People Who Are in the Covenant of Healing (Isaiah 61:1-6) 4/26/2020
The Answers of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd RUTC:
People Who Are in the Covenant of Healing (Isaiah 61:1-6) 4/26/2020
People are suffering from at least three problems due to this state of the coronavirus pandemic. First, it is physical suffering. It is already bad enough to have caught a severe cold or flu, but they say that it lasts for at least two to three weeks. People who do not have a strong immune system go to the hospital, but even then, they are left on their own to overcome the illness. Second, there are problems in the heart and mind (thoughts). There is extensive fear, worry, and stress that I may contract the virus. “Social distancing” is used for protecting each other, but if incorrectly used, it could result in broken relationships. There has also been distrust among people and even occurrences of racial hate crimes and violence. There is news that gun sales have gone up as people are concerned about their safety. What answer should a person of God hold onto? Third, there is suffering due to financial problems. The current unemployment rate in the United States is at its worst. They are concerns even about an economic panic. God knows the suffering the human race is facing. The Bible clearly states that the start of all suffering began from man’s corruption and greed (James 1:13-15) and that there are spirits of darkness that work behind that (Isaiah 60:2, John 10:10, Revelations 12:17). That is why we need God’s answer. May we become those who reconfirm the answer through today’s passage and save ourselves in these difficult times and save this suffering world. Doctors are needed because people with illnesses exist, and light is needed because darkness exists. God will use us like this. In this hardship, we must discover the heavenly mandate, calling, and commission regarding healing.
- In the end, it is only God Himself who can fundamentally heal all problems of life.
1) That is why the Bible continuously talks about God’s healing. First, let us look at the representative word in the Old Testament.
As God changed the bitter water that Israel had encountered while passing through the wilderness, He said: “Jehovah Rapha” (Exodus 15:26). When Naaman, the commander of the army of Aram, was suffering from leprosy, God made him obey the words of the prophet and healed him. He simply obeyed the word and God healed him (2 Kings 5:14). When King Hezekiah, a representative king in the Old Testament became ill to the point of death, God heard his tearful prayer and healed him and added 15 years to his life (2 Kings 20:5-6).
2) God who heals anointed His Son with the Holy Spirit and sent Him as Christ. This is the passage.
Christ came to save us. That salvation, in other words, can be called healing and restoration.
① Jesus called the disciples while He was on earth, trained them, and did healing ministry wherever he went. He healed a demon-possessed person in the synagogue (Mark 1:13-26), healed Simon’s mother-in-law’s fever (Mark 1:29-31), healed leprosy patients (Mark 1:40-45), healed a paralyzed patient (Mark 2:1-5), healed a man with a shriveled hand (Mark 5:38-41), healed a deaf and mute man (Mark 7:31-35), and even healed a blind man (Mark 8:22-26). The Bible could not record all of it.
② This healing ministry became complete as Jesus died on the cross.
That representative covenant is Isaiah 53:5. Jesus took charge of our spirit, heart, and physical diseases on our behalf on the cross.
③ Now, the Lord who has resurrected heals us and tells us to preach this gospel and heal (Mark 16:17-20). Peter’s first ministry was a healing ministry. While he had come to pray, works of healing took place in which a crippled man was healed only with the name of Christ (Mark 16:17-20). It was not healing of a merely physical disability. An entire life changed. There were many works of healing even in Paul’s ministry in Acts.
- How does God want us to be used in the healing ministry as we experience this blessing and go forward?
Let us look for this answer from the passage. What kind of problems are there? May you experience the blessing of true healing and enjoy it.
1) The most important thing to hold onto when God heals is the order of healing.
① Spiritual healing. It is correct healing concerning who Christ is and why He personally had to come as the Son of God.
Unbelievers fundamentally need their souls to be healed. If not, other spirits will work in that place. Unwittingly, humans are within a sinful nature (Romans 3:10). That created the curses and death of life (Romans 5:12). Afterward, there was separation from God. It says they have become spiritually dead (Ephesians 2:1), and enemies of God (Ephesians 2:14,16). How did this happen? They were deceived by the devil who is called the old serpent (Genesis 3:5). From then on, the devil acted as a master (John 8:44, Acts10:38). This is the reason why acceptance is important (Revelations 3:20). That is when the works of the Holy Spirit begin and the works of Satan are destroyed.
② It is a healing of the heart and mind (thoughts). Especially those who have already been saved need to open their eyes in this aspect.
Satan continuously touches our hearts and mind and deceives us. That is why is said to not be afraid of those who cannot kill the soul (Matthew 10:28). He touches our hidden scars and plants worry, fear, complaints, resentment, hatred, and anger in our hearts and mind (verse 1). As this is repeated, we become captives and confined. It has settled as bitter roots within me. Healing will take place in my heart and mind if we imprint the gospel (John 19:30, Romans 1:16-17, 2 Corinthians 12:9), put down roots in the covenant (Galatians 3:14, 29), hold onto a conclusion of standing as a witness who saves others like me (Isaiah 6:13, Acts 1:8), and train the life of an evangelist.
③ Afterwards, physical and financial healing will follow.
The body starts to heal when the heart is healed (placebo and nocebo effect). I start to take care of my body since my heart is healed (deep breathing and food). Especially after verse 4, there is a covenant concerning financial healing. You will renew the ruined cities (verse 4), strangers will shepherd your flocks, and foreigners will work your fields and vineyards, and you will live as priests (evangelists) who save people and will feed on the wealth of nations (verse 6). It talks about a blessing where I, the works I do, and my entire life is used as one that saves the world.
2) Then when do we experience the blessing of healing? It is a time schedule of healing.
It is natural to want all problems to be solved and to be healed immediately. Even the disciples of Jesus asked such questions (Acts 1:6). However, if the majority of people are healed of their diseases and their problems are solved like that, they will easily go back to how they were. And problems will repeat itself. God said that He will begin completely new works in me (Isaiah 43: 18-20). That is why give the day and time to the Father and hold onto the covenant of healing within me, and wait until my imprints, roots, and nature are changed. That is the time schedule of concentration. Continuously concentrate on the word and message. Make my scheduled prayer and continuously do prayer concentration and fight a spiritual battle.
3) After my illness is healed, it is God’s heavenly mandate, calling, and commission for my life. This is a conclusion of healing.
God’s heavenly mandate is to heal and save the world. He called me for this and permitted my problems for this. That is the calling. He will surely show me the works I can do as much as the things I had endured and faced. That is the commission.
Conclusion – The problems I have is a historical problem that all people are facing. We have been given a covenant and answer of healing. As you hold onto this covenant and answer, may you prepare for another answer and another blessing that God has prepared.