Shepherding Families

Two weeks ago, a brother text me of his intent to visit us on the Lord’s Day. I replied by inviting him for lunch too. Later, the Lord reminded me that I should invite him to join the Lord’s Table Meeting too, if the Lord wills so. The next day, his whole family attended the Lord’s Day meeting, though they missed the bread breaking. 

During the prophesying time, he shared what was on his heart even to the point that he voiced his different understanding of the truth. I did not find needful to address the matter as it was not on the major points. However, when my turn came to minister the word, I did so with much grace, releasing my sprit, ministering the truth that I presently enjoyed which I had also posted in some WhatsApp group on Christ as the Physician based on the ministry excerpt.

Christ as the Physician

He said, Those who are strong have no need of a physician, but those who are ill. But go and learn what this means, “I desire mercy and not sacrifice,” for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners. Matt. 9:12-13

The Lord’s word in Matthew 9:13, addressed to the Pharisees, indicates that the Lord Jesus heals man’s spiritual illness, the illness of sin. Sin came first and death follows. Between sin and death there are all kinds of illnesses, diseases, and infirmities… As sinners, we are sick absolutely, for we are sick physically, spiritually, morally, and mentally. But Jesus, the Forgiver and the Physician, is able to heal all our sicknesses.

As our Physician, the Lord heals us mainly in our spirit and in our soul, not mainly in our body. The tax collectors and sinners in Matthew 9:10 were not physically sick; they were spiritually sick. While the Lord Jesus was feasting with them, He was healing them spiritually. Likewise, although the Lord may or may not heal us in our body, He is always ready to heal us in every part of our spirit and soul. ( The Conclusion of the New Testament, pp. 2782-2783)

Paul’s experience in his later ministry helps us to have a proper appreciation of Christ as the believers’ Physician. In 2 Timothy 4:20 Paul says, “Trophimus I left at Miletus sick.” Why did the apostle leave such an intimate one in sickness without exercising healing prayer for him? Why did he not also execute his healing gift (Acts 19:11-12) to cure Timothy of his stomach illness rather than instruct him to take the natural way for healing (1 Tim. 5:23)?…There is no record that he prayed for healing, and he certainly did not exercise the gift of healing. Instead, Paul encouraged Timothy to take a little wine, and he left Trophimus at Miletus. Paul cared for his coworkers in a very human way. The reason Paul cared for them in this way is that, in a time of suffering, Paul and his coworkers were under the discipline of the inner life rather than under the power of the outward gift. The former is of grace in life; the latter of gift in power, miraculous power. Paul’s experience should help us to see that, for the most part, Christ’s healing today is for the spirit and the soul . Christ is the believers’ Physician, the Healer of our spirit, our soul, and at times, also of our body. If we see this vision we shall trust in Him and experience Him as our Physician. ( The Conclusion of the New Testament, pp. 616-617)

After the meeting, the brother apologised to me personally if he had spoken something amiss that might hurt or not in line with the present burden.

The next day, a brother and I visited his family and spent at least three hours of fellowship and peacefully finalised a new rental agreement and renovation works to be done on the building used for the meeting hall, the Lord’s service, and my family residence. This was a very timely and brotherly fellowship we all enjoyed together. 

Later, we visited another family, and enjoyed a sweet time of fellowship with the husband, wife, and chidren. 

All these was the answer to the burden the Lord gave me recently on praying for three families, particularly for their whole family recovery into the church life. In fact, the Lord’s Day before our visit, the three brothers, head of the three families the Lord burdened me to pray for, were seated next to one another. The Lord showed me visibly with my eyes to witness the answers to prayers He burdened me for. 

Praise the Lord!