Healing and Lent

Last Sunday we had four friends from St. Matthew's Anglican join us for worship.  I had asked Chuck Lambert to come and share his story of a physical healing he had experienced.  At a Winter Conference in North Carolina an evening service for prayer and healing was held.  Chuck believed that the Lord can heal today just as Jesus did when He walked among the apostles 2000 years ago.  During the prayer ministry he was approached by one of the prayer ministry team asking him if he wanted prayer for his hands.  This was a "word of knowledge" from the Lord, for Chuck had been suffering from great pain in his hands to the point that he could not open water bottles without help. To his delight the Lord moved that night and relieved his pain and he celebrated by opening a bottle of water on his own.

Sunday we heard of two healings recorded in the Scriptures.  The first was the healing of Naaman, a foreign soldier who had a skin disease.  The second was a man with leprosy who Jesus cured by simply proclaiming him clean.  Physical healing is a sign of the Kingdom of God.  Where God reigns there is no more pain, suffering, sickness or death.  We are all going to be healed when Jesus returns or when we see Him face to face.  But the Kingdom is not fully known yet in this age.  We hope for our total healing, but in the mean time, God the Father breaks in and sometimes healing happens now.  Just like when Chuck's hands were made well.   James, the brother of Jesus, wrote in his letter that we are to ask the elders to anoint us with oil and pray for us when we are sick.  So Sunday during our service we invited Chuck and others from St. Matt's to pray for those who would like healing.  We anticipate  hearing reports of how the Lord is working in our body and our lives in the weeks to come.

Next Wednesday February 22 begins Lent.  This Lent we will be exploring the topic of shame, based on a Navpress topical study guide by Ralph Ennis and others.  Unaddressed shame can deeply affect people.  It can hinder our relationship with others and with the Lord.  I sense the Spirit will work in many of us if we invite Him to use the Sciptures and the church to minister to us in this season of soul searching.

"Freedom - Breaking the Power of Shame"

February 26    Part I - The Human Experience of Shame

March 4    Part II - The Sources of Shame

March 11  Part III - The Shame that Hides

March 18  Part IV - The Naming of Shame

March 25  Part V - The Shame Exchange