Healing Scriptures

The following verses from the Bible will serve as a foundation as you pursue Divine healing. Reading, believing and practicing these Bible verses will put you in the place where God can minister to you. This is not a magical formula. Healing of any type is under the control of God alone. But certainly Jesus is able to provide whatever type of healing we need. Trust Him.

Psalm 30:2 O Lord my God, I called to You for help and You healed me. (NIV)

Psalm 103:3 Let all that I am praise the LORD; may I never forget the good things he does for me. He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. (NLT)

Psalm 107:20 By the power of his own word, he healed you and saved you from destruction. (CEV)

Proverbs 4:20-22 My child, pay attention to what I say. Listen carefully to my words. Don’t lose sight of them. Let them penetrate deep into your heart, for they bring life to those who find them,and healing to their whole body. Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. (NLT)

Isaiah 41:10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (TNIV)

Isaiah 53:3-6 He was despised and rejected—a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care. Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for his own sins! But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the LORD laid on him the sins of us all. (NLT)

Matthew 4:23 Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. (TNIV)

Matthew 8:2-3 Suddenly, a man with leprosy approached him and knelt before him. “Lord,” the man said, “if you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean.” Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” he said. “Be healed!” And instantly the leprosy disappeared. (NLT)

Matthew 8:17 So God's promise came true, just as the prophet Isaiah had said, “He healed our diseases and made us well." (CEV)

Mark 16:17-18 These miraculous signs will accompany those who believe: They will cast out demons in my name, and they will speak in new languages. They will be able to handle snakes with safety, and if they drink anything poisonous, it won’t hurt them. They will be able to place their hands on the sick, and they will be healed.” (NLT)

John 10:10 A thief is only there to steal and kill and destroy. I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of. (MSG)

Philippians 4:6-7 Don't worry about anything, but pray about everything. With thankful hearts offer up your prayers and requests to God. Then, because you belong to Christ Jesus, God will bless you with peace that no one can completely understand. And this peace will control the way you think and feel. (CEV)

James 5:13-16 Are you sick? Call the church leaders together to pray and anoint you with oil in the name of the Master. Believing-prayer will heal you, and Jesus will put you on your feet. And if you've sinned, you'll be forgiven—healed inside and out. Make this your common practice: Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you can live together whole and healed. The prayer of a person living right with God is something powerful to be reckoned with. (MSG)

I Peter 2:24 "He himself bore our sins" in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; "by his wounds you have been healed." (TNIV)

III John 2 Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well. (TNIV)

Operation of Hope Gives More Children a Reason to Smile

Ecuador ― Every year Dr. Joseph Clawson, a plastic surgeon and the founder of Operation of Hope in cooperation with HCJB Global, goes to Ecuador with several nurses to provide surgery for children born with cleft lips and cleft palates.

This year he helped 20 children, six from Shell and 14 from Otavalo, at HCJB Global Hands’ Hospital Vozandes-Shell. HCJB Global has had a hospital in this area since May 10, 1958, and has been in its present facilities since March 30, 1985.

“Dr. Joe’s” patients this trip were babies with cleft lips needing first surgeries, two young children with cleft palates needing second surgeries, a 9-year-old with his pharynx needing repaired, and a 17-year-old with a cleft palate. Their surgeries were all successful.

This surgery is not only cosmetically transforming but also psychologically transforming. HCJB Global said, “After the cleft lip or palate surgery, children are also restored to positions in the family and have the hope of leading a normal life.”

Through this ministry, Operation of Hope is being the hands and feet of Jesus and showing these children how much Christ loves them.

Since Operation of Hope started its ministry, they have helped more than 1,900 children worldwide. They plan to again return to Ecuador in January 2010.

While Hospital Vozandes-Shell covers all of the costs for the children and their families regarding these surgeries, you can help the hospital with funding. For one child, the cost is about $100.

If you would like to send money to help Operation of Hope help more children in the future or want to obtain more information about their ministry, please visit www.hcjb.org.

(Source: Mission Network News)

pride and falling

In a heart-wrenching conversation with friends yesterday, we discussed a leader’s tendencies to fall to pride. We talked about how important it is to not take it too seriously when people praise you. My friend read from Proverbs 27:21 “The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but man is tested by the praise he receives.” (NIV) One of the greatest tests we will undergo involves our leanings toward arrogance.

