Andrew Fountain - Spiritual Gifts 2: A Model for Healing

(Part 2 of Series on the Gifts of the Spirit)

1. The Old Testament Concept of Holiness

• Leviticus 11:32
• So what happens if something clean touches something unclean?
• So what happens if something holy touches something non-holy?
  
  • Leviticus 10:1-2

• So what kinds of things were holy
  
  • Everything to do with God’s presence Exodus 19:12,13
  • the whole nation were holy in that they were dedicated to God Leviticus 11:44, 45

2. Jericho

• Concept of Chêrem —devoted to God (usually as a sacrifice)
  
  • Closely associated with being holy (Lev 27:20-21,28)
    
    • Leviticus 27:28 “every devoted thing (chêrem) is most holy to the Lord.
• Jericho, as a city was declared by God to be chêrem
  
  • a few things could be purified: silver and gold, and every vessel of bronze and iron
    
    • They became holy Joshua 6:17-19
  • The holy touched the non-holy and the evil was destroyed

3. Now the punch-line

• Old Testament
  
  • 2 Kings 4:32-35 — Elisha raises a dead boy to life
  • 2 Kings 13:20,21 — A dead man’s body touched the bones of Elisha
• New Testament
  
  • I was very surprised by the number of times Jesus healed with just a touch
    
    • He didn’t utter a single word, but his touch healed
  • Here are some examples:
  • Matthew 8:14-15 and other references
• Did the Apostles heal in the same way? —often they did
  
  • Acts 5:15-16 and other references

4. Holiness in the New Covenant?

5. What does this mean in practice?

• I am not claiming that this is the only way God heals!
  
  • But there does seem to be a strong pattern
  • I am not going to guarantee that if you radically following Jesus in loving others and denying yourself that you will become an amazing healer
  • But on the other hand, if you do want to heal then my best answer is to pursue love
  • After all why heal?—out of a heart of compassion?
  • Matthew 20:32-34 Heart of Compassion

Updated on 2010-01-31 (r.128) by Andrew Fountain