THE HEALING POWER OF GOD

• A timeless truth—God heals. Not just in the past. Not just in theory, but in reality today, in your life and mine!
• The church is a hospital for sick people, and we come in hope of experiencing God’s healing hand on our lives.
• Hope is a desire that comes with the expectation of obtaining or fulfillment of a need.

“God is the only source of hope that will never disappoint. In fact, the Bible says he is the God of hope. He wants his hope to overflow into your daily life, providing the power to conquer fear, reduce stress, resolve conflict, build healthy relationships, overcome temptation, and face any challenge.” Rick Warren, Former pastor at Saddleback Church

• The Bible is a collection of books that tell the story of God. The Bible does not just offer us moral direction; it offers divine intervention. Healing is not just a miracle of the body—it is the miracle of God’s love in action.
• From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible is not first and foremost a list of regulations — it’s a narrative. It tells the story of:
  • A God who creates out of love,
  • A people who rebel, again and again,
  • A Savior who comes to rescue,
  • And a Kingdom being restored.
• God’s great love for His creation is exhibited in one of His attributes. That attribute is God our Healer.God Is Our Healer – Exodus 15:26 (NLT) “I am the Lord, who heals you.” From the earliest pages of Scripture, God reveals Himself as Jehovah Rapha “The Lord Who Heals.” Healing is not something He merely does; it’s part of who He is.

• Begins Thursday, August 14th
• What Celebrate Recovery IS NOT:
  • It is not an empty self-help secular program
  • It is not just for people with substance abuse issues.
  • It is not group therapy or professional counseling.
  • It is not a quick fix.
  • It is not just another self-help program.
  • It is not a replacement for church.
  • It is not mandatory or forced.
  • It is not judgmental or shame-based.
  • It is not a place to fix others.

• What Celebrate Recovery IS:
  • 100% Faith-Based Curriculum based on Jesus´ Sermon on the Mount
  • A Christ-centered 12-step recovery program designed to help people overcome hurts, habits, and hang-ups.

CORE ASPECTS OF CELEBRATE RECOVERY:

1. Spiritual Foundation

• • Based on the teachings of Jesus Christ. Uses the 8 Beatitudes from the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5) as the foundation for healing.

2. 12-Step Process

• • Similar in structure to Alcoholics Anonymous but rewritten to include Bible verses that correspond to each step.
  • Each step also aligns with one of the Beatitudes.

3. Areas of Recovery

Celebrate Recovery is not limited to addiction recovery. It helps people dealing with:

• • Substance abuse (alcohol, drugs)
  • Codependency
  • Anger
  • Sexual addiction
  • Eating disorders
  • Depression or anxiety
  • Childhood or relationship trauma
  • Grief or loss
  • Control issues

4. Group Structure

• • Large Group: Everyone gathers for worship and a teaching or testimony.
  • Open Share Groups: Gender- and issue-specific small groups for sharing (confidential and safe).
• Proverbs 27:17 As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.
• Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. 10 If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble.

• God is still in the business of healing.
• Matthew 8:17 “He took our sickness and removed our diseases.”
• Many have tried to get better outside of the healing power of Jesus

• • Self-help – no accountability
  • Behavior modification – Pruning a tree – you must take out it out from the roots
  • Reliance on a higher power that is not Jesus
  • Even the apostles failed without the power of God’s Spirit – Jesus
• Luke 5:17-26 (NLT) 17 One day while Jesus was teaching, some Pharisees and teachers of religious law were sitting nearby. (It seemed that these men showed up from every village in all Galilee and Judea, as well as from Jerusalem.) And the Lord’s healing power was strongly with Jesus.18 Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a sleeping mat. They tried to take him inside to Jesus, 19 but they couldn’t reach him because of the crowd. So they went up to the roof and took off some tiles. Then they lowered the sick man on his mat down into the crowd, right in front of Jesus. 20 Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the man, “Young man, your sins are forgiven.”21 But the Pharisees and teachers of religious law said to themselves, “Who does he think he is? That’s blasphemy! Only God can forgive sins!” 22 Jesus knew what they were thinking, so he asked them, “Why do you question this in your hearts? 23 Is it easier to say ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up and walk’? 24 So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!” 25 And immediately, as everyone watched, the man jumped up, picked up his mat, and went home praising God. 26 Everyone was gripped with great wonder and awe, and they praised God, exclaiming, “We have seen amazing things today!”
• Here are 3 key truths about this story and God’s healing Power:
  • The Power of Faith: This powerful story highlights the strong faith of the friends who go to such lengths to bring the paralyzed man to Jesus.
  • Jesus’ Authority: Jesus demonstrates his authority not only to heal physical ailments but also to forgive sins, a claim considered blasphemous by some religious leaders at the time.
  • Physical and Spiritual Healing: The miracle suggests that Jesus addresses both the physical needs and the spiritual state of individuals, addressing the man’s sins before his physical healing.
  • Healing requires action!

What Must We Do?

1. Believe – “According to your faith, let it be done to you.” (Matthew 9:29) Faith is the hand that receives the gift. Not perfect faith–sincere faith.

2. Ask – “You do not have because you do not ask God.” (James 4:2) Sometimes we struggle in silence. The first step to healing may simply be prayer and then courageously stepping in faith and finding help.

3. Obey – God may ask you to forgive, to let go, or to take a step of faith. Healing often follows obedience.

• Matthew 11:28-30 28 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

Lord Jesus, I admit that I am a sinner. I know that the penalty for my sin is physical, spiritual, and eternal death. I acknowledge that I can’t do anything about my situation. But I know that You came to pay the penalty for my sin. I trust in You alone as the One who died in my place. I repent of my sin and trust in You alone as the only One who can place me in an eternal relationship with the living God. I receive joyfully receive Your gift of GRACE. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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