Healing the Sick

Isaiah 53: 4 Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.

• What do Jesus’ wounds have to do with our healing?

The word “healed” in Isaiah 53: 5 is translated from the Hebrew work “rapha.” It is used many times in the Old Testament, usually referring to healing from a physical illness, but sometimes the healing of the soul, the cleansing of toxic water or the repair of something broken. The word is also sometimes translated as “physician.” God calls Himself Jehovah-Rapha in Exodus 15:26, which in English reads, “the LORD, who heals you.”


Exodus 15:26 He said, "If you listen carefully to the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the LORD, who heals you."

• What conditions did God place on His promise to Israel to keep them healthy?
• Since "rapha" can be translated physician, Jehovah-Rapha could also be translated “Doctor God.” How would it change your life to think of God as your doctor?

Matthew 8: 16 When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick. 17 This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: "He took up our infirmities and carried our diseases."

• When sick people came to Jesus, who got healed?

Matthew 14: 14 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.

• What motivated Jesus to heal people?
• Do you think He is still motivated to heal?

James 5: 14 Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

• What does James say we should do if someone is sick?
• If you are prayed for and don’t experience healing, what should you do?
  

The Lord is My Shepherd

Psalm 23: 1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.

• What is the job of a shepherd?
• If the Lord is your shepherd, what do you expect that He will do for you?

2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, 3 he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

• Verse 2 says that God will lead us beside quiet waters. What do quiet waters represent for you?
• What do you need to do to follow the Lord’s leading?
• What are paths of righteousness? Are you walking in the paths the Lord meant for you to walk in? Why or why not?

4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

• Under what circumstances do you need to be sure of God’s protection?
• Are you free from fear? Why or why not?

5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

• Why would God prepare a table for us in the presence of our enemies?
• What does the anointing on your head represent?

6 Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

• Do you expect for goodness and love to follow you? Why?
• If God has promised you an eternal home, how does this change the way you look at life?
  

God’s Never Broke

The book of Mark records two times when Jesus miraculously fed a crowd. In chapter 6, He fed 5000. In chapter 8, He fed 4000. The circumstances of the two were not quite the same. In chapter 6, the disciples wanted to send the crowd away so they could get food. In chapter 8, the crowd had already been there too long and Jesus said that some of them would faint on the way if they weren’t fed there. Here is the story from Mark 8.

Mark 8: 1 During those days another large crowd gathered. Since they had nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples to him and said, 2 "I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. 3 If I send them home hungry, they will collapse on the way, because some of them have come a long distance."

• Why did the crowd of people put themselves in a position where they had neither food nor enough strength to get home?
• What would cause you to put yourself in circumstances that only a miracle would get you out of?
• What did Jesus say motivated Him to do something about the people’s need for food?
• Can you count on God’s compassion in your time of need?

4 His disciples answered, "But where in this remote place can anyone get enough bread to feed them?"

• Why did the disciples ask this question when they had seen the feeding of the 5000 recorded in chapter 6? Had they forgotten what Jesus did, or did they assume He wouldn’t do it again?

5 "How many loaves do you have?" Jesus asked. "Seven," they replied.

• Why did Jesus begin by asking them what they had? Is this a pattern in the way God deals with people? Can you think of other examples of God using what a person already had, but making a miracle of it?

6 He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. When he had taken the seven loaves and given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to set before the people, and they did so. 7 They had a few small fish as well; he gave thanks for them also and told the disciples to distribute them.

• What action was required of the crowd to participate in this miracle?
• In what situation do you need to “sit down” and let God do the work?

8 The people ate and were satisfied. Afterward the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.

• How much did the people eat?
• If Jesus could do such miracles, what was the point of picking up the left over pieces?

9 About four thousand men were present. And having sent them away, 10 he got into the boat with his disciples and went to the region of Dalmanutha.

Annie Flint lived a tough life, but recognized God’s ability to provide. This is the second verse of her famous song, “He Giveth More Grace.”

When we have exhausted our store of endurance,
When our strength has failed ere the day is half done,
When we reach the end of our hoarded resources
Our Father’s full giving is only begun. (Annie J. Flint, copyright – Public Domain)

You Can Trust the Bible

2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

• What does it mean for Scripture to be “God-breathed” (the King James Version says, “inspired by God”)?
• If all of Scripture is useful, what should we do with it?
  
• What does it mean to be “thoroughly equipped”?
  
  
• How equipped do you believe you are? What have you been equipped to do?
  
  
• If God’s Word has been given to us to equip us, what will happen if we neglect it?
  
  

2 Peter 1: 20 Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation. 21 For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

• How did those who wrote the Bible know what to write?

Isaiah 40:7 The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the LORD blows on them. Surely the people are grass. 8 The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever."

• Why does this passage say that people are grass?
• Why will God’s Word stand forever?
• What should your attitude be if you encounter people who don’t accept God’s Word as true?

Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.

• What is the purpose of a lamp?
• What must you do to get the benefit of God’s Word being a lamp?

Matthew 7: 24 Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.

• Will the person who obeys God’s Word face storms? What will happen when they do?
• What kind of experience do you think Jesus is talking about when he describes a person’s house collapsing?