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XIV.
Christian Service
Chapter 156
:
Healing the Sick
1. WHAT does the Lord
declare Himself to be?
"I am the Lord that healeth
thee." Ex. 15:26. "Who
forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth
all thy diseases." Ps. 103:3.
2. What was promised
Israel on condition of obedience?
"Thou shalt therefore keep the
commandments, . . . and the Lord will take
away from thee all sickness." Deut. 7:11-15.
3. When through
disobedience Jeroboam's hand was withered, by
what means was it restored?
"And the king answered and said unto
the man of God, Entreat now the face of the Lord
thy God, and pray for me, that my hand may be
restored me again. And the man of God besought
the Lord, and the king's hand was restored him
again, and became as it was before." 1 Kings
13:6.
4. When Miriam was
stricken with leprosy, how was she healed?
"And Moses cried unto the Lord,
saying, Heal her now, O God, I beseech Thee."
Num. 12:13.
5. What mistake did Asa
make in his severe affliction?
"And Asa in the thirty and ninth year
of his reign was diseased in his feet, until his
disease was exceeding great: yet in his disease
he sought not to the Lord, but to the
physicians." 2 Chron. 16:12.
6. How was a child
restored to life by Elijah?
"And he stretched himself upon the
child three times, and cried unto the Lord,
and said, O Lord my God, I pray Thee, let
this child's soul come into him again. And the
Lord heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul
of the child came into him again, and he
revived." 1 Kings 17:21,22.
7. How was Hezekiah's
prayer for restoration from sickness answered?
"Thus saith the Lord, the God of
David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I
have seen thy tears: behold, I will add unto thy
days fifteen years." Isa. 38:5.
8. What constituted a
large part of Christ's ministry?
"And Jesus went about all Galilee,
teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the
gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner
of sickness and all manner of disease among the
people." Matt. 4:23.
9. In doing this, what
prophecy was fulfilled?
"He cast out the spirits with His
word, and healed all that were sick: that it
might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias
the prophet, saying, Himself took our
infirmities, and bare our sicknesses." Matt.
8:16,17.
NOTE.-The essence or the gospel is
restoration, or healing of body, soul, and
spirit. See John 3:16. Luke 4:17-19; Acts
3:19-21; Rom. 8:21-23; 1 Cor. 15:51-55.
10. In the case of the
woman healed of an infirmity, what gave effect
to her touch of Christ's garment?
"And He said unto her, Daughter, be
of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee
whole; go in peace." Luke 8:48.
11. Before sending out
the twelve, what power did Christ give them?
"Then He called His twelve disciples together,
and gave them power and authority over all
devils, and to cure diseases. And He sent
them to preach the kingdom of God, and to
heal the sick." Luke 9:1,2. See Matt.
10:1,7,8; Luke 10:1,9.
12. What notable
miracle was performed by the apostles shortly
after the day of Pentecost?
"Then Peter said [to the lame man],
Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have
give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of
Nazareth rise up and walk. And he took him by
the right hand, and lifted him up: and
immediately his feet and ankle-bones received
strength. And he leaping up stood, and
walked, and entered with them into the temple,
walking, and leaping, and praising God." Acts 3:
6-8.
13. Among others, what
gift has God set in the church?
"And God hath set some in the church,
first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly
teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of
healing, helps, governments, diversities of
tongues." 1 Cor. 12:28.
14. In sickness, what
is every child of God privileged to do?
"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." James 5:14.
15. What assurance of
blessing is given to those who ask according to
God's will?
"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." Verse 15.
NOTE.-Physical healing may not always be for
our good or to the glory of God. Hence we
must be ready to pray with Jesus,
"Nevertheless not my will, but Thine, be
done." Luke 22:42. Paul was denied the
removal of infirmity, but the Lord assured
him, "My grace is sufficient for thee." 2
Cor. 12:9. It is not a denial of faith to
make use of the simple remedial means that
God has given, or those ordinary essentials
upon which He makes life dependent, as
proper food, pure air, rest, exercise, and
sunshine.
WE
MAY not climb the heavenly steeps,
To bring the Saviour down;
In vain we search the lowest deeps,
For Him no depths can drown.
But
warm, sweet, tender, even yet
A present help is He;
And faith has yet its Olivet,
And love, its Galilee.
The
healing of the seamless dress
Is by our beds of pain;
We touch Him in life's throng and press,
And we are whole again.
Through Him the first fond prayers are said
Our lips of childhood frame;
The last low whispers of our dead
Are burdened with His name.
JOHN G.
WHITTIER. |