Keep your ego in check. Stay humble. Remain in intimate contact with God. When people praise you, deflect the glory to God.

This video symbolizes what God did for us on the cross. In a lesser way, it shows what veterans did for our country. Thank you God and thank you Vets!

God in a box

Can we contain God?
Can we make Him fit into our preconceived set of expectations?
Does God need a predictable arrangement of circumstances before He can do His work?

If we have a past that includes experiencing God, we sometimes expect Him to do a repeat performance. Maybe a few years ago, God moved in your life in a profound way. Maybe, while that experience was happening, a certain song was playing or maybe a particular preacher was ministering. Maybe you were in a particular location of significance – at a church, at an altar, or out in the woods. So you associate your encounter with God with that place or with that person or with that music. So it is quite natural for you, when desiring some time with God, to gravitate toward that place or that atmosphere. If you could just hear that song, God would make Himself available. If they would only play that style of music, God would be present. If they would just bring back the old altar, then you could really connect with God. If only that evangelist would visit, then everything would be great again, like it once was.

Do we realize that God does not need our nice, neat, predictable little set of perfect circumstances in order to do His work? We try to confine God. We do our best to set up hoops for Him to jump through. And so many times, we refuse to recognize His work unless He does it exactly the way that we want it.

A prime example would be worship music. People sometimes define certain artists or styles of music as “anointed” or “inspired”. While we know that God can certainly bless an individual with a unique effectiveness in music ministry, let’s never make the mistake of assuming that God chooses one style of music over another. It would be nice to hear, for the last time, phrases like, “I just can’t worship to that kind of music”, or “I just wish we would do some new songs at church”, or “the old hymns are more anointed than modern music.” What we are really saying is, “I know that God has the same taste in music that I do. We have to do it my way or God will not even be here!”

Loud or quite, electric or acoustic, bluegrass or jazz…God is to be worshiped. Traditional or contemporary, liturgical or emergent…worship God!

Let’s grow up in our worship. Let’s get to the place that no matter where we are, no matter who is present, no matter what style of ministry that is being utilized, we can honor God with true hearts of worship. Apply Matt Redman’s lyrics from the old classic, Heart of Worship: “I’m sorry Lord for the thing I’ve made it (worship), when it’s all about You, Jesus.”

some emotional stuff

In a five minute period of time tonight, I came across a group of young gang members who had just experienced the death of one of their members and I fed three homeless guys, one of whom tried to get violent with me. Relax, he was too drunk to do me any harm.

A bunch of teenagers wearing red shirts standing in front of the Emergency Room, most of them crying in disbelief. Three alcoholics fighting over some leftover fried chicken. These things just shouldn’t be.

I am impacted by the heaviness of the hopelessness in these events. I want to think about the unnecessary pain being experienced. I want to process how all of this is avoidable. But the reality of the pain these people are living through right now is at the forefront of my heart. I am just so sorry for all of them.

We have to distribute some hope and we have to do it now.

worth repeating

I used this quote a while back, but it certainly remains useful...

Do not pray for easy lives, but pray to be stronger men. Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers, but pray for power equal to your tasks. Then the accomplishing of your work shall be no miracle, but you shall be a miracle. Every day you shall wonder at yourself and the richness of life which has come to you by the grace of God.

Phillips Brooks
(thanks again, Craig!)

a little affirmation goes a long way

I am making up a new saying today: “an ounce of affirmation covers a multitude of criticism”. OK, I know this is kind of a weird conglomeration of a few well-known sayings but you get what I am driving at, don’t you?

Partly because of insecurities and partly because want to please others, we seem to focus on the negative things that people say to us, especially when it comes to feedback on how we did in a particular task. It has happened to me a hundred times. I finish a message or teaching and ten people will tell me how much they enjoyed it and were blessed by it – and then one person offers a backhanded comment or a criticism – and you know what I go home thinking about. I especially love the “with a little more work, you may actually become a good preacher” or “maybe you should watch more of Pastor Joel” or “where did you find that sermon?” I would say that people mean well but it wouldn’t be true. Some people are just mean.

The point of this post is, something different has happened to me recently. A few folks have offered some sincere and simple appreciation for recent work and it seems to be outweighing the usual negativity. I guess it all depends on the situation and who the people are who are offering the affirmation. But be reminded of how important it is to offer praise where it is due. If you have kids, please take time every day to build them up. If you serve with a team, certainly give thanks to those colleagues. How about sending a quick email to a friend or leader who is proving herself as faithful? You just may be counteracting some sour critic that has ruined that person’s week!

