18. When I would comfort myself against sorrow, my heart is faint in me.

19. Behold the voice of the cry of the daughter of my people because of them that dwell in a far country: Is not the LORD in Zion? is not her king in her? Why have they provoked me to anger with their graven images, and with strange vanities?

20. The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.

21. For the hurt of the daughter of my people am I hurt; I am black; astonishment hath taken hold on me.

22. Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there? why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered?

Let us pray.

Most holy and gracious heavenly Father, we’ve come before You tonight with thanksgiving in our hearts, thanking and praising You for who You are and for what You do. Father, hide Your son behind the cross, that Your people would see You and not me. Father, as I decrease, I ask that You would increase. And let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight, oh Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.

You may be seated in the house of God.

In your Bibles in verse twenty-two, it says,

22. Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there? why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered?

Gilead was the place that was famous for it’s healing balm. And when we look at what healing balm is, it is medicine. It is an ointment that’s applied to a wound.

But when we look at what was going on in Israel at that time, sin was causing a wound on the inside of them. Sin was causing there to be a spiritual sickness among them. The balm was there. But Israel refused to apply the balm.

You see, although the people had the remedy for the sickness... You see, you can have the remedy for the sickness all you want to. The doctor can give you a prescription all he wants to do, to give you a prescription. But until I fill the prescription, until I apply the prescription, that sickness that I have is still going to remain.

Come on, give God a handclap of praise.

Their spiritual sickness was very deep. But I don’t care how deep a sickness goes. There’s no sickness that God cannot heal. Do you hear what I’m saying? It doesn’t matter whether it’s physical. It doesn’t matter whether it’s spiritual. It doesn’t matter whether it’s emotional. God (hallelujah) is able to heal you. And let me tell you something. Jesus is the balm in Gilead tonight.

See, we search for healing. But we’ve already been given the remedy. You see, there’s a treatment that needs to take forth.

You see, I heard a sister tell me that they had to apply a treatment to a child one time. So it began to go in my mind that they had to do several things over a period of time.

You see, it doesn’t... You don’t get sick all... I mean, excuse me. You don’t get healed automatically all the time. Sometimes your healing is a process. Sometimes it takes a little time for the ointment to get down inside the wound. But if I only have a little time for Jesus, He can heal me everywhere I hurt.

Come on, give God a hand. Oh, my God, my God.

There’s a Balm in Gilead tonight. And His Name is Jesus.

God can heal self-inflicted wounds. You see, we’re not talking about the kind of wound that comes from somebody else wounding you. My God. But we’re talking about the kind of wound that comes from a self-inflicted wound, when I’m out there doing anything and everything that I... Oh, my God. I don’t have no business doing. You see, it’s going to cause a sickness in the spiritual realm going on with me.

You see, their wound, it was self-inflicted. You see, God told them what the remedy was. But they rejected it.

I talked to a brother on the telephone today. Glory to God. My God, my God. I feel Jesus in this house tonight. I talked to him on the phone today, because they couldn’t get him to go do what he needed to do to help him get healed.

See, you can have the remedy to your extremity. You can have the remedy to what’s going on in you. But until you make up your mind (Oh, Jesus) that, “I ain’t going to be sick no more,” that, “I’m tired of going around here (oh, my God) with this illness on the inside of me,” I won’t be able to be healed. Because guess what. He’s not going to force His healing on me.

He can tell me what to do. But my God, it’s up to me to do it.

Jeremiah was crying. That was Jeremiah crying out for his people. He was saying, “God, why won’t they receive the remedy. All of this thing can be cleared up in a matter of time if they would just apply the balm.”

You see, a lot of times that balm, it sits there for a while on the shelf, doesn’t it? Do you hear what I’m saying? Just like that ointment that we apply from the medicine cabinet. It sits in the medicine cabinet for a while. This balm right here sits on the shelf for a while.

And sometimes we wait until it’s almost too late. Sometimes we wait until we don’t feel like it. Sometimes we wait until we can’t pray no more. And then we decide that we want to pick it up and try to apply it.

It’ll take time. It’ll be a process. But He said His Word is like a hammer. It’ll break it down after while, somebody. But it’s going to take a little time.

The great Physician has prescribed His Word to us. And He has prescribed the Blood of Jesus to us. But it’s up to us as people of God to apply it. Take it off the shelf and apply it.

Let me tell you all something tonight. Don’t wonder in your mind what’s going to happen. I need to say this, because I still see it on some of your faces. I still see it. If I can go through it, you can go... Why should you be grieved more than me? Oh, that shook somebody up and woke them up, didn’t it?

