PastorTodd’s Sermon Repost,

Good morning, everyone. Welcome to “Try Jesus!” If this is your first time joining us, it’s great to have you with us. I would like to thank all the new members for joining “Try Jesus.” Also welcome those in California, Arizona, New York, Washington, and Louisiana.

How has your week turned out? These days we seem to number everything on a scale from one to ten. So, what number scale did you give last week? If you picked any number, how do you place that number next to God’s provision for you?

Prayer. Is God greater than that number? Let’s welcome the creator of all numbers in our midst today. “Heavenly Father, you are our “soul” provider today. Thank you for watching over us this past week.

Lord, we welcome your presence throughout the nation and those hearts you have drawn to “TRY JESUS” ministry. Father, as we open your word today, let this ministry be full of your glory.

Thank you for your protection throughout the night and have enabled us to wake up this morning. If it were not because of your love for us, we would not be here this Sunday morning. Holy Spirit, guide our hearts into truth. May your word, which is powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword pierce our hearts and minds to the knowledge of your living word. Let everything that is received bring glory to your name. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

When you were a child playing outside, you probably were full of energy and had lots of fun with your friends. Maybe some of you grew up where playgrounds were not far away. Perhaps some of you played with friends in your parents’ back yard.

However you burned off that youthful energy, it was always great to come home, kick up your feet, and go raid the fridge, right? Of course, you also got to hear those authoritative words, “Go wash your hands first!”

Oh well, your stomach growling from that long walk home of playing with your family or friends can wait another minute to splash some hand soap on them. There is nothing greater for parents than to get some needed rest.

Parents are excited for their children when they are able to have fun and get that exercise that helps keep them fit and trim. But while the kids are out, parents are able to get that little bit of peace and quietness before it’s off to the next household chore.

I’m sure all of you have had a different upbringing in your adolescent years. Some of you may come from an only child household. Some of you may have been raised by a single parent. Some have been raised by other siblings.

Whatever your circumstances you faced, it was a great feeling if you were able to know, that after playing outside, there was someone who loved you enough to keep watch over you. Coming home to a place that had care for you is a great feeling.

However, sometimes, playtime doesn’t always go as planned. I can remember playing baseball one day (My last day. Smile). I was playing second base. I remember some kid hit a ground ball to me that happened to take a bad hop.

Before I could react, (still growing into me reflexes) that ball caught me right in the eye. I think I still managed to throw the runner out, but I fell to the ground in tremendous pain. That was the end of my baseball career. (Smile).

As others gathered around me to see if was ok, I felt some fluid under my eye. The ball had left a nice cut under my eye. The attention I was getting was ok, but nothing was better than me running home with a napkin over my eye to see those loving eyes of mom and dad.

There’s nothing like love that knows what’s best for you, right? I knew I would get the best treatment if I could get to mommy or daddy. I also played up the injury a little bit to get more attention and care.

Even when a child scrapes their knee and cries, (even though it’s not that painful) they love to hear a voice that says, “Come hear, and let mommy kiss your little boo-boo.” I can see all your faces smiling and saying “Aww, that’s cute.”

Sometimes these scrapes take on a more serious injury when it lands a child in the hospital. There is nothing more heart wrenching than when a child ends up in the hospital. Everything changes for the child and the home.

When my niece became ill at age seven, things really changed for my sister and her other kids. The atmosphere at their home was one of emptiness. Everyone had congregated to this one room at the hospital.

The smell of great breakfast meals had ceased. The normal meeting places in the house had changed. Others would travel straight from their employers to the hospital. The hospital became their home.

It’s been said that hospitals are a nice place to visit, but no one wants to live there. Hospitals carry an array of emotions throughout the building. Those who work in hospitals get to see and hear a wide range of heart tugging scenes.

Don’t think so? How many of you have ever walked through the hospital and saw one room filled with tears, and two rooms down, you heard people in the room laughing? Hospitals are places that many want to forget about.

But as we do every Sunday, let’s invite God into these places where emotions pull on the heart daily. Many of you have heard that hospitals and churches are similar in functionality.

But when we look a little closer, we see that hospitals and churches are distinctly different. Of course, both can be places where people go to get well, right? However, one carries a slight edge over the other in dealing with something called “wholeness.”

Before I explain further, many of you would agree that God has placed government and laws over us, right? Paul certainly understood this and wrote these words.

1} “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. 2} Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.” (Romans 13:1-2 KJV).

[Of course, there may be times when we should not obey the government. We should never allow the government to force us to disobey God. Jesus and his apostles never disobeyed the government for personal reasons.]

Christians fully understand that we should obey the laws of the land. But born-again believers also understand the government is not God, right? Hospitals and their employees should be seen in the same light.

Over the years, I’ve been too many hospitals to pray for the sick. These hospitals had different titles and practice. I’ve been to Presbyterian hospitals, Catholic hospitals and other medical facilities to pray for the sick.

Again, the church is like a hospital. It’s where people who have messy lives come to get well. I’ve been in the hospital myself, and although I did not want to stay there, God gave me the opportunity to share the gospel with those who worked there.

I knew the hospital was not a carnival cruise destination. It was not a hot tub, glass of iced tea pleasure visit. So, whether you’re getting an x-ray, surgery, or delivering a baby, sometimes hospitals hurt.

Hospitals and churches are not equivalent, but both are full of vulnerable, hurting people, and both are committed to a standard of care.  Christians are called to follow the great physician. We belong to his body, and if one part hurts, we all hurt (Romans 12:15; 1 Corinthians 12:26). 

Churches can be like hospitals with emotions running on high all day long. But when Jesus is allowed to be the head of a church, he floods it with his peace. (John 14:26-27). This peace is one fruit that the Holy Spirit dispenses throughout the body. (Galatians 5:22-26).

The hospital functions on making the body well. God has used them tremendously well. He has given physicians, nurses, specialists, emt’s, etc. to care for the human body. But are hospitals perfect? Of course not.

Hospitals and pharmaceutical companies lack extreme vision to see where God may want to guide. How many of you hear or see pharmaceutical commercials advertising medicine more than once a day?

They bombard the public psyche with happy dream filled remedies about body conditions. Notice how they give the dreaded side effects at the end of a commercial? The pharmaceutical companies make billions off of sickness.

Am I against medicine? Not at all. But just as we use caution around everyday circumstances in life, we must be careful about how certain medications may affect us.

Just recently a well-known actor passed away. At one point, he was taking 55 Vicodin a day. Think that would cause side effects? Who was prescribing that much stuff? Did they care? Was the person’s money an influence to get them?

We must understand that Jesus told individuals, we have an adversary named the devil. (Satan). He comes to destroy people through hospitals, medications, and churches. (John 10:10). He hates anything God loves. (John 3:15-21).

Just a moment ago I shared with you how individuals should be careful about how their body feels from certain prescriptions and how you are being cared for by a physician. One day, a lady contacted me and asked for prayer.

She wasn’t a person (I don’t believe) who went to church or read the Bible. She also wasn’t healthy enough to come outside. I told her I would continue to pray for her. But she pressed upon me she wanted someone to come pray for her.

I told her I would contact her later on when she would like for me to come over. After I hung up, I immediately began to pray for her. The Lord had told me to contact three other individuals from the church.

We all prayed together before going to her home. When we arrived, she welcomed us in and showed us her day-by-day pill box she had. I asked her how many pills were in her box. She said about 139 different medications.

I asked her did she take them at different times. She told me she couldn’t remember. She said she would take them, but they would make her feel ill. Some of these medications were extremely powerful.

I remember one being morphine. I asked her had she been in contact with her doctor. She told us she had many physicians but couldn’t remember all of them. I asked her if the doctors and or the receptionist had kept in contact with each other.

She then started to cry and said she just wanted to stop taking the medications that made her sick. We all began to pray that God would come to her aid and begin to bring her medicinal issues in line.

