• A message of spiritual life
• A message of physical restoration.

Deliverance from sin and the healing of disease were linked together.

The same ministry (link deliverance from sin and healing of disease) is committed to the Christian physician:

• He is to unite with Christ in relieving both the physical and spiritual needs of his fellow men.
• He is to be to the sick a messenger of mercy, bringing to them a remedy for the diseased body and for the sin-sick soul.

Christ is the true (genuine, authentic) head of the medical profession. The chief Physician, He is at the side of every God-fearing practitioner who works to relieve human suffering. While the physician uses nature’s remedies for physical disease, he should point his patients to Him who can relieve the maladies of both the soul and the body:

• That which physicians can only aid in doing, Christ accomplishes.
• The physicians endeavor to assist nature’s work of healing; Christ Himself is the healer.
• The physician seeks to preserve life; Christ imparts life.

Lesson 1 The Saviour in His miracles revealed the power that is continually at work in man’s behalf, to sustain and to heal him.

Biblical evidence

Matthew 9:20-22  20 And suddenly, a woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years came from behind and touched the hem of His garment.  21 For she said to herself, “If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well.”  22 But Jesus turned around, and when He saw her He said, “Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And the woman was made well from that hour.

Practical application for 2009

The Saviour in His miracles revealed the power that is continually at work in man’s behalf, to sustain and to heal him. Through the agencies of nature, God is working, day by day, hour by hour, moment by moment:

• To keep us alive.
• To build up.
• To restore us.

When any part of the body sustains injury, a healing process is at once begun; nature’s agencies are set at work to restore soundness. But the power working through these agencies is the power of God:

• All life-giving power is from God.

When one recovers from disease, it is God who restores him.

Lesson 2 Sickness, suffering, and death are work of an antagonistic power. Satan is the destroyer; God is the restorer.

Biblical evidence

Exodus 15:26   26 and said, “… I am the LORD who heals you.”

3 John 1:1-2   3 John 1:1 THE ELDER, To the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth:  2 Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.

Psalm 103:3-4   3 Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases,  4 Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,

Practical application for 2009 (Ministry of healing (MH) by Ellen G. White)

Sickness, suffering, and death are work of an antagonistic power. Satan is the destroyer; God is the restorer.  {MH 113.1}
The words spoken to Israel are true today (even in 2009) of those who recover health of body or health of soul. “I am the Lord that healeth thee.” Exodus 15:26.  {MH 113.2}
The desire of God for every human being is expressed in the words, “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.” 3 John 2.  {MH 113.3}
He it is who “forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with loving-kindness and tender mercies.” Psalm 103:3, 4.  {MH 113.4}

Introduction

God has given a message for His people. They must awake, spread their tents, and enlarge their borders. My brethren and sisters, you have been bought with a price, and all that you have and are is to be used…

• To the glory of God.
• For the good of your fellow men.

Christ died on the cross to save the world from perishing in sin. He asks your co-operation in this work:

• You are to be His helping hand.
• With earnest, unwearying effort you are to seek to save the lost.

Remember that it was your sins that made the cross necessary. When you accepted Christ as your Saviour you pledged yourself to unite with Him in bearing the cross. For life and for death you are bound up with Him, a part of the great plan of redemption.

Lesson 1 The transforming power of Christ’s grace molds the one who gives himself to God’s service.

Biblical evidence

Romans 12:2 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Practical application for 2009

The transforming power of Christ’s grace molds the one who gives himself to God’s service. Imbued with the Spirit of the Redeemer, he is ready…

• Ready to deny self,
• Ready to take up the cross,
• Ready to make any sacrifice for the Master.

No longer can he be indifferent to the souls perishing around him. He is lifted above self-serving. He has been created anew in Christ, and self-serving has no place in his life. He realizes…

• That every part of his being belongs to Christ, who has redeemed him from the slavery of sin;
• that every moment of his future has been bought with the precious lifeblood of God’s only-begotten Son.

Have you so deep an appreciation of the sacrifice made on Calvary that you are willing to make every other interest subordinate to the work of saving souls? The same intensity of desire to save sinners that marked the life of the Saviour marks the life of His true follower:

• The Christian has no desire to live for self.
• The Christian delights to consecrate all that he has and is to the Master’s service.
• The Christian is moved by an inexpressible desire to win souls to Christ.

