God's Healing: Purpose Beyond Personal Relief
Summary
In times of terminal situations, our natural inclination is to focus solely on ourselves, seeking God's intervention for personal relief. However, God often provides new opportunities not just for our benefit but to enable us to be a blessing to others. When Hezekiah faced a terminal illness, he cried out to God, and God responded not only by healing him but by extending his life for a greater purpose. This narrative illustrates that God is deeply emotional and desires to connect with us on a heart level, not just through our words but through our tears and genuine feelings. God is a feeling God, and He wants to feel our pain and joy, not just hear our prayers.
The story of Hezekiah also presents a theological conundrum: how can an unchanging God change His mind? While God's nature and character remain constant, His actions can change in response to our prayers and emotional appeals. This change in action does not contradict His immutability but rather demonstrates His responsiveness to heartfelt prayer. Hezekiah's prayer, filled with emotion, led to God changing His action, granting Hezekiah an additional 15 years of life.
This extension of life was not just for Hezekiah's benefit. God intended to use Hezekiah to deliver His people from the Assyrians. When God intervenes in our lives, it is often to fulfill a larger purpose beyond our immediate needs. Our prayers should reflect a desire to be conduits of God's blessings to others, not just recipients of His grace.
Hezekiah's healing also involved a unique medical solution, demonstrating that while God is not against medicine, He is the ultimate healer. The use of a fig cake to heal Hezekiah's infection shows that God can work through unconventional means to bring about healing. This healing was confirmed by a sign involving the sun, which was significant because it demonstrated God's power over the Assyrian sun god, Assur, reinforcing the message that God is sovereign over all.
Ultimately, the challenge is to change our spiritual credit report. By living a life of surrender and service to God, we can present a credit report that God can respond to favorably. Even if our past is marred by failures, we have the opportunity to improve our spiritual standing by pursuing a deeper relationship with God and serving others.
Key Takeaways:
- God desires to connect with us on an emotional level, not just through our words but through our genuine feelings. He is a feeling God who wants to feel our pain and joy, enhancing our relationship with Him. [02:42]
- While God's nature is unchanging, His actions can change in response to heartfelt prayer. This demonstrates His responsiveness and willingness to intervene in our lives when we earnestly seek Him. [06:58]
- God's interventions in our lives often serve a greater purpose beyond our immediate needs. We are called to be conduits of His blessings, impacting others and fulfilling His larger plan. [09:23]
- God can work through unconventional means to bring about healing and deliverance. While medicine is valuable, God is the ultimate healer, and His solutions may transcend human understanding. [10:35]
- We are challenged to improve our spiritual credit report by living a life of surrender and service to God. This involves pursuing a deeper relationship with Him and being open to His transformative work in our lives. [16:29]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:09] - A New Opportunity to Bless
- [00:46] - Hezekiah's Prayer and God's Response
- [01:50] - The Emotions of God
- [03:35] - From Terminal to Healing
- [04:25] - The Theological Conundrum
- [05:38] - God's Unchanging Nature
- [06:37] - Changing Actions, Not Nature
- [07:53] - Purpose Beyond Healing
- [09:56] - God's Unique Healing Solution
- [11:42] - Seeking a Sign
- [12:54] - The First Daylight Saving Time
- [13:59] - A Relevant Sign for a Greater Purpose
- [15:38] - A Challenge to Change Your Credit Report
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. 2 Kings 20:1-11
2. Isaiah 38:1-8
3. James 5:16
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Observation Questions:
1. What was Hezekiah's initial reaction to his terminal illness, and how did he express his plea to God? [00:46]
2. How did God respond to Hezekiah's prayer, and what specific actions did He take to demonstrate His response? [03:35]
3. What unconventional method did God use to heal Hezekiah, and what does this suggest about God's approach to healing? [09:56]
4. What sign did God provide to confirm Hezekiah's healing, and why was this sign significant in the context of the Assyrian threat? [13:59]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the story of Hezekiah illustrate the concept of God being a "feeling God" who desires to connect with us on an emotional level? [02:42]
2. In what ways does Hezekiah's story challenge the idea of God's immutability, and how can we understand the difference between God's unchanging nature and His changing actions? [06:37]
3. What does Hezekiah's experience teach us about the purpose of God's interventions in our lives, especially in relation to serving a greater purpose beyond our immediate needs? [09:23]
