by Tony Hammack
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Jehovah Rapha is one of the Old Testament names for God. It means the Lord our Healer. Very often in scripture a person's name indicates something about their personality. Because one of God's names is "The Lord our Healer" I believe from the context of scripture it indicates that His nature is to heal.
Introduction
Exodus 15
26 He said, "If you listen carefully to the voice of 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."
Rapha – To heal
Rapha conveys the idea of restoring something to its "normal" or useful state.
Listen and Do What the Word Says
James 1:22-25
22Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror 24and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.
How can we Obey the Word?
Titus 2:11-13
11For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. 12It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,
What Brings Grace?
James 4:6-10
6But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." 7Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.
When we listen carefully to the Lord and do what he says according to His Word He Heals us.
By his Wounds
Isaiah gives preview of a clear prophecy that by Messiah's "scourging we are healed" (Isa 53:4,5)
Isaiah 53:4,5
4 Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.
Peter reaffirms this great truth
1 Peter 2:21-24
21To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. 22"He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth." 23When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. 24He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.
One conclusion from the passage in Isaiah 53 and 1 Peter is Jehovah Rapha is not only our healer but is also our Lord Jesus Christ.
The following video from You Tube is very powerful but I would consider it rated "R" for violence. Please don't watch it unless you are old enough.
The bitterness caused by sin can be healed by the Cross of Christ Who became a curse for us on the tree and made available the Tree of Life forever.
Healing Keys
1. Sickness Can Be Related to Personal Sin
Psalm 38:3
3 Because of your wrath there is no health in my body; my bones have no soundness because of my sin.
Proverbs 28:13,14
13 He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy. 14 Blessed is the man who always fears the LORD, but he who hardens his heart falls into trouble.
The Healing at the Pool
John 5:14
14Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, "See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you."
2. Not all Disease is from Personal Sin
John 9:1-3
1As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" 3"Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, "but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.
3. Not all Accidents are a Result of Personal Sin
Luke 13:4,5
4Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? 5I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish."
1 Corinthians 11:29-30
29For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself. 30That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep.
When we think about rightly recognizing the body of the Lord I think it's right to think about his body that was broken for us, His blood that was shed for us. I however also think it's correct to consider the people that make up the current body of Christ. Mistreating people who make up Christ's body can cause illness and even physical death to come upon people.
5. Confession and Prayer
James 5:16
Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.
6. The Word of God Heals
Psalm 107:19-20
19 Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. 20 He sent forth his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave.
7. The Fear of the Lord Brings Healing
Proverbs 3:7-8
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil. 8 This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.
8. Faith Brings Healing
Mark 11:22-24
22"Have faith in God," Jesus answered. 23"I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. 24Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
9. Sōzō
1a: to save b: to heal c: to deliver
2: to save a suffering one, to make well, heal, to deliver from penalties of judgment.
The best way to understand Sōzō is by using the “English word” savedhealeddelivered.
A. Saved
Romans 8:24
24For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has?
...for in this hope we are sōzō.
Sōzō translated Saved
Acts 2:47, Acts 16:31, Rom 8:24, Eph 2:5,8: 1 Tim 2:4, 2 Tim 1:9, Titus 3:5, Rom 11:14, 1 Cor 7:16, 1 Cor 9:22.
B. Healed
Mark 5:23
23and pleaded earnestly with him, "My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live.“
...so that she will be Sōzō and live.
Sōzō translated Healed
Matt 9:22, Mark 5:34, Luke 8:48, James 5:15.
C. Delivered
Luke 8:36
36Those who had seen it told the people how the demon-possessed man had been cured.
...had been Sōzō.
Sōzō translated Delivered
Matt 1:21, Rom 5:10, 1 Cor 15:2, Heb 7:25, James 1:21, 1 Pet 3:21, 1 Tim 4:16
From the Heart of Jesus
Mark 2:9-12
9Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up, take your mat and walk'? 10But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins . . . ." He said to the paralytic, 11"I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home." 12He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, "We have never seen anything like this!"
Please take some time to take authority over disease for yourself or for someone you know who need to be healed. Jesus Christ is Jehovah Rapah, The Lord our Healer.
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