He Sent His Word and Healed Them — Paris Reidhead

Psalm 107 .20, turning, may I just make note that Pastor Sternemann, Mrs. Sternemann are ministering at the request of the district office, the extension department in the Alliance Church in Harrisonburg, Virginia.

We'll be praying for them and for the ministry there even at this time. Next, Lord's requested to minister at the Alliance Church in Charlottesville, be there for that service. Sunday will mark the beginning of our missionary convention.

So delighted that you're here, trust that God has this blessing for you. You know, each one of us have a need to have power enough to make the work, to come into the world, conquer death, both to meet the needs in the lives of our friends and neighbors and family.

He Sent His Word and Healed Them

Let's ask him, Father in heaven, we thank you for the text that he sent his word and healed them. And it's this word, thy word, my word, as we think, might it be our Father that we bear in mind some of these near to us and dear to us or known to us who have such great need.

And Father, that thy name might be glorified, that thy son might be exalted, that they might, that their joy might be full. To that end, Lord, we ask thee to direct our thinking now as we give ourselves to thy word.

In Jesus' name, amen. I think it would be well for me to read verses 17 and 18, 19 as well. Fools, in verse 17 of Psalm 107, fools because of their, and because of their iniquity to the gates of death, he sent his word and healed them.

But the text says he sends his word, heals them, and delivered them from their grave. In the Old Testament, he delivered them. He sent his word. Many indeed have taken life. He sent his word, his word, my word.

The Centurion’s Faith in Christ’s Word

Let me illustrate it. You had it from Matthew, the seventh chapter, verses 6 to 10. And the centurion, whom we are told, Jesus, in my behalf, and I speak that my servant may be healed. A synagogue at his own expense.

He built it, and he had love for it. These elders came to Christ, and they said, here is one of our friends. And his servant, he's been kind to his slave, and he treats him as though he would do something.

He, his message is, he doesn't even ask. He says, but say a word. And my servant, Lord Jesus, said, I haven't seen such faith anywhere else. And he came to me saying, but say a word. I know, I know, and he goes.

I say to another, come, and he comes. I give the other one to be released. I recognize who you are. I see you as a sovereign. I recognize. Send your word. But that's in the New Testament. The king of Syria had sent his forces out, and they'd come to one of them today.

Naaman and the Word of Healing

And she ended up as the king's influential man. Everything was splendid about it. He had leprosy. You'd think it enormous. Naaman did too. But the little girl didn't see it as such a great problem. Because she was acquainted with the prophet.

And she said to the mistress of the home, wouldn't God that my master were in Israel. For if he were but there is a prophet there in Israel, and he would speak the word. Just speak the word, and my sister would be clean.

And this word came to the king. It came to Naaman. He went to the king, and the king sent him seeking the entourage. And he said, through life and death, am I going to be able to heal a man? To give one that's under the sentence of death?

Because in Israel, a leper was sent out. They were the living. Into the place of the tomb. What can I do? And then they were told. He said, send the man to me. And so Naaman came with the foot soldier company.

And they said, Jordan River, seven times. He said, he sent his word, and you'll be clean. Now Billy Sunday, in his inimitable style and approach, had a sermon he preached on this subject. He called it, The Seven Ducks and the Muddy River.

Well, there was a facetious element to that. Naaman didn't think it was funny. He felt insulted. And he thought at least he could have been healed. But instead, Syria's better remedy. One of his servants said, if he'd asked of you some great thing, wouldn't you have done it?

He's asked such a simple little thing. Why don't you obey the word? Was what his servant said. Do what he told you. And so Naaman goes to the Jordan banks, leaves it to take the princely garments, and puts them on the wing of the ship, thinking this is ridiculous.

Walks down into the water until he's shoulder high. And he begins to walk. And he ducks. Then he comes up and he does it again. He looks at his hands. Nothing yet. And again. And still again. And the fourth.

And the sixth. He looks at it and says, it's just the same as it was. But I can hear him say, once more, master. But it's six and it hasn't anything. Obey. And so he sent his word. He sent his word. The word of a servant sent to Syria.

And the word of a prophet sent to Naaman. And he's healed. Had the mind of the Lord. He understood. It didn't just happen in the Old Testament and the New Testament. God sends his word and heals. He's continuing to do it.

The Great Commission and God’s Promises

You remember we read in Matthew 28, that great commission. Go and teach all nations, baptizing them. Teaching them to teach. He sent his word. Received and where. Years ago in the. Extremely ill. High fever.