4. How does the use of a fig cake in Hezekiah's healing reflect the relationship between faith and medicine, and what does this imply about God's role as the ultimate healer? [10:35]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you faced a difficult situation. How did you express your emotions to God, and how did that affect your relationship with Him? [02:42]
2. Consider a situation where you felt God changed His actions in response to your prayers. How did this experience shape your understanding of God's nature and responsiveness? [06:58]
3. Identify a current challenge in your life. How can you shift your focus from seeking personal relief to becoming a conduit of God's blessings to others? [09:23]
4. Think about a time when you relied on medicine or other means for healing. How did you incorporate faith into that process, and what role did you see God playing as the ultimate healer? [10:35]
5. Evaluate your "spiritual credit report." What steps can you take to improve it by living a life of surrender and service to God? [16:29]
6. How can you be more intentional about seeking signs or confirmations from God that align with His word and purpose for your life? [12:19]
7. In what ways can you prepare yourself to be used by God for a greater Kingdom purpose, even in the midst of challenging or terminal situations? [15:38]
Devotional
Day 1: God Desires Emotional Connection
God seeks a deep emotional connection with us, beyond mere words. He is a feeling God who wants to experience our pain and joy, enhancing our relationship with Him. This is evident in the story of Hezekiah, where God responded to Hezekiah's heartfelt prayer and tears. God is not distant or detached; He is intimately involved in our lives and desires to connect with us on a heart level. This understanding encourages us to approach God with authenticity, sharing our true emotions and experiences with Him. [02:42]
Psalm 56:8 (ESV): "You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book?"
Reflection: Think of a recent moment of deep emotion in your life. How can you invite God into that experience and share your true feelings with Him today?
Day 2: God's Responsive Nature
While God's nature is unchanging, His actions can change in response to heartfelt prayer. This demonstrates His responsiveness and willingness to intervene in our lives when we earnestly seek Him. Hezekiah's story shows that God is not indifferent to our pleas; He listens and responds to our genuine cries for help. This understanding challenges us to approach God with sincerity and faith, trusting that our prayers can move His heart and lead to divine intervention. [06:58]
Isaiah 38:5-6 (ESV): "Go and say to Hezekiah, Thus says the Lord, the God of David your father: I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. Behold, I will add fifteen years to your life. I will deliver you and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria, and will defend this city."
Reflection: Reflect on a situation where you need God's intervention. How can you approach Him with sincerity and faith, trusting in His responsiveness?
Day 3: Purpose Beyond Immediate Needs
God's interventions in our lives often serve a greater purpose beyond our immediate needs. We are called to be conduits of His blessings, impacting others and fulfilling His larger plan. Hezekiah's extended life was not just for his benefit but to deliver God's people from the Assyrians. This perspective encourages us to view our blessings and answered prayers as opportunities to serve others and participate in God's greater mission. [09:23]
2 Corinthians 9:8 (ESV): "And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work."
Reflection: Consider a blessing or answered prayer in your life. How can you use it to serve others and fulfill God's larger purpose?
Day 4: God's Unconventional Healing
God can work through unconventional means to bring about healing and deliverance. While medicine is valuable, God is the ultimate healer, and His solutions may transcend human understanding. Hezekiah's healing involved a fig cake, demonstrating that God can use unexpected methods to achieve His purposes. This understanding encourages us to remain open to God's unique ways of working in our lives, trusting in His sovereignty and wisdom. [10:35]
2 Kings 20:7 (ESV): "And Isaiah said, 'Bring a cake of figs. And let them take and lay it on the boil, that he may recover.'"
Reflection: Think of a situation where you need healing or deliverance. How can you remain open to God's unconventional methods and trust in His ultimate wisdom?
Day 5: Improving Our Spiritual Credit
We are challenged to improve our spiritual credit report by living a life of surrender and service to God. This involves pursuing a deeper relationship with Him and being open to His transformative work in our lives. Even if our past is marred by failures, we have the opportunity to improve our spiritual standing by aligning our lives with God's purposes and serving others. This perspective encourages us to focus on spiritual growth and transformation, trusting in God's grace and guidance. [16:29]
Colossians 3:23-24 (ESV): "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ."