I’ve applied the ointment of the Word to my situation. And the healing process has begun. My God, my God, my God. There is a Balm in True Vine tonight. And His Name is Jesus. His Name is Jesus.

Jeremiah, the weeping prophet, he cried and he lamented. Said, “Lord, if they would only receive.” You see, it’s one thing to hear, but it’s another thing to receive. The Bible says to be doers of the Word and not hearers only. It’s one thing to hear, but it’s another to receive and do.

But see, when you come to a certain point in God, you can’t look back, and you can’t go back. You got to keep on pressing towards the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

You learn to apply the Word when you need to apply it.

I heard a sister say your victory is relative to your struggle. You see, my victory may not mean much to you. Because you may not have the same struggle I got. But see, if you understand my struggle, you’ll understand my victory.

There’s a Balm in here tonight. And His Name is Jesus. I dare you to praise Him anyway. I dare you to be loyal to the cause anyway.

There’s a balm that needs to be applied to those places that need healing. God wants us healthy and whole. He doesn’t want us sick and broken. That’s what He desires of His people.

But see, sin will keep us in that place of broken-ness. Sin, when it is finished, the Bible says, brings forth death. You see, I can only stay in sin for so long. The Bible told me in Romans, “Shall I continue in sin, that grace may abound?” The Bible said, “God forbid. How can those that are dead to sin continue any longer therein?”

See, after a while I’m going to use up my grace. You say, “I thought grace was going to be there.” But it’s going to come a point where I’m going to use it up.

See, the children of Israel didn’t have it as good as we have it, did they? We got Jesus. See, they had God. But He had not sent His Son yet to die on the cross for our sins, for their sins. So we’re in a better position. It tells us in Hebrews that we have a better covenant that they had.

So if the prophet was asking, “Is there not a balm in Gilead,” I ask tonight, “Is there not a balm in the body of Christ today, that we can apply to our wounds?” Yes, there is. Yes, there is.

If I stop being stubborn, then I can apply it. If I stop trying to get people to feel what I feel, then I can apply what I need to apply to me. Oh, do you hear what I’m saying tonight?

Sometimes we caught up. When we’re hurt, we try to make everybody else hurt. When we’re mad, we try to make everybody else mad. My God. Who am I preaching to tonight? I still want you to see the Christ in me. Because greater is He that’s in me than he that’s in the world. I apply what I need to apply to every situation.

When we look at Jesus, the main aspect of His ministry was healing.

Go with me to Matthew. Matthew chapter four. And when you get to Matthew chapter four, signify by saying amen. In Matthew chapter four. Are you blessed tonight? Alright. We don’t preach it just to preach it. We preach it to apply it, don’t we? It said in verse twenty-three,

23. And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.

Jesus went throughout healing.

But go with me to Matthew chapter nine. I’m going to show you something that’s going to bless you tonight. In Matthew chapter nine and verse twelve... Wait a minute. We’re going to go up a little higher. Look at verse nine.

9. And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him.

10. And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples.

11. And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?

12. But when Jesus...

I’m sorry. I’m in the wrong place. My God. Go up in... Go up further in the chapter, in chapter nine. Look at verse one.

1. And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city.

2. And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.

Wait a minute. This man was sick if of the palsy, the Bible said. But why would Jesus say, “Your sins be forgiven you”? Because even before He heals you physically (oh, my God) He wants to heal you spiritually. This man was not only paralyzed physically, but he was paralyzed spiritually.

And when you’re paralyzed spiritually, no matter what’s going on with you physically, God wants to deal with the spiritual before He deals with the physical.

So a lot of times when we’re wondering why we’re not healed or why our loved ones have not been healed, God wants to deal with the spiritual man first. And then He’ll get around to the physical.

We’ve got to come to that place that we understand that the spiritual life is more important that the physical life. Let me say that again. The Spiritual life of a man is more important that the physical life of a man.

You see, I’m always in a place where I’m trying to get my need met in the physical. But God is calling me to get on my face so He can deal with the spiritual. Spiritual. What’s going on with me spiritually? But I got an aching. What’s going on with me spiritual? But my head... What’s going on with me spiritually?

If He can deal with me spiritually then I’ll have no problem with Him dealing with me physically. But I got to get my priorities straight. Because my priorities have got to be His priorities.

His spiritual being, his spiritual life was of great concern.

Go with me to Luke chapter six.

Are you still blessed tonight? Don’t just say it to make me feel good. Say it that Jesus will know. Say it from your heart. “Jesus, I’m blessed tonight.

