I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and will execute justice for the needy. (Ps. 140:12)
Psalm 146:5-9
“Happy (blessed, fortunate, enviable) is he who has the God of [special revelation to] Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God,
Who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them,
Who keeps truth and is faithful forever,
Who executes justice for the oppressed,
Who gives food to the hungry.
The Lord sets free the prisoners,
The Lord opens the eyes of the blind,
The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down,
The Lord loves the [uncompromisingly] righteous...
The Lord protects and preserves the the strangers and temporary residents, He upholds the fatherless and the widow ans sets them upright, but the way of the wicked He makes crooked (turns upside down and brings to ruin).”
Over and over, the Psalms speak about the Lord being a God who sets captive free, heals, restores, and binds up the broken. Commentary notes that He is the one “who executes justice: The descriptive phrases in v. 7 remind us of the praise of God in Psalm 103:3–6 and Psalm 107:8–10. These are the regularly recurring acts of God in response to the needs of His people (113:7–9).” [1]
Psalm 103:3-6 says about the Lord, “Who forgives [every one of] all your iniquities, Who heals [each one of] all your diseases, Who redeems your life from the pit and corruption, Who beautifies, dignifies, and crowns you with loving-kindness and tender mercy; Who satisfies your mouth [your necessity and desire at your personal age and situation] with good so that your youth, renewed, is like the eagle's [strong, overcoming, soaring] The Lord executes righteousness and justice [not for me only, but] for all who are oppressed.”
Psalm 107:8-10, says, “Oh, that men would praise [and confess to] the Lord for His goodness and loving-kindness and His wonderful works to the children of men! For He satisfies the longing soul and fills the hungry soul with good. Some sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and irons... “
Psalm 107:13-16 goes on to say, “Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and He saved them out of their distresses. He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death and broke apart the bonds that held them. Oh that men would praise [and confess to] the Lord for His goodness and loving-kindness and His wonderful works to the children of men! For He has broken the gates of bronze and cut the bars of iron apart.”
And Psalm 113:7-9 says, “[The Lord] raises the poor out of the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap and the dung hill, that He may seat them with princes, even with the princes of His people. He makes the] children barren women to be a homemaker and a joyful mother of [spiritual] children. Praise the Lord! (Hallelujah!)”
The Lord is so good. And He cares deeply about justice for the poor!! He went to the cross so that we might be set free from oppression and taste of His life. He poured out that which sustained His own life for the hungry and satisfied the need of the afflicted (Isaiah 58:10).
Isaiah 58:10 says, “And if you pour out that with which you sustain your own life for the hungry and satisfy the need of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in darkness, and your obscurity and gloom become like the noonday...
Then Isaiah 58:12 says, “And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt;[a] you shall raise up the foundations of [buildings that have laid waste for] many generations; and you shall be called Repairer of the Breach, Restorer of Street to Dwell in.”
Jesus is that light that dawns on us and raises up those destitute places that have been laid to waste! Out of the tender mercy and loving-kindness of our God, we were given a Light from on high that -dawns upon us. “To shine upon and give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death.” (Luke 1:78-79)
Malachi 4:2 says, “But unto you who revere and worshipfully fear My name shall the Sun of Righteousness arise with healing in His wings and His beams, and you shall go forth and gombol like calves [released] from the stall and leap for joy.”
Commentary notes that this picture is a “figurative representation of the rays emanating from the sun, indicating the swiftness with which the healing will be applied to the righteous that need it. As the result of the healing …” [2]
And Isaiah 60:1-5 says, “Arise [from the depression and prostration in which circumstances have kept you -rise to a new life]! Shine (be radiant with the glory of the Lord), for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you! For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and dense darkness [all] peoples, but the Lord shall arise upon you [O Jerusalem], and His glory shall be seen on you. And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.
And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. Lift up your eyes round about you and see! They all gather themselves together, they come to you. Your sons shall come from afar, and your daughters shall be carried and nursed in the arms.
Then you shall see and be radiant, and your heart shall thrill and tremble with joy [at the glorious deliverance] and be enlarged; because the abundant wealth of the [Dead] Sea* shall be returned to you, unto you shall the nations come with their treasures.”
