A Nugget from New Life Network
Scripture for the Day (June 27, 2016)
“Ye men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man approved of God among you by miracles, wonders, and signs, which God did through Him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know” (Acts 2:22)
Did the title of our devotion today get your attention? I hope so! It got my attention when I read it recently in Bill Johnson’s book “When Heaven Invades Earth”. Praying for the sick has long been a debated topic in the Christian church. Some churches don’t even believe in supernatural healings even though Jesus commanded us in Mark 16:18 to lay hands on the sick. Some would say those gifts passed away with the Apostles even though the scripture says Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8).
Have you ever wondered why miracles of healing are common place in foreign lands and are few and far between in the United States? Maybe we have been looking at this healing thing all wrong. Consider the following that is copied from Chapter 2 of Bill Johnson’s book:
[JESUS COULD NOT HEAL THE SICK. Neither could He deliver the tormented from demons or raise the dead. To believe otherwise is to ignore what He said about Himself, and more importantly, to miss the purpose of His self-imposed restriction to live as a man. Jesus Christ said of Himself, “The Son can do nothing” (John 5:19). In the Greek language that word “nothing” has a unique meaning – it means “nothing”, just like it does in the English! He had no supernatural capabilities whatsoever! While He is 100 percent God, He chose to live with the same limitations that man would face once he was redeemed. He made that point over and over again. Jesus became the model for all who would embrace the invitation to invade the impossible in His name. He performed miracles, wonders, and signs as a man in right relationship to God…not as God. If He performed miracles because He was God, then they would be unattainable for us. But if He did them as a man, I am responsible to pursue His lifestyle.]
Could it be that we have been deceived by the enemy into believing Jesus did these miracles as God versus a man? What a simple but profound twisting of the truth. That would give us the perfect excuse not to pursue the impossible because we could never be God. We could never measure up and Satan, being the accuser of the brethren, would not miss the opportunity to remind us of that fact.
Jesus was totally dependent on the power of the Holy Spirit as a man. He was our example. Think about it!
Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. (James 5:14-15)
Listen carefully: I have given you authority [that you now possess] to tread on serpents and scorpions, and [the ability to exercise authority] over all the power of the enemy (Satan); and nothing will [in any way] harm you. (Luke 10:19. Amplified Bible)
