These are notes on the sermon, Your Healing Is His Priority, preached by Pastor Joseph Prince on Sunday, 28 March 2021, at The Star Performing Arts Centre, Singapore. We hope these sermon notes will be an encouragement to you!
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Pastor Prince wishes everyone “Chag Pesach Sameach,” which is Hebrew for “Happy Passover”! Jews all around the world celebrate Passover to commemorate the deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt. On that night, God instructed the Israelites to put the blood of a lamb on their doorposts so that the Angel of Death would pass over their homes when He saw it, sparing their lives (Exod. 12:13).
The Passover is a picture of our Lord Jesus Christ, the true Lamb of God (1 Cor. 5:7b). The Israelites had a sacrificial lamb that could only cover their sins but not take them away completely; it was but a shadow of the substance. Today as believers, we celebrate the substance—the true Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). Through His blood, we have redemption and the forgiveness of sins (Eph. 1:7).
The devil wants to make you question and doubt God's goodness and intent to bless you, just like he did to Eve in the garden of Eden (Gen. 3:1–6). We need to remind ourselves that God is a good God and the devil is a liar who is against us.
Instead of doubting God, let us have confidence like the psalmist David did—that surely goodness and mercy shall follow us all the days of our lives (Ps. 23:6a)! The Lord’s goodness will outlast every negative situation.
Jesus died on the cross for our sins—He became sin for us and took all the punishment and judgment of sin in His own body. That is why when God looks at us, God sees us holy, blameless, and righteous in Christ. We should always judge our behavior based on our standing before God, which is righteousness. The more we possess our position as the righteousness of God in Christ, the more sin shall not have dominion over us (Rom. 6:13–14).
Many people in the Old Testament feared the holiness of God but for the believer, the holiness of God is our confidence. The Bible says that because Jesus has borne all your sins at the cross, today, God's holiness demands your acquittal and justification.
God is a holy and just God and you are made righteous not by his mercy, but by His righteousness. Salvation and the forgiveness of sins is the greatest blessing of all!
It’s also important for us to know that after salvation, the greatest blessing we can receive is healing.
“Bless the LORD, O my soul,
And forget not all His benefits:
Who forgives all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases,”
— Psalm 103:2–3 NKJV
God places a priority on healing, which comes right after salvation in this verse. Jesus Himself made the connection between forgiveness of sins to healing. In the gospels, there are instances where we see Him healing people but first telling them, “Your sins are forgiven” (Mark 2:5).
Pastor Prince believes that one of the primary reasons why people cannot receive healing is because there is condemnation and guilt within them that makes them feel like they are not worthy or holy enough to receive healing.
Let us eradicate this wrong belief once and for all! When Jesus walked on earth, He did not heal people because they were holy enough. None of them were. The Bible reveals the simple truth that everyone who reached out to Him to touch him or responded to Him was healed (Mark 6:56 NLT).
Jesus says that whoever has seen Him has seen the Father (John 14:9 KJV). So if we want to know God's willingness to heal, we simply need to look at Jesus in the gospels—He went around healing all that were oppressed by the devil (Acts 10:38).
“ How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with Him.”
— Acts 10:38 KJV
“who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil” — God's idea of doing good is healing all that were oppressed of the devil.
Friend, sickness is an oppression from the devil, not from God, and it is not something intended to teach you a lesson. God loves you and He wants to heal you!
Although healing is a priority in God’s heart, we often neglect to preach about healing.
Sometimes we can feel too intimidated to believe God for healing or pray for healing, especially for others, because the devil has successfully disseminated this thought: “What if I pray for someone and they are not healed?”
It can feel easier to say that we believe physical healing is not for today than to face the fear of someone not being healed after we pray for them. However, this just indicates that our ego is concerned about looking good in front of others.
Even though we may not see successful results all the time, we are seeing more joyful results now than in the past when we didn't emphasize healing. Pastor Prince shares that now that we are teaching more on healing, we are seeing more and more results and learning more about healing every single day.
Pastors, shepherds, and leaders—it is incumbent on you to not just preach and teach, but also to minister healing. The Lord Himself has given us an example of this:
“Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.”
— Matthew 9:35 NKJV
Jesus went about the cities teaching, preaching, and always healing! This is the pattern He left for all of us to follow.
“And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, "Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy and say to them, 'Thus says the Lord God to the shepherds: "Woe to the shepherds of Israel who feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flocks? You eat the fat and clothe yourselves with the wool; you slaughter the fatlings, but you do not feed the flock. The weak you have not strengthened, nor have you healed those who were sick, nor bound up the broken, nor brought back what was driven away, nor sought what was lost; but with force and cruelty you have ruled them. So they were scattered because there was no shepherd; and they became food for all the beasts of the field when they were scattered.”
