KEY SCRIPTURE: Matthew 9:20 KJV “And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment:”

(Please read Mark 5:25-34)

Can one determine, when he or she would be healed? This is a big dilemma of many children of God. The story above gives us some very important clues. The woman in question had been suffering from a constant blood flow for twelve years. Mark reported that she had suffered many things of many physicians. This woman managed to receive healing from the Lord. She decided she was going to be healed and indeed she was healed.

After so many years of suffering she heard about the great miracle power of Jesus Christ. She decided that the next time Jesus came to town she would receive her healing.

Mark 5:28 KJV “For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole.” She then acted on her words and went to touch the helm of His garment. She was made instantly whole. Let’s consider her steps to her healing:

1.She heard about Jesus, building faith in her. (Roman 10:17)

2 She decided to make her way through the cloud and touch His garment

3.She said, if I touch his garment, I would be whole. (Note according to Mark 11:23, you can have what you say and believe)

4.She acted on her word by going to touch his garment

5.After touching Jesus’ dress, she believed she was healed and she was set free.

THIS is receiving your healing by personal faith. She believed and acted on what she heard about Jesus. You can also receive your healing by acting on the word of God you hear. I checked my blood pressure some years ago, and it was very low. I also knew that my father used to have very low blood pressure. My mind just told me this is a hereditary sickness. I quickly turned to Romans 8:11. It talks about the Spirit that raised Jesus Christ from death, who also lives in our bodies, would likewise give life to our body. . I said to myself that the Holy Spirit has given life to this body of mine. I stopped caring about that condition, and lo and behold it was the end of that condition.

Dear child of God, if your faith says yes, God would not say no. From our story, this woman received her healing by faith. The Lord said, since the days of John the Baptist, the kingdom of God suffers (allows) violence and the violent take it by force (Matt 11:12)

If you are sick, you can be healed today by counting on the promise of the scriptures as true and getting your mind settled that your healing is perfected.

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, you have provided healing for me, through our Lord Jesus, according to the scriptures, He carried away my diseases. I receive my healing and thank you for it, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

FURTHER STUDIES

Matthew 9:22 KJV” But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.”

Mark 10:52 KJV” And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: Matthew 9:18 BBE” While he was saying these things to them, there came a ruler and gave him worship, saying, My daughter is even now dead; but come and put your hand on her, and she will come back to life.”

Prayer is a very important activity for all Christians. Unfortunately, many complain of praying without receiving answers. A story is told about a very devoted man of one of the Christian denominations. He was asked by a friend. Do you receive answers for the many prayers you have been offering? He answered and said should I be receiving answers? This man was only practicing prayer as a religious ordinance and so did not expect any answers. That is rather sad. We have a personal God, who hears the cry of His children.

1 Peter 3:12 BBE” For the eyes of the Lord are on the upright, and his ears are open to their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

In our key scripture the ruler was able to get the Lord to respond to His request.

HOW did this man approach his prayer? The Bible said he first worshipped Him. To worship means he bowed or fell prostrate before the master. Worship is a protocol of prayer.

Psa 100:4 KJV” Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.” The psalmist shows us how to approach the father. He said enter His gates with thanksgiving. Thanksgiving in one of the African languages means to lie below the one being thanked. It is an act of worship. Our father deserves to be thanked and praised always. Back to our story, the ruler, then stated his problem after worshipping the Lord. He said, my daughter is dead but come and place your hands on her and she would be well. He was so clear in His expectation. He did not complain. This man prayed to the Lord in faith. I believe this moved the Lord to go with him.

