Prayer - Healing (the good side)

Prayer - Healing (the good side)

Romans 15:17-20

Introduction

• Last the bad - comments
• This week the good
• Next week – Healing Service

Cut short

• Favorite dessert is gone when you get there
• The meal was good but if only I had had the dessert... then it would have been complete
• I feel like this with the gospel

Two things really stand out for me

1. The word Sozo
2. Ro 15:19

Sozo – means salvation (sozo=salvation) Makes sense

• Sozo – deliver or healed or cure (no good)
• Lk 17:19 – the ten lepers -   “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”
• NIV has made a textual error
• Context of the text – physical could be the focus...
• Do you see the predicament
• Lk 8 uses sozo 3 Xs – vs. 12, 36, 50
• 12 – saved; 36 – cured; 50 – healed

Healing conference

• Tim Vink read Ro 15:19 - by the power of signs and miracles, through the power of the Spirit. So from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ.
• Sounds like they didn’t run short or out... full load at all times, everywhere he went
• By power of signs, and miracles

An Aahha moment...

• This makes the sozo word make more sense
• The good news or the gospel is not just about salvation, or heaven but the kingdom of God is now, it is here
• 52 Xs – Kingdom of God (gospels)
• Doing this fully... what else should be happening

Mk 16:17-18 And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”

• Mark’s version of the Great commission

·         “The glory of God is a human being fully alive.”  St Irenaeus

Ro 1:16 - I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes:

• This is for you, for your children...
• Jesus told the parable of the sower
• The gospel message is exponential

Mt 13:23 - But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”

So what does this all mean...?

1. We have to look at the gospel differently
1. Aahhaa moment...
2. Do you want the full deal, or part of it...
2. Take ownership of it
1. We need to live it... take the plunge
2. Jesus did this with His disciples – followers – Mt 9:35 – 10:5

                              i.   I do it you watch

                             ii.   You do it with me

                            iii.   You do it, someone else watches you

What does it look like...? Let’s do it now

1. Leading from God – Gary on my heart
1. Talked to him to be sure

The impulse of love that leads us to the doorway of a friend is the voice of God within and we need not be afraid to follow it.”  Agnes Sanford

1. The greatest of these is Love...
1. It is easier to be yourself when you focus on love
2. Pay less attention to ourselves and more on God
3. Healing is not just about faith, but God dumping His love on us
4. If anything happens in prayer – the person prayed for should feel loved and closer to God
5. No one should ever feel hurt or scared

1. Ask the person what to pray for... specific
1. What is the problem
2. What is causing the problem
3. How do they want prayer... as well as listening to God
2. Pray
1. Sometimes it just means to be there
2. Laying of hands shows love, connection (you do not have to lay hands)
3. Turn to God in complete trust, He has the power
4. Be honest about your own doubts, adequacy and prediction of results
5. Faith-action is praying for the person

                              i.   When God tells us

1. Pray obediently and leave the results to God

                              i.   Sometimes God will want follow-up (Love)