the problem is, again, I think it's an overreaction.

00:24:02.839 --> 00:24:11.519
 And they're in danger of wrongfully accusing genuine works of God to being, they're shocking them up to works of the devil.

00:24:12.339 --> 00:24:14.819
 So, you've got to be careful when you do that.

00:24:14.819 --> 00:24:18.439
 Like you need to kind of trace the source of what you're talking about.

00:24:19.819 --> 00:24:22.419
 So, that's just the two extremes.

00:24:22.639 --> 00:24:23.819
 You could go into more stuff.

00:24:24.700 --> 00:24:29.879
 So, number two, the second question.

00:24:32.439 --> 00:24:34.919
 Does God steal, heal?

00:24:36.279 --> 00:24:41.779
 And the simple answer I'm going to give you is like, yes, I fully believe he does.

00:24:41.779 --> 00:24:47.960
 But, before I kind of get into that, it's not enough just to decide based on personal experience.

00:24:48.079 --> 00:24:49.460
 Like, I've seen somebody healed.

00:24:49.559 --> 00:24:52.079
 Or, I've been healed, so I know it's true.

00:24:53.000 --> 00:24:56.420
 Supremely and ultimately, like our conviction on healing has to come from Scripture.

00:24:57.440 --> 00:24:58.059
 It has to.

00:24:58.720 --> 00:25:01.440
 Or, no different than some of these other wackos that are out there.

00:25:01.440 --> 00:25:03.940
 And just remember this.

00:25:04.000 --> 00:25:07.620
 The Bible is not true because it works for you.

00:25:09.480 --> 00:25:11.940
 Rather, the Bible works for you because it is true.

00:25:12.920 --> 00:25:13.140
 Okay?

00:25:13.500 --> 00:25:15.759
 Like, it's not experience that determines our reality.

00:25:15.900 --> 00:25:19.340
 It's the fact that the Bible is the Word of God.

00:25:19.440 --> 00:25:20.420
 It's outside of us.

00:25:20.420 --> 00:25:22.660
 And because it is the Word of God, it works.

00:25:23.560 --> 00:25:24.820
 Not the other way around.

00:25:25.880 --> 00:25:34.880
 So, hopefully, like, yes, my conviction is God can and still does heal people physically when he sees fit to do so.

00:25:35.880 --> 00:25:38.700
 So, not just experience, but I believe the Scripture teaches this.

00:25:39.700 --> 00:25:42.100
 I can't, I don't believe, like, I've read it all.

00:25:42.220 --> 00:25:42.840
 I've heard it.

00:25:42.940 --> 00:25:47.600
 I just can't believe that there's a very watertight case proving that God still doesn't do this stuff.

00:25:47.599 --> 00:25:56.539
 It's, they may make arguments, but I just don't think that it's tight enough to kind of just rule out this completely.

00:25:57.839 --> 00:26:05.459
 So, what Daniel read this morning, remember that, like, suffering and sickness is the cause of sin, the curse.

00:26:06.159 --> 00:26:10.939
 But we read a prophecy from Isaiah 53 where it says,

00:26:10.939 --> 00:26:13.000
 But he was pierced for our transgressions.

00:26:13.000 --> 00:26:17.940
 He was crushed for our iniquities, and upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace.

00:26:18.599 --> 00:26:20.400
 And by his wounds we are healed.

00:26:21.920 --> 00:26:24.079
 So, in what way is this talking about?

00:26:25.259 --> 00:26:28.400
 In what ways did Christ's wounds heal us?

00:26:29.500 --> 00:26:31.880
 Well, let's go to the Scripture to find out.

00:26:32.000 --> 00:26:37.440
 But there are two times in the New Testament that this particular text is quoted and cited.

00:26:37.440 --> 00:26:45.779
 First of all, Peter, you don't got to turn there, but 1 Peter 2, verse 24, Peter uses this, quotes this,

00:26:46.559 --> 00:26:50.240
 connecting it to the reality of our salvation in Christ, our redemption.

00:26:51.039 --> 00:26:53.820
 So, like, he has healed us spiritually is what he's trying to say.

00:26:54.539 --> 00:26:54.840
 He says,

00:26:54.839 --> 00:27:11.240
 So, Peter used it to refer to, like, a salvific idea, like a salvation, spiritual healing that Christ brought us.

00:27:11.699 --> 00:27:13.559
 So, yes and amen.

00:27:13.699 --> 00:27:19.119
 That's, like, the most important one that you need, really, is that spiritual healing from Christ.

00:27:19.119 --> 00:27:25.399
 But yet, Matthew uses the same passage to describe physical healing.

00:27:27.039 --> 00:27:29.579
 And chapter 8, verse 16, it says,

00:27:29.819 --> 00:27:34.239
 Jesus cast out spirits with the word, and he healed all who were sick.

00:27:35.359 --> 00:27:38.659
 This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the prophet Isaiah.

00:27:39.399 --> 00:27:42.179
 He took our illnesses and bore our diseases.

00:27:42.919 --> 00:27:44.919
 So, it's used in both senses.

00:27:45.619 --> 00:27:47.119
 So, what are we, kind of, to make out of that?

00:27:47.119 --> 00:27:48.639
 The answer is, both are relevant.

00:27:49.359 --> 00:27:54.519
 Yes, Christ died, ultimately, to heal us fully, spiritually, in salvation.

00:27:54.619 --> 00:27:56.559
 That's the bigger picture of it.

00:27:57.219 --> 00:28:01.759
 Yet, another picture is, he may still heal someone physically.

00:28:02.619 --> 00:28:04.739
 That's a foretaste of eternity.

00:28:06.359 --> 00:28:06.699
 All right?

00:28:08.479 --> 00:28:11.779
 Without really knowing this, but as I've been studying this,

00:28:11.779 --> 00:28:17.859
 some men who, kind of, fall into this group of, sort of, where I would believe,

00:28:19.079 --> 00:28:24.379
 C.J. Mahaney, Matt Chandler, David Platt, John Piper, Wayne Grudem,

00:28:24.639 --> 00:28:29.279
 they believe, at least, kind of, what I'm going to try to be preaching to you today.

00:28:29.279 --> 00:28:29.359
 Okay?

00:28:30.559 --> 00:28:37.839
 So, both senses, both spiritual and physical, this verse is used, that Christ can have an effect on.

00:28:38.680 --> 00:28:41.799
 So, what are some reasons that God may choose to heal?

00:28:42.740 --> 00:28:43.059
 Okay?

00:28:44.099 --> 00:28:47.299
 What are some reasons that God may decide to heal someone physically?

00:28:48.279 --> 00:28:48.639
 All right?

00:28:48.720 --> 00:28:52.819
 Well, one that we see in Scripture is to authenticate his messenger.

00:28:52.819 --> 00:28:58.740
 Often, in the New Testament, well, in the Old as well, like some of the prophets, like Elijah,

00:28:59.619 --> 00:29:06.960
 in the New Testament, the apostles and Jesus himself would do miracles to authenticate who they were as the messenger.

00:29:07.119 --> 00:29:08.399
 Like, this is from God.

00:29:09.119 --> 00:29:10.139
 Listen to me.

00:29:11.480 --> 00:29:14.240
 And the main focus wasn't the miracles themselves.

00:29:14.359 --> 00:29:16.299
 It was the message that these men bore.

00:29:16.659 --> 00:29:18.980
 It wasn't like, come and just see this.

00:29:18.980 --> 00:29:25.420
 It was to get attention, to get, to shock people, almost, to, like, coming and hearing what this man had to say.

00:29:26.539 --> 00:29:30.920
 And we can remember in Acts chapter 2, verse 22, it says,

00:29:31.039 --> 00:29:35.660
 Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you, attested to you by God,

00:29:36.059 --> 00:29:41.160
 with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst.

