Discovering Spiritual Healing
Psalms 119:25-48; Matthew 5:6
Jim Davis
I ran across a prayer of Michael Easley on Oneplace.com, which he had written out. I believe it exemplifies the battle raging in each of us. Listen:
“Why is it hard to obey when I know a thing to be right, when I know a thing to be true, when I know anything else is sin? Why does my flesh crave the physical pull, the natural bend, the ‘here and now’ so control? Forgive me for tasking my children to obey when I do not. Forgive me for expecting others to obey when I feign. Forgive me for pointing out others’ disobedience when I conceal. Make me see my sin clear and present so that I may deal with You, on Your terms and not mine. Create in me a cleansed heart. Refresh my longing to obey. Enthuse me to submit. Transform me so that I will live by faith. Dear Sovereign who has paid my all, help me find a clear and faithful path to always want to obey more eagerly than I want to sin. I pray this in my Savior’s name, amen.”
It is no problem for us to pray for a long lost uncle who just got in touch with us because he is dying with cancer. But to pray the kind of prayer we have just read is so foreign to us. Someone suggested those who lead public prayer should record the prayers and go home and listen to them. It would be much like me trying to listen to my own preaching. I am so self-critical I can hardly listen to them.
This prayer reveals the never-ending challenge of Christianity to allow God to establish his kingdom in our hearts. We need something more lasting than self-help and self-improvement. We can not fight spiritual battles with carnal weapons. Carnal weapons are simply fleshly weapons. The flesh is weak. The flesh will not defeat itself, because its own selfish interest is at stake.
The spirit is willing but the flesh is very weak. I don’t know how many times I have decided to go on a diet tomorrow or to exercise more tomorrow. The flesh is always telling me tomorrow is certainly a perfect day for either. Tomorrow never comes. Why? There is something about this old fleshly body programmed to look out for its own interest. Fighting spiritual battles with fleshly weapons is like pitting one demon in our life against an opposing demon in our life. There is no way either demon will let us win, because their job is to make you lose. Demons hardly cooperate with each other for their own good much less our good.
When Jesus went into the area of the Gerasenes he came upon a demon possessed man. His name was Legion because he had many demons. Yet, the man had been driven out into the graveyard to live. He had been chained, but the demons broke the chain. They had enormous power. They knew Jesus for they were afraid he would torment them before their time. Yet, they couldn’t cooperate with each other as they possessed this man. The man was in a confused stupor. The demons couldn’t even cooperate inside his body for their own good, much less his. This is what the demons want to do to us today in a much more sophisticated way. They throw us into confusion as we seek God’s will for our lives. The demons over power us in our confusion. We need Christ to focus our lives and cast out our demons.
Seek God’s Protection
The greatest thing I need when I decide to engage in battle with these demons is assurance. I spoke to my nephew who is a new Army recruit going to Afghanistan soon. I ask him to be careful and watch out for himself. He told me, “The people I am going with have been there and have returned safe. They will take care of me.” We need to have this kind of confidence when we face Satan’s onslaught. We have a savior who has been through it and he knows how to take care of us.
Paul encourages us to put on Christ in baptism. Putting on Christ allows us to be secure in Christ’s righteousness. God offers us his protection through the righteousness of Christ. The psalmist writes, “Preserve my life in your righteousness” (Psalms 119:40).
Galatians 3:26-29
26 You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. NIV
Clothing yourself with Christ means to be clothed with Christ’s righteousness and his power. Our new self is none other than Christ. We have been crucified with Christ. We no longer live for self. Christ is now living through us in his resurrection power. We fear what men may do to us, but once we are in Christ our security is with God.
We shouldn’t only fear what man will do to us. Men may take our lives. God can save or destroy our souls. If we choose to live in fear, let us fear of God. It is more rewarding.
Matthew 10:25-33
If the head of the house has been called Beelzebub, how much more the members of his household!
26 "So do not be afraid of them. There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. 27 What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. 28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. 30 And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
32 "Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. 33 But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven. NIV
Wherever God rules his power is exerted. Jesus prayed for God’s will be done on earth as it is in heaven. I want to simplify it—he was asking for me to pray for God to rule in my heart, in my mind, in my actions, yea, in my life. Where God rules his power is felt. Jesus indicates this should be the focus of our every prayer.
