353 - The Promise of Healing#
353 - The Promise of Healing
(JP Text Group - Huang Jihong Compilation)
The topic we are sharing is: The Promise of Healing
Let's read Exodus 15:22-27,
22 Moses led the Israelites from the Red Sea and 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; that is why the place is called Marah. 24 So the people grumbled against Moses, saying, "What are we to drink?" 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 sweet. There the Lord issued a ruling and instruction for them and tested them.
26 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, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord who heals you." 27 Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve springs and seventy palm trees, and they camped there near the water.
Let's start with a prayer:
Heavenly Father, we thank and praise you for giving us this time to worship together and share your word. May the Holy Spirit lead us, bringing comfort and strength to every brother and sister seeking you. We desire to hold onto your promises in our lives, regardless of our circumstances or problems. We wish to look to your word and grasp your promises, allowing them to take effect in our lives. You have brought brothers and sisters seeking you, and may everyone receive something. We pray in the name of our Lord Jesus, Amen.
God has written many promises in the Bible, and these promises are for us, meant to be applied in our lives. Otherwise, there would be no need for God to write them in the Bible for us to see. The promises given to us are meant to be bestowed upon us. Today, we are discussing the promise of healing. When do we need healing? When we have problems or illnesses, we need to be healed by God. Whether physically or emotionally, when we encounter issues, we should seek God's promises because He is willing to save you.
What problem did the Israelites face today? Moses led the Israelites from the Red Sea into the Desert of Shur. After crossing the Red Sea, the Israelites were on a path through the desert. The desert in Israel is extremely hot, with daytime temperatures reaching over 46°C. In the Sinai desert, thorn bushes often catch fire spontaneously. That place is not suitable for human habitation; it is hot during the day and extremely cold at night. As you know, in extreme conditions of heat and cold, people's hearts can become very restless, and what they need most is water.
After crossing the Red Sea, the Israelites traveled for three days in the Desert of Shur without finding water. This problem may seem not so serious, but it actually affects everyone's heart. Without water, everything else seems unimportant, and people become restless and anxious.
Verse 23 says, when they came to Marah, they could not drink its water because it was bitter...
In Hebrew, Marah means bitter. They desperately hoped to find water in the desert, but when they searched for it, they found that the water was bitter. Sometimes our lives are like this; we encounter unexpected difficulties, and when troubles come, it can be disheartening. How should we respond and solve these issues? Sometimes we may ask: Why? We have obeyed God's word; the Israelites are walking on the path of promise! Why do they encounter suffering? Why do problems arise?
Many times, we think that God's promises are good, and that on the path of promise, we won't encounter enemies or sufferings. However, the Bible does not give us such promises. What God tells us is: no matter where you are, He will be with you, He will give you strength, and He will heal you. This is God's promise to us.
Just like the Israelites, after crossing the Red Sea, what awaited them was not a land flowing with milk and honey, but a desolate desert and scorching thirst. In such a hot place, enduring thirst, what should they do? You can imagine how they felt. After finally finding water, thinking they could finally drink, only to discover that the water was undrinkable, would make anyone more anxious.
Sometimes our faith is like this; our faith is not a smooth road where we sit in a rocking chair living a life of faith. It is often like the life of the Israelites in the desert. They thought that after crossing the Red Sea, everything would go smoothly and all would be well. We also believe that Jesus has accomplished everything for us on the cross, and many people shout slogans saying, Jesus has done everything, so we just need to receive His blessings without doing anything.
I believe many people love to hear such words, but when they encounter suffering, they do not use this phrase. When faced with difficulties, they begin to complain, just like the Israelites today.
Is God still present in the desert? The answer is certain; even when they faced suffering and bitter water, God was still there. Today's scripture tells us what to do when we encounter difficulties and troubles. Most people might say to pray or declare... I believe many people would parrot such phrases, but what if they are ineffective? When they crossed the Red Sea, Moses raised his staff, and the sea parted. Now, the situation seems different. What is different now? Now it is bitter water; you declare in the name of the Lord to turn the bitter water sweet. This is a method we can use, right? But it seems that the water did not change. What do we need to do at this moment?
