CHRIST CREATIVE BAPTIST CHURCH
A SERMON PREACHED ON SUNDAY
FEBRUARY 22, 1998
BY
THE REV. DR. GEORGE ST. ANTHONY FERGUSON, SR.
AUTHOR: Luke
DATE: 64 AD
TEXT: Luke 9:2
We as human beings are all susceptible to sickness. When we were conceived, we were susceptible to sickness. When we were born, we were susceptible to sickness. As we grew, we were susceptible to sickness. Even now, we are susceptible to sickness. So from where does sickness come? Who is the author of sickness? Why is sickness in the world? The first thing you should know is that sickness does not come from God. All good and perfect gifts come from God. But sickness is in the world as a result of sin in the world. Sickness comes from sin. Satan is the author and finisher of sickness. Sickness comes from the devil. Sickness means illness. Sickness means disease. Sickness is a liability. Jesus said Satan come to kill, steal, and destroy; but I have come that you may have life and life more abundantly. I as a doctor of ministry have to deal with a whole lot of sickness in the world. This reminds me of a story Dr. Wyatt T. Walker once told. He said, The Rev. Ralph David Abernathy once went to a small town in Alabama to preach a revival. He arrived in his suit looking like a preacher. So an old man came up to him and asked if he could help. He asked the man if he could take him to the church. The man said yes. Then the man said, "Doc, we’ll be there in no time." Abernathy said, "That’s good, but I am not a doctor. I work for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. but I’m not a doctor. Then the man said, "What a minute. Aren’t you the pastor of a Baptist Church?" Abernathy said, "Yes!" Then the man said, "Well if you pastor a church, you are an ‘automatical’ doctor." And as Christians, we have to deal with a whole lot of sickness in the world. We deal with sickness in the heart. Sickness in the soul. Sickness in the mind. Sickness in the body. We see sickness in our homes. We see sickness on our jobs. We see sickness in our friends. We see sickness in our family. We see sickness in ourselves. But in spite of all of this, there is a God up in heaven who sits high and looks low. There is a God up in heaven who wants to heal your soul. There is a God up in heaven who wants to make you whole. So today on this Lord’s Supper Day, God told me to preach on the subject, Heal The Sick.
We are in the third gospel of the New Testament, the gospel of Luke. Luke was a medical doctor trained in the art and science of medicine. As an educated man, Luke wrote his gospel to appeal to the logical mind. Luke wrote his gospel to appeal to the thinking mind. Luke wrote his gospel to appeal to the educated mind. Luke was known as the beloved physician who believed in the Great Physician, Jesus Christ. Luke was a man who wanted to understand human beings in their humanity. And Luke wanted to understand Jesus in His humanity. Therefore, Luke wrote about Jesus in his humanity. Luke saw Jesus as a man who was also God. Luke saw Jesus as a man who was touched by our weaknesses. Luke saw Jesus as a man who got tired just like us. Luke saw Jesus as a man who slept just like us. Luke saw Jesus as a man who prayed just like us. Luke saw Jesus as a man who cried just like us. That is why Luke saw Jesus as the Son of Man. All throughout the gospel of Luke Jesus called himself the Son of Man. And as a physician, Luke was naturally interested in the healing ministry of Jesus. Jesus healed by touching people. Jesus healed by praying over people. Jesus healed by making balls of clay. Jesus healed by forgiving people of their sins. Jesus healed by people touching the helm of his garment. Jesus healed by sending his word to people. The Bible says, Jesus sent his word and healed them. And because Jesus was a healer, he wanted his followers to be healers. He wanted his believers to be healers. He wanted his disciples to be healers. So in V1, Luke tells us, "Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases." My first point is this: God Has Called Us Together Here At Christ Creative For A Purpose. By the time Jesus called his disciples together, Jesus had healed a paralyzed man. Jesus had healed on the Sabbath. Jesus had healed the Centurion’s servant. Jesus had healed the woman with the issue of blood. And no matter what your issue in life is, Jesus can heal you. Say amen. And as the master healer, Jesus wanted his disciples to be healers. Therefore, he called his disciples together. And I don’t know if you realize it or not, but the only way this church is going to grow is if we all come together. We need to come together. Together we stand; divided we fall. None of us can do this ministry all by ourselves. The devil is too big, sin is too strong, and the world is too complex. But when we come together in the Spirit of Christ, we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. We need
UNITY IN OUR CHURCH
UNITY IN OUR HEARTS
UNITY IN OUR SOULS
UNITY IN OUR MINDS
UNITY IN OUR SPIRITS
UNITY IN OUR PURPOSE
UNITY IN OUR COMMITMENT
UNITY IN OUR CHURCH
Jesus called his disciples together and Jesus is calling Christ Creative to come together right now. The song says, we are one in the Spirit, Oh Lord. Say amen, somebody. We Need To Come Together In Order To Heal The Sick.