Focus your Life through the Word
We may want to experience the power of God before we acknowledge his ways for our lives. We may desire the wisdom of God without obedience. This is not the way it works. The wisdom and power of God comes as we obey. You can’t experience the power of a car engine without first filling the gas tank. There is no chance of experiencing the power of God without first being filled with the knowledge of God. There is no chance of experiencing the power or wisdom of God without allowing the knowledge of God to rule our hearts.
God works out his plan to salvage our lives as we seek to work out our own salvation in the scheme of life. It is our response to God that allows his wisdom and power to enter our lives.
Philippians 2:12-13
12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed — not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence — continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.
I want you to listen to a prayer of one of the psalmist. Listen to how he’s pleading for God to rule in his life. It’s the kind of praying that leads to a powerful way of living.
Psalms 119:25-32
25 Daleth
I am laid low in the dust;
preserve my life according to your word.
26 I recounted my ways and you answered me;
teach me your decrees.
27 Let me understand the teaching of your precepts;
then I will meditate on your wonders.
28 My soul is weary with sorrow;
strengthen me according to your word.
29 Keep me from deceitful ways;
be gracious to me through your law.
30 I have chosen the way of truth;
I have set my heart on your laws.
31 I hold fast to your statutes, O LORD;
do not let me be put to shame.
32 I run in the path of your commands,
for you have set my heart free.
The psalmist is laid low in the dust. This is like saying he is down and out with seemingly no way to look but up. He has come up completely empty. His life is melting away in tears of regret. I am so glad he doesn’t tell us his specific problem. The specificity of the problem is unimportant. The most crucial aspect of this psalm is his desire to bring his problem to God—his desire to be filled with God’s ways.
He says, “I have recounted my ways…teach me your decrees.” He doesn’t want to listen to his own deceitful ways, which may have been what brought him low in the dust. He prays “Keep me from deceitful ways . . . do not let me be put to shame.” He is smart enough to know he cannot continue to listen to his own lies. He is recounting his ways—considering his ways—he is examining his life. His desire is for God’s word to preserve his life as he obeys his word.
The Christian’s greatest task is to challenge the deceitfulness our world. Satan, the prince of our world is a master at distorting our perspective and warping our thoughts. The Bible is given to us to enable us to recognize Satan’s deception. There is no way we can rise above defeat until we can identify Satan’s deception for what it is.
The signature of God’s person is the willingness to test herself with God’s word. Paul tells us to examine ourselves.
2 Corinthians 13:5-10
5 Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you — unless, of course, you fail the test? 6 And I trust that you will discover that we have not failed the test. 7 Now we pray to God that you will not do anything wrong. Not that people will see that we have stood the test but that you will do what is right even though we may seem to have failed. 8 For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. 9 We are glad whenever we are weak but you are strong; and our prayer is for your perfection. 10 This is why I write these things when I am absent, that when I come I may not have to be harsh in my use of authority — the authority the Lord gave me for building you up, not for tearing you down. NIV
The psalmist says, “I recounted my ways and you answered me . . .” He is recounting his ways before God. When God answered he asked God to strengthen him according to his God’s word. He is not saying, “Well, sure I have problems, but so does everyone else, and my problem is not any worse than your problems.” Where is this kind of thinking going to get you? Nowhere! It leaves you biting the dust.
We may take this approach because we don’t know how to approach God for healing. One thing we must never forget is that it is a joy for God to enter our lives with healing. If guilt is the only driving force in your life, you haven’t discovered the joy of God. It is not your joy. It is God’s joy. You haven’t discovered it because you haven’t brought your problems to God who is overjoyed with solving your problems. The angels in heaven rejoice when we come to God for healing.
Nehemiah 8:10
10 Nehemiah said, "Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength." NIV
The joy of Christian living isn’t a joy we discover inside our selves; it is a joy we discover as we come to rejoice in God’s joy over our reconciliation. It’s the Father’s rejoicing giving us joy despite our pain of failure.
Matthew 11:28-30
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
Have you ever made up with your spouse after a spat? A lady said she was up all night. She was asked what her problem was. She indicated that her and her husband had an argument. It sounded as though they argued all night. Sorrow was expressed, but she said, “Oh no, it wasn’t like that at all. We stayed up all night making up!” God rejoices when we come to him for solutions to our problems.
