Sent - Healing
July 21
KEY TEXT: Matthew 10:6-8 / Mark 1:29-2:12 / Acts 3:1-10
MAIN THOUGHT:
When we are SENT one of the first things that Jesus asks us to do is HEAL the sick.
It demonstrates HIS rule and reign where the enemy has had the authority.
We are now un-doing all the works of the devil. Physical healing focus this weekend.
It demonstrates HIS rule and reign where the enemy has had the authority.
We are now un-doing all the works of the devil. Physical healing focus this weekend.
DILEMMA:
We don’t always believe this is in our “mandate” from Jesus.
We question not only our authority but even the idea that ALL xstians can accomplish the
healing ministry of the Kingdom.
We question not only our authority but even the idea that ALL xstians can accomplish the
healing ministry of the Kingdom.
When Adam and I came to the Vineyard in 2009, we did believe God was still in the business
of doing things (I mean that’s why we packed up and moved our family from Ohio to Illinois),
however we never really experienced for ourselves it first hand. We saw God breakthrough
and breakout in powerful ways and heal others in our ministries and church, but to say that I
had ever personally been healed from anything I can’t really recall. That changed in the
summer months of 2010. I was about 7 months pregnant with Eydie, when I started to
experience severe pain in my admodomen and on my upper right side. The dr’s ran about
every test they could possibly run, and we still had no answers, but their best guess that it was
my gallbladder. I was in and out of the hospital for about 2 weeks, and feeling completely
miserable. We were attending a Saturday night service, and at the end of service they came up
to the front and said that God was still in the business of healing, put the words up on the
screen...and said if you want prayer come forward ...(the exact same thing we do at the end of
our services, and what we will do again this morning.) I thought to myself...ok, why not I have
nothing to lose at this point?!? So I went forward to receive prayer...this is what we do at the
end of our services too!
of doing things (I mean that’s why we packed up and moved our family from Ohio to Illinois),
however we never really experienced for ourselves it first hand. We saw God breakthrough
and breakout in powerful ways and heal others in our ministries and church, but to say that I
had ever personally been healed from anything I can’t really recall. That changed in the
summer months of 2010. I was about 7 months pregnant with Eydie, when I started to
experience severe pain in my admodomen and on my upper right side. The dr’s ran about
every test they could possibly run, and we still had no answers, but their best guess that it was
my gallbladder. I was in and out of the hospital for about 2 weeks, and feeling completely
miserable. We were attending a Saturday night service, and at the end of service they came up
to the front and said that God was still in the business of healing, put the words up on the
screen...and said if you want prayer come forward ...(the exact same thing we do at the end of
our services, and what we will do again this morning.) I thought to myself...ok, why not I have
nothing to lose at this point?!? So I went forward to receive prayer...this is what we do at the
end of our services too!
As I was standing there waiting for prayer, I began to doubt and think to myself if the doctors
can’t figure this out, than how will these people know what to pray for? I seriously thought
about walking away...BUT in that moment that still small voice spoke to me and said “GIVE
ME A CHANCE”. So I did…
can’t figure this out, than how will these people know what to pray for? I seriously thought
about walking away...BUT in that moment that still small voice spoke to me and said “GIVE
ME A CHANCE”. So I did…
I stepped forward to receive prayer, because that was my act of obedience. As the women
began to pray for me the pain got worse, and I thought to myself, did I make a bad choice?
As they continued to pray, one of the women got a picture of my gallbladder along with a word
of knowledge, and told me that someone was harboring bitterness towards me . T
he biblical significance is that, Gall was what Jesus was given on the cross, when he asked
for a drink. It has a bitter taste. As they began praying over this idea, the pain left. I had a
doctors appointment the next week to discuss surgery, but when they did a final scan everything
showed clear. And within the next month I received a letter from a woman that lived in Ohio,
asking for my forgiveness because she had harbored bitterness towards me for our decision to
move.
began to pray for me the pain got worse, and I thought to myself, did I make a bad choice?
