My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials; knowing that the testing of your faith works patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. ---James 1:2-4
Notice in verse 4 that James didn’t say, “Let those tests and trials have their perfect work.” No, He said, “Let patience have its perfect work…”
You see, tests and trials don’t perfect you. It is what you do with them that counts. You are not perfected because a bunch of problems come along. You are perfected because you stick with the Word of God in the midst of those problems and patiently endure. That’s when patience has its perfect work.
Patience is consistent endurance. When you walk in patience, you remain consistent all the way through situations, no matter what comes along. You aren’t up and down like a yo-yo. You base everything on God’s Word. You don’t get up in the morning and ask yourself how you are. You get up in the morning, open your Bible and tell yourself how you are according to the Word!
I’ve seen people grow in their spiritual walks as a result of using their faith against the circumstances the world has to throw at them. I’ve also seen people go under when they are faced with the same tests and trials. It’s what people DO with their problems that make the difference. Take a look at yourself when you are presented with some news. What is your first reaction? Is it rage or anger? Is it tears and hopelessness? Or is your response in peace knowing that no matter what the news or situation, God will walk with you through it and get you to the other side of that situation in victory?
Faith thrives in the midst of a trial. That doesn’t mean we enjoy the trial. But when it comes our way, we don’t shrink away from it either! We stand on God’s Word and say, “Thank God, I know and trust the One whom I have believed!” Even when the going gets tough, we just dig our heels in and say, “I don’t care what it looks like, seems like, sounds like or feels like. I believe what the Word of God says, and it says I am more than a conqueror!”
Confession: My faith thrives in the midst of a trial. When a circumstance comes that tests me, I will remember or read what the Word of God says. With the confidence that God doesn’t lie and that He will walk with me through all circumstances, I will remain calm and with patient endurance rely on Him to get me through.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Build Your Spiritual Muscles
Yet, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. ---Romans 8:27
Even though you are not of this world, you still live in this world; therefore, tests, trials and temptations are bound to come your way.
Many people think, Well, tests and trials only come to make me strong. Some have even written songs with that message! These people may have been taught that sickness and disease come in their lives to teach them something or to make them more pious. But sickness, disease, tests, trials and temptations will never make you strong. If they did, you’d be Mr. or Mrs. Universe by now! It’s what you do with the tests and trials you face that make the difference.
Think of this principle in terms of weight lifting. A weight lifter wants to develop his muscles, but he’ll never reach that goal unless he lifts some weights. He certainly won’t turn into Charles Atlas if he just sits in an easy chair reading weight lifting books and thinking, I’m going to be strong! And when he lies on the workout bench, the 100-pound weight lying across his chest won’t help his muscles gain strength unless he lifts up the weight and starts pushing it away from himself.
The same principle is true with tests and trials. You have the capacity to believe God’s Word, but you won’t be strong in faith unless you exercise your spiritual muscles. How do you do that? Every time you push your problems away in the name of Jesus, you gain strength.
Our verse today that speaks of us as “more than conquerors” is a very powerful statement. This word describes someone who is super victorious and who wins more than an ordinary victory, but who is overpowering in achieving abundant victory. This is not the language of conceit, but of confidence. (Spirit-filled Life Bible, NKJV, page 1701)
People say, “I want to be victorious and have strong faith.” But victory over circumstances and strong faith only comes by exercising the faith you have against something that’s contrary to the Word of God. We must start thinking of ourselves as “more than conquerors.” Yes, we can conquer our circumstances, but we can also press into our destiny through that difficult circumstance.
So, every time a problem arises, we can say, “Glory to God, here’s just one more opportunity for me to develop my faith muscles and prove that the Word of God works! I am more than a conquerer!”
Confession: Because I am a child of God, I am more than just a conqueror. I am super victorious! I will develop my spiritual muscles by using God’s Word every time problems come against me. The Word works for me because I work the Word!
Even though you are not of this world, you still live in this world; therefore, tests, trials and temptations are bound to come your way.
Many people think, Well, tests and trials only come to make me strong. Some have even written songs with that message! These people may have been taught that sickness and disease come in their lives to teach them something or to make them more pious. But sickness, disease, tests, trials and temptations will never make you strong. If they did, you’d be Mr. or Mrs. Universe by now! It’s what you do with the tests and trials you face that make the difference.
Think of this principle in terms of weight lifting. A weight lifter wants to develop his muscles, but he’ll never reach that goal unless he lifts some weights. He certainly won’t turn into Charles Atlas if he just sits in an easy chair reading weight lifting books and thinking, I’m going to be strong! And when he lies on the workout bench, the 100-pound weight lying across his chest won’t help his muscles gain strength unless he lifts up the weight and starts pushing it away from himself.
The same principle is true with tests and trials. You have the capacity to believe God’s Word, but you won’t be strong in faith unless you exercise your spiritual muscles. How do you do that? Every time you push your problems away in the name of Jesus, you gain strength.
Our verse today that speaks of us as “more than conquerors” is a very powerful statement. This word describes someone who is super victorious and who wins more than an ordinary victory, but who is overpowering in achieving abundant victory. This is not the language of conceit, but of confidence. (Spirit-filled Life Bible, NKJV, page 1701)
People say, “I want to be victorious and have strong faith.” But victory over circumstances and strong faith only comes by exercising the faith you have against something that’s contrary to the Word of God. We must start thinking of ourselves as “more than conquerors.” Yes, we can conquer our circumstances, but we can also press into our destiny through that difficult circumstance.
So, every time a problem arises, we can say, “Glory to God, here’s just one more opportunity for me to develop my faith muscles and prove that the Word of God works! I am more than a conquerer!”
Confession: Because I am a child of God, I am more than just a conqueror. I am super victorious! I will develop my spiritual muscles by using God’s Word every time problems come against me. The Word works for me because I work the Word!
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
God Is True to His Word
God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent. ---Numbers 23:19
When we talk about God’s sovereignty, we aren’t talking about the religious world’s viewpoint of sovereignty. Religious people who don’t know the Word say, “God is a sovereign God. If He wants you healed, you’ll get healed. If He wants you sick, you’ll stay sick. If He wants you prosperous, He’ll take care of you financially. But God may want you sick and broke. Whatever will be will be.”
According to that way of thinking, it doesn’t do you any good to believe God’s Word, because you will get whatever God wants you to have. That kind of thinking says, “He is sovereign, and most likely, He will take your money, steal your health and knock you in the head three or four times a week to keep you in line. That’s just the kind of mood God is in most of the time!”
One thing is certain – religious people who think that way don’t know God or His Word!
No, when we say God does something sovereignly, we simply mean God does something according to His Word at His own discretion. He initiates it. But God cannot sovereignly do anything outside the boundaries of His Word, because He has bound Himself to His Word.
Titus 1:2 and Hebrews 6:18 say God cannot lie. He doesn’t have the capacity to lie, be dishonest or fail to keep His Word. So just as surely as you can trust that “whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Rom. 10:13), you can believe that “by (Jesus’) stripes you were healed!” (1 Peter 2:24)
Confession: God’s Word is truth. He says I am healed by the stripes Jesus bore. That healing Word is truth in my life because I believe it and act upon it. I am healed!
When we talk about God’s sovereignty, we aren’t talking about the religious world’s viewpoint of sovereignty. Religious people who don’t know the Word say, “God is a sovereign God. If He wants you healed, you’ll get healed. If He wants you sick, you’ll stay sick. If He wants you prosperous, He’ll take care of you financially. But God may want you sick and broke. Whatever will be will be.”
According to that way of thinking, it doesn’t do you any good to believe God’s Word, because you will get whatever God wants you to have. That kind of thinking says, “He is sovereign, and most likely, He will take your money, steal your health and knock you in the head three or four times a week to keep you in line. That’s just the kind of mood God is in most of the time!”
