Topic: Do You Desire To Be Healed? [Open Heavens 9th January 2018]
Memorise: 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. – 1 Peter 2:24
Read: James 5:14:16 (KJV)
14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:
15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
Bible in One Year: Genesis 21-23, Revelation 8:1-12, Hymn: Sing Hymn 8: The Great Physician Now Is Here
MESSAGE:
It is unfortunate that many children of God are ignorant of the truth that healing is part of the package of redemption. Neglecting what is their inheritance in Christ, such people seek after inferior channels for relief. My prayer is that God will open your eyes to comprehend in your spirit the reality of healing through the stripes of Jesus. I thank God that the realisation of this truth was one of the earliest testimonies I experienced in my Christian walk. Before I met Jesus Christ and received Him as my personal Lord and Saviour, there was no month when I would not be attacked by fever. Any month I managed to escape breaking down as a result of fever, I would celebrate. However, when I met the Lord and He opened my eyes to His provision for healing, I grabbed it with both hands, and for many decades since, He has been my Healer.
What should you do if you desire to be healed? The Holy Spirit gives the answer in James 5:14:
“Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:”
Prayer is the key here. Due to unbelief and unwillingness to pray, most people prefer other channels of healing, though very costly, to the healing that is freely provided through the stripes of Jesus. Beloved, if you desire to be healed of those sicknesses that have defied traditional and orthodox medicine, you must be ready to pray. Moreover, the truth is that more often than not, sickness is brought about by the sin of disobedience. For this reason, James 5:15 says,
“And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.”
Disobedience to simple laws of hygiene can bring about sickness. Furthermore, failure to sleep properly, or working round the clock because you want more money, is disobeying the law of Sabbath (the law that governs taking a day of rest). In addition, according to James 5:16, if you desire healing, you must confess your faults to and pray for one another. There are lots of sicknesses and the diseases in the Body of Christ that have defied all manner of prayers and medication. This could be the result of holding grudges against anyone. We refuse to forgive each other because we don’t want to admit our faults against one another. Beloved, if you want to be healed, take note of what the Lord is telling you today, and the healing virtue of His stripes shall flow through your body to make you whole.
Prayer Point: Father, please let the stripes of my Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, heal all my infirmities without exception today.
Hymn 8: The Great Physician
1. The Great Physician now is near,
The sympathizing Jesus;
He speaks the drooping heart to cheer,
Oh, hear the voice of Jesus!
Chorus:
Sweetest note in seraph song,
Sweetest Name on mortal tongue;
Sweetest carol ever sung,
Jesus, blessed Jesus.
2. Your many sins are all forgiv’n,
Oh, hear the voice of Jesus;
Go on your way in peace to heav’n,
And wear a crown with Jesus.
3. All glory to the dying Lamb!
I now believe in Jesus;
I love the blessed Saviour’s Name,
I love the Name of Jesus.
4. His Name dispels my guilt and fear,
No other name but Jesus;
Oh, how my soul delights to hear
The precious Name of Jesus!
Open Heavens 9th January 2018, Daily Devotional guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer’s Ministries.
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