Some people even complain to the Lord. They make statements like Lord I’ve suffered so much and you have not been listening to my request. This kind of request is a prayer of accusation. God may respond to you only on the grounds of mercy. Mercy means you do not deserve that favour, yet out of His abundant love he responds. Praying in faith places God under the authority of his word to respond to you without fail.  Faith means taking your answer by violence. Faith in God would always move him. According to Hebrews 11:6, God is only pleased with our faith and moves to reward that act of faith

Please God loves you, and desires to answer every heart cry of His children. He said all His promises are yes in Christ 2 Corinth 1:20. Pray to the Lord with pleasure, I mean with joy, knowing he always answers you. The Lord said at the tomb of Lazarus that., I thank you that you have heard me, and that you always hear me. Anyone who prays this way definitely knows what he  or she is talking about. God will respond to you request made in faith

CONFESSION

Thank you, father, for the privilege of prayer. Thank you that I have such a means to engage you in my affairs. You always hear me. Now you have answered all my request. Thank you Lord. Amen.

FURTHER STUDIES

Joh 11:41-42 KJV” Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.”

2 Corinth 1:20 KJV” For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us. “

KEY SCRIPTURE: Matthew 9:17 KJV” Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved.”

When the Lord was answering the disciples of John the Baptist, he gave a parable to explain His answer. He said no one pours new wine into old wine skin. The reason is that a new wine will ferment over time. Meanwhile the old wine skin had reached its yield point because the old wine would have fermented, expanding the wine skin, and so cannot stand a new wine which is yet to ferment, producing new gases. It would break. In relation to his disciples, it is after he has left for heaven that they would be converted to receive the Spirit of God and then would they fast. God also implies by that parable that servants of God who are unrepentant about lifestyles that the Bible clearly condemns cannot be entrusted with the power of God. 2Timothy 2:19 KJV” Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let everyone that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”

There are certain subtle sins that hide in the lives of children of God and hinders the Spirit of God from having full access into their lives. One of such trait is ‘pride’. There are certain words that reveals one is proud. An example is ‘as for me, as for me’ being one of the most repeated phrases in the communication of such a person. Proud people find it very difficult to forgive those who offend them.  It is a sign that one over estimates himself or herself. A proud person feels so hurt when ignored. A proud person may also find it difficult to say, I am sorry.  The Lord says no one would anoint one who is not ready to turn away from such ways. James 4:6 KJV” But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.” Pride is just one of such lifestyles.

The Lord is asking us in that parable to throw away every old life that does not honor Him. 2Timothy 2:21 KJV” If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work”. Please note that we are in the final hours of the last days. Hell is vomiting every kind of unclean thing to make a final onslaught on humanity. God our Father is raising a people with holiness and fire in their hearts to stop all the activities of darkness. The miraculous power of God will be seen in a very large scale in these times. The call is to seek the Lord with all your heart and in all sincerity and you would be a candidate for the power of God.

CONFESSION

God our Father anoint vessels who are ready to repent from every wrong way, I always make of myself to be a new vessel by renewing my mind and actions to agree with the word of God. God fills me with His power to bless my world.

FURTHER STUDIES

Romans 12:2 KJV” And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God”

Isaiah 1:18 – 19 KJV Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:

KEY SCRIPTURE: Matthew 9:14 KJV “Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not?

Fasting is of great benefit to the child of God yet many have so much fears about fasting because they do not really know what goes on in their bodies when they fast. Many are psychological put down by the idea that they may have to abstain from eating for a number of days. They consider as losing their food. scripturally it is a sacrifice, yet scientifically you are given your body an opportunity to release stored toxins and ultimately heal itself.

I will be considering fasting without food for a longer number of days.

1 During a fast for longer number of days, the first three days are the most difficult period. During this period hunger is at its peak. Hunger is not necessarily the absence of food but the release of hunger hormones called Ghrelin from the intestines to make the body go for food. These hormones normally show up during the times that one takes in food. When the body is deprived of food after sometime these hormones would stop being released as usual, because they were not satisfied when they were secreted earlier. During these three days one also feels very weak After this period the body begins to feel better and more energetic as the days go by.

