YAHWEH-RAPHA
The Name
June 9, 2024
If you really want to tick God off, complain about the food. —Dr. Daniel McNaughton
YAHWEH-RAHPH = THE LORD WHO HEALS YOU
22 Then Moses led Israel from the Red Sea and they went into the Desert of Shur. For three days they traveled in the desert without finding water. 23 When they came to Marah, they could not drink its water because it was bitter. —Exodus 15:22-23
24 So the people grumbled against Moses, saying, “What are we to drink?” —Exodus 15:24
25 Then Moses cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a piece of wood. He threw it into the water, and the water became fit to drink. There the Lord issued a ruling and instruction for them and put them to the test. —Exodus 15:25
26A He said, “If you listen carefully to the Lord your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, B I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, who heals you.” —Exodus 15:26A & B
HEALING IS PART OF GOD’S CHARACTER
GOD IS A HEALING GOD
24 “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” —Mark 9:24
WHAT DOES THE NEW TESTAMENT SAY ABOUT HEALING?
1.) HEALING IS A GIFT OF THE SPIRIT
7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.
8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, 9 to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit… —1 Corinthians 12:7-9
2.) HEALING IS FOR GOD’S GLORY AND LEADS TO GOSPEL PREACHING
12 “Fellow Israelites, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? 13 The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus… —Acts 3:12B-13A
19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord… —Acts 3:19
23 Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. 24 News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed; and he healed them. 25 Large crowds from Galilee, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him. —Matthew 4:23-25
3.) HEALING IS A SIGN THAT GOD’S KINGDOM IS HERE
1 When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, 2 and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. —Luke 9:1-2
9 Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ —*Luke 10:*9
4.) HEALING CAN BE INHIBITED BY A LACK OF FAITH
22 Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed at that moment. —Matthew 9:22
5 He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. 6 He was amazed at their lack of faith. —Mark 6:5-6
“Lack of faith” is not a club with which we beat afflicted people with shame. It is primarily a diagnostic question to ask ourselves. Do we believe God loves to give good gifts, including healing, to his children? Do we have the boldness to ask him in faith?
Do we avoid seeking this gift because we don’t believe God will answer and we don’t want to look powerless, be disappointed, or make God look bad? If we find our faith is small, the best thing to do is begin to ask. We can ask for more faith and begin to pray for healings. —Jon Bloom
HOW SHOULD WE PRAY FOR HEALING?
THE BIBLE PROVIDES A FEW MODELS BUT NO FORMULAS
A. LAYING ON OF HANDS
40 At sunset, the people brought to Jesus all who had various kinds of sickness, and laying his hands on each one, he healed them. —Luke 4:40
B. ANOINTING WITH OIL
14 Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. —James 5:14
C. ASK IN FAITH
2B You do not have because you do not ask God. —James 4:2B
D. TRUST GOD WITH THE OUTCOME
We can tell people that God frequently heals today, and that it is very possible that they will be healed, but that we are still living in an age when the kingdom of God is already here, but not yet fully here. Therefore, Christians in this life will experience healing, but they will also experience continuing illness and eventual death. In each individual case it is God’s sovereign wisdom that decides the outcome, and our role is simply to ask him and wait for him to answer. —Wayne Grudem
Trevor Testimony