In Luke chapter six, look at verse seventeen. It said,

17. And he came down with them, and stood in the plain, and the company of his disciples, and a great multitude of people out of all Judaea and Jerusalem, and from the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, which came to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases;

18. And they that were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed.

19. And the whole multitude sought to touch him: for there went virtue out of him, and healed them all.

You see, when there’s power coming out of you, people want to touch you. But let me tell you something. Everybody don’t want to touch you for the right reason. Oh, my God. See, some folk think that if they touch you they going to have good luck, don’t you, don’t they? I didn’t mean to say you. I meant to say they. They think that if they could just touch your hand or touch some part of you that it’s going to make a change in their life.

Jesus was filled with power. And they were amazed and astonished at the virtue that came out of Him. I can imagine those that were around were saying, “Let me just touch Him.” But they didn’t have the right motive in their hearts.

If you want Jesus to touch you, or if you want to touch Jesus, your motive has got to be right. Do you hear what I’m saying? See, the blessing is automatically going to flow because He said it would. But I got to have my heart right in the process.

Because He’s checking my heart. He’s saying, “You want to be blessed. But let Me see your motive for the blessing. Let Me see why you want to be blessed. Let Me see why you want to be a millionaire. Let Me see why you want a mansion. Let Me see why you want that fancy car. Let Me see why you want to touch Me.” He’ll look at the heart, won’t He?

You know why you got to be careful who you lay hands on? You want to know why? Some folks think it’s just because, you know, people going to put spirits on you. It ain’t just that. You see, when your anointed virtue comes out of you... Do you hear what I’m saying?

When your anointed virtue comes out of you, when you’re anointed, you can cast devils out. You can get in the presence of devils. And they’ll start screaming, saying, “I know who you are.”

See, and some folks that operate on the other side, they want you to cast the devil out of them. Because they want ten more to come into them more... Oh, my God, my God. Who am I preaching to in this house? They don’t just want to be delivered. They want more power from the devil.

People of God, He will heal you. If you’re in sin tonight, He wants to heal that first. Because sin will cause everything to be in shambles. Especially when God is calling your name, especially when God is trying to get your attention.

He’ll make everything mess up, won’t he? Won’t nothing go right for you. Every time you put your hand to something, you can’t never get a blessing. It seem like you always touching something, but ain’t nothing coming back to you.

But see, if I get my spiritual life right, then the blessing of the Lord that maketh rich and addeth no sorrow with it has got to come to me. It’s got to come to me. It’s only a matter of time. It’s only a matter of time. I’m not going to be in that place (glory to God) where it seem like He ain’t my Shepherd for... Oh, my God. It’s a matter of time before my blessing gets here.

But if I’m in sin every now and then, and I come out... God don’t deal with inconsistencies, does He? He said, “I’m going to reward of them that diligently seek Me.” He deals with the diligent. He deals with those that try to keep themselves from the hand of the enemy.

See, if you been trying to keep yourself from the hand of the enemy, and Satan’s still been around, let me tell you something. Your blessing is still on the way. It’s only been held up for a little while. It’s only been held up for a little while. It’s still coming. He promised it was coming. And His promises are yea and amen. Yes, yes, yes.

Jesus, You told me to put You in remembrance of my word. And Lord, You said. You said it. I believe it. And it shall come to pass.

Come on, give God a handclap of praise tonight. Hallelujah.

There’s a Balm in here tonight. Don’t you want to apply it tonight? Or should I say, don’t you want to apply Him tonight?

Jesus is that Balm. And He’s able to heal you. He will heal you. You know, they say time is a healer. Time does heal wounds.

There were two brothers, one named Jacob, and the other Esau. And they had separated for a while. Because Jacob had done something to Esau that wasn’t right. So Esau was in a hard place, because his brother stole his birthright.

But as time went on, and Jacob had acquired a wife, Leah, and had all these children (glory to God), he had to make it right with his brother. So the Bible said as he approached where his brother was, the Bible said he started kneeling. And the Bible said that he kneeled seven times.

But you see, time is a healer, isn’t it? The Bible said Esau saw him in the distance. And Esau started running to his brother. And Jacob was still afraid. But he grabbed up his brother.

And he said, “Who are these with you?” He wasn’t concerned about the past.

You see, you’re going to have to get to a place where you let the past be in the past.

Time is a healer also. But I don’t know about you. I don’t like to wait on time all the time. If got a remedy right now, I want to apply that one right now. I’d rather apply Jesus right now. That’s what I’d rather do.

Jesus is the Balm in Gilead. And Jesus is that Balm in here tonight.

Give God a handclap of praise.