Scripture: Acts 4:23-31
Summary: When Peter and John were released from prison, they went to their friends and told them what the elders had said. The group "raised their voices together to God," asking God to help them speak God's word with boldness while healing and signs and wonders are performed in the name of Jesus. When they prayed the place was shaken and "they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God with boldness.
Thoughts: Peter and John not only told the elders that they couldn't keep from speaking about Jesus, but they went back to their friends and prayed with them. The result of this prayer was that all of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and they all spoke God's word with boldness. Notice how God takes two men speaking about Jesus and multiplies it with the Holy Spirit! If we believe in Jesus and want to share his story with others, then through the Holy Spirit God can multiply the work that we can do. As human beings, there is very little that we can do on our own to change the world. But with the Holy Spirit multiplying our work, amazing things are possible! What can I do today to advance God's kingdom, that God might multiply?
Prayer: Come Holy Spirit, come! Use me to change the world! Amen.
Showing posts with label healing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label healing. Show all posts
Saturday, March 10, 2012
Monday, March 5, 2012
Acts 4:5-12 - By What Name Do You Heal?
Scripture: Acts 4:5-12
Summary: After Peter healed the crippled beggar, Peter and John were arrested. Then the people in charge came to them, asking them by what power or name they had healed the man. Peter is filled with the Holy Spirit and tells them that the man was healed by the name of Jesus Christ, whom they crucified and God raised from the dead. He says that Jesus is the stone, rejected by the builders, that has become the cornerstone.
Thoughts: The scripture says that "their rulers, elders, and scribes assembled in Jerusalem." These are the people who are questioning Peter and John about how they healed the man. Why are they asking them "by what name did you do this?" rather than being grateful that the healing occurred? If a true healing occurred, wouldn't that always be a good thing? I understand that they believed that there were evil spirits in the world, but would an evil spirit do a good thing like healing someone? Does this happen in the world today, where people in power question why a good thing was done, rather than rejoicing in the good thing? Often we get so caught up in trying to explain everything that we see that we miss the miracle that occurred. What miracles have you seen today that you tried to write off as something entirely different?
Prayer: Lord, help me to rejoice in the miracles that I see rather than trying to explain them. You work in mysterious ways that I usually do not understand, but that doesn't mean that Your work isn't good. Amen.
Summary: After Peter healed the crippled beggar, Peter and John were arrested. Then the people in charge came to them, asking them by what power or name they had healed the man. Peter is filled with the Holy Spirit and tells them that the man was healed by the name of Jesus Christ, whom they crucified and God raised from the dead. He says that Jesus is the stone, rejected by the builders, that has become the cornerstone.
Thoughts: The scripture says that "their rulers, elders, and scribes assembled in Jerusalem." These are the people who are questioning Peter and John about how they healed the man. Why are they asking them "by what name did you do this?" rather than being grateful that the healing occurred? If a true healing occurred, wouldn't that always be a good thing? I understand that they believed that there were evil spirits in the world, but would an evil spirit do a good thing like healing someone? Does this happen in the world today, where people in power question why a good thing was done, rather than rejoicing in the good thing? Often we get so caught up in trying to explain everything that we see that we miss the miracle that occurred. What miracles have you seen today that you tried to write off as something entirely different?
Prayer: Lord, help me to rejoice in the miracles that I see rather than trying to explain them. You work in mysterious ways that I usually do not understand, but that doesn't mean that Your work isn't good. Amen.
Friday, August 24, 2007
Luke 17:11-19 - Do you want to get well?
Scripture: Luke 17:11-19
Summary: Jesus heals 10 lepers and only 1 of them returns, praising God in a loud voice and thanking Jesus. That 1 was a Samaritan. Jesus asks where the other 9 are and then tells this man, your faith has made you well.
Thoughts: What was different about this man that he chose to return to Jesus to thank him? Why didn't the others return also? Am I like these other 9 lepers who don't bother to come back and thank the man who has made them well? I'm afraid that, more often than not, I am like the 9 lepers who went on about their lives without offering thanks to the one who healed them.
Prayer: Help me Lord to be like the 1 leper who remembers to return to the one who healed him, praising God with a loud voice and thanking Jesus. Amen.
