Dessert or Banquet?

“Heal the sick that are therein and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.” Luke 10:9 (KJV)
“Heal the sick and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God is near you now.'” Luke 10:9 (NLT)

As I was reading this yesterday, I realized there was so much more to this verse than I had ever seen before. Yes, we are commanded to heal the sick, not just pray for them. I had read a short piece another minister had written on healing, and they had brought this point home to me… how Jesus didn’t tell us to pray for the sick, he commanded us to heal the sick. You may say, how do ‘we’ heal the sick? We don’t, it is the Christ in us, we are just his instruments. Also in Luke 9:2 it says that Jesus sent them out to heal the sick and tell everyone about the Kingdom of God. What really struck me though, in reading verse 9 in Luke 10 was where it says the kingdom is “near” you. What I get out of this is that we are to share not only in healing them, but to share with them the power of transformation that is attainable through the knowledge of Jesus Christ. Healing is there for everyone and a transformed life is there for everyone. Their healing could be the first step into a power-filled life and walk with our Lord and Savior. It is like a taste of what they could be experiencing.

How many walk away with ‘only’ a healing? How many who heal others only heal and never offer more? It is like giving someone a dessert and not the full banquet. While that may be really good, wouldn’t you rather experience the whole banquet? Because, just getting the dessert, will leave you with a sugar high, it won’t last. You need the full banquet. You need all the courses to satisfy! You need the meat and marrow, the starch, the bread, you need to eat from the five food groups… you get my point? Don’t just give them a taste, offer them all. We need to train them in everything, not just leave them with a glimpse of God’s glory… Offer them the whole banquet! We can do this by showing them the whole kingdom of God. The whole kingdom of God is the corporate expression of the body of Christ working in unity. As it says in Romans 12:6-16, we all have different gifts and we should use them together. If we as Christians could operate with the same unity that those under the rule of Solomon operated, we could touch more people than he did in his day. And our king is wiser than Solomon. Where did Solomon gain his wisdom? Do you remember how impressed the Queen of Sheba was at how organized, wise, and prosperous King Solomon was? 1 King 10:1-9 She attributed it all to God. Do people attribute our knowledge, choices, and relationships to God? Hopefully the life we live is an example of wisdom, unity, love, compassion, and prosperity; which all points to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Hopefully, it shows a life that has been completely healed in body, soul, and spirit, because we must also be healed to be effective. See Mark 2:17 & Luke 5:31-32

In that healing, humbleness, and repentance, we have come in contact with the kingdom of God. What is the kingdom of God? It is the Power of the Holy Spirit, the Power of the Christ working through a body of believers, carrying out what we have been commanded to do. See Matthew 10:7-8; Luke 9:2 & 10:9

Was Lazarus’ sickness in vain? No! It was so the Glory of the Son of God could be shown! See John 11:4 & John 11:40

So, those who believe in the healing power of God and see his healing power ministered, are a witness to the glory of the Son of God. If only we would believe in Him and his healing and do as we have been commanded what greater things we would See and Do! 

As long as we ask for things that are in line with the will of our Heavenly Father, He will do them. 

“I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!” John 14:12-14

In Jerusalem, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies
    will spread a wonderful feast
    for all the people of the world.
It will be a delicious banquet
    with clear, well-aged wine and choice meat.
There he will remove the cloud of gloom,
    the shadow of death that hangs over the earth.
He will swallow up death forever!
    The Sovereign Lord will wipe away all tears.
He will remove forever all insults and mockery
    against his land and people.
    The Lord has spoken! Isaiah 25:6-8 (NLT)

Dignity and Joy

Every time I go to a new doctor, such as a specialist, I have to go through my medical history, which is rather lengthy. Because some of the history requires explanation, personal history also has to be divulged. It leaves me feeling rather ‘exposed’ in more ways than one… Afterwards, the nurse and the doctor make comments that I have been through a tumultuous series of events in my lifetime. (I am not disclosing everything in this story because some of it is deeply personal.) After nine surgeries, an inoperable brain tumor, a near fatal car accident, failed marriages, and many other catastrophes, I suppose I have, but I don’t look at it that way. To me those things are my past, those are things I’ve survived. I see that I am here, I am alive and I am loved. 

As I drove home today, I thought about the reactions I have received over the years, the all too familiar ones, time after time, to my life history. But that is the key – it IS history. And that’s where it should stay – in the archives… only to be brought out when needed for medical examination, not for emotional rumination! Chewing the cud is only beneficial to the cow (a ruminant). 