2 How does the body survive without food for some days? The brain needs energy to keep functioning well. The sources of energy or fuel for the body are

1. Glucose

2.Protein

3. Fat

After the first day of the fast without food, it consumes all the glucose. The next source of energy is the stored fat. The liver converts or breaks down the fat into energy or fuel for the brain and the body as a whole. The body feeds on its reserves. Excess fat that may be harmful to the body are consumed.

At this time, since there is no external food, the body does not assimilate food, but eliminates toxins from various portions of the body. The body repairs and heals itself through this means

During the period of elimination of toxins from the body one’s urine gets darkened as a result of the toxins. This is the reason taking lots of water during the period of the fast helps the kidney to wash away these toxins. During a long fast lot of diseases are corrected and the body repairs itself renewing the youthfulness again (Isaiah 40:31)

I have digressed from my normal pure scriptural teachings for today to explain the scientific or physical changes that go on in our bodies when we fast, to help us free ourselves off the fears about not eating. With this understanding you can fast for a longer period without food, and that can usher you into great anointing and grace of God. Our Lord Jesus fasted for forty days, Elijah did the same and Moses as well. Put away the fear to fast for a longer period. Please note, it is not advisable for pregnant women, breast feeding mothers and those with severe kidney problems to go on such fasting.

CONFESSION

I wait upon the Lord so I renew my strength, I mount up with wings as eagles, I run and do not grow weary, my youth is renewed.

FURTHER STUDIES

Matthew 17:21 KJV” Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.”

Isaiah 40:31 KJV” But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: Matthew 9:14 KJV” Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not?”

Man’s fall from the beginning of creation was caused through food. (Gen 3:1-7) Satan attempt to get the master into sin was initiated by food. (Matt 4:4-5). Medicine tells us the major cause of most terminal diseases is precipitated by wrong foods. Fasting which is an abstinence from food in order to dedicate oneself to prayer, reading the scriptures and meditation on the scriptures, can help us free ourselves from the wrong appetite for food. . The disciples of John the Baptist asked Jesus, that John’s disciples used to fast often, and why does His disciplines do not fast?  The Lord answered that when he leaves them, then they would fast. 

Fasting is not a magic wand to twist the hand of God. Fasting is a discipline that ‘fine tunes’ us up to receive from God. Apostle Paul remarks about his fasting in the following verse, as follows, 2Corinth 11:27 KJV” In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness”. He talked about watching often, fasting often. Watching means praying throughout the night, and then he also fasted often. To pray through the night, accompanied with fasting is a very high sacrifice that would definitely attract God’s attention. A study of the scriptures reveals that anytime the people of God made grave sacrifices, God’s attention is drawn to the individual making that sacrifice. A study of most men and women of God who walked in the demonstration of God’s power were people who fasted often and also spent lots of hours praying in the presence of God.

HOW can one develop a life of fasting? The following is a suggesting to help you develop a life of fasting.

1.Read about the great benefits of fasting and the fact that, it is not an option but an obligation for every child of God. (Matt 6:16)

2.Start fasting for a day by forsaking breakfast and lunch. Continue fasting   a day for each week for some time.

3.Go for a whole day without food but with water. Do this for some months. I mean you can fast once a week, You can make it your weekly program.

4.Now decide to have three days without food once every month. Meanwhile can maintain your once a full day fast for each week.

5.You can now increase it to more days as your body adjust to longer days of fasting without eating. Make sure you pray fervently alongside. As you observe this program you would improve your spiritual life so strongly and your health would likewise spring up.

I will look at the science of fasting in our next study

PRAYER

Thank you, heavenly Father, for your love for me. Thank you for the ability to abstain from food for some time. My prayer life is strengthened as I fast and pray.

FURTHER STUDIES

Matthew 4:2, 4 KJV “And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungered he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

Luke 4:14 KJV” And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: Matthew 9:12 KJV” But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.”

(Read Matt 9: 11-13)

 Religion classifies those who are qualified, yet Christ qualifies all who respond to Him. The Pharisees questioned why does Jesus relate with the sinners? Religion always disqualifies some people because they are not holy enough. They claim these ones would defile us when they come too close to us. This way of thinking is rather devilish. Natural course of events or the norm between the sick and the healer is that, the sick seeks the healer whiles the healer reaches out to the sick. The Lord rightly said, the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. Luke 19:10.