They didn't have anything to keep her fever down. No. And the mission of the people around. Oh, I wish that I had some ice. And some of the believers that were gathered there said, what is ice? He said, it's water.

One of them says, does ice ever come from the sky? Because they knew the Lord was in the sky. Is the lights ever come from the sky? Yes. So we'll get us. And so they went to prison. What do you have as a promise?

Why we have the promise. That whatsoever you shall ask of the father in my name. In the name of the Lord Jesus. That he sends us ice. And within the half hour. A storm broke out in the first occasion in living memory.

They had a hail storm. In that part of Nigeria. And they came in. Juggling yet. Say, is this ice? They came from heaven. Is this what you mean? They said, yes. They go out and gather it and put it into.

This next step. They asked for the ice to get her. Fever down because that was what the missionary. Had wanted. He sent his word. And he healed. The word was whatever you ask of the father. Teaching them to observe.

The Holy Spirit Brings God’s Word to Mind

Came to Jesus. He do. And they believed it. In John 14. In verse 26. We are told. That when the Holy Spirit. Will teach you all things. And he will bring. All things to your remembrance. For your need.

When you have a need. Ask the spirit of God. To speak to your heart. And you see faith comes by hearing. Hearing the word. And from all the words you've learned. And known and memorized. Frequently pick up one verse.

And just sort of. Etch it in neon. And it flashes on. As do the signs advertising. The mundane on our streets. And in your mind. That verse will begin. You say. God's trying to get my attention. That's his word.

Hold it. Rest on it. Believe it. And then of course. He sends his word. By ministers. Those of us who minister. And you who minister. To your family and your friends. Because to them. Do you know to someone.

You're the best Christian. They've ever met. Is the best Christian they know. And if they ever come to Christ. They're going to come to Christ. Because they know you. And have met you. Tremendous responsibility is.

And you can be to them. A minister of life. A minister of the word. Increasing faith. In account of messages. Given by Smith Wigglesworth. Toward the early part. Of the 19th century. He told of an occasion.

When he was traveling. And he was to go. And to spend a bit of time there. Not to have movement in. For Smith Wigglesworth. To meet at a certain place. The son of believing parents. Given himself to go into the Lord's work.

The Word of God Brings Repentance and Healing

But he'd been overtaken. And he now had a very serious disease. And he was under the sentence of death. By the doctors. He couldn't live. And the dear man that is upon me. Something is needed. A fool.

Of meat and they draw near. Under the gates of death. And the young man was smitten through. As with a sword. Dividing soul and spirit. And he cried out and said. I am that fool. And then he began. To openly confess.

Of the sins. That had been lying. In the midst of evil. Infecting his mind. As well as the regation. For the infecting. Of his body. And as he was confessing. A large abscess. They left that old time.

That time of together. The young man had been wonderfully healed. God said his word. Through Smith Wigglesworth. And the young man repented. That was the message that he needed. Wasn't a time of fasting and prayer.

Wasn't anointing. Was the word of God. That was the means of his healing. You recall in Acts the fifth chapter. Giving selling their property. And giving it so that they could live together. Extravaganza.

Never commanded it. Never repeated. Everything that all the rest of them had given. And there wasn't any food. And there was a famine in Jerusalem. Then Barnabas. Became the son of consolation. He's the only one in the group.

That hadn't sold his property. Now he could take the income from it. And support the rest of the group. But this is then. Ananias and Sapphira. Want to get into the stream. And so. They sell their property.

But they come and say. We saw for so much. How much? We'll agree. When we go. We'll keep back part of it. Because pretty soon. This thing is going to be over. And then we got to have a little something.

To lean back on. Peter said. You didn't have to sell your property. And if you sold it. You didn't have to bring the money here. We are in trouble. Because you lied to the Holy Ghost. He didn't ask you to sell it.

He told you not to lie. He's going to carry you out next. And he laid. He just died. And so we are told. Fear came upon these things. And by the hands of the apostles. Many signs and wonders. And the Sadducees.

The Apostles Sent to Proclaim the Word

Hearing of all these things. That were taking place. Had the apostles. Put in prison. As far as we know. It says the apostles. Now. That night. The angel. You see. The angel of the Lord. Was participating.

Handy. He's ready. He's there. People staying in jail. As Paul said. He's been in prison for so long. But now. Because of the newness. Of the church. And what God is doing. The angel. And he opened the prison.

And let him out. And locked it again. And they. And as they were. Coming. As his command to come. He said to them. Go. Speak. And stand. And speak. How can they. It's necessary. It's necessary. To stand.