00:29:41.160 --> 00:29:46.560
 So that word attested, if you remember a long time ago, it means, like, put something on exhibition,

00:29:47.220 --> 00:29:49.900
 to put something on display for people to come and look at.

00:29:50.779 --> 00:29:57.900
 And he did that with mighty works, which means miraculous, supernatural, wonders,

00:29:58.279 --> 00:30:00.940
 this idea of something startling that grabs your attention.

00:30:01.920 --> 00:30:03.440
 And you put all those things together.

00:30:03.440 --> 00:30:10.660
 And the attention of these wonders was signs that are pointing to a spiritual reality that the messenger bore himself.

00:30:11.160 --> 00:30:14.840
 So God did this stuff through Jesus and through the apostles.

00:30:16.300 --> 00:30:20.779
 Likewise, when we see what we read in our text today, the two healings that we witnessed,

00:30:20.960 --> 00:30:23.320
 this was, the healing was not the main focus.

00:30:23.440 --> 00:30:28.080
 It was to gather people to authenticate the message that Peter bore, the gospel.

00:30:29.160 --> 00:30:30.500
 So another example.

00:30:31.820 --> 00:30:34.040
 So that was one, to authenticate a messenger.

00:30:36.500 --> 00:30:40.259
 Secondly, to demonstrate his character.

00:30:40.259 --> 00:30:43.579
 God chooses to heal so he can demonstrate his character.

00:30:45.180 --> 00:30:48.220
 He wants to heal because it's in his person.

00:30:48.319 --> 00:30:49.200
 It's in his nature.

00:30:50.119 --> 00:30:52.579
 It's a wonderful name used of God in the Old Testament.

00:30:52.759 --> 00:30:53.720
 A lot of you are aware of it.

00:30:53.799 --> 00:30:57.160
 But it's Yahweh Rapha, the Lord that heals.

00:30:58.019 --> 00:31:00.619
 God told the Israelites in Exodus 15,

00:31:01.339 --> 00:31:03.259
 I, the Lord, am your healer.

00:31:03.259 --> 00:31:07.379
 He's referring to this idea of physical healing in that context.

00:31:08.339 --> 00:31:12.519
 So God delights to give good gifts to his people.

00:31:12.660 --> 00:31:16.480
 And even in this temporal realm, it's in his character.

00:31:16.619 --> 00:31:18.680
 He desires to do that.

00:31:18.680 --> 00:31:22.340
 Jesus manifested that reality when he walked around.

00:31:22.440 --> 00:31:23.220
 He healed many people.

00:31:23.320 --> 00:31:29.380
 He was doing it out of compassion, out of love, out of pity for the people who are around him.

00:31:30.180 --> 00:31:37.500
 So God may choose to heal as an expression of his kindness, his love, his mercy, and to his glory.

00:31:37.500 --> 00:31:40.200
 It's within his character to do so.

00:31:42.099 --> 00:31:48.680
 Another thing, another reason why God may choose to heal is to be a witness of his kingdom.

00:31:49.759 --> 00:31:56.480
 The New Testament makes it clear that healing is a sign to the world the kingdom of God is coming.

00:31:57.339 --> 00:32:00.579
 And that the kingdom of this present world under Satan is leaving.

00:32:00.579 --> 00:32:08.019
 It's like this idea of a foretaste of the redemptive kingdom that Christ will bring,

00:32:08.779 --> 00:32:13.119
 where the reign of death and the age of futility will come to a final end.

00:32:13.720 --> 00:32:19.779
 So all this physical healing can be a sign that the kingdom of God is coming.

00:32:21.119 --> 00:32:27.480
 And we receive, ultimately, right, this, none of us will fully live forever in this life.

00:32:27.480 --> 00:32:29.619
 We're going to die, probably, unless Christ comes back.

00:32:29.619 --> 00:32:35.919
 But sometimes he grants a foretaste, a partial foretaste of physical healing

00:32:35.919 --> 00:32:39.639
 that we will fully possess in the age to come.

00:32:40.239 --> 00:32:41.459
 He may grant that.

00:32:42.419 --> 00:32:43.399
 It's a foreshadow.

00:32:43.519 --> 00:32:48.859
 It's a glimmer of the perfect health that we one day will fully enjoy in the kingdom of God.

00:32:51.019 --> 00:32:55.599
 So, all right, another thing.

00:32:55.599 --> 00:33:02.379
 God may choose to heal to inspire faith, love, and obedience in his people.

00:33:03.519 --> 00:33:08.179
 God may choose to heal to inspire faith, love, and obedience in his people.

00:33:08.180 --> 00:33:15.840
 So when God sovereignly desires to heal someone, like we read in Acts today, what's the result?

00:33:15.940 --> 00:33:23.380
 It results in, like, great joy and celebration, and people coming, actually, to hear the gospel message,

00:33:23.380 --> 00:33:24.240
 and they were saved.

00:33:24.240 --> 00:33:27.000
 It's a cause for celebration.

00:33:27.160 --> 00:33:34.160
 Have you ever had a friend or a family member that was, like, in serious trouble, like illness, sickness,

00:33:34.880 --> 00:33:39.099
 and then they pulled out of it, and, like, the joy that caused you to feel?

00:33:40.599 --> 00:33:46.839
 It's a way that God inspires faith in his people and is an expression of his love.

00:33:46.839 --> 00:33:55.480
 Psalm 103, verses 1 through 5, says,

00:33:55.480 --> 00:33:59.779
 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me.

00:33:59.839 --> 00:34:01.119
 Bless his holy name.

00:34:01.919 --> 00:34:05.039
 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits,

00:34:05.859 --> 00:34:07.740
 who forgives all your iniquity.

00:34:07.799 --> 00:34:09.539
 There's a spiritual healing aspect.

00:34:09.539 --> 00:34:11.739
 Who forgives all your iniquity.

00:34:11.980 --> 00:34:14.219
 Who heals all your diseases.

00:34:14.659 --> 00:34:17.099
 Who redeems your life from the pit.

00:34:17.579 --> 00:34:20.360
 Who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy.

00:34:20.880 --> 00:34:26.460
 Who satisfies you with good, so that your youth is renewed like the eagles.

00:34:27.659 --> 00:34:29.679
 So, this is something that God will do.

00:34:29.800 --> 00:34:34.259
 You see, this psalm is a praise to God, an honoring of God,

00:34:34.260 --> 00:34:42.960
 an expression of gratitude and love towards God because of these benefits that he has offered by his grace.

00:34:43.700 --> 00:34:46.160
 Psalm 103, verses 1 through 5 there.

00:34:47.080 --> 00:34:52.100
 So, if God does still heal, how should we pray for it?

00:34:52.900 --> 00:34:56.740
 How do you pray for physical healing?

00:34:58.000 --> 00:35:00.860
 All right, now, it's important just to take a little side note here

00:35:00.860 --> 00:35:04.900
 and talk about the role of faith in involving healing.

00:35:05.980 --> 00:35:10.880
 So, the Bible does emphasize the role of faith when it comes to physical healing.

00:35:11.760 --> 00:35:19.519
 Yet, as always, there's a couple circles, a couple extremes probably to avoid in regard to faith and healing.

00:35:20.640 --> 00:35:26.440
 But one of them is the, you might say the name it and claim it group.

00:35:26.440 --> 00:35:31.840
 They would say that you don't have enough faith if you're not healed.

00:35:32.559 --> 00:35:40.320
 It's a group I have a major problem with because they come across very hateful, very self-righteous, not compassionate.

00:35:42.880 --> 00:35:46.840
 They tend to come from prosperity circles for the most part.

