"Every Kind" Means Every Kind.

Then Jesus went throughout all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness. (Matthew 9:35)

Bronx Bethany's ministry theme is Pursuing Holiness... Promoting Healing. It is the desire of our church to be found in agreement with what Christ Jesus did while He walked the earth. In keeping with that desire, let's consider a few points.

1. Sometimes, staying in step with God's program requires that we disappoint persons who enter our doors with some other agenda. Though you might see an occasional bus trip, we are not a "bus trip" church. Though you might see an occasional bake sale, we are not a "bake sale" church. We are a church that will encourage you to develop your spiritual self. Read. Study. Learn. Pray. And in this process of spiritual development, our hope is that the learning is not selfish. We want it to be a means by which you'll be better equipped to share Christ in your sphere of influence.

2. There is the temptation to trade teaching, preaching, and healing for some more lucrative venture. There is no problem with having concerts, doing seminars, or selling cupcakes, as long as these things are not the main thing. The main thing, as the Lord has reiterated through His word and through several of our pastors, is the person and work of Jesus made real in our time. So we teach, we preach, and we serve as healing agents. If we do nothing else, we do these three things.

3. How do we heal "every kind of disease and every kind of sickness"? Pastor Andy gave specific examples of the role of healing ministry in the life of the Christian. This ministry is grounded in the work of prayer and fasting, and is sustained in authentic relationship with Christ. (See Matthew 17:14-21 and Acts 19:11-17) Acts 19:12 shows us that there are both physical and spiritual sources of sickness. As Nazarenes, we believe that God has no problem with His children asking for sick people to be healed. So we ask.

4. To the oft-asked question "What if we pray and God says no?", Scripture helps us with the example of David and Bathsheba's first child, who died despite David's efforts to procure healing through fasting and prayer (see Second Samuel 12:13-23). As long as there is the chance of life, we pray earnestly. If God says no, then we continue to live in obedience and gratitude for His presence and rulership. We continue to trust God.

Read.
Study.
Learn.
Pray.
Teach.
Preach.
Heal.