IT is love in the heart of the Lord that shines on the sinner to respond. We do not normally find sinners pursuing Christians like we saw in the life of Christ. There is a glory that should attract the sinner to the child of God. The Bible spoke about John the Baptist as a burning and shining light. John 5:35 KJV” He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light.” The scripture added that men were prepared to enjoy his light for a season. John the Baptist preached and baptized people in the Jordan yet people came from very long distances to visit him, to hear him and to be baptized by him, why? Through his devotion to God, he had developed a glory, grace or spiritual aura that attracted all those who were in need to realize their need and seek him.

John was devoted to God in sanctification and in prayer. Please what I am talking about is that as much as we wish to reach out to the lost, , we must  position ourselves in a way that would attract the sinner to us, so we could be a blessing to them. In Luke 4:14, our Lord Jesus came in the power of the Spirit after His fast, and His fame went abroad. This caused many to come around Him.

 We must seek the Lost yet it must be done by the power of the Holy Spirit, such that they would love to come under our influence

CONFESSION

I thank God for the Holy Spirit, who is my strength and wisdom. As I fellowship with Him he empowers and attracts the sinner to respond to my presentation of the gospel to them.

FURTHER STUDIES

Luke 4:14 & 15 KJV” And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about. And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all.”

 John 12:19 KJV” The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing? behold, the world is gone after him”

KEY SCRIPTURE: Matthew 9:10 KJV” And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples”.

AFFABILITY is a disposition to be friendly and approachable or easy to talk to. In Matt 9 10, the Lord sat at meet in Matthew’s house, with a great number of the publicans and ‘sinners’. This scene caused the Pharisees to complain to the disciples of Jesus that, why did He sit and eat with the publicans and sinners? Jesus in spite of His holiness amazingly attracted sinners to himself so much. The good part of this is that, these sinners after an encounter or contact with Him, became converted sinners such that they go in an opposite direction to their former way of life (Luke 19:1-10). How was the Lord so successful in attracting sinners to Himself? The following are some of the reasons that caused many to stay around Him so much.  These are as follows

1.The great miraculous power He exhibited John 6:2

2. His down to earth practical teachings Matt 13:35

3.His tactful approach to all the publicans.

Let’s consider the third reason. I will consider a few instances about how he handled the ‘sinners ‘ that made all of the people seek to get close to Him. In John 8:1-8, the Lord sat down teaching a group of the people. The Pharisees and a crowd brought a woman who was accused of committing adultery. They said to the Lord, Moses stated that anyone who commits such an OFFENCE must be stoned, and what does He, the Lord say. The Lord asked them, let the one who has not ever committed sin cast the first stone at this woman. Every one of her accusers left without casting any stone, for none of them was guiltless.

In 1st Corinth 9 :19-23 apostle Paul shows the principle by which the Lord operated in order to win all classes of people. The Lord’s ministry attracted, Pharisees, Sadducees, Publicans and all persons and even little children. The apostle Paul said in 1 Corinth 9:22 KJV that” To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some”. The Lord stated why he related with all persons in the way he did. He said, although he ate and drank with the publicans and sinners, ” wisdom is justified of her children” (Matt 11:19b). We see that the Lord raised men and women of impeccable character. These so-called sinners did not remain sinners and drunkards after relating with Jesus. What did the Lord do that made all these people become such dedicated men and women to God? I believe he ate with them not as a glutton but a means of relating with them and winning them.

 Please notice that among the Jews there was new wine, which was not fermented and there was old wine which was fermented (Matt 8:17) Please note that, a new wine is the freshly pressed grapes. It gets bad or fermented when it is kept in the wine skin or bottle after some time. I believe the Lord took the new wine. This is the kind he produced at the wedding feast that the master of the ceremony commented that, you have kept the best wine or good wine till the tail end of the ceremony. (John 2:10). He had a very strong impact on the people because they witnessed such a disciplined character.