00:35:47.960 --> 00:35:51.039
 But yeah, name it, name that promise and then claim it.

00:35:51.039 --> 00:35:57.000
 People who state they can obtain their desires in this world if they just have enough faith.

00:35:57.079 --> 00:36:00.279
 So, the word, key word is enough faith.

00:36:01.279 --> 00:36:06.199
 It's this mindset of, you know, if there are any suffering, trial, or pain in your life,

00:36:06.239 --> 00:36:10.719
 it's because you don't have enough faith in God or otherwise you would be healed.

00:36:12.019 --> 00:36:13.559
 There are those people out there.

00:36:13.559 --> 00:36:17.599
 In my case, I have been told things like this.

00:36:18.619 --> 00:36:21.719
 It's not God's will that I have cystic fibrosis.

00:36:23.019 --> 00:36:27.900
 And if I would just have enough faith, God would heal me from my CF.

00:36:29.139 --> 00:36:30.340
 It's absolute nonsense.

00:36:30.340 --> 00:36:42.360
 When I really got ticked was in Birmingham one time when this nurse who had been a kind woman up to this point was a respiratory,

00:36:42.700 --> 00:36:45.360
 yeah, she was a respiratory therapist, our nurse.

00:36:45.800 --> 00:36:51.059
 And she was praying with me, praying for healing, you know, just in my room with me.

00:36:51.059 --> 00:36:54.440
 And my mom was there.

00:36:54.500 --> 00:37:04.380
 And if you know my mom, some of you do, she is a woman who is, her prayer life and her trust in God really dwarfs mine most of the time.

00:37:04.840 --> 00:37:10.619
 Even though I may have a lot more knowledge, like her faith and her prayer life puts mine to shame.

00:37:11.199 --> 00:37:15.000
 And she is a very Christ-centered, God-exalting, humble woman.

00:37:15.000 --> 00:37:20.539
 And so obviously she's been praying for healing for years for me.

00:37:20.800 --> 00:37:25.079
 And this woman took my mom outside my hospital room and told her,

00:37:26.440 --> 00:37:31.920
 the reason Clay is not healed is not because of you, or not because of Clay, it's because of you.

00:37:32.380 --> 00:37:38.059
 She told my mom that, like, I was not healed because of her lack of faith and trust in God.

00:37:39.280 --> 00:37:43.920
 So a month later, and I kind of had more sense about me.

00:37:43.920 --> 00:37:48.700
 Like, I told this woman off pretty hardcore in the hospital room, in Jesus' name, of course.

00:37:51.740 --> 00:37:53.360
 But I don't want you to miss this.

00:37:53.840 --> 00:37:55.559
 Do you see how cruel that is?

00:37:56.380 --> 00:37:57.559
 How cruel that is?

00:37:58.360 --> 00:38:03.180
 You think God is up in heaven taunting you, saying, like, I know you're in despair, I know you're crushed,

00:38:03.260 --> 00:38:06.240
 and you're barely hanging on by faith, but it's not enough.

00:38:07.240 --> 00:38:09.340
 You've got to fill this bucket up of faith.

00:38:09.400 --> 00:38:10.460
 You just have a little bit.

00:38:10.480 --> 00:38:11.740
 I need you to get it to the top, right?

00:38:11.739 --> 00:38:14.299
 I can't, I'm not going to heal you unless you do.

00:38:14.939 --> 00:38:16.559
 That's absolute nonsense.

00:38:17.399 --> 00:38:20.199
 It's a cruel, taunting God that behaves that way.

00:38:20.739 --> 00:38:21.459
 Not enough.

00:38:21.519 --> 00:38:22.099
 A little more.

00:38:23.959 --> 00:38:27.000
 So in such cases, won't you hear me, okay?

00:38:27.000 --> 00:38:38.239
 In such cases, one's faith is focused on the amount of faith and not in the object of faith, which is Jesus Christ.

00:38:39.280 --> 00:38:44.519
 So their faith is in their faith, not in the object of their faith, which is Jesus Christ.

00:38:44.519 --> 00:38:46.860
 What did Jesus say?

00:38:49.380 --> 00:38:53.280
 Faith, the side of a mustard seed, is enough to move a mountain, right?

00:38:54.300 --> 00:38:56.519
 And here's the tricky part of that.

00:38:57.579 --> 00:38:58.820
 Faith doesn't move mountains.

00:38:58.940 --> 00:39:00.980
 God moves mountains, right?

00:39:00.980 --> 00:39:03.440
 The object of the faith is what moves the mountain.

00:39:04.760 --> 00:39:07.699
 And so your faith is only as strong as the object you're putting it in.

00:39:09.079 --> 00:39:11.519
 So faith doesn't move mountains.

00:39:11.659 --> 00:39:12.219
 God does.

00:39:12.280 --> 00:39:19.360
 And so we wrongly focus on the power of faith itself and not in the power and person of Christ to heal.

00:39:19.360 --> 00:39:24.620
 So that's a very dangerous camp, like beware.

00:39:24.780 --> 00:39:26.720
 A lot of them may mean well, but they are wrong.

00:39:28.180 --> 00:39:31.000
 The chapter, the big faith chapter, Hebrews 11, right?

00:39:31.599 --> 00:39:34.079
 These people did this by their faith, according to their faith.

00:39:34.220 --> 00:39:39.440
 And all these great stories of people from the Scripture like Moses and Noah and Abraham

00:39:39.440 --> 00:39:42.640
 receiving all these great things by their faith.

00:39:42.639 --> 00:39:49.839
 But yet, if you look at the end of the chapter, it says, yet or but, others were put to death.

00:39:49.980 --> 00:39:51.219
 Others were scourged.

00:39:51.900 --> 00:39:53.420
 Others became destitute.

00:39:54.259 --> 00:39:59.259
 And then it said all those did those things through faith, not lack of faith.

00:40:00.219 --> 00:40:07.519
 In the same chapter in Hebrews, some people suffered because of their faith, not lack of.

00:40:07.519 --> 00:40:12.759
 So God is not up in heaven taunting us, saying just a little more, just a little more.

00:40:14.679 --> 00:40:15.500
 Very wrong.

00:40:16.759 --> 00:40:21.579
 The second group you probably need to avoid is really just the faith doesn't matter group.

00:40:21.659 --> 00:40:26.860
 It's the other extreme of like, God is sovereign.

00:40:27.300 --> 00:40:30.119
 And if he wishes to heal you, he will.

00:40:30.460 --> 00:40:33.619
 Like that kind of cop-out prayer that people use.

00:40:34.420 --> 00:40:35.099
 Is God sovereign?

00:40:35.219 --> 00:40:35.500
 Yes.

00:40:35.500 --> 00:40:41.840
 Okay, I'm not downing on that, but they downplay faith and responsibility against sovereignty.

00:40:42.980 --> 00:40:44.900
 And that's not the right camp to be in either.

00:40:46.320 --> 00:40:48.440
 So that kind of group doesn't pray.

00:40:48.579 --> 00:40:52.900
 That kind of group doesn't really have faith, active faith most of the time.

00:40:53.940 --> 00:40:56.000
 So you need to know that faith matters.

00:40:56.199 --> 00:40:57.199
 Like it really does.

00:40:57.280 --> 00:40:58.460
 Hebrews 11, verse 6.

00:40:58.960 --> 00:41:02.739
 Without faith, it is impossible to please God.

00:41:02.739 --> 00:41:07.579
 For whoever would draw near to God must first believe that he exists.

00:41:08.539 --> 00:41:10.939
 You know, that he actually is the living, present God.

00:41:12.139 --> 00:41:14.419
 And that he rewards those who seek him.

00:41:15.059 --> 00:41:16.919
 That's how they come to God, through faith.