One thing is certain – religious people who think that way don’t know God or His Word!
No, when we say God does something sovereignly, we simply mean God does something according to His Word at His own discretion. He initiates it. But God cannot sovereignly do anything outside the boundaries of His Word, because He has bound Himself to His Word.
Titus 1:2 and Hebrews 6:18 say God cannot lie. He doesn’t have the capacity to lie, be dishonest or fail to keep His Word. So just as surely as you can trust that “whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Rom. 10:13), you can believe that “by (Jesus’) stripes you were healed!” (1 Peter 2:24)
Confession: God’s Word is truth. He says I am healed by the stripes Jesus bore. That healing Word is truth in my life because I believe it and act upon it. I am healed!
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Learning to Walk by Faith
As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving. ---Colossians 2:6-7
We are well equipped to walk in the blessings of God. Therefore, after we’ve had time to grow spiritually, God usually doesn’t move on our behalf with sovereign miracles or manifestations of the Holy Spirit that require no faith on our part.
You see, God holds us responsible to learn how to believe His Word. He expects us to switch over from the natural realm and begin operating in the realm of faith. That is, looking and thinking in the supernatural realm.
When I started to hear and apply the truth of God’s Word, it changed my life. I started receiving answers to my prayers according to my own faith and my confessions. God doesn’t want us to stay in the same place in our knowledge of Him. None of us have arrived to know all about God and His motives and heart. So, we must keep meditating on the Word, spending time with Him and praying for His wisdom to guide our thoughts.
The Word sets our doctrines straight. God won’t force His truth on us. But! If we’re willing to learn, He will show us how to rightly divide His Word. (2 Tim. 2:15) His truth will set us straight and put us on a new course to victory.
Confession: I spend time with my heavenly Father and grow up in Him. I walk by faith, depending on Him to perform His Word in my life. It’s a great privilege to walk by faith!
We are well equipped to walk in the blessings of God. Therefore, after we’ve had time to grow spiritually, God usually doesn’t move on our behalf with sovereign miracles or manifestations of the Holy Spirit that require no faith on our part.
You see, God holds us responsible to learn how to believe His Word. He expects us to switch over from the natural realm and begin operating in the realm of faith. That is, looking and thinking in the supernatural realm.
When I started to hear and apply the truth of God’s Word, it changed my life. I started receiving answers to my prayers according to my own faith and my confessions. God doesn’t want us to stay in the same place in our knowledge of Him. None of us have arrived to know all about God and His motives and heart. So, we must keep meditating on the Word, spending time with Him and praying for His wisdom to guide our thoughts.
The Word sets our doctrines straight. God won’t force His truth on us. But! If we’re willing to learn, He will show us how to rightly divide His Word. (2 Tim. 2:15) His truth will set us straight and put us on a new course to victory.
Confession: I spend time with my heavenly Father and grow up in Him. I walk by faith, depending on Him to perform His Word in my life. It’s a great privilege to walk by faith!
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
God Limits Himself to His Word
I will worship toward Your holy temple, and praise Your name for Your lovingkindness and Your truth; for You have magnified Your word above Your name. ---Psalm 138:2
I have heard, and you may have too, people say, “God is sovereign. He can make you sick and He can make you well if He wants to.” But God gave us His Word, the Bible, which says He is our Salvation and promised He’d never go outside its boundaries.
I’ve heard other people say, “I know what His Word says, but God is still God and He can do anything He wants.” In other words, they’re saying, “God’s Word is one thing, but He is God. He has a title, and that title enables Him to do anything He wants.”
Our verse today says, “You have magnified Your word above Your name.” God definitely is the sovereign God of the universe. He always has been and always will be in existence. However, when He spoke His law into existence, even He cannot break it. For instance, when we drop an apple from our hand, will it ever float away? No, because there is the Law of Gravity that is in effect. It can never change! Seasons are God’s Law that will never change. He can never make the seasons Winter Summer Spring then Fall. His law also says that when a seed is planted it will grow and bear its fruit. An apple tree will never bear an ear of corn. A bunny rabbit will never give birth to a cat. So God has limited Himself within the boundaries of His Word.
In this verse, “You have magnified Your word above Your name,” God is saying He can sovereignly manifest anything promised in His Word through signs, wonders, miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit, but He cannot sovereignly steal, kill and destroy. That’s the work of the devil. (John 10:10.) God is not capable of that whole concept. He can’t even speak those words they are so evil and against everything He stands for But in the decree of His own Word, God is a merciful, loving Father who has only good gifts to give. (James 1:17)
So don’t confuse yourself by re-defining Gods sovereignty. He loves you, has set laws in place to protect, provide, heal and seal you to Himself. He will never leave you and will walk with you through any storm you face.
Confession: My God is for me, and He has magnified His Word above His own holy name. So according to that Word, I believe He will defend me, heal me, protect me and provide for me which is all wrapped up in my covenant of Salvation!
I have heard, and you may have too, people say, “God is sovereign. He can make you sick and He can make you well if He wants to.” But God gave us His Word, the Bible, which says He is our Salvation and promised He’d never go outside its boundaries.
I’ve heard other people say, “I know what His Word says, but God is still God and He can do anything He wants.” In other words, they’re saying, “God’s Word is one thing, but He is God. He has a title, and that title enables Him to do anything He wants.”
Our verse today says, “You have magnified Your word above Your name.” God definitely is the sovereign God of the universe. He always has been and always will be in existence. However, when He spoke His law into existence, even He cannot break it. For instance, when we drop an apple from our hand, will it ever float away? No, because there is the Law of Gravity that is in effect. It can never change! Seasons are God’s Law that will never change. He can never make the seasons Winter Summer Spring then Fall. His law also says that when a seed is planted it will grow and bear its fruit. An apple tree will never bear an ear of corn. A bunny rabbit will never give birth to a cat. So God has limited Himself within the boundaries of His Word.
In this verse, “You have magnified Your word above Your name,” God is saying He can sovereignly manifest anything promised in His Word through signs, wonders, miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit, but He cannot sovereignly steal, kill and destroy. That’s the work of the devil. (John 10:10.) God is not capable of that whole concept. He can’t even speak those words they are so evil and against everything He stands for But in the decree of His own Word, God is a merciful, loving Father who has only good gifts to give. (James 1:17)
So don’t confuse yourself by re-defining Gods sovereignty. He loves you, has set laws in place to protect, provide, heal and seal you to Himself. He will never leave you and will walk with you through any storm you face.
Confession: My God is for me, and He has magnified His Word above His own holy name. So according to that Word, I believe He will defend me, heal me, protect me and provide for me which is all wrapped up in my covenant of Salvation!
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
The Sovereign Side of God
Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel, and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts; I am the First and I am the Last; besides Me there is no God. (vs 8b) Is there a God besides Me? Indeed there is no other Rock; I know not one. Isaiah 44:6,8
Let’s talk about the sovereign side of God. Sometimes people hesitate to use that terminology, because the sovereignty of God is a subject that has caused great wars throughout the body of Christ.
But God is the sovereign Creator of the universe, the God of heaven and earth! He does have a sovereign side. He can work miracles within the boundaries of His Word any time and any place He wants to---even without our approval.
Look at the time Jesus was visiting Jerusalem during a feast time. (John 5:1-9) He walked to the pool of Bethesda where men and women were waiting for the waters to be stirred by the angel and be the first to get in the water to receive their miracle. A man had been carried to the pool every day as he had been sick for 38 years. This particular man did not go to Jesus. The man didn’t even beg Jesus to help him. Jesus went to him! Obviously our patient in this story wanted to be healed since he laid by the pool day after day hoping to win the lottery, if you will allow me to bring it into today’s analogy.
Jesus had to have stepped over dozens if not hundreds of sick people and went directly to this one particular man. Why? Jesus had declared that He didn’t do anything unless He saw the Father do it. So it was God’s sovereign will that this particular man receive his healing.