As they continued to pray, one of the women got a picture of my gallbladder along with a word
of knowledge, and told me that someone was harboring bitterness towards me . T
he biblical significance is that, Gall was what Jesus was given on the cross, when he asked
for a drink. It has a bitter taste. As they began praying over this idea, the pain left. I had a
doctors appointment the next week to discuss surgery, but when they did a final scan everything
showed clear. And within the next month I received a letter from a woman that lived in Ohio,
asking for my forgiveness because she had harbored bitterness towards me for our decision to
move.
Guys!!! The Father wants to heal...not just the physical, but the emotional too. I had know idea
that my relationship with this person was even damaged but the Father did, so not only was the
physical healed, but our relationship too. And he used two women who were being obedient
in listening, and doing what they saw their Father doing. God can use anyone...we were all
sent to pray for healing! It is just in the simple task of being obedient...
that my relationship with this person was even damaged but the Father did, so not only was the
physical healed, but our relationship too. And he used two women who were being obedient
in listening, and doing what they saw their Father doing. God can use anyone...we were all
sent to pray for healing! It is just in the simple task of being obedient...
Let’s pray!
Over the last couple of weeks we have been talking about how we don’t just live in our
communities to live there, but that we have been SENT to our communities with a purpose.
And that purpose is to extend the Kingdom that Jesus, and the disciples demonstrated in their
own lives.
communities to live there, but that we have been SENT to our communities with a purpose.
And that purpose is to extend the Kingdom that Jesus, and the disciples demonstrated in their
own lives.
This week I get to talk about healing. I know that there is a lot of skepticism around healing,
and people that pray for healing, however if we are going to be people of the Kingdom that are
Sent, than we are going to do the same things we see our Father doing. And when we partner
with the Father to do the same things he is doing, it is actually an act of obedience.
and people that pray for healing, however if we are going to be people of the Kingdom that are
Sent, than we are going to do the same things we see our Father doing. And when we partner
with the Father to do the same things he is doing, it is actually an act of obedience.
When we are SENT one of the first things that Jesus asks us to do is HEAL the sick. It
demonstrates HIS rule and reign where the enemy has had the authority. And when we pray
for healing, we are un-doing all the works of the enemy.
demonstrates HIS rule and reign where the enemy has had the authority. And when we pray
for healing, we are un-doing all the works of the enemy.
BUT, we don’t always believe this is in our “mandate” from Jesus. We question not only our
authority, but even the idea that ALL Christians can accomplish and experience the healing
ministry of the Kingdom. (This is just something for Clay to do, or Putty to do, or for Robby to
do) Here are some reasons that I believe people wrestle with, when it comes to praying for
healing...
authority, but even the idea that ALL Christians can accomplish and experience the healing
ministry of the Kingdom. (This is just something for Clay to do, or Putty to do, or for Robby to
do) Here are some reasons that I believe people wrestle with, when it comes to praying for
healing...
- We don’t really believe that God is actually bigger than the problem
- Maybe we have been asking for our own personal healing, and we haven’t seen any
- We have prayed for people and we have not seen them set free.
- We don’t want to be rejected when we ask to pray for someone.
- We don’t want to make time to pray, because well we are in a hurry.
- We don’t have enough Faith to see God move
I believe that all of these ideas are ideas that Satan throws at us to make us feel unqualified,
to do the thing the Father called you to do. He wants nothing more than for you not to do it.
Why would he? Because every time you pray for healing you take authority away from him,
and take ground for the Kingdom. When we pray...we are doing it out of obedience, because
that is what the Father asked us to do, even if we don’t see anything happen.
During Jesus’ time on earth, the Jewish people were waiting for the Messiah to usher in the
Kingdom so they could have freedom from the political and military rule of the Romans, but as
Jesus went around preaching and teaching he wasn’t actually talking about freedom from a
physical Kingdom, but freedom THROUGH a spiritual Kingdom.
to do the thing the Father called you to do. He wants nothing more than for you not to do it.
Why would he? Because every time you pray for healing you take authority away from him,
and take ground for the Kingdom. When we pray...we are doing it out of obedience, because
that is what the Father asked us to do, even if we don’t see anything happen.
During Jesus’ time on earth, the Jewish people were waiting for the Messiah to usher in the
Kingdom so they could have freedom from the political and military rule of the Romans, but as
Jesus went around preaching and teaching he wasn’t actually talking about freedom from a
physical Kingdom, but freedom THROUGH a spiritual Kingdom.