Those who have nothing of this desire might better be concerned for their own salvation. Let them pray for the spirit of service.

How can I best glorify Him whose I am by creation and by redemption? This is to be the question that we are to ask ourselves. With anxious solicitude the one who is truly converted…

• He seeks to rescue those who are still in Satan’s power.
• He refuses to do anything that would hinder him in his work.

What if (the Christian has children):

If he has children he realizes that his work must begin in his own family:

• His children are exceedingly precious to him.
• Remembering that they are the younger members of the Lord’s family, he strives with all his power to place them where they will stand on the Lord’s side.
• He has pledged himself to serve, honor, and obey Christ; and he puts forth patient, untiring effort so to train his children that they will never be hostile to the Saviour.

On fathers and mothers, God has placed the responsibility of saving their children from the power of the enemy:

• This is their work, a work that they should on no account neglect.

Those parents who have a living connection with Christ will not rest until they see their children safe in the fold. They will make this the burden of their life.
Parents, do not neglect the work waiting for you in the church in your own family:

• This is your first field of missionary effort.
• The most important work you can do is to place your children on the Lord’s side.

When they (the children) err, deal with them tenderly, yet firmly:

• Let them unite with you in opposing the evil by which Satan seeks to destroy the souls and bodies of human beings.
• Share with them the secret of the cross, the secret that to you means sanctification, redemption, and eternal victory.

As you take your children with you into the service of the Lord, what a victory you gain.

What if (if…then)…

• If the families around you are opposed to the truth

Then…

• Strive to lead them to yield to the claims of Christ.
• Work patiently,
• Work wisely,
• Work considerately, winning your way by the tender ministry of love.
• Present the truth in such a way that it will be seen in all its beauty, exerting an influence that cannot be resisted.

Thus the walls of prejudice will be broken down.

What if (if…then)…

• If this work were faithfully done,
• If fathers and mothers would work for the members of their own families, and then for those around them, uplifting Christ by a godly life.

Then…

• Thousands of souls would be saved.

When (when…then)…

• When God’s people are truly converted.
• When they realize the obligation resting on them to labor for those within their reach.
• When they leave no means untried to rescue sinners from the power of the enemy.

Then…

• The reproach will be removed from our churches (Seventh-day Adventists).

Conclusion:

We have now only a little time in which to prepare for eternity:

• May the Lord open the closed eyes of His people and quicken their dulled senses, that they may realize that the gospel is the power of God unto salvation to them that believe.
• May they see the importance of giving so pure and righteous a representation of God that the world shall see Him in His beauty.
• May they be so filled with the Spirit that dwells in Him that the world will have no power to divert them from the work of presenting to men the wonderful possibilities before every soul who receives Christ.

In all lines of our work (Seventh-day Adventist) there is need of greater earnestness. Time is passing. God’s servants are to be “not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord.” People need the truth, and by earnest, faithful effort it is to be communicated to them.

• Souls are to be sought for, prayed for, labored for.
• Earnest appeals are to be made.
• Fervent prayers are to be offered.
• Our tame, spiritless petitions are to be changed into petitions of intense earnestness.

God’s word declares: The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”

Biblical evidence

2 Corinthians 12:9-10   9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.  10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Practical application for 2009

Obstacles to the advancement of the work of God will appear; but fear not for the following reasons:

• To the omnipotence of the King of kings, our covenant-keeping God unites the gentleness and care of a tender shepherd.
• Nothing can stand in His way.
• His power is absolute, and it is the pledge of the sure fulfillment of His promises to His people.
• He can remove all obstructions to the advancement of His work.
• He has means for the removal of every difficulty, that those who serve Him and respect the means He employs may be delivered.

So His goodness and love are infinite, and His covenant is unalterable.

(Discussion)

Con:

It is true that the plans of the enemies of His work may seem to be firm and well established,

Pro:

But God can overthrow the strongest of these plans, and in His own time and way He will do this, when He sees…

• That our faith has been sufficiently tested
• That we are drawing near to Him
• That we are making Him our counselor.

