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Jesus - The Healer
by Jerry Ousley I knew a man who experienced a healing from Jesus. Even though he knew the Bible thoroughly he had never committed his life to Christ. I'm not certain exactly as to the reason for that but I suppose he had some. I was a teenage boy at the time and it was one Sunday after church. Even though this man had not given his life to the Lord he faithfully attended Sunday services with his wife and children. But this particular Sunday they had come without him. He was sick in bed. With a family he needed to work. They were distressed because it didn't look as if he was going to be able to go to work on Monday morning and perhaps for several days. I can't remember if he had the flu or exactly what his sickness was but I do remember that several of the parishioners decided to accompany the pastor to the home of this family after service to pray for the man. My parents were among them so that also meant that I was going too. When we got there he had moved from the bed to the couch. The pastor laid hands on him and all the other members of the congregation gathered around him and they prayed. When they finished the man looked up at them and quoted from James 5:15 which says, "And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven." After quoting the scripture he said, "If the Lord has healed me then He has also saved me!" He got up from the couch, put on his clothes and went to work the next day. Not only that but from that day forward he committed his life to Christ. There are those who try to tell us that Jesus doesn't heal now-a-days. They give reasons such as the gifts of the Spirit have been done away with after the completion of the Bible and so forth. But folks, I've got to tell you, I've seen enough actual healings (and experienced a few too) so they are a bit too late to tell me any different. The fact is that Jesus can do whatever He wants to do. What is the secret to healing? 1. The presence of Jesus. 2. Faith in Jesus (both on the part of those that are praying and on the one being prayed for). 3. Accepting and believing in the Lord. 4. Being thankful. 5. Giving and bringing glory to God! If and when God heals us that healing isn't just for us but also serves as a witness of Christ. So why do some not receive healing? 1. I don't know for sure. 2. Some God wants to heal through the medical profession (remember God made all things including the healing powers found in herbs and then He gives people the ability to use them rightfully). 3. Sometimes God chooses the ultimate healing Going home to be with Him. 4. We could ask, "What is the purpose of our healing?" Do we want to be healed for selfish reasons or to give glory to God? Is it just so we can get relief or is it to witness of Jesus? Whatever the case, Jesus is the Healer. See the song, THE HEALER He was wounded For our transgressions He was bruised For our iniquities Surely He bore our sorrows And by His stripes we are healed! Jerry D. Ousley is the author of ?Soul Challenge?, ?Soul Journey?, ?Ordeal?, ?The Spirit Bread Daily Devotional and his first novel ?The Shoe Tree.? Visit our website at spiritbread.com to download these and more completely free of charge. Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com |