JESUS:WILLING AND ABLE?

CAN HE STILL HEAL TODAY?

LUKE 5: 12-1612 While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy.[a] When he saw Jesus, he fell with his face to the ground and begged him, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”13 Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” And immediately the leprosy left him.14 Then Jesus ordered him, “Don’t tell anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.”15 Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. 16 But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.

JESUS, ARE YOU WILLING?

LEPROSY

JESUS TOUCHES THE LEPER!

JESUS CARES FOR US!

“Cast all your cares on him for he cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7

JESUS CARES FOR US!

“Cast all your cares on him for he cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find”Matthew 11:28-30

HE IS WILLING? BUT IS HE ABLE?

JESUS HEALED A PARALYSED MAN

ONLY GOD CAN FORGIVE SINS!

MAYBE JESUS HAD ANOTHER PLAN?

Luke 5: 20 His sin is more important than him walking!

MAYBE JESUS HAD ANOTHER PLAN?

Luke 5: 20 His sin is more important than him walking!Luke 5:16 Jesus prayer to God was more important than healing!

MAYBE JESUS HAD ANOTHER PLAN?

Luke 5: 20 His sin is more important than him walking!Luke 5:16 Jesus prayer to God was more important than healing!Luke 4:43-4 Jesus preaching was more important than healing!

WHAT MIGHT GOD BE SAYING IS MORE IMPORTANT TO US THAN TO RELIEVE OUR PHYSICAL SUFFERING?

•Romans 5:3-5• James 1:2-4• Isaiah 43:2• 1 Peter 1:6-7• 2 Corinthians 1:3-7

JONI EARECKSON“That’s just what God did for me when He sent a broken neck my way. The dark despair which followed wasn’t much fun. But it sure did make what the Bible says about heaven come alive. And there is not a doubt in my mind that I’ll be fantastically more excited and ready for it than if I were on my feet. You see suffering gets us ready for heaven.

How does it get us ready? It makes us want to go there. Broken necks, broken arms, broken homes, broken hearts – these things crush our illusions that earth can keep its promises. When we come to know that the hopes that we cherished will never come true, that our dead loved one is gone from this life forever, that we will never be as pretty, popular, successful or famous as we once imagined, it lifts our sights. It moves our eyes away from this world, which God knows could never satisfy us anyway and sets them on the life to come. Heaven becomes our passion.

But suffering does more than make us want to go to heaven. It prepares us to meet God when we get there. Just think for a moment. Suppose you had never in your life known any physical pain. How could you at all appreciate the scarred hands with which Christ will greet you? What if no one had ever hurt you deeply? How could you adequately express your gratefulness when you approach the throne of the man of Sorrows who was acquainted with grief? “