Just think about your own life. Have you ever received something from God that you didn’t expect? You probably have more times than you can count. Most of us wouldn’t have lived this long if God hadn’t sovereignly done some things for us. His love goes a long way.
Another example is Saul of Tarsus on the road to Damascus. He was on his way to persecute more Christians. He was not seeking to find God but when “suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven.” (Acts 9:3) Jesus appeared to Saul that day on the road to Damascus, and Saul was born again.
You may not have been saved that way. You probably heard the Gospel preached, believed it in your heart and confessed Jesus as Lord of your life. You never saw a bright light from heaven and neither did I. But God has left Himself room to sovereignly intervene in a person’s life, as He did with Saul and the man at the pool of Bethesda. Why did God intervene in their lives? We may never know but God has specific reasons. The one thing I DO know is that God wants the best for us.
It is never His will that we suffer in sickness, be hooked up to machines in the hospital, or die a long lingering death. That is the work of the enemy of your soul. God’s will is to give you life and life abundantly according to John 10:10.
Confession: Sometimes my Father moves in miraculous or unusual ways to help people. But I don’t have to wait for that to happen. I come to Him in faith, believing His Word, and He takes pleasure in prospering me-spirit, soul and body!
Let’s talk about the sovereign side of God. Sometimes people hesitate to use that terminology, because the sovereignty of God is a subject that has caused great wars throughout the body of Christ.
But God is the sovereign Creator of the universe, the God of heaven and earth! He does have a sovereign side. He can work miracles within the boundaries of His Word any time and any place He wants to---even without our approval.
Look at the time Jesus was visiting Jerusalem during a feast time. (John 5:1-9) He walked to the pool of Bethesda where men and women were waiting for the waters to be stirred by the angel and be the first to get in the water to receive their miracle. A man had been carried to the pool every day as he had been sick for 38 years. This particular man did not go to Jesus. The man didn’t even beg Jesus to help him. Jesus went to him! Obviously our patient in this story wanted to be healed since he laid by the pool day after day hoping to win the lottery, if you will allow me to bring it into today’s analogy.
Jesus had to have stepped over dozens if not hundreds of sick people and went directly to this one particular man. Why? Jesus had declared that He didn’t do anything unless He saw the Father do it. So it was God’s sovereign will that this particular man receive his healing.
Just think about your own life. Have you ever received something from God that you didn’t expect? You probably have more times than you can count. Most of us wouldn’t have lived this long if God hadn’t sovereignly done some things for us. His love goes a long way.
Another example is Saul of Tarsus on the road to Damascus. He was on his way to persecute more Christians. He was not seeking to find God but when “suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven.” (Acts 9:3) Jesus appeared to Saul that day on the road to Damascus, and Saul was born again.
You may not have been saved that way. You probably heard the Gospel preached, believed it in your heart and confessed Jesus as Lord of your life. You never saw a bright light from heaven and neither did I. But God has left Himself room to sovereignly intervene in a person’s life, as He did with Saul and the man at the pool of Bethesda. Why did God intervene in their lives? We may never know but God has specific reasons. The one thing I DO know is that God wants the best for us.
It is never His will that we suffer in sickness, be hooked up to machines in the hospital, or die a long lingering death. That is the work of the enemy of your soul. God’s will is to give you life and life abundantly according to John 10:10.
Confession: Sometimes my Father moves in miraculous or unusual ways to help people. But I don’t have to wait for that to happen. I come to Him in faith, believing His Word, and He takes pleasure in prospering me-spirit, soul and body!
Monday, April 20, 2009
Enter Into Rest
For only we, who believe God can enter into his place of rest. ---Hebrews 4:3 TLB
When you’re in a difficult situation and you need a miracle, locate what you believe. Do you believe what God’s Word says? Or do you believe what people or circumstances say?
Hebrews 4:3 says, “We who have believed do enter into rest.” Belief produces rest, and what you hear determines what you believe. So if you see you haven’t entered to the rest of faith, don’t waste your time feeling condemned, discouraged or upset about it. Just realize your belief isn’t yet strong enough to produce rest.
What do you do? Find out what the Word of God says about your situation. Search for Scriptures that cover your case. Feed on the Word at every opportunity because hearing produces belief. Some people say, Well, when I have time, I’ll do that.” But if you maintain that attitude, you’ll never have time.
If you need healing, listen to good healing tapes again and again. Read good books on healing, such as Christ the Healer by F. F. Bosworth. Don’t just read the books once and set them down; read them from cover to cover several times until you are full of the Word on healing. Then out of the abundance of your heart, your mouth will speak. (Matt. 12:34) You’ll find yourself saying, “It’s so good to be healed!”
This is where Jesus wants you to be; healthy and whole - mind, soul and body, so you can be about His business. What good does it do the Kingdom or the image of Christians for you to walk around talking about how sick or depressed you are and spending all that money on doctor bills and prescriptions? The reason Jesus went to the cross was to take all your sickness, disease and torment is so you don’t have to. Normal Christianity is to be healthy and whole!
When someone asks, “Do you feel better? Are the symptoms gone?” you’ll say “I haven’t checked yet, but I know I’m healed because the Bible said it. I don’t care what anybody says, God says healing is mine and I have whatever God says.”
Remember, hearing produces believe, belief produces rest and the rest of faith produces results!
Confession: The Word of God is firmly lodged down in my heart, and I enter into rest. God’s Word is greater inside me than what I see with my natural eye. It’s so good to be healed!
When you’re in a difficult situation and you need a miracle, locate what you believe. Do you believe what God’s Word says? Or do you believe what people or circumstances say?
Hebrews 4:3 says, “We who have believed do enter into rest.” Belief produces rest, and what you hear determines what you believe. So if you see you haven’t entered to the rest of faith, don’t waste your time feeling condemned, discouraged or upset about it. Just realize your belief isn’t yet strong enough to produce rest.
What do you do? Find out what the Word of God says about your situation. Search for Scriptures that cover your case. Feed on the Word at every opportunity because hearing produces belief. Some people say, Well, when I have time, I’ll do that.” But if you maintain that attitude, you’ll never have time.
If you need healing, listen to good healing tapes again and again. Read good books on healing, such as Christ the Healer by F. F. Bosworth. Don’t just read the books once and set them down; read them from cover to cover several times until you are full of the Word on healing. Then out of the abundance of your heart, your mouth will speak. (Matt. 12:34) You’ll find yourself saying, “It’s so good to be healed!”
This is where Jesus wants you to be; healthy and whole - mind, soul and body, so you can be about His business. What good does it do the Kingdom or the image of Christians for you to walk around talking about how sick or depressed you are and spending all that money on doctor bills and prescriptions? The reason Jesus went to the cross was to take all your sickness, disease and torment is so you don’t have to. Normal Christianity is to be healthy and whole!
When someone asks, “Do you feel better? Are the symptoms gone?” you’ll say “I haven’t checked yet, but I know I’m healed because the Bible said it. I don’t care what anybody says, God says healing is mine and I have whatever God says.”
Remember, hearing produces believe, belief produces rest and the rest of faith produces results!
Confession: The Word of God is firmly lodged down in my heart, and I enter into rest. God’s Word is greater inside me than what I see with my natural eye. It’s so good to be healed!
Friday, April 17, 2009
The Rest of Faith
For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. For we who have believed do enter that rest. Hebrews 4:2,3
See if this sounds familiar. You’re facing a situation where everything looks bad, sounds bad and feels bad. There seems to be no way out. But for some reason, you can’t work up a good worry about it. People ask you, “Don’t you know how serious this is?” But you walk around with this silly grin on your face, saying, “I just can’t seem to get concerned. Everything will be all right.”