* Commentary notes that the Dead Sea was considered a place of death and destitution.[3]
Psalm 147:1-6 says about Him, “Praise The Lord! For it is good to sing praises to our God, for He is gracious and lovely; praise is becoming and appropriate. The Lord is building up Jerusalem; He is gathering together the exiles of Israel. He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds [curing their pains and their sorrows].
He determines and counts the number of the stars; He calls them all by their names. Great is our Lord and of great power; His understanding is inexhaustible and boundless. The Lord lifts up the humble and downtrodden; He casts the wicked down to the ground.”
One of the significant reasons why Jesus was sent by the Father and went to the cross was to bind up and heal the brokenhearted and set captives free who are in bondage. Isaiah 42:6-7, it says about Jesus, “I will give You for a covenant to the people [Israel], for a light to the nations [Gentiles], to open the eyes of the blind, to bring out prisoners from the dungeon, and those who sit in darkness from the prison.”
Freedom and healing is the good news of the gospel!! Isaiah 61:1-3 says, “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed and qualified me to preach the Gospel of good tidings to the meek, the poor, and the afflicted;”
He has sent me to:
“- to bind up up and heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the [physical and spiritual] captives and the opening of the prison and of the eyes of those who are bound.
- To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord [the year of His favor] and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn,
- To grant [consolation and joy] to those who mourn in Zion -to give them an ornament (a garland or diadem) of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of morning, the garment [expressive] of praise instead of a heavy, burdened, and failing spirit- that they may be called oaks of righteousness [lofty, strong, and magnificent, distinguished for uprightness, justice, and right standing with God], the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.”
Jesus was and is passionate about bringing justice to the poor. It is deeply in His heart. Isaiah 42:1-4 says about Him, “Behold My Servant, Whom I uphold, My elect in Whom My soul delights! I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice and right and reveal truth to the nations. He will not cry or shout aloud or cause His voice to be heard in the street.
A bruised reed He will not break, and a dimly burning wick He will not quench; He will bring forth justice in truth. He will not fail or become weak or be crushed and discouraged till He has established justice in the earth; and the islands and coastal regions shall wait hopefully for Him and expect His direction and law.”
Over and over, the Word of God speaks about God's heart of compassion for the poor and afflicted. He hears their cries and answers them with awesome deeds of righteousness (Ps. 65:5). He is our hope to the ends of the earth (Ps. 65:5).
Psalm 34:18 says, “The Lord is close to those who are of a broken heart and saves such as are crushed with sorrow for sin and are humbly and thoroughly penitent.”
At the same time, I know that God sometimes does not heal and set free those who are struggling in oppression and bondage. So is Jesus always willing?
In Luke 5:12-13, a man with leprosy came to Jesus, “fell on his face and implored Him, saying, Lord, if You are willing, You are able to cure me and make me clean. And [Jesus reached out His hand and touched him, saying, I am willing; be cleansed! And immediately the leprosy left him.”
Sometimes perhaps He does not heal because one refuses to turn to Him and receive healing In Matthew 13:58 it says that Jesus could not do many miracles for the peoples lack of faith or unbelief. The people took offense at Him and refused to accept His authority (Matthew 13:57). Because of this, they could not receive His healing.
Psalm 91:14 says, “Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore will I deliver him; I will set him on high, because he knows and understand My name [has a personal knowledge of My mercy, love, and kindness -trusts and relies on Me, knowing I will never forsake him, no never]. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him...”
Other times, perhaps it may take some time for a person to see their need and then humble themselves to come and receive His healing. Naaman was an example of someone who saw their need, but it took awhile for him to come to the Lord and humble himself to receive healing.
Naaman was a leper who did not know the Lord. He came to Israel expecting to be healed by a prophet because a young slave girl who waited on his wife told them that the prophet in Samaria could heal him. Then when the prophet told him to wash himself in the Jordan seven times, he refused. He was insulted and went away angry. Later, after some encouragement from his servants, he humbled himself and followed his directions. When he did humble himself and come for healing the way he had been instructed, he was healed and came to believe in God. (2 Kings 5:1-15)
Psalm 147:6 says, “The LORD lifts up the humble; he casts the wicked to the ground.”
