All About GOD - Growing Relationships with Jesus and Others
LEARNING HOW TO SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER
LEARNING HOW TO SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER
Many times we come up against the issue of supporting others. Illness, Finances, relationships, and death are a few issues where support is called for. I want to discuss how we are to support those who are afflicted with illness.
As Christians we have a responsibility to care for those who are ill, First by prayer, because we should always be lifting up those who are sick and ask God to heal them. While we are waiting for that healing to manifest we should be doing all we can by supporting them in a practical since. Bring meals, visit them, go do errands for them, do Bible studies with them if they are up to it. And most of all keep praying with, and for them.
Do not ever make the person feel bad if they are not instantly healed. The two pillars of love are patience and kindness, our job is to support them and not judge them.
“Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord;” ( James 5:14 )
“Because I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat. I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink. I was a stranger, and you welcomed me. I was naked, and you clothed me. I was sick, and you took care of me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’
“Then the righteous will say to him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and give you something to eat, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you as a stranger and welcome you, or see you naked and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?”
40The king will answer them, “I tell you with certainty, since you did it for one of the least important of these brothers of mine, you did it for me.” ( Matthew 25:35-40 )
“And they were casting out many demons and were anointing with oil many sick people and healing them.' ( Mark 6:16 )
“...they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover." ( Mark 16:18b, )
Also there will be support that is needed for those who have mental issues. Our support for them could be to make sure they are taking their prescribed medications, visiting them, and to just be in their life for them.
The scripture says to comfort ( be near ) the feeble minded. ( Fainthearted, discouragement, little strength, timid ) (1 Thessalonians 5:14 0
This scripture really says a lot about what it means to comfort some one with a mental illness, “to be near them”.
Many times we just stay clear of them and hope the secular doctors can help them.
You may know of someone in your church who has one of their family member diagnosed with Alzheimer's. Others might have a family member who is suicidal, and maybe your best Christian friend has fallen into clinical depression.
It is at these times that we need to draw near to them and bring comfort, support, and encouragement to them.
There was a story in Mark chapter two about a paralyzed man who was brought to Jesus to be healed, His friends were so disparate to see their friend healed that they literally tore the roof off the house so they could lower the cot with the paralyzed man was on it down into the house where Jesus was, and the man was healed.
This is such a picture of how we are to support and help the sick. These men loved their friend and had faith to believe Jesus could heal him and they were so convinced that they went to extremes to see their friend healed.
It makes all the difference in the world for those who are afflicted with physical or mental illness to know that they are loved and do not have to face their illness alone.
Prayer
Father it is just a fact of life that we are going to encounter those who experience illness whether, physical or mental. We need to always be lifting them up in prayer asking you to heal them. Help us to touch your heart and by being near to those who are ill, by visiting them, and supporting them. Help us to truly love and care for the afflicted. In Jesus name amen
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Pastor Bob B on
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Ruth it was the compassionate prayer of a man in April 2009 that was used by God to help me loose 135 lbs which caused my health issues that were complicated even more by the weight to get better. I still have a chronic pain problem, but God gives me grace every day to do His will. I want to have a God kind of compassion for others so that as this brother prayed for me I was able to receive it because I knew it was a prayer of compassion and not a judgmental prayer.
All people need is to know that illness does not mean that they will be rejected or looked down on. I love James who tells the saints to lay hands on the sick, anointing them with oil. You have to be close to some one to lay hands on them and pray for them. The scripture even says to comfort the feeble minded, that word comfort means; to draw near to them.
So may God help us not to be judgmental to others who are suffering, but rather may we draw near to them, loving and caring for them and as the scripture says we will then be doing unto Jesus when we love others.
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