(The Ministry of Healing 70, 123, 181-2, 229, 267)
When this man came to Jesus, he was “full of leprosy,”(Luke 5:12) Its deadly poison permeated his whole body. The disciples sought to prevent their Master from touching him; for he who touched a leper became himself unclean. But in laying His hand upon the leper, Jesus received no defilement. The leprosy was cleansed. Thus it is with the leprosy of sin—deep-rooted, deadly, impossible to be cleansed by human power. “The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrefying sores.”Isaiah 1:5, 6. But Jesus, coming to dwell in humanity, receives no pollution. His presence was healing virtue for the sinner. Whoever will fall at His feet, saying in faith, “Lord, if Thou wilt, Thou canst make me clean,”(Matthew 8:2; Mark 1:40; Luke 5:12) shall hear the answer, “I will; be thou clean.”Matthew 8:3; Mark 1:41; Luke 5:13.
(MH 70.1)
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In some instances of healing, Jesus did not at once grant the blessing sought. But in the case of leprosy no sooner was the appeal made than it was granted. When we pray for earthly blessings, the answer to our prayer may be delayed, or God may give us something other than we ask; but not so when we ask for deliverance from sin. It is His will to cleanse us from sin, to make us His children, and to enable us to live a holy life. Christ “gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father.”Galatians 1:4. “And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He heareth us: and if we know that He hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.”1 John 5:14, 15.
(MH 70.2)
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“Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear Him. For He knoweth our frame; He remembereth that we are dust.”Psalm 103:13, 14.
(MH 123.1)
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“Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the Lord thy God.”“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”Jeremiah 3:13; 1John 1:9.
(MH 123.2)
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“I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto Me; for I have redeemed thee.”Isaiah 44:22.
(MH 123.3)
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“Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land.”Isaiah 1:18, 19.
(MH 123.4)
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“I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with loving-kindness have I drawn thee.”Jeremiah 31:3. “I hid My face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee.”Isaiah 54:8.
(MH 123.5)
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“Let not your heart be troubled.”“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”John 14:1, 27.
(MH 123.6)
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The Saviour overcame to show man how he may overcome. All the temptations of Satan, Christ met with the word of God. By trusting in God’s promises, He received power to obey God’s commandments, and the tempter could gain no advantage. To every temptation His answer was, “It is written.” So God has given us His word wherewith to resist evil. Exceeding great and precious promises are ours, that by these we “might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”2 Peter 1:4.
(MH 181.1)
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Bid the tempted one look not to circumstances, to the weakness of self, or to the power of temptation, but to the power of God’s word. All its strength is ours. “Thy word,” says the psalmist, “have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against Thee.”(Psalm 119:11) “By the word of Thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer.”Psalm 17:4.
(MH 181.2)
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Talk courage to the people; lift them up to God in prayer. Many who have been overcome by temptation are humiliated by their failures, and they feel that it is in vain for them to approach unto God; but this thought is of the enemy’s suggestion. When they have sinned, and feel that they cannot pray, tell them that it is then the time to pray. Ashamed they may be, and deeply humbled; but as they confess their sins, He who is faithful and just will forgive their sins and cleanse them from all unrighteousness.
(MH 181)
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Nothing is apparently more helpless, yet really more invincible, than the soul that feels its nothingness and relies wholly on the merits of the Saviour. By prayer, by the study of His word, by faith in His abiding presence, the weakest of human beings may live in contact with the living Christ, and He will hold them by a hand that will never let go.
(MH 182.1)
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These precious words every soul that abides in Christ may make his own. He may say:
(MH 182.2)
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“I will look unto the Lord;
I will wait for the God of my salvation:
My God will hear me.
Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy:
When I fall, I shall arise;
When I sit in darkness,
The Lord shall be a light unto me.”Micah 7:7, 8.
(MH 182.3)
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“He will again have compassion on us, He will blot out our iniquities; Yea, Thou wilt cast all our sins into the depths of the sea!” Micah 7:19, Noyes.
(MH 182.4)
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“I will make a man more precious than fine gold;
Even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir.”Isaiah 13:12.
(MH 182.6)
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“Though ye have lain among the pots,
Yet shall ye be as the wings of a dove covered with silver,
And her feathers with yellow gold.”Psalm 68:13.
(MH 182.7)
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Those whom Christ has forgiven most will love Him most. These are they who in the final day will stand nearest to His throne.
(MH 182.8)
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“They shall see His face; and His name shall be in their foreheads.”Revelation 22:4.
(MH 182.9)
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When wrongs have been righted, we may present the needs of the sick to the Lord in calm faith, as His Spirit may indicate. He knows each individual by name, and cares for each as if there were not another upon the earth for whom He gave His beloved Son. Because God’s love is so great and so unfailing, the sick should be encouraged to trust in Him and be cheerful. To be anxious about themselves tends to cause weakness and disease. If they will rise above depression and gloom, their prospect of recovery will be better; for “the eye of the Lord is upon them”“that hope in His mercy.”Psalm 33:18.
(MH 229.1)
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In prayer for the sick it should be remembered that “we know not what we should pray for as we ought.”Romans 8:26. We do not know whether the blessing we desire will be best or not. Therefore our prayers should include this thought: “Lord, thou knowest every secret of the soul. Thou art acquainted with these persons. Jesus, their Advocate, gave His life for them. His love for them is greater than ours can possibly be. If, therefore, it is for Thy glory and the good of the afflicted ones, we ask, in the name of Jesus, that they may be restored to health. If it be not Thy will that they may be restored, we ask that Thy grace may comfort and Thy presence sustain them in their sufferings.”
(MH 229.2)
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O, could I find, from day to day, A nearness to my God, Then would my hours glide sweet away, While leaning on His word.
(MH 267.1)
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Lord, I desire with Thee to live Anew from day to day, In joys the world can never give, Nor ever take away.
(MH 267.2)
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Blest Jesus, come, and rule my heart, And make me wholly Thine, That I may nevermore depart, Nor grieve Thy love divine.
—Benjamin Cleveland.
(MH 267.3)
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Men and women in need of physical and spiritual healing are to be thus brought into contact with those whose words and acts will draw them to Christ. They are to be brought under the influence of the great Medical Missionary, who can heal both soul and body. They are to hear the story of the Saviour’s love, of the pardon freely provided for all who come to Him confessing their sins.
(MH 267.4)
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Under such influences as these, many suffering ones will be guided into the way of life. Angels of heaven co-operate with human instrumentalities in bringing encouragement and hope and joy and peace to the hearts of the sick and suffering. Under such conditions the sick are doubly blessed, and many find health. The feeble step recovers its elasticity. The eye regains its brightness. The hopeless become hopeful. The once despondent countenance wears an expression of joy. The complaining tones of the voice give place to tones of cheerfulness and content.
(MH 267.5)
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As physical health is regained, men and women are better able to exercise that faith in Christ which secures the health of the soul. In the consciousness of sins forgiven there is inexpressible peace and joy and rest. The clouded hope of the Christian is brightened. The words express the belief, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me.”Psalm 46:1; 23:4. “He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might He increaseth strength.”Isaiah 40:29.
(MH 267.6)
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