Category: Study

Read Matthew 8:5-13

Many had faith that Jesus could heal them. This isn’t unusual to this story.  What is different is that a Roman Centurion is telling Jesus He doesn’t need to come, that he isn’t worthy to host Him.  The centurion doesn’t want Jesus to be put in the situation of having to answer for going into his home.  So the centurion states in faith, “Just speak the word Lord and my servant will be healed” shows a depth of faith greater than any found in Israel according to Jesus.

Unlike our passage from yesterday, this healing isn’t initiated by the one being healed, but through the faith of another.  We are called to pray for others to be healed; for the Holy Spirit to open their hearts to Jesus’ presence.  Pray that physical healing might open people to the permanent Spiritual healing available in Jesus Christ.

Brett Spalding, Pastor

Read John 5:1-8

It is ironic that Jesus would ask the paralytic if he would want to be healed.  It is heart breaking to think that someone might not want to be healed; but this is the case at some level with all of us.  Some find it so difficult to imagine life without an addiction, and they would rather live with what they know than face the unknown.  Others of us have a sin in our life we don’t want to give up because it provides some perceived happiness, and we are afraid to live without it.  Either way, it begs Jesus to ask the question; “Do you want to be healed?”  It begs us to ask the question; “Are we ready to allow Jesus to heal us?”

Let us cry out to God in prayer, yes, I want to be healed and pray for those we know who at this point have resisted healing in Jesus Christ.  Pray for the Holy Spirit to open hearts and minds and allow Jesus in.

Brett Spalding, Pastor

Read Psalm 30:1-4

David exalts God; he praises God for lifting him out of the depths.  He cried out to God and He healed him.  Like the healing we read about in our two previous devotionals, we must ask God for healing, we must believe and confess to receive it.   Notice that David specifies the healing in verse 3; it is not just physical healing, but spiritual healing as well.  While physical healing is temporary, spiritual healing is eternal.  Sometimes we get too caught up in desiring healing that is only temporary and not treasuring eternal healing.  Of course, pray for physical healing and praise God when He chooses to provide it, but let us always make sure our hearts are grounded in the eternal kingdom.

Let us praise God today and exalt Him in prayer for eternal healing that He lovingly provides us. 

Brett Spalding, Pastor

Read Luke 5:12-13

Yes, this week’s devotional theme is healing. Today we see a man who fell at Jesus’ feet with his face to the ground. He confesses his faith to Jesus knowing that if Jesus is willing, he can be “made clean.” Notice that Luke doesn’t just use the word healed, but “made clean.” People associated these types of diseases with some kind of sin during those days, and we can’t overlook the redemptive nature of this healing. While Jesus may not heal us of all our physical ailments (for example – Paul was not healed of his ailment) He will cleanse us from our sins, that is, make us clean in the eyes of God. To receive this blessing, we just have to do what the leper did, believe and confess our faith in him as Lord and Savior.

I urge you to give thanks in your prayer today that Jesus was and is willing to make us clean from our sins against God.

Brett Spalding, Pastor

Read Luke 9:37-43a

I often find it amazing how quickly Satan makes his appearance after we have a wonderful experience in our faith journey.  Peter, James, and John just had one of those “mountaintop experiences” in their faith journey and the moment they get off the mountain they are greeted by a boy possessed by demons.  Have you ever gone on a spiritual retreat or conference with other Christians and had a great time worshipping God and you feel totally uplifted and energized only to be immediately greeted with something that makes you angry or brings you down?  This passage reminds us to go back to the voice of God on the mountain and listen to Jesus.

Don’t forget: While we might be as powerless to heal as the disciples were, Jesus is not.  Pray that when we face difficult circumstances that we will turn to Jesus (listen to Him) and not let these situations in life overcome our faith and lead us away from Jesus. 

Brett Spalding, Pastor

Read 2 Peter 1:16-18

In this letter, Peter seeks to remind us of the true message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  He implores us not to fall victim to clever stories made by false prophets.  Jesus will come in power and glory and Peter states with confidence that he, James, and John were witnesses to His glory on the sacred mountain.  As one reads this it is easy to make the link to Peter’s sermon at Pentecost; “God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact.  Exalted to the right hand of God, He has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear.” (Acts 2:32-33)

Let’s pray for the Holy Spirit to speak truth to us, and listen carefully, so we never fall victim to any false teachings or false teachers.

Brett Spalding, Pastor

Read Luke 9:35-36

Before any reply is given to Peter’s sincere, but misguided request, the voice of heaven is heard, and God tells Peter, James, and John that Jesus is His Son, and they should “listen to Him.”  There is no response; only silence from the witnesses as Jesus’ glory is revealed by God the Father.  We should not overlook the obvious message here as well; God is telling us to listen to Jesus as much as He is telling Peter, James, and John.  My grandfather used to tell me; “you have two ears and one mouth, use them in proportion.”  Let us be slow to speak and quick to listen to the words of Jesus. Pray today for quiet time to listen for the voice of God speaking to us through the Holy Spirit and Scripture.

Brett Spalding, Pastor

Read Luke 9:33-34

Peter’s response is typical Peter; he may not always know what he is saying, but he is faithful and wants to do the right thing.  Peter has genuine faith and realizes that something very special is happening and he wants to enjoy this moment.  We sometimes want to do that as well.  We like the mountaintop experiences, and we want to savor them, we want them to last permanently.  Our faith however, requires us come down from the safety and excitement of the mountaintop and live (share) our faith in our difficult and sometimes mundane world.

While we desire those exciting mountaintop experiences, they are not where we live out our faith.  I encourage you to pray that with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we will respond graciously and joyfully to the everyday opportunities we have to share our faith and serve to make another person’s life better.

Pastor Brett Spalding

Read: Luke 9:28-32

Don’t forget the obvious here; Jesus takes Peter, James, and John up the mountain to pray.  Sometimes we focus on the brilliant light of the transfiguration and the sight of Moses and Elijah talking with Jesus about his bringing fulfillment of the Law and the prophecy of the coming messiah.  It is important to remember, the original point of this journey up the mountain was to pray.  It is during this time of prayer that Jesus, glory is fully revealed to Peter, James, and John. 

I encourage you to pray and consider the times God has revealed His glory to you in great ways and in small, quiet, private ways as well during and immediately following times of prayer.

Brett Spalding, Pastor