You see my friends, this dear woman had been overmedicated, and she told us she wasn’t sure if all her doctors were contacting each other. It may have been the number of doses prescribed and how the medications interacted with each other that posed a problem.

I also asked her was there someone who she could contact that would send a home nurse to keep all her medications on file with the other doctors. We also prayed and anointed her, asking God to heal and touch her life.

She thanked us over and over for praying for her. After contacting the other physicians, they found out she was having deadly adverse side effects from some medications that were not meant to be with the others.

It took about 3 to 6 months, but She went from taking 139 strong medications to 30 medications. The next time we saw her, she looked extremely better and felt joyful. God had touched her life and she ended up coming to church.

In this situation, God used the church, the physicians, and the medicine being prescribed to shed light on this woman’s life. The gospel opened this woman’s web-tangled medicine life and opened her spiritual life to hear about Jesus.

This is where the church and hospital differ in some ways. Jesus is obviously the greatest physician who ever lived. He brings healing to the whole mind, body, and spirit. Every life who has allowed him to touch them, is forever changed.

Hospitals can only go so far. Don’t think so? I know, some of you may have already heard the words from any surgeon, “I’m sorry, there’s nothing more we can do.”

But for those who believe in the power of what Jesus can do, why not allow faith, belief, and prayer to reach the broken? The human life has physical needs and spiritual needs because of man’s corrupt sinful nation.

All people eventually die. We carry this curse called death to the grave. There is no escaping it unless you are a born-again believer when Jesus returns. Then you’ll be treated like Enoch (Genesis 5:22-24; 1 Corinthians 15:50-58).

I visited two woman at the hospital who faced this terrible thing called death. They had faced a vicious attack by a crazed man with a knife. One of the women used to come to my church. I received a call and asked would I come pray for them.

They did know each other but were taken by ambulance to the same hospitals. Their injuries were deep and possibly life threatening. After hearing the news, I began to pray for both women.

I then call three women who knew them to drive to the hospital with me. I could have gone alone, but numbers in Christ are always great. When we arrived, I told the hospital I was clergy, and came to see the two women attacked.

They gave us the room numbers. They happened to be on different floors. It seems one of the women had a more serious slash wound than the other. I decided to go to the woman on the lowest floor first.

When we got to her room, the nurse told us it was ok to go in. When she saw us, she had a great big smile on her face, and she looked amazingly good for such a traumatic experience that just took place.

She also just happened to be the one who used to come to church. She was also a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. I began to ask her how she was doing. She showed us the bandages she could. I told her we came to pray for her.

To my surprise, she smiled, sat up on her bed, and asked us if she could pray for us. Wow! What a wonderful morning this was turning out to be. She’s the one injured. But she kept saying how she knew Jesus was with her each time she was cut.

I stood there amazed, and quite for a moment. But I also could sense the presence of God in that hospital room. We still prayed for a miraculous touch by God on her injuries and also for a swift recovery and release from the hospital.

All these prayers came to fruition. As we began to tell her about the other woman before we left, she told us she hadn’t heard any news, but would lift her in prayer to the Lord.

When we got on the elevator to go upstairs, I told the others we should pray. Again, I did not know the other woman, but one of my friends did. After we got to the nurses’ station, we walked to her room.

There happened to be two other women (family members) when we walked him. This time the atmosphere in the room was totally different. The woman was crying and was terrified of dying. I was introduced by my friend who knew her.

I remember telling her that God loved her. She didn’t necessarily believe in God. The room had a cold feeling to it. It was totally different than downstairs a moment ago. I asked her if she would like to receive Jesus in her life.

Her family members began to cry. I suggested that we pray against all fear in the room. As everyone continued to pray, I asked her about receiving Jesus by faith. I told her turning from sin and turning to God was her only hope.

Of course, we prayed for her devastating injuries, but it was her spirit at that time that needed the most attention. Jesus had told everyone who would listen these words.

35} “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it.

36} For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? 37} Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Mark 8:35-37 KJV).

After we finished praying, her life was now in the Lord’s hands as to whether she would live or not. My friend who knew her stayed in contact with me. We all hugged her and her family. We knew God showed up in a big way.

Then in lies the similar and distinct differences between the hospital and the church. Please don’t forget, some hospitals, nursing homes, and hospice places frown on people bringing Jesus and the gospel into their places.

I went to pray for one woman, and she wanted nothing from me concerning prayer. As I gently took hold of her hand, she slapped my hand away and said she didn’t want anyone praying for her. Her husband, mother, and two sons were in the room.

She had stage four cancer. After a minute or two went by, she finally allowed me to pray. Her mother and two sons started crying after I finished praying. Her mother said she had never heard prayer like that before.

I think they may have been Catholic, but were not church members. I learned so much about hospitals and churches and how the same they can be at times. But I also found out some stark differences.

I found out when God is allowed entrance into broken lives, it is completely higher than what the practicing physicians, nurses, and medications can offer. Most hospitals don’t address the spiritual life.

Yes, there may be many born-again doctors and nurses. But isn’t that a plus and not a minus for the hospital? But we need to also remember, some hospitals do not allow their employees to proselytize while being at work.

This gives the church a little advantage over the freedoms to minister to the whole of a person. Yes, the hospital has an advantage over broken bones, but God can and does show up and leave miracles in his church from time to time.

Here’s an advantage, see if you can tell who garnered more praise. Locate in your Bible a woman (name not given) who was ill for a lengthy period of time. She went to as many physicians as she could find, and spent all her income.

Have you found the woman I’m thinking about? Let’s get right to the answer. Look at (Mark 5:25-34). Here we find a woman who had an issue of blood. This may have been a menstrual or uterine disorder.

This condition made her ritually unclean all the time (Leviticus 15:25-27). This went on for twelve years. Imagine being sick for that long and not being able to socialize with those you love. Again, she had exhausted all her resources, and the doctors couldn’t help her.

She desperately wanted Jesus to heal her, but she knew that her bleeding would cause Jesus to be unclean under Jewish law if she touched him. Imagine if hospitals today kept you out based on trivial rules and regulations.

Look at the most important verse of these verses. With the multitude of people pressing and thronging Jesus, this woman thought, “For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole. (Mark 5:28 KJV).

The word whole (sōzō) comes from the primary word (sōs̄). This has the word of something being in distress. Many of you know what it means to send out an S.O.S. international code signal of extreme distress. Like ships at sea.

So, this woman was in a serious distressed situation. She had no money, no more doctors. She was depleted emotionally. But she knew if she could but touch his garment, she would be whole.

This wholeness, Greek word (sōzō) means to save. That is deliver or protect (literally or figuratively). It means to heal and preserve. To simply make whole and complete.

But this is something so spectacular because she said if she could touch his garment. She didn’t say if she could touch him. Yes, she may have been thinking about the law of being unclean.

But when you’re sick and death may be right around the corner, you fight to survive, amen? Praise God! The Lord gave us life to live, not to die. We were originally created to live forever. This desire to keep living has never been taken away from us.

The Bible says Jesus felt virtue leave his body (Mark 5:30 KJV). Virtue, meaning power had left his body. But this wasn’t just any kind of power. We have all kinds of natural power in this country. But this was power that healed her condition. (Verse 29 KJV).

After the woman came trembling in fear, she told him all her story. Jesus told her it was her faith that made her whole. So, do healing and faith go together? Some of you may doubt what God can do concerning the sickness you have carried for years.

But as one famous person recently said about those voting for him, “What have you got to lose?” So, how valuable is you’re life to you? How bad do you want to get whole? “Again, I’m not discounting physicians, I’m adding one to your list seeking a second opinion.”

Before I prayed about what the message would be for this Sunday, I thought

it might be long and difficult to write and speak about. I could have made this message into a series that could last the rest of this year.

Why? Because all of us have been touched by some form of sickness, hospital stay, or knowing a friend or family member who may have been ill. If you’re one of those individuals who have never been sick or stayed in a hospital, God bless you!

