A sentence, part of a scripture, has been playing over and over in my mind today.
While I am not sure if it is because I am studying for the Healing Prayer Call teaching or if it is something God is trying to get across to me, either way, I want to share my thoughts with you today on this subject.
The phrase/scripture is ‘which is easier, your sins are forgiven or you are healed?’
This passage comes from Matthew 9:1-8 and I want to share it with you today from the Amplified Bible.
And Jesus, getting into a boat, crossed over the Sea of Galilee and came to Capernaum, His own city. They brought to Him a man who was paralyzed, lying on a stretcher. Seeing their, active faith, springing from confidence in Him, Jesus said to the paralytic, “Do not be afraid, son; your sins are forgiven, the penalty is paid, the guilt removed, and you are declared to be in right standing with God.” And some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man blasphemes [by claiming the rights and prerogatives of God!” But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven, and the penalty paid,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? Both are possible for God; both are impossible for man. But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority and the power on earth to forgive sins”-then He said to the paralytic, “Get up, pick up your stretcher and go home.” And he got up and went home, healed and forgiven. When the crowds saw this, they were awestruck, and glorified God and praised Him, who had given such authority and power to men.
If someone came to you today and asked if you were saved, born again, you would probably say ‘yes!’ And if they tried to convince you that you weren’t, I don’t believe they would be able to convince you that you weren’t saved, would they?
They certainly couldn’t convince me, I know I am born again and washed clean of all sin through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. As are you.
My question to you today is this; that level of conviction of being saved…do you have the same level of conviction or belief that you are also healed?
You have no proof that you are saved? And I would imagine there are times you don’t act or feel saved…yet you remain…saved. Correct. Doesn’t the same apply for healing?
Jesus says it does.
But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven, and the penalty paid,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? Both are possible for God; both are impossible for man.
The same power that saved you…healed you. It is already done. Jesus completed it at the cross. Frankly, Jesus did so much more than save us and it is time we tap into all He has given us at the cross, don’t you think?
Jesus was punished that we might be forgiven. Jesus was wounded that we would be healed. Jesus was made sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God. Jesus tasted death for us that we might share His life, the zoe life of God. Jesus was made a curse that we might receive and walk in the fulness of the blessing. Jesus endured our poverty that we might share His abundance. Jesus bore our shame that we might share His glory. Jesus endured our rejection that we would be accepted by the Father. He was cut off that we might be joined to the Lord. Our old man was put to death in Him that the new man might come alive in us.
Jesus didn’t stop with being saved from the punishment of our sins…there is so much more available to us. So much more!
Through the shed blood of Jesus we have a covenant right to forgiveness of sin and I am so thankful for that. But the list goes on…we have a covenant right to healing and wholeness, to prosperity, we ARE the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. We have a covenant right to the zoe life of God, shalom, nothing broken or missing. Jesus put to death our old man, the new man is alive in us…praise God! Let’s start behaving like it is done…because it is!
Which is easier? You are saved or you are healed? Both are impossible with man but BOTH are possible with God. Jesus bore your pain, carried your sickness and disease in His own body…by His stripes you were healed. Thank you God for our healing today! Thank you Jesus for taking our sickness and pain and giving us your healing and wholeness, today we receive that great exchange…in Jesus name. Amen.
Refuse to settle for less when you know God has provided more.