Jesus did not just call his disciples together because he had nothing else to do. Jesus called his disciples together because they had work to do. Jesus called his disciple together because they had a battle to fight. Jesus called his disciples together because they had a war to win. Jesus called his disciples together because they had an enemy to fight. And that enemy was and is the devil and his demons. Luke went on in V1 to say that Jesus gave his 12 disciples power and authority over all devils. My second point is this: When You Come Together In Christ, You Will Have Power And Authority Over The Devil And His Demons. Jesus had shown his power over sickness and diseases before he called his disciples together. Jesus showed them that he was a healer. Jesus showed them that God wanted to heal them. Jesus showed them that healing was the will of God. But Jesus did not heal as an exhibition of his holiness. Jesus did not heal just to show off his godliness. Jesus healed to meet the needs of people. Jesus healed to show us the love of God. Jesus healed to show us that God cares for us. But Jesus also healed to show his disciples that a life lived in unity with God will always overcome sin, sickness, and the devil. One of the things we as a Church must understand is that only when we all do what we ought to do in order to make our church grow will we be able to overcome the devil and his demons in our personal lives. Our power comes from being weak in ourselves. Paul said when I am weak then I am strong. In other words, when I am in relying on myself, then I am strong in the power of God. When Jesus had his disciples together, when Jesus had unity among his disciples, when Jesus had his disciples working as one, then he gave them power and authority over the devil and his demons. Now when the Bible uses the word power and authority, it is using it in a very precise and intentional way. The Greek word translated power is the word "dunamis." Dunamis means power. Dunamis means dynamite power. Dunamis means dynamo power. Dunamis means dynamic power. That is a whole lot of power but that is not the only power in the Bible. There is another Greek word for power and that word is exousia. Exousia is overcoming power. Exousia is life changing power. Exousia is authoritative power. Exousia is all power. When Jesus rose from the dead, he rose up with exousia in his hands. Jesus rose up with all authority in his hands. Jesus rose up with all power in his hands. After Jesus rose from the dead, he told his disciples in Jerusalem that they would be his witness in all the earth. He told them that all power had been given to him both in heaven and in earth. That’s exousia power. As Jesus ascended up to heaven from Jerusalem, he told his disciples that they shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost has come upon you. That’s exousia power. Exousia power always overcomes dunamis power. Satan has dunamis power but Jesus has exousia power. Satan is the prince of the power of the air but Jesus is the King of the universe who has all power. And it was this exousia power that Jesus gave his disciples on that day and it is this exousia power that Jesus wants to give us today to over come Satan. The only way to get exousia power is to be full with the Holy Spirit. But did you see something in V1 that most people miss? Luke said Jesus gave them power and authority. Why power and authority? Why not just authority? Why not just the highest form of power? Well, after studying this text, I am convince that Jesus gave them both forms of power for two reasons. First if you are going to live in this world as a Christian and deal with the day to day situations in life, you need to have dunamus power. You need to have enough power to rough it out. You need to have enough power to tough it out. You need to have enough power to make it through. You need to have enough power that is a least at the same level as Satan’s power. That power will allow you to make it to another day. That power will allow you to take it one day at a time. That power will allow you to endure until the end. And most of the times that all the power you need. But if you are going to live the overcoming lifestyle, if you are going to live the overcoming life in Christ, then you need authority. You need exosea. You need all power in your life. Jesus said, "Lo, I am with you…" And to be honest, Jesus knew that we needed both power sources. He knew that most of the times all you need is dunamis power to live your day to day existence. But he also knew that when you want to live the abundant life in Christ, when you need more power, when you need more authority, when you need more strength, you need industrial strength power. You need industrial strength authority. You need industrial strength exousia. And exousia power is the power that overcomes the devil. Exousia power is the power that overcomes demons. Exousia power is the power that overcomes sin in our lives. Exousia power is the power that raised Jesus from the dead. And that power comes from the anointing of God. That power comes from the unction of God. That power comes from the Holy Spirit. That power comes from a manifestation of the Holy Spirit. That power comes from a demonstration of the Holy Spirit. Paul said he came in demonstration and power of the Holy Spirit. Paul said the manifestation of the Holy Spirit brings forth the gifts of the Spirit. Christ Creative, we will not make it unless we see the manifestation of the Holy Spirit in this church. We will not make it unless we see the demonstration and power of the Holy Spirit in this church. We will not make it unless we see all the power of the Holy Spirit in this church. We must all let the Holy Ghost come on down. We must all let the Holy Ghost use us. And I don’t know about you but I want:
ALL POWER IN MY HEART
ALL POWER IN MY SOUL
ALL POWER IN MY MIND
ALL POWER IN MY HOME
ALL POWER IN MY LIFE
Jesus Christ has all power in his hands. There is power, power, wonder working power in the precious blood of the Lamb. Am I right about it? . We Need All Power In Order To Heal The Sick.
