My son, do not forget my law (word of God) but let your heart keep my commands; for length of days and long life and peace they will add to you. ---Proverbs 3:1,2
God knows how man’s body is created and what is good and what is bad for it. God also knows man’s sinful nature and what is good for it. For this reason, He has provided mankind with an instruction book that we call the Bible. God’s desire is that we follow His instructions so that we can live all the life He has given to us and to live it in peace.
We are responsible to read, understand to put into action what God says. Deuteronomy 28:58 and 59 says, “If you do not carefully observe all the words of this law that are written in this book, that you may fear this glorious and awesome name, The Lord your God, then the Lord will bring upon you and your descendants extraordinary plagues—great and prolonged plagues—and serious and prolonged sicknesses.” God said this, I didn’t. I would, however, like to explain what this verse implies.
First of all we must revere and consider God’s sovereign position as the Creator of the Universe and the designer of all laws of nature as well as God’s laws. Somehow, today we flippantly regard God as a buddy, someone who will look after us no matter what we do or say. God is our friend and loves us very much, but He has also put into motion laws that even He cannot break. So, just as a seed that is planted in the ground and watered will grow to a plant and bear fruit; so will our actions (the seed) grow and bear fruit whether good or bad.
So, in the Deuteronomy verses, God is saying, if you don’t obey my words and laws, bad things will happen to you. Now, I also want to clarify this. God has NO bad thing in His heaven or in His possession to give you or put on you. However, He can lift His hand of protection that covers you when you DO NOT obey God’s law. Imagine an umbrella that we use to keep the rain from getting us wet. When we become a child of God, we immediately step into the Kingdom of God and are in a new spiritual setting. If we could use the umbrella as an illustration, God places a protective umbrella over us to shield us from the enemy who wants to kill, steal and destroy you. That umbrella stays as long as you obey His laws and love and revere Him. If you disobey God, then the umbrella starts to slide off and opens your life up to the enemy of your soul.
The phrase “then the Lord will bring …. Extraordinary plagues….and serious and prolongs sicknesses” also needs clarification. The original language says then the Lord will “allow” these terrible things to happen. God doesn’t have sickness near Him because it means death or distress to one of His children. But just as a parent has to let a child experience difficult consequences, so does God when His children don’t obey. But it isn’t coming from God, it is coming from Satan.
Tomorrow, I will talk more about how God views disobedience. But remember this from Proverbs 4:10, “Hear, my son, and receive my sayings and the years of your life will be many.”
Confession: My desire, Father, is to learn of your laws and statutes and have the ability to obey. I love you and want to please you. Forgive me when I have missed your mark of excellence for me.
There is too much bad news that comes from the media, friends and just plain life. My purpose is to give hope to those who will embrace the living God, Jesus Christ and teach victorious principles that come from the Bible.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Friday, June 26, 2009
We Are Sick Because of the Way We Speak
Death and life are in the power of the tongue. ---Proverbs 18:21
Attitudes and our outlook on life have a great deal to do with whether we are sick or whole. Throughout the Bible, from the Old Testament to the New Testament we are told to consider our attitudes.
Proverbs 13:14 says “He who guards his mouth preserves his life.” Now you can take that a couple different ways, but basically it means, watch what you say because it can mean life or death. I know people who will always see the glass half empty. Their thought life is always on the negative half; therefore they are speaking the negative side of consequences. Their speech is full of doubt of possibilities and endless failures.
With that kind of attitude toward life, there will be an inward consequence. Our bodies want life, but when we constantly feed it negativity and death, it causes physical manifestations, mainly anxiety and stress related. I’ll be touching how our spoken words will also effect where our life and health will take us, but right now I’m talking about our attitude toward life.
One of the reasons for a bad attitude is that we haven’t learned how to trust God for our provision. We are always looking at our past and our failures, and haven’t got a grip on how much God loves us. He has forgiven us for everything in our past and placed them in the sea of forgetfulness. What we do is constantly live in the land of the past and see what “was.” Jesus wants us to look to the future and see what the endless possibilities are for us. He has great plans for us! He doesn’t want us to worry about anything. Look at Matthew 6:25-34. He is talking about how God provides for the birds. If He takes care of even a little sparrow, how much more will he take care of YOU? Do you realize the most insignificant of us is greater than Satan and his most decorated demons? You have importance and power. Jesus continues to say, “For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things (food, clothing, water). But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”
For us to be negative and full of doubt of our abilities or what life has for us is to totally reject what Jesus did on the cross for us. He shed His blood and died for us to destroy the works of the devil. He died so we could have life (health) and live it abundantly. When we say things like, “With my luck, I’ll never….” Or, “I doubt that I’ll ever get….” We are totally rejecting the great, exciting, exhilarating life that Jesus came to give to us through taking on all our sins, sickness and torments.
Confession: I will watch how I speak and will check my attitude. Negative attitudes will bring me into bondage and sickness because of how I think and look on life. With God’s help, I am realizing that through the life and death of Jesus, God’s Son, I have a bright and exciting future.
Attitudes and our outlook on life have a great deal to do with whether we are sick or whole. Throughout the Bible, from the Old Testament to the New Testament we are told to consider our attitudes.
Proverbs 13:14 says “He who guards his mouth preserves his life.” Now you can take that a couple different ways, but basically it means, watch what you say because it can mean life or death. I know people who will always see the glass half empty. Their thought life is always on the negative half; therefore they are speaking the negative side of consequences. Their speech is full of doubt of possibilities and endless failures.
With that kind of attitude toward life, there will be an inward consequence. Our bodies want life, but when we constantly feed it negativity and death, it causes physical manifestations, mainly anxiety and stress related. I’ll be touching how our spoken words will also effect where our life and health will take us, but right now I’m talking about our attitude toward life.
One of the reasons for a bad attitude is that we haven’t learned how to trust God for our provision. We are always looking at our past and our failures, and haven’t got a grip on how much God loves us. He has forgiven us for everything in our past and placed them in the sea of forgetfulness. What we do is constantly live in the land of the past and see what “was.” Jesus wants us to look to the future and see what the endless possibilities are for us. He has great plans for us! He doesn’t want us to worry about anything. Look at Matthew 6:25-34. He is talking about how God provides for the birds. If He takes care of even a little sparrow, how much more will he take care of YOU? Do you realize the most insignificant of us is greater than Satan and his most decorated demons? You have importance and power. Jesus continues to say, “For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things (food, clothing, water). But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”
For us to be negative and full of doubt of our abilities or what life has for us is to totally reject what Jesus did on the cross for us. He shed His blood and died for us to destroy the works of the devil. He died so we could have life (health) and live it abundantly. When we say things like, “With my luck, I’ll never….” Or, “I doubt that I’ll ever get….” We are totally rejecting the great, exciting, exhilarating life that Jesus came to give to us through taking on all our sins, sickness and torments.
Confession: I will watch how I speak and will check my attitude. Negative attitudes will bring me into bondage and sickness because of how I think and look on life. With God’s help, I am realizing that through the life and death of Jesus, God’s Son, I have a bright and exciting future.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
The Way We Treat Our Bodies
Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple are you. ---1 Corinthians 3:16,17
Isn’t it amazing that when we get sick, we think it is some bug, or hereditary, or just back “luck” that our bodies aren’t functioning right? We have one body and one life. It is our responsibility to take care of that body in several different ways. Remember, it is designed by the Great Creator to live 120 years. But it seems that we sabotage our own lives by the way we take care of ourselves.
I have a wonderful little car that likes to run on gasoline…not water, not diesel, and not oil. For the engine to run, it can only take gas. When I give it the proper fuel, it runs like a dream. If I put sand in the gas tank it will choke up and refuse to run.
