2 Chronicles 7:13-14
13 If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people; 14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
We've often shared the verse, “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land,” and we speak of God's abundant mercy to forgive you when you humble yourself, pray, and seek Him. But what does it mean when God says that He will heal their land? I included the previous verse, because although it is not as well known, it definitely puts things in context. God speaks of judgments, trials, and pestilence that is send from Him. Then, He says, if people humble themselves before Him and repent, they will be forgiven and the hurt from the trials will be healed. Today we want to look at the healing power of God.
If you've ever gotten hurt, I'm sure that you looked forward to the healing of the injury. I once broke my hand and found it to be an inconvenience to wear a cast for three weeks, but I knew (through numerous x-rays) that the injury was slowly healing. After the cast came off, I had to tape a couple of my fingers together for another few weeks and limit myself to light-weight tasks, but once again, the healing was almost complete. Now, my hand is fine. Imagine how troublesome it would be if that injury was never healed. Of course, as soon as it happened, I was looking forward to the healing. I didn't want to remain in that broken condition any longer than I had to. I have a friend that injured her shoulder. After numerous surgeries and therapies, it seems that the injury keeps coming back. Sometimes it never seems to get any better—the injury persists. I know that she must be frustrated. She wants so much for it to be healed, but the injury persists. I can't imagine having a persistent injury like that and I certainly can't imagine being in such a condition and not wanting it to be gone (not wanting healing).
I can't explain why some people have injuries and some people don't, or why some people have diseases or other hardships when others seem to get a smoother ride. I want to focus more on the healing of spiritual and emotional hurts. Maybe you have heard God calling you in the past, but you have ignored His voice and followed your own way instead. Or perhaps you used to follow God, but have been more or less taking a different course lately. You feel that pain in your heart as you are convicted of your failings. Maybe God has sent some trials or judgments to reveal to you the error of your ways. These things are devastating; they hurt and are frustrating. But God says that if you humble yourself, and pray, and seek his face, and turnheal that which is scarred by the pestilence. Maybe you have some emotional hurts or have been through difficult times. I believe that God wants to heal you, too. I have seen some difficult times when locusts, in the form of people, have come in to devour and destroy me and everything around me. You look around at the devastation left in their path and sometimes it seems as if even others don't even see it. Where do you go? How do you even begin to put things back together and fix the things that are broken? Maybe it seems hopeless! I believe in a God that says that He will heal the land!
from your wicked ways, then He will hear you: He will forgive your sin and
Luke 5:18-25
18 And, behold, men brought in a bed a man which was taken with a palsy: and they sought means to bring him in, and to lay him before him. 19 And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the housetop, and let him down through the tiling with his couch into the midst before Jesus. 20 And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee. 21 And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone? 22 But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answering said unto them, What reason ye in your hearts? 23 Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk? 24 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (he said unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house. 25 And immediately he rose up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and departed to his own house, glorifying God.
Sometimes, when Jesus healed someone, he first asked, “What do you want me to do?” and the person would respond that they desired to be healed. In this case, Jesus saw the peoples' faith and forgave the man's sins. When people were shocked in disbelief, Jesus said that it was just as easy for Him to heal the palsy as it was for Him to heal of the sins. To illustrate this point, He healed the man and he was able to get up and walk. If you are spiritually or emotionally hurt today, you can come to Jesus and when He asks what you want from Him, you can ask for healing. He is both willing and able to do this. But first, you must humble yourself. Set aside the pride and selfishness and seek the Lord and pray to Him. Turn from your wicked ways (we call that repentance of sins) and lay your whole life in God's hands. He will hear your cry. He will forgive you and heal you. He will not just forgive you of your sins and give you a new heart and life, but He will also restore that which has been destroyed by the enemies of God. Rejoice in the healing power of God!!!
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