1 Cor 12:15-17 (NIV) “If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be?”
Why does the hand tell the foot “I don’t need you”?
Well, it might be because the foot just stomped all over those fragile fingers. It’s been said that Christians are the only people who shoot their own wounded – and sometimes there might be some truth to that statement.
I have been thinking about how some people shoot at members of their own body who don't eat the right way, or who don't dress to the right standards, or sing music from outside of the authorized Hymnal.
It is easier for them to point their finger in judgement rather than show love and nurture, encouraging spiritual health, rather than causing spiritual hurt.
We all have taken a winding road on our Christian journey. Sometimes our walk with God has been up, sometimes it has been down. When it is down we need our brothers and sisters to build us back up spiritually not criticise us and knock us down. Sometimes we could learn more patients with other's faults in order to love them enough to take the necessary time to understand them and heal them. To really help them work through their struggles and return them back into favor with God. It is a process that takes earnest prayer, much time and heartfelt tenderness.
So say our members get spiritually weak, what do we do about it? Say they commit adultery and murder, like David did. They publicly and verbally deny being a follower of Jesus and swear against it with an oath, like Peter did. When times get tough they quit their commitment to serve God in the ministry, like Mark did. When under stress and their lives are threatened, they run away from their problems, like Elijah did. Or to avoid the possibility of a life threatening situation they lie about being married allowing another man to make sexual advances toward his wife, like Abraham did. Say you are a deceiver and crafty and you steal the birthright and the blessing from your own brother, like Jacob did. Or you are jealous of your spoiled younger brother so you sell him as a slave and lie to your father about what actually happened to him, like Joseph's 10 brothers did. Or you move in, and start living with a prostitute and fall in love with her, like Sampson did. Do we tell them that their influence brings an unhealthy atmosphere to the body, and tell them to straighten up or be amputated as members of the body?
These are people who fell, who knew they messed up, repented and returned to God. It should be our purpose like it was with the Prophet Nathan to bring the the straying King David to repentance and renew a right spirit between David and with God again.
But if we shoot our wounded, we do not have anyone to write the book of Psalms or the Gospel of Mark. When we shoot our wounded, like the brothers of Joseph, we have no Judah in the Church and therefore no lineage of Christ. When will we learn to have the patient, gentle, compassion with others and not give up on people who need Christ the most. God has not given up on them, God never gives up on any of us, He always holds out His hand for forgiveness. Praise God that He has not given up on me, because I know I keep failing but He is still working on me and I am not yet what He wants me to be.
However, if the church is filled with wounded and spiritually sick members of the body, the body resembles a spiritually dead body; like a valley of dry bones filling up the pews. It takes time for the spiritually wounded to become healed. Then because the members of the body are normal sinful people this - Why His arms aren't reaching; Why His hands aren't healing; Why His words aren't teaching; And why His feet aren't going.
Describe the kinds of spiritual wounds you may have experienced, or you have seen in other people? Share specific ways you think you could be a support for other people who have had the kind of wounds that need healed?
* contributing statements by Shari Willis
** Lyrics by Casting Crowns
Showing posts with label Spiritual Healing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Spiritual Healing. Show all posts
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Genesis 28:12; John 1:51
Gen 28:12 (NLT); John 1:51 (NLT) As Jacob slept, “he dreamed of a stairway that reached from the earth up to heaven. And he saw the angels of God going up and down the stairway.”; Then Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, you will all see heaven open and the angels of God going up and down on the Son of Man, the one who is the stairway between heaven and earth."
Jesus, the Son of God, is the stairway to peace and spiritual healing on our Journey to heaven. Jesus described himself as the ladder in Jacob’s dream that bridged the gap between man and God. The ladder is provided by Christ's death for our sins. Isaiah 53:4-5, TLB. "Yet it was our grief He bore, our sorrows that weighed Him down. And we thought His troubles were a punishment from God, for His own sins! But He was wounded and bruised for our sins. He was chastised that we might have peace; He was lashed—and we are healed." All of us who have been touched by sin are in great need of spiritual healing. Forgiveness is ours for the taking, peace is found by making things right with God. Romans 5:1, (TLB) tells us, "So now, since we have been made right in God's sight by faith in His promises, we can have real peace with Him because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us." However, it took years for sin to create deep festering wounds in our lives, and as anyone who has worked in the health field knows, wounds take 10 times longer to heal than they did to form. But Praise God, as we climb Jacob’s ladder each round takes us higher and closer to the spiritual healing the Bible promises us is ours on the quest to the Kingdom of God.