The Israelites had experienced God's miraculous grace, especially each person had witnessed the Passover and the miracle of crossing the Red Sea. I believe that was a very unforgettable miracle for them. Now, in a situation that is less difficult than before, they have forgotten God's power and promises. Those miracles brought them shock and excitement, but afterward, the most basic things in life, like eating and drinking, caused them to lose faith. The Israelites complained, doubted God, and did not know what to do.
Many believers' discouragement and weakness may not stem from encountering major issues, but from being weak and falling in many small matters in life. After all, the chances of encountering major difficulties in life are not high. Instead, many seemingly ordinary problems in daily life leave many people unsure of how to rely on God.
How many times can we cross the Red Sea in our lives? Perhaps once is enough. In the desert, relying on God every day, relying on His word for what to eat, drink, and wear often makes us anxious, doubting whether God loves us. So, concerning these issues, Jesus once told us not to worry about what to eat, drink, or wear; these are what the Gentiles seek. Your heavenly Father knows what you need. So, brothers and sisters, when you encounter these problems, what will you do?
Share the first point: When facing problems, call on God and hold onto His promises.
If today you encounter problems like the Israelites, what would your reaction be? First, let's look at how the Israelites responded.
Exodus 15:24 says, "So the people grumbled against Moses, saying, 'What are we to drink?'"
Did you see that? This is the Israelites; their faith is indeed quite immature. They had seen many miracles before, but now when they encounter a small problem, they begin to complain. Many people also particularly look forward to seeing miracles in their daily lives. But do you know that every day God gives you various blessings, and living in God's peace is itself a miracle? If miracles become something supplied every day, we no longer see them as miracles. Like the Israelites today, we can think about it from their perspective: God provided a cloud by day, a fire by night, and manna; which of these is not a miracle? Yet they doubted God countless times over 40 years.
Brothers and sisters, I am not against miracles; I hope everyone focuses on God's promises rather than on miracles. Miracles can at most sustain your excitement for three days. After three days, you return to life, and you need to live by God's word, not by daily miracles. So many people, after going to extremes, say, "I need to pray today to see what God wants me to eat or wear."
If you still need to rely on prayer for such matters, asking God to give you a word before you act, it shows that you do not know how to use God's word. Especially in some extreme sects, they pray in the morning when they get up, facing their wardrobe, saying, "Lord, you must give me a word today; tell me which piece of clothing to wear! You must speak to me now; if you don't, I won't get out of bed or put on clothes..."
We say that such people are confused in their faith, not realizing that God has given us the freedom to choose. Just look at what is suitable and wear it. When facing problems, not everything can be completely solved by declarations. Many things require you to take action; God has given you promises to use. The Israelites complained because they only saw difficulties and did not see God's promises and power. I know that in this environment, many people are fearful, many complain, and many are dissatisfied. Yes, but this does not solve the problem. If complaining could solve problems, God would surely say, "It's okay, complain." But the problem is that such complaints only exacerbate the issues and do not benefit us at all. So what should we do? Call on God.
Psalm 34:17-18
17 The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. 18 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
What promise does this give us? The righteous cry out; are you righteous? If you believe in Jesus and that He shed His blood for your sins on the cross, and rose from the dead three days later, acknowledging Him as your Savior, you are justified by faith. When you call on God, He hears you and delivers you from all your troubles. God will surely save you from troubles, but we should not say that God will save you in the way you expect. For example, in the past, the Israelites relied on Moses' staff to part the Red Sea. What about in the future? No matter what problem arises, just let Moses raise his staff to pray and solve the problem? It seems not to be that simple; otherwise, God's power would be too small.
Many people are healed, and many problems are solved; God uses countless methods. There are many ways with God; it depends on which one you are willing to use. After you pray, God will give you wisdom and methods to solve your problems. Do not imitate others' methods; rely on the God behind those methods. He has given you promises, and if you hold onto those promises, it will be easier. If you are hurt inside, draw near to our God; He will save you and comfort you. Hallelujah.
Let's look at a passage from John 16:22-24
22 So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.
23 In that day you will no longer ask me anything. Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. 24 Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.
