COMFORT FOR THE SAD, SICK, AND WEARY.
By Daniel Nettleton
JESUS cast out devils by His word. We read (Luke 13:10-16) that Satan had bound a woman by a physical infirmity for eighteen years, but Jesus healed her by laying His hands on her and saying, "Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity." Jesus has power even over death. "Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took part of the same; that through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; and deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage." Heb. 2:14, 15. O, how glad we ought to be! How thankful that all power in heaven and in earth is given unto Jesus! Jesus is our Friend. When He went back to His Father, to be our advocate in the heavenly sanctuary, He gave to His disciples the power He exercised for suffering humanity. He expects His church to go forward and complete the work He began. See John 14:12. "He came to the world to display the glory of God, that man might be uplifted by its restoring power. God was manifested in Him that He might be manifested in them. Jesus revealed no qualities, and exercised no powers, that men may not have through faith in Him. His perfect humanity is that which all His followers may possess if they will be in subjection to God as He was."—Desire of Ages, page 795. He said, "I can of mine own self do nothing, the Father that dwelleth in Me, He doeth the works." But with Him we can do something. Paul said, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth Me." Phil. 4:13. He also prays this prayer for us: "For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be11strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man; that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen." Eph. 3:14-21. This is an inspired prayer. All that is asked for in this prayer may be ours, if we will unite in the petition, and by faith receive these blessings. It is our privilege to pray. "The prayer of the righteous is His delight." God loves to have us pray. He says, "Ask, and ye shall receive; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you." But sin must be confessed and put away. If we regard iniquity in the heart, the Lord will not hear us. The Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it can not save us, but known and unconfessed sin separates from God. We should confess and forsake our sins; then believe the promise, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9. We should also co-operate with God in the use of those means which He may appoint for our restoration. Praying for the sick is a most solemn thing, and we should not enter upon this work in any careless, hasty way. Examination should be made as to whether those who would be blessed with health have indulged in evil-speaking, alienation, and dissension. Have they sowed discord among the brethren and sisters in the church? If these things have been committed, they should be confessed before God and the church. When wrongs have been confessed, the subjects for prayer may be presented before God in earnestness and faith, as the Spirit of God may move upon you. But it is not always safe to ask for unconditional healing. Jesus prayed, "O My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless not as I will, but as Thou wilt." Matt. 26:39. And He taught us to pray, "Thy will be done, as in heaven, so on earth." When the leper came to Jesus for healing, he said, "Lord, if Thou wilt Thou canst make me whole." God is too wise to err and too good to withhold any good thing from His children. "Lord, what a change within us one short hour
Spent in Thy presence will avail to make!
What heavy burdens from our bosoms take!
What parched* grounds refresh us with a shower!
We kneel, and all around us seems to lower;
We rise, and all, the distant and the near,
Stands forth in sunny outline, brave and clear.
We kneel—how weak! We rise—how full of power!
Why, therefore, should we do ourselves this wrong,
Or others—that we are not always strong;
That we are overborne with care—
That we should ever weak or heartless be,
Anxious or troubled—when with us is prayer;
And joy, and strength, and courage are with THEE?" And now remember this: God is able to keep you from falling and present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy. We shall soon be in that land where the inhabitant shall not say, I am sick. And there will not be anything to make us sad or weary. "And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away." Isa. 35:10.