Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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 HEALING  THROUGH WORSHIP

Acts 16 : 19-34
 v25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.

We live in a society where people have come to a point of believing only that which we can see, feel, hear and  touch .  When there  is physical problem in our bodies, we are quick to call the doctor and make an appointment.  We expect the doctor to tell us what is wrong and how to cure it.   The doctor then gives us a prescription with the recommended dosage.  We must be faithful to use the proper quantity of medicine for the correct amount of time in order to receive healing.  We follow every detail exactly as the doctor prescribes because we are able to see a person and hear his instruction.
God is Jehohah Rapha, our healer, and yet we often do not trust His promise to heal us because we cannot use our senses to recognize Him.  Doctors have degrees and certificates, but God has His Word, which is packed full with prescriptions and promises for our lives.  It has every answer to every problem we may face in our daily life.  We simply have to step into faith in order to receive His promises. Faith works in the supernatural, not in the natural.  Hebrews 11:1 says the faith is the assurance of things hoped for and the conviction  of things not seen.  God wants us to have faith and trust Him for our healing.   We can come to that place of trust and faith is through worship.  It is God’s desire that we worship Him in truth and spirit.  But the reality is that very often we fail to worship him in the way God wants us to worship.  Worship is praising God without asking questions or seeking answers. Worship is submission to God , and submission is required from us in order to come into the Holy of Holies, where we can find refuge, strength and healing.
In Bible, there are many instances where healing has taken place  while worshipping.  In Luke 13: 10 – 17, we see the miracle healing of a bent over woman on a Sabbath day in a synagogue  who had a disabling spirit for eighteen years.  The incident recorded  In Acts chapter 16 : 19 -34, happened during St.Paul’s Second Missionary Journey(49 -52AD).  Paul is accompanied by Silas. This chapter 16 records Paul’s encounter with Lydia, the successful business woman(16:11-15),  and his encounter with a slave-girl (16:16-18) .  Here  we see  that Paul and Silas had been put in prison for healing the slave girl of her infirmities  .   But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns praising and worshipping God in the prison (v. 25a), in spite of them being beaten with rods and in pain,  and suddenly there was a big earthquake, foundations shaked  and doors were opened.  It also records the conversion of a Roman jailer and his household(16: 29-34), demonstrating the ability of the Gospel to penetrate into the hearts of people from all walks of life. In such an adverse and painful situation, Paul and Silas felt free  and happy. There is absolutely no doubt that if we repent of our sins,  worship God in truth and spirit, He will heal our land and pardon our iniquities , and  we  will be able to lead a victorious life in Christ Jesus.

                                                                                         
PRAYER
Dear Lord, help us to proclaim the True Gospel without any hidden motives even in adverse circumstances and to work for the extension of Your kingdom with our whole heart.  AMEN

 THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
The Christian community is meant to be a healing community.
 
Philip Jacob
The Mar Thoma Church, Staten Island, New York
 
Christian Education Forum, Diocese of NAE of the Mar Thoma Church

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