Finding Healing - Lansing

Series: Risen Hope

Title: Finding Healing

Text: Exodus 15:22-27

Key Point: All the healing we need is found in Jesus

Intro: Durian/Oranges

We all have things in our lives that were supposed to be good/sweet/refreshing…but they turned out bitter.

            Jobs, Relationships, Schools, Friendships, Church, Family, …

The Bible gives us guidance in dealing with the bitter of life.

Exodus 15:22-27

22Then Moses led Israel from the Red Sea and they went into the Desert of Shur. For three days they traveled in the desert without finding water. 23When they came to Marah, they could not drink its water because it was bitter. (That is why the place is called Marah.) 24So the people grumbled against Moses, saying, “What are we to drink?”

25Then Moses cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a piece of wood. He threw it into the water, and the water became fit to drink.

There the Lord issued a ruling and instruction for them and put them to the test. 26He said, “If you listen carefully to the Lord your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, who heals you.”

27Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve springs and seventy palm trees, and they camped there near the water

Acknowledge the ODD

1. Some experiences are bitter and it is appropriate to acknowledge the bitter.

verse 23

They came to bitter

They couldn’t drink the waters of bitter

because they were bitter

Therefore it was called bitter

2. Grumbling vs Crying out
   1. The people were camped against Moses
   2. Moses brought the issue to the LORD
3. Bitterness can keep us from seeing
   1. Just finish massive heroic rescue from Egypt
   2. healing here (healing the waters) and hope for tomorrow (Elim)

KP: All the healing we need is found in Jesus

Acknowledge the Tension: Healing and God and Church are touchy subjects. Healing, more often than not, does not look like we feel it should. We tend to be more interested in the healing and health of our flesh, but God is really interested in our heart.

Where the healing begins

1. Being taught a tree - 25Then Moses cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a piece of wood. He threw it into the water, and the water became fit to drink.
   1. Are we willing to be taught.
   2. A willingness is needed to learn.
2. Listen/Listen - 26He said, “If you listen carefully to the Lord your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, who heals you
   1. The listening is about following
   2. Following is about surrrender
   3. The diseases are about judgement – The Egyptians were suffering the consequences of their actions
3. God wants to bring us to His rest – 27Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve springs and seventy palm trees, and they camped there near the water
   1. Are we willing to step into his rest or are we going to stay with our bitterness?

Matthew 11:28 - 28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

What is the healing that you need?

1. Do you have a heart that is unwilling to be taught?
2. Is there bitterness that God needs to heal?
3. Do you need to STOP and REST in Him?
4. Physical Healing?