But we must remember, these bodies, because of the curse and sin nature inside them, has left us all spiritually sick. And there is none that can make the claim that they have never sinned. (Romans 3:23).

Those who study the life of Jesus know that he did many mighty miracles. He healed as many that came to him. 32} “And at even, when the sun did set, they brought unto him all that were diseased, and them that were possessed with devils.

33} And all the city was gathered together at the door. 34} And he healed many that were sick of divers diseases, and cast out many devils; and suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew him.

35} And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.” (Mark 1:32-35 KJV). This is vital to everyone who wants to be whole. When you are sick, try praying.

If prayer was important for Jesus after all the love, care, and time he sacrificed to heal broken lives, then it must be important for his followers. How often do you think about prayer? Do you wait until you are in the hospital before you pray?

Prayer always moves the heart of God, but he still does everything in his timing. He is never late, and receives all the glory when the healing miracle comes. Satan wanted the people to follow Jesus around for what they could get out of him.

Satan doesn’t want any healing to be attributed to Jesus because Jesus was and still is the Son of God. This actually took place among ten lepers that Jesus healed (Luke 12:12-19). Jesus healed ten, but only one came back to give thanks and glorify God.

He not only thanked God, but did so in a loud voice. He glorified God for his healing. Have you ever left the hospital with an unthankful or ingratitude attitude? Some might say “Yes, their treatment of me was horrible.”

Of course, there are hospitals, surgeons, medical staff, and others who simply blow it. They are not perfect, and in many cases find themselves in court proceedings over medical malpractice. But in the story of the ten lepers the other nine had no such case.

The other nine were made completely well. They couldn’t stop and find Jesus again to say the words, “Thank you.” Don’t we teach our kids to say thank you when someone does something nice for them?

Also the one man who returned did not carry an “Archie Bunker” (you younger people have to Google that name) attitude because Jesus was Jewish. The man who returned was a Samaritan. (Luke17:16).

[Just as people can receive things from going to church, and be thankful, they can also receive God’s great gifts with an ungrateful spirit. Nine of the ten men did so. Only the thankful man, however, allowed his gratitude to further develop his faith.]

As we get a little closer to ending the service for today, you already have a homework assignment (Smile). See if you can find other healings in the Bible that Jesus administered to those who were hurting. Pretty easy, right?

Ok, let’s move on, I hope to finish within three hours (SMILE). Just kidding. But doesn’t time move in fun when you are discussing Jesus in writing or in listening, right? I mean, who gets tired of hearing about Jesus?

Of those of you who can’t take hearing about Jesus on Sunday (one day), how are you going to spend eternity with him? And please don’t think “I won’t have a choice, what else will I be doing? That’s another message for another time.

We will love basking in his glory and doing things to glorify God. Amen? Ok, back to the message. We must take a somewhat closer look at church operating like a hospital. When God is in the church, he brings all his gifts and blessings into that church.

Some churches are limited, just as some hospitals are limited in the kind of care they provide, some churches are not spiritually equipped because they choose not to have spiritual gifts from the Holy Spirit.

Did you know some churches do not believe in the gifts of healing? Some pastors and leaders don’t believe God uses people to pray for others to get well. One pastor put it this way, he said, “If God still heals, then why are there still sick people in hospitals?

He went on to say that there are no spiritual gifts of healing. But doesn’t the Bible say God is the same yesterday, today, and forever? It also says that he is the Lord God, and does not change. (Hebrews 13:8; Malachi 3:6).

If God is all of those things in his nature and character, then Jesus is the same way, the Holy Spirit is the same way. The Son does what the Father does, and the Holy Spirit does what they do. They never contradict one another in their approach to us (his creation).

By the way, my dear friends, if God Jesus healed all those individuals, what makes them different than us. Remember, Jesus told his twelve disciples (who were ordinary people like you and me) to cast out devils, heal the sick, raise the dead. (Matthew 10:5-8).

Some will say, “Pastor Todd, that was for that time period, healings and miracles don’t happen anymore.” I certainly would push back and say, “Then how do you account for a woman who doctors have documented that after checking for cancer cells, they were gone?

We’ve heard the phrase “God works in mysterious ways.” God is not held by our thoughts and ways of how he continues to heal broken lives. Sometimes these miracles are supernatural through his own touch, and sometimes he chooses to use people to accomplish his will.

God sees, he moves, he reacts, according to his own plan and timetable. But he also will fill his church full of people with faith, trust, and expectations to know he will heal and deliver everyone who calls out to him.

Did you know God has placed spiritual gifts in the church? And since he has, why would he stop? If God’s love and care for us has not diminished, then why would he stop healing in 2023? Do major hospital ever close?

Do emergency rooms work from nine-to-five? No. They are always on standby to receive those who need medical help. So, why would God close up his work to provide health and wellness to his own creation during a Sunday service?

Let’s look where we find those spiritual gifts God spoke about through his servant Paul. In 1 Corinthians 12 and 1 Corinthians 14, some of Paul’s first words concerning spiritual gifts are to make them aware of them.

“Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.” (1 Corinthians 12:1 KJV). The Greek word ignorant (agnoeō) means to not know. To have lack of intelligence or to ignore. 

Paul was instructing those to exercise their mind (observe) these spiritual gifts that God had given to the church through the Holy Spirit. (Ephesians 4:1-16). The people were not to be ignorant but pray and embrace the gifts from God.

Some Christians dismiss spiritual gifts and thereby quench the Holy Spirit from blessing the church throughout its leaders and from the congregation. Some refer to it as a “dry church.”

Not allowing the Holy Spirit to effectively operate in the midst of God’s people waters down the church. Some leaders feel they would lose their authoritative control if they allowed the Holy Spirit to run the church.

They will also misinterpret scripture to say that spiritual gifts are no longer operating in church today. They may try to use (1 Corinthians 13:8) to make their case.

But if they would continue to read verses 9 and 10, they would see that Paul was referring to when we will see Jesus Christ face-to-face. The spiritual gifts will never cease until Jesus returns.

In heaven, people no longer need spiritual gifts because Jesus is with them. God gives believers spiritual gifts for their lives on earth in order to build up, serve, and strengthen fellow Christians.

[Spiritual gifts are given only to believers. In eternity, we will be made perfect and complete and will be in the very presence of God. We will no longer need spiritual gifts, so they will come to an end.]

But Paul gave us some powerful words concerning gifts and serving God in (1 Corinthians 13:1). No matter how many gifts are operational in a church, if they are not soaked in love, it means nothing. Some churches have gifts, but they are hard and callous to the people.

Have you ever given a Christmas gift to someone begrudgingly? The gifts in the church can spread to hospitals when faith, hope, and love are allowed to enter. (1 Corinthians 13:13). I refer to this chapter as the love chapter.

Notice how it neatly fits between chapters 12 and 14. To love God is to love His people (1 John 4:20-21). In a healthy church, Christ’s love fuels us to reach out to one another and lift up and encourage each other.

Sometimes there is pain in churches. The devil always wants to inflict as much division and separation in the church as possible. He will send disruption, sin, conflicts, cliques, and schisms in the church.

Leaders must spiritually discern these forces and pray them out of the church. The hospital is similar in how it tries to protect its patients from unruly guests who cause undo anguish to the patient. When pain comes, healing refines us.

Churches like hospitals can abandon their first Love (duty) (Rev. 2:1-7; Luke 22:3-6). Harmful churches and hospitals are often unhealthy structures with disordered love. Some leaders and staff in the hospital want all the spotlight. 

They usurp power over those underneath them. (3 John 9-11; John 12:42-43; 1 John 2:15-16; Luke 16:13; Acts 4:36-5:4). Many of you have had unsettling experiences at hospitals and churches. But you should never paint them all with the same negative brush.

Churches and hospitals should both care for people in their times of need. They both do this in a holistic way from birth to death. However, the major difference is that their means of doing this are primarily very different. 

