HEALING BELONGS TO YOU… by Pastor Charles C. Elliott
Some of you have physical needs today. You may have a chronic ailment that you can’t seem to get beyond. You may have sharp, stabbing pain that occurs suddenly & unexpectedly. Some of you have recurring headaches. Others may be experiencing the discomfort of arthritis or problems in your circulatory system or digestive track. Perhaps your struggle is in the respiratory system. Regardless of the sickness, disease or pain, we all need to come to the FULL knowledge that we can be healed, and it belongs to us in the redemptive work which has been provided for us! I am sharing this message today to build your faith to receive! HEALING BELONGS TO YOU!!
THE FIRST STEP TO RECEIVE YOUR HEALING:
Know that you know, that you know, that it is God’s will to heal you,
Now, there are exceptions, when God sovereignly moves, such as in the case of Paul with his “thorn in the flesh”, but we can get ourselves really messed up if we start living on exceptions!
A guy was suffering from a miserable cold and begs his doctor for relief. The doctor prescribes pills. But after a week, the guy's still sick and the nagging cough persists. So the doctor gives him a shot. But that doesn't help his condition either. "Okay, this is what I want you to do," says the doctor on the third visit. "Go home and take a hot bath. Then throw open all the windows and stand in the cold winter air, until your entire body is shaking uncontrollably." The patient vigorously protested, saying "Doc, I'll get pneumonia!". Exactly, said the Doctor " Pneumonia I can cure, colds are a little harder"
Faith is resting, and ceasing to struggle or fret! Because it is based on, the expressed will of God, not on our desires, feelings or wishes. If it only took our needs, to get God’s response, then all of our needs would already be met!
FAITH IS EXPECTING GOD TO DO WHAT WE KNOW IT IS HIS WILL TO DO. When we are convinced that God wants to do something, it is not difficult to believe that it will happen, for we have surrendered ourselves unto it. The same grace of God that provides for our salvation also provides for our physical healing. If you know you are saved, then you can also know you are healed
The Hebrew word, for atonement, is (kawphar, to cover, to seal, to cure, to cancel, to put off or put away).
In Genesis 6:14, When God gave Noah instructions concerning the ark, he said, "Pitch it within and without with pitch.") or, (Kaw-far') “Cover it, Seal it, inside and out with pitch.” Now understand, that his faith, had to be “kawhar”, before the ark could ever be “kawphar”…..
The ark was made of gopher wood which is another name for resinous trees, woods that are used in ship-building; most likely cypress, which was used "in some parts of Asia exclusively as the material for ships, it was used in Athens for coffins, and in Egypt for mummy cases.
In other words, God instructed Noah, “the covering you build for the people and animals, needs a secure covering that will not be compromised by the forces that come against it.”
The root of the English word “cover”, signifies to pardon sin, as to provide a cover from God's judgment.
.Leviticus, chapter 4 gives instructions for bringing a young bull to the tabernacle for a sin offering. After the elders laid their hands on the bull (to transfer the people's sin to the bull), the bull was killed. The priest then brought some of the blood of the bull into the tent and sprinkled it seven times before the veil, which is before the Holy of holies. Some of the blood was put on the horns of the altar and the rest of the blood was poured at the base of the altar of burnt offering. By means of this ritual, *..Leviticus 4:20 tells us, "the priest shall make an atonement [kaw-far’] for them, and it (sin and it’s results) shall be forgiven (taken away from) them".
Matthew 8:16-17 makes it clear that Jesus healed all diseases on the basis of the atonement…..
Matthew 8:16 When the evening was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick: 17 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaiah the prophet, saying, for He, Himself took our infirmities, and bore our sicknesses.
The reason Jesus healed every kind of sickness, making no exceptions, was that He was our atonement, it is repeatedly stated in the gospels, “He healed them all.” The only time and place when he might not have healed everyone who came to him was when he preached in the synagogue of his home town of Nazareth. Even there, the Bible does not say that no healings took place; it simply says
Matthew 13:58, And he did not do many mighty works [supernatural acts of great power], because of their unbelief.
Psalms 107:17-20 Some became fools through their rebellious ways and suffered afflictions because of their iniquities. 18 They drew near the gates of death. 19 Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. 20 He (God) sent forth his word (Jesus) and healed them; and he rescued them from the grave. Jesus was the word of God, before the word became flesh, and lived among us.
When a little girl was told by her mom that she was going to get her a new dress as a birthday gift. She began to tell everyone that her mom was having a new dress made for her. Then, her mom took the little girl to the store and let her pick out the pattern and the material she wanted for her dress. The girl believed her mom’s word before she ever saw the dress. Her faith in her mom’s word became the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. It’s the same way with us… salvation for our soul, and the healing of our body, comes by believing God’s word, that He will do what He said through His atonement. Our Faith that comes by that sure word which we have been given, becomes the substance.
