Longing for a Restored Body

A. Prior to Jesus
B. Initial awakening to Jesus
1. In a Jewish synagogue
2. Introduction to the word of faith movement

A. The day of the injury
1. Dove into shallow water
2. Moments under the water before being rescued
a) Prayer
b) Peace
c) Breath
3. The moments after being rescued
a) Calling on Jesus
b) Family coming and praying

c) Taken to the hospital
B. The weeks and months after the injury
1. Initial ICU and God’s presence
2. Shepherd Center
3. Faith for healing

A. The initial year to two years were spent pursuing healing
1. There was the assumption that God always wanted healing, every time.
B. The transition that began to occur in my own heart
1. Through a prophetic type word I was introduced to David Gordon as a spiritual mentor
2. On Monday nights I was introduced to a different Gospel than I’d been used to
a) James 1:2–3 (NET 2nd ed.): 2 consider it nothing but joy when you fall into all sorts of trials, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance.
b) The concept of suffering is all throughout the Bible, but can be completely overlooked when someone is operating out of the word of faith movement, prosperity gospel movement, or faith healing in general. It is as though your brain passes over or re-interprets straightforward passages about suffering. If suffering is discussed at all within those movements, it is wardened off to only being a suffering from persecution, not suffering more generally.

c) As I began seeing the gospel for what it was, I began seeing these scriptures in a different light. I eventually began to rejoice in suffering because of the rewards that are promised to those who remain faithful in suffering.
(1) James 1:12 (NET 2nd ed.): Happy is the one who endures testing, because when he has proven to be genuine, he will receive the crown of life that God promised to those who love him.
d) We rejoice not because sufferings are enjoyable or pleasant, but because of what they produce in us and because of that for which they prepare us. Suffering and difficult circumstances provide the context in which our loyalty to Jesus is demonstrated, and they are among the means used by Jesus to prepare us for the age to come. As Peter said in chapter 1, we are being prepared for a “salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time,” that is, “at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Pt. 1:15, 7 CSB). As Paul says in 2 Cor. 4:17, “our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all” (NIV).

A. When thinking theologically about disabilities and healing, the ministry of Jesus is one of the first places we should look.
1. It is a mistake to argue that Jesus always healed everyone, he simply did not. There are a number of stories in which Jesus healed one person but left a number of others in the situation.
2. However, it would also be a mistake to downplay the healing ministry of Jesus; he would heal entire towns and anyone who came to him! Here are just a few examples from Matthew.
a) Matthew 12:15 “But Jesus, aware of this, withdrew from there. Many followed Him, and He healed them all”
b) Matthew 14:14 “When He went ashore, He saw a large crowd, and felt compassion for them and healed their sick.”
c) Matthew 14:36 “and they implored Him that they might just touch the fringe of His cloak; and as many as touched it were cured.”
d) Matthew 15:30 “And large crowds came to Him, bringing with them those who were lame, crippled, blind, mute, and many others, and they laid them down at His feet; and He healed them.”

3. Luke makes a statement that helps us understand these major healing events. Luke 9:11“But the crowds were aware of this and followed Him; and welcoming them, He began speaking to them about
the kingdom of God and curing those who had need of healing.”
a) Notice the connection between the preaching of the kingdom and the healing of bodies. Jesus is teaching people what the kingdom will be like and then demonstrating it through his ministry.
b) In other words, Jesus is doing Messiah stuff!
4. These passages about the healing ministry of Jesus should gird up the hearts of those who suffer with broken bodies or broken minds. They are meant to point to the age to come in a significant way

A. Before, my faith in God’s healing was strong, but slightly misplaced. As God taught me the truth about this age and the truth about the age to come he slowly led me towards a place where my faith was more than just a faith for healing. I had faith for healing, but now I have faith for when healing doesn’t come.
B. Let’s close by considering the faith of those in Hebrews chapter 11.

1. Hebrews 11:1 (NIV): Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.
2. The men and women of Hebrews chapter 11 were able to sacrifice great things because of their confidence in what was to come at the restoration of all things! They could lay down their bodies because they knew they would receive new ones! Faith for them with a confidence in this hoped for reality and an assurance of the things that they were not able to see yet