It may sound a little awkward and it doesn’t roll off the tongue, but I like it: “an ounce of affirmation covers a multitude of criticism”.

beach pix

Letha and I took a quick stroll on Juno Beach yesterday. Enjoy a couple of pictures from our walk.

it's ok if they don't like you

If you are going to lead, and do a decent job at it, there will be times when you make decisions that other people do not like. This is part of leadership. You have to get comfortable with the idea that some people will not like you when you don't make them happy. They will complain about it. They will talk about you behind your back. They will accuse you of all kinds of evil stuff. And you have to be OK with that.

This is nothing new. A quick study of the life of Moses (one of the toughest leadership assignments ever!) will tell you that good leaders will not always win the popularity contest. His followers murmured against him and even wanted to kill him! And all he had done is obey God.

Let me encourage you. If you are doing the right thing, obeying God and serving with integrity, don't let a little whining discourage you. In fact, if there aren't a couple of temper tantrums from time to time, thrown by your followers, you may not be accomplishing all that you can. It is also very likely that some of your followers will walk away from you because of the decisions you make (that hopefully are for their good). Once again, this is part of being a leader.

Hang in there, leader! Some of Jesus' followers didn't like Him either!

guard your heart

Proverbs 4:23 “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.” (NIV)

Recently, several of my friends have experienced difficult things that have resulted in hard feelings. In day-to-day living, decisions are made and actions taken that create opportunities for us to become angry. We all experience it. I have heard my friends dialogue about how they were feeling. They were frustrated and ticked off at someone or something.

My advice has been and will be, “guard your heart”. “Don’t let this become a deep-seeded issue with you”. Proverbs tells us that out heart is our “wellspring of life.” The NLT makes that statement this way: “for it determines the course of your life”. The TNIV says, “for everything you do flows from it.”. If your heart gets hard, your life gets messy. The remainder of your life is negatively impacted. You become bitter and angry, you become harsh and hateful.

If you have been hurt, guard your heart. If someone does something to harm you, keep your heart tender and soft.

Guard your heart, you don’t want it to become stone.

lessons for a longer life

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

happy mom's day!

This is wishing all mom's out there a very Happy Mother's Day! You guys are incredible!: your commitment to your families, your unshakable love, your willingness to sacrifice for others. I hope your kids give you and entire weekend of honor!

Join us for a very special event at Maranatha on Sunday. My wife, Letha, will be sharing her wisdom with everyone in our services. I am really excited about this event. She and I will be together at all three of our services: Church at the Beach at 7:00 AM and Main Campus services at 9:00 and 10:45. Bring a mom and enjoy "The Heart of a Woman".

National Day of Prayer

A great event! Thursday, May 7, 2009, Christ followers from all around the country will be gathering to pray on behalf of our nation. I can’t think of a better way to spend a few minutes. I think it may also be a good idea to have a “National Day of Doing Something About the Things For Which You Are Praying” (or something similar). True, God is able to do more in one split second than we can do in an eternity. But I think sometimes God expects us to act on issues of passion. If we are passionate enough to pray about something, maybe we can also get involved in addressing the issue. As I have heard it said, “sometimes, we are the answer to our own prayers.”

Examples- Prayer: “God, feed the hungry.” Action: feed someone who is hungry.

Prayer: “God, fix the broken morality in America.” Action: live morally and get personally involved in setting a good example.

Prayer: “God, let the whole world know how awesome you are!” Action…well, you get it.

I also think this may be a great to remind everyone that we don’t always know what God’s will is, so an important prayer is, “God, do it Your way!” We are sometimes presumptuous in our prayers, assuming that God agrees with us on purpose, timing and details. If Jesus prayed, “not my will but Yours”, maybe we should consider the same approach.

Get involved in a National Day of Prayer event. We are hosting one at Maranatha tonight (Wednesday) at 7:00.

Fighting 4 Your Marriage

Today is the conclusion to our series Fighting 4 Your Marriage. Because I know that there is absolutely no way that I can deliver all of the material I have today without keeping the people until 1:00 in the afternoon, I am putting my entire outline here. If you check this out before you come to one of our services this morning, don't be tempted to stay at home. In fact, you could have a little fun by whispering to the dude next to you whatever I am going to say, just before I say it. He'll think you are a prophet!

