“Holy Spirit, Strengthen And Encourage Us!”

“Holy Spirit, Strengthen And Encourage Us!”
The week’s focus has been on healing. At one point even the church needed healing. At the conversion of Saul “the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace. Strengthened and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord.” Jesus healed the church by converting the one who was persecuting the church. But it was and is still the Holy Spirit who strengthens her, increases her membership and enables the believers to live in the fear of the Lord.
Through Peter Jesus also healed Aeneas in Lydda. Aeneas had been bedridden for eight years. Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Get up…” Aeneas got up just as commanded and this caused all those who lived in Lydda and Sharon to turn to the Lord. It doesn’t look like Aeneas was a disciple before he was healed.
On the other hand Tabitha, a disciple who lived in Joppa died. She was loved by all because she “was always doing good and helping the poor.” Hearing that Peter was in Lydda they sent for him. When he came, he addressed the corpse, “Tabitha, get up.” Tabitha came back to life. The news spread around “and many people believed in the Lord” (Acts 9:31-42).
The three incidents of healing in the above texts comes from Jesus not as an end in themselves but as a means of bringing people to the Lord.
Firstly the church “enjoyed a time of peace.” Peace ushers good health, stability and growth. Secondly at the healing of Aeneas, the people “saw him and turned to the Lord” Lastly when Tabitha was brought back to life, “many people believed in the Lord.”
The disciples of Jesus Christ do not discriminate in dispensing the grace and mercy of God with which they have been blessed. There is nothing about denomination or believers and unbelievers! The people Jesus healed during his earthly ministry were not Christians before. Christ is for all. His gifts to us should also be used for all. We are going to make heaven because we believe in Jesus Christ not because we belong to this or that denomination. May the Holy Spirit strengthen and encourage us to use the free gifts of God for the benefit of those who need them.
Weekend prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, may your name cause your church to enjoy a time of peace; bring healing to the nations and touch my life at my point of need. Amen!
Have a blessed weekend! Peace be with you!