The love of Jesus for all men controlled His actions towards them such that He always acted rightly, that continually won their hearts.

CONFESSION

I have been sent to win men for Christ. I have a great love for all of them. This love controls my actions such that I become affable towards all persons.

FURTHER STUDIES

Matthew 11:19 KJV” The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.”

John 2:10 KJV” And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now.”

KEY SCRIPTURES: Matthew 9:9 ISV” As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s desk and told him, “Follow me.” So, he got up and followed him.”

The Lord got to Matthew the tax collector at his duty post, and asked him to follow him. The Bible revealed that Matthew got up and followed Him. This report was given by Matthew himself, so he reported every detail. Jesus as Lord does not appeal and plead with those, He calls to serve Him. His calling doubtless is the most privileged engagement that any man could find himself. This privilege is not necessarily about material gain, but to be in partnership with the Monarch of the universe to perform a special role on earth, in the lives of fellow men. The Lord Jesus described John the Baptist as the greatest man born of a woman, yet the least in the kingdom of God, because the task assigned to him was so important. (Matt 11:10 & 11) He was to prepare the way for the ministry of the Lord Jesus. God’s calling also demands the highest degree of selflessness and a complete dedication. Luke 14:26 ISV “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father, mother, wife, children, brothers, and sisters, as well as his own life, he can’t be my disciple.”

The Lord Jesus in reality is calling everyone to play special role of some kind. The call of the Lord to serve, is deliverance from the power of darkness. Exodus 9:1 ISV” Then the LORD told Moses, “Go to Pharaoh and say to him, ‘This is what the LORD God of the Hebrews says: “Let my people go so they may serve me.”  The calling of the Israelite from Egypt was fundamentally to set them free from bondage.

 All men were created to bring pleasure to God. Rev 4:11 KJV” Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created”.

It is in the Light of this that everyone must respond promptly to God’s call. What is His call about? To Matthew He asked him to follow Him. God’s call is primarily to follow the master. It is about learning from Him. He is calling you to do as you see Him do, so you would make the best impact in whatever area He called you into.  This involves a very close relationship with Him. There are so many of us who have a religious relationship with Jesus rather than a personal relationship with Him.

What is the difference between a religious relationship and a personal relationship? A religious relationship is one who observes ceremonies, laws and certain practices of the faith without a personal knowledge of Christ presence with him always, and a corresponding subjection of his will to Him. Such people are also not committed to evangelizing and raising up the converts in the faith. Those who are involved in a personal relationship do the later. The religious relationship ones would be present in church, yet he has no restrain from certain indulgence. He argues about why the Christian should not drink alcohol, and does get intoxicated on certain occasions. Dear one the call of the Lord is not a religious one. It is to have a personal relationship with the master.  It is a call to make Him Lord, because He has the final word in your life.

Jesus is calling you. Have you responded? If you have, is it a religious relationship or a personal relationship response?

CONFESSION

Lord Jesus I yield to your call to follow you. I subject my will to yours always. Your instructions are always superior to every other wish or word from any other person. You are indeed the Lord of my life.

FURTHER STUDIES

Matthew 7:21 KJV” Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven”.

Matthew 16:24 KJV” Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: Matthew 9:8 KJV” But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men.”

The multitudes that witnessed the healing of the impotent man burst into jubilation glorifying God. They also marveled about the fact that God has given such power to men. The awareness that God has given such power to men is very significant. Religion has taught us that Jesus demonstrated so much power because He is God, yet a critical study of the Bible reveals that our Lord Jesus put down His reputation and glory as God and lived as a man who depended fully on the Spirit of God.  John 17:5 KJV “And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.”(Read Phil 2:6& 7) From these verses we see that before our Lord Jesus came into this life, He had the same glory, power and authority as God the father. He put down this glory so He would live as a man for two reasons;

1. That as a man he took away our sins and   conquered Satan, for us through His death, so that men would be forgiven and count on His victory over Satan as their victory (Heb 2:10-14, Phil 2:9-11, John 1:29))

2. The second reason he became a man, was to live as an example to us. Showing us that men could live upright, holy and very powerful. (Heb 12:2)

Religion has brainwashed men to accept weakness, sinfulness and every kind of imperfection. Mark 7:13 KJV” Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye”.