This is the promise Jesus gives us. When you are sorrowful, worried, or fearful, and have doubts in your heart, what should you do? When you see Jesus, your heart will rejoice; when you see Jesus, your heart will have hope, and this joy cannot be taken away from you. We will have many questions in this world, including many truths in the Bible that we do not understand; this is very normal. There are too many things in this world that you do not understand, but this does not prevent us from calling on God. It does not prevent us from holding onto His promises and living. So Jesus means that one day when you see Him again, you will no longer ask many questions.
Do not keep focusing on asking questions. Many people, after reading a passage of scripture, say, "Why is it like this?" For example, yesterday a sister asked me a question that someone asked her, and she did not know how to answer. Jesus once cast out thousands of demons from a man, and those demons later entered a herd of pigs, which then jumped off a cliff into the water. They were puzzled by the question: Why did the pigs jump into the water? Why did the demons enter the pigs?
Brothers and sisters, this is not something we should worry about. Why should we be concerned about where the demons went, why they entered the pigs, or why the pigs jumped into the river? These things have nothing to do with you. Focus on Jesus. That passage of scripture does not emphasize whether the demons liked dirty water or why the pigs jumped... this is really not important.
You will indeed have many questions, but do these questions relate to our salvation? Where the demons ultimately go, why should we care? As long as they come out of that person, that is enough. What you should see is the power of Jesus. I know many people read the Bible and see some strange questions, but this does not prevent us from calling on God, praying to Him, or holding onto God's promises. Put down the questions for now; one day God will surely reveal them to you. But if you insist on asking about the demons, I think God may not reveal it to you because it is not important.
The second half of verse 23 says, "Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name."
This is what we need to meditate on often; this is what we need to hold onto when we encounter problems. If you ask the Father for anything, He will give it to you in Jesus' name. Until now, you have not asked for anything in Jesus' name. Now that you ask, you will receive, so that your joy may be complete. Such verses with promises are what we should often meditate on. Hallelujah. Examples that have nothing to do with salvation or God's promises are merely manifestations of God's power in action; there is no need to get too caught up in those matters. These promises are given to you, so meditate on them often. Hallelujah.
I want to tell everyone that when you encounter problems, do not complain, because complaining really does not work. Some say that complaining makes them feel a little better, but the more you complain, the bigger the problem becomes. Perhaps the person listening to your complaints becomes anxious too. It is better to call on God when you encounter problems, pray to God, and hold onto His promises. You believe that God will surely help you. He hears you, and He will save you from all troubles. Moses called on God, and God gave him a method: to throw the piece of wood He indicated into the water.
Exodus 15:25 says, "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 sweet."
We do not know how large that body of water was or what that piece of wood was; that is not what we need to discuss or care about. The focus of this verse is that God gave Moses a method. I want to tell everyone that when you encounter problems, do not say, "Lord, give me a piece of wood too." You need to understand what this represents. The Israelites complained when they encountered problems, but Moses called on God when he faced the same problem. This is what you need to learn.
When you encounter problems, do not complain like the Israelites; instead, call on God like Moses did. God will surely give you a method. Perhaps this method is not giving you a piece of wood but a word or a very ordinary action that you can take. Apply that method to your problem, and your bitter water will become sweet. The key is not to imitate the method but to emulate Moses' prayer to God when facing problems. Hallelujah. That piece of wood symbolizes the cross of Jesus Christ, so do not think about what the wood is; think about what it points to, which is the cross of Jesus Christ.
Let's look at a passage from Galatians 3:13-14
13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole." 14 He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.
This passage is very interesting. Jesus Christ became a curse for us, meaning that if it were not for Jesus, bitter water would remain bitter, and problems would remain problems. Using our own methods may not solve them. Some say that some problems can still be solved, yes, but not all problems can be solved. For example, how do we solve the problem of death? Jesus has solved all of this. Jesus became a curse for us, redeeming us from the curse of the law. This means that when something enters into a curse, it changes the curse.
I want to tell you that in the past, we lived under the curse of life, under the curse of the law. Because God's law tells us that if you cannot keep all the laws, you fall under the curse. It is like wanting to drink water, but now you encounter bitter water; this is truly unfortunate. So how can people escape the curse of life and the various problems in life? We are not asking everyone to stay away from these things, but when you encounter these problems, know that there are ways to solve them. If there are ways to solve them, there is no need to worry, right? Just like with a cold, you are not worried about getting a cold because there are methods to treat it, so you are not concerned. People fear certain things because they have no way to solve them. Jesus Christ has already become a curse for you. He did not only die for your sins on the cross but also bore the curse for you, delivering you from various curses.