Fighting 4 Your Marriage (part 3)
Security

(I love this story) SECRET TO A LONG MARRIAGE:
A man and woman had been married for more than 60 years. They had shared everything. They had talked about everything. They had kept no secrets from each other except that the little old woman had a shoebox in the top of her closet that she had cautioned her husband never to open or ask her about.
For all of these years, he had never thought about the box, but one day the little old woman got very sick and the doctor said she would not recover. In trying to sort out their affairs, the little old man took down the shoe box and took it to his wife's bedside. She agreed that it was time that he should know what was in the box. When he opened it, he found two crocheted dolls and a stack of money totaling $95,000. He asked her about the contents . "When we were to be married," she said, " my grandmother told me the secret of a happy marriage was to never argue.
She told me that if I ever got angry with you, I should just keep quiet and crochet a doll."
The little old man was so moved; he had to fight back tears. Only two precious dolls were in the box. She had only been angry with him two times in all those years of living and loving. He almost burst with happiness."Honey," he said, "that explains the doll, but what about all of this money? Where did it come from?""Oh," she said, "that's the money I made from selling the dolls."
The Prayer....... Dear Lord, I pray for Wisdom to understand my man; Love to forgive him; And Patience for his moods; Because Lord, if I pray for Strength, I'll beat him to death........ because I don't know how to crochet. (thank you – Rebecca Simms!)

We need to learn how to make the bad times work for us instead of against us!

Securing your marriage in uncertain times.
Couples: how to make tough times work for you instead of against you.
How to fight For your marriage rather than against it.

Intro: How do these news headlines make you feel?...

USA Today headline from Wednesday: Alert Nears Pandemic Level
World Health Organization Director: “it really is all of humanity that is under threat”

America Online headline, 4.14.09:
“Massive Asteroid Headed Our Way”
Strike Would Be Global Catastrophe, What Are the Odds It Will Hit Earth?
“An asteroid the size of a 25-story building will come within 18,000 miles of Earth on April 13, 2029” –

America has grown accustomed to fear!
We thrive on scary stuff.
Some of us have become addicted to panic!

As Pastor Chris Goins put it recently, “It's The End of the World As We Know It...but God is Not On Prozac!”

Bad news is everywhere!
The results of all of this bad news?
Fear and stress.
People are freaked out.
And it is taking a toll on our marriages.

The most powerful and controlling emotions: common emotions in a marriage…
Anger: can cause you to do all kinds of things that you would not normally do.

But there is a more powerful and destructive emotion in marriage:
Fear:
1) can cause you to do things you would not normally do.
2) can keep you from doing things you should do!
Issues related to fear: Intimidation, apprehension, uncertainty, insecurity.

I see that many people are so uncertain about the future that they are making decisions that will negatively impact their future.
People are scared:
Too scared to make the decision to get married.
Those who are married are too scared to have kids.
People are too scared to save money, too scared to spend it.
Too scared to buy a house, too scared to sell it.
Stress is taking its toll.

We just don’t feel safe.
If our fears are not calmed, if is difficult to calm the fears of others.
If we are not sure that we are being cared for, it is difficult to care for others.

Marriages are being destroyed because of the stress they are experiencing.

This kind of uncertainty and fear has a spiritual source.
2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. (NLT)

We have to keep fear in perspective.
An easy way to recall what fear may actually be:
False Evidence Appearing Real.
The evidence is saying that only bad is coming. That evidence is not real!
but what God has for you is real...
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. (NIV)

The times we are living in are referred to as “uncertain”.
I. An “Uncertain” Future
“Uncertain” certainly sounds certain.
When it comes to my future, “Uncertain”, “unsure”, “unknown” all sound bad to me!
I want to know, not only what is going to happen but I want to know that whatever happens will be good.
And, because of everything we are hearing, we don’t feel very good about our future right now!

