#3. WHAT IF I GET SICK?

(Dealing with the Possibility of Serious Illness)

Isaiah 41:13 NIV For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.

Psalm 34:6 KJV This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.

Hezekiah learned about God’s power in the midst of sickness.

“Disease is often the host of fear.” ─ David Jeremiah

A life filled with difficulties and weakness may actually become a life filled with unique tools and opportunities for sharing the grace and goodness of God.

I. We live in a broken world.

A. The whole creation groans.

B. The root of disease is centered in man’s rebellion.

II. People in the Bible had to face similar battles.

A. People from all walks of life have known sickness. Some were evil; others were Godly. Some were healed; others weren't.

1. Paul (2 Corinthians 12:7)

2. Job (Job 2:7, 8)

3. Lazarus (John 11:1-4)

4. The Woman with the issue of blood (Mark 5:25-29)

5. Naaman (2 Kings 5:1)

6. King David (Psalms 41:8)

7. King Asa (1 Kings 15:23)

8. King Jehoram (2 Chronicles 21:15)

9. Galilean villagers (Matthew 4:23)

10. Epaphroditus (Philippians 2:26, 27)

11. Dorcas (Acts 9:36-41)

B. Hezekiah helps us understand more about dealing with serious illness. (2 Kings 20; 2 Chronicles 32; Isaiah 38)

1. Isaiah 38:1 - Hezekiah receives a frightening diagnosis from the Prophet Isaiah.

2. Isaiah 38:2-3 - Hezekiah humbles himself in prayer, asking God to intervene.

3. Isaiah 38:4-5 - God instructs Isaiah to return to Hezekiah and promises him 15 more years.

4. Isaiah 38:17-21 - Hezekiah praises God for His promise to heal.

5. Isaiah 38:21 - God uses both medical means and supernatural intervention to heal Hezekiah of his terminal illness.

III. If sickness comes…

A. Consider the value of preparation (healthy living).

B. Examine your situation to determine the cause of the sickness.

1. Is it God?

2. Is it Satan?

3. Is it Natural?

C. Get your mind focused.

D. Develop a thankful attitude.

E. Continue to serve others and The Lord.

F. Memorize and meditate on the promises God gives you (general and specific/logos and rhema).

G. Discern your future.

IV. A good prescription

A. Solitude - learn the value of occasionally shutting out all other voices except His and those most beneficial to you.

B. Scripture - fill your thoughts, speech, and meditations with the Word of God.

C. Saints - when trouble comes, surround yourself with faith-filled people.

D. Spirit - develop a passion for the leading, wisdom, and confirmation of the Holy Spirit.

E. Setbacks - expect some. But remember they are not the final word.

F. Surety - as the three Hebrew young men learned as they faced the wrath of the king, one way or another, God will take care of us.

Understanding and Embracing our Prayer Assignments September 21, 2022

Prayer Assignments – The Blessing of Family

Families

Children

Widows and Orphans

The Persecuted Church

A.This is what it means when we pray for:

1. Families

a. Family is God’s idea!

b. Marriage is a protected realm of intimacy in which family can be birthed, nurtured, and developed.

c. We are asking for the Lord’s ideas, strategies, and plans for the family to be acknowledged, honored, and reproduced!

2. Children

a. Psalm 127:3 Children are a heritage from the Lord!

b. Jesus made time for children.Matthew 19:14Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”

c. We pray for their protection, safety, salvation, and spiritual development.

3. Widows and Orphans

a. God is a defender of widows.

b. God is a Father to the fatherless (orphan).

c. We should show love and compassion, make room for, and defend those who are important to God!

4. The Persecuted Church

a. These believers are our brothers and sisters in the faith, around the world.

b. Matthew 5:10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

B.This is how we pray for:

1. Families

a. Pray the Scripture over our Families.

i. Pray that your family would value God as priority in your lives and conversations.

“These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” Deuteronomy 6:6-7

ii. Pray that you and your husband would embrace your God-given role in your marriage and fulfill them with a heart of love toward one another.

“Wives, submit to your husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church…Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy…” Ephesians 5:22-28

iii. Pray that your family would be devout and generous.

“He (Cornelius) and all his family were devout and God-fearing; they gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly.” Acts 10:2

2. Children

a. Pray the Scripture for our Children.

i. Pray that as parents you would wisely love, teach and train your children.

“Do not exasperate your children, instead bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.” Ephesians 6:4

ii. Pray that your children would grow as Jesus did.

“in wisdom and in stature, and in favor of God and man.” Luke 2:52

iii. Pray that your children would develop a heart of obedience.

“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ‘Honor your father and mother’ (this is the first commandment with a promise), ‘that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” Ephesians 6:1-3

3. Widows and Orphans

a. Pray the Scripture for Widows.

i. Pray for the Lord to strengthen and support them, provide what is needed, and help them along the way, especially during a difficult season. The Lord is also her strength in grief!

The Lord watches over the foreigner and sustains the fatherless and the widow, but He frustrates the ways of the wicked. Psalm 146:9

ii. Pray for widows to embrace the God who is their advocate, in all situations and circumstances.

A father to the fatherless, an advocate of widows, is God in His holy dwelling. Psalm 68:5

b. Pray the Scripture for Orphans.

i. Pray for the orphan to sense and receive the mercy of God.

“In you the orphan finds mercy.” Hosea 14:3

ii. Pray for orphans to be made aware of the Father’s special love for them.

“I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” John 14:18

iii. Pray for those who are fatherless to be placed in loving, nurturing and spiritual families.

“God sets the lonely in families.” Psalm 68:6

4. The Persecuted Church

a. Pray the Scriptures for the Persecuted Church.

i. Matthew 5:10-12 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

ii. Romans 8:35-37 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

iii. James 1:2-4 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

C.Results we can expect, when we pray for:

1. Families:

a. Fathers will take up their rightful place as spiritual leaders who set the atmosphere in their home.

b. Mothers will discover their value in the family and will partner with their husband to raise godly generations.

c. Healthy families build and grow strong healthy churches. Healthy churches become the conscience of society.

2. Children:

a. Children will be able to retain their innocence and enjoy their childhood in a safe, loving and God-fearing environment.

b. Children will genuinely desire to respect and honor their parents in a mutually loving home.

c. Children will hunger for the Word of God and the presence of God when they see godly moms and dads pursuing Him together.

3. Widows & Orphans:

a. Widows will find their value and confidence in Christ!

b. The fatherless (Orphans) will be connected to an earthly family, but also to an eternal family!

c. Both widows and orphans will find their place and fulfill their role in God’s kingdom through the local church.

4. The Persecuted Church

a. They will feel the comfort and encouragement of the Lord.

b. Their persecutors will come to know Christ.

c. The church around the world will be strengthened and continue to grow.

d. Believers will be granted access to God's Word.