AGCC Sun. a.m. 8/30/98

#3

"HEALING IS POSSIBLE!"

TEXT: Mark 5:21-43

INTRO: The subject of healing in many churches is ignored or relegated to a first century experience only. So many people, including many Christians, find it difficult to believe that God still desires to heal. They find the idea of miraculous healing a difficult concept to embrace. (until of course they find themselves very ill!)

YET, many of these same people have no problems believing in many other crazy things, so many will read papers like the National Enquirer when they have headlines like the following:

ILLUS: I've always been amazed by what people will believe. In recent grocery store tabloids, the following headlines were observed:

* Dinosaurs Honked Like Buicks

* Cow Mattresses Help Cows Produce More Milk

* Mom To Be On Diet Of Only Chicken, Lays Huge Egg

* WWII Bomber Found On The Moon

* Woman Gives Birth To 2 Year Old Baby: Child Walks & Talks In 3 Days

* Adam & Eve's Bones Found In Asia: Eve Was A Space Alien

People will read and believe this nonsense, but refuse the evidence concerning God and Jesus Christ.

It is unfortunate that people miss out on God's desire to minister to us in every way, spiritually and physically, He loves our entire being. Evidence of this is that He saves our soul and one day will resurrect even our bodies! One of the names of God that He revealed to us is Jehovah Rapha, translated, "The Lord that Healeth You" … and it is present tense, not past tense.

Does God sometimes NOT heal someone, yes, but there may be times when He will, but we need to ask in faith, Healing is possible!

PROP. SENT: The Bible teaches us that God's healing power is still available. As with all gifts from the Lord we must ask in faith. Faith is the key to all God's blessings.

I. THE "CLEAN" BUT NEEDY! 5:21-24,35-43

II. THE "UNCLEAN" BUT NEEDY! 5:25-34

CONCLUSION: Both the "clean" Synagogue ruler and the "unclean" woman needed God's healing touch. One did not have a greater standing before God than the other, they both found God's favor when they came in faith! It is still faith that God responds to, a faith that reaches out to touch Him no matter what! Faith is the key that unlocks God's power in our lives.