Reflection: Identify an area of your life where you need spiritual growth. What steps can you take today to improve your spiritual credit and align your life with God's purposes?
Quotes
see most of the time when we're in a terminal situation it's only about me myself and I and that's okay but it can't be limited to you when God gives you a new opportunity he wants you to be a blessing not just be blessed see the prayer you need to pray is God I'm in a terminal situation I need you to reverse this situation so that not only can my situation be changed but so that I can be a conduit to change somebody else's [00:00:32]
I have heard your prayer and I have seen your tears no you didn't I have heard your prayers and I have seen your tears so the first thing is he prayed he gave something he gave God something to hear and it included his credit report says I've heard your prayer but I've also seen your tears I've heard what you said prayer but I've also seen how you feel I've heard your word words but I've also read your heart I've heard your speech but I've also felt the depth of your pain [00:00:56]
let me tell you something about God he's emotional now we don't talk a lot about the emotions of God but we see it all in scripture we see where God gets angry the Bible says the joy of the Lord so he can get joyful the Bible talks about God being pleased or being pleasured loving the feeling that there all kinds of statements about God's feelings you don't just want to reach God's ears you want to touch God's heart cuz he's a feeling kind of God [00:01:42]
he says I've heard your words but I've also felt your pain yeah what the Bible says about Jesus is he came to sympathize right with our hurts that's a that's a feeling thing that's why when we want to just throw stuff up to God without trying to connect with God we want them to hear our words but not feel our hearts you know how it is with people when they talking to us but they ain't feeling us they not we we not we not connecting on this point [00:02:20]
God just doesn't want to hear you he wants to feel you and nothing enhances a relationship like when what is said is also what is felt cuz when the words touch the heart you got a thing going on then he said I've heard your words and I've seen your tears I I I feel you what happen he says I will heal you on the third day you're going to go up to the house of the Lord meaning you going to get your praise on you cry in the day but I'm going give you a reason to shout three days from now [00:03:03]
God cannot change his essential nature but he changed while God cannot change his nature he can and does change his action let me say that again God's nature cannot change but his actions may change how then does God change his action without changing his nature since his nature cannot change but his action as in this case does change so God changes his mind and he says you are going to live you are not going to die [00:06:28]
when you're in a terminal situation and God changes his mind and reverses something and gives you a new lease on life whatever that terminal scenario is it's not just for you see it's not just for you he says when I give you this 15 years it's not just so you can go out and party I'm giving you this 15 years because I want to use you to deliver my people from the attack of the Assyrians other words I I'm the only reason I'm turning this around around is not only to give you life [00:07:47]
God tells the prophet go get a fig cake put the Fig cake on the boil to suck out the infection so that he could live so God gives Isaiah not the doctor a medical solution the Hezekiah is the king so he can get any doctor he wants but because this was a spiritual issue and not merely a medical issue God comes up with a whole another plan to heal him apart from the plan that the professionals would use cuz if the professionals could have used it he wouldn't be terminally ill in the first place [00:10:03]
God is not against medicine in fact all the medicine you use is birth from something God has already made so so any Doctor Who's using any medicine has got to depend on something God has already made to produce the medicine that we take for our illnesses it's nothing wrong with using medicine it's everything wrong with using medicine without God see it started with God he got right with God God said I'm going to hear you then the medicine worked [00:10:48]
God has you for a greater Kingdom Purpose and he wants to use you even if he allows a terminal situation a situation that looks hopeless so I want to challenge you as we wind down here's my challenge change your credit report change your credit report cuz when that time comes you want to be able to say to God God look at my credit report I haven't been perfect I have failed but Lord I have picked up and I have decided to surrender to you to pursue a relationship with you [00:15:30]
to love the Lord my God with all my heart my mind my might and soul to serve you and to serve others God I am yours I am yours and the good thing about a credit report is that they will allow you to let it change they'll allow bad credit to become medium credit to become awesome credit so no matter how bad your credit report used to be change your credit so that when terminal day comes you can offer God something he can respond to [00:16:13]
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