DEVOTIONAL INSIGHTS & REFLECTIONS

The Lord Heals - January 9

One of the things accomplished on the cross was that Jesus bore a beating (the stripes on His back) for your healing...

Isaiah foretold the Lord's suffering on our behalf:

…"Surely our griefs He Himself bore, And our sorrows He carried; Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed. All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him.…" ~Isaiah 53:4-6

Though this was a foretelling, our healing was spoken in "present tense." Remember God is the same yesterday, today and forever. He doesn't change His mind. And so are the gifts and callings of God without repentance.

…When they heaped abuse on Him, He did not retaliate; when He suffered, He made no threats, but entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly. He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. “By His stripes you are healed.” For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.… ~1 Peter 2:23-25

There are many other scriptures a child of God can stand on for healing as well.

Healing is the children's bread. (See Matthew 15:26.) Note that this was spoken to a gentile when she sought deliverance for her daughter from Jesus. Read the entire account of Jesus' interaction with her from Matthew 15:21-28:

Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly.”

Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.”

He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.”

The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said.

He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.”

“Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.”

Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment.

Healing occurs as a result of faith in God regardless of whether or not you believed and served Him prior to seeking His healing.

In fact, in a portion of scripture, Jesus gives His followers a Great Commission, saying:

…"Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: In My name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not harm them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will be made well.”… ~Matthew 16:16-18

These signs and wonders should be commonplace whenever His people gather today... Any great evangelist, speaker, minister of the Gospel, missionary will have signs and wonders that follow the preaching of the Word ---- and often they occur during the preaching of the Word, without fanfare.

(Have faith in God.) Expect signs and wonders to occur, especially miraculous healings whenever and where ever the Word of God is preached!

And when you pray for others, know that God hears you and expect Him to move in their behalf. Otherwise, your praying is in vain.

And the prayer of faith shall heal the sick and the Lord will raise them up. (See James 5:14-16.)

Shalom!

[The LORD is PEACE or YAHWEH SHALOM. The meaning behind shalom goes deeper than just the absence of conflict or being calm; it further means wholeness, finished, perfection, safety and wellness. True shalom comes when one abides with God in a covenant relationship because He alone gives complete satisfaction, fulfillment and harmony with Himself and others. Many people are broken, lost and fearful. Only a true encounter with Yahweh Shalom, the source of all peace, and His son, Jesus, the Prince of Peace (SAR SHALOM), will bring peace in the deepest meaning of the word.]