THE CHURCH IS A HOSPITAL
(Isa 61:1 KJV) The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
(Isa 61:1 NLT) The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is upon me, because the LORD has appointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted and to announce that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed.
(Isa 61:1-3 NKJV) "The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, Because the LORD has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound; {2} To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn, {3} To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified."
To take a quote from last Sunday, one writer has said, “We are all healers who can reach out and offer health, and we are all patients in constant need of help.”
Two older men were talking about their health problems while at their church. “My new doctor doesn’t just treat the symptoms, he treats both the mind and the body.” “Hmm,” the second man grunted and thought for a moment; then he asked, “Does he give a discount if the mind is already gone?”
Jesus quoted Isaiah in Luke 4:18. He said that he had come to “bind up, comfort, and heal” the broken hearted. The church is a hospital for the broken hearted.
A broken heart can come from primarily three sources.
THE OFFENSES OF OTHERS
OUR OWN SINS
ACTS OF GOD
· THE OFFENSES OF OTHERS
(Prov 18:8 KJV) The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
SOMETIMES PEOPLE WILL SAY WORDS THAT HURT YOU.
(Psa 41:9 NKJV) Even my own familiar friend in whom I trusted, Who ate my bread, Has lifted up his heel against me.
SOMETIMES A FRIEND WILL TURN ON YOU.
(Luke 17:1 NKJV) Then He said to the disciples, "It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come!
IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO AVOID BEING HURT.
· OUR OWN SINS
(Prov 6:14-15 NKJV) Perversity is in his heart, He devises evil continually, He sows discord. {15} Therefore his calamity shall come suddenly; Suddenly he shall be broken without remedy.
SINFUL HEART, SINFUL THOUGHTS, SINFUL ACTIONS = BROKEN PERSON
(Rom 6:23 NKJV) For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
(Gal 6:7-8 NKJV) Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. {8} For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.
OUR BROKEN HEART MAY BE THE RESULT OF OUR OWN ACTIONS.
IF YOU CONSTANTLY HURT OTHERS, YOU WILL SUFFER THE SAME.
· ACTS OF GOD
(Isa 64:8 NKJV) But now, O LORD, You are our Father; We are the clay, and You our potter; And all we are the work of Your hand.
(Jer 18:1-4 NKJV) The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying: {2} "Arise and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will cause you to hear My words." {3} Then I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was, making something at the wheel. {4} And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter; so he made it again into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to make.
(Rom 8:28-29 NKJV) And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. {29} For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.
WOULD GOD ALLOW MY HEART TO BE BROKEN? YES, IF IT WILL MAKE YOU MORE LIKE HIS SON. GOD WANTS TO FORM US INTO A VESSEL THAT LOOKS LIKE JESUS.
Tony Campolo tells a story about being in a church in Oregon where he was asked to pray for a man who had cancer. Campolo prayed boldly for the man’s healing. That next week he got a telephone call from the man’s wife. She said, “You prayed for my husband. He had cancer.” Campolo thought when he heard her use the past tense verb that his cancer had been eradicated! But before he could think much about it she said, “He died.” Campolo felt terrible.
But she continued, “Don’t feel bad. When he came into that church that Sunday he was filled with anger. He knew he was going to be dead in a short period of time, and he hated God. He was 58 years old, and he wanted to see his children and grandchildren grow up. He was angry that this all-powerful God didn’t take away his sickness and heal him. He would lie in bed and curse God. The more his anger grew towards God, the more miserable he was to everybody around him. It was an awful thing to be in his presence.
But the lady told Campolo, “After you prayed for him, a peace had come over him and a joy had come into him. Tony, the last three days have been the best days of our lives. We’ve sung. We’ve laughed. We’ve read Scripture. We prayed. Oh, they’ve been wonderful days. And I called to thank you for laying your hands on him and praying for healing.”
And then she said something incredibly profound. She said, “He wasn’t cured, but he was healed.”
JUST LIKE AT THE DOCTORS OFFICE OR HOSPITAL, MANY ILLNESSES CAN BE CURED.
SO WHAT IS THE CURE FOR A BROKEN HEART?
(2 Cor 1:3-5 NKJV) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, {4} who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. {5} For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ.
OUR COMFORT MUST BEGIN WITH GOD.
SECONDLY, WE AS BELIEVERS ARE TO BE A SOURCE OF COMFORT AND CONSOLATION.
(Phil 2:1-2 NKJV) Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, {2} fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
OUR COMFORT COMES FROM THE BOND OF LOVE, OUR MUTUAL FELLOWSHIP
“affection” bowels in KJV, lit. spleen or intestines. Meaning – inward care or concern as opposed to outward show. We need to have a genuine care for others.
MERCY, Some need comfort because of sinful behavior and it’s results. We are to show mercy, because it is only by God’s grace this it isn’t us.
LIKE-MINDED – UNITY – SAME LOVE, ONE ACCORD, ONE MIND
(Heb 4:15 NKJV) For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.
JESUS SUFFERED IN PART TO BE ABLE TO SYMPATHIZE NOT EMPATHIZE WITH US.
THIS HAS BEEN THE CHURCH’S RESPONSIBILITY; TO BE A SOURCE OF COMFORT AND HEALING, BY SHOWING THE LOVE OF CHRIST, AND PROVIDING FELLOWSHIP, SHOWING MERCY AND UNITY.
WHAT CAN I DO INDIVIDUALLY TO BE HEALED OF A BROKEN HEART?
(Psa 147:1-7 NKJV) Praise the LORD! For it is good to sing praises to our God; For it is pleasant, and praise is beautiful.
DON’T FORGET TO PRAISE GOD, EVEN WHEN IT HURTS
{2} The LORD builds up Jerusalem; He gathers together the outcasts of Israel.
UNDERSTAND THAT GOD TRULY CARES AND IS CONCERNED FOR YOU
{3} He heals the brokenhearted And binds up their wounds.
TRUST IN HIS PROMISE TO HEAL YOUR HURTS
{4} He counts the number of the stars; He calls them all by name.
HE KNOWS YOU PRESONALLY, ALONG WITH YOUR HURTS
{5} Great is our Lord, and mighty in power; His understanding is infinite.
KNOW THAT GOD CAN DO IT, AND HE UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU NEED MOST
{6} The LORD lifts up the humble; He casts the wicked down to the ground.
HE WILL LIFT YOU UP WHEN YOU ARE DOWN
(Psa 3:3 KJV) But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.
(Psa 3:3 NLT) But you, O LORD, are a shield around me, my glory, and the one who lifts my head high.
{7} Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving; Sing praises on the harp to our God,
FINALLY, GIVE PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING TO THE LORD
