Note: My father, Larry Scott, was an elder in the Church of God in Christ. This institution created the foundation on which I stand today. I asked him to collaborate with me. I wanted to ensure his sermons would not be lost to time. Together, we aim to bring some of his sermons to a new audience. These are his words.

Lesson Text:

Job 1:25-26

Jeremiah 8:21-22

Matthew 14:34-36

Today, I want to introduce you to a health plan called JesusCare. Some of you you may have heard about.

The founder and creator of the heath plan is God.

The Chief Executive Officer is Jesus Christ. He is the head physician.

The Chief Operating Officer is the Holy Ghost. He is in charge of the health plan help line.

The major shareholders, beneficiaries, and patients serve by the Health Plan are believers in Christ Jesus.

JesusCare provides full coverage of all you health care needs.

To get on the plan, you need to pay a premium. JesusCare will not accept cash or credit cards. It will only accept FAITH as payment.

The only way to lose coverage in JesusCare is when you lose FAITH.

I’m going to share with you the history of the heath plan and some examples of how the health plan works:

Job: When Bad Things Happen to Good People

Job lost his children, his wealth, his property and his health. He had sores from head to toe and was in constant physical, emotional and spiritual pain.

Job was treated like an alien and an outcast. His friends tormented him and his extended family forgot about him.

Even though Job was afflicted, tormented and in constant pain, he still had faith the he would be delivered even after death.

“For I know my redeemer lives and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth and though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh I shall see God.”

Job was healed and his wealth and his family was restored.

Jeremiah: What Happens When Beneficiaries are Disobedient

The Israelites committed multiple sins against God multiple times.

Because of their multitude of sins, God allowed them to be taken into exile by the Assyrians. While in exile, the Jewish Community suffered physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

Jeremiah the prophet posses the question “Is there no balm in Gilead: Is there no physician there? Why then is not the health of the daughters my people recovered?

Note: The balm of Gilead was made from herbs and spices from the territory of Gilead. It was the primary ingredient used in medicine practiced by physicians at the time. In Genesis 37: 25-27, you will see that Joseph was sold by his brothers to merchants carrying species and balm from Gilead.

Eventually, the disobedient patients repented and committed themselves to the health plan and there health and community was restored.

Matthew: Success Stories from the Health Plan and New Breakthroughs

The New Testament Scripture, specifically the book of Matthew 8th and 9th chapters, documents several cases where Jesus healed persons with all types of physical and mental health issues on an individual basis:

• He healed a leper just by touching him.
• He healed a leper just by touching him.
• He healed the centurion’s son because of the centurion’s faith and resect for His authority.
• He healed the women with the issue of blood because of her faith.
• He healed Peter’s mother from her fever with a touch of his hand.
• He cast demons out two men.
• He healed a man with palsy and the man got up and walked.

Jesus healed multiple groups of people. They had so much faith in him that they were healed by simply touching the hem of his garment.

Real Life Applications:

Medicaid, Medicare, and private insurance offer limited benefits. They often require costly premiums or copays for prescriptions and specialty care. JesusCare provides a better way. With JesusCare, the benefits are limitless, and the coverage is unmatched. Jesus Himself is the chief of surgery. He is the head physician. He is the leading expert in every field—psychology, oncology, psychiatry, and beyond. There is no monthly premium, no copay, and no exclusions; the only cost is faith. His office is always open, 24/7, wherever you may be, and His healing touch is as close as a prayer. He is the ultimate Redeemer, the Balm of Gilead, and the cure for every need.

TJ’s Take

This sermon from my father appears to focus on bodily medicine. However, it actually speaks to the fact that Jesus can heal us from within. He concentrates on the most important part of us, the soul. For a lot of us, a diagnosis of cancer or heart disease could lead to a crisis of faith. Instead, we can place our faith in Jesus. By doing so, we allow Him to anchor us as we go through our treatments.

Of course, this is not easy. Refocusing the energy to believe that the diagnosis has happened is not the end of the world takes a lot of faith and spiritual maturity. Like most difficult things, though, this will be worth it.

Your Pal,

TJ