Psalms 119:33-40
33 He
Teach me, O LORD, to follow your decrees;
then I will keep them to the end.
34 Give me understanding,
and I will keep your law and obey it with all my heart.
35 Direct me in the path of your commands,
for there I find delight.
36 Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain.
37 Turn my eyes away from worthless things;
preserve my life according to your word.
38 Fulfill your promise to your servant,
so that you may be feared.
39 Take away the disgrace I dread,
for your laws are good.
40 How I long for your precepts!
Preserve my life in your righteousness.
Coming to God for solutions means we come to change the focus of our lives. The psalmist’s remorse leads him to cry out “Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain.” He wasn’t asking God to fix his life so he could return to his old worthless ways. I remember a young that came into the office a couple of years ago. He had grown up in the church, but he crushed because of his sinful living. He sat there and cried over his failure. I assured him he could be forgiven, but I emphasized that he would have to give his life back to experience healing. I prayed with him for his forgiveness, but I haven’t seen him since.
The psalmist cries out “Fulfill your promise to your servant, so that you may be feared.” He wants God to fulfill his promise of salvation so he can reverence and worship. It is almost as if he is saying “Lord, if you will salvage my life I will worship you.” It is as if he is saying God you will bring honor to yourself when you take away my disgrace. It is like Jacob saying, “God if you will bless me, I will give you a tenth of everything I earn.”
The psalmist wants God to salvage his life so his enemies would fear the Lord. God’s salvation has always brought people to fear and obey. When the ancient peoples of the Bible beheld what Jehovah was doing among the Jews they were often struck with awe and filled with fear. It wasn’t always the kind of fear that brought them to repentance. It was the kind of fear that made them afraid to harm God’s people.
Psalm 119:41-48
41 Waw
May your unfailing love come to me, O LORD,
your salvation according to your promise;
42 then I will answer the one who taunts me,
for I trust in your word.
43 Do not snatch the word of truth from my mouth,
for I have put my hope in your laws.
44 I will always obey your law,
for ever and ever.
45 I will walk about in freedom,
for I have sought out your precepts.
46 I will speak of your statutes before kings and will not be put to shame,
47 for I delight in your commands
because I love them.
48 I lift up my hands to your commands, which I love,
and I meditate on your decrees.
There is nothing more taunting to our enemies than for them to see us rise from the dust of our own failures. The psalmist asks God to salvage his life and, “then I will answer the one who taunts me.” The psalmist sees himself surrounded by his enemies that wish to harm him, but he walks around in freedom as God salvages his life. “I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts.” This is where God’s people become a living testimony to God’s power of salvation. He writes, “I will speak of your statutes before kings and will not be put to shame, for I delight in your commands because I love them.”
I believe there is a passage of scripture of New Testament scripture that is a commentary on these verses.
1 Peter 2:9-17
9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
11 Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. 12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.
13 Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, 14 or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. 15 For it is God's will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men. 16 Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. 17 Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.
Conclusion:
God’s heroes never minimized their sin. If anything they magnified their sin. David cries out, “For thy name’s sake, O Lord, pardon my guilt, for it is great” (Psalms 25:11). It is as though he is using the greatness of his sin to strengthen his plea for pardon, as a beggar would the use greatness of his calamity in begging for relief. A beggar uses the extremity of his calamity as the justification for your response to his request.
In Psalm 119 the psalmist comes to God helpless seeking God’s righteousness. It reminds me of the verse Jesus spoke.
Matthew 5:6
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Bible Study Questions
1. What strikes you most about Michael Easley’s prayer in the introduction to this lesson?
2. What does this prayer reveal to us?
3. What is the greatest thing we need when we decide to challenge the demons in our lives?
4. What does God give us when we put on Christ in baptism? (Galatians 3:26-29)
5. Who should we ultimately fear?
6. When is God’s power exerted in our lives?
7. When does wisdom come to us?
8. How do we focus our lives on God?
9. What does it mean to recount your ways? (Psalms 119:26)
10. What is does Paul encourage the Corinthians to do? (2 Corinthians 13:5-10)
11. What is the joy of God? (Nehemiah 8:10)
12. What affect does our salvation have upon our enemies?
13. How does Psalms 119:25-48 explain Matthew 5:6?