In the darkest days, when appearances seem so forbidding, fear not. Have faith in God:

• He is working out His will, doing all things well in behalf of His people.
• The strength of those who love and serve Him will be renewed day by day.
• His understanding will be placed at their service, that they may not err in the carrying out of His purposes.

There is to be no despondency in God’s service. Our faith is to endure the pressure brought to bear upon it:

• God is able and willing to bestow upon His servants all the strength they need.
• God will more than fulfill the highest expectations of those who put their trust in Him.
• God will give them the wisdom that their varied necessities demand.

Shine amid the darkness

The deeper meaning:

Oh, my brethren, hold the beginning of your confidence firm unto the end. The light of God’s truth is not to be dimmed. It is to shine amidst the darkness of error that enshrouds our world. The word of God is to be opened to those in the high places of the earth, as well as to those in the more lowly.  {8T 11.3}

The church of Christ is …

• She is God’s agency for the proclamation of truth.
• She is empowered by Him to do a special work.

What if….

• If she is loyal to God, obedient to his commandments
• If she will honor the Lord God of Israel.
• If she will be true to her allegiance,
• If she will put on the robe of Christ’s righteousness, withdrawing from all allegiance to the world

Then…

• There will dwell within her the excellence of divine power.
• There is no power that can stand against her
• The forces of the enemy will be no more able to overpower her than is the chaff to resist the whirlwind.
• There is before the church the dawn of a bright glorious day.

The members of the church need now to do:

The members of the church need now to confess their backslidings and press together. My brethren…

• Allow nothing to come in that will separate you from one another or from God.
• Talk not of differences of opinion, but unite in the love of the truth as it is in Jesus.
• Come before God, and plead the shed blood of the Saviour as a reason why you should receive help in the warfare against evil.

Then you will not plead in vain. As you draw near to God, with heartfelt contrition and in full assurance of faith, the enemy who seeks to destroy you will be overcome.

Prisoners of hope turn to the Lord:

Turn to the Lord, ye prisoners of hope. Seek strength from God, the living God:

• Show an unwavering, humble faith in His power and
• Show an unwavering humble faith in His willingness to save.

From Christ is flowing the living stream of salvation. He is the Fountain of life, the Source of all power. When in faith we take hold of His strength, He will change, wonderfully change, the most hopeless, discouraging outlook. He will do this for the glory of His name.

Biblical evidence

Matthew 3:1-3 NKJ Matthew 3:1 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” 3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying: “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the LORD; Make His paths straight.’ “

Isaiah 27:6   6 Those who come He shall cause to take root in Jacob; Israel shall blossom and bud, And fill the face of the world with fruit.

Practical application for 2009

Peach

Picture: Peach

What is our work? The same as that given to John the Baptist, of whom we read: “In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make His paths straight.” Matthew 3:1-3. {8T 9.1}

Lesson 2 All who are truly engaged in the work of the Lord for these last days will have a decided message to bear.

Biblical evidence

Isaiah 40:3-8 3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the LORD; Make straight in the desert A highway for our God. 4 Every valley shall be exalted And every mountain and hill brought low; The crooked places shall be made straight And the rough places smooth; 5 The glory of the LORD shall be revealed, And all flesh shall see it together; For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.” 6 The voice said, “Cry out!” And he said, “What shall I cry?” “All flesh is grass, And all its loveliness is like the flower of the field. 7 The grass withers, the flower fades, Because the breath of the LORD blows upon it; Surely the people are grass. 8 The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever.”

Practical application for 2009

This chapter (Isaiah 40) is filled with instruction appropriate for us at this time. The word of the Lord to us is: “Repent ye (we need to repent from our ways); prepare the way for a revival of My work.” {8T 10.1}

Real stories from Adventist History (8T 10)

The removal to Washington of work hitherto carried on in Battle Creek is a step in the right direction (repentance). We are to continue to press into the regions beyond, where the people are in spiritual darkness. Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain.” Verse 4. Every obstacle to the redemption of God’s people is to be removed by the opening of His word and the presentation of a plain “Thus saith the Lord.” The true light is to shine forth; for darkness covers the earth, and gross darkness the people. The truth of the living God is to appear in contrast with error. Proclaim the glad tidings. We have a Saviour who has given His life that those who believe in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.