Shock the devil and tell him, I’m not going to be healed, I am healed, in the atonement!
.Romans 3:23-25 declares: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption [full ransom] that is in Christ Jesus: 25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation (our covering) through faith in his blood,
Propitiation is also a reference to the lid of the Ark of the Covenant (in the Temple); also called the mercy seat. It points us to the slab of gold that rested on top of the ark of the covenant. Images of two cherubim stood on this slab, facing each other. This slab of gold represented the throne of God and symbolized His real, tangible presence in the place of worship.
On the Day of Atonement, the high priest sprinkled the blood of the sin offering on it, symbolizing that God had accepted the sacrifice. So, the mercy seat was the central point at which Israel, through her high priest, could come into the presence of God. The priest, by acting in obedience to God’s word, was then standing in the heavenlies in behalf of the people.
Propitiation is the means by which we can stand in the heavenlies to receive covering for every earthly need. Remember, (kawphar, means to cover, to seal, to cure, to cancel, to put off or put away).
Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the (heavenly) throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
THERE IS GREAT VALUE IN GOD’S REDEMPTIVE NAMES (I know we’ve done this before, but it’s important that we understand that the names of God are evidence and substance for all our needs!
I want to share six of the Lord’s covenant, redemptive names which were revealed for a specific purpose and situation: so we would know His redemptive PLAN which He has set in motion for us.
The blessings revealed by each of these names are all part of the atonement.
Jehovah-Jireh – Gen 22:14. The Lord will provide – an offering. Christ was the offering provided for our complete redemption.
Jehovah-Nissi (Ex 17:15), the Lord is our banner [victor, captain]. When Christ, by the cross, triumphed over principalities and powers, it made it possible for us today to say, “thanks be to God which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Jehovah-T-sidkenu (Jer 23:6), the Lord our righteousness. He became our righteousness by bearing our sins on the cross; therefore our redemptive privilege of receiving “the gift of righteousness” is an atonement blessing.
Jehovah-Shalom (Judges 6:24), The Lord our peace (completeness). This name reveals to us our redemptive privilege of having his peace. As Jesus said, “My peace I give unto thee.” This blessing is in the atonement, because, as Isaiah said, “the chastisement of our peace was upon Him,” and we are told in Ephesians that “he made peace by the blood of his cross,” and, “we are brought near, to enjoy fellowship with Him, by the blood of Christ.”
Jehovah-Shammah (Ezekiel 48:15), the Lord is there, or present. Jehovah Shammah said “Lo, I am with you always;” and, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
You can have your own personal Shammah place–in Christ, all the time every day! (get your Shammah on!)
Jehovah- Rapha, Exodus 15:36. I am the Lord (your physician) that healeth thee This name shows our redemptive privilege of being healed. Isaiah, chapter 53, proclaims, “Surely he hath borne (lifted off) our sicknesss and carried (in Himself) our suffering.”
The very first covenant God gave his people after the Red Sea crossing, was the covenant of healing, where he revealed himself as our physician. This is not only a promise, but God said it was to be “a statute and an ordinance forever.” None of the blessings that his names reveal have ever been withdrawn or outdated. There is no expiration date! It says the old were not feeble, (they were able to keep up with the young folks) and even their shoes and clothing did not wear out…..
When You and I stop believing in healing, we are changing “The great I Am” to the “Great I was” because we are saying we no longer can receive these blessings, But the word of the Lord endures forever! He is still my provider! My banner! My righteousness! My peace! My present help! And my healer! Jesus Christ IS the same, yesterday, today and forever! (do I have an amen!)
THE BRASEN SERPENT LIFTED UP IN THE WILDERNESS WAS A TYPE OF CHRIST (it is the physicians symbol, in every doctor’s office)
As their curse was removed by lifting up the type of Christ, who, was bruised by the serpent, and died in our stead, Jesus declared in
John 3:14-15 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
“Moses told the people…Everyone that is bitten, and is dying, when he looks upon it, shall live.”
Those who looked only at their symptoms, and not at the lifted up serpent, died in the wilderness, but those who looked upon the brazen serpent lived! And they were healed!
THE SECOND STEP TO RECEIVE YOUR HEALING
Is to be sure you are right with God, because our redemptive blessings are conditional. (we mentioned that those who were bitten had to look upon the standard that was lifted up by Moses)
James 5:16 “Confess your faults one to another…that you may be healed.”
