Are you following Jesus? #15

Yesterday we talked about our greatest need being Jesus and that's it! Nothing else can be added to it. Many want to say as we looked at yesterday that money will be a sign your are in Jesus....that is not true and Jesus said the opposite generally you will lose everything. Another thing many want to say is if you follow Jesus or if you have enough faith you be healed of any sicknesses. This also is false.



While there are many instances where Jesus or the disciples through the Holy Spirit healed folks, and then stated your faith has made you well, that does in no way shape or form mean if we have faith we will be healed of sicknesses. When Jesus and the disciples did this it was to get the attention of folks that Jesus was the Messiah and to point to His power and spiritual healing. The physical healing was just a bonus.



God is in complete control, He can heal or not heal whom ever He wants to and either way we should give Him all glory, honor and praise. The bible does not teach as a general rule that the amount of faith you have in Jesus has anything to do with your physical health but you faith in Jesus has everything to do with your spiritual health and that is most important.



If faith in Christ had the ability to always heal folks then we would go around and say "trust in Jesus and your cancer will be gone", or "trust in Christ and no more heart problems". I think you get the point.



The Good News of Christ is not Jesus will heal you physically but Jesus will forgive your sins forever. Amen?



Here is a biblical example:



Matthew 9:1-8



Jesus Forgives and Heals a Paralytic


9 So He got into a boat, crossed over, and came to His own city. 2 Then behold, they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you.”

3 And at once some of the scribes said within themselves, “This Man blasphemes!”

4 But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? 5 For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise and walk’? 6 But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—then He said to the paralytic, “Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” 7 And he arose and departed to his house.

8 Now when the multitudes saw it, they marveled and glorified God, who had given such power to men.



Do you see what the number one priority is... "your sins are forgiven" not you have your physical health. Thus even was to show people the power of Jesus and the main point is spiritual healing not physical and it still is today!



Also it is clear in the bible because of sin we have consequences even if we are forgiven. These consequences often times are sicknesses. We can't complain about them because we are the ones who sinned! So often I hear folks say why did so and so get cancer? Why not them? Why not us? We all deserve it! I know that's hard to process but think about it, it is true!



So once again our greatest need is to Follow Jesus, not physical health! Physical health is promised in heaven with that new body, not here on earth in this sin scarred body!



Tom