00:41:18.119 --> 00:41:20.119
 So faith can be assaulted.

00:41:20.339 --> 00:41:22.119
 It can be, you can have doubt.

00:41:22.239 --> 00:41:25.439
 You can back down and be like, I just don't know.

00:41:25.440 --> 00:41:31.000
 So fears, accusations, self-doubts, discouragements, those try to bury your faith.

00:41:31.000 --> 00:41:36.900
 But again, it isn't like you have to have this huge conquering kind of faith.

00:41:37.039 --> 00:41:40.780
 Like you will notice that Christ will meet you even when you're the most weakest.

00:41:42.340 --> 00:41:44.500
 Your faith is still there, but he will meet you.

00:41:45.739 --> 00:41:49.139
 So, this idea of like how we pray for these things.

00:41:49.139 --> 00:41:51.699
 I want you to turn to James, chapter 5.

00:41:56.819 --> 00:42:00.559
 And we'll come back to James 5 in just a second.

00:42:00.639 --> 00:42:02.179
 I'm going to kind of just go ahead and turn there.

00:42:03.159 --> 00:42:12.379
 But as most of you know, like I have not been miraculously healed in that sense that we just read about.

00:42:12.380 --> 00:42:16.180
 I sought medical help.

00:42:17.340 --> 00:42:24.160
 And I, again, firmly believe, not just because of experience, but that God can and miraculously heals.

00:42:24.240 --> 00:42:28.880
 But he also has created substances in the earth to be used for medicine.

00:42:29.559 --> 00:42:33.660
 He's gifted men and women to be physicians, to actually help people.

00:42:34.720 --> 00:42:36.920
 Luke himself, who wrote Acts, was a doctor.

00:42:36.920 --> 00:42:43.380
 And then in 1 Timothy 5, we read Paul instructing Timothy this way.

00:42:44.440 --> 00:42:44.800
 He says,

00:42:44.920 --> 00:42:51.059
 No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and for frequent ailments.

00:42:51.599 --> 00:42:53.400
 Why didn't he just say pray and have more faith?

00:42:54.559 --> 00:42:56.240
 You know, he like gave him an example.

00:42:56.559 --> 00:43:02.320
 And you can read other examples in the Old Testament of kings and others who physicians came to them by God.

00:43:02.320 --> 00:43:05.900
 And they used things to help restore them to health.

00:43:06.920 --> 00:43:11.860
 So when I was in Birmingham, I had people tell me, like, don't, you know, don't get a transplant.

00:43:13.180 --> 00:43:14.380
 You know, just trust God.

00:43:14.480 --> 00:43:17.880
 Like, why are you doubting God's ability because you're getting this transplant?

00:43:18.880 --> 00:43:23.059
 And, man, that just really infuriated me again.

00:43:24.000 --> 00:43:27.700
 But I do feel sorry for people who feel that way.

00:43:27.699 --> 00:43:38.579
 And I remember reading in one of the waiting rooms in Birmingham, John Calvin's Institutes of the Christian Religion.

00:43:38.759 --> 00:43:46.500
 And I was reading a part, a section about God's sovereignty, God's providence, and this idea of, like, trusting in God's goodness and sovereignty.

00:43:46.500 --> 00:44:00.559
 And aside that, I remember just reading something along the lines of, just because God is sovereign doesn't mean that we neglect or throw aside things that can kind of better our present condition because he has put them there.

00:44:01.360 --> 00:44:03.960
 You know, and I thought, very true.

00:44:04.840 --> 00:44:10.460
 So God can restore you, can heal you, in a sense, through modern medicine.

00:44:10.460 --> 00:44:12.840
 But here's where it can go wrong.

00:44:12.960 --> 00:44:16.900
 Like, you don't need to put, you don't need to put your ultimate trust in man.

00:44:17.800 --> 00:44:23.460
 Your ultimate trust has to be in the Lord himself, not just in doctors and in medicine.

00:44:23.920 --> 00:44:25.500
 There's a danger of that.

00:44:26.740 --> 00:44:31.940
 At the same time, beware of people who will wrongfully say, throw away all your medicines.

00:44:32.019 --> 00:44:38.619
 I have a buddy named Joseph, and he, cystic fibrosis like me, I was in the hospital a lot with him.

00:44:38.619 --> 00:44:41.759
 And he was a youth pastor, a great guy.

00:44:42.339 --> 00:44:48.319
 But he kind of followed some wrong teaching for a while, and his friends were saying, throw away your medicine.

00:44:49.139 --> 00:44:52.519
 Like, don't take any more medicine, just trust God, and God will heal you.

00:44:52.599 --> 00:44:59.259
 And he got very deathly sick multiple times because of following their advice.

00:45:00.639 --> 00:45:02.900
 Now he actually has a lung transplant like me.

00:45:02.900 --> 00:45:09.300
 But don't do that because what you're doing is you're putting the Lord your God to the test.

00:45:09.820 --> 00:45:15.340
 You're saying, like, if you don't act like, God, I'm going to, you know, just quit everything.

00:45:15.460 --> 00:45:18.160
 I'm just going to throw that out there, and you better act.

00:45:18.579 --> 00:45:20.300
 You know, you're putting God to the test.

00:45:20.740 --> 00:45:23.579
 It's very silly and dangerous.

00:45:23.579 --> 00:45:28.539
 So, what does the Bible say about this?

00:45:28.599 --> 00:45:30.239
 And that's why I had you turn to James 5.

00:45:31.099 --> 00:45:32.119
 You need to know this.

00:45:32.139 --> 00:45:34.559
 There is no formula, okay?

00:45:34.739 --> 00:45:39.759
 There's not like no little incantation prayers that you can say to be healed.

00:45:40.779 --> 00:45:42.940
 There are some models, but there's no formula.

00:45:43.119 --> 00:45:50.019
 So basically, we come to God humbled and in faith, and we ask Him to heal us.

00:45:50.019 --> 00:45:54.920
 Let's read this in James 5, verse 13.

00:45:57.239 --> 00:45:57.940
 He says,

00:45:58.039 --> 00:45:59.360
 Is anyone among you suffering?

00:46:00.019 --> 00:46:01.079
 Let him pray.

00:46:01.739 --> 00:46:02.980
 Is anyone cheerful?

00:46:03.679 --> 00:46:04.980
 Let him sing praise.

00:46:05.900 --> 00:46:07.519
 Is anyone among you sick?

00:46:08.739 --> 00:46:10.659
 Let him call the elders of the church,

00:46:11.460 --> 00:46:16.019
 and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.

00:46:16.019 --> 00:46:21.239
 And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick,

00:46:21.699 --> 00:46:23.219
 and the Lord will raise him up.

00:46:24.119 --> 00:46:26.719
 And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.

00:46:27.679 --> 00:46:29.940
 So therefore, confess your sins to one another,

00:46:30.079 --> 00:46:32.719
 and pray for one another, that you may be healed.

00:46:33.659 --> 00:46:38.099
 The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

00:46:38.099 --> 00:46:43.759
 Elijah was a man of nature just like ours.

00:46:44.500 --> 00:46:47.339
 Okay, so you think of the prophet Elijah, how magnificent he was.

00:46:47.400 --> 00:46:51.279
 He's saying he was an ordinary guy, just like us.

00:46:52.460 --> 00:46:52.940
 And it says,

00:46:53.059 --> 00:46:55.659
 He prayed fervently that it might not rain,

00:46:55.739 --> 00:46:58.920
 and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth.

00:46:59.880 --> 00:47:03.719
 Then again, he prayed, and the heaven gave rain,

00:47:04.279 --> 00:47:05.860
 and the earth bore its fruit.

00:47:05.860 --> 00:47:09.559
 But so inside this we see a lot of things.