Courageously. In the face of the opposition. And it's necessary. To preach. It's by these same words. For us to understand. By the. He said. His word. And healed them. He didn't give it to us. To send.

He gave it to us. To speak. He speak. The word. To the heart. To the young man. 17 verses. 17 and 18. Smote him with it. Not Smith Wigglesworth. To do. For your friends. And your neighbors. And your. Healed them.

You haven't. Healed them. You've been commanded. To give them the word. His word. He's saying to me. He's saying to you. Go. Stand. Speak. All the words of this life. But it's the spirit of God that quickens.

All we can do is say it. We can't quicken it. Niger. I was visiting it. There. We had to drive. Clear out. And as we were driving. The senior missionary said. We'll stop here at the Bible. And he pulled up alongside the fence.

The Spoken Word and Personal Witness

The gate was closed. The people in the house. The missionary couple. Came out. And George said. Just going to be here. For a few minutes. I want to. Stop. And see how you were. And have you meet. Paris Redead.

Who's with me here. And they started to run. And they ran. And they said. Come here. And I went to the fence. And I said. Well. And they. Tears in their eyes. And they said. We're here. Because of you.

Ever seen. You were meeting. No. You never met us. You never met us. Here because of you. Well. How. Tell me. How about. Tell me about. You spoke at Bob Jones University. And I was home. Peeling potatoes.

And getting the meal ready. And my husband. Was at. The chapel. I was listening. On the little. 200 watt. Station over the campus. And she said. God spoke to my heart. And he came home. And he. Meal. And we sat there.

And neither of us wanted to eat. And he said. I got something. He said. I got something to tell you. When you finish telling me. That God spoke to my heart today. And I believe he's leading us. And wants us to go to Africa.

And she said. Well. He's leading us. I just said whatever. You understand? Spoke to their hearts. I didn't. There were a lot of people there. To whom. Nothing. I heard nothing. But those two were out in.

Niger. Serving the Lord. In the Bible school. They heard. I can't guarantee. That if I give the word. But he said. You go. You go and speak. All the words of this life. He sends his word. And he heals them.

Abiding in Christ and Receiving His Word

So God speaks to you. His word. And you must receive it. Sent me. Hath ever. And the evidence. That we have everlasting life. Is this. If a man. Abide in me. And my words. Abide in you. You shall ask.

What you will. And it shall be done unto you. He sent his word. Listen to God. Speak the word. To your heart. To your mind. Tabernacle in New York. Saturday afternoon. I was there. For Sunday. Just having a quiet time.

In the study. With no one to. No telephone ringing. I got a telephone call. Lady gave her name. She said. I'm calling you. Because Vicky. And she said. Told me. Vicky and her husband. Were both. A witness for Christ.

God’s Word Confronts Sin and Brings Healing

In Long Island. Vicky suggested. That I call you. Well I said. I'd be happy to hear from you. Whether Vicky recommended. You call me or not. But. I'm glad she has. I respect them very much. Well she said.

She want you to know. That I've been diagnosed. As having inoperable cancer. Only have. According to the doctors. The most. Talking. I'm praying. Oh God. I don't know what to say. I don't know what word to give.

Guide me. And when she finished. She said. Will you pray with me? And my first words were no. She said. What? No I won't pray with you. She said. Why? Because. You have. A root. Of anger. Against. Your family.

Then eaten up. With a desire. For vengeance. On those. Whose. No. Need. Or. Right before God. The sin of. Forgive you. And if. It's necessary. Then. After that. We'll pray. But not before. How did you.

I said I didn't. You were telling me. Your condition. She said. The sobbing her voice. I'll correct. Three years later. To meet. Dan. And Mary Swanson. And their children. As they'd come back. From. Uganda.

And. I was standing. By the window. In this. Waiting room. Stood beside me. And she said. You don't remember me. Do you? I said. I don't think I've ever. Seen you before. She said. You haven't. Do you remember.

The woman. Cancer. I said. I remember. That woman. She said. You were right. God sent. His word. To you. To me. I did. As you instructed. In another. Two months. I haven't been there. He sent his word.

And healed him. I didn't know what I was. And if I'd said anything else. I take no credit. I only say. That this. You hear it. As the word. Because that's. How God works. He sent his word. No wonder it says.

Faith Comes by Hearing and Obeying

Faith cometh. By hearing. I began by saying. We all have. Tragedies. And needs. And heartaches. This enormous need. God sends his word. And when you hear it. As the word of God. You stand on it. You believe it.