3 John 1:2 “Beloved, I wish above all else that you may prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers.”
Psalms 66:18 “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.”
There is something wrong when a person only desires the blessing but not the Blesser Himself. It is hypocrisy to seek His mercy while rejecting his will. When we touch the heart of God, we move the hand of God….Don’t ask for a blessing while rebelling against the one who is the blesser.
Proverbs 3:7-8 Be not wise in your own eyes: fear (give reverence to) the LORD, and depart from evil. 8 It shall be health to your flesh, and strength to your bones.
Our healing should be desired so that we will have strength for the service of God, and living in the will of God! We must desire good health for God’s glory not our own agenda.
We shouldn’t desire the healing or the blessing, more than we desire Him! That puts everything all backward, and it’s a sign of spiritual immaturity a “me, me, me” mentality! This is a sign of Children that don’t want to grow up!
Psalms 37:4 Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desire of your heart. If you will diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord and do that which is right in His sight… the Lord will take away from you all sickness.
Naaman, the leprous general of Syria, was given his healing… when he surrendered his will to the word of God!......Do you want your body healed? Present your body and your will to the Lord as a living sacrifice, knowing that IT IS GOD’S WILL TO HEAL YOU!
But if we look within, there are also wounds and healings that go beyond the physical.
Many times we find that it is easier to receive physical healings than those deeper wounds and brokenness of the soul. We show off our physical scars, but we tend to hide the emotional and mental scars that we bear…we all have our share of broken places! They are the Scars of abuse....Scars which come to diminish us....Scars of criticism....Scars of neglect….prejudice…or hatred and bullying . Sexual abuse… emotional abuse… or even spiritual abuse.....We can be wounded by the prejudices of society…..By our family…parents…children…brothers…sisters…aunts & uncles…...By our Friends…or just acquaintances…..One thing’s for sure… we all have hidden wounds somewhere, from someone.
Like the bumper sticker says….”LIFE HAPPENS” (some stickers use other words to say the same thing)
A soldier will come back from war – he has shrapnel in his body; he’s limping; he’s got bandages on his arms and around his head…or perhaps missing limbs….In six or nine months he’ll be physically okay. But the emotional wounds, those hidden wounds, from the ravages of war will be with him for a long, long time to come.
I have an uncle, who became an alcoholic during and after World War 2. Every time Frank got drunk, he was back on the battlefield, reliving the horror, with bombs exploding, gun fire, and death all around him. In reliving those horrible moments, his wife and sons would pay the price of his flashbacks and abuse.
Our sin situation requires a Savior… But our emotional wounds require a Healer! We’re saved, but we still have broken places! When we repent we are born again of the spirit, but we need a healing of the mind, will and emotions! Salvation puts us in a right relationship with God…
But there are still hidden wounds that hinder our relationships with those around us, which have to be dealt with. We may get healing on the outside but still need healing on the inside! We are too often aware, that we never become all that God wants us to be, and has planned for us to be, because Satan keeps using those hidden wounds and scars against us, to frustrate us and defeat us! These unresolved issues and hurts, result in not being able to trust, being afraid to hope again, becoming defensive and building walls around us, not fully believing that everything is really possible with God…. Our hidden scars want to convince us that we are the exceptions to the rule of faith!
In the 1980 movie “Scarface” – Al Pacino said, “The only one I can trust is Me.” (that’s not spiritually, emotionally, mentally or physically healthy) If you don’t trust – you can’t love…and if you can’t love – you can’t really live the abundant life.
We know down inside that there are some things that clapping, dancing, shouting, saying hallelujah, and speaking positive, in themselves, only take us just so far… After the victory march is over, we know, deep down inside that something is still missing…because the hidden wounds are still there. Doing only outward things and expecting an inner change, is like saying because I live in a garage, and that makes me a car or a lawnmower! Healing is a powerful substance, not just a feeling, or an activity, or goosebumps, or a routine.
In a panic, when her two-year-old swallowed a magnet, a mom rushed him to the emergency room. "He'll be fine," the doctor promised. "The magnet should pass through his system in a day or two." "Well, Doctor, how will I be sure?" she asked. "Well," the doctor suggested, "you could stick him on the refrigerator. When he falls off, you'll know it’s gone." It would be great if we could know that the inner healing was done that easily…….But Here’s Some steps to inner healing….
1. Reveal It to God (or we could say..”let the light shine in”)
Psalm 39:3 “I kept very quiet but I became even more upset. I became very angry inside, and as I thought about it, my anger burned even more. v.7 And now, Lord, what am I waiting I for? My only hope is in You.
