From Praying the Names of Jesus Week Five, Day Five
The Name
Jesus, the greatest of all physicians, performed more healings than any other kind of miracle. Nothing stumped him — not blindness, craziness, lameness, deafness, or even death. Every ailment yielded to his undeniable power, and every healing served as evidence that his kingdom was breaking into our fallen world.
When you pray for healing for yourself or others, remember that God never sends sickness, though he sometimes allows us to become sick. Indeed, Scripture sees sickness and death as byproducts of sin. And it was to solve the sin problem that Jesus came into the world. When you pray for healing, remember that Jesus is always your ally, always wanting what is best for you and for those you care about.
Key Scriptures
The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. Matthew 11:5
Jesus said to them, "Surely you will quote this proverb to me: ‘Physician, heal yourself! Do here in your hometown what we have heard that you did in Capernaum.' " Luke 4:23
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Friday
Promises Associated with His Name
Wars, famines, poverty, and illness are obvious signs that we live in a broken world, one that is out of alignment with God's original intentions. Who but a Divine Physician could possibly heal us, bringing us body and soul back into alignment with his purposes?
Remember the woman with the issue of blood who pushed through the crowd in order to touch the hem of Jesus' garment? You might be interested to know that she touched a part of his robe called the tzitziyot, or tassels. Like other devout Jews, Jesus wore these in obedience to God's instructions to Moses: "Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘Throughout the generations to come you are to make tassels on the corners of your garments with a blue cord on each tassel. You will have these tassels to look at and so you will remember all the commands of the Lord, that you may obey them' " (Numbers 15:38 - 39). So the sick woman touched the most sacred part of Jesus' garment. And she did this even though she knew that under the law her condition would have rendered her and whatever she touched ritually impure. But instead of being defiled by her touch, Jesus' proved the more contagious, rendering her whole and pure.
Jesus is still the source of our healing. If we humble ourselves and pray, if we seek him and turn from our sins, then we have reason to believe he will hear from heaven, forgive our sins, and heal our land.
Promises in Scripture
When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:13 - 14
Nevertheless, I will bring health and healing to it; I will heal my people and will let them enjoy abundant peace and security. I will bring Judah and Israel back from captivity and will rebuild them as they were before. I will cleanse them from all the sin they have committed against me and will forgive all their sins of rebellion against me. Then this city will bring me renown, joy, praise and honor before all nations on earth that hear of all the good things I do for it; and they will be in awe and will tremble at the abundant prosperity and peace I provide for it. Jeremiah 33:6 - 9
But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings. And you will go out and leap like calves released from the stall. Malachi 4:2
Continued Prayer and Praise
Ask God to increase your faith for healing. (Matthew 8:5 - 10; Mark 9:17 - 29; John 4:46 - 54)
Thank God for healing. (Luke 17:11 - 17)
Understand that miracles of healing are a sign of Christ's in-breaking kingdom. (Matthew 11:2 - 5)
Trust that God is with you in your weakness. (2 Corinthians 12:7 - 10)
Remember that God still heals. (James 5:14 - 16)
For more from Ann Spangler, please visit her blogspot on Christianity.com. And be sure to check out Ann's newest books on AnnSpangler.com.
Meet your spiritual ancestors as they really were: Less Than Perfect: Broken Men and Women of the Bible and What We Can Learn from Them.