They may ask, “How do you know it’s going to be all right?” Your response, “I just know.” That’s called the rest of faith. Everything looks bad on the outside, but on the inside, you sense only a velvety, peaceful rest.
Hebrews 4:3 talks about the rest of faith: “We which have believed do enter into rest.” Now, God isn’t talking here about physical or mental rest. Your mind will probably give you fits when you face a bad situation. But when you enter the rest of faith, a quiet peace prevails deep down inside.
Now consider this second scenario: You’re in a situation that looks bad, sounds bad and feels bad, and you’re endeavoring to believe God. You pray, “Oh, God, this better work!” You scrunch up your face in your intense effort and say, “God, I’m trying to believe, but if You don’t come through, I’m sunk!”
That is definitely not the rest of faith! It may look like you are walking in faith. But there is a whole lot of doubt in that. Well, what’s the difference between the first and the second response to a bad situation? The difference is what you believe in; what you are convinced and have your confidence in.
So, if you need healing in your body but you haven’t yet entered into rest, make the necessary adjustment. Start feeding on healing Scriptures and build up your faith. Then, no matter what the situation looks like in the natural, you can peacefully rest in God.
Confession: I believe God and His Word, so I enter into rest. I am confident that I am healed, for I know my God has already won my victory.
See if this sounds familiar. You’re facing a situation where everything looks bad, sounds bad and feels bad. There seems to be no way out. But for some reason, you can’t work up a good worry about it. People ask you, “Don’t you know how serious this is?” But you walk around with this silly grin on your face, saying, “I just can’t seem to get concerned. Everything will be all right.”
They may ask, “How do you know it’s going to be all right?” Your response, “I just know.” That’s called the rest of faith. Everything looks bad on the outside, but on the inside, you sense only a velvety, peaceful rest.
Hebrews 4:3 talks about the rest of faith: “We which have believed do enter into rest.” Now, God isn’t talking here about physical or mental rest. Your mind will probably give you fits when you face a bad situation. But when you enter the rest of faith, a quiet peace prevails deep down inside.
Now consider this second scenario: You’re in a situation that looks bad, sounds bad and feels bad, and you’re endeavoring to believe God. You pray, “Oh, God, this better work!” You scrunch up your face in your intense effort and say, “God, I’m trying to believe, but if You don’t come through, I’m sunk!”
That is definitely not the rest of faith! It may look like you are walking in faith. But there is a whole lot of doubt in that. Well, what’s the difference between the first and the second response to a bad situation? The difference is what you believe in; what you are convinced and have your confidence in.
So, if you need healing in your body but you haven’t yet entered into rest, make the necessary adjustment. Start feeding on healing Scriptures and build up your faith. Then, no matter what the situation looks like in the natural, you can peacefully rest in God.
Confession: I believe God and His Word, so I enter into rest. I am confident that I am healed, for I know my God has already won my victory.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Head Faith vs Heart Faith
Therefore, sirs, be of good cheer; for I believe God, that it will be even as it was told me. ---Acts 27:25
How can we know if we’re really in heart faith and not just head faith, or mental assent? That’s an important question. We have to learn how to locate ourselves in our faith. If we can do that, we can make the necessary adjustments to receive from God.
Head faith says, “I believe the Word—but look at the size of that problem!” Or it says, “I believe by Jesus’ stripes I was healed---but I feel so sick! And let me tell you what the doctors told me…”
Head faith is really “billygoat” faith—it likes to “but!” It will say, “I believe the Bible, but…” And of course, your loved ones will help you with some of your own “buts”---“Now, I know you are believing for your healing, but how do you really feel?”
On the other hand, heart faith says, “Yes, I see the problem. I see the symptoms of sickness. But I’m looking to the Bible! I found my answer there!” Heart faith fixes its attention on the Word. Heart faith will look to the solution that God says and always finishes with this statement: “I believe God. I don’t care what it looks like.”
Faith doesn’t deny the symptoms or the circumstances. It doesn’t bury its head in the sand and hope the problem will go away. Faith faces the problem and says, “I know it looks bad, but I have inside information! I’m coming through this as an over comer in Jesus Christ!”
During a storm when the apostle Paul was in the boat that was about to sink, he said, “I believe God, that it will be even as it was told me.” (Acts 27:25) That’s what we have to do as well. Sure the storms will come. We don’t deny the wind, the waves, or the symptoms. But we have something better, something bigger, something higher to believe. We have the Word of God!
Everyone is at a different level of faith, but it is time to step it up to the next level. If you can’t believe God for your healing, then believe that God will send someone to you, or you to them, to find the answer for your problem. If you have a high level of heart faith, then you can just speak to your circumstance and it will go. Let’s move closer to heart faith so we can receive from God.
Confession: God’s Spirit-breathed words are greater than any symptom or circumstance. The Word says I’m healed, and I believe it: I am healed, just as He has told me.
How can we know if we’re really in heart faith and not just head faith, or mental assent? That’s an important question. We have to learn how to locate ourselves in our faith. If we can do that, we can make the necessary adjustments to receive from God.
Head faith says, “I believe the Word—but look at the size of that problem!” Or it says, “I believe by Jesus’ stripes I was healed---but I feel so sick! And let me tell you what the doctors told me…”
Head faith is really “billygoat” faith—it likes to “but!” It will say, “I believe the Bible, but…” And of course, your loved ones will help you with some of your own “buts”---“Now, I know you are believing for your healing, but how do you really feel?”
On the other hand, heart faith says, “Yes, I see the problem. I see the symptoms of sickness. But I’m looking to the Bible! I found my answer there!” Heart faith fixes its attention on the Word. Heart faith will look to the solution that God says and always finishes with this statement: “I believe God. I don’t care what it looks like.”
Faith doesn’t deny the symptoms or the circumstances. It doesn’t bury its head in the sand and hope the problem will go away. Faith faces the problem and says, “I know it looks bad, but I have inside information! I’m coming through this as an over comer in Jesus Christ!”
During a storm when the apostle Paul was in the boat that was about to sink, he said, “I believe God, that it will be even as it was told me.” (Acts 27:25) That’s what we have to do as well. Sure the storms will come. We don’t deny the wind, the waves, or the symptoms. But we have something better, something bigger, something higher to believe. We have the Word of God!
Everyone is at a different level of faith, but it is time to step it up to the next level. If you can’t believe God for your healing, then believe that God will send someone to you, or you to them, to find the answer for your problem. If you have a high level of heart faith, then you can just speak to your circumstance and it will go. Let’s move closer to heart faith so we can receive from God.
Confession: God’s Spirit-breathed words are greater than any symptom or circumstance. The Word says I’m healed, and I believe it: I am healed, just as He has told me.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Confess, Believe, Receive
If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. ---Romans 10:9
It’s so easy to receive from God. God made it easy. He purchased everything we could ever need, then told us, “Just take it.”
You may say, “But believing God for healing is so hard.” Let me ask you a question. Do you know you’re saved? Isn’t becoming a new creation in Christ the biggest miracle there is? You probably didn’t feel any different in your physical body and may not have even felt anything in your emotions. It was just something that God wanted to give you, so you accepted it.
Well, notice that you don’t hope you’re saved—you know you are. One day you said, “Lord, I believe in my heart Jesus was raised from the dead for me. I receive Him as my Lord and Savior. I’m a new creature in Christ!” You heard it, accepted it and believed it then you received your salvation. You didn’t have to labor and strain and stand on the Word of God for years to get saved. Neither do you have to get up every morning to see if you still feel saved. You know you’re saved, because the Bible tells you so!
Well, if getting saved is the biggest miracle and yet the easiest thing you ever did, would a lesser miracle, such as healing, be more difficult to receive? No, we receive salvation and healing the same way. They are both part of God’s redemption plan. The original Greek word for saved is “sozo.” The definition is saved from destruction i.e. deliver or protect (literally or figuratively), heal, preserve, do well, be made whole. Sounds like that includes physical healing to me!