You obey it. Father. In heaven. The way. Though heaven and earth. Disappoint us. Father. The courage. To stand. To speak. Use that word. To quicken faith. And bring to life. Lord. We know. We don't. That was never given to us.

In this marvelous relationship. That you've made possible. Our being. Filled with the fullness. Of Christ. Of getting. A hammerlock. On thee. Jesus. How long. We long. To have thee. Get a hammerlock. On us.

How we think. And what we. Feel. And what we. Say. We might be able. To speak thy word. Even though. We don't really. Understand it. But that we're being. True. Teach us. Father of Jesus. How to. Absolve.

And glorify thy name. And honor thy son. As our text today. Becomes quick to us. He sends his word. And heals them. From the grave pits. Might it be. Father. That thy word. Is made alive.

In our hearts. And in our minds. And in our spirits. Today. But Paris has been. Talking. About. Being available. To speak the word of God. When he speaks it to us. He's been talking. He's been talking.

Obedience to the Word of God

Obeying. The word of God. When it comes. To us. From whatever source. He's not talking. A magic formula. He's not talking. Hocus pocus. He's talking. Something that's hard. He's talking life changing.

He's talking. Obedience. And that's not easy. But it's a requirement. When we walk with the Lord. In the light. Of that word that we receive. Then there is an enlightenment. What a glory. He sheds. On our way.

Enlightenment Through the Holy Spirit

I don't understand. I don't understand. And all of a sudden we do understand. Why? What made the difference? The light of the Holy Spirit. Chris, the bookkeeper in my office for several years. We talked about the Lord for months.

Just in passing. Gave her a Bible. She'd been raised in a church. One day she came in. I had told her about praying and certain things to look for in her time of prayer. One morning she came in the office and she said, last night I was reading and I was prevailed upon to bow my head and in a moment I lifted my head and almost came off the chair.

She said, suddenly I saw. She said, I don't know why I didn't know before. I don't understand why I didn't understand before. God had enlightened her understanding. And when he sends forth his word, whether it comes through the Bible, through the preacher, through the witnessing Christian, through the radio, the television, the track, he will enlighten that word and we will understand and then it is ours to obey or to lose the opportunity.

The Invitation to Trust and Obey

Perhaps God has been speaking to you this morning. He has sent forth his word to your heart for something special. Are you ready to obey? Let's remain seated and sing the first verse of number 546. And listen, will you?

Listen to what God has to say. With all in the light of his word, he sheds on with us still, and with all who will trust and obey, for there's no behalf Jesus, but to trust and obey. Look at the third verse.

Is there any joy in your Christian life? Is there any joy in your life if you're not a Christian? We never can understand the delights of his love until all on the altar we lay obedience. For the favor he shows and the joy he bestows are for them who will trust and obey.

There's a price tag. It's giving up the kingdom of your heart to the lordship of Christ. But we never can prove the delights of his love until all on the altar we lay. For the favor he shows and the joy he bestows are for them who will trust and obey.

Trust and obey, for there's no other behalf Jesus, but to trust and obey. Can we bow in? God is above time and space, but we are not. And there comes a time and a place when we must make our commitments.

Has God enlightened your understanding as he sent forth his word this morning? Has he told you something that's especially and uniquely for you? Do you want to deal with that in this moment before him?

The surrender of the kingdom of whatever it is he's touching. Trust and obey, for there's no other way to be happy anywhere but to trust and obey. Would it help you by the lifting of your hand quietly now to signify he sent forth his word to my heart in this hour?

He's enlightened my understanding. Please pray for me that I may trust and obey. Is there anyone who wants to slip up your hand acknowledging that God has spoken in his word to you in this moment? And we'll pray with you and for you throughout this next week.

With heads bowed and eyes continued closed, let's sing trust and obey. And if during the singing of that you want to slip your hand up, I'll see it and we'll pray with you and for you throughout this week.

Trust and obey, for there's no other way to be happy in Jesus but to trust and obey. God saw your hand and he's looking now at your will. And he's energizing it to obedience, giving you both the willing and the doing of his goodwill.

You must take it from there. Thank you, Father, for your mercy to us, for your seemingly infinite patience with us. We're so glad that you understand us and need not that anyone should explain to you who we are, for you know what is in us.

And in your mercy and patience, you have waited. And now again, you have sent forth your word. And for those who have heard with new understanding, we pray for the energizing of their wills to obedience.

Father, we would see you glorified by the obedience of your children. We would see you glorified by the sensitizing of our hearts to you.