Hospitals are there to care for peoples mental and physical health, where as the church is there to care for the whole person, spirit, soul, and the physical body. Jesus distinguished the difference between the sick and healthy.

“When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them,They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” (Mark 2:17 KJV). Jesus, earlier in this chapter showed his power over sin and sickness.

He healed someone who could not walk, but had friends that had faith that Jesus could heal him. When Jesus saw their faith, he forgave the man of his sins. The religious leaders thought Jesus spoke blasphemous words (Mark 2:5-12).

But Jesus could read their hearts and spoke the most powerful words in scripture. 9} “Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk?

10} But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,) 11} I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house. (Mark 2:9-11 KJV).

Praise God! Let those living words reach deep in your heart. “That you may know!” That is the dividing line between church and hospital. You have the hospital, who is limited in their diagnosis and cure, and you have Jesus and his church.

This man received the ultimate healing. Who doesn’t want that? How many of you went into the hospital sick, but came out well? Sadly, many of you know people who have checked into hospitals but never checked out.

Whether in the church or hospital, Jesus has called all who are sick, to himself. Many wealthy people can afford the best physicians in the world. But with all their medical knowledge, they still come in second place to the greatest physician who ever lived.

The words, “I’m sorry, there’s nothing more we can do” are heard every day throughout hospitals in 2023. But Jesus spoke these words, “But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them,With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26 KJV).

All things are possible when we invite God into our lives through Jesus Christ. There are probably many of you who have prayed, fasted, and cried for God to heal your husband, wife, child, relative, or friend.

My dearly beloved friends, sometimes God’s answer is wait, sometimes his answer may be no. When Paul asked God three times to heal him of a physical affliction, God told him, “My grace is sufficient for you.” (2 Corinthians 12:8-10).

If God’s answer to Paul (a great man of God who wrote a lot of the New Testament) was no, he may tell us no concerning a sickness. Remember, God can see beyond today, we cannot.

God knows the beginning of your life and the end of your life. (Isaiah 46:10; 55:7-9; Jeremiah 29:11; Psalm 139:2,16; Ephesians 1:11). God is not offended that you trust doctors more than him, or medication more than him, or placing your church pastor over him.

God, simply wants to love you and that you will trust him. (Proverbs 3:5-6). He wants to bring the miraculous things that only he can provide in your life. Things in this world will always fail you. (1 John 2:15-17).

Jesus wants all hearts to hear the gospel. What is the gospel? It’s defined as “Good news!” Who doesn’t want good news? It is the list in our society who need to hear the good news. For it is through hearing the Gospel that their souls can be healed

Remember, TRY JESUS members already know, this is a word first ministry. In Romans 10:17 it tells us faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Jesus (verse 17).

Therefore, we are called to proclaim the gospel to those around us, in order that those around us can be saved, amen? The church is a hospital for the unwell. We have more people than ever before who need the church, amen?

Please understand I’m not speaking about the building outside with stained artistry glass of saints, with a large cross on it. The church I’m eluding too is the one that comes together with beating hearts and filled with the power of the Holy Spirit.

When the church (people) are filled with God’s power, there are miraculous things that may happen from time to time. Most people gravitate towards miracles, right? Someone of you are familiar with what took place in Asbury Kentucky earlier this year.

This tiny Christian college in Kentucky called Asbury University had a normal service that day. But after the service ended, a small number of students decided to carry on praying and worshipping. And they didn’t stop.

In many instances, revivals like this one are preceded by fasting and prayer. By the time university leaders concluded the gathering, an estimated 50,000 students and visitors had come to the campus to pray.

The outpouring attracted students from more than 260 colleges and universities, many drawn by social media livestreams and posts. God is “all-powerful,” he sends spiritual awakening wherever he chooses. 

The university officially ended the revival services on February 23rd. Many people were curious about why so many people were traveling far away for the event. Some may have thought this was phony or made up.

But the truth around revivals is more than just physical miracles, which some may come to observe, but the greatest miracle is the one you cannot see. It is the miracle of a changed life.

This takes place on the inside when one an individual repents, and the Holy Spirit takes up residence in their spirit. He simply comes in, cleans house, and kicks anything out that previously had ownership (Satan).

Here’s what the Bible says about a changed life. 17} “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

18} And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; (2 Corinthians 5:17-18 KJV). Please also read (Ephesians 2:8-9).

This comes about after an individual has repented (turned away from sin) and turn to God with a surrendered heart. Please read this important passage of scripture aloud to yourself and those who may be in your group. (Romans 10:8-10,13).

Consider the fact that your soul needs some spiritual medicine called faith. But your soul typically cannot find that in many hospitals. Please read aloud (Romans 10:14-17).

But look at verse 17 again. “So, then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10:17 KJV). My dear friends, your soul needs the word of God (Hebrews 4:12). It is impossible to be saved without God.

That’s why Jesus (who died for sins) could say this, “Jesus saith unto him,I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6 KJV). Philip, who needed some assurance was given some much needed truth from Jesus.

Here’s what Jesus told him about seeing the Father, “Jesus saith unto him,Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? (John 14:9 KJV).

The full explanation to Philip continued after that (John 14:10-25). After that, Jesus explained about the Holy Spirit coming to dwell with them and would be in them to help them live a life that is pleasing to God. (John 14:17, 26-27).

If God is going to do what is best for you, then his plan for you will be accomplished on his schedule, not yours. Keeping that in mind, you can actually become excited about waiting for him to act.

🗣📢 Last words: Today, God is taking care of you, you just have to let go and surrender everything to him! Allow him full control and trust him! Remember, God is so much better at orchestrating our lives than we are.

Whether you are in a church or a hospital, ask the Lord to help you learn how to better trust him. Jesus loves his bride, (his born-again family) and is actively working for her flourishing. Sometimes those in churches and hospitals hurt us.

But God has no designs to hurt us. It is impossible for God to apply evil on us. Even we God’s people sin and blow it; they are still infinitely loved. For we all need to hear the word of God, whether we know it or not. 

The Church, the Hospital, Jesus and his Kingdom, where would you want to stay forever! (Psalm 103:1-3).



🛐 Here’s a prayer you can pray when the impossible invades your life. “Heavenly Father, thank you so much for today’s message. Your word tells me, my life is like a drop of vapor. It tells me, tomorrow is never promised.

But what an incredible and awesome God you are! When I see the beauty of your creation, I’m in awe of your mighty and majestic ways. When I see the work of your hand, I’m overwhelmed by your love for me.

Lord, I believe that you came to save my soul; plus give me the ultimate healing of living eternally with you, never again to face death again. You came to give me life and life more abundantly than anything or anyone can offer me.

Help me trust that you have made me whole. I am whole physically and spiritually because of you. Whether this physical body on this side ages and passes away, you have reserved a new body for this regenerated spirit.

Lord, I believe that you hear my prayers. Help me trust that your answer is best for me. Help me to seek you every day until my eyes see yours in glory. Lord, I trust that you created the mountains. Help me trust that you can move them.

Please forgive me for trying to be in control and allow me to let go and surrender my life to you. Increase my ability to give you everything. Your ways are much higher than mine. Thank you, Jesus, in your healing name, amen.”



📣 Help spread the word by sharing this web site and messages on your platform.

🙏 Please remember to pray for the people in Israel. They are God’s people because of his covenant promises to them. (Genesis 12:1-3; Numbers 6:22-27; 24:8-9). ✝️📲 Prayer Line- Text line- 1-412-616-3572🦃 I would like to extend a wonderful Thanksgiving to all who may be gathering this Thanksgiving. Gratitude brings true honor to God. Begin each day by thanking God for his salvation.

Plus all his blessings, his sustenance, the beauty of nature, his love, and his forgiveness. Gratitude opens the door to prayer and worship. This Thanksgiving, remember God has provided all things to be richly enjoyed. (1 Timothy 6:17).

