Thy mercy, my God, is the theme
of my song. Welcome, friends, to another
broadcast of Morsels for Zion's Poor. I heard one of the name-it-and-claim-it
preachers just the other day saying that when you pray to
be healed, you already actually have the healing, you just don't
know it yet. According to this preacher, the Apostle Paul evidently
was in error because he says that the Lord did not remove
his physical affliction. No one would ever die if men
who prayed were always healed. These wells without water build
their false doctrine primarily on a mistaken interpretation
of Isaiah 53.5. They say that He brought healing
of physical diseases for us when He died on the cross. Now the
amazing thing about their interpretation is that they actually deny that
He purchased anything else. They say that He only made the
forgiveness of our sins a possibility, that He only took away our transgressions
if we cooperate with Him, but He actually healed us of physical
diseases and all we have to do is claim it. When the Lord Jesus
Christ died on Calvary's cross, He actually obtained eternal
redemption for His people. He satisfied every jot and tittle
of the law in their behalf. He purchased their pardon totally
by His work, without the input or cooperation of even one of
them. A man does not stand in jeopardy who has his sin debt
settled by Christ. So if it were true that at the
same time he purchased our physical healing, then none of those for
whom he died would ever have any sickness of any type. When
a man is sick, the first thing he thinks he needs is some medicine
or a doctor. The reality of the matter is
that he may actually need a change of lifestyle. Heart trouble afflicts
a multitude. The immediate need of someone
stricken with this malady is bypass surgery, but their real
need is probably a change in diet and exercise. So it is with
the maladies and troubles which beset us in this life. When troubles
arise, that's when most people start to pray. Sadly, most prayers
are centered on getting relief from some trouble. God has not
promised his people health, happiness in this life, nor wealth of any
earthly kind, but he has promised to be with them in the midst
of their trials and to lead them in a path which will ultimately
result in their good. God is not interested in his
people's comfort, but in their conformity to Christ, for whom
the Lord loveth, he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom
he receiveth. Paul said that he was given a
thorn in his flesh in order that he would not be lifted up with
pride. He was thankful that the Lord dealt with him in this fashion,
rather than just granting his wish to be healed. David said,
It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I might
learn thy statutes. I know, Lord, that thy judgments
are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me. Job said,
Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him. Prayer is primarily about
worship. When the Lord taught his disciples
to pray, he began by saying, Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name. True prayer cannot be carried
on without a heart and attitude of worship and adoration. Prayer
is also about confession of sins. The Lord said that a publican
and a Pharisee went down to the temple to pray, but only one
came away justified, the publican who smote upon his breast and
said, God, be merciful to me, a sinner. Not only is it about
confession of the sins that we have committed, but also as an
eye to our propensity to sin and ask for deliverance from
temptation yet to come. Paul said that he had learned
to be content. That is not a state of mind and
heart which a man can easily achieve, nor one that he is born
with. I believe it to be the most difficult place for a man
to ever get. Contentedness does not grow out
of getting everything that our flesh wants in life. There are
many men who have the capability to buy anything they want, yet
they do not necessarily ever achieve contentedness. To be
content, one must be brought to a place of understanding that
our God is the God of the light and the darkness. the God of
affliction and the God of health and prosperity. He is the God
of abundance and the God of abasement. He is the one who shall supply
all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. When a man genuinely prays, he
does not always even know what he should pray for. The Spirit
also helpeth our infirmities, for we know not what we should
pray for as we ought, but the Spirit itself maketh intercession
for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth
the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he
maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
And this is the confidence that we have in him, that if we ask
anything according to his will, he heareth us. Do you pray? For a free CD containing 15 of
these radio broadcasts, send an email to forthepoor at windstream.net.