00:47:09.559 --> 00:47:13.180
 Like if you're sick, come in faith and ask people to pray with you.

00:47:13.880 --> 00:47:16.360
 Specifically the elders, but I don't want you to mistake that.

00:47:16.440 --> 00:47:18.800
 It's like there's these priests in this church,

00:47:18.920 --> 00:47:22.539
 and you only can be healed if one of them prays for you.

00:47:22.539 --> 00:47:28.480
 But it is the responsibility of elders in congregations to pray for sick people.

00:47:28.680 --> 00:47:31.400
 It's a responsibility that they're given.

00:47:32.660 --> 00:47:33.120
 And it says,

00:47:33.119 --> 00:47:39.199
 I don't want you to miss this because we usually detach these two things,

00:47:39.299 --> 00:47:39.739
 but it says,

00:47:40.420 --> 00:47:46.219
 So if you're really serious about God healing and working you,

00:47:46.319 --> 00:47:47.599
 like you need to be honest and open,

00:47:48.219 --> 00:47:50.299
 and not hide like sin this in your life.

00:47:50.839 --> 00:47:51.779
 I think it's connected.

00:47:51.920 --> 00:47:53.239
 I don't think it's divorced from this.

00:47:53.239 --> 00:47:56.459
 I think it's honestly coming before God and saying,

00:47:56.939 --> 00:47:59.359
 God, I know I've sinned against you.

00:48:00.139 --> 00:48:02.199
 I know that I have rebelled against you,

00:48:02.239 --> 00:48:04.299
 and I know I don't deserve any good thing.

00:48:04.839 --> 00:48:08.359
 And I'm going to confess my sins as an act of humble,

00:48:08.500 --> 00:48:08.919
 you know,

00:48:09.399 --> 00:48:10.199
 brokenness,

00:48:10.819 --> 00:48:12.559
 and asking you to have mercy on me.

00:48:12.559 --> 00:48:19.860
 And so we pray in faith to an all-powerful God who has the power to heal and to restore.

00:48:21.019 --> 00:48:25.400
 So that is their very clear description of that.

00:48:25.400 --> 00:48:28.240
 So just,

00:48:29.000 --> 00:48:30.280
 I did want to share this with you,

00:48:30.480 --> 00:48:31.960
 and this is the last place I'm going to have you turn,

00:48:32.079 --> 00:48:33.800
 but very familiar.

00:48:33.860 --> 00:48:35.320
 Look at Philippians 4 real quick.

00:48:36.380 --> 00:48:39.119
 But this is something that has helped me over the years

00:48:39.119 --> 00:48:41.480
 in regard to praying.

00:48:47.139 --> 00:48:47.900
 Philippians 4,

00:48:48.639 --> 00:48:49.619
 verse 4.

00:48:49.619 --> 00:48:54.880
 Rejoice in the Lord always.

00:48:55.920 --> 00:48:56.380
 And again,

00:48:56.460 --> 00:48:57.539
 I say rejoice.

00:48:59.000 --> 00:48:59.440
 Okay?

00:48:59.679 --> 00:48:59.920
 So,

00:49:00.719 --> 00:49:01.259
 not like,

00:49:01.359 --> 00:49:01.480
 hey,

00:49:01.500 --> 00:49:03.139
 if you get healed or if you get better,

00:49:03.259 --> 00:49:03.900
 then rejoice.

00:49:04.039 --> 00:49:07.539
 It's like this idea of embrace where you are right now

00:49:07.539 --> 00:49:09.619
 and rejoice because God is good.

00:49:10.759 --> 00:49:14.039
 Let your reasonableness be made known to everyone.

00:49:14.980 --> 00:49:15.480
 So don't,

00:49:15.819 --> 00:49:16.079
 you know,

00:49:16.079 --> 00:49:16.739
 lose your head.

00:49:16.859 --> 00:49:17.759
 Don't panic.

00:49:17.760 --> 00:49:20.740
 Don't look like as if you don't have a God in your life at all.

00:49:21.460 --> 00:49:22.080
 Calm down.

00:49:22.420 --> 00:49:23.080
 Be reasonable.

00:49:24.240 --> 00:49:27.340
 Let it be known to everyone that the Lord is at hand.

00:49:28.200 --> 00:49:29.180
 The Lord is near.

00:49:30.640 --> 00:49:32.560
 Do not be anxious about anything,

00:49:32.720 --> 00:49:35.960
 but on everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving.

00:49:36.660 --> 00:49:39.060
 Let your request be made known to God.

00:49:40.140 --> 00:49:41.160
 And the peace of God,

00:49:41.260 --> 00:49:43.180
 which surpasses all understanding,

00:49:43.720 --> 00:49:46.360
 will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

00:49:46.360 --> 00:49:46.500
 Jesus.

00:49:47.660 --> 00:49:48.099
 So,

00:49:48.820 --> 00:49:50.579
 very simple here.

00:49:51.740 --> 00:49:52.680
 We come to God,

00:49:53.180 --> 00:49:56.280
 we pour out our desires and our request to Him.

00:49:57.559 --> 00:49:58.000
 Example,

00:49:58.180 --> 00:49:58.740
 like God,

00:49:59.280 --> 00:50:01.160
 I desire to be healed.

00:50:01.500 --> 00:50:05.519
 I desire for you to heal me of this infirmity that I'm having right now.

00:50:06.640 --> 00:50:07.400
 Here's why.

00:50:08.340 --> 00:50:09.380
 And make your case.

00:50:09.380 --> 00:50:11.539
 Plead with God.

00:50:11.880 --> 00:50:12.320
 Ask Him.

00:50:13.280 --> 00:50:13.599
 Say,

00:50:13.820 --> 00:50:15.640
 I really wish to live longer,

00:50:15.800 --> 00:50:17.079
 and I want to serve more people.

00:50:17.220 --> 00:50:19.039
 I think that if I was healed,

00:50:19.119 --> 00:50:22.460
 I might be able to serve you better in this context.

00:50:23.099 --> 00:50:24.840
 And kind of lay out your case.

00:50:25.700 --> 00:50:25.900
 God,

00:50:25.940 --> 00:50:31.200
 I think that a lot of people would be turned to you if they saw you work in this way in my life.

00:50:31.199 --> 00:50:33.319
 Make an argument.

00:50:33.500 --> 00:50:35.019
 Make a request to God.

00:50:35.659 --> 00:50:36.359
 Tell Him why.

00:50:37.500 --> 00:50:39.219
 And affirm your faith in Him to heal you.

00:50:39.259 --> 00:50:39.619
 Like God,

00:50:39.699 --> 00:50:40.939
 I fully believe that you can.

00:50:41.960 --> 00:50:43.859
 You are the Lord God Almighty.

00:50:44.619 --> 00:50:45.579
 You can heal.

00:50:46.839 --> 00:50:47.139
 All right?

00:50:47.940 --> 00:50:49.119
 So where's the other part come in?

00:50:49.279 --> 00:50:49.480
 Well,

00:50:49.599 --> 00:50:50.000
 right here.

00:50:51.400 --> 00:50:52.359
 At the same time,

00:50:52.440 --> 00:50:54.159
 while you may pray this and ask,

00:50:54.819 --> 00:50:57.739
 you need to kind of humbly submit to God's sovereign will.

00:50:58.299 --> 00:50:59.219
 That's when you say,

00:51:00.179 --> 00:51:00.379
 Lord,

00:51:00.440 --> 00:51:00.799
 ultimately,

00:51:00.980 --> 00:51:02.659
 I don't know what's best.

00:51:03.299 --> 00:51:07.199
 I don't know if it's better for me to be healed right now or to remain sick.