Jesus was not through with his disciples. He knew they needed to be together and he knew they needed all power to overcome demons. But he knew that they needed something else. V2 says, "And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick." My third point is this: To Overcome The Devil And His Demons, You Need The Word Of God. In order to overcome the devil we need to be together. In order to overcome demons, we need to have all power in our lives. And in order to overcome the world, we need to preach the Word. The Word of God is the only thing that I know that can defeat Satan and his demons. The Word of God is the only thing that I know that will save a man’s or woman’s soul. The Word of God is the only thing I know that can change anybody’s heart. We need the Word of God. David said thy Word have I hid in my heart so I may not sin against thee. David said thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. The writer of Hebrew said the Word of God is alive and power and shaper than any two edged sword. Paul said the sword of the Spirit is the Word of God. Paul said to preach the Word in season and out of season. We need to read the Word but we also need to hear the Word. We need to study the Word but we also need to live the Word. And the Word must be preached. Jesus and his disciples were preachers. Jesus and his disciples preached the word. Jesus was a preacher. Peter was a preacher. James was a preacher. John was a preacher. And Paul came later, but he was a preacher too. And the church is led by preachers. The church is blessed with preachers. It was through the foolishness of preaching that God is saving the world. Paul said how shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? Paul said how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? Paul said how shall they hear without a preacher. Paul said how shall they preach except they be sent? Did you know that some preachers are sent and some just went? Some have been blessed and sent by God and others just got up and went. Paul said how beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! Paul said I not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ for it is the power of God unto salvation. We need the Word. John said:
IN THE BEGINNING WAS THE WORD
AND THE WORD WAS WITH GOD
AND THE WORD WAS GOD
AND THE WORD BECAME FLESH AND DWELT AMONG US
JESUS CHRIST IS THE WORD OF GOD
We need to preach the Kingdom of God. Can I get a witness? We Need The Word Of God In Order To Heal The Sick.
