Healing - A Place of Healing
Healing
A Place of Healing
Sunday, August 23rd, 2026
Apostle Mike Herzog
One of the names of our heavenly father is Jehovah Rafa, which means “the Lord who heals.” Mark 16:17-18 states, “And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” Signs are the proof of God's power. As we carry out each assignment God has for us, the evidence of His power will become increasingly apparent.
A vital component of keeping people healthy is fresh water. Poor sanitation and hygiene, together with contaminated drinking water, are major global risk factors for illness. Clean water keeps us healthy, keeps our organs properly hydrated, and keeps us alive. In scripture there are many examples of the Holy Spirit being described as moving water. Apostle Mike discusses two biblical healing locations that highlight the spiritual and physical significance of water.
The book of Ezekiel chapter 47 explains to us that spiritually water represents life, cleansing, purification, and a visual image of the Holy Spirit moving. This chapter describes a famous prophetic vision of a life-giving river flowing from the threshold of the restored temple in Jerusalem eastward toward the Dead Sea. Ezekiel 47:3-6 alludes to the Holy Spirit wanting us to go deeper with trusting God, so much so that we surrender control to the Holy Spirit. The sea represents humanity. As the water touches the people, they are healed. Whatever the water touches lives. Water flows out from the house of God, and in John 7:38–39 of the Bible, Jesus uses the phrase "out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water" to mean that the Holy Spirit will live inside every person who believes in Him. According to Ezekiel 47:7, wherever the river flows, abundant life and a great harvest emerge. The flowing water brings renewal, fruitfulness, and restoration. In contrast, the swamps and marshes remain stagnant, representing places where the water does not produce the same transformation. Ezekiel 47:11 reminds us that even amid God’s grace and renewing power, there can be areas that remain unchanged. Persistent stubbornness and an unwilling heart can resist the life-giving work of God, even when His grace is freely flowing.
When the Holy Spirit hovers over the water, miracles happen. John 5:1–15 tells the story of Jesus healing a paralyzed man at the Pool of Bethesda in Jerusalem on the Sabbath. The pool was located near the Sheep Gate and was surrounded by five covered porches. A multitude of sick, blind, and paralyzed individuals congregated under these shelters. They waited for the "stirring of the water," believing that the first person to step in after the movement would be miraculously healed of any disease. Jesus visits Jerusalem for a Jewish festival and goes to the Pool of Bethesda. He sees a man who has been an invalid for 38 years and asks if he wants to be healed. He asked because not everyone wants to be healed since being healthy comes with responsibilities. The man says he has no one to help him into the water. Jesus tells him to stand up, pick up his mat, and walk, and the man is instantly healed. There is no disease Jesus cannot heal. If you are desperate for healing, you’d do whatever it takes to obtain healing. Sin brings sickness, so Jesus warns him to stop sinning so nothing worse happens to him. There is so much power when we gather in His name, as mentioned in Matthew 18:20. The Holy Spirit begins to stir just like the water at the Pool of Bethesda. This means anyone who is sick can get involved in that atmosphere and be healed. Your worship creates the atmosphere and attributes to the healing of others because your worship brings the Holy Spirit’s presence. When we seek Him with all our hearts we will find him.
God calls His church to be like the place of Bethesda and to stir the waters of the Holy Spirit to bring His presence, power, healing, and restoration. We are reminded of this in Luke 4:18-19: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, and to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” It is a responsibility, privilege, honor, and joy to be used to release His power. How we operate with what we have been given is so important, and we must operate with humility, gentleness, and love, as mentioned in Galatians 6:1-2. You’re designed to carry the Lord’s presence with you even when you leave the church on Sunday, and it should follow you throughout the rest of the week.
A Place of Healing
Sunday, August 23rd, 2026
Apostle Mike Herzog
One of the names of our heavenly father is Jehovah Rafa, which means “the Lord who heals.” Mark 16:17-18 states, “And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” Signs are the proof of God's power. As we carry out each assignment God has for us, the evidence of His power will become increasingly apparent.
A vital component of keeping people healthy is fresh water. Poor sanitation and hygiene, together with contaminated drinking water, are major global risk factors for illness. Clean water keeps us healthy, keeps our organs properly hydrated, and keeps us alive. In scripture there are many examples of the Holy Spirit being described as moving water. Apostle Mike discusses two biblical healing locations that highlight the spiritual and physical significance of water.
The book of Ezekiel chapter 47 explains to us that spiritually water represents life, cleansing, purification, and a visual image of the Holy Spirit moving. This chapter describes a famous prophetic vision of a life-giving river flowing from the threshold of the restored temple in Jerusalem eastward toward the Dead Sea. Ezekiel 47:3-6 alludes to the Holy Spirit wanting us to go deeper with trusting God, so much so that we surrender control to the Holy Spirit. The sea represents humanity. As the water touches the people, they are healed. Whatever the water touches lives. Water flows out from the house of God, and in John 7:38–39 of the Bible, Jesus uses the phrase "out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water" to mean that the Holy Spirit will live inside every person who believes in Him. According to Ezekiel 47:7, wherever the river flows, abundant life and a great harvest emerge. The flowing water brings renewal, fruitfulness, and restoration. In contrast, the swamps and marshes remain stagnant, representing places where the water does not produce the same transformation. Ezekiel 47:11 reminds us that even amid God’s grace and renewing power, there can be areas that remain unchanged. Persistent stubbornness and an unwilling heart can resist the life-giving work of God, even when His grace is freely flowing.
When the Holy Spirit hovers over the water, miracles happen. John 5:1–15 tells the story of Jesus healing a paralyzed man at the Pool of Bethesda in Jerusalem on the Sabbath. The pool was located near the Sheep Gate and was surrounded by five covered porches. A multitude of sick, blind, and paralyzed individuals congregated under these shelters. They waited for the "stirring of the water," believing that the first person to step in after the movement would be miraculously healed of any disease. Jesus visits Jerusalem for a Jewish festival and goes to the Pool of Bethesda. He sees a man who has been an invalid for 38 years and asks if he wants to be healed. He asked because not everyone wants to be healed since being healthy comes with responsibilities. The man says he has no one to help him into the water. Jesus tells him to stand up, pick up his mat, and walk, and the man is instantly healed. There is no disease Jesus cannot heal. If you are desperate for healing, you’d do whatever it takes to obtain healing. Sin brings sickness, so Jesus warns him to stop sinning so nothing worse happens to him. There is so much power when we gather in His name, as mentioned in Matthew 18:20. The Holy Spirit begins to stir just like the water at the Pool of Bethesda. This means anyone who is sick can get involved in that atmosphere and be healed. Your worship creates the atmosphere and attributes to the healing of others because your worship brings the Holy Spirit’s presence. When we seek Him with all our hearts we will find him.
God calls His church to be like the place of Bethesda and to stir the waters of the Holy Spirit to bring His presence, power, healing, and restoration. We are reminded of this in Luke 4:18-19: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, and to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” It is a responsibility, privilege, honor, and joy to be used to release His power. How we operate with what we have been given is so important, and we must operate with humility, gentleness, and love, as mentioned in Galatians 6:1-2. You’re designed to carry the Lord’s presence with you even when you leave the church on Sunday, and it should follow you throughout the rest of the week.
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