Years ago I received this letter from one that none of you would know. “Dear Pastor, I desperately need you to pray for me, in that I am critically sick. My problem is due to neglect on my part, and this neglect is primarily what caused this critical condition. “My sickness is spiritual and is as follows: I spend hours every evening on private entertainment and maybe ten or fifteen minutes on family devotion. I spend much thought on the financial security of my children and very, very few on their eternal security. “I spend far too much time criticizing my brothers and sisters instead of using that time to lift them up in prayer. I apply far too many of your sermons to everyone around me, when all the application should be channeled toward me. “I defend the honor of myself and relatives in the boldest way, but become strongly mute in defense of the honor of my Lord. “Pastor, please pray for my healing before it becomes fatal, --signed A sin-sick soul.” How many does this fit? How many are critically sick? From the very beginning of man, in the Garden of Eden, there grew herbs that would yield medicine for the body of man. In these days we have doctors who can mend almost anything, and medicines of potent efficacy to soothe pain and disease. Remedies are everywhere within reach provided by our God. And blessed be His name, while mindful of the body, He has not forgotten the sickness of the soul; but raised up for us a plant of notability, providing a balm far more effectual than that of Gilead (Jer.8:22 & 46:11). He did this even before the plague of sin had yet infected us. Christ Jesus, the true medicine of the sons of men, was ordained of old to heal the sin-sickness of His people however critical it may seem. It is a great mercy for us that Gospel Healing is so very simple; our text describes it, “With His stripes we are healed.” These six words contain the marrow of the Gospel; words for plain people and in them no mystery or anything profound. If you would know the true way of having your souls healed, go to the Word of God and study such a text as this, “…Surely He hath borne our grief’s and carried our sorrows; yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities, the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed” (Isa. 53:4-5). A SIMPLE REMEDY! These words cannot be read without the feeling of soul grief. This being due to the fact that the words imply disease and speak of great suffering connected with the remedy. The redeemed in heaven now present before God are without spot or wrinkle; they were once defiled as the lepers who were shut out of the camp of Israel. Those who are washed in the blood of Jesus needed washing, and those who are healed by His stripes were critically sick with sin.
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