And the best part for us is that the kingdom Jesus was talking about is still near...because
when we say yes to Jesus, we receive the Holy Spirit, the same Holy Spirit that filled him and
his disciples, and it's the same Holy Spirit that partnered with them to see healings and
miracles. And because of this same Holy Spirit we can continue the ministry of Jesus by
doing what he did.
when we say yes to Jesus, we receive the Holy Spirit, the same Holy Spirit that filled him and
his disciples, and it's the same Holy Spirit that partnered with them to see healings and
miracles. And because of this same Holy Spirit we can continue the ministry of Jesus by
doing what he did.
Matthew 10:7-8 says this (NLT)…
7 Go and announce to them that the Kingdom of Heaven is near. 8 Heal the sick, raise the
dead, cure those with leprosy, and cast out demons. Give as freely as you have received!
dead, cure those with leprosy, and cast out demons. Give as freely as you have received!
We received such an amazing gift when we said yes to Jesus… so why don’t you want to
use it?
use it?
Just so you know...the disciples who were “ordinary” people. Adam talked to about this the
first week of Sent, as he broke down who the 12 disciples were, and they were a group of
men from all different backgrounds and social upbringings. And like us I am sure they had
some of these same doubts, so that is why Jesus teaches them what to do and then
demonstrates it. So, he tells them, and then he shows them. Later on in Matthew 10 Jesus
even prepares them for persecution because he knows that this teaching of the Kingdom was
a radical idea. Guys! Jesus was a radical...wrap your head around that idea. He was a radical
that challenged the thinking of the current religious system at the time. One of rules and
restrictions. And the Kingdom is was one of freedom, hope, and restoration. That is why Jesus
says, “Give as freely as you have received!” He knew that this radical idea could change the
world! Why wouldn’t you want to give away what you have received, when you know it is as
good as it is.
first week of Sent, as he broke down who the 12 disciples were, and they were a group of
men from all different backgrounds and social upbringings. And like us I am sure they had
some of these same doubts, so that is why Jesus teaches them what to do and then
demonstrates it. So, he tells them, and then he shows them. Later on in Matthew 10 Jesus
even prepares them for persecution because he knows that this teaching of the Kingdom was
a radical idea. Guys! Jesus was a radical...wrap your head around that idea. He was a radical
that challenged the thinking of the current religious system at the time. One of rules and
restrictions. And the Kingdom is was one of freedom, hope, and restoration. That is why Jesus
says, “Give as freely as you have received!” He knew that this radical idea could change the
world! Why wouldn’t you want to give away what you have received, when you know it is as
good as it is.
Remember we are a church who believe that anyone can do this “Everyone gets to play”,
and that it isn’t just a certain person or a certain group of people that can pray for
healing. So...
and that it isn’t just a certain person or a certain group of people that can pray for
healing. So...
We are going to do some show and tell today…(have anyone with pain in their body stand..
and the people around them can pray) I will walk you through this...ASK, PRAY, ASK.
and the people around them can pray) I will walk you through this...ASK, PRAY, ASK.
I want to look at John 5 today. Some of you might be familiar with this story, some of you may
not. It is the story of Jesus healing the man by the Pool of Bethesda. I want to give you some
backstory about the pool and the significance of this story. It was described as this beautiful
pool with 5 different porches, and it is where crowds of people that were sick, lame or the
paralyzed would come and lay. They would just come and lie there waiting for their healing,
because periodically an Angel of the Lord would come, stir the waters and the first one who
stepped into the pool after the waters swirled would instantly be healed.
not. It is the story of Jesus healing the man by the Pool of Bethesda. I want to give you some
backstory about the pool and the significance of this story. It was described as this beautiful
pool with 5 different porches, and it is where crowds of people that were sick, lame or the
paralyzed would come and lay. They would just come and lie there waiting for their healing,
because periodically an Angel of the Lord would come, stir the waters and the first one who
stepped into the pool after the waters swirled would instantly be healed.
