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Promised: Protection and Healing
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughGod's promises of protection and healing stand as a cornerstone of assurance amidst the fears and uncertainties of threats like disease and terrorism. He has pledged to be with us, offering safeguarding and restoration, though not as an absolute guarantee in every instance. These promises, while profound, come with conditions that require us to listen and obey Him, living righteously and applying His way of life broadly in our actions. We must recognize that His sovereignty overrides all, and His will may sometimes lead us through suffering or even death to fulfill a greater purpose. Yet, we can claim His assurances of healing and protection with certainty that He hears and seriously considers our requests. With faith in His ability to decide what is best for us, we can accept His decisions, knowing all things work together for good to those who love Him. Scriptures reveal clear promises of healing, as seen in Exodus 15, where God vows to protect from diseases if we heed and obey Him, linking healing closely with the forgiveness of sin. Psalm 103:3 reinforces this by affirming that He heals all our diseases, a promise tied to the sacrifice of Christ, by whose stripes we are healed. Protection is equally emphasized in Deuteronomy 23:14, where His presence among us aims to deliver and preserve us from enemies, a closeness intensified for Christians as He dwells within us. Psalm 91 extends this protection against deception, pestilence, terror, war, and destruction, promising safety to those who dwell in the secret place of the Most High, a refuge accessible to us at any time through Christ. Matthew 28:19-20 and Hebrews 13:5 further assure us of His constant presence, never leaving nor forsaking us, while I John 4:12-18 highlights that His love in us casts out fear, ensuring we need not be tormented by dread. Finally, Psalm 145 encapsulates His faithfulness, affirming His nearness to all who call on Him in truth, fulfilling their desires and saving them in times of trouble.
Some Thoughts on Healing
CGG Weekly by Richard T. RitenbaughHealing holds a significant place in the realm of faith, yet it is often overshadowed by modern reliance on medical and scientific advances. Many churches, while advocating for health and well-being, shy away from emphasizing God's power to heal, viewing it as outdated or superstitious. Yet, the accounts of Jesus Christ's ministry are replete with instances of divine healing, where He restored lepers, the blind, the lame, and even raised the dead, acting as a conduit for His Father's merciful works. Divine healing remains a reality today, though it is not always granted as we might hope. God desires to heal us and offers promises of restoration, yet these promises are not without conditions. As a loving Father, He considers His sovereignty, love, and purpose when responding to our pleas for healing. Sometimes, He determines that physical death is ultimately best for His child, a decision He made even for His own Son. We must trust that His care is perfect and that death is but a temporary rest before an abundant life in His Kingdom. As followers of Christ, we are called to deepen our understanding of healing, accepting both the good and the adversity from God's hand with faith. We must echo the submission of Jesus, yielding to the Father's will above our own desires. Even in grief, God offers hope, promising compassion amidst sorrow, assuring us that death and pain are not the end.
God Heals Today
Sermonette by Richard T. RitenbaughGod is a healer, as declared in Exodus 15:26, where He promises to protect His people from diseases if they diligently heed His voice, do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments, and keep all His statutes. This conditional promise links living a godly life and maintaining a relationship with Him to the assurance of healing, emphasizing that He desires to provide a full life for His people. In Psalm 103:1-5, David proclaims the benefits of God, stating that He forgives all iniquities and heals all diseases, presenting these as part of a comprehensive package of blessings that includes redemption, lovingkindness, tender mercies, and renewal of strength. These benefits are available to those who trust in Him and are part of His covenant, with forgiveness of sin initiating access to His healing and care. Isaiah 53:4-6 and I Peter 2:24 connect Christ's sacrifice to both forgiveness of sins and healing, affirming that by His stripes, healing is made possible. This encompasses both spiritual and physical healing, accomplished through His sacrificial death and effective through the faith of the believer who trusts in Him. In Matthew 9:20-22 and 27-29, Jesus demonstrates that faith is essential for healing, as seen when a woman with a flow of blood is made well by her belief in touching His garment, and two blind men receive sight according to their faith. These instances show a correspondence between spiritual and physical healing, both requiring faith in Him. Psalm 146:1-10 reinforces that true help and healing come from God alone, not from human sources, urging trust in Him who opens the eyes of the blind and raises those who are bowed down. While we must believe He can heal, the determination of healing rests on His will, and our faith must be in Him, the Creator and Deliverer, accepting His decision with trust in His wisdom and care for our best interests.
Faith and Healing (Part Three)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThe Bible is replete with individuals applying physical remedies (balms, poultices, as well as a competent physician's counsel) in tandem with trusting God.
Faith and Healing (Part Two)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughBoth spiritual and physical healing require us to work intensely, asking for God's merciful intervention while working toward a solution, exercising wisdom.
Giving Glory to God
CGG Weekly by Mike FuhrerChrist expects us to ask for His help, and when He gives it, He does it to glorify His Father. When He thus responds, we should glorify God by praising Him.
What Is Faith?
Herbert W. Armstrong BookletMillions lack faith to receive answers to their prayers. To a large extent, this is due to a lack of understanding what faith is.
Faith Over Fear
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughWhen it looks like things are out of control, God is busily at work behind the scenes. If we replace anxiety with faith, God will grant us divine peace.
The Grand Secret!
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsGod reveals a grand secret through David: namely, that spiritual growth will come to people who set the Lord before oneself continuously.
Hebrews (Part Thirteen)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughAbraham, the father of the faithful, did not have a blind faith; it was based upon observation of God's proven track record of faithfulness.