So when He died on the tree, you came out from all curses. After coming out, what will God bring you? The blessings of Abraham. So God will bring the blessings of Abraham upon you. When we accept Jesus, the Holy Spirit dwells in our hearts. The Holy Spirit will help you, comfort you, and support you when you encounter any problems or difficulties, so that you do not lose hope.
Share the second point: From bitter to sweet, the cross of Jesus Christ.
Because Jesus became a curse for us, He died and rose again on the third day, bringing us from bitterness to sweetness. In the past, we were always threatened by death. When Jesus rose from the dead, we believed in Jesus, and we would also experience the resurrection like Jesus, so we no longer fear death but have the hope of resurrection. This is the change from bitterness to sweetness.
1 Peter 2:24-25
24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. 25 For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
I hope everyone can remember this verse because it is God's promise of healing to us. He bore our sins on the cross. Remember one thing: you have died to sin; now you live in righteousness, living in Jesus Christ. You are no longer living for yourself on this earth but for the Lord who rose from the dead. In other words, you live with the power of Christ and the authority of Christ. Look at how Jesus lived while walking on earth; He also encountered difficulties and troubles, but He overcame them. His victory signifies that when you encounter problems, you can pray to our Lord, asking Him to give you strength and wisdom to overcome all the problems you face, including the sufferings in life and physical illnesses.
How do we use our promises? By His wounds, I have been healed. This is God's promise of healing to us; Jesus was wounded, and we are healed. The cross that changes bitterness to sweetness. If we do not know Jesus, we may indeed be in suffering. But now that Jesus has been wounded for you, you can receive His healing. In this matter, there is no need to think too much; you just need to receive it. The simpler you think, the easier it is to obtain. If you complicate it, analyze it, and debate it, you may not receive it. Just simply believe that Jesus was wounded, and I am healed; this is God's promise of healing to you.
Do not ask why He was wounded for our healing. This is God's way of healing us; He took the punishment for us, so we received it. It is like asking a doctor why this medicine can cure my cold. The doctor might say that it contains components that help eliminate the cold virus. Jesus was wounded, and you can receive complete healing.
Verse 25 says, "For you were like sheep going astray..."
What is a wandering sheep? It does not know where to go, does not know what to do, is lost and helpless, and may also complain. Now there is a shepherd who comes to lead you home; this is the happiest thing for us. We are not afraid of encountering difficulties in the world; we fear having no solution. But now you really do not need to fear or worry because our Lord has overcome the world. He will give you methods and strength to overcome all the problems you encounter in this world. Now you are a person with belonging; you belong to the great Shepherd of our souls - Jesus Christ. He is your Overseer, watching over you, walking with you every day. What is there to worry about?!
Just like David said, "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want." Amen. A beautiful psalm. The following verses also tell us, "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death." These two sentences are not contradictory. However, many people go to extremes and say, "If He is my shepherd, why do I still walk through the valley of the shadow of death?" This is complaining; this is not seeing what God's promises are for you. The Israelites may also have thought, "After crossing the Red Sea, why is there no water supplied? Why is there no food supplied? Shouldn't we enjoy blessings after crossing the Red Sea?"
What they did not realize is that after crossing the Red Sea, God had already allowed them to live in blessings. This was God's training to lead them to a more blessed place. God's training is also to help us recognize His blessings more, so do not keep your focus solely on methods.
Many people ask me, "In the past, I encountered this problem, and a declaration solved it. Why is it not working now?" It is not that it is not working; perhaps God is teaching you a different lesson, using a way that allows you to know Him more, so that your life can experience greater blessings. Amen. Please remember that God is an unchanging God, but He will train us to allow us to receive greater blessings. To know Him more, we can receive more. If we only learn one trick, when you know Jesus, you will know to raise your staff and declare, but when you face death, you will still only know this one trick, which shows that our God seems to only supply this little bit. God's methods are many. As you continue to know the power of this Lord, the methods become unimportant. What matters is that you know God is with you; He is your guarantee, He is your protection. With that, no matter which method you use, you can give thanks to God. Amen.