Well, I have to go but before I go, I want you to understand that if this church is going to grow, we need to be a healing church. My fourth and last point is this: If We Are Going To Be A Kingdom Church, We Need To See More Healing In Our Church. We need to see healing in our bodies. We need to see healing in our souls. We need to see healing in our spirits. We need to see healing in our flesh. We need to see healing in our minds. We need to see healing in our hearts. Somewhere in our church, we ought to see some healing going on. And Dr. Luke said Dr. Jesus gave his disciples power and authority to cure diseases. Dr. Luke said Dr. Jesus sent his disciples forth to heal the sick. And Christ Creative, Jesus has already given us the power and authority to cure diseases. Jesus has already sent us forth to heal the sick. Somebody needs healing in this church today. This church has too many people with wounded spirit that needs to be heal. This church has too many people who have a hole in their soul that needs to be heal. This church has too many people walking around with sick bodies. There needs to be some healing in this place. There needs to be some healing in this house. There needs to be some healing in this church. And I’m just crazy enough to believe that God will heal somebody today. I’m just foolish enough to take God at His Word. The Bible says He sent His Word and healed them. When healing is going on in the church, that’s all you need. I don’t care what type healing it is, spirit, soul, or body; but when healing is going on in the church, that’s all you need! Jesus told his disciples to take nothing for your journey. He told them not to take a staff. He told them not to take a stick. He told them not to take writing paper. He told them not to take food. He told them not to take money. He told them not to take any change of clothing. When God is with you, all you need is God. And Jesus told his disciples, when anybody takes you in and works with you, you are to bless that house. That’s why I always asked God to add a special over abundant blessing on the houses of those who make a special effort to attend church and Sunday school and Bible study and prayer meeting. Jesus told his disciples whoever house you enter into, stay there and from there depart. But Jesus said whoever will not receive you, when you go out of that city, shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them. For these of you who work with me to grow this church, I will continue to ask a special blessing on you and your house. But for those of you who do not work with me to grow this church, I will shake the dust of my feet as a testimony against your unfaithfulness. That’s what the Word says for me to do. That’s what Jesus told me I ought to do. And did you notice that Jesus called them. Jesus gave them power. And Jesus sent them. And V6 says that they departed and went through the towns, preaching the gospel, and healing everywhere. They did exactly what Jesus told them to do and healing was everywhere. No arguments. No laziness. No I don’t wanna. No shucking and jiving. No look what Jesus got me doing now. They went forth and did what the Lord told them to do. And Christ Creative that is what we need to do today. We need to do what God has told us to do in order to grow this church. The pastor cannot do it all by himself. I need you to do what God has told you to do. If that is witnessing, then witness. If that is evangelizing, then evangelize. If that is praying, then pray. If that is bringing somebody to church, then bring them to church. If that is ushering, then usher with the joy of the Lord in your heart. If that is singing, then sing till the power of the Lord comes down. If that is teaching the Word, then teach the Word. If that is preaching, then preach the Word. But God don’t need no half stepping Christian. That’s bad English but that’s good preaching. James said be ye a doer of the Word and not just a hearer only. And when we come together, when we receive the power and authority of Jesus, when go forth to preach the Kingdom of God, we will see people cured of diseases. We will see people heal from sickness. We will see healing everywhere. And as a doctor of ministry, I want to see more healing in my ministry. I want to see God use me to heal the sick, raise the dead, and open blind eyes. It was the healing power of God that raised Jesus from the dead and it will raise you up too. Jesus died… Jesus said, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised." Jesus said, "You will surely say to me this proverb, Physician, heal yourself…" Luke said, "And it came to pass… as Jesus was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, who came out of every town of Galilee, and Judaea, and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was present to heal them." Luke said, "And the scribes and Pharisees watched… whether he would heal on the Sabbath day; that they might accuse him of not obeying the Law of Moses." The Centurion heard about Jesus and he sent the elders of the Jews to beg him to come and heal his servant. Jesus healed the sick and said to them, The kingdom of God is near to you. Jesus asked the lawyers and Pharisees is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath day? And I want to ask you is it right to heal in this church today? I know it is always right and as a doctor of ministry under the leadership of the Master Physician, I want to reach out and touch your sickness. I want to reach out and touch your hurt. I want to reach out and touch your pain. I want to reach out and heal you in Jesus name. I feel the Spirit in here today. I feel the Spirit on me today. I feel the Spirit moving today. I feel the Spirit in my hands. And the Spirit is the blessing. The Spirit is the power. The Spirit is the anointing. I want to anoint somebody with anointing oil in Jesus name and see God heal you today. James said, "Is any sick among you? Let him or her call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord." Luke said, "And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up, and if he or she has committed sins, they shall be forgiven." And just like Jesus, I know the Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised. I want God to heal you in Jesus name. I want God to deliver you in Jesus name. I want God to save you in Jesus name. I want God to set you free in Jesus name. There’s power in that name. There’s deliverance in that name. There’s salvation in that name. There’s freedom in that name. There’s healing in that name. In the name of Jesus, in the name of Jesus, we have the victory… God is a doctor in a sick room. God is a doctor who’s never lost a case. God is a specialist. God specializes. God gives me all my medicine in the prayer room. God has more healing in the helm of his garment than all the medicine in the world. And I just want to ask you one question, "Do you want to be healed in Jesus name today?" The doors of the church are open.
© 1998 drsax989238@msn.com
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