You’d be amazed at your results if you simply received healing by faith the same way you once received your salvation. Just say, “Lord, I know in my heart that by Jesus’ stripes I was healed. I receive You as my healer now. Thank God, it’s done!”
Now, don’t check to see if you feel healed. You aren’t healed because you feel better. You’re healed because the Bible says you’re healed. And if you hold fast to your faith, your healing will come to pass. Your confession after the initial one below will now be to thank God for a whole body, that it will function exactly as it was designed to do in the Garden of Eden.
Confession: I confess from a believing heart that Jesus is my savior. I also confess from a believing heart6 that Jesus is my healer. Thank God, I receive my healing now!
It’s so easy to receive from God. God made it easy. He purchased everything we could ever need, then told us, “Just take it.”
You may say, “But believing God for healing is so hard.” Let me ask you a question. Do you know you’re saved? Isn’t becoming a new creation in Christ the biggest miracle there is? You probably didn’t feel any different in your physical body and may not have even felt anything in your emotions. It was just something that God wanted to give you, so you accepted it.
Well, notice that you don’t hope you’re saved—you know you are. One day you said, “Lord, I believe in my heart Jesus was raised from the dead for me. I receive Him as my Lord and Savior. I’m a new creature in Christ!” You heard it, accepted it and believed it then you received your salvation. You didn’t have to labor and strain and stand on the Word of God for years to get saved. Neither do you have to get up every morning to see if you still feel saved. You know you’re saved, because the Bible tells you so!
Well, if getting saved is the biggest miracle and yet the easiest thing you ever did, would a lesser miracle, such as healing, be more difficult to receive? No, we receive salvation and healing the same way. They are both part of God’s redemption plan. The original Greek word for saved is “sozo.” The definition is saved from destruction i.e. deliver or protect (literally or figuratively), heal, preserve, do well, be made whole. Sounds like that includes physical healing to me!
You’d be amazed at your results if you simply received healing by faith the same way you once received your salvation. Just say, “Lord, I know in my heart that by Jesus’ stripes I was healed. I receive You as my healer now. Thank God, it’s done!”
Now, don’t check to see if you feel healed. You aren’t healed because you feel better. You’re healed because the Bible says you’re healed. And if you hold fast to your faith, your healing will come to pass. Your confession after the initial one below will now be to thank God for a whole body, that it will function exactly as it was designed to do in the Garden of Eden.
Confession: I confess from a believing heart that Jesus is my savior. I also confess from a believing heart6 that Jesus is my healer. Thank God, I receive my healing now!
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Healing Is Simple
And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. ---Matthew 9:35
God’s Word is simple and easy to understand. He didn’t make it complicated, because He didn’t want anyone left out of His blessings.
Yet some people are deceived into thinking it’s hard to receive from God, especially in the area of divine healing. They beg, plead, cry, bawl and squall to be healed, but to no avail.
However, it’s easy to receive healing. Why would it be hard to obtain something that already belongs to us? Jesus purchased healing for us with the stripes on His back. We just have to reach out and take what is already ours!
The only reason it has seemed difficult to receive healing is that we’ve lacked a thorough understanding of Jesus’ work on the Cross. Thank God, what Jesus provided for us in the Atonement is simple to receive. Think about it: Was it difficult to get saved? No, we simply found out God loved us, believed in our hearts Jesus was raised from the dead and confessed Him as our Savior. Well, healing is received the same way. We find out healing is God’s will for us, believe in our hearts we receive our healing and confess Jesus as our Healer.
It’s as simple as that. We are healed by faith just as we are saved by faith. As we learn to appropriate what already belongs to us, we will walk in blessings far beyond what we can ask or think!
Confession: Healing is simple. I know God wants me well. I know Jesus’ body was broken for me so I could have His health. So right now I believe I receive my healing.
God’s Word is simple and easy to understand. He didn’t make it complicated, because He didn’t want anyone left out of His blessings.
Yet some people are deceived into thinking it’s hard to receive from God, especially in the area of divine healing. They beg, plead, cry, bawl and squall to be healed, but to no avail.
However, it’s easy to receive healing. Why would it be hard to obtain something that already belongs to us? Jesus purchased healing for us with the stripes on His back. We just have to reach out and take what is already ours!
The only reason it has seemed difficult to receive healing is that we’ve lacked a thorough understanding of Jesus’ work on the Cross. Thank God, what Jesus provided for us in the Atonement is simple to receive. Think about it: Was it difficult to get saved? No, we simply found out God loved us, believed in our hearts Jesus was raised from the dead and confessed Him as our Savior. Well, healing is received the same way. We find out healing is God’s will for us, believe in our hearts we receive our healing and confess Jesus as our Healer.
It’s as simple as that. We are healed by faith just as we are saved by faith. As we learn to appropriate what already belongs to us, we will walk in blessings far beyond what we can ask or think!
Confession: Healing is simple. I know God wants me well. I know Jesus’ body was broken for me so I could have His health. So right now I believe I receive my healing.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Don't Carry the Devil's Burden
But Christ came as a High Priest of the good things to come, with the grater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. (12) Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. ---Hebrews 9:11,12
Some people think Jesus came to help us carry our burdens. “Oh, Lord,” they pray, “if You could just help me bear this disease until the end, I’d sure appreciate it. Maybe if You carry half, I could carry the other half.”
These people don’t realize what actually took place in redemption. They may understand that Jesus took their sins to the Cross and paid the price for their slate to be wiped clean. They may even realize that God doesn’t want them to take the condemnation for those sins back on themselves again.
But people need to realize that Jesus completed a full redemption for them. Not only did He take on Himself their sin, but their sickness and disease as well.
Just as we have known God doesn’t want us to live in sin, we ought to know God doesn’t want us to live in sickness and disease. Jesus paid the price to redeem us from both sin and sickness. He already carried it all for us. So He doesn’t want us to carry the burden of our sicknesses any more than He wants us to carry the burden of our sins. Sin and sickness are a part of the devil’s kingdom, and we are citizens of the kingdom of light! So, the plans of the devil should not be a part of our life or future.
You may say, “Well, I’m sick. See? The doctor has this X-ray. Everyone else that has had this had to do so and so and take this and that! The prognosis will be the same for me!” What I say to that is, “NO, you do not!” First we must realize that we are not normal. We are an heir of God and a joint heir of Jesus Christ. That makes us family with Jesus and God. Next, we have been redeemed from the curse of the Law. That law was established in Deuteronomy 28 for being disobedient and a sinner. As a child of God, you have already asked God to wash you of all your sins and make you as white as snow. When Jesus died on the cross, He took all your sins, all your sickness and all your disease.
So, with your diagnosis from the doctor, you must start confessing what Jesus has done for you. Speak it out loud. Tell the devil who you are in Christ. Refuse to accept anything the devil has to offer and tell him that if he wants to put anything on you, he has to go to Jesus first, because Jesus is the one who carries your sins, diseases and burdens. Next, you must start speaking to your body. Tell it to line up with the Word of God and declare that “No weapon formed against you will prosper.” This is faith! It is what you believe and your confession is the action you must take.
It may take one minute, one day, or one year to see a difference in your symptoms, but this is the reason Jesus died for you; that you may live in victory to tell others about the goodness of God. Go ahead. Give it a try and see if it doesn’t come true for you.
Confession: I’ve been redeemed from the curse of the Law. I refuse to carry the burden of sickness, because Jesus already bore my sicknesses and carried my pains. By His stripes, I am healed!
Some people think Jesus came to help us carry our burdens. “Oh, Lord,” they pray, “if You could just help me bear this disease until the end, I’d sure appreciate it. Maybe if You carry half, I could carry the other half.”
These people don’t realize what actually took place in redemption. They may understand that Jesus took their sins to the Cross and paid the price for their slate to be wiped clean. They may even realize that God doesn’t want them to take the condemnation for those sins back on themselves again.
