I want to give you the link to it and share the three main points from it:
It’s one of Jesus’ specialties. In fact, Jesus’ ministry could be divided into three equal thirds – teaching, preaching, and healing. Matthew 9:35 says, ”Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness.” Jesus doesn’t just care about our souls – and getting us to heaven – he cares about our minds, bodies, and emotions as well. In the Sermon on the Mount – undoubtedly the greatest sermon in history – Jesus actually provides eight ways to find healing and be happy.
How did he do it? If you look at the passage in the Bible where the four men brought their paralytic friend to Jesus (Matthew 9, Mark 2, and Luke 5), you see three actions that are often a part of how Jesus healed people.
1. Jesus calms our fears. Jesus’ first words to the paralyzed man in this story are “be encouraged.” He didn’t say, “How dare you ask!” or “What are you doing?” or “How did you get this way?” Jesus’ first words were encouraging ones. Those still need to be the first words of the church today to the hurting world...
2. He confronts us with friendliness. Notice that Jesus never hides from the man’s need for healing. He deals with it, but he does so in a friendly way. Jesus calls the man “friend,” even though he’d never seen the guy before. I love the fact that Jesus was called the “friend of sinners.”
3. Jesus challenges our faith. Jesus told the paralytic to do something he thought was impossible: “Get up, take up your mat, and go home.” He had been an invalid and a shut-in for his entire life. Why would Jesus ask him to do what was physically impossible? Jesus wanted the man to demonstrate faith. Jesus says in Matthew 9:29, “According to your faith, it will be done to you.”
Faith is far more than just thinking. It’s far more than just believing. Faith is action. The man wouldn’t have shown faith if he would have just hoped he could get up. It became faith when he actually stood up. Anytime Gods asks you to do the impossible, he’ll give you the power to do it.
Jesus is waiting heal in many areas of our lives: sickness, depression, marriage problems, parenting children, dealing with parents, addiction, and so much more. We just have to choose to accept the help. Go and read the full article. I hope it challenges you as much as it has me.
Remember, be thankful for something today and let God's Spirit soar within you. Be the church as well as go to a Bible believing church. Life is wonderful, but it is nothing compared to the difference Christ makes in it.
Jesus never leaves us empty or hopeless. Look up, take a deep breath, and get your fill today!
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