Today, I want to address how we FUEL our bodies. I know in today’s world we are so busy that we don’t take time to prepare good, healthy meals for us or our families. Quick-serve meals have become the norm. But our bodies are not created to eat food out of boxes! Those boxes contain preservatives, more salt in one box than we need in a day and a lot of carbohydrates. The same for the drive-by meals.
When we don’t fuel our bodies with proper nutrition like fresh fruits, vegetables and continue to eat manufactured foods, our engine and all the parts begin to fail. For example, our day is full of activity and stress, which comes from all areas in life. Stress does a great deal of harm to our body and if we live under constant stress we end up with stress-related diseases. That may include allergies, asthma, skin diseases, fibromyalgia, all kinds of heart issues, hernias, reflux disease, IBS, TMJ, ulcerative colitis, viruses and on and on.
We need to understand that when we get proper nutrition, our bodies can handle stress much better. Diet doesn’t eliminate stress, but when we have the right vitamins, minerals and immune system built up because we are fueling our bodies correctly, then we handle stress better.
That is just one area. What about obesity? Something has gone terribly wrong with our diets. Over 50% of the American people are obese and just under that, morbidly obese. We are fueling our body with way too many carbohydrates that turn into sugar that our body cannot absorb. Our pancreas goes bonkers and all that sugar is surging through our body looking for somewhere to go. Thus, we end up fat, with sugar diabetes and heart issues.
Look at our children! Most children today are overweight and are already struggling with health issues that they shouldn’t be dealing with until they are in their 40’s and 50’s. Did God do that? Did the devil? No we do it to ourselves.
So what is the problem? First, our minds need to be renewed with an understanding that we MUST take care of ourselves. Second, we need to look at how we are fueling not only our body but our children’s bodies. Third, acknowledge that God can help you change your lifestyle when you ask Him. If your life is full of stress, seek God’s face to find out how to reduce that stress. If you have a problem with time management and priorities then God will help you correct those areas, but you must call out to Him and He will direct your thoughts and move you toward correcting bad habits.
The important thing to know is that God wants you to finish your course. It is the devil that wants you to get so sick and distracted with medical issues that you don’t. So let’s go to battle with the devil and thumb your nose at his tactics. Start shopping in the grocery for fresh foods and set aside time to prepare a good healthy meal for you and your family.
Confession: My body is the temple of God and it is my responsibility to take care of it. When I fuel my body correctly, it will run like a fine engine. When I don’t fuel my body, I will be open for negative consequences. I choose life so I can finish my course with God, God’s way.
Isn’t it amazing that when we get sick, we think it is some bug, or hereditary, or just back “luck” that our bodies aren’t functioning right? We have one body and one life. It is our responsibility to take care of that body in several different ways. Remember, it is designed by the Great Creator to live 120 years. But it seems that we sabotage our own lives by the way we take care of ourselves.
I have a wonderful little car that likes to run on gasoline…not water, not diesel, and not oil. For the engine to run, it can only take gas. When I give it the proper fuel, it runs like a dream. If I put sand in the gas tank it will choke up and refuse to run.
Today, I want to address how we FUEL our bodies. I know in today’s world we are so busy that we don’t take time to prepare good, healthy meals for us or our families. Quick-serve meals have become the norm. But our bodies are not created to eat food out of boxes! Those boxes contain preservatives, more salt in one box than we need in a day and a lot of carbohydrates. The same for the drive-by meals.
When we don’t fuel our bodies with proper nutrition like fresh fruits, vegetables and continue to eat manufactured foods, our engine and all the parts begin to fail. For example, our day is full of activity and stress, which comes from all areas in life. Stress does a great deal of harm to our body and if we live under constant stress we end up with stress-related diseases. That may include allergies, asthma, skin diseases, fibromyalgia, all kinds of heart issues, hernias, reflux disease, IBS, TMJ, ulcerative colitis, viruses and on and on.
We need to understand that when we get proper nutrition, our bodies can handle stress much better. Diet doesn’t eliminate stress, but when we have the right vitamins, minerals and immune system built up because we are fueling our bodies correctly, then we handle stress better.
That is just one area. What about obesity? Something has gone terribly wrong with our diets. Over 50% of the American people are obese and just under that, morbidly obese. We are fueling our body with way too many carbohydrates that turn into sugar that our body cannot absorb. Our pancreas goes bonkers and all that sugar is surging through our body looking for somewhere to go. Thus, we end up fat, with sugar diabetes and heart issues.
Look at our children! Most children today are overweight and are already struggling with health issues that they shouldn’t be dealing with until they are in their 40’s and 50’s. Did God do that? Did the devil? No we do it to ourselves.
So what is the problem? First, our minds need to be renewed with an understanding that we MUST take care of ourselves. Second, we need to look at how we are fueling not only our body but our children’s bodies. Third, acknowledge that God can help you change your lifestyle when you ask Him. If your life is full of stress, seek God’s face to find out how to reduce that stress. If you have a problem with time management and priorities then God will help you correct those areas, but you must call out to Him and He will direct your thoughts and move you toward correcting bad habits.
The important thing to know is that God wants you to finish your course. It is the devil that wants you to get so sick and distracted with medical issues that you don’t. So let’s go to battle with the devil and thumb your nose at his tactics. Start shopping in the grocery for fresh foods and set aside time to prepare a good healthy meal for you and your family.
Confession: My body is the temple of God and it is my responsibility to take care of it. When I fuel my body correctly, it will run like a fine engine. When I don’t fuel my body, I will be open for negative consequences. I choose life so I can finish my course with God, God’s way.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Our Body - The Temple of God
Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple are you. ---1 Corinthians 3:16,17
Before I start giving reasons why we are sick, let me first acknowledge that we all know someone who died an early death because of sickness or calamity. We may not have understood and felt that God was responsible in some way. We must also understand that God is sovereign and only He knows everything about the life of each individual. He has laws that have been set into place that even He cannot break.
There are people who loved God, believed God could heal them, prayed that God would heal them and still they died or didn’t recover. How do we tackle that? How can we believe that if God is a good God that He would “allow” these things to happen? Well, by only the grace of God, I am going to share some reasons why we are sick in our bodies.
As soon as we asked Jesus into our heart and made Him Lord of our lives, we were set into a different spiritual dimension. We were set into the Kingdom of God. Our scripture today says that we are now the temple of God. Remember, God doesn’t have sickness or disease or mental torment to give to us. It is God that has made it possible for the Holy Spirit dwell within us to overcome any sickness or disease which is an enemy of God and the plans He has for you.
As I cover a multitude of reasons why we are sick, understand that my goal is to get you to look inward and uncover things that need to be looked at – probably by only you. Look into your past to see what may have started things, look at your habits, attitudes and be ready to change the way you think because God only wants the best for you. He wants you to live an abundant life. It is the devil who wants you to stay bound up with wrong-thinking so you cannot move forward.
Always remember, with God, all things are possible. The same Holy Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead is also the same Holy Spirit that dwells in you! So, you have great power positioned within you to move you forward with God’s plan for your life. His plan is NOT that you be in misery, pain, mental torment or connected to man-made machines for any period of time. That is the devil’s plan for your life. God’s plan is that you have divine health, love people, move from glory to glory until you are satisfied with your life. THEN, He will take you home to be with Him. If you are not totally satisfied with your life, then together, let’s travel this road to health and you will be prosperous. (Prosperous means to advance in every level of life.)
The confessions at the end of each devotion are for you to declare out loud so you can begin making a change in your future. Our tongue has great power in it. It can speak death or it can speak life. So let’s speak some life.