Matthew 16:24-25
24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it."
Many people may not understand this passage; they may worry because the teachings under the law in the past indicated that becoming a disciple of Jesus is not easy. You must deny yourself and take up His cross to follow Jesus. What is this cross? It is suffering, persecution, and various problems, etc. Such an explanation is too forced. It seems that we were originally blessed, but after believing in Jesus, various hardships and difficulties come upon us. What is it for? To refine us, because so many blessings before brought us terrible curses.
If you think this way, when you share the gospel with others, you will be fearful, especially if some people say, "I have friends who are healthy; they are very wealthy and have high status in their families." Such people do not need Jesus. If you can think this way, you are indeed influenced by similar teachings. You feel that believing in Jesus has become suffering, and who would want to believe? Such people certainly will not believe. Some even say that the purpose of believing in Jesus is to have a better life.
If you simply understand our God this way, indeed, they will choose to share the gospel selectively, saying that some people do not need it. But in reality, everyone needs it.
Jesus is here to give us life and life more abundantly. Many people strive in this world through their efforts, indeed gaining wealth and high status, but the emptiness in their hearts is something you do not know. Only Jesus can fill that emptiness because material things cannot satisfy people, and status cannot satisfy people. Jesus can satisfy people. What Jesus emphasizes here is that if anyone wants to follow me, they must deny themselves. Simply put, forget the past way of living and follow Jesus' way.
In context, this means that following Jesus, no matter how difficult the conditions are, even facing death, you must follow Jesus. This was the situation at that time. But now, looking at this passage, since Jesus has already gone to the cross, we are under the New Testament.
Looking at this passage now means that we must let go of the past ways of living, knowing that what Jesus gives us is a better way, a life of abundant blessings, so we are willing to follow Him. It is absolutely not about being forced to follow Jesus but being willingly attracted by Jesus. Jesus Himself also said, "When I am lifted up, I will draw all people to myself," indicating that Jesus Himself has attraction. The gospel we preach is not about forcing people to believe or scaring them into believing; it is about people in suffering now knowing sweetness and being drawn to Him. The cross of Jesus can attract people to follow Him.
25 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it...
This means that trying to save your life through your own efforts will not work; ultimately, you will lose your life. Conversely, whoever loses their life for my sake truly says, "Lord, I give my life to you. I will no longer struggle or think too much." You follow God's way, and in doing so, you find life. You say, "Lord, I will follow your way completely," and you will find life.
There are many similar testimonies. Some people have been given a death sentence by the hospital, and the doctors say they have done their best. In this situation, they do not want to die quickly and keep thinking about what to do. They seek Jesus. Completely trusting in Jesus, they come before God and say, "Lord, since there is no way left for me, I will rely on you completely." They believe in God's word, and as a result, they find life. What is the reason? Because they had no other way left. Because of Jesus, they gave up all their previous efforts, thinking they were about to lose their lives, but unexpectedly, because of Jesus, they found life.
I want to tell everyone that when we encounter suffering and problems, many people's first reaction is to use their own methods to solve them. It is better to first learn to call on God like Moses: "Lord, give me a method." God will surely reveal it to you. Why do I suggest everyone read the Bible? First, store God's words in your heart. When you truly have a need, pray to God, and He will give you a specific verse or a promise. As long as you hold onto that word, the method will come immediately. God's wisdom is vast; there may be countless ways to solve your problems, right? Brothers and sisters.
I want to tell everyone that when you encounter problems, do not worry; the cross of Jesus Christ can change everything. When facing problems and suffering, people hope to eliminate these difficulties and clear away these sufferings. But the Lord's method is to add His method in the midst of the problems. What do I mean? For example, if this cup of water is bitter, we might think that it cannot be drunk and must be poured out or replaced with a cup of sweet water. But God's method is to leave the bitter water there and add His element to it, and the bitter will become sweet.