The real power of bringing it before the Lord is in acknowledging it, speaking it out and confronting instead of denying it. This first step is about being honest and transparent…
(a). With yourself – stop keeping it in…confront yourself…get honest with yourself… tell yourself “I need to deal with this!”. (b). Be honest with God – don’t be afraid to talk about somebody to God… He saw it happen, He already knows……..“God, I have resentment in my heart toward so-and-so…” (God won’t have a cardiac arrest, or be in shock, when you tell him!) (c). Be transparent with One person you can trust – someone who’s shown they don’t have a personal agenda, someone who isn’t trying to prove how spiritual they are…you have to be very careful with this one, but you have to do it… accountability is an important part of the healing process….
2. Release The One Who Victimized You… Let them out of the prison of your own forgiveness… This is for your sake, not theirs! Stop seeing them as the villain, and understand that they are victims as well.
Luke 6:27 But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, v.28 Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.
Until you can love their soul, beyond the offence….do what’s best for them…Bless them and pray for them… the work isn’t done yet! YOU’RE STILL IN PROCESS! Something is still broken…. Whatever happened to you – Jesus went through it TO SHOW US HOW.. Were you humiliated? So was Jesus....Were you abused? So was Jesus......Were you betrayed? So was Jesus.....Were you done wrong? So was Jesus......Were you falsely accused? So was Jesus.
What did He do? In His humanity, He said, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.”
3. REPLACE OLD INFORMATION WITH GOD’S NEW TRUTH
Instead of playing that old information about what happened in the past, over and over again…and reviewing and rehearsing it…. Play this…. Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. (the New King James) “…but be transformed by replacing old information with God’s truth.”
The more we replace that old negative, self-destructive, self-defeating information with God’s truth, the quicker we will release healing within! This is transforming Word Power, not “Mind over matter” or healing through the power of the mind…
A leader in a Christian Science church was talking to a member of the congregation: "So how is your husband today?" he asked… "Oh, I'm afraid he's very ill." "No, no," corrected the leader, "You really shouldn't say that - you should say that he's under the impression that he's very ill ." The woman nods in agreement, "Yes, I'll remember next time, Elder." A few weeks later the leader saw the woman again. "And how is your husband at the moment?" "Well", she replied, "he's under the impression that he's dead!"
#4. Refocus On the Future
Philippians 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, v.14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
“What does God want me to be?”...“What does God have for me to do?”...“What’s my calling ... my purpose…my destiny?”...“What ministry does God have for me?”
You may not know the answers yet but you have begun to work toward the future and a good indicator that you’ve broken out of the old mind set of the past…is that as you’re looking ahead, you’re asking…How’s my relationship with God? How’s my prayer life?...How’s my Bible reading going?....How’s my praise and worship?....How does my attendance to the House of God reflect my values?....How is my giving reflecting my priorities?....How’s my personal discipline and how am I doing at delaying personal gratification and ruling over the lust of the flesh?
I have to determine that My past will not regulate and control my future… my wounds will not hold me back from my healing… Think of that person and that situation that has adversely affected your life… and let it go… that place of rejection, hurt and woundedness…. And As we close this message today, let’s…
1. Release it to God 2. Release the person or persons involved 3. Replace those thoughts with Gods greater truth 4. Refocus on your new future.
I wrote a poem that simply says “Does it Really Matter” and I was thinking of it once more as I wrote out this message…."Does it really matter where you’ve been. Does it really matter what the scar. Does it really matter what the sin. Or how you happened to fall this far. What matters is that what Jesus paid, Brought healing for your life … Today".
Maybe someone else dumped their resentment and bitterness on you and it has affected you and the way you feel and see things… It’s time for you to be free… and I’m glad you came today..
Proverbs 3:7-8 fear (give reverence to) the LORD, and depart from evil (self destructive ways). 8 It shall be health to your flesh, and strength to your bones.
Could you lift your hands in surrender to Him and give reverence to the Lord in this moment of release…. The word of God has creative power…..release that creative, transforming, redeemptive power today as it flows into you today!
Prayer…. “Lord, Jesus, I know that You see and You feel all the pain in my heart, the hurt and the resentment, the anger and guilt, the fear and insecurities. You see it all. I desperately need Your healing for my physical conditions and my hidden wounds and emotional scars. Today, by faith, I’m taking the steps towards my healing. Help me to admit to You the things that have had a negative and self-destructive affect on my life. Help me to release the person that wronged me. Help me to replace thoughts of that wrong doing with thoughts of your Greater truth… Help me to refocus on the future and Your plan and purpose for my life. Thank You for bringing revelation and healing to my life today. I recommit myself to you, Lord…
In Your mighty name, I pray. Amen.”