Confession: Because I have made Jesus my Lord and Savior, I have the Greater One living inside me. My body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, therefore I will defy any sickness or disease in it. I am ready to find out how to live the life Jesus destined me to live. I look forward to the future with great anticipation!
Before I start giving reasons why we are sick, let me first acknowledge that we all know someone who died an early death because of sickness or calamity. We may not have understood and felt that God was responsible in some way. We must also understand that God is sovereign and only He knows everything about the life of each individual. He has laws that have been set into place that even He cannot break.
There are people who loved God, believed God could heal them, prayed that God would heal them and still they died or didn’t recover. How do we tackle that? How can we believe that if God is a good God that He would “allow” these things to happen? Well, by only the grace of God, I am going to share some reasons why we are sick in our bodies.
As soon as we asked Jesus into our heart and made Him Lord of our lives, we were set into a different spiritual dimension. We were set into the Kingdom of God. Our scripture today says that we are now the temple of God. Remember, God doesn’t have sickness or disease or mental torment to give to us. It is God that has made it possible for the Holy Spirit dwell within us to overcome any sickness or disease which is an enemy of God and the plans He has for you.
As I cover a multitude of reasons why we are sick, understand that my goal is to get you to look inward and uncover things that need to be looked at – probably by only you. Look into your past to see what may have started things, look at your habits, attitudes and be ready to change the way you think because God only wants the best for you. He wants you to live an abundant life. It is the devil who wants you to stay bound up with wrong-thinking so you cannot move forward.
Always remember, with God, all things are possible. The same Holy Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead is also the same Holy Spirit that dwells in you! So, you have great power positioned within you to move you forward with God’s plan for your life. His plan is NOT that you be in misery, pain, mental torment or connected to man-made machines for any period of time. That is the devil’s plan for your life. God’s plan is that you have divine health, love people, move from glory to glory until you are satisfied with your life. THEN, He will take you home to be with Him. If you are not totally satisfied with your life, then together, let’s travel this road to health and you will be prosperous. (Prosperous means to advance in every level of life.)
The confessions at the end of each devotion are for you to declare out loud so you can begin making a change in your future. Our tongue has great power in it. It can speak death or it can speak life. So let’s speak some life.
Confession: Because I have made Jesus my Lord and Savior, I have the Greater One living inside me. My body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, therefore I will defy any sickness or disease in it. I am ready to find out how to live the life Jesus destined me to live. I look forward to the future with great anticipation!
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Does Sickness Glorify God?
For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s. --- 1 Corinthians 6:20
The word “glorify” means to honor. This scripture is speaking to Christians saying that we have been bought with a price; the blood of Jesus. Therefore, if Jesus thought enough of us to shed His blood on our behalf, we are to honor Him with our physical bodies and in our spirit which now belong to God.
My question to you is: Is there sickness in heaven where God resides? Does God have the ability to make anyone sick? Is there anywhere in the Bible that indicates that Jesus, who was the express image of God, wanted anyone sick? The answer to all these questions is an absolute “No.”
John 10:10 tells us one of the reasons Jesus came to the earth, “I have come that they may have life and have it more abundantly.” The life that Jesus was talking about was LIVING as a verb. Action, moving about, vitality! Not only did Jesus want us to be active and live life with gusto, He wanted us to live life with abundance. The Greek word “abundantly” means superabundance, excessive, overflowing, surplus, over and above, more than enough. How is that for living life? That doesn't sound like poverty, just-barely-making-it kind of life, or being bound artificial means to make it through each day.
So, if we are to live life with superabundance, we cannot be sick in our bodies, can we? Jesus’ brother, John, was writing to his good friend Gaius in 3 John. Verse 2 says, "Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers." The “health” mentioned here doesn’t necessarily mean just spiritual. It has everything to do with physical health; to be sound in body.
By taking these verses, and knowing the heart of our Father who only wants to give good gifts to us, we must conclude that sickness is not a blessing from God. And sickness will never honor or glorify God. Sickness is actually honoring the devil if we allow it to remain with us. Back in John 10:10 it was Jesus who pointed out what Satan’s plan is for mankind. He is all about killing, stealing and destroying. It is Satan who wants to kill your body – and he doesn’t care how long it takes. He wants to destroy your bank accounts and steal your joy.
So, let’s begin to look at our life, circumstances and mental condition. Let us evaluate our thinking regarding sickness and disease, whether is involves you, a family member or someone you know. Remember this, God wants us to live long (120 years), healthy lives so we can accomplish the destiny He has established for you from the beginning of time.
Confession: I confess that I don’t know why sickness prevails in my life, but I am willing to find out how to make changes in my thinking and actions. Jesus died for me and I want to glorify God with my body and live life abundantly.
The word “glorify” means to honor. This scripture is speaking to Christians saying that we have been bought with a price; the blood of Jesus. Therefore, if Jesus thought enough of us to shed His blood on our behalf, we are to honor Him with our physical bodies and in our spirit which now belong to God.
My question to you is: Is there sickness in heaven where God resides? Does God have the ability to make anyone sick? Is there anywhere in the Bible that indicates that Jesus, who was the express image of God, wanted anyone sick? The answer to all these questions is an absolute “No.”
John 10:10 tells us one of the reasons Jesus came to the earth, “I have come that they may have life and have it more abundantly.” The life that Jesus was talking about was LIVING as a verb. Action, moving about, vitality! Not only did Jesus want us to be active and live life with gusto, He wanted us to live life with abundance. The Greek word “abundantly” means superabundance, excessive, overflowing, surplus, over and above, more than enough. How is that for living life? That doesn't sound like poverty, just-barely-making-it kind of life, or being bound artificial means to make it through each day.
So, if we are to live life with superabundance, we cannot be sick in our bodies, can we? Jesus’ brother, John, was writing to his good friend Gaius in 3 John. Verse 2 says, "Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers." The “health” mentioned here doesn’t necessarily mean just spiritual. It has everything to do with physical health; to be sound in body.
By taking these verses, and knowing the heart of our Father who only wants to give good gifts to us, we must conclude that sickness is not a blessing from God. And sickness will never honor or glorify God. Sickness is actually honoring the devil if we allow it to remain with us. Back in John 10:10 it was Jesus who pointed out what Satan’s plan is for mankind. He is all about killing, stealing and destroying. It is Satan who wants to kill your body – and he doesn’t care how long it takes. He wants to destroy your bank accounts and steal your joy.
So, let’s begin to look at our life, circumstances and mental condition. Let us evaluate our thinking regarding sickness and disease, whether is involves you, a family member or someone you know. Remember this, God wants us to live long (120 years), healthy lives so we can accomplish the destiny He has established for you from the beginning of time.
Confession: I confess that I don’t know why sickness prevails in my life, but I am willing to find out how to make changes in my thinking and actions. Jesus died for me and I want to glorify God with my body and live life abundantly.
Monday, June 22, 2009
How Long Is Man to Live?
And the Lord said, “My Spirit shall not strive with man forever for he is indeed flesh; yet his days shall be one hundred and twenty years.” ---Genesis 6:3
Insurance actuaries estimate that the average life of a man is 72 years and a woman 75. However, we see in scripture that God has made the human body to live 120 years. So, we are living far beneath what God initially mandated. Why? Because society has conditioned us to “think” that we are to live 70-80 years. When we find someone is 90 or more we oooh and aaaah and compliment them for their long life.
Many pastors and Christians have quoted a scripture that they believe confirms that we are to live only 70-80 years. It is found in Psalm 90. Before I write the verse, let me set up the chapter. Moses has been in the wilderness with an unruly, rebellious and ungrateful people that God had ordained as His chosen, the people of Israel. They were in the wilderness, complained and griped and were disobedient to the law God gave Moses. For that reason, God had to reprimand them in many ways which shortened their lives.
