Forgiveness from the heart to keep promoting steemit

To keep steeming *10 Talking Points on the SS Lesson:

1. Last week we learnt that true forgiveness is a choice made to let go of anger in spite of hurting. It does not always restore relationships. This week, we explore what it means to be free to rest using two different healing experiences drawn from the healing of a paralytic with a sinful past and of a depressed spiritual warrior, Elijah.

2. During His earthly ministry, Jesus used healing to relieve people from restlessness caused by sickness. Two-thirds of Jesus’ healing miracles were of the sick brought by someone else. His healing methods were diverse. For instance, to some He placed His hands (Luke 4: 40), to others He spoke healing (Matt 8: 5-13), while others touched His helm and were healed (Matt 9: 20-22).

3. The healing of the paralytic in Capernaum found in Mark 2: 1-4 is our first case study. Four friends brought their paralytic friend to Jesus. There was a crowd in the room where Jesus was and, in their desperation, they gained access through the roof and lowered their friend down. Jesus ‘saw their faith’ and healed him. Are we such sacrificing people for our friends?

4. Jesus’ healing approach on the paralytic was different. Rather than deal with the paralysis, Jesus addressed the root cause of his problem, which was a lifestyle of sin. By offering the paralytic forgiveness (Mark 2: 5), Jesus did not only heal him of paralysis, He also freed him from his sin and he became free to rest.

5. Sicknesses such as those of the paralytic are caused by unhealthy and/or sinful lifestyles. Medical drugs may not address the root cause of the sickness. Like the paralytic, we may be restless and sick because we are burdened by the guilt of sin and need forgiveness to find true rest. Are there sicknesses that prayer alone cannot heal?

6. The second case is drawn from the experience of Elijah with Jezebel, the wicked queen, after the Mount Carmel showdown in I Kings 18. After three years of drought and famine, Elijah appeared before Ahab the king of Israel and challenged his false prophets to a contest of the “true God”, from which he won. This displeased Jezebel, who then threatened Elijah's life.

7. Threats from Jezebel, together with the emotionally draining Mount Carmel experience, depressed Elijah. He cowardly fled for his life carrying suicidal thoughts and pleaded with God to let him die (1 Kings 19:7). All this did not calm his restlessness. Would Elijah’s experience require a different healing approach than that of the paralytic?

8. After running for a while, Elijah then paused to reflect and pray over what had happened. He was disappointed in his actions and feared that the reformation planned by God through him was in jeopardy. God did not condemn him; rather He came to Elijah’s rescue. Can such an attitude be reflected on brethren, who are esteemed as morally upright, who fall to sin?

9. God did not only provide Elijah with rest when he turned to Him, He also attended to his physical and emotional needs by supplying him with food and interacting with him, respectively. If Elijah had gone ahead with committing suicide, he would have missed a trip to heaven via a whirlwind.

10. Depression is one of the world’s leading causes of restlessness and death. It can happen even to children of God because of socioeconomic circumstances they find themselves in. Human solutions to this sickness are typically temporary. Only God can heal our depressions. Next week, we will consider the rhythm of rest. I some has been encorage thruogh this lession let keep steeming with good arm of promoting steemit