But people need to realize that Jesus completed a full redemption for them. Not only did He take on Himself their sin, but their sickness and disease as well.
Just as we have known God doesn’t want us to live in sin, we ought to know God doesn’t want us to live in sickness and disease. Jesus paid the price to redeem us from both sin and sickness. He already carried it all for us. So He doesn’t want us to carry the burden of our sicknesses any more than He wants us to carry the burden of our sins. Sin and sickness are a part of the devil’s kingdom, and we are citizens of the kingdom of light! So, the plans of the devil should not be a part of our life or future.
You may say, “Well, I’m sick. See? The doctor has this X-ray. Everyone else that has had this had to do so and so and take this and that! The prognosis will be the same for me!” What I say to that is, “NO, you do not!” First we must realize that we are not normal. We are an heir of God and a joint heir of Jesus Christ. That makes us family with Jesus and God. Next, we have been redeemed from the curse of the Law. That law was established in Deuteronomy 28 for being disobedient and a sinner. As a child of God, you have already asked God to wash you of all your sins and make you as white as snow. When Jesus died on the cross, He took all your sins, all your sickness and all your disease.
So, with your diagnosis from the doctor, you must start confessing what Jesus has done for you. Speak it out loud. Tell the devil who you are in Christ. Refuse to accept anything the devil has to offer and tell him that if he wants to put anything on you, he has to go to Jesus first, because Jesus is the one who carries your sins, diseases and burdens. Next, you must start speaking to your body. Tell it to line up with the Word of God and declare that “No weapon formed against you will prosper.” This is faith! It is what you believe and your confession is the action you must take.
It may take one minute, one day, or one year to see a difference in your symptoms, but this is the reason Jesus died for you; that you may live in victory to tell others about the goodness of God. Go ahead. Give it a try and see if it doesn’t come true for you.
Confession: I’ve been redeemed from the curse of the Law. I refuse to carry the burden of sickness, because Jesus already bore my sicknesses and carried my pains. By His stripes, I am healed!
Friday, April 10, 2009
He Already Paid the Price
Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light. ---Colossians 1:12
Jesus went to the Cross willingly and shed His blood for us—you and me! Through His death, burial and resurrection He forgave our sins, redeemed us (obtained a release secured by the payment of a ransom—His blood) delivered us from the power of darkness and enabled us to become partakers of God’s inheritance.
Yet most Christians have a very low opinion of what redemption really is. They will say, “Well, Jesus redeemed me from sin.” That’s true, but there’s so much more to it. Thank God, we’ve been redeemed from every curse in the Old Testament—and that includes sickness!
Now, Jesus didn’t redeem us from all the Old Testament blessings. For instance, healing was a blessing back then, so it’s still a blessing today. Jesus didn’t do away with any blessings; in fact He added to them.
Look at Isaiah 53:5: “But he was wounded for our transgressions (sins), he was bruised for our iniquities (rebellion); the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” Jesus not only redeemed or set us free from our sins, but He also redeemed us from torment and oppression so we could have peace. He redeemed us from sickness so we could have health.
God’s report says we were forgiven, delivered and healed. Now we can just reach out in faith to receive any of these covenant blessings. They all belong to us because Jesus already paid the price. Reaching out in faith is as simple as making the following confession:
Confession: I am free from sin and all its effects-from worry, anxiety and fear, from sickness, disease and pain. God’s inheritance affects all areas of my life-spirit, soul and body.
Jesus went to the Cross willingly and shed His blood for us—you and me! Through His death, burial and resurrection He forgave our sins, redeemed us (obtained a release secured by the payment of a ransom—His blood) delivered us from the power of darkness and enabled us to become partakers of God’s inheritance.
Yet most Christians have a very low opinion of what redemption really is. They will say, “Well, Jesus redeemed me from sin.” That’s true, but there’s so much more to it. Thank God, we’ve been redeemed from every curse in the Old Testament—and that includes sickness!
Now, Jesus didn’t redeem us from all the Old Testament blessings. For instance, healing was a blessing back then, so it’s still a blessing today. Jesus didn’t do away with any blessings; in fact He added to them.
Look at Isaiah 53:5: “But he was wounded for our transgressions (sins), he was bruised for our iniquities (rebellion); the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” Jesus not only redeemed or set us free from our sins, but He also redeemed us from torment and oppression so we could have peace. He redeemed us from sickness so we could have health.
God’s report says we were forgiven, delivered and healed. Now we can just reach out in faith to receive any of these covenant blessings. They all belong to us because Jesus already paid the price. Reaching out in faith is as simple as making the following confession:
Confession: I am free from sin and all its effects-from worry, anxiety and fear, from sickness, disease and pain. God’s inheritance affects all areas of my life-spirit, soul and body.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Jesus Bore the Punishment We Deserved
In whom we have redemption through his blood even the forgiveness of sins. ---Colossians 1:14
When Jesus finished the earthly ministry God had given Him, He was about thirty-three years old. Only one thing was left to do. Jesus, the Son of God—the One who never sinned, who never made a mistake in His life, who never hurt anyone and always helped everyone—had to die on the Cross.
The cross was a death reserved for criminals. If anyone belonged on that cross, it was you and I—not Jesus. You may be saying, “Wait a minute! I haven’t stolen anything! Or I’ve not murdered anyone!” Well, maybe you haven’t, but you are still a criminal in the eyes of God. Why? Because you were simply born as a human being. Let me explain.
When Adam and Eve rebelled against God by eating from a tree specifically set apart by God that they should not touch, they became sinful… or sinners. It was a spiritual transfer from perfect, obedient people that God had created for His good pleasure, to willfully disobedient, rebellious people. It was then that sin entered the world. So, from the loins of Adam came sinful children and thus all through the centuries, we are born sinners. We disobey God without even trying! We hurt others, without thinking or even contemplating it!
God, who is perfect and pure could not associate with mankind any longer because they were sinful. That is why Jesus had to come into the world. To re-establish a relationship with God, the Father who has always wanted a relationship with His children, His creation.
The Bible says, “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23) We were the ones who sinned, made mistakes and hurt people. We deserved to go to the place of judgment. But Jesus took our place. He is “the Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29)
Jesus knew there was no other human being that had ever been born, was still living or would be born in the world in the future that could do what only He could do. That was to sacrifice Himself for us so we could once again have a relationship with our Father in Heaven. Scriptures tell us that “Without the shedding of blood (there) is no remission of sin.” (Hebrews 9:22) Someone had to die for us. We were the ones that deserved death, but Jesus took our death on Himself so we can walk in newness of life. Not only that, but now we can live forever in Heaven with Jesus and the Father when we accept Him as our Savior.
Confession: Jesus, my Savior, redeemed me. With the price of His own blood, He became the way for me to be reconciled to the Father. He took my sicknesses and my spiritual death so I could have His health and His eternal life.
When Jesus finished the earthly ministry God had given Him, He was about thirty-three years old. Only one thing was left to do. Jesus, the Son of God—the One who never sinned, who never made a mistake in His life, who never hurt anyone and always helped everyone—had to die on the Cross.
The cross was a death reserved for criminals. If anyone belonged on that cross, it was you and I—not Jesus. You may be saying, “Wait a minute! I haven’t stolen anything! Or I’ve not murdered anyone!” Well, maybe you haven’t, but you are still a criminal in the eyes of God. Why? Because you were simply born as a human being. Let me explain.
When Adam and Eve rebelled against God by eating from a tree specifically set apart by God that they should not touch, they became sinful… or sinners. It was a spiritual transfer from perfect, obedient people that God had created for His good pleasure, to willfully disobedient, rebellious people. It was then that sin entered the world. So, from the loins of Adam came sinful children and thus all through the centuries, we are born sinners. We disobey God without even trying! We hurt others, without thinking or even contemplating it!