Sometimes people are in sin and rebellion and have not yet come to a place of repentance so that they could be healed. Matthew 13:15 says, “For this people's heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.'”
Psalm 34:18 says that he saves those who are “humbly and thoroughly penitent.”
In Psalm 107:10-16, people were in bondage and afflicted due to their rebellion against God. Because of this, their hearts were bowed down with hard labor and there was none to help. Yet, when they “cried to the Lord in their trouble,” it says “He saved them out of their distresses. He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death and broke apart the bonds that held them.”
Sometimes, it seems that healing may come a small amount at a time rather than all at once. Healing may occur over a period of years as the wounds heal, the mind is renewed and one learns new realities.
As an example, fear of disaster is something I struggled with for many years and has been deeply rooted. 1 John 4:18 says that perfect love expels all fear. As much as I desired it, God did not completely heal me of this all at once. My thought patterns needed to be changed over time by the renewing of my mind (Romans 12:2).
As I have come to receive and trust in His love more and more over time, the way I think has changed. Rather than anticipating disaster when things go wrong, I have come more and more to trust in and expect God's goodness. His continuous love towards me has expelled my fear of disaster. I am learning that I can trust Him to always protect and care for me, even in my sin and shortcomings.
My Savior loves, my Savior lives, My Savior's always there for me” sings in the background.
Absence of healing may not have anything to do with someone's lack of faith, sin, timing, or humility in receiving. Sometimes God does not heal because it somehow demonstrates His glory in a greater measure through one's weakness.
Paul had a 'thorn in the flesh” that kept him from being haughty. He prayed three times to be delivered from it. However, God did not set him free. Instead God spoke to him, “My grace (My favor and loving-kindness and mercy) is enough for you [sufficient against any danger and enables you to bear the trouble manfully]; for My strength and power are made perfect (fulfilled and completed) and show themselves most effective in [your weakness].
One of my close friends struggles with a great deal of physical disabilities. She is a deeply humble woman of prayer who trusts and depends on God to get through her daily activities. While she has received some physical healing over the years, the greatest gift is that God has given her is strength and inner joy in the midst of her struggles with her physical limitations. In this, she has ministered deeply to me and others in ways that no one else could (who didn't have severe physical limitations).
James 2:5 says, “Listen, my beloved brethren: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and in their position as believers and to inherit the kingdom which He has promised to those who love Him?”
Not only does God passionately pursue us and has poured out His life to bring us freedom from prison, affliction and oppression, but it was for freedom that we were set free (Gal. 5:1). We are not to use our freedom to sin again but to serve others in love (Gal. 5:3).
As Steve Hanson mentioned this past weekend in his sermon, if we were asked what true religion looked like in action we would come up with many answers. James 1:27 cuts through all the things that we make religion about to that which matters most to God's heart.
It says in James 1:27, “External religious worship [religion as it is expressed in outward acts] that is pure and unblemished in the sight of God the Father is this: to visit and help and care for the orphans and widows in their affliction and need, and to keep oneself unspotted and uncontaminated from the world.”
Caring about the least, the poor and uncared about matters deeply to God. Much more than any religious practice we can enter into. True religion is serving the poor. And as Mother Teresa noted, “Only holiness perfects the gift.” We don't serve the poor in our own strength, but as we abide in Christ and serve the poor from a place of worship, we radiate His love to others.
It says about Mother Teresa, “Radiating love, joy hope, peace, and enthusiasm, and with her habitual concern for the individual sufferer, she would make one feel loved and special even in one short meeting. The reason for this extraordinary effect on people was not because of any special qualities or talents she had.
Rather, it was to be found in the radiance of her personal holiness, of the power and attraction of a soul totally given to God. She was so united with God, that through contact with her, people felt that God was listening to them, helping them, caring for them, loving them.
The prayer, 'Radiating Christ,' which she prayed daily with her sisters after Mass, had become a reality in her own life. She asked in this prayer: 'Let them look up and see no longer me, but only Jesus,' and, indeed, it was the light of His love His love that she radiated to others.