00:51:08.019 --> 00:51:09.199
 Because I can't see,

00:51:09.279 --> 00:51:09.500
 like,

00:51:09.539 --> 00:51:10.960
 the big picture like you can.

00:51:11.480 --> 00:51:16.799
 So I'm going to just trust in your sovereignty and your goodness to do what's right on my behalf.

00:51:17.659 --> 00:51:19.799
 But I've told you why I desire to be healed.

00:51:19.940 --> 00:51:20.940
 And I believe you can.

00:51:21.519 --> 00:51:22.659
 And just leave it with Him.

00:51:24.420 --> 00:51:27.559
 Knowing that He will do what's best for you and for His glory.

00:51:27.679 --> 00:51:29.480
 Those are two things that He promises to do.

00:51:30.199 --> 00:51:35.400
 He promises to do what's best for you as His child and to pursue His own glory.

00:51:36.559 --> 00:51:36.819
 Okay?

00:51:37.099 --> 00:51:39.219
 That's like how I prayed for years.

00:51:40.599 --> 00:51:40.879
 So,

00:51:41.679 --> 00:51:44.480
 what if God doesn't heal?

00:51:44.659 --> 00:51:45.239
 It's the last thing.

00:51:45.359 --> 00:51:46.420
 I know there's a lot today,

00:51:46.420 --> 00:51:47.220
 but hang in there.

00:51:47.980 --> 00:51:49.280
 What if God doesn't heal?

00:51:49.780 --> 00:51:50.500
 What if He says,

00:51:51.079 --> 00:51:51.400
 no?

00:51:52.579 --> 00:51:53.019
 Alright?

00:51:54.000 --> 00:51:54.320
 So,

00:51:55.039 --> 00:51:57.260
 I know all of you have prayed,

00:51:57.380 --> 00:51:58.180
 have fasted,

00:51:58.280 --> 00:52:02.180
 have cried out to God for physical healing for yourself or a loved one,

00:52:02.639 --> 00:52:04.240
 and yet your sickness may remain.

00:52:05.440 --> 00:52:06.260
 So the truth is,

00:52:06.320 --> 00:52:07.860
 though God can heal and does,

00:52:07.940 --> 00:52:09.639
 He wouldn't choose to in every situation.

00:52:09.639 --> 00:52:12.099
 leave it up to Him.

00:52:12.940 --> 00:52:13.259
 Again,

00:52:13.379 --> 00:52:15.319
 trust in His goodness and His wisdom.

00:52:16.539 --> 00:52:18.319
 But please don't make this mistake.

00:52:18.579 --> 00:52:19.539
 Please don't say,

00:52:20.299 --> 00:52:24.239
 God must not love me or care about me because He's not answering my prayer to be healed.

00:52:24.239 --> 00:52:26.199
 That is a load of,

00:52:26.339 --> 00:52:26.879
 you know what?

00:52:27.219 --> 00:52:27.619
 Because,

00:52:28.159 --> 00:52:29.279
 the greatest sign

00:52:29.279 --> 00:52:32.099
 of God's love for you is the cross.

00:52:32.419 --> 00:52:32.699
 Okay?

00:52:33.279 --> 00:52:35.579
 He is not going to give you a greater sign

00:52:35.579 --> 00:52:37.319
 than like crucifying His own Son

00:52:37.319 --> 00:52:39.479
 for unworthy sinners like you and me.

00:52:40.279 --> 00:52:42.879
 That is the echo of God's love and goodness right there.

00:52:42.979 --> 00:52:44.099
 And that's all you need.

00:52:45.059 --> 00:52:46.400
 If He decides to do the healing,

00:52:46.519 --> 00:52:46.699
 okay,

00:52:46.839 --> 00:52:47.339
 but if not,

00:52:47.420 --> 00:52:49.739
 like you have enough in the cross.

00:52:51.360 --> 00:52:51.759
 So,

00:52:52.500 --> 00:52:53.339
 at the end of the day,

00:52:54.139 --> 00:52:55.619
 God is concerned more

00:52:55.619 --> 00:52:58.019
 with a deeper healing in your life.

00:52:58.119 --> 00:52:59.119
 He's more concerned

00:52:59.119 --> 00:53:00.420
 at the end of the day,

00:53:00.480 --> 00:53:01.739
 not just that He healed you physically,

00:53:01.900 --> 00:53:03.139
 but more concerned

00:53:03.139 --> 00:53:06.980
 with a deeper spiritual healing of your soul.

00:53:08.000 --> 00:53:10.099
 He's more focused on working your life

00:53:10.099 --> 00:53:11.940
 in such a way that you may know Him,

00:53:12.460 --> 00:53:13.079
 trust Him,

00:53:13.159 --> 00:53:14.039
 and display Him more.

00:53:14.099 --> 00:53:14.239
 Like,

00:53:14.279 --> 00:53:15.179
 that's what He's after.

00:53:15.860 --> 00:53:17.059
 And if that means He allows you

00:53:17.059 --> 00:53:17.839
 to walk through sickness,

00:53:17.960 --> 00:53:18.880
 that's what He's going to do.

00:53:19.759 --> 00:53:21.380
 If it means that He heals you,

00:53:21.440 --> 00:53:21.860
 He will.

00:53:22.759 --> 00:53:23.799
 He's most concerned

00:53:23.799 --> 00:53:25.119
 with your sanctification.

00:53:26.420 --> 00:53:26.839
 And so,

00:53:27.599 --> 00:53:29.460
 I wanted to close

00:53:29.460 --> 00:53:30.659
 just by reading this to you.

00:53:32.099 --> 00:53:33.059
 One of my heroes,

00:53:33.199 --> 00:53:35.259
 someone that I have looked to a lot

00:53:35.259 --> 00:53:36.019
 to get me through

00:53:36.019 --> 00:53:37.519
 all the stuff that I have been through,

00:53:38.480 --> 00:53:39.619
 is a woman who,

00:53:40.739 --> 00:53:42.819
 her name is Joni Erikson Tada.

00:53:42.820 --> 00:53:45.280
 She's been a quadriplegic

00:53:45.280 --> 00:53:46.240
 for many years.

00:53:46.360 --> 00:53:47.360
 She is a young teenager

00:53:47.360 --> 00:53:48.340
 dove into a pool

00:53:48.340 --> 00:53:50.140
 and broke her spine.

00:53:50.420 --> 00:53:51.880
 And she's been in a wheelchair

00:53:51.880 --> 00:53:52.720
 her whole life.

00:53:52.719 --> 00:53:56.019
 And she has prayed

00:53:56.019 --> 00:53:56.839
 and she has prayed,

00:53:56.959 --> 00:53:57.739
 like me,

00:53:57.799 --> 00:53:58.179
 like she said,

00:53:58.239 --> 00:53:59.319
 I'm a little dumped on her

00:53:59.319 --> 00:54:00.459
 than McDonald's french fries.

00:54:00.599 --> 00:54:00.779
 Like,

00:54:01.059 --> 00:54:02.939
 people have prayed for her

00:54:02.939 --> 00:54:03.619
 to be restored.

00:54:04.259 --> 00:54:05.219
 And she remains,

00:54:05.359 --> 00:54:05.679
 you know,

00:54:05.739 --> 00:54:07.480
 physically disabled.

00:54:08.859 --> 00:54:10.359
 And she talks about

00:54:10.359 --> 00:54:11.339
 this deeper healing

00:54:11.339 --> 00:54:13.239
 that I want to throw out there

00:54:13.239 --> 00:54:13.859
 to you today.

00:54:13.860 --> 00:54:15.960
 She says,

00:54:16.019 --> 00:54:16.440
 to me,

00:54:17.099 --> 00:54:18.019
 physical healing

00:54:18.019 --> 00:54:19.880
 had always been a big deal.