God, who is perfect and pure could not associate with mankind any longer because they were sinful. That is why Jesus had to come into the world. To re-establish a relationship with God, the Father who has always wanted a relationship with His children, His creation.
The Bible says, “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23) We were the ones who sinned, made mistakes and hurt people. We deserved to go to the place of judgment. But Jesus took our place. He is “the Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29)
Jesus knew there was no other human being that had ever been born, was still living or would be born in the world in the future that could do what only He could do. That was to sacrifice Himself for us so we could once again have a relationship with our Father in Heaven. Scriptures tell us that “Without the shedding of blood (there) is no remission of sin.” (Hebrews 9:22) Someone had to die for us. We were the ones that deserved death, but Jesus took our death on Himself so we can walk in newness of life. Not only that, but now we can live forever in Heaven with Jesus and the Father when we accept Him as our Savior.
Confession: Jesus, my Savior, redeemed me. With the price of His own blood, He became the way for me to be reconciled to the Father. He took my sicknesses and my spiritual death so I could have His health and His eternal life.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Forever Redeemed
In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace. ---Ephesians 1:7
When Jesus shed His blood on the Cross, He redeemed us. Redeem means “to purchase or buy back.”
For example, several years ago, when you purchased groceries in grocery stores, the store owners gave you green stamps as an incentive to buy at their store. You were supposed to put them in stamp books. After you had filled several books, you went to a “redemption center.” The center stocked all kinds of nice gifts: radios, stereos, camping supplies and so forth. But you couldn’t buy those items worth money. You had to redeem them with green stamps.
Well, Jesus redeemed us with His own blood. You see, when Adam sinned, mankind fell into a state of spiritual death, or separation from God. Along with that came sickness, poverty, fear and failure.
Man was in the grips of sin under Satan’s control, but God wanted to buy man back. However, only one price could buy man back from the kingdom of darkness. Silver and gold couldn’t do it. The redemption price had to be sinless, spotless blood.
So, God sent His only begotten Son to be our sacrifice. Jesus took on flesh and walked sinless among us as “the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29) Then He shed His perfect, spotless blood on the Cross, redeeming us from Satan’s dominion.
All we have to do is believe in our hearts and confess with our mouths that Jesus is our Lord and that God raised Him from the dead for us. (Rom. 10:9,10) At that moment, we were translated out of the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light—forever redeemed!
Confession: I’ve been redeemed from Satan’s control. Sickness no longer has jurisdiction over me. Divine health is a benefit of my Father’s kingdom, and I walk in all the benefits Jesus purchased for me with His blood!
When Jesus shed His blood on the Cross, He redeemed us. Redeem means “to purchase or buy back.”
For example, several years ago, when you purchased groceries in grocery stores, the store owners gave you green stamps as an incentive to buy at their store. You were supposed to put them in stamp books. After you had filled several books, you went to a “redemption center.” The center stocked all kinds of nice gifts: radios, stereos, camping supplies and so forth. But you couldn’t buy those items worth money. You had to redeem them with green stamps.
Well, Jesus redeemed us with His own blood. You see, when Adam sinned, mankind fell into a state of spiritual death, or separation from God. Along with that came sickness, poverty, fear and failure.
Man was in the grips of sin under Satan’s control, but God wanted to buy man back. However, only one price could buy man back from the kingdom of darkness. Silver and gold couldn’t do it. The redemption price had to be sinless, spotless blood.
So, God sent His only begotten Son to be our sacrifice. Jesus took on flesh and walked sinless among us as “the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29) Then He shed His perfect, spotless blood on the Cross, redeeming us from Satan’s dominion.
All we have to do is believe in our hearts and confess with our mouths that Jesus is our Lord and that God raised Him from the dead for us. (Rom. 10:9,10) At that moment, we were translated out of the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light—forever redeemed!
Confession: I’ve been redeemed from Satan’s control. Sickness no longer has jurisdiction over me. Divine health is a benefit of my Father’s kingdom, and I walk in all the benefits Jesus purchased for me with His blood!
Monday, April 6, 2009
Split the Atonement in Two?
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. ---Isaiah 53:5
In the past, many in the body of Christ have tried to split the Atonement down the middle; then they’ve tried to separate the two halves. They say, “Thank God, salvation is for anyone, anytime. Second Peter 3:9 says, ‘The Lord is…not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.’ So whoever wants to be saved may freely come!”
“However,” they continue, “healing is not for today.” Or they say, “God can heal, but He normally doesn’t do things like that. He heals some, but He doesn’t heal everyone.” Or perhaps they rationalize, “God has replaced healing with doctors and hospitals.”
But no one has a right to split the Atonement down the middle. Jesus paid the price for us---spirit, soul and body.
One half of the Atonement is the forgiveness of sin; the other half of the atonement is healing for the physical body. Jesus Christ not only paid the price for our sins and iniquities, but at the same time He paid the price for our sicknesses and diseases. When the body of Christ grabs hold of that revelation, the sick will be healed, the weak will be made strong and the healthy will stay well!
Confession: Jesus wants me to be saved and healthy, so He purchased my salvation and healing and His own death on the Cross. His body was broken for me; His blood was shed for me. I receive the salvation and healing He has provided!
In the past, many in the body of Christ have tried to split the Atonement down the middle; then they’ve tried to separate the two halves. They say, “Thank God, salvation is for anyone, anytime. Second Peter 3:9 says, ‘The Lord is…not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.’ So whoever wants to be saved may freely come!”
“However,” they continue, “healing is not for today.” Or they say, “God can heal, but He normally doesn’t do things like that. He heals some, but He doesn’t heal everyone.” Or perhaps they rationalize, “God has replaced healing with doctors and hospitals.”
But no one has a right to split the Atonement down the middle. Jesus paid the price for us---spirit, soul and body.
One half of the Atonement is the forgiveness of sin; the other half of the atonement is healing for the physical body. Jesus Christ not only paid the price for our sins and iniquities, but at the same time He paid the price for our sicknesses and diseases. When the body of Christ grabs hold of that revelation, the sick will be healed, the weak will be made strong and the healthy will stay well!
Confession: Jesus wants me to be saved and healthy, so He purchased my salvation and healing and His own death on the Cross. His body was broken for me; His blood was shed for me. I receive the salvation and healing He has provided!
Thursday, April 2, 2009
A New and Better Covenant
He brought them forth also with silver and gold; and there was not one feeble person among their tribes. ---Psalm 105:37
God gave us a portrait of the new birth when He delivered Israel from Egypt’s bondage. This biblical event is a picture of our coming out of Satan’s bondage into new freedom in Jesus Christ.
The way Israel looked when they came out of Egypt is a picture of the way you and I should look the minute we’re born again. How did Israel look? They came out of the darkness of bondage into the light of freedom. Not only that, but Psalm 105:37 says, “He brought them forth also with silver and gold.”
The Israelites didn’t take silver and gold out of Egypt because they were wealthy. No, they had been nothing but Egyptian slaves for centuries. God was the source of Israel’s sudden wealth. The first thing he did when He brought them out of bondage was to abundantly meet their needs. He turned them from slaves into free people of substance, abundantly taken care of.
Besides material substance, God provided physical health for the Israelites as well. “There was not one feeble person among their tribes.” He brought His people out of Egypt free, healthy and abundantly taken care of.
Remember, this is a picture of our redemption. When we were first born again, most of us would have been satisfied just to have our sins forgiven. But that didn’t satisfy God. His Son paid the price for a redemption that was meant to affect every part of our lives.
The Passover opened the way to freedom, healing and abundance for the Israelites. Now we live under a new and better covenant established on better promises. (Heb. 8:6) So if God willed healing and health for His people under the old covenant, we can know without a doubt that He wills healing and health for us under our covenant through Jesus Christ!