Jesus had returned to Jerusalem to celebrate two of the Jewish holy days, and he was passing
by the pool. He saw a man that had been lying there for 38 years...38 YEARS!!! waiting to be
healed. Let's pick up in vs. 6
by the pool. He saw a man that had been lying there for 38 years...38 YEARS!!! waiting to be
healed. Let's pick up in vs. 6
John 5: 6-13 (TPT)
6 When Jesus saw him lying there, he knew that the man had been crippled for a long time.[g]
So Jesus said to him, “Do you truly long to be healed?”
So Jesus said to him, “Do you truly long to be healed?”
7 The sick man answered him, “Sir, there’s no way I can get healed, for I have no one who will
lower me into the water when the angel comes. As soon as I try to crawl to the edge of the
pool, someone else jumps in ahead of me.”
lower me into the water when the angel comes. As soon as I try to crawl to the edge of the
pool, someone else jumps in ahead of me.”
8 Then Jesus said to him, “Stand up! Pick up your sleeping mat and you will walk!”
9 Immediately he stood up—he was healed! So he rolled up his mat and walked again!
Now this miracle took place on the Jewish Sabbath.10 When the Jewish leaders saw the
man walking along carrying his sleeping mat, they objected and said, “What are you doing
carrying that? Don’t you know it’s the Sabbath? It’s not lawful for you to carry things on the
Sabbath!”
9 Immediately he stood up—he was healed! So he rolled up his mat and walked again!
Now this miracle took place on the Jewish Sabbath.10 When the Jewish leaders saw the
man walking along carrying his sleeping mat, they objected and said, “What are you doing
carrying that? Don’t you know it’s the Sabbath? It’s not lawful for you to carry things on the
Sabbath!”
Let me take a minute and explain what the Sabbath was, and why it is so significant in this story...
Definition of the sabbath: a day of religious observance and abstinence from work, kept by
Jews from Friday evening to Saturday evening, and by most Christians on Sunday.
Jews from Friday evening to Saturday evening, and by most Christians on Sunday.
11 He answered them, “The man who healed me told me to pick it up and walk.”
12 “What man?” they asked him. “Who was this man who ordered you to carry something
on a Sabbath?” 13 But the healed man couldn’t give them an answer, for he didn’t yet know
who it was since Jesus had already slipped away into the crowd.
on a Sabbath?” 13 But the healed man couldn’t give them an answer, for he didn’t yet know
who it was since Jesus had already slipped away into the crowd.
There are 3 things that I want to point out in this passage…
- The man was faithful in his pursuit for healing, he had no idea that Jesus was going to
- Jesus didn’t say, oh I am sorry...I will pray for that and kept walking, no he stopped and
- Jesus healed someone on the Sabbath, which was going to cause a fight with the
Let’s keep reading...picking back up in verse 17.
17 Jesus answered his critics by saying, “Everyday my Father is at work, and I will be too!”
18 This infuriated them and made them all the more eager to devise a plan to kill him. For not
only did he break their Sabbath rule, but he called God “my Father,” which made him equal to
God.
18 This infuriated them and made them all the more eager to devise a plan to kill him. For not
only did he break their Sabbath rule, but he called God “my Father,” which made him equal to
God.
19 So Jesus said, “I speak to you timeless truth. The Son is not able to do anything from
himself or through my own initiative. I only do the works that I see the Father doing, for the
Son does the same works as his Father.
himself or through my own initiative. I only do the works that I see the Father doing, for the
Son does the same works as his Father.
20 “Because the Father loves his Son so much, he always reveals to me everything
that he is about to do. And you will all be amazed when he shows me even greater
works than what you’ve seen so far! 21 For just like the Father has power to raise the dead,
the Son will raise the dead and give life to whomever he wants.
that he is about to do. And you will all be amazed when he shows me even greater
works than what you’ve seen so far! 21 For just like the Father has power to raise the dead,
the Son will raise the dead and give life to whomever he wants.
Jesus did what he did, because he only does what he saw the Father doing. Jesus could
have chose to walk by, but he didn’t because it was his act of obedience to his Father.
You are probably like, yeah Corrie but he is Jesus. Right, he was...however, he still had a
choice, because he knew that if he healed the man he would be doing it on the sabbath and
that would be breaking the Jewish law.
have chose to walk by, but he didn’t because it was his act of obedience to his Father.
You are probably like, yeah Corrie but he is Jesus. Right, he was...however, he still had a
choice, because he knew that if he healed the man he would be doing it on the sabbath and
that would be breaking the Jewish law.