Moses is writing to God on behalf of the Israelite nation, petitioning Him to have mercy. In Psalm 90:9-10 it says, “For all our days have passed away in Your wrath; we finish our years like a sigh. The days of our lives are seventy years; and if by reason of strength they are eighty years.” Moses is reflecting on how a nation of backslidden people was not seeing the fullness of life that God had given them.
So, how do we interpret this? God has designed our human bodies to live 120 years; to rejuvenate itself on a regular basis. Our body, soul and spirit also fight to live, no matter what accident, disease or calamity comes our way. Our body was designed to heal itself, fight off illness and restore to full strength. Why? Because God has a plan and a purpose for our lives. Satan, the enemy of our soul, wants to make sure we don’t fulfill the destiny God has for each one of us. So the enemy, has set traps, throws sickness and disease at us and makes sure we don’t reach the length of our days.
The well-known Psalm 91 is uplifting and encouraging. At the end of the Psalm in verse 16, God is speaking and says, “With long life I will satisfy him, and show him my salvation.” God’s long life is 120 years. Satisfy in the Hebrew means to have enough, to have plenty. And salvation means deliverance, victory, prosperity and health. (Strong’s Concordance) So, according to the Bible, God will give long life which is without lack and be full where God will show Himself by providing deliverance, a victorious life, walking through life moving forward toward their destiny in health!
Confession: I realize that God has given more days in my life than I thought. My body is designed to live 120 years by the Great Creator for a purpose. I must make a correction in my thinking and plan to live all the days the Lord has given me.
Insurance actuaries estimate that the average life of a man is 72 years and a woman 75. However, we see in scripture that God has made the human body to live 120 years. So, we are living far beneath what God initially mandated. Why? Because society has conditioned us to “think” that we are to live 70-80 years. When we find someone is 90 or more we oooh and aaaah and compliment them for their long life.
Many pastors and Christians have quoted a scripture that they believe confirms that we are to live only 70-80 years. It is found in Psalm 90. Before I write the verse, let me set up the chapter. Moses has been in the wilderness with an unruly, rebellious and ungrateful people that God had ordained as His chosen, the people of Israel. They were in the wilderness, complained and griped and were disobedient to the law God gave Moses. For that reason, God had to reprimand them in many ways which shortened their lives.
Moses is writing to God on behalf of the Israelite nation, petitioning Him to have mercy. In Psalm 90:9-10 it says, “For all our days have passed away in Your wrath; we finish our years like a sigh. The days of our lives are seventy years; and if by reason of strength they are eighty years.” Moses is reflecting on how a nation of backslidden people was not seeing the fullness of life that God had given them.
So, how do we interpret this? God has designed our human bodies to live 120 years; to rejuvenate itself on a regular basis. Our body, soul and spirit also fight to live, no matter what accident, disease or calamity comes our way. Our body was designed to heal itself, fight off illness and restore to full strength. Why? Because God has a plan and a purpose for our lives. Satan, the enemy of our soul, wants to make sure we don’t fulfill the destiny God has for each one of us. So the enemy, has set traps, throws sickness and disease at us and makes sure we don’t reach the length of our days.
The well-known Psalm 91 is uplifting and encouraging. At the end of the Psalm in verse 16, God is speaking and says, “With long life I will satisfy him, and show him my salvation.” God’s long life is 120 years. Satisfy in the Hebrew means to have enough, to have plenty. And salvation means deliverance, victory, prosperity and health. (Strong’s Concordance) So, according to the Bible, God will give long life which is without lack and be full where God will show Himself by providing deliverance, a victorious life, walking through life moving forward toward their destiny in health!
Confession: I realize that God has given more days in my life than I thought. My body is designed to live 120 years by the Great Creator for a purpose. I must make a correction in my thinking and plan to live all the days the Lord has given me.
Friday, June 19, 2009
Determined Faith
Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men. And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was. So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.” ---Mark 2:3-5
Jesus had been in Capernaum before. (Mark 1:21-34) During His first visit, the entire city had gathered around the door of the house where He was staying and had healed many sick and cast out many devils.
This time, the place filled up again, but with a different crowd—Pharisees and doctors of the law. These religious leaders didn’t want healing or miracles. They came to try to catch Jesus saying something wrong so they could accuse Him. They were listening with their ears but resisting everything He said.
So the first time Jesus visited Capernaum, people came to be healed. The second time, many came to stop folks from being healed. Sometimes doubt and unbelief are so strong in a place that it’s difficult for anyone to receive from God. Jesus was in a situation like that on this second visit to Capernaum. God’s power was present in the midst of a room packed with people. But there was so much unbelief in the room that no one was receiving healing.
So what did Jesus do? Luke 5:17 tells us, “And it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching…” Jesus knew the unbelief was strong, but He just kept on teaching. He knew that someone in the crowd would hear and that when that person heard, he’d be healed.
Suddenly, four men came carrying a man on a stretcher. The place was so full of people not getting healed that the one who wanted healing couldn’t even squeeze in! So the man’s friends found another way into the building. And when Jesus saw the determined faith of these four men, their paralyzed friend was healed!
Confession: Those who won’t receive God’s goodness and mercy aren’t going to keep me from receiving all that God says is mine. I will enjoy salvation, healing and every other blessing God has provided for me. I choose LIFE!
Jesus had been in Capernaum before. (Mark 1:21-34) During His first visit, the entire city had gathered around the door of the house where He was staying and had healed many sick and cast out many devils.
This time, the place filled up again, but with a different crowd—Pharisees and doctors of the law. These religious leaders didn’t want healing or miracles. They came to try to catch Jesus saying something wrong so they could accuse Him. They were listening with their ears but resisting everything He said.
So the first time Jesus visited Capernaum, people came to be healed. The second time, many came to stop folks from being healed. Sometimes doubt and unbelief are so strong in a place that it’s difficult for anyone to receive from God. Jesus was in a situation like that on this second visit to Capernaum. God’s power was present in the midst of a room packed with people. But there was so much unbelief in the room that no one was receiving healing.
So what did Jesus do? Luke 5:17 tells us, “And it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching…” Jesus knew the unbelief was strong, but He just kept on teaching. He knew that someone in the crowd would hear and that when that person heard, he’d be healed.
Suddenly, four men came carrying a man on a stretcher. The place was so full of people not getting healed that the one who wanted healing couldn’t even squeeze in! So the man’s friends found another way into the building. And when Jesus saw the determined faith of these four men, their paralyzed friend was healed!
Confession: Those who won’t receive God’s goodness and mercy aren’t going to keep me from receiving all that God says is mine. I will enjoy salvation, healing and every other blessing God has provided for me. I choose LIFE!
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Get Tired of Being Sick!
Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men. ---Mark 2:3
This man who had palsy, or paralysis, apparently found four friends to pick him up and carry him to Jesus. But notice the way verse 3 is worded: “Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic.” The man was sick of the palsy—sick with it and sick of it. He was tired of the whole mess.
I don’t blame him. That’s actually a good state of mind to be in. People will seek their healing when they’re sick of being sick. They’ve had it; they’re finished with it; they’re tired of being sick! No more!
There are two reasons why people live with their sickness. First, they aren't aware that there is a spiritual solution. The enemy of their soul convinces them that this is life. That they are stuck with this condition or they are mortal anyway and will eventually have to die, so this is part of the process.