May genuine love and peace fill your homes this Thursday. I pray for traveling mercies on you and your loved ones, Pastor Todd.

“The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.”

Pastor Todd Boxley

Worship Center Ministry.

, how do you place that number next to God’s provision for you?

Is God greater than that number? Let’s welcome the creator of all numbers in our midst today. “Heavenly Father, you are our “soul” provider today. Thank you for watching over us this past week.

Lord, we welcome your presence throughout the nation and those hearts you have drawn to “TRY JESUS” ministry. Father, as we open your word today, let this ministry be full of your glory.

Thank you for your protection throughout the night and have enabled us to wake up this morning. If it were not because of your love for us, we would not be here this Sunday morning. Holy Spirit, guide our hearts into truth. May your word, which is

powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword pierce our hearts and minds to the knowledge of your living word. Let everything that is received bring glory to your name. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

When you were a child playing outside, you probably were full of energy and had lots of fun with your friends. Maybe some of you grew up where playgrounds were not far away. Perhaps some of you played with friends in your parents’ back yard.

However you burned off that youthful energy, it was always great to come home, kick up your feet, and go raid the fridge, right? Of course, you also got to hear those authoritative words, “Go wash your hands first!”

Oh well, your stomach growling from that long walk home of playing with your family or friends can wait another minute to splash some hand soap on them. There is nothing greater for parents than to get some needed rest.

Parents are excited for their children when they are able to have fun and get that exercise that helps keep them fit and trim. But while the kids are out, parents are able to get that little bit of peace and quietness before it’s off to the next household chore.

I’m sure all of you have had a different upbringing in your adolescent years. Some of you may come from an only child household. Some of you may have been raised by a single parent. Some have been raised by other siblings.

Whatever your circumstances you faced, it was a great feeling if you were able to know, that after playing outside, there was someone who loved you enough to keep watch over you. Coming home to a place that had care for you is a great feeling.

However, sometimes, playtime doesn’t always go as planned. I can remember playing baseball one day (My last day. Smile). I was playing second base. I remember some kid hit a ground ball to me that happened to take a bad hop.

Before I could react, (still growing into me reflexes) that ball caught me right in the eye. I think I still managed to throw the runner out, but I fell to the ground in tremendous pain. That was the end of my baseball career. (Smile).

As others gathered around me to see if was ok, I felt some fluid under my eye. The ball had left a nice cut under my eye. The attention I was getting was ok, but nothing was better than me running home with a napkin over my eye to see those loving eyes of mom and dad.

There’s nothing like love that knows what’s best for you, right? I knew I would get the best treatment if I could get to mommy or daddy. I also played up the injury a little bit to get more attention and care.

Even when a child scrapes their knee and cries, (even though it’s not that painful) they love to hear a voice that says, “Come hear, and let mommy kiss your little boo-boo.” I can see all your faces smiling and saying “Aww, that’s cute.”

Sometimes these scrapes take on a more serious injury when it lands a child in the hospital. There is nothing more heart wrenching than when a child ends up in the hospital. Everything changes for the child and the home.

When my niece became ill at age seven, things really changed for my sister and her other kids. The atmosphere at their home was one of emptiness. Everyone had congregated to this one room at the hospital.

The smell of great breakfast meals had ceased. The normal meeting places in the house had changed. Others would travel straight from their employers to the hospital. The hospital became their home.

It’s been said that hospitals are a nice place to visit, but no one wants to live there. Hospitals carry an array of emotions throughout the building. Those who work in hospitals get to see and hear a wide range of heart tugging scenes.

Don’t think so? How many of you have ever walked through the hospital and saw one room filled with tears, and two rooms down, you heard people in the room laughing? Hospitals are places that many want to forget about.

But as we do every Sunday, let’s invite God into these places where emotions pull on the heart daily. Many of you have heard that hospitals and churches are similar in functionality.

But when we look a little closer, we see that hospitals and churches are distinctly different. Of course, both can be places where people go to get well, right? However, one carries a slight edge over the other in dealing with something called “wholeness.”

Before I explain further, many of you would agree that God has placed government and laws over us, right? Paul certainly understood this and wrote these words.

1} “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. 2} Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.” (Romans 13:1-2 KJV).

[Of course, there may be times when we should not obey the government. We should never allow the government to force us to disobey God. Jesus and his apostles never disobeyed the government for personal reasons.]

Christians fully understand that we should obey the laws of the land. But born-again believers also understand the government is not God, right? Hospitals and their employees should be seen in the same light.

Over the years, I’ve been too many hospitals to pray for the sick. These hospitals had different titles and practice. I’ve been to Presbyterian hospitals, Catholic hospitals and other medical facilities to pray for the sick.

Again, the church is like a hospital. It’s where people who have messy lives come to get well. I’ve been in the hospital myself, and although I did not want to stay there, God gave me the opportunity to share the gospel with those who worked there.

I knew the hospital was not a carnival cruise destination. It was not a hot tub, glass of iced tea pleasure visit. So, whether you’re getting an x-ray, surgery, or delivering a baby, sometimes hospitals hurt.

Hospitals and churches are not equivalent, but both are full of vulnerable, hurting people, and both are committed to a standard of care.  Christians are called to follow the great physician. We belong to his body, and if one part hurts, we all hurt (Romans 12:15; 1 Corinthians 12:26). 

Churches can be like hospitals with emotions running on high all day long. But when Jesus is allowed to be the head of a church, he floods it with his peace. (John 14:26-27). This peace is one fruit that the Holy Spirit dispenses throughout the body. (Galatians 5:22-26).

The hospital functions on making the body well. God has used them tremendously well. He has given physicians, nurses, specialists, emt’s, etc. to care for the human body. But are hospitals perfect? Of course not.

Hospitals and pharmaceutical companies lack extreme vision to see where God may want to guide. How many of you hear or see pharmaceutical commercials advertising medicine more than once a day?

They bombard the public psyche with happy dream filled remedies about body conditions. Notice how they give the dreaded side effects at the end of a commercial? The pharmaceutical companies make billions off of sickness.

Am I against medicine? Not at all. But just as we use caution around everyday circumstances in life, we must be careful about how certain medications may affect us.

Just recently a well-known actor passed away. At one point, he was taking 55 Vicodin a day. Think that would cause side effects? Who was prescribing that much stuff? Did they care? Was the person’s money an influence to get them?

We must understand that Jesus told individuals, we have an adversary named the devil. (Satan). He comes to destroy people through hospitals, medications, and churches. (John 10:10). He hates anything God loves. (John 3:15-21).

Just a moment ago I shared with you how individuals should be careful about how their body feels from certain prescriptions and how you are being cared for by a physician. One day, a lady contacted me and asked for prayer.

She wasn’t a person (I don’t believe) who went to church or read the Bible. She also wasn’t healthy enough to come outside. I told her I would continue to pray for her. But she pressed upon me she wanted someone to come pray for her.

I told her I would contact her later on when she would like for me to come over. After I hung up, I immediately began to pray for her. The Lord had told me to contact three other individuals from the church.

We all prayed together before going to her home. When we arrived, she welcomed us in and showed us her day-by-day pill box she had. I asked her how many pills were in her box. She said about 139 different medications.

I asked her did she take them at different times. She told me she couldn’t remember. She said she would take them, but they would make her feel ill. Some of these medications were extremely powerful.

I remember one being morphine. I asked her had she been in contact with her doctor. She told us she had many physicians but couldn’t remember all of them. I asked her if the doctors and or the receptionist had kept in contact with each other.

She then started to cry and said she just wanted to stop taking the medications that made her sick. We all began to pray that God would come to her aid and begin to bring her medicinal issues in line.

You see my friends, this dear woman had been overmedicated, and she told us she wasn’t sure if all her doctors were contacting each other. It may have been the number of doses prescribed and how the medications interacted with each other that posed a problem.

I also asked her was there someone who she could contact that would send a home nurse to keep all her medications on file with the other doctors. We also prayed and anointed her, asking God to heal and touch her life.

