Covenant Series

Releasing Blessings-Pt. 2: By His Stripes

Scripture:

Isaiah 53:3-6 “He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. 4 Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. 5But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. 6All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.”

Introduction:

The covenant we have with the Lord and, as a result, with one another brings us into a relationship where we come into agreement concerning the release of the healing virtue of the Lord. Too many people today suffer needlessly because the body of Christ has not recognized the authority that Christ has given us to pray for the sick. The other aspect of this is that many do not realize that God desires to release the healing ministry through the individual members of the body of Christ. Being in the Body of Christ puts us in touch with one another to the degree that we feel one another’s infirmities. Let’s be reminded once again about the meaning of covenant.

The meaning of covenant:

1. An agreement, usually formal, between two or more persons to do or not do something specified.

2. Ecclesiastical. A solemn agreement between the members of a church to act together in harmony with the precepts of the gospel.

I. As those in agreement to see the release of the healing virtue we must begin to recognize what God has placed in the Body of Christ.

I Corinthians 12:4-11 “There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.  5There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. 6And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. 7But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:

8for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, 9to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, 10to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.

11But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.”

A. Knowing that God is in charge, we yield to the leading of the Spirit and release the ministry of the gifts through whomever God chooses for that moment.

B. One may have a word of wisdom which builds faith in another to believe for what god has in store for him.

C. Then someone else gets a word of knowledge about what God is going to do now.

D. Then the one with the gift of healing moves out with the laying on of hands, and someone is healed.

II. God’s Word makes plain that healing is His desire and plan.

Malachi 4:2 “But to you who fear My name The Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings;”

A. Because we covenant together to see healing power released, we encourage each other to bless the Lord.

Psalm 103:1-5 “Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. 2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: 3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; 4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; 5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”

1. An atmosphere is created for the release of miracles.

2. It doesn’t matter who does the laying on of hands, just so the afflicted are healed.

B. Jesus presents the Kingdom and as a result, the healing ministry is released in the earth.

Matthew 4:23-24 “And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people. 24Then His fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments, and those who were demon-possessed, epileptics, and paralytics; and He healed them.”

1. Jesus sends His disciples out to duplicate what He was doing.

Luke 9:1-6 “Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases. 2He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. 3And He said to them, “Take nothing for the journey, neither staffs nor bag nor bread nor money; and do not have two tunics apiece. 4“Whatever house you enter, stay there, and from there depart. 5And whoever will not receive you, when you go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet as a testimony against them.” 6So they departed and went through the towns, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere.”

2. The message of the Kingdom has never changed.

John 14:12-14 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. 13And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14If you £ask anything in My name, I will do it.”

III. A covenant agreement to see the release of the healing ministry will cause us to make sacrifices to see it come to pass.

Isaiah 58:6-8 “Is this not the fast that I have chosen: To loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every yoke? 7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry,  And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out; When you see the naked, that you cover him, And not hide yourself from your own flesh? 8 Then your light shall break forth like the morning, your healing shall spring forth speedily, and your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.”

A. How badly do we want it. This is taking the LORD’S PRAYER to the next level.

B. Jesus said, “Seek ye first the Kingdom of heaven.”