5th December 2024

5th December 2024


Pray (ACts)


Read (James 5v14-18)


Message (Scott Woodburn)


One last thing on prayer and healing. Do I believe that the Lord heals physical illness today? Absolutely, yes. I will always oppose those who make a big show of “healing” and gather crowds to arenas and then swing their blazers above the heads. There are fraudsters within the visible church and we must exercise discernment every single day. Even so, I believe that the Lord works physical healing in His people. How? In three ways, according to His will.


Firstly, as we have been reading in this chapter, God sometimes brings healing by answering prayer. There are awesome moments when we see physical change in our loved ones. It is dramatic, miraculous, extraordinary and we can only explain it by declaring that the Lord has worked and answered our prayers.


Secondly, the Lord brings physical healing by the expertise of the men and women he has called to the field of medicine. Are you amazed by your grandmother’s new hip? Do you praise God because the treatment you endured slowed your illness? Are you thankful that polio has largely been wiped out in the UK? Brothers and sisters, we are tempted to always seek the miraculous whilst ignoring the ordinary. God heals in both ways and we should rightly praise His name.


Finally, the Lord heals by death. That might sound like a ludicrous claim but it is absolutely true. Consider the Lord’s friend Lazarus. He fell ill, died and was raised to life by Christ. Indeed, Jesus made it clear that this would be the case saying that Lazarus’ illness would not lead to death but would display the glory of God (John 11v4). Despite being raised to life and being healed of his illness, another day would come when Lazarus would die and remain in his tomb.


This is the reality for all humans. We are frail and subject to all manner of afflictions. In our own lives the Lord might graciously heal us by any means that He sees fits. He might answer the cries of His people and restore us to full health. He might use the skill of the surgeon to save us from certain death. But a day will surely come for us to die. It must happen and it will happen. Then what? For the Christian death holds no power. The person of faith will die but they will then begin eternity with Christ where they will never again know illness or death. Heaven brings complete healing every single time.


I have said this before and no doubt will repeat it but I am sick of illness and death. They are constant reminders that all is not right in this world. But even as I walk the corridors of the Ulster, stand in graveyards and mourn the loss of those I love, I am still sure of this - life is short, death is sure, sin the cause, Christ the cure. Thanks be to God!


Pray (acTS)


Sing


WSC


Q53 Which is the third commandment? The third commandment is, Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain: for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
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