Found

Last week we talked about the demonic side of mental health.  We learned we have an enemy that wishes us ill will and the lostness of our connection with God.  Theologically this is represented by the King James term "unclean spirit," which is the demonic realm trying to distort or disconnect our connection with God.  When our connection with God is lost, we are truly off-the-rails, out-of-control and wandering.  In the world of nature, predators try to draw a weak or sick animal away from the protection of the herd.  Then they find easy prey.  This is how Satan and the demonic world operate, always looking for a victim.

The above is a scary scenario, until we realize the paradoxical solution offered by God in His word.  Yes, we have an enemy, but we need to realize that Satan's number one tool to harm us is something pretty simple ... self.  Here is the simple formula Jesus teaches from the Gospel of Matthew (16:25).  "He who wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me (Jesus) will find it."

Here is the paradoxical point to all of this:

1) I think most of us are good with the idea of saving our life.  While most of the time we are comfortable, we have a "self-preservation" tendency, and that self-preservation manifests itself in many ways.  We want to be in control.  We want to be free.  We want to be important and significant.  Jesus turns the table on all of this.  He says, in no unclear terms, our salvation isn't something that comes from our own power.  If we keep trying on our power ... our terms, our plans and our reasoning ... we will lose our life in the process.  We neither have the wisdom or any power to save our own life.  CR says "I realize I am not God and I am powerless to control my tendency to do wrong, and my life is unmanageable."  It is the first lesson of many, but without this lesson and realization, healing will no and cannot happen.   Jesus teaches this lesson because He has hope that the 12 disciples will realize powerless is not worthless and lost is not a lost cause ... there is a solution.

2) The solution is both beautiful and terrifying.  We must lose our life to find it.  Zac Brown records a lyric in the song "Knee Deep" that is profoundly simple ... "when you lose yourself, you find the key, to paradise."

I was preparing a Sunday school lesson the other day.  I use the Agape Classroom and our little group meets there as close to 10am as possible each week.  When I went into the classroom, both dry erase boards were full.  The information on the boards was from the two weeks prior, but this week's lesson needed a place.  So I got out the eraser and cleaned off the old lesson.  The new lesson couldn't be written until the old one was erased.  Maybe that is what Jesus is teaching here.  I come to Jesus with my mess, my confusion, my priorities, my plans and my stubborn pride.  Maybe Jesus is trying to tell me, "Randy, I need to erase that old stuff.  Let's start a new plan, a new lesson, and the new creation I see in you!  Lose yourself in me and I will keep the good, send away the bad and take your upside down life and turn it right side up!"  Jesus told 12 disciples (all with their own ideas, their own plans for "The Kingdom" and all with their mess) "Stop trying to save your life, because this will cause death.  Instead, lose your life in me, and you will find your life."  Moses knew this when he told stubborn, stiff-necked people, "The Lord is your life (Deuteronomy 30:20)."  C.S. Lewis recounted that "Aslan (the Jesus figure in the Chronicles of Narnia) is not a tame lion, but he is good."  Jesus is not a tame savior, (He is bad to erase your board) but He is good!  Randy

A Different Kind of Healing

If you read it carefully, the New Testament is filled with stories of Jesus casting out demons, and I am a believer in a demonic realm that is well-documented in God's word.  Ephesians 12 says, "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realm."  In Romans 8 Paul says that these powers (neither angels nor demons) can prevail against "the love of God that is in Christ our Lord."  I remind you of these things in the context of Scripture that is very clear on the subject of evil, led by a very real Satan.  

There is a school of thinking that would classify some of the New Testament "demonic" encounters as what we see as people in a nation plagued by the infirmities known as mental illness.  While I am not ready to connect these two things, I see (daily) the effects of mental illness on people right here in our community.  The Surgeon General (December 7, 2021) issued an advisory on what is called a Youth Mental Health Crisis that impacts as many as 1 in 3 students ages 3 to 17, and many more young adults.  Impacts are felt in adults from late teens to the elderly.  In my ministry, I see all of this unfolding, and this congregation has been directly impacted by the epidemic of hopelessness, helplessness and even suicide.  I won't profess to know the line between mental illness and the demonic realm, but I have seen, first hand, people overcome by this infirmity.  But I have also seen people healed from this and other diseases.  So ... let's see what Jesus did!

