WITHERNESS

Having a withered hand is occupying a situation that cannot be unnoticed; it calls for attention. Once on a Sabbath day, in a synagogue, the Pharisees knew quite well that a man who had withered hand was going to catch Jesus’ attention when they asked Jesus, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”—that they might accuse Him. (Matthew 12:9), Jesus’ answer demonstrated the importance of doing that which is good and the placement of good deeds above the law. He points out that law is not a reason to be excused from caring for others. Most importantly, He pointed out how valuable is man when He stated, “Of how much more value than is a man than a sheep?” (Matthew 12:12). Jesus the tenderhearted shepherd, the caring and compassionate master, after answering the Pharisees now turned His attention to the man with withered hand, “Then He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he stretched it out, and it was restored as whole as the other.” (Matthew 12:13). Just a word from Jesus terminated the mark of shame and mockery and put restored glory to the withered vessel.
What is it that is withered in your life? Among the words synonymous with “withered” are shrivel, fade, decay, wrinkle, shrink, dry, decline, languish, droop, waste, etc. Is there any area of life that you are experiencing any of the synonyms of wither in your life? To be withered in any area of life is not what can be hidden but what a man can be healed and be delivered from, just as the man with the withered hand got his healing and deliverance from Jesus’s word.
It was the healing power in the word of God that healed the man with withered hand. Jesus spoke to him, “Stretch out your hand.” The power to heal comes with the power to believe and receive. When the healing word of Jesus found the man with withered hands, there was no doubt in his heart as he stretched out his hands as commanded by Jesus. Self-recognition and acceptance is a very important step and so pivotal to getting delivered. If you will behold Him in His word of healing and say to yourself, “I am coming out in Jesus name” you have loosened yourself from whatever tie you down and lay claim to deliverance by confession. Remember, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” (Proverbs 18:21). Also, the power to get satisfied with good is through the mouth. Proverbs 12:14, “A man will be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth.” Jesus buttresses the power of self-deliverance by stating, “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” (Matthew 12:34) He went further to let us know that with good treasure of the heart one is able to bring forth good things. (Matthew 12:35) Treasure the word of God; allow the word of God a place inside you and the word that you carry inside you will bring forth your satisfaction in place of dis-satisfaction when you speak it in faith. The word of God is consistently true when it is constantly engaged with expectation for manifestation.
Are you experiencing the challenges of what it means to be withered in one hand? One that is short in one hand will be short everywhere he/she put his/her hands on. It takes two whole hands to maintain balance in all endeavors as designed by our maker.
To be withered in life is a sympathetic and sorrowful situation that calls for God’s attention. The situation of a withered can be compared to that of a sheep that falls in a pit. One that falls in a pit is set for stagnation; one in the pit has been replaced from his ground; one in the pit is reduced and not in place for increase and one in the pit with no way out is set to waste. It does not matter what the status of a man is or the kind of title a man answers to, Jesus will not shy away from delivering any that his/her situation calls for Jesus’ attention and welcomes the Savior’s hand that is always ready to give us rest (Matthew 11:28). Treasure the word of God, meditate upon it and be assured of good success (Joshua 1:8). Speak the word from abundance of heart and the word of God which you treasure will satisfy.