Plt 08.02

February 22, 2008 PLT

Healing the Sick INTRODUCTION As we were worshipping, I felt the cries of God in my heart, crying over the people who are sick but cannot be healed because the church does not know their purpose as healers. I want you to imagine being a doctor and see that your parents are dying. What would you do? Would you just sit there and watch or would you do everything in your ability to save and heal your parents? Another illustration, if you were walking on the street and saw a hit-and-run accident, as a doctor, you would run over and do everything in your ability to save that person because you are a doctor! So why does the church not do anything amongst the sick? We do not realize our purpose as spiritual doctors who are meant to heal the sick. We must see ourselves through God’s eyes and His purpose for us. Before we go on, when you see physically/mentally sick people, what is your response to them and why do you respond in that way? Most people think that healing is not their job because it is the job of a doctor/pastor. But if you believe that you have the same ability that Jesus had to heal the sick/drive out demons, you will move. In the beginning you may not move quickly or you may not see results…but I urge you to pray until you see God moving. You have the authority and power to do such things in Jesus’ name. KEY TEXT: Luke 9:1-6 Objective: To teach the students why and how they should pray for the sick.

BODY I. Why do we need to heal the sick?

Healing the Sick

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February 22, 2008 PLT

1. Jesus commanded to not only preach the Kingdom of God but also to heal the sick (Luke 9:1-2). Luke 9:1-2 - “One day Jesus called together his twelve disciples and gave them power and authority to cast out all demons and to heal all diseases. Then he sent them out to tell everyone about the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick.” • If you are called to make disciples of all nations, then you are also called to heal the sick! • Jesus gave us the power and authority to heal diseases and cast out demons  therefore you cannot say that you do not have the calling to do missions or do healing ministry • Change your mentality! Even if we do or do not see the fruit of healing and preaching right away, we must still do it because we are called to do it! o Example: Daniel prayed and God answered on the first day, but Daniel did not see it right away. Therefore, he continued to pray. o You must continue to pray until you see healing. o The devil uses doubts when we do not see the results of praying over healing right away. Do not believe in lies! You must continue to pray! o There was a man who wrote a book. In the beginning of his healing ministry, it seemed like nothing was happening. But he continued to pray in faith. As he continued to pray over years and years, the greater his faith grew and the greater he saw the results of healing. 2. Healing the sick is a manifestation of the Kingdom of God (Luke 13:10-13). Luke 13:10-13 – “One Sabbath day as Jesus was teaching in a synagogue, he saw a woman who had been crippled by an evil spirit. She had been bent double for eighteen years and was unable to stand up straight. When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said, ‘Dear woman, you are healed of your sickness!’ Then he touched her, and instantly she could stand straight. How she praised God!” • We must first discern whether the sickness is due to a bad lifestyle (eating bad food etc.) or if it’s by the presence of demonic powers. • Through healing, the kingdom of God came into the woman and reigned over her (instead of evil reigning over her). 3. Healing the sick is a way that the Holy Spirit confirms the message Healing the Sick

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February 22, 2008 PLT

(Mark 16:20; Heb. 2:4). • We must pray for the sick so that we can give the Holy Spirit a chance to testify the gospel message to the sick. Mark 16:15-20 – “And then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone. Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved…These miraculous signs will accompany those who believe: They will cast out demons in my name, and they will speak in new languages…They will be able to place their hands on the sick, and they will be healed… And the disciples went everywhere and preached, and the Lord worked through them, confirming what they said by many miraculous signs.” • •

When you obey God in going out to the world and preaching the good news, God will be with you to cast out demons through you. If you do not move in faith (laying hands on the sick and driving our demons in Jesus’ name) then the spirit of God does not have the opportunity to confirm.

4. Testimonies from the mission field. • Sarah Kim – In Azerbaijan, when she was 13 years old, her group went around throughout the towns and asked if anybody was sick (in order to preach the gospel later on). One grandma asked Sarah’s group into her house to stay. Because visitors are rare, the whole town came together to see this group of visitors. Again they asked if anybody was sick. A woman who was in bed because her whole body was aching. They went over and prayed over her. She was healed completely! Because of this, they were open to the gospel. • Couple in Iran mission field – God showed the wife a vision of a sick grandma. As they went into the village, they met a young college kid who invited them to his home. Since that town was a remote village, the whole town gathered to greet the visitors. They asked if there was anybody who was sick. The grandma the wife saw in the vision came out. As they prayed over the grandma, the young college kids saw a vision of the Holy Spirit coming down from heaven as a dove to rest upon the grandma. The people were astonished and amazed. Through that, the kids asked to receive Jesus Christ and also asked to be baptized. Through that, other people received Christ. • The Holy Spirit must testify with us in speaking the gospel! (1Cor. 2:4-5) Hebrews 2:4 – “And God confirmed the message by giving signs and wonders and various Healing the Sick