In Mark 5:1-20, Jesus heals a demon-possessed man and casts the demons out into a herd of pigs.  In this rather famous story, Jesus contends with four issues we sometimes face when we decide to confront our demons.  The first confrontation Jesus faces is the man himself.  Scripture says the man "could not be restrained."  He cut himself and broke away from every restraint, seemingly having super-human strength.  The second confrontation was the demons possessing the man.  Scripture says that the spirits called themselves "Legion" because they were many.  Jesus commands that the demons come out.  The third confrontation was the reality that the demons knew the identity of Jesus, something Jesus didn't want to be revealed at that time.  The demons call Jesus "Son of the most high God."  The fourth confrontation is with the people of the town.  After Jesus sends the demons into a nearby herd of pigs, the people see their economic loss and maybe they are even afraid of the power of Jesus!

I have lots of "takeaways" from this story.  But here is the one thing I believe with my heart.  For the issues faced in the area of the Gerasenes, Jesus was what the people needed and what that young man needed.  For the issues we are facing with the "pandemic" of mental health issues, maybe we should call on Jesus.  I believe He would say what is conveyed every Thursday evening in the Family Life Center ... 1) admit my plans have ME out of control 2) acknowledge there is a power that is able to run things right , 3) be ready to give my will to God 4) see myself honestly 5) admit my good and bad traits to God and another human being, 6) prepare myself for God to cast out the bad 7) ask God to send out the bad and grow the good 8) make a list of those people I have harmed 9) make amends where it will not hurt another, 10) make this inventory process part of my normal behavior, 11) keep in contact with God through prayer, reflection and connection with God's people, 12) remember to help others (it's not about me ... it is about God's plan).  We all have hurts, habits and hang-ups.  Maybe, when dealing with issues of the mind and the spirit,  the healthy thing is to give them to the Healer!  Randy

Intercession

Last week we shared the story of blind Bartimaeus and how Jesus healed his blindness with just a few words.  "Go, for your faith has healed you!" Jesus said.  This week we will look at the act of intercession ... when we pray or act on behalf of another person, even when that person has no power or awareness of our action.  And, yes, I said action.

Some of you think of prayer as passive, powerless and merely a duty.  The Bible calls it powerful, and Jesus said it was the only way to cast out some of the demonic forces He faced.  And prayer is powerful, when we pray in Jesus' name and in God's will.  But our story this week is all about the very active intercession of some friends that want healing and wholeness for another friend.

The setting is Mark 2 and a crowded room and a Bible study.  Yep, Jesus was "preaching God's word to them (v:2)."  It is interesting that the Son of God, the Living Word, is giving the people the life-giving truth of God's word.  In the room were all sorts of people.  There were teachers of religious law.  There were people who wanted to see "The Jesus Show."  But, for sure, the room was filled with sinners needing the salvation of God.

Four men, bringing their paralyzed friend to be healed by Jesus, carry him to the house on a mat.  The place is so crowded they can't get in.  And, unsaid but true in the story, it doesn't seem anyone is willing to let the four men through to bring their friend to the Healer.  So, the men do something that, if they did it today, would bring the police and lots of anger. They cut a hole in the roof and lowered the man down through the hole.  Mark reports, "seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man man, 'My child, your sins are forgiven (v:5).'"

This is unexpected by all.  The four men are probably disappointed.  They might have said, "We're about to get arrested for property damage, and our buddy didn't even get healed."  The Scripture reports the accusations of the religious teachers when they say "This is blasphemy!  Only God can forgive sins! (v:7)."  So Jesus cuts to the point and (with rhetorical intent) says, "Why do you question this in your hearts? Is it easier to say to the paralyzed man, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or ' Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk (v:8-9).'"  Then, making His point clearly that He has "all authority in heaven and on earth (Matthew 28:18)," Jesus says, "Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home (v:11)."  The man, without a single word in this story, does just that.

As I read and reread this story, it brings (at least to me) several points.