The second reason is that if they do go to a pastor, many many pastors don't understand the healing covenant that God has with mankind. The pastors see so many of their young people die, even after they have been prayed for. So, they accept that it is God's will that they go on to be with Him. What they don't understand is it is NOT God's will that we live on oxygen, IV's or endure debilitating diseases. God's plan is that we have life, and life abundant! (John 10:10)
To receive healing, we have to understand what God's will is for us. We also have to reject the world view and focus on God's solutions. Then after we believe, we can receive His healing power.
Again, look at the paralytic. He had heard that Jesus was in the house and asked his friends to pick him up, carry him all the way to where Jesus was so he could be healed. He wanted to get rid of that palsy. So, when Jesus spoke out his miracle, he was ready to receive.(Vv 11 & 12)
That’s when things happen—when we get tired of being dominated, depressed and overrun by the devil. That’s when we’re in for some blessings. That’s when we jump out in faith and refuse to give up until we receive the miracle we need!
Confession: I won’t allow sickness or disease to remain in my body. I don’t put up with any illness or pain, because God’s Word is medicine to my flesh.
This man who had palsy, or paralysis, apparently found four friends to pick him up and carry him to Jesus. But notice the way verse 3 is worded: “Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic.” The man was sick of the palsy—sick with it and sick of it. He was tired of the whole mess.
I don’t blame him. That’s actually a good state of mind to be in. People will seek their healing when they’re sick of being sick. They’ve had it; they’re finished with it; they’re tired of being sick! No more!
There are two reasons why people live with their sickness. First, they aren't aware that there is a spiritual solution. The enemy of their soul convinces them that this is life. That they are stuck with this condition or they are mortal anyway and will eventually have to die, so this is part of the process.
The second reason is that if they do go to a pastor, many many pastors don't understand the healing covenant that God has with mankind. The pastors see so many of their young people die, even after they have been prayed for. So, they accept that it is God's will that they go on to be with Him. What they don't understand is it is NOT God's will that we live on oxygen, IV's or endure debilitating diseases. God's plan is that we have life, and life abundant! (John 10:10)
To receive healing, we have to understand what God's will is for us. We also have to reject the world view and focus on God's solutions. Then after we believe, we can receive His healing power.
Again, look at the paralytic. He had heard that Jesus was in the house and asked his friends to pick him up, carry him all the way to where Jesus was so he could be healed. He wanted to get rid of that palsy. So, when Jesus spoke out his miracle, he was ready to receive.(Vv 11 & 12)
That’s when things happen—when we get tired of being dominated, depressed and overrun by the devil. That’s when we’re in for some blessings. That’s when we jump out in faith and refuse to give up until we receive the miracle we need!
Confession: I won’t allow sickness or disease to remain in my body. I don’t put up with any illness or pain, because God’s Word is medicine to my flesh.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
God's Power to Heal
And it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judea, and Jerusalem; and the power of the Lord was present to heal them. ---Luke 5:17
This verse says, “The power of the Lord was present to heal them.” Who is “them?” The Pharisees and doctors of the law. Was it God’s will to heal them? Well, it must have been His will. He wouldn’t have sent His power to heal them if He hadn’t wanted them healed. God isn’t confused, and He doesn’t waste His power.
How many of them were healed? One man, who was lowered through the roof, was healed. But to the best of our knowledge, not one of the Pharisees or doctors of the law received their healing.
Jesus said, “My meat (food) is to do My Father’s will.” (John 4:34) So it must have been God’s will for Jesus to go to Capernaum and teach the Word. It also must have been God’s will for the Pharisees and doctors of the law to be healed, because God sent His power.
The word “power” here in the Greek means “dunamis.” That means force, miraculous power. It also means ability in abundance, mighty (wonderful) work. When God’s power is present to heal, anyone who will receive that power by faith can be healed.
But if that’s true, why are so many of us not getting healed? Our problem hasn’t been a lack of power, but a lack of knowledge. God gave us the power when He gave the Holy Spirit. We just haven’t known how to tap into it.
So make it a priority to learn how to receive from God. First, get the revelation that it is God’s will to heal you. Second, act on that revelation—receive by faith God’s power to heal you. Third, hold fast to your confession that the power of God is working in you, effecting a healing and a cure!
Confession: God’s power is available to me through the Word and the Holy Ghost. I tap into His power by believing, confessing and acting on the Word. God’s Word works!
This verse says, “The power of the Lord was present to heal them.” Who is “them?” The Pharisees and doctors of the law. Was it God’s will to heal them? Well, it must have been His will. He wouldn’t have sent His power to heal them if He hadn’t wanted them healed. God isn’t confused, and He doesn’t waste His power.
How many of them were healed? One man, who was lowered through the roof, was healed. But to the best of our knowledge, not one of the Pharisees or doctors of the law received their healing.
Jesus said, “My meat (food) is to do My Father’s will.” (John 4:34) So it must have been God’s will for Jesus to go to Capernaum and teach the Word. It also must have been God’s will for the Pharisees and doctors of the law to be healed, because God sent His power.
The word “power” here in the Greek means “dunamis.” That means force, miraculous power. It also means ability in abundance, mighty (wonderful) work. When God’s power is present to heal, anyone who will receive that power by faith can be healed.
But if that’s true, why are so many of us not getting healed? Our problem hasn’t been a lack of power, but a lack of knowledge. God gave us the power when He gave the Holy Spirit. We just haven’t known how to tap into it.
So make it a priority to learn how to receive from God. First, get the revelation that it is God’s will to heal you. Second, act on that revelation—receive by faith God’s power to heal you. Third, hold fast to your confession that the power of God is working in you, effecting a healing and a cure!
Confession: God’s power is available to me through the Word and the Holy Ghost. I tap into His power by believing, confessing and acting on the Word. God’s Word works!
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Hearing and Miracles Go Hand in Hand
And again He entered Capernaum after some days, and it was heard that He was in the house. Immediately many gathered together so that there was no longer room to receive them, not even near the door. And He preached the word to them. ---Mark 2:1,2
Jesus gave the people something to believe. He preached the Word to them. He didn’t tiptoe from town to town, healing a leper over here and a blind man over there and then teaching on the Beatitudes for a while. There was a method to what Jesus did.
In about 70 percent of His ministry, Jesus either stated or implied that the people’s faith had made them whole. But if most people were healed through their faith, where did they get their faith? Did God lean over the balcony of heaven and zap them with a faith gun? No, they obtained faith the same way we do today; “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Rom. 10:17)
There are two definitions to the two words “hearing.” The second “hearing” is listening with your ears and to become mentally aware of what is said. The first “hearing” then means that what is heard by the ears drops into the heart of understanding where it will stick and become conviction. Then faith comes!
Matthew 4:23 says, “And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel (good news) of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.” The healing came after the teaching and preaching.
Jesus had to teach the people the Word so they’d have faith to be healed. When they heard, the Word built their understanding; then Jesus would tell them to act. When they acted on their belief, they were healed. That is faith! Faith is action; it is doing and saying what you are convicted of.
So often today, people are not healed because they aren’t taking time to understand God’s Word. They want a miracle, but they don’t want to hear. God can’t honor that because it isn’t faith. Knowing God is the Healer, but not taking the time to learn how and why will not build faith. When we know the Healer intimately, know how much He loves us and the great plans He has for us, then we don’t want to be sick and want to make heart changes to get well.
So, as we feed on God’s Word, understand His heart and make mental changes in our own lives, miracles will begin to occur more and more in our hearts and bodies. Hearing and miracles go hand in hand.
Confession: Faith comes when I hear God’ Word. I read and meditate upon the Word, realizing how much God loves me and why Jesus did all He did. My understanding will grow so I can step out in faith to receive the miracle I need.