So the problems and environment remain; as long as you put Jesus in, everything changes. Most people say, "Lord, move this mountain; Lord, move this tree; Lord, remove this suffering." If this is removed, you will continue to encounter similar problems as you move forward. What should you do? God's method for you is to put Jesus in, to put the cross of Jesus in, and the bitter will become sweet. So the next time you encounter similar problems, continue to put the cross of Jesus in, and the bitter will turn sweet again. This way, you will continually experience God's power. Does that make sense to everyone?
When you understand Jesus and His cross, the bitter will turn sweet, and curses will turn into blessings. So no matter what the devil throws at you, do not worry. He wants you to fall, but unexpectedly, these things will elevate you higher. In some dramas, the main characters experience countless difficulties, and their opponents want to eliminate them, but those events ultimately become stepping stones for their rise. This is a good thing. The devil wants us to fall, but our God uses these methods to test us, to refine us, and to elevate us, bringing us more blessings. But do not add the wrong things; when problems and sufferings come, just add Jesus and the cross of Jesus Christ, and that is enough. Adding too much will cause problems.
Let me tell you a story. In 2 Kings 4, there is a story about the prophet Elisha going to Gilgal during a famine. Elisha and his disciples were not wealthy either and were facing famine. They put a large pot on the fire to cook soup for the prophets. The soup was soon ready, and one of them went to the field to gather herbs. He found a wild gourd vine and picked a bag of wild gourds, cut them up, and put them into the pot of soup without knowing what they were. When they cooked it and tried to eat, they found it was poisonous, and everyone could not eat.
Brothers and sisters, do you notice that this situation is somewhat similar to today? There is no water, and when they finally find water, it turns out to be bitter. During the famine, Elisha's disciples were all waiting for the soup in the pot, but when it was ready, they found it was poisonous. What should they do? If a person encounters this problem, they might say, "That's it; we have to pour out this soup." They might complain, saying, "You don't even know what that is; why put something unknown in? Now everyone can't eat..." But look at Elisha's solution. Elisha said, "Get some flour." He put the flour into the pot and said, "Serve it to the people." The pot had no poison anymore. This is the content of 2 Kings 4:41.
What do you notice? God's way of doing things is sometimes completely different from human ways. We think the water is bitter, so we must leave it; we think there is poison in the pot, so we must pour it out, and the soup cannot be drunk. But God's way is to put a tree in the bitter water, and it becomes sweet; to put flour in the poisonous pot, and the soup is healed and no longer poisonous. This is God's way.
I say again, do not add the wrong things. Do not imitate these methods; see the power of God behind these methods. The flour that Elisha used also symbolizes Jesus Christ. He is soft like fine flour, bringing us supply and help. Among the prophets' disciples, one person did something unnecessary. Originally, the soup was good, but because he added something he did not know, it resulted in everyone being unable to drink.
Many people say they have discovered new revelations in the Bible or found something new, and as a result, they put Jesus and His cross aside and focus on those strange things. This can poison everyone and lead them away from the cross of Jesus, causing many problems, and they cannot drink the soup.
I want to tell everyone that God led the Israelites out of Egypt; this was just the first step, just a beginning. How to live afterward requires them to follow God's way. After the bitter water was healed, the Lord established laws and decrees for them and tested them. These laws and decrees help them live in order, conforming to God's creation and living a victorious life.
Even in today's technologically advanced world, we still need to live in order and conform to God's creation. If we violate it, there will indeed be curses and problems at any time. Among these laws and decrees, there are things that can be done and things that cannot be done; things that can be eaten and things that cannot be eaten. For example, bats and badgers are not to be eaten according to the Bible. If you eat them, it may lead to unexpected and terrible consequences. I believe that at this point, many people already understand what this means. This is how God led the Israelites so long ago.
I tell you not to eat certain things; then do not eat them. I tell you that you can eat certain things; then you can eat them. You can eat things that have fins and scales, and those that have split hooves and chew the cud; these are fine and beneficial for your body. But some things are absolutely forbidden; those are the laws and decrees, brothers and sisters.
This includes when to rest and when to work. You must remember that God's arrangements are always the best. You cannot stay up until one or two in the morning and then say, "Lord, give me a healthy body." How can that be accomplished? Since God tells you to rest early and get up in the morning, that is a good thing. Just live according to God's way. If you violate God's principles while asking, "Lord, why don't you protect me?" that is a problem.