1) when you are with God, opposition is close by, 

2) crowds do not mean there is unity of purpose, 

3) the word of God is always worthy of preaching/teaching, 

4) maybe the physical healing (here in this crowded room) is the easiest thing Jesus does, 

5) people (especially religious people) resist forgiveness (even when it is done under God's authority) and 

6) intercession is a powerful part of what we (the Church) does in the world.

When I think of intercession I think of two groups.  One is our people at Abbeville Methodist who meet on Tuesday morning.  They pray for those on the prayer list, for the faith community in our town and for their pastor.  I am honored and thankful to be on that prayer list.  I also remember a story of an ex-KGB friend who shared how he, and many others, were lost in the bonds of communism, dictatorial rule, and oppressive darkness.  My friend said the only thing that sustained the faith during that dark period was "the prayers of the grandmothers."  I, when I recount that story longer than I can tell here, think of Russia, still facing evil and dictatorial rule, can still be brought back to faith by Jesus who has "all authority in heaven and on earth."  Maybe the Russian people are so bound up and paralyzed they are "like sheep without a shepherd."  Maybe the demons of leaders can only be brought to ground by prayer.  So ... let's cut a hole in the roof.  Let's lower down the faithful who are paralyzed by fear and oppression.  Let's pray for forgiveness, wholeness and healing.  "For those who live in the land of deep darkness, a light will shine (Isaiah 9:2)." "Lord, heal their land, and our land!"  AMEN

 

Healer

Over the next few weeks I want to share some keys to healing that can help us connect with God's mercy, grace and renewal.  People are hurting.  Obsessions, addictions, conditions, confusion ... on Thursday's we call them hurts, habits and hang-ups ... all happen in our midst.  Whether it is physical or mental illness or whether we label it as a specific condition, it happens to all of us.  So, I want to spend a sermon series talking about some Biblical ways Jesus approached healing (both physical and spiritual).  Maybe Jesus' actions can help us as we try to get out of God's way and let Him do what He does best ... heal His people.

I think this series is important for a number of reasons.  The biggest reason is that I see people in my sphere of friends, family and congregants who have experienced issues with physical and mental health, either personally or within their personal connections.  We find it easy to understand physical illness.  People get sick, have accidents and find what John Wesley called, infirmity.  We find it less easy to deal with mental and spiritual issues.  A friend gets caught up in our divisive politics and changes from a generous, positive servant to an angry, isolated and fearful activist.  Another friend drifts in and out of church connection, struggling with depression and chronic fatigue.  A promising young man commits suicide.  A hungry-for-truth Christian becomes obsessed with online prophecy videos and forgets the unveiled hope of God's revelation.  And I could go on and on.  What do we do?

We invest in the wholeness and the truth of God's Word.  So, what were the hallmarks of Jesus' ability to heal?  Jesus healed the blind, the demon possessed, the physically sick, and even some who were caught up in obsessions like greed.  How did He do it?

This week we will start with one thing that seems to accompany many of the instances of Jesus healing people.  In the story of blind Bartimaeus (Mark 10:46-52), Jesus encounters a blind man who is shouting, "Son of David, have mercy on me."  Jesus asks Bartimaeus one simple question ... "What do you want me to do for you?"  Bartimaeus responds, "Rabbi, I want to see."  Lesson 1 has 3 parts ... 1) God is merciful, 2) God wants to heal us, 3) We must want God's healing more than anything else, including self.  God is merciful (Psalm 145:8-9) ... "His tender mercies are over all His works."  God wants to heal us (2 Kings 20:5) "I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will heal you!"  We (or those who love us) must want and seek God's healing on God's terms.  Jesus tells Bartimaeus, "Go ... your faith has healed you."  And God's word says something remarkable about Bartimaeus' actions after he is healed ... he "followed Jesus down the road."

The times in my life when God has healed my hurts, my obsessions and my addictions are the times when I have come to God with nothing but a plea.  I have had to become empty of self.  I have had to place myself into the powerful, gentle and sometimes painful hands of God.  And I have had to leave it all there with Him.  For me, to stay inside His healing, I had to follow Him down the road.

God is merciful.  God wants to heal us.  We must want God's healing more than anything else.