Jesus gave the people something to believe. He preached the Word to them. He didn’t tiptoe from town to town, healing a leper over here and a blind man over there and then teaching on the Beatitudes for a while. There was a method to what Jesus did.
In about 70 percent of His ministry, Jesus either stated or implied that the people’s faith had made them whole. But if most people were healed through their faith, where did they get their faith? Did God lean over the balcony of heaven and zap them with a faith gun? No, they obtained faith the same way we do today; “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Rom. 10:17)
There are two definitions to the two words “hearing.” The second “hearing” is listening with your ears and to become mentally aware of what is said. The first “hearing” then means that what is heard by the ears drops into the heart of understanding where it will stick and become conviction. Then faith comes!
Matthew 4:23 says, “And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel (good news) of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.” The healing came after the teaching and preaching.
Jesus had to teach the people the Word so they’d have faith to be healed. When they heard, the Word built their understanding; then Jesus would tell them to act. When they acted on their belief, they were healed. That is faith! Faith is action; it is doing and saying what you are convicted of.
So often today, people are not healed because they aren’t taking time to understand God’s Word. They want a miracle, but they don’t want to hear. God can’t honor that because it isn’t faith. Knowing God is the Healer, but not taking the time to learn how and why will not build faith. When we know the Healer intimately, know how much He loves us and the great plans He has for us, then we don’t want to be sick and want to make heart changes to get well.
So, as we feed on God’s Word, understand His heart and make mental changes in our own lives, miracles will begin to occur more and more in our hearts and bodies. Hearing and miracles go hand in hand.
Confession: Faith comes when I hear God’ Word. I read and meditate upon the Word, realizing how much God loves me and why Jesus did all He did. My understanding will grow so I can step out in faith to receive the miracle I need.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Partaking of the Ministry of Jesus
And again He entered Capernaum after some days, and it was heard that He was in the house. Immediately many gathered together so that there was no longer room to receive them, not even near the door. And He preached the word to them. Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men. And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was. So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.”
---Mark 2:1-5
Let’s look at this miracle a little at a time. First, verse one says, “And again he entered into Capernaum.” The word again indicates that Jesus must have been there before. Mark 1:21 mentions the first time He went to Capernaum. Many sick were healed, many devils were cast out and Jesus performed miracles all over the city. So, when Jesus returned to Capernaum, the word got around. Soon the house where He was staying was packed to overflowing.
That’s the way it’s supposed to happen. As more and more people are healed, delivered and set free through the preaching of the Word, churches won’t have buildings big enough to hold all the people. Word gets out when Jesus shows up!
We’re about to see Jesus’ ministry go forth through the Church as we’ve never seen it before. Of course, no one person will ever stand in the same anointing Jesus did. Jesus had the Spirit without measure, whereas each believer has the anointing by measure. But as the body of Christ, we are learning how to rise up in unity and that same powerful anointing is beginning to sweep the earth again!
Confession: Every time Jesus preached the Word, miracles began to happen. The Holy Spirit teaches me that same living Word, which produces miracles in my life each day!
---Mark 2:1-5
Let’s look at this miracle a little at a time. First, verse one says, “And again he entered into Capernaum.” The word again indicates that Jesus must have been there before. Mark 1:21 mentions the first time He went to Capernaum. Many sick were healed, many devils were cast out and Jesus performed miracles all over the city. So, when Jesus returned to Capernaum, the word got around. Soon the house where He was staying was packed to overflowing.
That’s the way it’s supposed to happen. As more and more people are healed, delivered and set free through the preaching of the Word, churches won’t have buildings big enough to hold all the people. Word gets out when Jesus shows up!
We’re about to see Jesus’ ministry go forth through the Church as we’ve never seen it before. Of course, no one person will ever stand in the same anointing Jesus did. Jesus had the Spirit without measure, whereas each believer has the anointing by measure. But as the body of Christ, we are learning how to rise up in unity and that same powerful anointing is beginning to sweep the earth again!
Confession: Every time Jesus preached the Word, miracles began to happen. The Holy Spirit teaches me that same living Word, which produces miracles in my life each day!
Friday, June 12, 2009
Step Out on the Word
And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. (Jesus) spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay, and said unto him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way, therefore and washed and came seeing. ---John 9:1,6,7
Here is a man who had been blind from birth. Jesus walked over to him, spit in the dirt, made clay of the spittle, smeared the clay on the man’s eyes and said, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam.”
That man could have said, “What do You mean, ‘go wash in the pool of Siloam?’ Look, Jesus, I don’t need a bath – I need my sight! What is mud in my eyes going to do? Everyone will laugh at me. I’m waiting for You to work a miracle. I’m waiting for a feeling.” But he didn’t say that.
Instead, the Bible tells us that the blind man submitted himself to Jesus and went to the pool of Siloam and washed the mud off his eyes. He had to obey what Jesus told him to do with no feeling and no manifestation. Every symptom was still there; his eyes were still blind. The only difference was that he now had mud in his eyes! There was no physical change at all.
But Jesus said, “Go,” and the blind man went. Jesus gave him an opportunity to walk by faith. Remember, faith is belief with legs on it. Faith is action. So the blind man took off for the pool of Siloam on the Word of God alone. (Jesus was God wrapped in human skin.) That was his faith in operation. He went, he washed and he lifted his head seeing. But he had to step out on the word Jesus spoke before he saw results.
Sometimes people say, “I wish Jesus would speak a word to me so I’d have something to believe.” But God has given them something to believe—His Word! So, find out in God’s Word what He has said about your situation. Then step out on that Word, believing what He said. Let your faith take hold of your answer. Release God’s power in your life!
Confession: Jesus has spoken to me in His Word. I choose to take Him at His Word, even when I’m not able to see my answer yet. Jesus says I’m healed, so I am healed!
Here is a man who had been blind from birth. Jesus walked over to him, spit in the dirt, made clay of the spittle, smeared the clay on the man’s eyes and said, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam.”
That man could have said, “What do You mean, ‘go wash in the pool of Siloam?’ Look, Jesus, I don’t need a bath – I need my sight! What is mud in my eyes going to do? Everyone will laugh at me. I’m waiting for You to work a miracle. I’m waiting for a feeling.” But he didn’t say that.
Instead, the Bible tells us that the blind man submitted himself to Jesus and went to the pool of Siloam and washed the mud off his eyes. He had to obey what Jesus told him to do with no feeling and no manifestation. Every symptom was still there; his eyes were still blind. The only difference was that he now had mud in his eyes! There was no physical change at all.
But Jesus said, “Go,” and the blind man went. Jesus gave him an opportunity to walk by faith. Remember, faith is belief with legs on it. Faith is action. So the blind man took off for the pool of Siloam on the Word of God alone. (Jesus was God wrapped in human skin.) That was his faith in operation. He went, he washed and he lifted his head seeing. But he had to step out on the word Jesus spoke before he saw results.
Sometimes people say, “I wish Jesus would speak a word to me so I’d have something to believe.” But God has given them something to believe—His Word! So, find out in God’s Word what He has said about your situation. Then step out on that Word, believing what He said. Let your faith take hold of your answer. Release God’s power in your life!
Confession: Jesus has spoken to me in His Word. I choose to take Him at His Word, even when I’m not able to see my answer yet. Jesus says I’m healed, so I am healed!
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Healing Is In the Spoken Word
And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, “Lord, if thou wilt, thou can make me clean.” And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him saying, “I will; be thou clean.” And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. ---Matthew 8:2-3
Jesus did two things when He was moved with compassion: First, He touched the leper. Second, He said something to him. We often think that at the moment Jesus touched someone, that person was healed. But this man’s leprosy didn’t depart until Jesus said something. Apparently, His words were as important as His touch.
