I have made my way in my bible reading to the book of Ecclesiastes. I was driving up to Charlottesville this past Thursday to a conference while listening to the bible on my phone. I came to Ecclesiastes 3 and most all of you know this passage of scripture not because you studied it as a child or even and adult but because the hearing it on the Radio and in Movies as released by the Byrds in 1965 under the title Turn! Turn! Turn!
Ecclesiastes 3
1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
3 A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
5 A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
6 A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
7 A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
8 A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
*** I was listening to this Passage of scripture a few minutes after I had heard the Pastor of Moody Bible Church on the radio program, running to win Erwin Lutzer
He made a statement that resonated with my spirit. Referring to Jesus going to minister to Lazarus. He said sometimes we are praying for Healing and God wants to bring resurrection. That statement has been churning in my spirit for 3 days.
You see we need to recognize that there is a Season, a Time, and a Purpose to everything that happens in our lives. I will go a step further; God is working in that season, time and purpose in our lives.
- The 1st point of the Message Today: God is working the in the Season & Time for His Purpose in our lives.
Romans 8:28
28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Yesterday the Lord added another passage of scripture to my spirit found in Luke Chapter 4:23 And he said unto them, Ye will surely say unto me this proverb, Physician, heal thyself: whatsoever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in thy country.
Let’s read this passage in Context. Jesus has just completed his 40 day fast in the wilderness being tempted of the devil. Remember that although Christ was the Son of God he did not use his special status and powers to avoid the trials and tribulations of man. Remember what the writer of Hebrews wrote of Christ.
Hebrews 4:15
15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
Luke 4:13-23
13 And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season.
14 And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about.
15 And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all.
16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.
17 And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,
18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
20 And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.
21 And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.
22 And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. And they said, Is not this Joseph's son?
23 And he said unto them, Ye will surely say unto me this proverb, Physician, heal thyself: whatsoever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in thy country.
*** Before we go further in the message I want to share with you something I found this morning in my study. The words for Heal, Healing or to heal are not the same and there root tells us a lot about what is being said or meant by the writer.
When Jesus says in Luke Chapter 4:18
18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
** This word for Heal is a common one used in Christ Ministry. It is the greek word E’-ya-my
- to cure, heal
- to make whole
- to free from errors and sins, to bring about (one's) salvation
ee-ah'-om-ahee; middle voice of apparently a primary verb; to cure (literally or figuratively):—heal, make whole.
And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before him, she declared unto him before all the people for what cause she had touched him, and how she was healed G2390 immediately.
The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. G2390
TOOLS
And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed G2390 in the selfsame hour.
- to serve, do service
- to heal, cure, restore to health
ther-ap-yoo'-o; from the same as G2324; to wait upon menially, i.e. (figuratively) to adore (God), or (specially) to relieve (of disease):—cure, heal, worship.
And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing G2323 all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.
Heal G2323 the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.
And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed G2323 them.
- The 1st point of the Message Today: God is working the in the Season & Time for His Purpose in our lives.
- The 2nd point of the message today: God brings healing in different ways and different timeframes.
*** I want you to keep Luke 4:23 in the back of your mind as: And he said unto them, Ye will surely say unto me this proverb, Physician, heal thyself: whatsoever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in thy country.
John 11
King James Version
1 Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha.
2 (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.)
3 Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick.
4 When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.
5 Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.
6 When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was.
- The 1st point of the Message Today: God is working the in the Season & Time for His Purpose in our lives.
- The 2nd point of the message today: God brings healing in different ways and different timeframes.
7 Then after that saith he to his disciples, Let us go into Judaea again.
8 His disciples say unto him, Master, the Jews of late sought to stone thee; and goest thou thither again?
9 Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world.
10 But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him.
11 These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.
12 Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well.
13 Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep.
14 Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.
15 And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him.
16 Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellowdisciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him.
17 Then when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days already.
18 Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off:
***I want you to see how close Jesus was… the distance from Joy Fellowship to the Food lion. 1.87 miles
Sometimes we are so close to Jesus and we do not get the healing we are asking for. Sometimes we are so close to Christ but it appears he is ignoring us and we begin to question our relationship with God. We begin to doubt his love for us. We begin to isolate and become angry at God because we know his ability to heal, we know his proximity to us and our situation and yet we question his lack of response to our request…..
19 And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother.
20 Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house.
21 Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.
- The 1st point of the Message Today: God is working the in the Season & Time for His Purpose in our lives.
- The 2nd point of the message today: God brings healing in different ways and different timeframes.
- The 3rd point of the message today: We pray for healing when Jesus wants to be bring resurrection.
My friends look back at John 11:4 When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.
**My friends do not be disappointed at delay of healing because healing is good but resurrection is better!
22 But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee.
23 Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.
24 Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.
25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?
27 She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.
28 And when she had so said, she went her way, and called Mary her sister secretly, saying, The Master is come, and calleth for thee.
29 As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly, and came unto him.
30 Now Jesus was not yet come into the town, but was in that place where Martha met him.
31 The Jews then which were with her in the house, and comforted her, when they saw Mary, that she rose up hastily and went out, followed her, saying, She goeth unto the grave to weep there.
32 Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.
33 When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled.
34 And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see.
35 Jesus wept.
36 Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him!
37 And some of them said, Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died?
38 Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it.
39 Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days.
40 Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?
41 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me.
42 And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.
43 And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.
44 And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.
- The 1st point of the Message Today: God is working the in the Season & Time for His Purpose in our lives.
- The 2nd point of the message today: God brings healing in different ways and different timeframes.
- The 3rd point of the message today: We pray for healing when Jesus wants to be bring resurrection.
- The 4th point of the message: Healing is temporary, Resurrection is enteral.
2 Corinthians 4:14-18
14 Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.
15 For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.
16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
*** In closing I want to take you back to Luke 4:23
And he said unto them, Ye will surely say unto me this proverb, Physician, heal thyself: whatsoever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in thy country.
*** It was only about 3 and a half years later that Jesus saw this come to pass:
Matthew 27:35-43
35 And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots.
36 And sitting down they watched him there;
37 And set up over his head his accusation written, This Is Jesus The King Of The Jews.
38 Then were there two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left.
39 And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads,
40 And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.
41 Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said,
42 He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him.
43 He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God.
*** Jesus was not looking for a Healing! Jesus was not looking for deliverance! Jesus was looking for Resurrection!
Even before, he was arrested in the Garden, listen to what he said:
Matthew 26:51-54
51 And, behold, one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest's, and smote off his ear.
52 Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.
53 Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?
54 But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?
Luke 13:31-32
King James Version
31 The same day there came certain of the Pharisees, saying unto him, Get thee out, and depart hence: for Herod will kill thee.
32 And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.
***5th and final point this morning: In order to have a resurrection there must be a death.
Romans 6:4
King James Version
4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Galatians 2:20
King James Version
20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
2 Corinthians 5:15-17
King James Version
15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.
16 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
- The 1st point of the Message Today: God is working the in the Season & Time for His Purpose in our lives.
- The 2nd point of the message today: God brings healing in different ways and different timeframes.
- The 3rd point of the message today: We pray for healing when Jesus wants to be bring resurrection.
- The 4th point of the message: Healing is temporary, Resurrection is enteral.
- ***5th and final point this morning: In order to have a resurrection there must be a death.