— Ezekiel 34:1–5 NKJV
“they were scattered because there was no shepherd” — Many times, we may think that people scatter (e.g. leave church) because of their rebellion or because they don't have a heart for God or a desire to be holy. However, the Bible says that people are scattered because they either don’t have a shepherd, or they have a shepherd who is not feeding them but using them for profit instead.
“nor have you healed those who were sick” — A message for leaders and shepherds especially: If God holds us responsible for not healing the sick, that means He has given us the authority and power to do so!
For leaders and shepherds to not do this is a dereliction of their duty. Indeed, there is to be no dereliction of duty in the pastoral ministry as we need to flow with the Lord.
“Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.”
— Matthew 9:35–36 NKJV
“like sheep having no shepherd” — Believers who have fallen away and the people of the world who are scattered, weary, and going astray in their habits and lifestyles do this because they have no shepherd, not because they are rebellious or disobedient.
“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.”
— Psalm 23:1 NKJV
It is not our friends, education, or family background that secure our future and cause us not to be in want or lack.
For the Lord to be your shepherd means that you allow Him to feed you as a shepherd feeds the sheep.
To pastors and leaders: We pastor and tend to our flock (our congregation) by leading them to the pastures of God’s Word to feed them and by strengthening those who are weak. When we do this, we are loving the Lord best (John 21:15,17). The Lord’s love language is this: “You love Me best when you feed My sheep.”
“Tell me, O thou whom my soul loveth, where thou feedest, where thou makest thy flock to rest at noon . . . If thou know not, O thou fairest among women, go thy way forth by the footsteps of the flock, and feed thy kids beside the shepherds' tents.”
— Song of Solomon 1:7-8 KJV
The woman in this verse represents the church, and she wanted to know two things:
“If thou know not, O thou fairest among women, go thy way forth by the footsteps of the flock, and feed thy kids beside the shepherds' tents.”
— Song of Solomon 1:8 KJV
“go thy way forth by the footsteps of the flock” — To find nourishment and rest, the Lord says, “Follow the footsteps of the flock.” In other words, remain with God's people in the church.
In the New Testament, the body of Christ is encouraged to love one another, bear with one another, forgive one another, and minister to one another. Everything is about community! During this pandemic, although meeting physically has been greatly curtailed, we can still gather online.
“feed thy kids beside the shepherds' tents” — The more you feed others, the more you'll be fed yourself. When you are fed, you will be rested.
“He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.”
— Psalm 23:2 NKJV
“still waters” — The Hebrew word for “still” is “menuchah,” which means “restful.” These waters are not rough but are tranquil and easy to drink from.
“lie down in green pastures” — Notice that before the Lord brings you to rest, He feeds you first. Green pastures are food for the flock.
The number one need of the flock is food—a picture of encouragement from God’s Word that brings nourishment.
If you meet someone along your way, even if it’s a short encounter, don’t just invite them to church but share something encouraging with them. That’s how we can feed each other.
It is easy to criticize those who are praying for the sick and teaching healing to the flock by asking about the people who were not healed after prayer. But instead, let’s celebrate those who are healed! Even though we do not see 100 percent positive results in our ministry, we are learning and it is an upward stumbling.
Instead of criticizing them, let's pray for those who are ministering healing to the flock. Let’s celebrate them and encourage them to press in to learn about the secrets of healing in the Word of God!
“After this there was a feast of the Jews,and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, having five porches.”
— John 5:1–2 NKJV
“Bethesda” — This means “House of Grace.”
“five porches” — Five is the number of grace.
While preparing this sermon, Pastor Prince was reminded of the five loaves and two fish that Jesus multiplied. The number “5” is represented by the Hebrew word “hei,” which means “grace.” The number “2” is represented by the Hebrew word “bet,” which means “house.” Put together, this forms the House of Grace.
The House of Grace is the church. In the House of Grace, you will find an abundance of food and supply!
This is because you are bringing them, with all their needs and problems, to the Father's house where there is always more than enough supply (Luke 15:17)! Jesus calls healing “the children's bread” (Matt. 15:26). It’s all about feeding! As we eat the food in church (by listening to the preached Word), we become strong and whole.
“In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water. For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had.”
— John 5:3–4 NKJV
“whoever stepped in first” — This is a picture of the law because the law always demands strength on your part to execute an action before you can receive a blessing.
The Bible says we are without strength of our own (Rom. 5:6) and Christ came to die for us. Yet humans are often creatures of laborious effort, always trying to deserve receiving blessings or help from God.