Mother Teresa reached an eminent degree of holiness through her unwavering 'yes' to God and His loving will, despite the hardships it involved.” [4]
Isaiah 62:1,4 says about Gods people, “For Zion's sake will I [Isaiah] not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest until her imputed righteousness and vindication go forth as brightness, and her salvation radiates as does a burning torch...You [Judah] shall no more be termed Forsaken, nor shall your land be called Desolate any more. But you shall be called Hephzibah [My delight is in her], and your land be called Beulah [married]; for the Lord delights in you, and your land shall be married [owned and protected by the Lord]."
God is raising up a people who, like Him radiate His glory and also are deeply passionate to see the poor set free from captivity, to raise up those who are broken down and see His justice established on earth. Isiah 61 4 says about His people, “And they shall rebuild the ancient ruins; they shall raise up the former desolations and renew the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations.”
And what God starts, He sees through to the end. Isaiah 61:11 says, “For as [surely as] the earth brings forth its shoots, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring forth, so [surely] the Lord god will cause righteousness and justice and praise to spring forth before all the nations [through the self-fulfilling power of His word].
Lord, sometimes I think that I have to convince you to come and bring your justice. I forget that You are the one that put the desire in my heart. You deeply long to see restoration in places of destitution. You poured yourself out that we might have that life and freedom.
I am ever so grateful for that work in my own life. You have given me more than I could have asked or even imagined. I still remember you speaking to me that I didn't know just how destitute I was. And You execute justice not for me only, but for all who are oppressed! We long to see your justice poured forth on the earth and the devastations of many generations raised up. Let Your kingdom come, Your will be done!!
a. Commentary notes, “The coming of Christ rebuilt the house of David (Amos 9:11, 12; Acts 15:15–17).” [5]
1, 5. Radmacher, Earl D. ; Allen, Ronald Barclay ; House, H. Wayne: Nelson's New Illustrated Bible Commentary. Nashville : T. Nelson Publishers, 1999, S.
2. KJV Bible Commentary. Nashville : Thomas Nelson, 1997, c1994, S. 1862
3. The Amplified Bible. Zondervan, Grand Rapids, MI. 1987.
4. Mother Teresa. “Where There Is Love, There is God.” Random House, Inc. New York, NY. 2010.
“Happy (blessed, fortunate, enviable) is he who has the God of [special revelation to] Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God,
Who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them,
Who keeps truth and is faithful forever,
Who executes justice for the oppressed,
Who gives food to the hungry.
The Lord sets free the prisoners,
The Lord opens the eyes of the blind,
The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down,
The Lord loves the [uncompromisingly] righteous...
The Lord protects and preserves the the strangers and temporary residents, He upholds the fatherless and the widow ans sets them upright, but the way of the wicked He makes crooked (turns upside down and brings to ruin).”
Over and over, the Psalms speak about the Lord being a God who sets captive free, heals, restores, and binds up the broken. Commentary notes that He is the one “who executes justice: The descriptive phrases in v. 7 remind us of the praise of God in Psalm 103:3–6 and Psalm 107:8–10. These are the regularly recurring acts of God in response to the needs of His people (113:7–9).” [1]
Psalm 103:3-6 says about the Lord, “Who forgives [every one of] all your iniquities, Who heals [each one of] all your diseases, Who redeems your life from the pit and corruption, Who beautifies, dignifies, and crowns you with loving-kindness and tender mercy; Who satisfies your mouth [your necessity and desire at your personal age and situation] with good so that your youth, renewed, is like the eagle's [strong, overcoming, soaring] The Lord executes righteousness and justice [not for me only, but] for all who are oppressed.”
Psalm 107:8-10, says, “Oh, that men would praise [and confess to] the Lord for His goodness and loving-kindness and His wonderful works to the children of men! For He satisfies the longing soul and fills the hungry soul with good. Some sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and irons... “
Psalm 107:13-16 goes on to say, “Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and He saved them out of their distresses. He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death and broke apart the bonds that held them. Oh that men would praise [and confess to] the Lord for His goodness and loving-kindness and His wonderful works to the children of men! For He has broken the gates of bronze and cut the bars of iron apart.”
And Psalm 113:7-9 says, “[The Lord] raises the poor out of the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap and the dung hill, that He may seat them with princes, even with the princes of His people. He makes the] children barren women to be a homemaker and a joyful mother of [spiritual] children. Praise the Lord! (Hallelujah!)”