Today, when the nurse finished with all the questions, she looked at me and shook her head. I wasn’t asking for her pity, I was only answering the questions. I don’t need pity. She said the all-familiar phrase, in her words. “You have really been through so much in your life!” I looked at her, smiled, and gently said “Yes, I have, and God is good! He has brought me through it all! I couldn’t have gone through it without him. I am here and I’m sane and I know I have a purpose in my life. It’s funny when I look back, it’s hard to believe I went through all of that, because I don’t think about it until I have to recount it to a new doctor, then I put it away again, in the past. I focus on today.” She just shook her head again and said “Wow!” then left the room.

Yes, there have been things that could have taken away my dignity. There have been times I have lost family members for lengths of time. I have lost friends over lies that have been told about me. I have lost tens of thousands of dollars because of people I’ve been involved with… I’m not discussing details, Thank you. I don’t hold those things against any of them. I pray they come to know God and the truth. But I made it through by the grace of God and the mercy of friends and family. Any of these circumstances could have stolen my dignity or my joy. But, I would have had to allow my dignity and my joy to be stolen. The only way our dignity or our joy can be taken from us, is that we allow it to happen. I plan to hold on to both and I urge you to do the same!

Then I will hold my head high
    above my enemies who surround me.
At his sanctuary I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy,
    singing and praising the Lord with music. Psalm 27:6
(my emphasis)

Keeping My Eyes on Jesus

I was perusing a social network I belong to and I was curious what one of my friends was up to, so I decided to look them up by name. In a hurried, distracted way, I started typing, and realized I had typed ‘Jesus!’ Then a thought struck me… You may ask me, “Was it me?” or “Was it this person or that person?” and my answer would be, “It should be!” You see, the thought that struck me, was that we should see Jesus first when we think of, or see anyone! The blood of Jesus should wash away any preconceived notions or labels we have about a person, any person. We should view all people through the atonement of Christ’s death and resurrection. That is how God views all of us. He sent Jesus to wipe the slate clean. God offered everyone a fresh start through the blood of Jesus and we should do the same. It is not our responsibility to point out other people’s sin or shortcomings, the Holy Spirit does that. It is our responsibility to love them and accept them. We are to view them through the eyes of God. We are to see them with the new vision that we were given, when we accepted Christ as our Savior. We are to offer the perfect love that is extended to us.

God doesn’t look at us and see ‘sin’ ‘race’ ‘unlovable’ ‘addict’ ‘leper’ ‘sick’ ‘poor’ ‘heretic’ ‘nefarious’ or ‘reprobate.’ Instead He sees those he is calling back to Him, those he created.  He sees ‘purity’ ‘one race’ ‘loved’ ‘free’ ‘unblemished’ ‘whole’ ‘rich’ ‘faithful’ ‘humble’ and ‘pardoned.’

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We are to look beyond their sin and see them in their original purpose that God intended for them, no less than he intended for us. When we hold ourselves up to be better than anyone, we are missing the mark of His perfect Love. Perfect Love looks beyond the perceived faults of others. 

When I recall the story of the crucifixion, I remember how the physical veil in the temple was torn from top to bottom and how it symbolized the breaking down of the barrier between God and man. Our ability to approach God became wide open! The partition between God and man was removed. Man didn’t remove it, God did. It was removed by Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice. Another type of veil is removed through redemption… the veil of sin is removed from our eyes. The veil of sin skews our vision and by allowing it to be removed, we start to see with the vision of God. Our vision begins to become his vision and little by little, we get glimpses of the world as God intended us to see it, his original purpose. As we grow in maturity, our vision becomes clearer and more expansive, until those we see, are seen through the blood of Jesus. Their frailties, their perceived faults are not seen, their sins are not seen; instead, the chosen are seen, God’s people are seen, his creation is seen, those whom God loves are seen.

Who was I thinking of when I typed that name? Was I keeping my eyes on Jesus while I typed? I honestly believe it was just a distracted mistake, but it did cause me to pause long enough to think and write. Who do I think of when I speak with total strangers? Who do I think of when I call my friends or family members? Who do I envision? Do I see them or do I see Jesus? I need to remind myself to keep my eyes on the Jesus in them or the Jesus that died for them.

And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God. Romans 5:9-11

For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’ Matthew 25:35-36

Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. Colossians 3:13-14