Jesus knew that the Father's will is ALWAYS to heal!, so he acted in obedience to what the
Father was doing at that moment. The Father loves us too! So much!! And, that is why he
wants to show us what he is doing, so we can partner with him to bring freedom to those who
need it.
Father was doing at that moment. The Father loves us too! So much!! And, that is why he
wants to show us what he is doing, so we can partner with him to bring freedom to those who
need it.
1. There are people in our worlds that have been waiting for healing just like the man
who waited 38 years at the pool… whether it be physical or emotional, and we were
sent to bring the Kingdom into their life through our simple act of obedience...which is
by praying.
who waited 38 years at the pool… whether it be physical or emotional, and we were
sent to bring the Kingdom into their life through our simple act of obedience...which is
by praying.
The Jewish leaders saw both a miracle and a broken rule...They threw the miracle aside
because they were focused on the broken rule. The rule became more important than
the miracle. How many times do we let our thinking become more about how we feel,
than what the Father can do through us?
because they were focused on the broken rule. The rule became more important than
the miracle. How many times do we let our thinking become more about how we feel,
than what the Father can do through us?
The Father is prepared to show us and use us, but we can shut out his miracles by limiting
our views on how he works. All he asks is our simple obedience. Jesus wanted to show us
that when the opportunity presents itself to pray for someone, it should not be ignored even on the Sabbath.
our views on how he works. All he asks is our simple obedience. Jesus wanted to show us
that when the opportunity presents itself to pray for someone, it should not be ignored even on the Sabbath.
So what if you pray and you don’t see healing? What if you pray and you do? My answer...
You never know until you try. It all comes down to an act of obedience on our part. Our family
(Adam, myself and the kids) have countless stories where we have prayed and seen people
healed, and people not healed after we prayed. But the not yet doesn’t stop us as a family
going for the yes’s.
You never know until you try. It all comes down to an act of obedience on our part. Our family
(Adam, myself and the kids) have countless stories where we have prayed and seen people
healed, and people not healed after we prayed. But the not yet doesn’t stop us as a family
going for the yes’s.
Don’t over complicate it..it can be as simple as ask, pray, ask like we did earlier in the service.
It doesn’t have to be a fancy long drawn out prayer, the Holy Spirit still listens when our
prayers are simple...our job is to just be obedient
It doesn’t have to be a fancy long drawn out prayer, the Holy Spirit still listens when our
prayers are simple...our job is to just be obedient
Even in the last couple of months I have seen this happen...
- Adam and I, along with 1,000’s of other people have been praying for a friend's daughter
late May. Last week, as Adam and I were sitting in a session on healing at our Vineyard
National Conference, we got word that she passed away. We prayed, as well as 1,000 other
people for her healing, not knowing, but believing with faith for her healing and taking authority
over the cancer in Jesus name. It was an act of obedience! She is healed, she is made
whole, and she is in the best place. It was the not yet here on earth, but that doesn’t mean
we stop praying for the yes’s
- Three months ago, Tyler Blanks and I got to pray for a woman after church on our
and in early June I received a message from her about what happened when she went in to
see her Oncologist. She had gone in for a routine scan, and when it came back there was
no cancer present. She is in complete remission. It was just the two of us...unlike the story I
told a moment ago. Cancer is not something you can always see healed on the spot, and a
lot of times it takes scans to know if you are healed...so even when you can’t know right away
you pray out of obedience and faith that Father is going to do his thing when we partner with
the HS.
This is a perfect example of the Already and the Not Yet of the Kingdom. No matter the outcome, we pray out of obedience because that is what Jesus did, and he tells us to Go! Announce the Kingdom by healing the sick, raising the dead, and cast out demons.
So who is that person or those people in our lives that have been waiting, just like the man
at the Pool of Bethesda. We are sent to release the Kingdom wherever we go..and when
we walk into a room we bring the Kingdom because it lives inside us, so we get to partner
with the Father all the time to do what he is already doing.
at the Pool of Bethesda. We are sent to release the Kingdom wherever we go..and when
we walk into a room we bring the Kingdom because it lives inside us, so we get to partner
with the Father all the time to do what he is already doing.
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