Please note also that our Lord Jesus through His death and resurrection made it possible for any man who will believe in Him to receive the power and ability to become like Himself, so that they could walk on this earth as He did. (John 1:12&,13) When a man surrenders his life to Jesus, he or she receives the Spirit of Christ. Col 1:27 KJV” To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: “The Lord Jesus produced all that He did by the power of the Spirit in Him. That was His very life. This is the Christ.  Christ also means the anointed one. Christ in you is the anointing in you.

The history of the Church throughout the ages up till now reveals that men who come into the awareness of these truths, walk in the power and authority that our master Jesus exhibited. Dear child of God, our Father God has indeed made available to men a great mighty power to show forth His praises through us

WOULD you respond to his call to dedicate your life for such a glorious life?

PRAYER

Thank you, father, for allowing Jesus to die in my place, making it possible for me to receive His life and Spirit to live by His life and ability. Thank you, Lord, for your power given to me. I yield my life to you, to walk in this mighty power given to me.

FURTHER STUDIES

Eph 1:19 $ 20 KJV. And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his, mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places

Luke 10:19 KJV” Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: Matthew 9:5 KJV “For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk?”!

Sicknesses and diseases are a great threat to human survival on this earth. The current ‘abnormal normal’ that men find themselves in our world is a result of a respiratory disease that is threatening the lives of all men. I will like us to consider the provisions for the forgiveness of sins and that for the healing of our bodies. In our key scripture the Lord asked, the untaught Pharisees, that which is easier, whether to say, thy sins be forgiven thee or rise up and walk. In Isaiah 53, where the prophet spoke about Christ atonement for mankind, he clearly spoke about the healing of our bodies and the forgiveness of our sins.

In Isaiah 53:4, Isaiah prophesied as follows “Surely, he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. The word “grief” used in our verse is the Hebrew word ‘choliy’ and it means sickness whiles the word ‘sorrows’ is the Hebrew word ‘makob’ and it means pain. Isaiah 53:4 could be read as follows “surely he has borne our sicknesses, and carried our pains….” In the verse 5 the prophet spoke mostly on the forgiveness of our sins. We see clearly that in the atonement our Lord Jesus dealt with our sicknesses and sins.

Before the Lord was laid on the cross to be crucified, He was first taken to the whipping post and his body and Visage was so destroyed that he could not be accepted. All this he went through so you and I would be free from every disease. He has borne our diseases which is the past tense of to bear.

In our key scripture, the Lord asked which is easier, whether to say your sins are forgiven or be healed, rise up and walk? The truth is that he came to take both away. They always go together. He takes away sin and takes sicknesses away. If you believe he forgives your sins when you ask for it, he also gives you healing when you ask him for it. The Lord says as it is easy for him to forgive your sins, it is also very easy to declare you healed. Dear brother, rise up out of that sick bed right now.

When the Psalmist spoke about considering the goodness of the Lord in Psalm 103:3, he made the following remarks: Psalms 103:3 KJV Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; The Lord forgives all our sins and heals all our diseases. These two always go together. If your sins are forgiven, your sicknesses have likewise been healed. It is now up to you to accept it as a fact and count yourself healed.

CONFESSION

Thank you, heavenly Father, for your great work of atonement. You took away my sins and my diseases. As it is easy to forgive my sins, it is also easy to heal my body. Thank you.

FURTHER STUDIES

1 Peter 2:24 KJV “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.”

Isaiah 53:5 KJV “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.”