JESUS HAD COME TO HEAL AND TO PREACH

the word pit his life changed—the word was as clear as a bell, in contrast to the imperfect enunciation of the preceding "word past. He paused, startled; began again and stopped. He said a few more words—all in a normal clear tone—and stopped again. The class erupted with shouts of joy, astonishment and sounds of weeping. God completely healed him as he was declaring the truth in this psalm. (You can read the full account in Miller’s book Out of the Silence, Nelson Publishers.)". (Craig Brian Larson. Choice Contemporary Stories & Illustrations For Preachers, Teachers, & Writers. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1998, p. 116). If there is anything that this story tells us it is this, never underestimate what God can do! It was the healing touch of Jesus that gave Rev. Duane Miller the full range of his voice again!

JESUS HEALS US FOR A PURPOSE
Jesus heals us from what hinders our serving Him. As someone has said, "… the reaction of Peter’s mother-in-law suggests healing is necessary in many situations before a person can serve the Lord". (Richard Carl Hoefler. There Are Demons In The Sea: Background On The Miracles. Lima: C. S. S. Publishing Company Inc., 1978, p. 44). For that reason there are people that need to have their "fevers" cured before they can serve the Lord because the "fever" is what renders them too sick to serve. The fevers that Jesus cures can be actual fevers or sickness as well as "fevers of circumstance" such as some sort of "hang-up". It is also possible for people to "… use sickness as a means of escaping responsibilities" (Heofler, p. 44). How many kids have tried to fake being sick because of their procrastination in their homework or not studying for a test or being adequately prepared for some kind of report that was due? How many adults have called in sick to avoid something at work that they did not want to face the next day? The reason that we call something a hang-up is because of what it does to the one it holds captive, it literally hangs him or her up from making any progress from where they ought to be in life. It also hangs him or her up in his or her ability to serve the Lord.

Jesus heals us so that we can serve Him. Jesus heals us and saves us so that we might serve Him and expand God’s kingdom here on earth. John Wesley had a rule for serving the Lord. It went like this…
Do all the good you can,
By all the means you can,
In all the ways you can,
In all the places you can,
At all the times you can,
To all the people you can,
As long as ever you can.


Jesus heals us so that we "can" do all of these things. Peter’s mother-in-law ministered unto them and served them as the fever left her immediately (Mark 1:31). When Jesus witnessed to the woman caught in adultery (John 8) and the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4), He healed them of their guilt and forgave them of their sin so that they experienced salvation and were freed to serve.

JESUS TOUCHES OTHERS THROUGH OUR SERVICE
We touch others when we do things "for the least of these". Jesus talked about providing food and drink for the hungry and thirsty, showing hospitality to strangers, giving clothes to those who had none, visiting the sick and those that were in prison (Matthew 25:35-36). We will often find that in ministering to others by our deeds, we might open them up to where they receive