00:54:20.300 --> 00:54:21.280
 But to God,

00:54:21.400 --> 00:54:23.360
 my soul was much more important.

00:54:24.300 --> 00:54:25.360
 And that's when he began

00:54:25.360 --> 00:54:26.780
 searching for a deeper healing.

00:54:26.960 --> 00:54:27.680
 I began searching

00:54:27.680 --> 00:54:28.880
 for a deeper healing.

00:54:29.240 --> 00:54:30.380
 Not just physical.

00:54:31.920 --> 00:54:32.660
 She said,

00:54:33.320 --> 00:54:34.480
 some time ago,

00:54:34.900 --> 00:54:35.280
 Ken,

00:54:35.400 --> 00:54:36.360
 who was her husband,

00:54:37.099 --> 00:54:37.960
 and I had a chance

00:54:37.960 --> 00:54:38.980
 to go to Jerusalem.

00:54:39.980 --> 00:54:41.420
 We went into the old city.

00:54:41.420 --> 00:54:44.340
 And there we were.

00:54:44.460 --> 00:54:45.440
 I was being pushed around

00:54:45.440 --> 00:54:46.300
 in my wheelchair.

00:54:48.320 --> 00:54:49.119
 Not just,

00:54:49.519 --> 00:54:50.340
 you know,

00:54:50.440 --> 00:54:51.059
 bumping around.

00:54:51.159 --> 00:54:51.440
 She says,

00:54:51.519 --> 00:54:52.059
 bumpity bump,

00:54:52.139 --> 00:54:52.360
 bump,

00:54:52.420 --> 00:54:53.539
 down the Via Della Rosa.

00:54:54.079 --> 00:54:54.480
 She's like,

00:54:54.500 --> 00:54:55.119
 when you go up

00:54:55.119 --> 00:54:55.920
 to the Via Della Rosa

00:54:55.920 --> 00:54:56.500
 in a wheelchair,

00:54:56.720 --> 00:54:57.400
 you go down it

00:54:57.400 --> 00:54:57.980
 and not up it.

00:54:58.579 --> 00:54:59.760
 And she said,

00:55:00.380 --> 00:55:01.720
 something caught her attention.

00:55:02.440 --> 00:55:02.780
 She said,

00:55:02.840 --> 00:55:03.180
 Ken,

00:55:03.539 --> 00:55:04.059
 come here.

00:55:04.639 --> 00:55:05.280
 Look at this.

00:55:05.280 --> 00:55:06.840
 It's the Pool of Bethesda.

00:55:07.740 --> 00:55:07.900
 Now,

00:55:07.920 --> 00:55:08.300
 do you remember

00:55:08.300 --> 00:55:09.559
 what the Pool of Bethesda was?

00:55:09.599 --> 00:55:10.220
 This is where Jesus

00:55:10.220 --> 00:55:11.320
 healed the man.

00:55:12.099 --> 00:55:13.000
 Who was lame.

00:55:14.579 --> 00:55:15.599
 And imagine her

00:55:15.599 --> 00:55:16.539
 being a quadriplegic,

00:55:16.659 --> 00:55:17.200
 seeing that,

00:55:17.300 --> 00:55:17.519
 you know,

00:55:17.539 --> 00:55:18.980
 seeing that location.

00:55:20.180 --> 00:55:20.740
 And she says,

00:55:20.820 --> 00:55:21.059
 oh,

00:55:21.099 --> 00:55:21.300
 Ken,

00:55:22.700 --> 00:55:23.800
 you would not believe

00:55:23.800 --> 00:55:24.840
 how many times

00:55:24.840 --> 00:55:27.119
 I have pictured myself here

00:55:27.119 --> 00:55:27.860
 as one of those

00:55:27.860 --> 00:55:28.700
 with disabilities.

00:55:29.639 --> 00:55:31.079
 The place was dead quiet.

00:55:31.200 --> 00:55:32.019
 All the tour buses

00:55:32.019 --> 00:55:32.680
 were gone.

00:55:33.500 --> 00:55:34.599
 And it was beautiful.

00:55:34.599 --> 00:55:35.460
 And it was quiet.

00:55:36.320 --> 00:55:37.220
 And I leaned,

00:55:37.360 --> 00:55:38.420
 I leaned in there

00:55:38.420 --> 00:55:39.400
 on the guardrail

00:55:39.400 --> 00:55:40.900
 of the old ruins

00:55:40.900 --> 00:55:42.940
 and tears ran down

00:55:42.940 --> 00:55:43.599
 my face

00:55:43.599 --> 00:55:44.500
 and I looked down

00:55:44.500 --> 00:55:45.980
 into the cisterns

00:55:45.980 --> 00:55:47.320
 to see if there was

00:55:47.320 --> 00:55:48.200
 any water left

00:55:48.200 --> 00:55:49.280
 in the Pool of Bethesda.

00:55:50.000 --> 00:55:51.440
 But while I was there alone,

00:55:52.200 --> 00:55:53.420
 I sat there

00:55:53.420 --> 00:55:54.160
 with my Savior

00:55:54.160 --> 00:55:56.539
 and tears began

00:55:56.539 --> 00:55:57.780
 streaming down my face.

00:55:58.780 --> 00:55:59.619
 She said,

00:55:59.680 --> 00:55:59.820
 oh,

00:55:59.860 --> 00:56:00.139
 Jesus,

00:56:00.360 --> 00:56:00.880
 thank you.

00:56:01.720 --> 00:56:02.500
 Thank you

00:56:02.500 --> 00:56:03.980
 for a no answer

00:56:03.980 --> 00:56:05.119
 to my request

00:56:05.119 --> 00:56:06.079
 for physical healing.

00:56:06.079 --> 00:56:07.980
 you really knew

00:56:07.980 --> 00:56:08.659
 what you were doing

00:56:08.659 --> 00:56:09.759
 so many years ago

00:56:09.759 --> 00:56:11.519
 because a no answer

00:56:11.519 --> 00:56:12.860
 to my request

00:56:12.860 --> 00:56:13.819
 for physical healing

00:56:13.819 --> 00:56:15.159
 has purged

00:56:15.159 --> 00:56:16.039
 so much sin

00:56:16.039 --> 00:56:17.039
 out of my life,

00:56:17.539 --> 00:56:18.940
 so much selfishness

00:56:18.940 --> 00:56:19.519
 and bitterness.

00:56:20.719 --> 00:56:21.599
 And I know

00:56:21.599 --> 00:56:22.759
 I've got a long way to go,

00:56:22.860 --> 00:56:23.500
 but every day

00:56:23.500 --> 00:56:24.559
 I want to wake up

00:56:24.559 --> 00:56:25.319
 and I want to be

00:56:25.319 --> 00:56:26.299
 a different Joni

00:56:26.299 --> 00:56:27.420
 than I was yesterday.

00:56:28.079 --> 00:56:29.139
 I want to be

00:56:29.139 --> 00:56:29.699
 a Joni

00:56:29.699 --> 00:56:30.960
 that you created

00:56:30.960 --> 00:56:31.960
 and that you designed.

00:56:33.119 --> 00:56:33.699
 Oh, God,

00:56:33.759 --> 00:56:34.219
 help me

00:56:34.219 --> 00:56:35.299
 to step into that

00:56:35.299 --> 00:56:36.119
 no answer,

00:56:36.939 --> 00:56:37.480
 Lord Jesus,

00:56:37.679 --> 00:56:38.419
 to the request

00:56:38.419 --> 00:56:39.419
 for physical healing.

