What's God Really Like? Healer | Greg Ford
MESSAGE NOTES
[Luke 10:27]
He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
[John 5:5-6]
One of the men lying there had been sick for thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him and knew he had been ill for a long time, he asked him, “Would you like to get well?”
[John 5:14]
But afterward Jesus found him in the Temple and told him, “Now you are well; so stop sinning, or something even worse may happen to you.”
3 Ways God Heals
Instantly
- 37 Miracles of Jesus: Calm storm, water into wine, multiply the loaves and fish…healed multitudes
[Matthew 15:30]
A vast crowd brought to him people who were lame, blind, crippled, those who couldn’t speak, and many others. They laid them before Jesus, and he healed them all.
[John 9:6]
Then he spit on the ground, made mud with the saliva, and spread the mud over the blind man’s eyes.
[John 9:15]
The Pharisees asked the man all about it. So he told them, “He put the mud over my eyes, and when I washed it away, I could see!”
This is the first time in the Biblical record a person born blind was healed of their blindness. From Genesis to John, no prophet, priest, or apostle ever gave sight to eyes born blind.
[Isaiah 35:5]
And when he comes, he will open the eyes of the blind and unplug the ears of the deaf.
[Mark 7:33-35]
Jesus led him away from the crowd so they could be alone. He put his fingers into the man’s ears. Then, spitting on his own fingers, he touched the man’s tongue. 34 Looking up to heaven, he sighed and said, “Ephphatha,” which means, “Be opened!” 35 Instantly the man could hear perfectly, and his tongue was freed so he could speak plainly!
[John 9:25-30]
“I don’t know whether he is a sinner,” the man replied. “But I know this: I was blind, and now I can see!” 26 “But what did he do?” they asked. “How did he heal you?” 27 “Look!” the man exclaimed. “I told you once. Didn’t you listen? Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples, too?” 28 Then they cursed him and said, “You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses! 29 We know God spoke to Moses, but we don’t even know where this man comes from.” 30 “Why, that’s very strange!” the man replied. “He healed my eyes, and yet you don’t know where he comes from?
Several commentators note that what seems so strange to us – using saliva as a medicine upon the eyes – was not so strange in the ancient world.
“Spittle, and especially the spittle of some distinguished persons, was believed to possess certain curative qualities.”
Mark recorded 2 other healings that Jesus performed w the use of His saliva (Mark 7:33 & 8:23).
[Mark 8:22-25]
When they arrived at Bethsaida, some people brought a blind man to Jesus, and they begged him to touch the man and heal him. 23 Jesus took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village. Then, spitting on the man’s eyes, he laid his hands on him and asked, “Can you see anything now?” 24 The man looked around. “Yes,” he said, “I see people, but I can’t see them very clearly. They look like trees walking around.” 25 Then Jesus placed his hands on the man’s eyes again, and his eyes were opened. His sight was completely restored, and he could see everything clearly.
Progressively
Duration of Time
Eternity
[Isaiah 25:8]
He will swallow up death forever. The Lord GOD will wipe away the tears from every face and remove the disgrace of His people from the whole earth.
[Revelation 21:4]
He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.
[I Corinthians 13:12-13]
For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
ICEBREAKER QUESTION
What is your favorite Fall activity?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
What is an area in your life that you currently need healing, Heart (emotional), Soul (spiritual), Mind (mental), Strength (physical), Neighbor (relational)?
Have you ever sought God for healing (for yourself or someone else) and didn't get the answer to your prayers? How did you respond? What lies were you tempted to believe? What emotions were triggered?
What hope do we have in the midst of unanswered prayers?
Does anyone have a testimony of an instantaneous healing? A progressive healing?
Who are some of the people who have helped you on your healing journey?
God looks at you and says "you are good", how does this truth make you feel? How can you practically apply this to your life this week?