“Every round goes higher” So the second round of the staircase involves removing what causes the wound from our lives. This round of the staircase is obedience. Psalm 119:165, (NIV) "Great peace have they who love Your law, and nothing can make them stumble." Disobedience is what caused the spiritual wounds in our lives to begin with so it makes sense that obedience removes what causes the wounds to keep growing. Doing the right thing because it is what God wants us to do is the essence of righteousness by faith. Isaiah 32:17-18, (NIV) "The fruit of righteousness will be peace; the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever."
“Every round goes higher” So the third round in the stairway looks easy, but it is actually the most challenging part of the climb. It is finding peace by letting go of self. It is a battle within ourselves against God’s will in areas of our life where we don’t want to let go, but where we need to grow. Job 22:21, (TLB) "Quit quarreling with God. Agree with Him and you will have peace at last. His favor will surround you if you will only admit that you were wrong." Self putrefies in our wounds, but Praise God, removing self cleanses the wounds to allow healing to begin to take place.
“Every round goes higher” in this round God gives us discipline, which is the fourth round in the stairway of peace and spiritual healing. Hebrews 12:5-11, (NIV) "My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son. Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it." Medicine on a deep wound stings and burns, discipline is the medicine providing the antiseptic environment necessary for the spiritual wound to keep infection out. Praise God, that Jesus is the Balm of Giliad, by trusting in Him, the Balm of Gilliad will heal the sin sick soul. Isaiah 26:3-4, (TLB) "He will keep in perfect peace all those who trust in Him, whose thoughts turn often to the Lord! Trust in the Lord God always, for in the Lord Jehovah is your everlasting strength."
What are some other steps on Jacob's ladder that you feel have been important on your spiritual journey? Share an example of some of the spiritual healing you have experienced on your Christian journey?
*Originally posted as a comment by Dan on Kingdom Quest Blog on July 29, 2009 3:47 PM
Jesus, the Son of God, is the stairway to peace and spiritual healing on our Journey to heaven. Jesus described himself as the ladder in Jacob’s dream that bridged the gap between man and God. The ladder is provided by Christ's death for our sins. Isaiah 53:4-5, TLB. "Yet it was our grief He bore, our sorrows that weighed Him down. And we thought His troubles were a punishment from God, for His own sins! But He was wounded and bruised for our sins. He was chastised that we might have peace; He was lashed—and we are healed." All of us who have been touched by sin are in great need of spiritual healing. Forgiveness is ours for the taking, peace is found by making things right with God. Romans 5:1, (TLB) tells us, "So now, since we have been made right in God's sight by faith in His promises, we can have real peace with Him because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us." However, it took years for sin to create deep festering wounds in our lives, and as anyone who has worked in the health field knows, wounds take 10 times longer to heal than they did to form. But Praise God, as we climb Jacob’s ladder each round takes us higher and closer to the spiritual healing the Bible promises us is ours on the quest to the Kingdom of God.
“Every round goes higher” So the second round of the staircase involves removing what causes the wound from our lives. This round of the staircase is obedience. Psalm 119:165, (NIV) "Great peace have they who love Your law, and nothing can make them stumble." Disobedience is what caused the spiritual wounds in our lives to begin with so it makes sense that obedience removes what causes the wounds to keep growing. Doing the right thing because it is what God wants us to do is the essence of righteousness by faith. Isaiah 32:17-18, (NIV) "The fruit of righteousness will be peace; the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever."
“Every round goes higher” So the third round in the stairway looks easy, but it is actually the most challenging part of the climb. It is finding peace by letting go of self. It is a battle within ourselves against God’s will in areas of our life where we don’t want to let go, but where we need to grow. Job 22:21, (TLB) "Quit quarreling with God. Agree with Him and you will have peace at last. His favor will surround you if you will only admit that you were wrong." Self putrefies in our wounds, but Praise God, removing self cleanses the wounds to allow healing to begin to take place.