00:56:40.179 --> 00:56:40.899
 It has meant

00:56:40.899 --> 00:56:41.679
 that I have depended

00:56:41.679 --> 00:56:43.039
 more on your grace

00:56:43.039 --> 00:56:44.459
 and it's increasing

00:56:44.459 --> 00:56:45.299
 my compassion

00:56:45.299 --> 00:56:45.919
 for others

00:56:45.919 --> 00:56:46.480
 who are hurt

00:56:46.480 --> 00:56:47.119
 and disabled.

00:56:47.980 --> 00:56:48.619
 It's helped me

00:56:48.619 --> 00:56:49.919
 quit complaining

00:56:49.919 --> 00:56:50.799
 behind me

00:56:50.799 --> 00:56:52.500
 and stretched

00:56:52.500 --> 00:56:54.039
 my fate.

00:56:54.519 --> 00:56:55.199
 It has pushed me

00:56:55.199 --> 00:56:55.980
 to give thanks

00:56:55.980 --> 00:56:57.539
 in times of sorrow.

00:56:58.079 --> 00:56:58.719
 It has increased

00:56:58.719 --> 00:56:59.259
 my faith.

00:56:59.339 --> 00:56:59.819
 It has strengthened

00:56:59.819 --> 00:57:00.879
 my hope of heaven

00:57:00.879 --> 00:57:02.079
 and has made me

00:57:02.079 --> 00:57:03.379
 love you so much more

00:57:03.380 --> 00:57:04.019
 than if you would

00:57:04.019 --> 00:57:05.079
 just heal me physically.

00:57:06.099 --> 00:57:07.059
 It is such a safe

00:57:07.059 --> 00:57:08.000
 and wonderful thing

00:57:08.000 --> 00:57:09.660
 in the back

00:57:09.660 --> 00:57:10.640
 of the inner sanctum

00:57:10.640 --> 00:57:11.240
 of the fellowship

00:57:11.240 --> 00:57:12.000
 of sharing

00:57:12.000 --> 00:57:12.960
 in his sufferings

00:57:12.960 --> 00:57:14.280
 and I would not

00:57:14.280 --> 00:57:14.700
 trade it

00:57:14.700 --> 00:57:15.380
 for any amount

00:57:15.380 --> 00:57:15.980
 of walking,

00:57:16.180 --> 00:57:16.599
 she said.

00:57:17.760 --> 00:57:18.660
 And so she says,

00:57:18.700 --> 00:57:19.500
 my question to you

00:57:19.500 --> 00:57:20.019
 today is that

00:57:20.019 --> 00:57:20.800
 you see yourself

00:57:20.800 --> 00:57:21.320
 at the pool

00:57:21.320 --> 00:57:22.180
 of Bethesda.

00:57:23.079 --> 00:57:23.860
 Are you wondering

00:57:23.860 --> 00:57:24.740
 why God hasn't

00:57:24.740 --> 00:57:25.980
 removed the disappointment,

00:57:26.220 --> 00:57:27.240
 why he is giving you

00:57:27.240 --> 00:57:28.619
 no physical healing

00:57:28.619 --> 00:57:29.360
 that you've desperately

00:57:29.360 --> 00:57:30.099
 asked for?

00:57:31.440 --> 00:57:32.220
 Well, you know what?

00:57:32.219 --> 00:57:33.699
 God may remove

00:57:33.699 --> 00:57:34.279
 your suffering

00:57:34.279 --> 00:57:34.859
 and that would be

00:57:34.859 --> 00:57:36.059
 cause for great joy

00:57:36.059 --> 00:57:37.379
 and praise,

00:57:37.739 --> 00:57:38.500
 but if not,

00:57:38.639 --> 00:57:39.439
 he will use it.

00:57:40.019 --> 00:57:41.019
 He will use everything

00:57:41.019 --> 00:57:42.319
 that stands in the way

00:57:42.319 --> 00:57:43.019
 of his fellowship

00:57:43.019 --> 00:57:43.639
 with you.

00:57:44.719 --> 00:57:46.219
 So let God mold you

00:57:46.219 --> 00:57:46.819
 and make you,

00:57:46.959 --> 00:57:47.719
 transform you

00:57:47.719 --> 00:57:49.279
 from glory to glory

00:57:49.279 --> 00:57:51.019
 and that's the deeper

00:57:51.019 --> 00:57:51.439
 healing

00:57:51.439 --> 00:57:53.059
 and you don't have

00:57:53.059 --> 00:57:53.919
 to break your neck

00:57:53.919 --> 00:57:54.779
 to receive it.

00:57:55.739 --> 00:57:56.759
 There's the truth.

00:57:57.399 --> 00:57:58.679
 God is most concerned

00:57:58.679 --> 00:57:59.679
 with the deeper

00:57:59.679 --> 00:58:01.179
 inner spiritual healing

00:58:01.179 --> 00:58:01.759
 in your life.

00:58:02.199 --> 00:58:03.059
 If it means just

00:58:03.059 --> 00:58:03.639
 to carry you

00:58:03.639 --> 00:58:04.399
 through suffering,

00:58:05.859 --> 00:58:07.239
 to draw you closer

00:58:07.239 --> 00:58:07.639
 to him,

00:58:07.699 --> 00:58:08.239
 he'll do it.

00:58:09.919 --> 00:58:10.879
 And trust him.

00:58:12.159 --> 00:58:12.940
 He is good.

00:58:13.219 --> 00:58:13.960
 He is wise.

00:58:14.980 --> 00:58:16.219
 He has shed his blood

00:58:16.219 --> 00:58:16.899
 for us.

00:58:18.359 --> 00:58:19.759
 But by all means,

00:58:20.259 --> 00:58:21.259
 cry out to God.

00:58:21.500 --> 00:58:21.839
 Ask,

00:58:21.899 --> 00:58:22.699
 because he invites you

00:58:22.699 --> 00:58:23.299
 to ask.

00:58:23.759 --> 00:58:24.419
 He invites you

00:58:24.419 --> 00:58:24.919
 to come

00:58:24.919 --> 00:58:26.139
 and experience this.

00:58:27.919 --> 00:58:28.719
 Pray with me.

00:58:29.299 --> 00:58:29.299


00:58:29.299 --> 00:58:29.299


00:58:29.299 --> 00:58:29.299


00:58:29.299 --> 00:58:29.299


00:58:29.299 --> 00:58:29.299


00:58:29.299 --> 00:58:29.299


00:58:29.299 --> 00:58:29.299


00:58:29.299 --> 00:58:29.299


00:58:29.299 --> 00:58:29.299


00:58:29.299 --> 00:58:29.299


00:58:29.299 --> 00:58:29.299


00:58:29.299 --> 00:58:29.299


00:58:29.299 --> 00:58:29.299


00:58:29.299 --> 00:58:29.299


00:58:29.299 --> 00:58:29.299


00:58:29.299 --> 00:58:29.299


00:58:29.299 --> 00:58:29.299


00:58:29.299 --> 00:58:29.299


00:58:29.299 --> 00:58:29.299


00:58:29.299 --> 00:58:29.299


00:58:29.299 --> 00:58:29.299


00:58:29.299 --> 00:58:29.299


00:58:29.299 --> 00:58:29.299


00:58:29.299 --> 00:58:29.299


00:58:29.299 --> 00:58:29.299


00:58:29.299 --> 00:58:29.299


00:58:29.299 --> 00:58:29.299


00:58:29.299 --> 00:58:29.299


00:58:29.299 --> 00:58:29.299


00:58:29.299 --> 00:58:29.299


00:58:29.299 --> 00:58:29.299


00:58:29.299 --> 00:58:29.299


00:58:29.299 --> 00:58:29.299


00:58:29.299 --> 00:58:29.299


00:58:29.299 --> 00:58:29.299


00:58:29.299 --> 00:58:29.299


00:58:29.299 --> 00:58:29.299


00:58:29.299 --> 00:58:29.299