Salvogesis

The other weekend we celebrated Easter. What is the main point of Easter? Jesus defeated sin and death. He died and rose from the grave; so I thought I would look into resurrection in general a little bit today. First, I have my only story of someone raising from the dead: from when we were serving in Toronto. In one of the corps we were responsible for – the Warehouse Mission – they had very many great outreaches into the Inner City community. We had talent nights once a month that were amazing – everything from absolutely top-of-the-line professional musicians to people signing their hearts out (and our ears!) or playing instruments that they didn’t necessarily know how to work. It was so much fun! Everyone was so encouraging too. We also had regular meals and did so much more. One thing we had on the wall when you entered our space was a bulletin board where we would place funeral cards and notifications of people’s deaths and memorial services - so we could pay our respects and let...

  CONCLUSION I have seen people who have really been healed of cancer. I have seen people who have really been healed of HIV and who really have been healed of AIDS. I do know people who have been healed of diabetes. There are people in our congregation here today who have been really healed and really delivered from many different infirmities and illnesses. The power of God is real. But I want to bring this to your attention: There are fake healers out there. We have probably all seen them, heard them, or heard about them. There are people who fake the power of God for their own gain or glory or to try to make us forget about the very real healings that Christ has performed in many of our lives. Don’t fall for them. Don’t fall for the devil’s traps. There are people too who will take Scripture out of context and wrongly say that God will only heal you if you have enough faith; there are people too who will take Scripture out of context and wrongly say that God will only heal you i...

  A MUTE DEMON-POSSESSED MAN Matthew 9:32-38:   While they were going out, a man who was demon-possessed and could not talk was brought to Jesus. And when the demon was driven out, the man who had been mute spoke. The crowd was amazed and said, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.”           But the Pharisees said, “It is by the prince of demons that he drives out demons.”           Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.  Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” Infirmity:  Demon-possession and muteness Patient:  a man Initiation:...

  TWO BLIND MEN Matthew 9:27-31:  As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, calling out, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!”           When he had gone indoors, the blind men came to him, and he asked them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?”           “Yes, Lord,” they replied.           Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith let it be done to you”; and their sight was restored. Jesus warned them sternly, “See that no one knows about this.” But they went out and spread the news about him all over that region. Infirmity:  Blindness Patient:  Two men Initiation:  The blind men followed Jesus calling out “have mercy on us, Son of David!” They then followed Jesus inside the building. Response:  Jesus asked them, Verse 28-30, “‘Do you believe that I am able to do this?’          ‘Yes, Lord,’ they replied.     ...

  A BLEEDING WOMAN Infirmity:  Continual or frequently repeated bleeding Patient:  a woman (an unclean outcast) Initiation:  Verse 20-21: “…a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak. She said to herself, “‘If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.’” Response:  Jesus spoke and she was healed. Directive:  “Take heart, daughter” (v.22) This lady barges upon the scene. She doesn’t have any of the requisite deference of the synagogue leader in our story who is kneeling before the Lord. She doesn’t have the humility and overtly displayed respect of the leper or the Centurion mentioned in Chapter 8. This lady just sneaks up to Jesus and touches His clothes almost as if she is trying to steal a healing. Jesus notices her –of course- and tells her not to be afraid; He tells her to “Take heart, daughter … your faith has healed you.” This woman is seemingly afraid of Jesus but she knows He can hea...

  A DECEASED GIRL    Infirmity:  Death Patient:  A girl Initiation:  Verse 18: “…a synagogue leader came and knelt before him and said, ‘My daughter has just died. But come and put your hand on her, and she will live.’” Response:  1) …Jesus and his disciples went with the man, arrived at the house, threw out the mourners saying, Verse 24, “Go away, the girl is not dead but asleep.” 2) The crowd laughed at him. They were put outside then Jesus raised her from the dead Directive:  None. Here we have two stories intertwined about healing bleeding and resurrecting the dead. We don’t really have time to address the full significance of the juxtaposition here;[4] so first we will look at the girl. After the religious teachers have just provoked Jesus, a religious synagogue leader is shown as coming to Jesus in desperation as his own daughter has just passed away. Here the leader is faithful in beseeching Jesus upon his knees - even as his relatives seem...

  A PARALYZED MAN Matthew 9:1-8:  Jesus stepped into a boat, crossed over and came to his own town. Some men brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.”          At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, “This fellow is blaspheming!”          Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, “Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “Get up, take your mat and go home.” Then the man got up and went home. When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to man. Infirmity:  Paralysis Patient:  A man Initiation:  Some friends brought him to Jesus Response: ...