You can't help but notice the title of our church under its name. We are a "Healing Church", much like a hospital is an institution of healing.
We've seen many people come to us for a respite from a crazy world of pressure, expectations and dis-illusionment. They arrive with physical symptoms of injured souls and spirits that barely grip their faith. After a year or two they feel stronger in their bodies, relieved in their souls and refreshed in spirit; they are ready to launch into ministries of their own as the Lord directs. Some stay here and become "hospital staff" to help administer a very unique product that heals people.
What is that product? Is it a special pill or expert counselling? Do we wield a healing "zapper"?
When you think "Boeing", you think airplanes; "Ford" is cars as "Ma Bell" is telephones. A "Healing Church's" prime product is found in Luke chapter 23 and verse 34 when Jesus models for us the use of the greatest healing tool from the Kingdom of God given to human beings. In His darkest hour Jesus demonstrated "FORGIVENESS" Yes!! FORGIVENESS is the product that brings on healing.
Let's go back to the Beginning. God created the human race to be beautiful creatures, carefree, peaceful, innocent, content, naked, knowing nothing about taking offense. There was no such thing as anger, retribution, jealousy or murderous rage in God's design. When sin came into us we learned skills such as hiding, secrecy, dodging, blaming and killing. Defending #1 became our first priority. We acquired a taste for getting offended about anything. So lest we destroyed our whole human existence, God set in place the harsh barrier of His law. It is similar to the arresting gear at the end of military runways used to abruptly stop an aircraft unable to be stopped with its own braking systems. The human race was held in arrest by the law until Jesus arrived with this formidable tool - FORGIVENESS - which the One from heaven hands off, like a baton, to the ones on earth.
Now we have FORGIVENESS in our hands for the healing of all our systems. How do we use it? What dosage? Where is it applied? The answers are all in Jesus' use of it in forgiving us:
A) Do it daily. Don't let the sun set on our anger. Wipe the slate clean all the time.
B) Apply forgiveness to the slightest hint of offense.
Neutralize the sin aimed at you by forgiving it
before it gets under your skin. Even memories of
old offenses that are still flagged by a surge of
anger when mulled over need to be forgiven.
C) Be transparent so that the offenses levelled at
you go right through you and land on Jesus. The
enemy of our lives hates God and intends to hurt
Him by hurting you.
D)Trust God to bring judgement for either His
vengeance or His grace upon your offender. You,
in the meantime, are relieved of the anxiety of
bearing your own retribution.
Do it now! FORGIVE and save yourself the tumors, the high blood pressure, the annurisms, the sleeplessness and vexation of spirit. Use the tool and become an expert in FORGIVENESS.
Pastor Steve