She thanked us over and over for praying for her. After contacting the other physicians, they found out she was having deadly adverse side effects from some medications that were not meant to be with the others.

It took about 3 to 6 months, but She went from taking 139 strong medications to 30 medications. The next time we saw her, she looked extremely better and felt joyful. God had touched her life and she ended up coming to church.

In this situation, God used the church, the physicians, and the medicine being prescribed to shed light on this woman’s life. The gospel opened this woman’s web-tangled medicine life and opened her spiritual life to hear about Jesus.

This is where the church and hospital differ in some ways. Jesus is obviously the greatest physician who ever lived. He brings healing to the whole mind, body, and spirit. Every life who has allowed him to touch them, is forever changed.

Hospitals can only go so far. Don’t think so? I know, some of you may have already heard the words from any surgeon, “I’m sorry, there’s nothing more we can do.”

But for those who believe in the power of what Jesus can do, why not allow faith, belief, and prayer to reach the broken? The human life has physical needs and spiritual needs because of man’s corrupt sinful nation.

All people eventually die. We carry this curse called death to the grave. There is no escaping it unless you are a born-again believer when Jesus returns. Then you’ll be treated like Enoch (Genesis 5:22-24; 1 Corinthians 15:50-58).

I visited two woman at the hospital who faced this terrible thing called death. They had faced a vicious attack by a crazed man with a knife. One of the women used to come to my church. I received a call and asked would I come pray for them.

They did know each other but were taken by ambulance to the same hospitals. Their injuries were deep and possibly life threatening. After hearing the news, I began to pray for both women.

I then call three women who knew them to drive to the hospital with me. I could have gone alone, but numbers in Christ are always great. When we arrived, I told the hospital I was clergy, and came to see the two women attacked.

They gave us the room numbers. They happened to be on different floors. It seems one of the women had a more serious slash wound than the other. I decided to go to the woman on the lowest floor first.

When we got to her room, the nurse told us it was ok to go in. When she saw us, she had a great big smile on her face, and she looked amazingly good for such a traumatic experience that just took place.

She also just happened to be the one who used to come to church. She was also a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. I began to ask her how she was doing. She showed us the bandages she could. I told her we came to pray for her.

To my surprise, she smiled, sat up on her bed, and asked us if she could pray for us. Wow! What a wonderful morning this was turning out to be. She’s the one injured. But she kept saying how she knew Jesus was with her each time she was cut.

I stood there amazed, and quite for a moment. But I also could sense the presence of God in that hospital room. We still prayed for a miraculous touch by God on her injuries and also for a swift recovery and release from the hospital.

All these prayers came to fruition. As we began to tell her about the other woman before we left, she told us she hadn’t heard any news, but would lift her in prayer to the Lord.

When we got on the elevator to go upstairs, I told the others we should pray. Again, I did not know the other woman, but one of my friends did. After we got to the nurses’ station, we walked to her room.

There happened to be two other women (family members) when we walked him. This time the atmosphere in the room was totally different. The woman was crying and was terrified of dying. I was introduced by my friend who knew her.

I remember telling her that God loved her. She didn’t necessarily believe in God. The room had a cold feeling to it. It was totally different than downstairs a moment ago. I asked her if she would like to receive Jesus in her life.

Her family members began to cry. I suggested that we pray against all fear in the room. As everyone continued to pray, I asked her about receiving Jesus by faith. I told her turning from sin and turning to God was her only hope.

Of course, we prayed for her devastating injuries, but it was her spirit at that time that needed the most attention. Jesus had told everyone who would listen these words.

35} “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it.

36} For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? 37} Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Mark 8:35-37 KJV).

After we finished praying, her life was now in the Lord’s hands as to whether she would live or not. My friend who knew her stayed in contact with me. We all hugged her and her family. We knew God showed up in a big way.

Then in lies the similar and distinct differences between the hospital and the church. Please don’t forget, some hospitals, nursing homes, and hospice places frown on people bringing Jesus and the gospel into their places.

I went to pray for one woman, and she wanted nothing from me concerning prayer. As I gently took hold of her hand, she slapped my hand away and said she didn’t want anyone praying for her. Her husband, mother, and two sons were in the room.

She had stage four cancer. After a minute or two went by, she finally allowed me to pray. Her mother and two sons started crying after I finished praying. Her mother said she had never heard prayer like that before.

I think they may have been Catholic, but were not church members. I learned so much about hospitals and churches and how the same they can be at times. But I also found out some stark differences.

I found out when God is allowed entrance into broken lives, it is completely higher than what the practicing physicians, nurses, and medications can offer. Most hospitals don’t address the spiritual life.

Yes, there may be many born-again doctors and nurses. But isn’t that a plus and not a minus for the hospital? But we need to also remember, some hospitals do not allow their employees to proselytize while being at work.

This gives the church a little advantage over the freedoms to minister to the whole of a person. Yes, the hospital has an advantage over broken bones, but God can and does show up and leave miracles in his church from time to time.

Here’s an advantage, see if you can tell who garnered more praise. Locate in your Bible a woman (name not given) who was ill for a lengthy period of time. She went to as many physicians as she could find, and spent all her income.

Have you found the woman I’m thinking about? Let’s get right to the answer. Look at (Mark 5:25-34). Here we find a woman who had an issue of blood. This may have been a menstrual or uterine disorder.

This condition made her ritually unclean all the time (Leviticus 15:25-27). This went on for twelve years. Imagine being sick for that long and not being able to socialize with those you love. Again, she had exhausted all her resources, and the doctors couldn’t help her.

She desperately wanted Jesus to heal her, but she knew that her bleeding would cause Jesus to be unclean under Jewish law if she touched him. Imagine if hospitals today kept you out based on trivial rules and regulations.

Look at the most important verse of these verses. With the multitude of people pressing and thronging Jesus, this woman thought, “For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole. (Mark 5:28 KJV).

The word whole (sōzō) comes from the primary word (sōs̄). This has the word of something being in distress. Many of you know what it means to send out an S.O.S. international code signal of extreme distress. Like ships at sea.

So, this woman was in a serious distressed situation. She had no money, no more doctors. She was depleted emotionally. But she knew if she could but touch his garment, she would be whole.

This wholeness, Greek word (sōzō) means to save. That is deliver or protect (literally or figuratively). It means to heal and preserve. To simply make whole and complete.

But this is something so spectacular because she said if she could touch his garment. She didn’t say if she could touch him. Yes, she may have been thinking about the law of being unclean.

But when you’re sick and death may be right around the corner, you fight to survive, amen? Praise God! The Lord gave us life to live, not to die. We were originally created to live forever. This desire to keep living has never been taken away from us.

The Bible says Jesus felt virtue leave his body (Mark 5:30 KJV). Virtue, meaning power had left his body. But this wasn’t just any kind of power. We have all kinds of natural power in this country. But this was power that healed her condition. (Verse 29 KJV).

After the woman came trembling in fear, she told him all her story. Jesus told her it was her faith that made her whole. So, do healing and faith go together? Some of you may doubt what God can do concerning the sickness you have carried for years.

But as one famous person recently said about those voting for him, “What have you got to lose?” So, how valuable is you’re life to you? How bad do you want to get whole? “Again, I’m not discounting physicians, I’m adding one to your list seeking a second opinion.”

Before I prayed about what the message would be for this Sunday, I thought

it might be long and difficult to write and speak about. I could have made this message into a series that could last the rest of this year.

Why? Because all of us have been touched by some form of sickness, hospital stay, or knowing a friend or family member who may have been ill. If you’re one of those individuals who have never been sick or stayed in a hospital, God bless you!

But we must remember, these bodies, because of the curse and sin nature inside them, has left us all spiritually sick. And there is none that can make the claim that they have never sinned. (Romans 3:23).

Those who study the life of Jesus know that he did many mighty miracles. He healed as many that came to him. 32} “And at even, when the sun did set, they brought unto him all that were diseased, and them that were possessed with devils.

