Below are notes to a sermon preached Sunday evening, May 20, 2001, at Gospel Light Baptist Church, Albany, Georgia.

THE VOW OF A SICK MAN

By Michael D. O’Neal                  Pastor, Gospel Light Baptist Church                  Albany, Georgia

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Scripture Reading: Isaiah 53:1-6

Text: Isaiah 53:5

Isaiah 53:5 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.

Introduction: A practical fulfillment of Isa. 53:5 occurred during the earthly ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ, in that He healed people of physical sicknesses. However, this chapter’s prophecy is not primarily about healing of the BODY, but healing of the SOUL.

Sin is not a disease, but it is LIKE a disease or illness. One clear picture of sin in this manner was the affliction of the serpent bites upon the Israelites. When the bitten people looked to the serpent of brass on the pole, then they were healed. Jesus said that is a comparison to how people get eternal life today.

John 3:14-15 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

We who are saved have been HEALED from the penalty of our sin by the sacrifice of the Son of God on the cross of Calvary.

As we continue to think about VOWS in the month of May, I am reminded of how many people make vows when they are having health problems. Burning up with fever in a bed at home, or lying on a hospital bed awaiting surgery, MULTITUDES of people have made promises to God. “Oh, Lord, if you just get me through this, when I get OUT of here I will …” (Fill in the blank)

I call this “hospital religion.”

Let me give you a few thoughts on what kind of vows should be made by sick people who are healed:

I. THOSE WHO ARE HEALED SHOULD VOW TO GIVE A TESTIMONY

Luke 5:13 And he put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will: be thou clean. And immediately the leprosy departed from him. 14 And he charged him to tell no man: but go, and shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing, according as Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.

I realize that there was a place in God’s program while the Lord was on earth to not advertise what He was doing. That time has passed. We are not only to give a testimony to the priest, but we are to witness to EVERY man!

A. Testify of the disease

B. Testify of the destiny

C. Testify of the deliverance

D. Testify of the Doctor – JESUS!

II. THOSE WHO ARE HEALED SHOULD VOW TO GIVE THANKS

Luke 17:15-17 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, 16 And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan. 17 And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?

A. We give thanks in praise

• He shouted – “with a LOUD voice”

B. We give thanks in prostration

• He “fell down on his face at his feet”
• Humble yourself before God!

C. We give thanks in prayer

• “giving him thanks”

III. THOSE WHO ARE HEALED SHOULD VOW TO GO INTO THE TEMPLE

Acts 3:6-8 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. 7 And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. 8 And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.

The early disciples met in homes and other places for worship and edification. They went into the Jewish temple to witness and evangelize. Today, not only is the individual believer’s body the temple of God (1 Cor. 6:19-20), but the PEOPLE of God are corporately the temple of God, as well.

1 Corinthians 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

Ye – plural of you
temple – singular

A. He was lifted up

• “… and lifted him up …”

B. He leaped up

• “… and he leaping up stood …”
• Take a stand!
• Stand up for the Lord!

C. He lined up

• “and entered with THEM”
• He lined up with the people of God.
• Every believer should find and join a local church.

D. He lifted up the Lord

• 1. “praising God”
• 2. We should tell people RIGHT AWAY that we have been saved.

IV. THOSE WHO ARE HEALED SHOULD VOW TO BE GENUINELY TRANSFORMED

Luke 8:35-36 Then they went out to see what was done; and came to Jesus, and found the man, out of whom the devils were departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid. 36 They also which saw it told them by what means he that was possessed of the devils was healed.

John 5:13-14 And he that was healed wist not who it was: for Jesus had conveyed himself away, a multitude being in that place. 14 Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.

Once Jesus has changed our CONTENT (the inside) …

There should be a great change

A. In our calmness

• “… sitting at the feet of Jesus …”
• This man had been wild.

B. In our clothes

• “… clothed …”

C. In our craziness

• “… and in his right mind …”

D. In our character

• John 5:13-14 And he that was healed wist not who it was: for Jesus had conveyed himself away, a multitude being in that place. 14 Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.
• SIN NO MORE.

We have been healed, in a sense, from the sickness of sin! Let’s glorify God! Let’s vow tonight to glorify the Great Physician!