What did Jesus say to the leper? “Be thou clean.” He gave the command for the leprosy to depart. But He also said something else—the phrase most Christians are looking for—“I will.” Notice what Jesus didn’t say. He didn’t say, “I won’t” or “Later.” He didn’t say, “You are too far gone,” or “This disease is good for you.” Jesus also didn’t say, “You deserve this” or “God sent this leprosy to teach you something.”
Jesus also didn’t have to fast and pray to find out God’s heart and mind. He just said, “I will.” He knew God’s will. He also knew one of His purposes for coming to earth was to destroy all the works of the devil (1 John 3:8), including sickness and disease. Part of Jesus’ commission was to heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils and bring deliverance to all mankind—spirit, soul and body.
As we read in the Gospels, as Jesus traveled to the villages, He healed all who were sick and oppressed. God never told Jesus to just seek out a few here and there who needed healing. Jesus was sent to heal all! So when that man said, “If You will,” Jesus responded, “Of course I will! Why shouldn’t I heal you? God’s will is healing for all mankind!”
Confession: My Father sent Jesus to destroy the works of the devil which includes sickness. Sickness isn’t in God’s plan for me. Therefore, I declare and decree healing in my body and I receive it by faith!
Jesus did two things when He was moved with compassion: First, He touched the leper. Second, He said something to him. We often think that at the moment Jesus touched someone, that person was healed. But this man’s leprosy didn’t depart until Jesus said something. Apparently, His words were as important as His touch.
What did Jesus say to the leper? “Be thou clean.” He gave the command for the leprosy to depart. But He also said something else—the phrase most Christians are looking for—“I will.” Notice what Jesus didn’t say. He didn’t say, “I won’t” or “Later.” He didn’t say, “You are too far gone,” or “This disease is good for you.” Jesus also didn’t say, “You deserve this” or “God sent this leprosy to teach you something.”
Jesus also didn’t have to fast and pray to find out God’s heart and mind. He just said, “I will.” He knew God’s will. He also knew one of His purposes for coming to earth was to destroy all the works of the devil (1 John 3:8), including sickness and disease. Part of Jesus’ commission was to heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils and bring deliverance to all mankind—spirit, soul and body.
As we read in the Gospels, as Jesus traveled to the villages, He healed all who were sick and oppressed. God never told Jesus to just seek out a few here and there who needed healing. Jesus was sent to heal all! So when that man said, “If You will,” Jesus responded, “Of course I will! Why shouldn’t I heal you? God’s will is healing for all mankind!”
Confession: My Father sent Jesus to destroy the works of the devil which includes sickness. Sickness isn’t in God’s plan for me. Therefore, I declare and decree healing in my body and I receive it by faith!
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
God's Compassion To Heal
And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand and touched him. ---Mark 1:41
“Moved with compassion,” Jesus touched the leper. This may have been the first time in years that someone touched this man. No one wanted to touch him. He wasn’t even supposed to come near people.
In another story about lepers, Luke 17:12, Jesus came to a place where ten lepers cried unto Him from afar. Why didn’t these ten lepers walk over to Jesus? Because it was illegal. If a leper came within 100 paces of a healthy human being, he had to get out of the way and call out, “Unclean! Unclean!”
So these ten lepers, knowing they couldn’t’ legally come within 100 paces of Jesus, cried to Him from a distance away. Jesus told them to go show themselves to the priest, and they were healed as they went. (V. 14)
Yet the leper in the story we have been studying, came close to Jesus. Though he could have been stoned for being there, he had the tenacity of someone who wanted healing so badly that he was willing to take a risk for it.
The leper fell down before Jesus and said, “Lord, if You will, You can make me clean.” Jesus immediately settled that question. Moved with compassion, He put forth His hand and touched the leper, saying, “I will; be thou clean.” The word, compassion means to have pity or sympathy for someone.
You see, God’s ability shows His power, but His willingness shows His compassion. In the Word, God’s compassion or sympathy is magnified above His power. The Bible says, “God is love.” (1 John 4:8) but it never says , “God is power.”
So trust in your heavenly Father’s love for you. As you come to Him in faith, cry out for mercy and His compassion will flow freely to you to heal and make you whole.
Confession: God’s love and compassion reach out to me and heals me of every sickness, disease and torment. He is not only able, but willing to make me whole. I am healed and whole!
“Moved with compassion,” Jesus touched the leper. This may have been the first time in years that someone touched this man. No one wanted to touch him. He wasn’t even supposed to come near people.
In another story about lepers, Luke 17:12, Jesus came to a place where ten lepers cried unto Him from afar. Why didn’t these ten lepers walk over to Jesus? Because it was illegal. If a leper came within 100 paces of a healthy human being, he had to get out of the way and call out, “Unclean! Unclean!”
So these ten lepers, knowing they couldn’t’ legally come within 100 paces of Jesus, cried to Him from a distance away. Jesus told them to go show themselves to the priest, and they were healed as they went. (V. 14)
Yet the leper in the story we have been studying, came close to Jesus. Though he could have been stoned for being there, he had the tenacity of someone who wanted healing so badly that he was willing to take a risk for it.
The leper fell down before Jesus and said, “Lord, if You will, You can make me clean.” Jesus immediately settled that question. Moved with compassion, He put forth His hand and touched the leper, saying, “I will; be thou clean.” The word, compassion means to have pity or sympathy for someone.
You see, God’s ability shows His power, but His willingness shows His compassion. In the Word, God’s compassion or sympathy is magnified above His power. The Bible says, “God is love.” (1 John 4:8) but it never says , “God is power.”
So trust in your heavenly Father’s love for you. As you come to Him in faith, cry out for mercy and His compassion will flow freely to you to heal and make you whole.
Confession: God’s love and compassion reach out to me and heals me of every sickness, disease and torment. He is not only able, but willing to make me whole. I am healed and whole!
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Settle the Question Today
Now a leper came to Him, imploring Him, kneeling down to Him and saying to Him, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.” Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him and said, “I am willing; be cleansed.” And as soon as He had spoken, immediately the leprosy left him, and he was cleansed. ---Mark 1:40-42
First let me say that in the days of Jesus, leprosy was the worst disease you could encounter. It was untreatable, fatal and it was socially disgusting. Anyone who had leprosy was cast out of their homes, communities and lost everything they had including their family. No one could physically touch them or even come within a certain distance of the leper so they never felt a touch or a hug until the day they died.
So, the leper that approached Jesus was desperate. He had lost everything near and dear to him and he knew his fate. That is why he approached Jesus, but he wasn’t sure if Jesus could even heal him. The average Christian is in the same position as this leper was—not knowing whether it is God’s will to heal or not. The believer may think, I know God is able to heal, I just don’t know whether or not it’s His will to heal me.
Although the leper had heard Jesus teach and believed what he heard, he still didn’t know for certain if he would heal him. He came to Jesus and said, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” That is where most people are today. They know He can, but will He. Knowing God is able isn’t enough; it’s just a starting point. Knowing God’s ability is about 25 percent of the answer. The other 75 percent is to know His will.
The one hindrance that stood between the leper and his miracle was revealed in his statement: “If You are willing, you can make me clean.” The same is true for people all over the world. They are trusting God for healing, but if you were to ask them if they are convinced that it is God’s will to heal them, they would probably answer, “I sure hope so.” They are operating in strong hope, but they haven’t stepped over into the realm of faith yet.
Faith always begins where the will of God is known. Reason with me. If Jesus was God wrapped in skin, then He was demonstrating the will of God. His response to the leper will be His response to anyone who needs His help. We cannot think that God will heal some people and not you.