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February 22, 2008 PLT

miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit whenever he chose.” • In order for our testimony to be genuine and powerful we need the witness of the Holy Spirit  in order for the message to be effective! • Through the Holy Spirit’s healing, we prove that it is not by man’s knowledge but by the power of God that there is healing.

II. How can we heal the sick? 1. Remember that you are sent by God (Luke 9:2). Therefore, it is not by your authority and power that you can heal the sick but His power. Luke 9:2 – “Then he sent them out to tell everyone about the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick.” • It is by Jesus’ power and authority (the one who sends us) that we are casting out demons and healing the sick, not ours. • Our authority is in believing that it is through Jesus that we are able to heal. o Example: being sent as an ambassador to Korea by the president of the United States • Demonic powers should listen to you because your authority is in Jesus! 2. Remember that His power and authority are not earned, but given to you (Luke 9:1). Luke 9:1 – “One day Jesus called together his twelve disciples and gave them power and authority to cast out all demons and to heal all diseases.” • When you agree with the worldly desires, you cannot exercise the power of Jesus  if you agree with Jesus, then you can exercise His power! 3. It is by faith, in the name of Jesus, that you can heal the sick (Acts 3:12-16). Acts 3:12-(16) – “Through faith in the name of Jesus, this man was healed—and you know how crippled he was before. Faith in Jesus’ name has healed him before your very eyes.” • In verse 12, Peter saw the opportunity to preach the gospel through this healing  the main point was not only to heal but to speak the truth! • Peter proclaimed that it was not by their power they were able to heal = it was through faith in Jesus Christ! Healing the Sick

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February 22, 2008 PLT

4. It is by your compassionate heart for the sick that you are able to pray for healing (Mat. 9:35-36; Luke 7:11-13). • It is not by your knowledge/theology that moves you to heal the sick  it is through your compassionate heart! • That compassionate heart comes from God; as you walk with Him you will become more like Him in His compassionate heart. Luke 7:11-13 – “A funeral procession was coming out as he approached the village gate. The young man who had died was a widow’s only son, and a large crowd from the village was with her. When the Lord saw her, his heart overflowed with compassion. ‘Don’t cry!’ he said.” 5. If it is possible, lay your hands on the sick and pray for healing (Mark 16:15-18; Luke 4:40, 8:46) • The Holy Spirit is in us; therefore in touching another, the Holy Spirit can move through you to another  impartation Luke 4:40 – “As the sun went down that evening, people throughout the village brought sick family members to Jesus. No matter what their diseases were, the touch of his hand healed everyone.” 6. When you cast out demons, command them to leave by faith in Jesus name (Luke 8:28-29). • The main purpose of healing the sick is not just to heal the sick. • Healing the sick is a means of confirming the message of the Kingdom of God and of Jesus Christ and let the people return to God! • Some people forget about the message of God and heal the sick  wrong!

III. What can hinder you from healing the sick? 1. Disbelief or lack of faith (Mark 6:5-6; Mat. 17:19-20) Mark 6:5-6 – “And because of their unbelief, he couldn’t do any miracles among them except to place his hands on a few sick people and heal them. And he was amazed at their Healing the Sick

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February 22, 2008 PLT

unbelief.” • •

Even Jesus could not do many miracles in the presence of unbelief. Continue to overcome unbelief and pray!

2. Fear of man (Luke 6:6-10). Die to yourself! • Never forget that you are sent by God  your job is not to worry about the result and the response of the people; simply OBEY GOD! • The greatest prevention of healing the sick is fear of man. • You need to die to yourself! Whether the person is healed or not it is not by your power or authority so it does not affect you! The glory is for God not you! • By healing the sick through selfish intentions, even if one sees results, they will be under greater demonic power and influence  worse! • By healing the sick through the Holy Spirit  freedom! • Overcome the fear of man by dying to yourself!

Healing the Sick

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