Confession: The Lamb of God opened the way to abundantly supply all my needs---spirit, soul and body. He provided healing for my physical body and peace for my soul. I walk in the fullness of the redemption Jesus purchased for me!
God gave us a portrait of the new birth when He delivered Israel from Egypt’s bondage. This biblical event is a picture of our coming out of Satan’s bondage into new freedom in Jesus Christ.
The way Israel looked when they came out of Egypt is a picture of the way you and I should look the minute we’re born again. How did Israel look? They came out of the darkness of bondage into the light of freedom. Not only that, but Psalm 105:37 says, “He brought them forth also with silver and gold.”
The Israelites didn’t take silver and gold out of Egypt because they were wealthy. No, they had been nothing but Egyptian slaves for centuries. God was the source of Israel’s sudden wealth. The first thing he did when He brought them out of bondage was to abundantly meet their needs. He turned them from slaves into free people of substance, abundantly taken care of.
Besides material substance, God provided physical health for the Israelites as well. “There was not one feeble person among their tribes.” He brought His people out of Egypt free, healthy and abundantly taken care of.
Remember, this is a picture of our redemption. When we were first born again, most of us would have been satisfied just to have our sins forgiven. But that didn’t satisfy God. His Son paid the price for a redemption that was meant to affect every part of our lives.
The Passover opened the way to freedom, healing and abundance for the Israelites. Now we live under a new and better covenant established on better promises. (Heb. 8:6) So if God willed healing and health for His people under the old covenant, we can know without a doubt that He wills healing and health for us under our covenant through Jesus Christ!
Confession: The Lamb of God opened the way to abundantly supply all my needs---spirit, soul and body. He provided healing for my physical body and peace for my soul. I walk in the fullness of the redemption Jesus purchased for me!
Redeemed - Spirit, Soul and Body
And they shall eat the flesh on that night, roasted in fire, with unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it. And thus you shall eat it; with a belt on your waist, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand. So you shall eat it in haste. It is the Lord’s Passover. ---Exodus 12:8,11
The Lord said to His people, “On the same night you apply the blood of the Passover lamb to your doorpost, eat its flesh.” Notice that God gave specific instructions about how the lamb was to be eaten. He said, “When you eat that lamb, put your belts on, put shoes on your feet and be ready to go.” (v. 11) It’s significant that God didn’t say, “and you shall eat it, with your loins girded and your wheelchairs, stretchers, crutches and pills all ready to go. And with all your aches and pains you shall go forth.”
Among the two to three million Israelites God was talking to, there had to be plenty of people who were too sick or too old to travel. But the Lord told them all to eat and be ready to go.
You see, God wasn’t satisfied with a partial redemption. Not only would His people go out, but they would go out well. Not only would they be free from Egyptian bondage, but they would also be set free from the bondage of sickness and disease. You may ask, how do you know they went out with no sickness or feebleness? Well, Psalms 105:37 tells us that “there was none feeble among His tribes.”
What did the Passover do for the Israelites when they applied the blood of the lamb? It spared them from judgment and set them free from bondage. What happened when the Israelites ate the lamb’s flesh? They went out healthy.
That’s why the Passover lamb is a portrait of our full redemption in Christ. When man fell in the Garden of Eden, he fell in spirit, soul and body. Disease didn’t exist until the great temptation and man was cast out of the Garden. Jesus died to make us completely whole, not only in spirit and soul, but in our physical bodies as well.
Confession: As the Israelites ate of the lamb, they were to be ready to go forth out of Egypt in health. Now I partake of the Lamb of God and go forth in newness of life, receiving healing as part of my redemption package!
The Lord said to His people, “On the same night you apply the blood of the Passover lamb to your doorpost, eat its flesh.” Notice that God gave specific instructions about how the lamb was to be eaten. He said, “When you eat that lamb, put your belts on, put shoes on your feet and be ready to go.” (v. 11) It’s significant that God didn’t say, “and you shall eat it, with your loins girded and your wheelchairs, stretchers, crutches and pills all ready to go. And with all your aches and pains you shall go forth.”
Among the two to three million Israelites God was talking to, there had to be plenty of people who were too sick or too old to travel. But the Lord told them all to eat and be ready to go.
You see, God wasn’t satisfied with a partial redemption. Not only would His people go out, but they would go out well. Not only would they be free from Egyptian bondage, but they would also be set free from the bondage of sickness and disease. You may ask, how do you know they went out with no sickness or feebleness? Well, Psalms 105:37 tells us that “there was none feeble among His tribes.”
What did the Passover do for the Israelites when they applied the blood of the lamb? It spared them from judgment and set them free from bondage. What happened when the Israelites ate the lamb’s flesh? They went out healthy.
That’s why the Passover lamb is a portrait of our full redemption in Christ. When man fell in the Garden of Eden, he fell in spirit, soul and body. Disease didn’t exist until the great temptation and man was cast out of the Garden. Jesus died to make us completely whole, not only in spirit and soul, but in our physical bodies as well.
Confession: As the Israelites ate of the lamb, they were to be ready to go forth out of Egypt in health. Now I partake of the Lamb of God and go forth in newness of life, receiving healing as part of my redemption package!
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Covered By the Blood
And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it. ---Exodus 12:7
God instructed His people to apply the blood of the lamb to the two side posts and on the upper doorposts of their houses. Thus, they would make a type of a Cross and be covered by the blood of the Passover lamb that had been slain for their deliverance.
God was giving His people a portrait of their redemption, pointing ahead to the time when Jesus would come and shed His blood on the Cross of Calvary. God told them, “The blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.” (Ex. 12:13)
That night, death struck the firstborn of every household in Egypt where the blood was not applied. Wherever the blood was applied to the doorpost, death passed over. Judgment didn’t fall on those residing within; instead, they went free. In the same way, when Jesus’ blood is applied to us as we make Him our Lord and Savior, final judgment passes over us, and we step into eternal glory.
We know from Hebrews 9:22 that without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sins. The blood of the lamb was the sacrifice that allowed the children of Israel to walk out of Egypt’s bondage. And it is the blood of the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, that enables us to walk free of every demonic bondage—including the bondage of sickness and disease.
During this Easter Season, share this tremendous truth with the people you come in contact with. Ask them if they have ever applied that blood to the doorpost of their lives.
Confession: I have applied the blood of the precious Lamb of God to my life. Therefore, I am set free from every yoke of bondage, including sickness and disease. I now step into the provisions of healing and health that God has prepared for me through the blood of His Son.
from "Prescription for a Miracle" by Mark Brazee
God instructed His people to apply the blood of the lamb to the two side posts and on the upper doorposts of their houses. Thus, they would make a type of a Cross and be covered by the blood of the Passover lamb that had been slain for their deliverance.
God was giving His people a portrait of their redemption, pointing ahead to the time when Jesus would come and shed His blood on the Cross of Calvary. God told them, “The blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.” (Ex. 12:13)
That night, death struck the firstborn of every household in Egypt where the blood was not applied. Wherever the blood was applied to the doorpost, death passed over. Judgment didn’t fall on those residing within; instead, they went free. In the same way, when Jesus’ blood is applied to us as we make Him our Lord and Savior, final judgment passes over us, and we step into eternal glory.
We know from Hebrews 9:22 that without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sins. The blood of the lamb was the sacrifice that allowed the children of Israel to walk out of Egypt’s bondage. And it is the blood of the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, that enables us to walk free of every demonic bondage—including the bondage of sickness and disease.
During this Easter Season, share this tremendous truth with the people you come in contact with. Ask them if they have ever applied that blood to the doorpost of their lives.
Confession: I have applied the blood of the precious Lamb of God to my life. Therefore, I am set free from every yoke of bondage, including sickness and disease. I now step into the provisions of healing and health that God has prepared for me through the blood of His Son.
from "Prescription for a Miracle" by Mark Brazee
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