Psalm 105:1-6, 23-26, 45b
Exodus 4:1-9
Matthew 8:14-17
“Now when Jesus had come into Peter’s house, He saw his wife’s mother lying sick with a fever. So, He touched her hand, and the fever left her. And she arose and served them. When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: “He Himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses.”
(Matthew 8:14-17 NKJV)
In our reading today, Matthew exhibits the Kingly nature of Christ. Christ has absolute, unlimited power, He can and does perform miracles. At the slightest touch of a sick person, the person is healed (vv. 3, 15); at the sound of His voice, demon flees his presence (v. 16). He has authority over all evil power and all earthly diseases.
When He took on the sin of the world, He also took our sicknesses. We experience sickness and sin because we live in a fallen world. One of the effects of Him taking on our guilt and the curse on the cross (Gal. 3:13) is for us to experience physical healing (1Pet. 2:24). His healing and exorcisms guarantee that He is the Messiah (Matt. 11:2-6; 12:28; 1Corin. 11:29; Ja 5:13-16). His miracle is a foretaste of what the world would be like in the kingdom of God. (vv. 16-17). We are told that immediately Jesus healed Peter’s mother-in-law, she started serving Him and his disciples (v. 15). In other words, service to Jesus is a form of discipleship. Also, a person who, today is serving has at one time or the other, experienced the healing power physically or spiritually. Later that day, Jesus healed people with divers’ physical illnesses and those that were demon possessed (v. 16).
After being saved from the valley of the shadow of death, from very unpleasant situations, experienced a mighty deliverance, have you resolved to serve the Lord who saved you? Or what are you giving back? Demon possession is the invasion of a person by evil spirit(s) with the purpose of controlling such victim. The evil spirit will indwell such a person, and manifest its nature through the victims. Take total control of the body to the extent that it speaks through the victims (Mk 5:5-9), causing derangement (Jn 10:20), violence (Lk 8:29), or making them deaf (Mk 9:17-22). Usually, the demons secretly, quietly operate in their victims without being suspected, because they do not like being exposed.
Jesus acknowledged the reality of demon possession and always expelled them from their victims. Mark’s record of the Great Commission (Mark 16:15-18) is that “Go into all the world … And these signs will follow those who believe. In My name they will cast out demons; … they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” Today also, there is great need for the Deliverance ministry that clearly demonstrates the power of Jesus over evil spirits that have kept many in bondage to sin, all forms of addiction, and diverse sicknesses. Deliverance will release people whose personality and characters have been distorted by bondage to demons. By His power over physical and spiritual illness, Jesus fulfilled the promise of Isaiah that the Servant of the Lord carried our diseases (v. 17).
OLUFUNMILAYO TITILOLA ADEKUSIBE
Prayer:
I will sing of the mercies of the Lord for ever; with my month will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations.
For I have said, Mercy shall be built up for ever; thy faithfulness shall thou establish in the very heavens.
O Lord, thank you for deep, great, and mighty deliverance in my life and family, in Jesus name.
Lord, align me, and my family into your plans for this season, in Jesus name.
Lord, let the blood of Jesus cleanse me and the fire of the Holy Ghost sanctify me holy for Your service, in Jesus name.
Father give me a large heart, and let me die to self, in Jesus name.
Lord, I surrender my life to Your service, use me as a vessel of honour in Your hand; as Your battle axe; and as Your new threshing machine with sharp teeth, in Jesus name.
Father, visit Christian homes with Your love, power, and mercy, awake the parents from their spiritual slumber to their divine responsibilities, in Jesus name.
Unite the body of Christ in Your love to harmoniously proclaim the Gospel of truth, in Jesus name.
Lord, by Your mercy, Your mighty power, and authority intervene in the plights of Your people in all nations, especially our nation Nigeria, in Jesus name Amen.
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