“Every round goes higher” in this round God gives us discipline, which is the fourth round in the stairway of peace and spiritual healing. Hebrews 12:5-11, (NIV) "My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son. Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it." Medicine on a deep wound stings and burns, discipline is the medicine providing the antiseptic environment necessary for the spiritual wound to keep infection out. Praise God, that Jesus is the Balm of Giliad, by trusting in Him, the Balm of Gilliad will heal the sin sick soul. Isaiah 26:3-4, (TLB) "He will keep in perfect peace all those who trust in Him, whose thoughts turn often to the Lord! Trust in the Lord God always, for in the Lord Jehovah is your everlasting strength."
What are some other steps on Jacob's ladder that you feel have been important on your spiritual journey? Share an example of some of the spiritual healing you have experienced on your Christian journey?
*Originally posted as a comment by Dan on Kingdom Quest Blog on July 29, 2009 3:47 PM
Friday, July 24, 2009
John 16:33
John 16:33 (NIV) "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
Hopefully as followers of Christ we have all experienced the peace that comes from forgiveness and reconciliation through Jesus. But there are other real difficult situations where it is harder to find peace. In theory peace is always available for everyone in every circumstance. In practice finding peace during chronic illness, death, divorce, phobias, financial disaster, infertility, unwanted pregnancy, loneliness, or during verbal, emotional, or physical abuse is often much more difficult than in theory. God has never promised us that we would never have pain, suffering and problems. In fact without pain, suffering and problems we would never appreciate the joy of peace. Here are some suggestions for finding peace in the midst of suffering by June Hunt from “Hope For The Heart Biblical Counseling Keys” © 2005 by Hope For The Heart.
Receive the compassion of God.
• God understands your pain.
• God is aware of your needs and weaknesses.
• God loves you even more than you may love your own children.
• God’s compassion never fails.
Leave the past in the past.
• Don’t play the “blame game.”
• Don’t rehearse the “what if’s.”
• Don’t try to figure out what went wrong.
• Don’t assume responsibility for other people’s choices.
Entrust the future to God.
• God is the God of a second chance.
• God has a timetable different from mine.
• God is working continually.
• God has all the resources He needs to accomplish His purposes.
Exchange your pain for God’s peace.
• Choose to trust in God’s goodness.
• Choose to rely on God’s faithfulness.
• Choose to believe in God’s involvement.
• Choose to live in God’s presence.
Share some of the heartbreaks this world has inflicted upon you? Compare the peace you have found in Christ with the pain this world has caused you to suffer?
*Originally posted as a comment by Dan on Kingdom Quest Blog on July 24, 2009 10:24 PM
Hopefully as followers of Christ we have all experienced the peace that comes from forgiveness and reconciliation through Jesus. But there are other real difficult situations where it is harder to find peace. In theory peace is always available for everyone in every circumstance. In practice finding peace during chronic illness, death, divorce, phobias, financial disaster, infertility, unwanted pregnancy, loneliness, or during verbal, emotional, or physical abuse is often much more difficult than in theory. God has never promised us that we would never have pain, suffering and problems. In fact without pain, suffering and problems we would never appreciate the joy of peace. Here are some suggestions for finding peace in the midst of suffering by June Hunt from “Hope For The Heart Biblical Counseling Keys” © 2005 by Hope For The Heart.
Receive the compassion of God.
• God understands your pain.
• God is aware of your needs and weaknesses.
• God loves you even more than you may love your own children.
• God’s compassion never fails.
Leave the past in the past.
• Don’t play the “blame game.”
• Don’t rehearse the “what if’s.”
• Don’t try to figure out what went wrong.
• Don’t assume responsibility for other people’s choices.
Entrust the future to God.
• God is the God of a second chance.
• God has a timetable different from mine.
• God is working continually.
• God has all the resources He needs to accomplish His purposes.
Exchange your pain for God’s peace.
• Choose to trust in God’s goodness.
• Choose to rely on God’s faithfulness.
• Choose to believe in God’s involvement.
• Choose to live in God’s presence.
Share some of the heartbreaks this world has inflicted upon you? Compare the peace you have found in Christ with the pain this world has caused you to suffer?
*Originally posted as a comment by Dan on Kingdom Quest Blog on July 24, 2009 10:24 PM
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