Sunday 05-12-13 - Living Grace Fellowship

And He Healed them all: The Link between Holiness and Healing II.mp3

Podcast: Download (22.8MB)

Key Text:

1 Peter 3:15

Mark 6:10-11

Mark 3:32-35

2 Cor. 6:14-18

Gal. 6:7,8

1 Cor. 3:16-20

1 Cor. 6:12-20

1 Cor. 9:24-27

Overview:

The Link between Holiness and Health:

We have defined holiness as “other than”. God is “other than” everyone for even though we partake in His image in creation and in likeness to His character through the New Birth, we are still and forever will be the created and He will forever be the Creator.

This introduces the concept of sanctification and thus, our key text…

“…but sanctify in your hearts Christ as Lord: being ready always to give answer to every man that asks you a reason concerning the hope that is in you, yet with meekness and fear: “ ~ 1 Peter 3:15

The word sanctify means to regard and venerate as holy, to hallow (Matt._6:9; Luke_11:2; 1 Peter_3:15; Sept.: Isa._8:13; Isa._10:17; Isa._29:23). Thus the verb hagiázō, to sanctify, when its object is something that is filthy or common, can only be accomplished by separation (aphorízō [G873]) or withdrawal. It also refers to the withdrawal from fellowship with the world and selfishness by gaining fellowship with God.

Within the idea of sanctification is separation from the common. This is often taken to extremes by those who do not understand its purpose.

What it does NOT mean…

It does not mean become a hermit and avoid all contact with the lost of this world.

What it does mean…

Do not strike up committed friendships, loyalties and fellowships with the lost.

Jesus surely spent time with the lost and loved on them, not condemning them for their sins, but inviting them to a change of heart through relational love and teaching. However, after teaching and demonstrating the love of God to a group, if they continued unrepentant He followed His Own mandate…

“Also He said to them, “In whatever place you enter a house, stay there till you depart from that place. And whoever will not receive you nor hear you, when you depart from there, shake off the dust under your feet as a testimony against them. Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!” ~ Mark 6:10-11

To hear, means to perceive with the ears effectually, so as to perform or grant what is spoken, to obey.

So even Jesus would not strike up long lasting friendships with the lost. This extended even to His own family,

And a multitude was sitting around Him; and they said to Him, “Look, Your mother and Your brothers are outside seeking You.” But He answered them, saying, “Who is My mother, or My brothers?” And He looked around in a circle at those who sat about Him, and said, “Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of God is My brother and My sister and mother.” ~ Mark 3:32-35

This verse has been abused to say that Christ did not recognize His family and ignored them, which this passage does NOT say, however, it does show that Jesus only claimed close association with those who knew God and lived by His word.

Further reflection on this line of thinking leads us to 2 Cor. 6:14-18…

Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers.

For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness?

And what communion has light with darkness?

And what accord has Christ with Belial?

Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever?

And what agreement has the temple of God with idols?

For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I WILL DWELL IN THEM AND WALK AMONG THEM. I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE.”

Therefore “COME OUT FROM AMONG THEM AND BE SEPARATE, SAYS THE LORD. DO NOT TOUCH WHAT IS UNCLEAN, AND I WILL RECEIVE YOU.” “I WILL BE A FATHER TO YOU, AND YOU SHALL BE MY SONS AND DAUGHTERS, SAYS THE LORD ALMIGHTY.”

You reap what you have sown:

How then does holiness (or sanctification) apply to healing?

Let’s take a look…

Galatians 6:8…

“Don’t be deceived: God is not mocked. For whatever a man sows he will also reap, because the one who sows to his flesh will reap corruption from the flesh, but the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit.” (Gal 6:7-8) HCSB

I like the Wuest translation the best…

“Stop leading yourselves astray. God is not being outwitted and evaded. For whatever a man is in the habit of sowing, this also will he reap; because the one who sows with a view to his own evil nature, from his evil nature as a source shall reap corruption. But the one who sows with a view to the Spirit, from the Spirit as a source shall reap life eternal.” (Gal 6:7-8) -Wuest

In essence, this tells us that God is not being outwitted or evaded because whatever field you are in the habit of sowing in, that is where your bumper crops will be reaped. If you perpetually sow from the flesh, then death will be your harvest.

What does this word death here mean?