33} And all the city was gathered together at the door. 34} And he healed many that were sick of divers diseases, and cast out many devils; and suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew him.

35} And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.” (Mark 1:32-35 KJV). This is vital to everyone who wants to be whole. When you are sick, try praying.

If prayer was important for Jesus after all the love, care, and time he sacrificed to heal broken lives, then it must be important for his followers. How often do you think about prayer? Do you wait until you are in the hospital before you pray?

Prayer always moves the heart of God, but he still does everything in his timing. He is never late, and receives all the glory when the healing miracle comes. Satan wanted the people to follow Jesus around for what they could get out of him.

Satan doesn’t want any healing to be attributed to Jesus because Jesus was and still is the Son of God. This actually took place among ten lepers that Jesus healed (Luke 12:12-19). Jesus healed ten, but only one came back to give thanks and glorify God.

He not only thanked God, but did so in a loud voice. He glorified God for his healing. Have you ever left the hospital with an unthankful or ingratitude attitude? Some might say “Yes, their treatment of me was horrible.”

Of course, there are hospitals, surgeons, medical staff, and others who simply blow it. They are not perfect, and in many cases find themselves in court proceedings over medical malpractice. But in the story of the ten lepers the other nine had no such case.

The other nine were made completely well. They couldn’t stop and find Jesus again to say the words, “Thank you.” Don’t we teach our kids to say thank you when someone does something nice for them?

Also the one man who returned did not carry an “Archie Bunker” (you younger people have to Google that name) attitude because Jesus was Jewish. The man who returned was a Samaritan. (Luke17:16).

[Just as people can receive things from going to church, and be thankful, they can also receive God’s great gifts with an ungrateful spirit. Nine of the ten men did so. Only the thankful man, however, allowed his gratitude to further develop his faith.]

As we get a little closer to ending the service for today, you already have a homework assignment (Smile). See if you can find other healings in the Bible that Jesus administered to those who were hurting. Pretty easy, right?

Ok, let’s move on, I hope to finish within three hours (SMILE). Just kidding. But doesn’t time move in fun when you are discussing Jesus in writing or in listening, right? I mean, who gets tired of hearing about Jesus?

Of you can’t take hearing about Jesus on Sunday (one day), how are you going to spend eternity with him? And please don’t think “I won’t have a choice, what else will I be doing? That’s another message for another time.

We will love basking in his glory and doing things to glorify God. Amen? Ok, back to the message. We must take a somewhat closer look at church operating like a hospital. When God is in the church, he brings all his gifts and blessings into that church.

Some churches are limited, just as some hospitals are limited in the kind of care they provide, some churches are not spiritually equipped because they choose not to have spiritual gifts from the Holy Spirit.

Did you know some churches do not believe in the gifts of healing? Some pastors and leaders don’t believe God uses people to pray for others to get well. One pastor put it this way, he said, “If God still heals, then why are there still sick people in hospitals?

He went on to say that there are no spiritual gifts of healing. But doesn’t the Bible say God is the same yesterday, today, and forever? It also says that he is the Lord God, and does not change. (Hebrews 13:8; Malachi 3:6).

If God is all of those things in his nature and character, then Jesus is the same way, the Holy Spirit is the same way. The Son does what the Father does, and the Holy Spirit does what they do. They never contradict one another in their approach to us (his creation).

By the way, my dear friends, if God Jesus healed all those individuals, what makes them different than us. Remember, Jesus told his twelve disciples (who were ordinary people like you and me) to cast out devils, heal the sick, raise the dead. (Matthew 10:5-8).

Some will say, “Pastor Todd, that was for that time period, healings and miracles don’t happen anymore.” I certainly would push back and say, “Then how do you account for a woman who doctors have documented that after checking for cancer cells, they were gone?

We’ve heard the phrase “God works in mysterious ways.” God is not held by our thoughts and ways of how he continues to heal broken lives. Sometimes these miracles are supernatural through his own touch, and sometimes he chooses to use people to accomplish his will.

God sees, he moves, he reacts, according to his own plan and timetable. But he also will fill his church full of people with faith, trust, and expectations to know he will heal and deliver everyone who calls out to him.

Did you know God has placed spiritual gifts in the church? And since he has, why would he stop? If God’s love and care for us has not diminished, then why would he stop healing in 2023? Do major hospital ever close?

Do emergency rooms work from nine-to-five? No. They are always on standby to receive those who need medical help. So, why would God close up his work to provide health and wellness to his own creation during a Sunday service?

Let’s look where we find those spiritual gifts God spoke about through his servant Paul. In 1 Corinthians 12 and 1 Corinthians 14, some of Paul’s first words concerning spiritual gifts are to make them aware of them.

“Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.” (1 Corinthians 12:1 KJV). The Greek word ignorant (agnoeō) means to not know. To have lack of intelligence or to ignore. 

Paul was instructing those to exercise their mind (observe) these spiritual gifts that God had given to the church through the Holy Spirit. (Ephesians 4:1-16). The people were not to be ignorant but pray and embrace the gifts from God.

Some Christians dismiss spiritual gifts and thereby quench the Holy Spirit from blessing the church throughout its leaders and from the congregation. Some refer to it as a “dry church.”

Not allowing the Holy Spirit to effectively operate in the midst of God’s people waters down the church. Some leaders feel they would lose their authoritative control if they allowed the Holy Spirit to run the church.

They will also misinterpret scripture to say that spiritual gifts are no longer operating in church today. They may try to use (1 Corinthians 13:8) to make their case.

But if they would continue to read verses 9 and 10, they would see that Paul was referring to when we will see Jesus Christ face-to-face. The spiritual gifts will never cease until Jesus returns.

In heaven, people no longer need spiritual gifts because Jesus is with them. God gives believers spiritual gifts for their lives on earth in order to build up, serve, and strengthen fellow Christians.

[Spiritual gifts are given only to believers. In eternity, we will be made perfect and complete and will be in the very presence of God. We will no longer need spiritual gifts, so they will come to an end.]

But Paul gave us some powerful words concerning gifts and serving God in (1 Corinthians 13:1). No matter how many gifts are operational in a church, if they are not soaked in love, it means nothing. Some churches have gifts, but they are hard and callous to the people.

Have you ever given a Christmas gift to someone begrudgingly? The gifts in the church can spread to hospitals when faith, hope, and love are allowed to enter. (1 Corinthians 13:13). I refer to this chapter as the love chapter.

Notice how it neatly fits between chapters 12 and 14. To love God is to love His people (1 John 4:20-21). In a healthy church, Christ’s love fuels us to reach out to one another and lift up and encourage each other.

Sometimes there is pain in churches. The devil always wants to inflict as much division and separation in the church as possible. He will send disruption, sin, conflicts, cliques, and schisms in the church.

Leaders must spiritually discern these forces and pray them out of the church. The hospital is similar in how it tries to protect its patients from unruly guests who cause undo anguish to the patient. When pain comes, healing refines us.

Churches like hospitals can abandon their first Love (duty) (Rev. 2:1-7; Luke 22:3-6). Harmful churches and hospitals are often unhealthy structures with disordered love. Some leaders and staff in the hospital want all the spotlight. 

They usurp power over those underneath them. (3 John 9-11; John 12:42-43; 1 John 2:15-16; Luke 16:13; Acts 4:36-5:4). Many of you have had unsettling experiences at hospitals and churches. But you should never paint them all with the same negative brush.

Churches and hospitals should both care for people in their times of need. They both do this in a holistic way from birth to death. However, the major difference is that their means of doing this are primarily very different. 

Hospitals are there to care for peoples mental and physical health, where as the church is there to care for the whole person, spirit, soul, and the physical body. Jesus distinguished the difference between the sick and healthy.

“When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them,They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” (Mark 2:17 KJV). Jesus, earlier in this chapter showed his power over sin and sickness.

