Thoughts on Healing

Been a hard afternoon, but one full of God's providence. In light of my upcoming trip to General Council, I have been working on a sermon two-weeks from now based on Acts 3:1-10. The passage is very familiar and powerful because it involves a supernatural healing at the mere mention of Jesus' name. So many have been encouraged by the story's very simple retelling of the events that led to a lame man being instantly healed; Peter and John command the man to stand and he does with praises unto God. It is so simple and challenging.

No sooner had I cracked the outline on the passage, then my phone and email inbox begin filling with prayer requests for healing. Brain tumors, cancers, mental anguish and anxiety, etc. are effecting my immediate world and friendships. People are suffering and in desperate need to God's mercy and power and the timing of these events cannot be coincidental. So, how should we respond?

WHY?
Before we address the healing, I feel it imperative to address the nature of sickness. With limited exception, sickness is NOT the fault of the afflicted (John 9:3). Yes, every man's sin furthers the plight of creation and breeds evil, but this should not lead one to the conclusion that if one is sick that he/she is being punished by God. The Bible is replete with the prophets, apostles and common people of God suffering the effects of sickness. Evil simply exists and effects all of us on this side of eternity, period.

WHAT MATTERS
After concluding that sickness is merely a component of living in a fallen world, the decision remains with how to treat it. Sadly, more people choose to focus on evil than its cure. Perhaps this is because of our carnal nature and obsession with the physical, but either way the practice is destructive. No good ever comes out of focusing on the problem, we must focus on the cure.

One of the many strengths of the Christian belief is that the biblical description of God is that He is sovereign. God is not limited by anything, nor does anything take place that is outside of His permissive will or ability. Additionally, the Bible declares that He is absolutely "good." This not only defines His essence, but also, by default, declares all of His works/actions/behaviors/ to be "good." These are important and imperative qualities when considering evil and its effects. Because God is sovereign and good, the effects of evil/sickness is never without purpose or cure. This is not to say that man can discern what this purpose is, this truth is reserved for God and God alone. Rather, by knowing that God has given purpose to evil/sickness it gives credence and necessity to look to Him in times of trouble. What matters is that God is always in control.

But His goodness is not abstract or merely theoretical, it's practical and demonstrated particularly in response to evil. The incarnation of Jesus (Jesus coming to earth as a man) proves that God's goodness and sovereignty are real and effective. God takes on the very thing that is susceptible to sickness/evil and overcomes it through the power of the Spirit. Additionally, He preserves not only His body, but he makes it priority to heal those who are sick and dead. God cares for the flesh and overcomes evil's effects toward it (Matt. 8:14-17).

As significant as God's concern for the flesh is, it is not the sole concern of the incarnation. The true significance of God becoming a man is so that He may suffer fully the effects of sin on our behalf and overcome them for all eternity (I Thess. 5:9-10). Jesus came to heal the soul, not merely the body and this is what matters most. I know this is hard to fathom from this side of eternity (John 11:35), but it is true. We should seek and expect God's healing in our physical bodies, but more important is that He be seen as the Healer and Victor over evil's effects on our soul.

APPLICATION
If you are sick, then pray to the Lord for healing (James 5:13). God has demonstrated His love, concern, power and will to heal, therefore, expect it with a gracious heart. But, do not major in the minors, loosing sight of God's greatest demonstration of His goodness and love for us: His salvation and healing of the soul. Receive Jesus for who is fully is: God the Healer and Victor over flesh and spirit. The flesh is significant, but far greater is redemption of the soul.

Thoughts on the USAToday article

Many people have reached out to me from across the sphere these past 24-hours. I've had calls from lawyers looking to take our case (didn't know we had one), old friends and colleagues sending messages of encouragement, and have even had Christian news people call to inquire about the church. It has been an amazing experience, but I'm still waiting for that one call from someone who is not a Christian.

Honestly, it's all about Jesus; not me. I didn't say those things on camera or in an interview to "fire up" the Christian community, I said them to provoke the Lost into considering Jesus. I just want people to stop seeing church as a building or a weekend social/religious hour. The church is the people of God at all times (Acts 2:42-47), and I pray this article simply furthers this truth and its implications.

Who knows, may be a few new people will show up this Sunday in PS 144 because of the article. I hope so. But even if they don't, I pray that the Christians who do attend, and those who have read the article, will incorporate the Biblical description and command of the church into their daily lives. Maybe non-Christians will not be directly impacted by this article, but maybe they will be indirectly saved as Christians live as the church from here on out.

It's all about people meeting Jesus, becoming like Jesus, and serving like Jesus as a missionary...

Extra! Extra! Read all about it!

Many of you have been asking about the coverage we received last month when USAToday visited our church concerning a federal court ruling. Well, I am happy to report that the story as officially been released, and we made the FRONT PAGE !!

Please celebrate with us in this incredible testimony. It's not about numbers or publicity; it's all about Jesus! Our prayer is that through this experience the Gospel will be advanced and people will come to know Jesus and His church. It's not about Forest Hills or the Sweetens in any way...

Additionally, we want to thank you, our supporters, for giving each month. If it were not for your continued sacrifice we would not be able to be pastors and church planters. Thank you for giving!!

There is more to be done in this city and nation and we are resolved not to rest until Jesus returns. Let's rejoice in the victory and be the church.

-Jeremy & Christine Sweeten
Pastors and Church Planters in Jewish New York City
AG US Missionary # 293-4370
www.fhcchurch.com

Thoughts on Family

Being a dad, a husband, a son, etc. is tough. Let's face it, living in a community of any kind is difficult, because people are always taking or needing something from you, or you are taking or needing something from them. This is not a rash overstatement, but simple truth.

Some would argue over the reasons for this turmoil and come up with radical, illogical political or social solutions, but that would be missing the BIG PICTURE. You see, community is good and necessary. God has designed us to live together and never alone. In fact, He says that being alone is "not good" (Gen. 2), and this is precisely why He created man and woman in harmony with using the plural (Gen 1:27-28).

Community might be a pain in the neck at times, but that is because of sin. My sin and your sin, because all sin separates (Gen. 3). To live a happy life is not to live in solitude or in man-created communes, but to enjoy the redemption of Jesus and live in holy community with Him at the center (See Leviticus and Rev. 21). But, before we can enjoy this ultimate society, we must first learn to excel in the minors: family.

The redemption offered through Jesus not only cures our hostility with God, but also our hostility with our fellow man. When a person becomes a Christian, the first area of his life that is to be impacted is his household. (Check out the Bible: God saves households because one person is saved first.) If this does not happen, then something has gone terribly wrong or has failed to be enacted.

My question for all of us is this: Are we living in Holy Communion in our families?