God knew that we would never be able to fulfill the law. He gave it to us to expose our sinful nature so that we would see our need for the Savior, as the law is the knowledge of sin (Rom. 3:20b). This does not mean that we do not lead a holy life today. Rather, the more you fall in love with Jesus, the more you fall out of love with sin.
Today, because we are not under the law but under grace, we not only fulfill the law but supersede it. Instead of not committing adultery, the mere thought of it causes us to shrink away from it because the Holy Spirit is leading us. When you are under grace, you end up more than fulfilling the law.
“Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, "Do you want to be made well?" The sick man answered Him, "Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me." Jesus said to him, "Rise, take up your bed and walk." And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked. And that day was the Sabbath. The Jews therefore said to him who was cured, "It is the Sabbath; it is not lawful for you to carry your bed."”
— John 5:5–10 NKJV
“Rise, take up your bed and walk” — You cannot take up your bed and walk unless you are standing. This is a picture of your standing in Christ. Now that you are the righteousness of God in Christ, take up your rest (represented by the bed) and don’t leave it behind!
Only when you walk in rest and truly realize your position of being righteous before God can you have the power to walk in the Spirit, in holiness, and in victory.
“He answered them, "He who made me well said to me, 'Take up your bed and walk.'" Then they asked him, "Who is the Man who said to you, 'Take up your bed and walk’?”
— John 5:11–12 NKJV
The man who was healed by Jesus placed emphasis on “He who made me well.” His focus was on Jesus who had healed him.
However, instead of focusing on the miracle of the man’s healing, or even seeking healing for themselves, the Jews focused on work. They wanted to find out who had told the man, “Take up your bed and walk,” because it was the Sabbath and they perceived Jesus to be guilty of working on the day of rest.
This is similar to the story of the woman in Luke 13 who was bent over for 18 years. As Jesus laid His hands on her, she was made straight and glorified God (Luke 13:12–13)!
“But the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath; and he said to the crowd, "There are six days on which men ought to work; therefore come and be healed on them, and not on the Sabbath day.”
— Luke 13:14 NKJV
“There are six days on which men ought to work . . . come and be healed on them” — The ruler of the synagogue saw healing as work.
One of the biggest mistakes that people make today is to see healing as man's work. It is God’s work while man rests!
“The Lord then answered him and said, "Hypocrite! Does not each one of you on the Sabbath loose his ox or donkey from the stall, and lead it away to water it? So ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound —think of it —for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath?"”
— Luke 13:15–16 NKJV
“lead it away to water it” — The Lord sees healing the sick as giving a person something as basic and necessary as water.
The synagogue ruler was focused on work (“men ought to work”), while Jesus was focused on the woman being set free from her bondage (“ought not this woman . . . be loosed”). It was as though He was asking, “How can you let her remain in bondage for one moment longer?”
“The man departed and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well. For this reason the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to kill Him, because He had done these things on the Sabbath.”
— John 5:15–16 NKJV
“because He had done these things on the Sabbath” — In the original Greek, the tense used is the imperfect tense, which means it was customary for Jesus to perform healings on the Sabbath. This demonstrates the principle: “When you rest, God works in your life.”
"But Jesus answered them, “My Father has been working until now, and I have been working.” Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God.”
— John 5:17–18 NKJV
“My Father has been working until now, and I have been working” — Healing is the Father working. When Jesus sees the Father healing (through inner vision), He works and flows with the Father to minister that healing.
“Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.”
— Hebrews 4:11 KJV
“labour therefore to enter into that rest” — Child of God, your only labor is to labor to enter into rest. Being at rest does not mean nothing gets done. You have a Shepherd, a Father, who watches over you when you rest. This is why Jesus performed so many healings on the Sabbath—when man is resting, God is able to touch and heal.
When a person strongly desires to receive healing, often they can end up feeling the need to confess all their sins or resort to their own efforts. When you feel yourself striving and no longer at rest, it is an indication that you are in unbelief. Hebrews 4:11 shows us that the opposite of rest is unbelief.
Instead, you can say, “Lord, I might not feel the faith to believe for my healing, but I'm resting in You, believing that Your faith will carry me through. I thank You, Lord, because You are working on it. I praise you.”
Have you ever felt a deep hunger that you try to satisfy with food, entertainment, or activities—but to no avail? That hunger you’re feeling is actually for God’s Word.
Take time to read the Word of God. It is the key to being and staying healthy (Prov. 4:20–22). It’s one thing to be healed but it’s even better to stay healthy.
Pastor Prince shares an example of discovering hidden gems in God’s Word when we take time to read it. In Nehemiah 3 in the Old Testament, we actually find the parable of the lost sheep (Luke 15) and the story of the man healed at the pool of Bethesda foreshadowed (John 5).
“Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brethren the priests and built the Sheep Gate; they consecrated it and hung its doors. They built as far as the Tower of the Hundred, and consecrated it, then as far as the Tower of Hananel.”
— Nehemiah 3:1 NKJV
“Sheep Gate” — This is the first time the Sheep Gate is mentioned in the Bible, and it is the first gate of God’s temple that was repaired in Nehemiah’s time. In Jesus’ time, the Sheep Gate is where the pool of Bethesda was located.
“Eliashib” — This Hebrew name means “God restores.”
In the parable of the lost sheep, the Good Shepherd loved each of His sheep so much that for one sheep that got lost, He left the 99 to find it (Luke 15:4). If you are lost, Jesus won’t “cut his losses” and leave you be. He will not rest until He finds you!
“Tower of Hananel” — The Hebrew word “Hananel” means “the Grace of God.” This is another way of saying “the House of Grace” (which is the meaning of “Bethesda”).
In Nehemiah 3:1, we see the story of the lost sheep and the lame man healed at the pool of Bethesda. That man is the one lost sheep out of the hundred, and Jesus went to find him to restore him into His grace (He healed him).
Pastor Prince encourages us to read the Word of God, especially when the Holy Spirit impresses upon us to look something up. As you read God’s Word, you will feel refreshed and nourished.
While there is nothing wrong with watching television programs, if they take up so much of your time that you don't have time for the Word, they are not healthy.
The Bible says that the most important thing is to “attend” to God’s words (Prov. 4:20 KJV). The word “attend” indicates that this task is a priority and something important that needs to be done. As you do this, His Word will bring life and health to you (Prov. 4:22 KJV).
Every time you are hungry and are fed (by turning to God’s Word), you will be nourished, strengthened, revitalized, and equipped for every challenge. When God wants to feed you, allow Him to!
Pastor Prince prays for people with these conditions:
“Heavenly Father, I thank You for everyone under the sound of my voice. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I ask, Father, that throughout this week, You will teach Your people to rest for there remains a Sabbath rest for Your people. I ask, Father, that You grant them inwardly that rest—such that everything they do, even when they’re busy on the outside, they will be motivated, imbued, and controlled by a restful spirit. Father, I pray that You will prosper everything they do because of that rest. This is our inheritance. This is our promised land—Your rest. So, Father, I pray that this coming week, Your people will not move in fear, worry, anxiety, or regret of something in the past, fear of the future, or worry about what is to come, but they'll remain in the now. Now is the time of salvation, now is the time of favor. Amen. I pray, Father, right now, in the name of Jesus, that You would just impart to them that rest into their hearts, their minds, and their spirits. And help them, Father, give them the grace to labor throughout this week only for one thing, which is to enter the rest.
The Lord protect you and your loved ones from the COVID-19 virus, from every harm and danger throughout this week. The Lord favor you, smile on you, and grant to you supernatural favor everywhere you go. You are a blessing going somewhere to happen throughout this week. The Lord lift up His countenance on you and your loved ones and grant to you and yours His wonderful shalom well-being, wholeness, and peace. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.”
After salvation, healing is the greatest blessing God wants you to receive!
Look at Jesus in the gospels—He went around healing all who were oppressed by the devil (Acts 10:38). Healing was, and still is, a priority to Him.
We also find that many times, He healed on the Sabbath—the one day of the week that people were resting from their work.
The principle is this: When you rest, God works. When you rest, His healing flows.
If you’re facing a health challenge or you have a loved one who is sick, receive the Lord's healing by simply resting in Jesus’ finished work and believing that healing is your portion.
You don’t need to confess any sin or do any good deed to deserve the Lord’s healing. At the cross, Jesus took the judgment for all your sins in His own body so that you can be assured that sin cannot stop you from receiving your healing breakthrough!
There might be times you can’t help but worry or feel agitated by your situation, but labor to enter into rest (Heb. 4:11). When you experience negative thoughts or emotions, say this: “Lord, I might not feel the faith to believe for healing, but I'm resting in You. I believe it is Your faith that will carry me through. I thank You, Lord, that as I rest, You are working on it. I know that You are my Shepherd who loves me and takes care of me. I praise you.”
Begin to see His healing power flow as you simply rest and trust your Good Shepherd to care for you and restore you!
We hope these sermon notes blessed you! If they did, we encourage you to get the sermon and allow the Lord to speak to you personally as you watch or listen to it.
© Copyright JosephPrince.com 2021
These sermon notes were taken by volunteers during the service. They are not a verbatim representation of the sermon.
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