Summary: Jesus heals 10 lepers and only 1 of them returns, praising God in a loud voice and thanking Jesus. That 1 was a Samaritan. Jesus asks where the other 9 are and then tells this man, your faith has made you well.
Thoughts: What was different about this man that he chose to return to Jesus to thank him? Why didn't the others return also? Am I like these other 9 lepers who don't bother to come back and thank the man who has made them well? I'm afraid that, more often than not, I am like the 9 lepers who went on about their lives without offering thanks to the one who healed them.
Prayer: Help me Lord to be like the 1 leper who remembers to return to the one who healed him, praising God with a loud voice and thanking Jesus. Amen.
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Matthew 9:18-26 - Do you want to get well?
Scripture: Matthew 9:18-26
Summary: There are 2 healing stories here. One is of the leader whose daughter had died, who comes to get Jesus knowing that if he will touch her she will live. The other is the hemorrhaging woman who touches his cloak and is made well.
Thoughts: In both of these stories, there is obviously faith in what Jesus can do. The woman knows that if she can just touch Jesus he will make her well. And more impressive, the father believes that if Jesus touches his dead daughter, she will live again! What faith these people have! If we could have faith like that imagine what healing Jesus could do in our lives. Most of us have many areas of our lives in which we need healing. But we need to face our wounds and want healing before the healing can occur.
Prayer: All things are possible with God. Help me to show my wounds to you, oh God, so that they might be healed. Amen.
Summary: There are 2 healing stories here. One is of the leader whose daughter had died, who comes to get Jesus knowing that if he will touch her she will live. The other is the hemorrhaging woman who touches his cloak and is made well.
Thoughts: In both of these stories, there is obviously faith in what Jesus can do. The woman knows that if she can just touch Jesus he will make her well. And more impressive, the father believes that if Jesus touches his dead daughter, she will live again! What faith these people have! If we could have faith like that imagine what healing Jesus could do in our lives. Most of us have many areas of our lives in which we need healing. But we need to face our wounds and want healing before the healing can occur.
Prayer: All things are possible with God. Help me to show my wounds to you, oh God, so that they might be healed. Amen.
Monday, August 20, 2007
John 5:1-18 - Do you want to get well?
Scripture: John 5:1-18
Summary: This is the story of Jesus healing a man on the sabbath. Jesus asks the man if he wants to be well and the man says that he is never the first to make it to the pool when the waters are stirred up (the belief was that the first person into the pool when the waters were stirred up would be healed). Jesus tells the man to take up his mat and walk, which he does.
Thoughts: This man had been ill for 38 years. Wow! This is a long time to have been ill, spending most of your day by a pool which is supposed to have healing powers. When Jesus asks him if he wants to be healed, he doesn't actually answer the question. Instead he gives an excuse for why he has not yet been healed. By telling the man to take up his mat and walk, Jesus gives him a chance to take charge of his own healing. Many of us might be tempted to remain on the mat, in a similar situation. It took great courage for this man to get up and walk. He must have really wanted to be healed. Often, when we are sick, we are so used to being sick that we don't really want to get well. This is often the case with our addictions. But if we really want to get well, Jesus is there to help.
Prayer: God, you are the great healer of this world. Help me to be willing to give up my sickness, to allow you to heal me, physically, mentally, and spiritually. Amen.
Summary: This is the story of Jesus healing a man on the sabbath. Jesus asks the man if he wants to be well and the man says that he is never the first to make it to the pool when the waters are stirred up (the belief was that the first person into the pool when the waters were stirred up would be healed). Jesus tells the man to take up his mat and walk, which he does.
Thoughts: This man had been ill for 38 years. Wow! This is a long time to have been ill, spending most of your day by a pool which is supposed to have healing powers. When Jesus asks him if he wants to be healed, he doesn't actually answer the question. Instead he gives an excuse for why he has not yet been healed. By telling the man to take up his mat and walk, Jesus gives him a chance to take charge of his own healing. Many of us might be tempted to remain on the mat, in a similar situation. It took great courage for this man to get up and walk. He must have really wanted to be healed. Often, when we are sick, we are so used to being sick that we don't really want to get well. This is often the case with our addictions. But if we really want to get well, Jesus is there to help.
Prayer: God, you are the great healer of this world. Help me to be willing to give up my sickness, to allow you to heal me, physically, mentally, and spiritually. Amen.
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