The Lord is so good. And He cares deeply about justice for the poor!! He went to the cross so that we might be set free from oppression and taste of His life. He poured out that which sustained His own life for the hungry and satisfied the need of the afflicted (Isaiah 58:10).
Isaiah 58:10 says, “And if you pour out that with which you sustain your own life for the hungry and satisfy the need of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in darkness, and your obscurity and gloom become like the noonday...
Then Isaiah 58:12 says, “And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt;[a] you shall raise up the foundations of [buildings that have laid waste for] many generations; and you shall be called Repairer of the Breach, Restorer of Street to Dwell in.”
Jesus is that light that dawns on us and raises up those destitute places that have been laid to waste! Out of the tender mercy and loving-kindness of our God, we were given a Light from on high that -dawns upon us. “To shine upon and give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death.” (Luke 1:78-79)
Malachi 4:2 says, “But unto you who revere and worshipfully fear My name shall the Sun of Righteousness arise with healing in His wings and His beams, and you shall go forth and gombol like calves [released] from the stall and leap for joy.”
Commentary notes that this picture is a “figurative representation of the rays emanating from the sun, indicating the swiftness with which the healing will be applied to the righteous that need it. As the result of the healing …” [2]
And Isaiah 60:1-5 says, “Arise [from the depression and prostration in which circumstances have kept you -rise to a new life]! Shine (be radiant with the glory of the Lord), for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you! For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and dense darkness [all] peoples, but the Lord shall arise upon you [O Jerusalem], and His glory shall be seen on you. And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.
And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. Lift up your eyes round about you and see! They all gather themselves together, they come to you. Your sons shall come from afar, and your daughters shall be carried and nursed in the arms.
Then you shall see and be radiant, and your heart shall thrill and tremble with joy [at the glorious deliverance] and be enlarged; because the abundant wealth of the [Dead] Sea* shall be returned to you, unto you shall the nations come with their treasures.”
* Commentary notes that the Dead Sea was considered a place of death and destitution.[3]
Psalm 147:1-6 says about Him, “Praise The Lord! For it is good to sing praises to our God, for He is gracious and lovely; praise is becoming and appropriate. The Lord is building up Jerusalem; He is gathering together the exiles of Israel. He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds [curing their pains and their sorrows].
He determines and counts the number of the stars; He calls them all by their names. Great is our Lord and of great power; His understanding is inexhaustible and boundless. The Lord lifts up the humble and downtrodden; He casts the wicked down to the ground.”
One of the significant reasons why Jesus was sent by the Father and went to the cross was to bind up and heal the brokenhearted and set captives free who are in bondage. Isaiah 42:6-7, it says about Jesus, “I will give You for a covenant to the people [Israel], for a light to the nations [Gentiles], to open the eyes of the blind, to bring out prisoners from the dungeon, and those who sit in darkness from the prison.”
Freedom and healing is the good news of the gospel!! Isaiah 61:1-3 says, “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed and qualified me to preach the Gospel of good tidings to the meek, the poor, and the afflicted;”
He has sent me to:
“- to bind up up and heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the [physical and spiritual] captives and the opening of the prison and of the eyes of those who are bound.
- To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord [the year of His favor] and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn,
- To grant [consolation and joy] to those who mourn in Zion -to give them an ornament (a garland or diadem) of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of morning, the garment [expressive] of praise instead of a heavy, burdened, and failing spirit- that they may be called oaks of righteousness [lofty, strong, and magnificent, distinguished for uprightness, justice, and right standing with God], the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.”
Jesus was and is passionate about bringing justice to the poor. It is deeply in His heart. Isaiah 42:1-4 says about Him, “Behold My Servant, Whom I uphold, My elect in Whom My soul delights! I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice and right and reveal truth to the nations. He will not cry or shout aloud or cause His voice to be heard in the street.
A bruised reed He will not break, and a dimly burning wick He will not quench; He will bring forth justice in truth. He will not fail or become weak or be crushed and discouraged till He has established justice in the earth; and the islands and coastal regions shall wait hopefully for Him and expect His direction and law.”