Jeff and Diann Robbins gave me something to read that was written by David Wilkerson.
David is a prophet and, like most prophets, has the reputation of being a bit of a “doomsdayer”.
But he was writing about what Jesus said about worry in Matthew 6
Listen what he says:
Jesus also calls us to this way of living: giving no thought about tomorrow and putting our future into his hands. Matthew 6:31-34”31 So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (NIV) )
Jesus doesn’t mean that we’re not to plan ahead or do nothing about our future. Rather, he’s saying simply, “Don’t be anxious or troubled about tomorrow.” When you think about it, most of our anxieties are about what might happen tomorrow. We’re constantly harassed by two little words: “What if?”
“What if the economy fails, and I lose my job? How will I pay the mortgage? How will my family be able to survive? And what if I lose my health insurance? If I get sick or have to be hospitalized, we’ll be ruined. Or, what if my faith fails me in trying times?” We all have a thousand “what if” anxieties.
Jesus interrupts our “what ifs” and tells us, “Your heavenly Father knows how to take care of you.”
Christ tells us, “You don’t need to worry. Your Father knows you have need of all these things, and he won’t ever forsake you. He is faithful to feed you, clothe you and take care to supply all your needs.”
Matthew 6:26-30 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? 28 "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? (NIV)
We gladly give all our yesterdays to the Lord, turning over to him our past sins. We trust him for forgiveness of all our past failures, doubts and fears. So, why don’t we do the same with our tomorrows? The truth is, most of us cling tightly to our future, wanting the right to hold onto our dreams. We make our plans independent of God, and then later ask him to bless and fulfill those hopes and desires.

Wilkerson is trying to get us set up to enjoy a secure future even in uncertain times.

II. From “Uncertain” to Secure
When tomorrow is unknown, you can be secure.

Here’s how:
1. Be shrewd/be innocent:
Matthew 10:16 I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. (TNIV)

2. Be listening.
Take in the news in balance. There is a time to turn it off.
Who is your influence? Hearing God’s voice in the noise.
Biggest question: what is God saying?
Not necessarily the loudest voice. Still small voice. His sheep know His voice.
Who is in control? Learning to trust.

3. Be obedient.
Plain and simple: God promises to take care of His kids when they are obedient to Him.

4. Be dependent: if your life does not require you to depend on God, you aren’t accomplishing much!
I’m going to say something crazy:
Some awesome things start happening when we get to the point in our lives that, if God does not come through, we are doomed!

But if only we could know what is going to happen in the future…

Our role is not to figure out our future.
Our role is to place our lives in God’s hands and believe he will care for us.
Our role is to make our marriages and families secure by giving God full authority over our futures.
Our role is to love our spouses enough to provide this kind of security.

III. A chapter that can Secure Your Marriage and Your Future:
II Chronicles 20

1. The bad news:
2 Chronicles 20:2 Some men came and told Jehoshaphat, "A vast army is coming against you from Edom
(NIV)

2. Their response: (we can’t choose our circumstances, only our response to the circumstances.)
2 Chronicles 20:3-4 Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the LORD, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah. 4 The people of Judah came together to seek help from the LORD; indeed, they came from every town in Judah to seek him. (NIV)

3. A realization of dependence (prayer to God)
2 Chronicles 20:12 For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you." (NIV)
“We don’t know what to do.”
“Our eyes are on you.”

4. Unity of family
2 Chronicles 20:13 All the men of Judah, with their wives and children and little ones, stood there before the LORD. (NIV)
Entire families (husbands were not expected to “fix” this. They trusted God together.)
Rather than blame one another for the mess they were in, they stood together.
Instead of fighting against each other, they decided to fight for each other.
They decided to let God fight for them!
They faced their fears head on. And they trusted God.

5. The Spirit of the Lord speaks
2 Chronicles 20:14 “Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jahaziel”
2 Chronicles 20:15-17 This is what the LORD says to you: 'Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God's.
17 You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the LORD will be with you.'" (NIV)

This vast army (did not deny the gravity of the situation)
The battle is not yours, but God’s.
You will not have to fight this battle
Stand firm and see the deliverance of the Lord

6. God takes care of His Children
2 Chronicles 20:22 As they began to sing and praise, the LORD set ambushes against them (those who were attacking them) … and they were defeated. (NIV)

Importance of worship – vs. 21-23 - not an activity, a lifestyle, an approach to living trust.

The best way, most effective way is to allow God to fight for you.

The story ends four days later:
2 Chronicles 20:26 On the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Beracah, where they praised the LORD. This is why it is called the Valley of Beracah to this day. (NIV)

Beracah means: The Valley of Praise!

Conclusion:
Our marriages are under attack.
The news does not look good.
Our future is uncertain.
But the Best news is: God is fighting for your marriage!
And because He is fighting FOR your marriage, you can win!