The Chowchilla News Pastor’s Commentary by John Parker for Jan= uary 10, 2007

A DISABLING SPIRIT

The Chowchilla News Pastor’s Commentar= y by John Parker for April 18, 2007

“I’ve tried everything!” the bent-over-woman explained to her dear friend and neighbor. “Nothing’s helped. Medicine doesn’t really help, exercise only makes it worse, an= d my work has just gotten harder to do. Now after all this time I’ve just learned to live with it…to make the best of it. I don’t know why I don’= ;t get better. Still I pray and pray for God to heal me.” =

That was on a Friday.

The next day, as she had don= e for years, this Jewish lady slowly and painfully made her way to the synagogue. She couldn’t= even look up to greet people as she walked along but simply watched the path rig= ht in front of her feet. Years b= efore she had stood tall and straight and stately. Now she looked and felt like an ol= d hag even though she was only thirty-something.= Her disease had robbed her of marriage, family, and a normal life.

But, suddenly, on this Sabba= th Day everything changed!

The Bible says, “Jesus= was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. And there was a woman who had had a disabling spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not fully straighten herself. When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said to her, ‘Woman, you are freed from your disability.’ And he laid his ha= nds on her, and immediately she was made straight, and she glorified God.” (Luke 13:10-13 ESV)

Regarding her “disability” note:

1. Its PATHOLOGY: “a disabling spirit.”<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> Or a “spirit of sickness” involved in her physical ailment! Discerning such spirits is helping many people today find health and freedom.

2. Its CHRONOLOGY: “ei= ghteen years.” Yet there was s= till hope for her healing when Jesus showed up with the wisdom to discern the sp= irit and call forth healing. Chron= ic issues can be cured!

3. Its CURE: Jesus “saw her” paid attention to her, didn’t overlook her. Jesus “called her over”= ; to him and she obeyed his call. = Jesus “said to her, ‘Woman, you are freed (loosed, released) from your disability’ thus loosin= g the binding spirit from off of her. Jesus “laid his hands on her;” releasing power into her while showing his association with, and approval, of her. She straightened up and glorified God! Her actions had much to = do with Jesus’ cure working for her!&nb= sp;

Here are some questions to t= hink about.

Did she know it was a “spirit of sickness” that was bending her over for eighteen yea= rs or did she just think it was a physical ailment? Are we doing that with diseases to= day? Could there be diseases today that= are partnered together with some form of spirit beings? Could we be so ignorant= of spirit powers, and so side-tracked by our scientific approaches, that we aren’t even addressing these spirits and thus remaining bound and sic= k? What does the Bible mean whe= n it says, “we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against…spiri= tual wickedness in high places?” What did Jesus mean when he said, “Truly, I say to you, whatev= er you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” (Matthew 18:18 ESV) Did Jesus mean that we have author= ity to bind and loose as he did?

Finally, do you have any iss= ue, problem, behavior, addiction, or disease that’s been tormenting you f= or many years? Would you l= ike to get release? Jesus said, R= 20;The Spirit of the Lord…has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives…and to set free those who are oppressed.” (Luke 4:18)<= o:p>

For Your Health and Wholeness!---Pastor John Parker of ChristChurch which meets at 260 N. Sixth Street (at Riverside Avenue) Sundays at 10 AM. Email: johnparker @christchurchchowchilla .com= or phone 209.726.0119