Death, corruption in a natural sense (1 Cor. 15:42; Gal._6:8 [cf. Rom. 8:21]; Col. 2:22; Sept.: Psa. 103:4; Jon_2:7); the abstract being put for the concrete, what is corruptible or subject to corruption (1 Cor. 15:50).

How does this apply to healing?

“Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple. Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their craftiness,” and again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.” ~ 1 Cor. 3:16-20

What does this word destroy mean?

To waste or pine away. To corrupt, destroy, punish with destruction, bring to a worse state (1 Cor. 3:17).

Another verse which speaks the same way…

“All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. Foods for the stomach and the stomach for foods, but God will destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. And God both raised up the Lord and will also raise us up by His power. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a harlot? Certainly not! Or do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body with her? For “THE TWO,” He says, “SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH.” But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him. Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.” ~ 1 Cor. 6:12-20

The Key:

I will not be brought under the power of any…

“All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. Foods for the stomach and the stomach for foods, but God will destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.” ~ 1 Cor. 6:12-13

and,

“Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.” ~ 1 Cor. 9:24-27

I will end this overview with a summery statement,

“It is inconsistent to seek God for healing while maintaining active sin in your life.”

For much more depth concerning this teaching please listen to the recording.

Pastor Mark

View posts by Pastor Mark

Hi my name is Mark and though I am opposed to titles, I am currently the only Pastor (shepherd/elder) serving our assembly right now.

I have been Pastoring in one capacity or another for nearly 30 years now, though never quite like I am today.

Early in 2009 the Lord revealed to me that the way we had structured our assembly (church) was not scriptural in that it was out of sync with what Paul modeled for us in the New Testament. In truth, I (like many pastors I am sure) never even gave this fundamental issue of church structure the first thought. I had always assumed that church structure was largely the same everywhere and had been so from the beginning. While I knew Paul had some very stringent things to say about the local assembly of believers, the point of our gatherings together and who may or may not lead, I never even considered studying these issues but assumed we were all pretty much doing it right...safety in numbers right?! Boy, I couldn't have been more wrong!

So needless to say, my discovery that we had been doing it wrong for nearly two decades was a bit of a shock to me! Now, this "revelation" did not come about all at once but over the course of a few weeks. We were a traditional single pastor led congregation. It was a top-bottom model of ministry which is in part biblical, but not in the form of a monarchy.

The needed change did not come into focus until following 9 very intense months of study and discussions with those who were leaders in our church at the time.

We now understand and believe that the Bible teaches co-leadership with equal authority in each local assembly. Having multiple shepherds with God's heart and equal authority protects both Shepherds and sheep. Equal accountability keeps authority and doctrine in check. Multiple shepherds also provide teaching with various styles and giftings with leadership skills which are both different and complementary.

For a while we had two co-pastors (elders) (myself and one other man) who led the church with equal authority, but different giftings. We both taught in our own ways and styles, and our leadership skills were quite different, but complimentary. We were in complete submission to each other and worked side-by-side in the labor of shepherding the flock.

Our other Pastor has since moved on to other ministry which has left us with just myself. While we currently only have one Pastor/Elder, it is our desire that God, in His faithfulness and timing, may bring us more as we grow in maturity and even in numbers.

As to my home, I have been married since 1995 to my wonderful wife Terissa Woodson who is my closest friend and most trusted ally.

As far as my education goes, I grew up in a Christian home, but questioned everything I was ever taught.

I graduated from Bible college in 1990 and continued to question everything I was ever taught (I do not mention my college in order to avoid being labeled).

Perhaps my greatest preparation for ministry has been life and ministry itself. To quote an author I have come to enjoy namely Fredrick Buechner in his writing entitled, Now and Then, "If God speaks to us at all other than through such official channels as the Bible and the church, then I think that He speaks to us largely through what happens to us...if we keep our hearts open as well as our ears, if we listen with patience and hope, if we remember at all deeply and honestly, then I think we come to recognize beyond all doubt, that, however faintly we may hear Him, He is indeed speaking to us, and that, however little we may understand of it, His word to each of us is both recoverable and precious beyond telling." ~ Fredrick Buechner

Well that is about all there is of interest to tell you about me.

I hope our ministry here is a blessing to you and your family. I also hope that it is only a supplement to a local church where you are committed to other believers in a community of grace.

~God Bless!