He healed someone who could not walk, but had friends that had faith that Jesus could heal him. When Jesus saw their faith, he forgave the man of his sins. The religious leaders thought Jesus spoke blasphemous words (Mark 2:5-12).

But Jesus could read their hearts and spoke the most powerful words in scripture. 9} “Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk?

10} But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,) 11} I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house. (Mark 2:9-11 KJV).

Praise God! Let those living words reach deep in your heart. “That you may know!” That is the dividing line between church and hospital. You have the hospital, who is limited in their diagnosis and cure, and you have Jesus and his church.

This man received the ultimate healing. Who doesn’t want that? How many of you went into the hospital sick, but came out well? Sadly, many of you know people who have checked into hospitals but never checked out.

Whether in the church or hospital, Jesus has called all who are sick, to himself. Many wealthy people can afford the best physicians in the world. But with all their medical knowledge, they still come in second place to the greatest physician who ever lived.

The words, “I’m sorry, there’s nothing more we can do” are heard every day throughout hospitals in 2023. But Jesus spoke these words, “But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them,With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26 KJV).

All things are possible when we invite God into our lives through Jesus Christ. There are probably many of you who have prayed, fasted, and cried for God to heal your husband, wife, child, relative, or friend.

My dearly beloved friends, sometimes God’s answer is wait, sometimes his answer may be no. When Paul asked God three times to heal him of a physical affliction, God told him, “My grace is sufficient for you.” (2 Corinthians 12:8-10).

If God’s answer to Paul (a great man of God who wrote a lot of the New Testament) was no, he may tell us no concerning a sickness. Remember, God can see beyond today, we cannot.

God knows the beginning of your life and the end of your life. (Isaiah 46:10; 55:7-9; Jeremiah 29:11; Psalm 139:2,16; Ephesians 1:11). God is not offended that you trust doctors more than him, or medication more than him, or placing your church pastor over him.

God, simply wants to love you and that you will trust him. (Proverbs 3:5-6). He wants to bring the miraculous things that only he can provide in your life. Things in this world will always fail you. (1 John 2:15-17).

Jesus wants all hearts to hear the gospel. What is the gospel? It’s defined as “Good news!” Who doesn’t want good news? It is the list in our society who need to hear the good news. For it is through hearing the Gospel that their souls can be healed

Remember, TRY JESUS members already know, this is a word first ministry. In Romans 10:17 it tells us faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Jesus (verse 17).

Therefore, we are called to proclaim the gospel to those around us, in order that those around us can be saved, amen? The church is a hospital for the unwell. We have more people than ever before who need the church, amen?

Please understand I’m not speaking about the building outside with stained artistry glass of saints, with a large cross on it. The church I’m eluding too is the one that comes together with beating hearts and filled with the power of the Holy Spirit.

When the church (people) are filled with God’s power, there are miraculous things that may happen from time to time. Most people gravitate towards miracles, right? Someone of you are familiar with what took place in Asbury Kentucky earlier this year.

This tiny Christian college in Kentucky called Asbury University had a normal service that day. But after the service ended, a small number of students decided to carry on praying and worshipping. And they didn’t stop.

In many instances, revivals like this one are preceded by fasting and prayer. By the time university leaders concluded the gathering, an estimated 50,000 students and visitors had come to the campus to pray.

The outpouring attracted students from more than 260 colleges and universities, many drawn by social media livestreams and posts. God is “all-powerful,” he sends spiritual awakening wherever he chooses. 

The university officially ended the revival services on February 23rd. Many people were curious about why so many people were traveling far away for the event. Some may have thought this was phony or made up.

But the truth around revivals is more than just physical miracles, which some may come to observe, but the greatest miracle is the one you cannot see. It is the miracle of a changed life.

This takes place on the inside when one an individual repents, and the Holy Spirit takes up residence in their spirit. He simply comes in, cleans house, and kicks anything out that previously had ownership (Satan).

Here’s what the Bible says about a changed life. 17} “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

18} And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; (2 Corinthians 5:17-18 KJV). Please also read (Ephesians 2:8-9).

This comes about after an individual has repented (turned away from sin) and turn to God with a surrendered heart. Please read this important passage of scripture aloud to yourself and those who may be in your group. (Romans 10:8-10,13).

Consider the fact that your soul needs some spiritual medicine called faith. But your soul typically cannot find that in many hospitals. Please read aloud (Romans 10:14-17).

But look at verse 17 again. “So, then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10:17 KJV). My dear friends, your soul needs the word of God (Hebrews 4:12). It is impossible to be saved without God.

That’s why Jesus (who died for sins) could say this, “Jesus saith unto him,I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6 KJV). Philip, who needed some assurance was given some much needed truth from Jesus.

Here’s what Jesus told him about seeing the Father, “Jesus saith unto him,Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? (John 14:9 KJV).

The full explanation to Philip continued after that (John 14:10-25). After that, Jesus explained about the Holy Spirit coming to dwell with them and would be in them to help them live a life that is pleasing to God. (John 14:17, 26-27).

If God is going to do what is best for you, then his plan for you will be accomplished on his schedule, not yours. Keeping that in mind, you can actually become excited about waiting for him to act.

🗣📢 Last words: Today, God is taking care of you, you just have to let go and surrender everything to him! Allow him full control and trust him! Remember, God is so much better at orchestrating our lives than we are.

Whether you are in a church or a hospital, ask the Lord to help you learn how to better trust him. Jesus loves his bride, (his born-again family) and is actively working for her flourishing. Sometimes those in churches and hospitals hurt us.

But God has no designs to hurt us. It is impossible for God to apply evil on us. Even we God’s people sin and blow it; they are still infinitely loved. For we all need to hear the word of God, whether we know it or not. 

The Church, the Hospital, Jesus and his Kingdom, where would you want to stay forever! (Psalm 103:1-3).



🛐 Here’s a prayer you can pray when the impossible invades your life. “Heavenly Father, thank you so much for today’s message. Your word tells me, my life is like a drop of vapor. It tells me, tomorrow is never promised.

But what an incredible and awesome God you are! When I see the beauty of your creation, I’m in awe of your mighty and majestic ways. When I see the work of your hand, I’m overwhelmed by your love for me.

Lord, I believe that you came to save my soul; plus give me the ultimate healing of living eternally with you, never again to face death again. You came to give me life and life more abundantly than anything or anyone can offer me.

Help me trust that you have made me whole. I am whole physically and spiritually because of you. Whether this physical body on this side ages and passes away, you have reserved a new body for this regenerated spirit.

Lord, I believe that you hear my prayers. Help me trust that your answer is best for me. Help me to seek you every day until my eyes see yours in glory. Lord, I trust that you created the mountains. Help me trust that you can move them.

Please forgive me for trying to be in control and allow me to let go and surrender my life to you. Increase my ability to give you everything. Your ways are much higher than mine. Thank you, Jesus, in your healing name, amen.”


❤ “If you would like to know Jesus as your Savior, please read the drop-down page entitled “How to know Jesus.”


📣 Help spread the word by sharing this web site and messages on your platform.



🙏 Please remember to pray for the people in Israel. They are God’s people because of his covenant promises to them. (Genesis 12:1-3; Numbers 6:22-27; 24:8-9). ✝️📲 Prayer Line- Text line- 1-412-616-3572🦃 I would like to extend a wonderful Thanksgiving to all who may be gathering this Thanksgiving. Gratitude brings true honor to God. Begin each day by thanking God for his salvation.

Plus all his blessings, his sustenance, the beauty of nature, his love, and his forgiveness. Gratitude opens the door to prayer and worship. This Thanksgiving, remember God has provided all things to be richly enjoyed. (1 Timothy 6:17).

May genuine love and peace fill your homes this Thursday. I pray for traveling mercies on you and your loved ones, Pastor Todd.

{Bible Dictionary} 

“The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.”

Pastor Todd Boxley

Worship Center Ministry