So today I want to tell everyone that the laws and decrees are also God's love for us. God placed these laws and decrees before the Israelites to see if they were willing to willingly obey them. At first, they may not have listened, but in the end, they failed and fell into problems. God still sent prophets to tell them they were on the wrong path and should return to His word.
Today I also want to tell everyone that if you repeatedly fail in your life, even after declaring and praying without results, check if there are some things you are doing that violate God's way. What should you do? Just adjust, and that is fine. Remember, God is willing to bless us.
Finally, the last two verses, Exodus 15:26-27
26 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, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord who heals you."
What does this passage mean? God hopes the Israelites will live according to His word. The principles God gives us for living are the best. No matter how long it takes, God's words will not fail. They remain the most meaningful way of living for us, right? Brothers and sisters, for example, God said you should work for six days and rest on the seventh day, listening to God's word. What benefit does this bring us? We work for six days in the world, facing various pressures and increasingly negative news. So when the new week begins, you first go to God's house to listen to His word, clearing away all the complex and negative thoughts from the past, starting the new week light and full of positive energy, faith, and hope. That is different. If you do not give yourself a day of rest and keep working, over time, your efficiency will drop, and your body will not be able to withstand it. Therefore, the ways God gave the Israelites for living still apply to us today.
Even under the New Testament, you can choose not to obey those laws and decrees; God will not say, "If you do not obey, I will not let you enter the kingdom of heaven," or "I will erase your name from the book of life." He will not do that. However, you will experience some failures in your life. Can everyone understand this? In life, I hope all of you can live victoriously, and this victorious way of living is found in God's word. Hallelujah.
Under the New Testament, if you do not listen, God will not curse you. However, because of your disobedience to God's word, you will experience failures. You cannot say this is given by God; this is not God's gift. This is likely due to our own failure to obey His word. But even so, if you fall, become weak, or fall ill, our God is still willing to heal. This is God's love; His love has come upon you.
27 They came to Elim, where there were twelve springs and seventy palm trees, and they camped there near the water.
Let us make a hypothesis: even if the water at Marah was not healed, as they moved forward, they would see twelve springs and seventy palm trees. God had already prepared more abundant blessings for them; they just complained there. God said, "Okay, I will heal it to show you. I want you to know that I am the Lord who heals you and am willing to supply you." So temporary difficulties do not mean we will always be in suffering; temporary dangers do not mean we will forever have no hope. You should think that God will continue to guide us along the way, and greater blessings will come upon us. Amen.
Finally, let us read a passage from Ephesians 1:17-21
17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.
This tells us about the Father's power. We need wisdom and revelation in our lives. Every day, I hope all of you will pray to our Heavenly Father, asking Him to give you wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him more. When you encounter problems and difficulties, He will give you various methods, open your eyes, give you hope, and let you see what great inheritance God wants to give you. When you know God's power, you will not complain; you will give thanks. What is this problem? My God loves me so much; He has already risen from the dead, seating Jesus at His right hand, overcoming all rule, authority, power, dominion, and every name that is invoked. Hallelujah. He is the God of the past, the present, and the future. We just need to live according to His word, and we will see all problems easily resolved. Amen.
Let us pray together.
Heavenly Father, we thank and praise you for giving us such words, letting us know that you are Jehovah Rapha. You are willing to heal us, and you give us the promise of healing. When we encounter difficulties and sufferings, our hearts need healing even more. Bitterness and complaints make our hearts sick. Father, heal every brother and sister listening to this message, filling our hearts with your joy, and tightly holding onto your promises in our lives. No matter what problems we encounter, we see our Lord, who is still alive today, and you have overcome this world. You have countless methods to easily solve our problems.
You are our glorious Father, giving wisdom and revelation to people. You grant these to me so that everyone can see how great our hope is and how rich our inheritance is. Help brothers and sisters to pray this week, asking God to grant us wisdom to change our environment. You will help us, Hallelujah. Also, be a help to those around us, spreading this gospel. Let those in fear and darkness see the light and hope. All glory be to you. We pray in the name of our Lord Jesus, Amen.