Over and over, the Word of God speaks about God's heart of compassion for the poor and afflicted. He hears their cries and answers them with awesome deeds of righteousness (Ps. 65:5). He is our hope to the ends of the earth (Ps. 65:5).
Psalm 34:18 says, “The Lord is close to those who are of a broken heart and saves such as are crushed with sorrow for sin and are humbly and thoroughly penitent.”
At the same time, I know that God sometimes does not heal and set free those who are struggling in oppression and bondage. So is Jesus always willing?
In Luke 5:12-13, a man with leprosy came to Jesus, “fell on his face and implored Him, saying, Lord, if You are willing, You are able to cure me and make me clean. And [Jesus reached out His hand and touched him, saying, I am willing; be cleansed! And immediately the leprosy left him.”
Sometimes perhaps He does not heal because one refuses to turn to Him and receive healing In Matthew 13:58 it says that Jesus could not do many miracles for the peoples lack of faith or unbelief. The people took offense at Him and refused to accept His authority (Matthew 13:57). Because of this, they could not receive His healing.
Psalm 91:14 says, “Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore will I deliver him; I will set him on high, because he knows and understand My name [has a personal knowledge of My mercy, love, and kindness -trusts and relies on Me, knowing I will never forsake him, no never]. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him...”
Other times, perhaps it may take some time for a person to see their need and then humble themselves to come and receive His healing. Naaman was an example of someone who saw their need, but it took awhile for him to come to the Lord and humble himself to receive healing.
Naaman was a leper who did not know the Lord. He came to Israel expecting to be healed by a prophet because a young slave girl who waited on his wife told them that the prophet in Samaria could heal him. Then when the prophet told him to wash himself in the Jordan seven times, he refused. He was insulted and went away angry. Later, after some encouragement from his servants, he humbled himself and followed his directions. When he did humble himself and come for healing the way he had been instructed, he was healed and came to believe in God. (2 Kings 5:1-15)
Psalm 147:6 says, “The LORD lifts up the humble; he casts the wicked to the ground.”
Sometimes people are in sin and rebellion and have not yet come to a place of repentance so that they could be healed. Matthew 13:15 says, “For this people's heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.'”
Psalm 34:18 says that he saves those who are “humbly and thoroughly penitent.”
In Psalm 107:10-16, people were in bondage and afflicted due to their rebellion against God. Because of this, their hearts were bowed down with hard labor and there was none to help. Yet, when they “cried to the Lord in their trouble,” it says “He saved them out of their distresses. He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death and broke apart the bonds that held them.”
Sometimes, it seems that healing may come a small amount at a time rather than all at once. Healing may occur over a period of years as the wounds heal, the mind is renewed and one learns new realities.
As an example, fear of disaster is something I struggled with for many years and has been deeply rooted. 1 John 4:18 says that perfect love expels all fear. As much as I desired it, God did not completely heal me of this all at once. My thought patterns needed to be changed over time by the renewing of my mind (Romans 12:2).
As I have come to receive and trust in His love more and more over time, the way I think has changed. Rather than anticipating disaster when things go wrong, I have come more and more to trust in and expect God's goodness. His continuous love towards me has expelled my fear of disaster. I am learning that I can trust Him to always protect and care for me, even in my sin and shortcomings.
My Savior loves, my Savior lives, My Savior's always there for me” sings in the background.
Absence of healing may not have anything to do with someone's lack of faith, sin, timing, or humility in receiving. Sometimes God does not heal because it somehow demonstrates His glory in a greater measure through one's weakness.
Paul had a 'thorn in the flesh” that kept him from being haughty. He prayed three times to be delivered from it. However, God did not set him free. Instead God spoke to him, “My grace (My favor and loving-kindness and mercy) is enough for you [sufficient against any danger and enables you to bear the trouble manfully]; for My strength and power are made perfect (fulfilled and completed) and show themselves most effective in [your weakness].
One of my close friends struggles with a great deal of physical disabilities. She is a deeply humble woman of prayer who trusts and depends on God to get through her daily activities. While she has received some physical healing over the years, the greatest gift is that God has given her is strength and inner joy in the midst of her struggles with her physical limitations. In this, she has ministered deeply to me and others in ways that no one else could (who didn't have severe physical limitations).
James 2:5 says, “Listen, my beloved brethren: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and in their position as believers and to inherit the kingdom which He has promised to those who love Him?”
Not only does God passionately pursue us and has poured out His life to bring us freedom from prison, affliction and oppression, but it was for freedom that we were set free (Gal. 5:1). We are not to use our freedom to sin again but to serve others in love (Gal. 5:3).
As Steve Hanson mentioned this past weekend in his sermon, if we were asked what true religion looked like in action we would come up with many answers. James 1:27 cuts through all the things that we make religion about to that which matters most to God's heart.
It says in James 1:27, “External religious worship [religion as it is expressed in outward acts] that is pure and unblemished in the sight of God the Father is this: to visit and help and care for the orphans and widows in their affliction and need, and to keep oneself unspotted and uncontaminated from the world.”
Caring about the least, the poor and uncared about matters deeply to God. Much more than any religious practice we can enter into. True religion is serving the poor. And as Mother Teresa noted, “Only holiness perfects the gift.” We don't serve the poor in our own strength, but as we abide in Christ and serve the poor from a place of worship, we radiate His love to others.
It says about Mother Teresa, “Radiating love, joy hope, peace, and enthusiasm, and with her habitual concern for the individual sufferer, she would make one feel loved and special even in one short meeting. The reason for this extraordinary effect on people was not because of any special qualities or talents she had.
Rather, it was to be found in the radiance of her personal holiness, of the power and attraction of a soul totally given to God. She was so united with God, that through contact with her, people felt that God was listening to them, helping them, caring for them, loving them.
The prayer, 'Radiating Christ,' which she prayed daily with her sisters after Mass, had become a reality in her own life. She asked in this prayer: 'Let them look up and see no longer me, but only Jesus,' and, indeed, it was the light of His love His love that she radiated to others.
Mother Teresa reached an eminent degree of holiness through her unwavering 'yes' to God and His loving will, despite the hardships it involved.” [4]
Isaiah 62:1,4 says about Gods people, “For Zion's sake will I [Isaiah] not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest until her imputed righteousness and vindication go forth as brightness, and her salvation radiates as does a burning torch...You [Judah] shall no more be termed Forsaken, nor shall your land be called Desolate any more. But you shall be called Hephzibah [My delight is in her], and your land be called Beulah [married]; for the Lord delights in you, and your land shall be married [owned and protected by the Lord]."
God is raising up a people who, like Him radiate His glory and also are deeply passionate to see the poor set free from captivity, to raise up those who are broken down and see His justice established on earth. Isiah 61 4 says about His people, “And they shall rebuild the ancient ruins; they shall raise up the former desolations and renew the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations.”
And what God starts, He sees through to the end. Isaiah 61:11 says, “For as [surely as] the earth brings forth its shoots, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring forth, so [surely] the Lord god will cause righteousness and justice and praise to spring forth before all the nations [through the self-fulfilling power of His word].
Lord, sometimes I think that I have to convince you to come and bring your justice. I forget that You are the one that put the desire in my heart. You deeply long to see restoration in places of destitution. You poured yourself out that we might have that life and freedom.
I am ever so grateful for that work in my own life. You have given me more than I could have asked or even imagined. I still remember you speaking to me that I didn't know just how destitute I was. And You execute justice not for me only, but for all who are oppressed! We long to see your justice poured forth on the earth and the devastations of many generations raised up. Let Your kingdom come, Your will be done!!
a. Commentary notes, “The coming of Christ rebuilt the house of David (Amos 9:11, 12; Acts 15:15–17).” [5]
1, 5. Radmacher, Earl D. ; Allen, Ronald Barclay ; House, H. Wayne: Nelson's New Illustrated Bible Commentary. Nashville : T. Nelson Publishers, 1999, S.
2. KJV Bible Commentary. Nashville : Thomas Nelson, 1997, c1994, S. 1862
3. The Amplified Bible. Zondervan, Grand Rapids, MI. 1987.
4. Mother Teresa. “Where There Is Love, There is God.” Random House, Inc. New York, NY. 2010.
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