Here is where healing begins. First of all be confident you are a child of God. You do that by accepting Jesus as His Son who gave His life for you on the cross taking upon Himself all your sins, sickness and torments; that now you have a relationship directly with the Father. Next, believe what the Bible has to say about God’s love for you and that He accepts you just the way you are. The next step is to understand and accept that God is a good God and has a perfect plan for your life of victory so you can be an ambassador for His Kingdom on this earth. If you have a sick body, mind or soul you cannot accomplish the works He has planned for you and still be a good soldier for Him. Now you step out in faith which is simply using your words declaring what He says about you.
Declaration: I am a child of God and He loves me just the way I am. Lord, forgive me where I fail you and help me become the person you meant for me to be. I know without a doubt that it is my Father’s will to heal me. No weapon formed against me will prosper and sickness is a weapon. I have confident assurance that He desires me to be healed even more than I do. Healing is mine!
First let me say that in the days of Jesus, leprosy was the worst disease you could encounter. It was untreatable, fatal and it was socially disgusting. Anyone who had leprosy was cast out of their homes, communities and lost everything they had including their family. No one could physically touch them or even come within a certain distance of the leper so they never felt a touch or a hug until the day they died.
So, the leper that approached Jesus was desperate. He had lost everything near and dear to him and he knew his fate. That is why he approached Jesus, but he wasn’t sure if Jesus could even heal him. The average Christian is in the same position as this leper was—not knowing whether it is God’s will to heal or not. The believer may think, I know God is able to heal, I just don’t know whether or not it’s His will to heal me.
Although the leper had heard Jesus teach and believed what he heard, he still didn’t know for certain if he would heal him. He came to Jesus and said, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” That is where most people are today. They know He can, but will He. Knowing God is able isn’t enough; it’s just a starting point. Knowing God’s ability is about 25 percent of the answer. The other 75 percent is to know His will.
The one hindrance that stood between the leper and his miracle was revealed in his statement: “If You are willing, you can make me clean.” The same is true for people all over the world. They are trusting God for healing, but if you were to ask them if they are convinced that it is God’s will to heal them, they would probably answer, “I sure hope so.” They are operating in strong hope, but they haven’t stepped over into the realm of faith yet.
Faith always begins where the will of God is known. Reason with me. If Jesus was God wrapped in skin, then He was demonstrating the will of God. His response to the leper will be His response to anyone who needs His help. We cannot think that God will heal some people and not you.
Here is where healing begins. First of all be confident you are a child of God. You do that by accepting Jesus as His Son who gave His life for you on the cross taking upon Himself all your sins, sickness and torments; that now you have a relationship directly with the Father. Next, believe what the Bible has to say about God’s love for you and that He accepts you just the way you are. The next step is to understand and accept that God is a good God and has a perfect plan for your life of victory so you can be an ambassador for His Kingdom on this earth. If you have a sick body, mind or soul you cannot accomplish the works He has planned for you and still be a good soldier for Him. Now you step out in faith which is simply using your words declaring what He says about you.
Declaration: I am a child of God and He loves me just the way I am. Lord, forgive me where I fail you and help me become the person you meant for me to be. I know without a doubt that it is my Father’s will to heal me. No weapon formed against me will prosper and sickness is a weapon. I have confident assurance that He desires me to be healed even more than I do. Healing is mine!
Monday, June 8, 2009
God Is Willing To Heal
And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, “Lord, if thou wilt, thou can make me clean.” And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him saying, “I will; be thou clean.” And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. ---Matthew 8:2-3
This leper is the only person recorded in the New Testament to have questioned God’s will to heal. This man is also the first in the four Gospels whom Jesus heals. So the first thing God does through Jesus is to clear up this question: Is it God’s will to heal?
A major obstacle standing between Christians and miracles today is that they know God is able to heal, but they don’t know whether He’s willing. Many in the church world say, “Lord, heal this person, if it be Thy will.”
Under the Levitical law, a leper was unclean and had to live in the wilderness away from civilization. This particular leper, however, had apparently heard that Jesus was healing people. He wanted to be healed so much that he took risks to be well.
The leper fell before Jesus and said, “Lord, if it is Your will, You can make me clean.” He came to Jesus desiring to be healed. But desire wasn’t enough. The leper didn’t receive anything until Jesus cleared up his question, “is it Your will to heal me?”
This is a guideline for the Church today. People say, “I saw people in the prayer lines who weren’t healed.” Or, “I prayed, and I wasn’t healed.” But so many of these people didn’t expect to be healed; they only hoped they would be. They couldn’t expect healing, because they didn’t confidently know that God’s will is healing every time.
One translation of verse three says, “Jesus stretched out his hand and placed it on the leper saying, “Of course I want to. Be clean!” (Phillips) The man didn’t get healed until Jesus answered that question for him. At that point, the leper was confident that it was Jesus’ will and was able to receive his healing.
So, we can see the importance of knowing God’s will. When Jesus answered the leper, He also gave that answer to all mankind—including you. God is able and willing to heal you!
Confession: With two words, “I will,” Jesus showed me beyond a doubt that God’s will for me is divine health. If sickness shows up, God wants me well. Therefore, according to Your will, Lord, I accept my healing!
This leper is the only person recorded in the New Testament to have questioned God’s will to heal. This man is also the first in the four Gospels whom Jesus heals. So the first thing God does through Jesus is to clear up this question: Is it God’s will to heal?
A major obstacle standing between Christians and miracles today is that they know God is able to heal, but they don’t know whether He’s willing. Many in the church world say, “Lord, heal this person, if it be Thy will.”
Under the Levitical law, a leper was unclean and had to live in the wilderness away from civilization. This particular leper, however, had apparently heard that Jesus was healing people. He wanted to be healed so much that he took risks to be well.
The leper fell before Jesus and said, “Lord, if it is Your will, You can make me clean.” He came to Jesus desiring to be healed. But desire wasn’t enough. The leper didn’t receive anything until Jesus cleared up his question, “is it Your will to heal me?”
This is a guideline for the Church today. People say, “I saw people in the prayer lines who weren’t healed.” Or, “I prayed, and I wasn’t healed.” But so many of these people didn’t expect to be healed; they only hoped they would be. They couldn’t expect healing, because they didn’t confidently know that God’s will is healing every time.
One translation of verse three says, “Jesus stretched out his hand and placed it on the leper saying, “Of course I want to. Be clean!” (Phillips) The man didn’t get healed until Jesus answered that question for him. At that point, the leper was confident that it was Jesus’ will and was able to receive his healing.
So, we can see the importance of knowing God’s will. When Jesus answered the leper, He also gave that answer to all mankind—including you. God is able and willing to heal you!
Confession: With two words, “I will,” Jesus showed me beyond a doubt that God’s will for me is divine health. If sickness shows up, God wants me well. Therefore, according to Your will, Lord, I accept my healing!
Friday, June 5, 2009
A Miracle Received Through Faith
And they were preaching the gospel there. And in Lystra a certain man without strength in his feet was sitting, a cripple from his mother’s womb, who had never walked. This man heard Paul speaking. Paul, observing him intently and seeing that he had faith to be healed said with a loud voice, “Stand up straight on your feet!” And he leaped and walked. ---Acts 14:7-10
That crippled man had never taken a step in his life. Then suddenly, he was leaping and praising God! How did that happen? He received through faith. But first, the man had to believe that what Paul said was truth. He heard with his physical ears, but that hearing deposited a belief in his heart or his understanding. Scripture says, “The man heard Paul speak.” What did Paul speak? Verse 7 says, “And there they preached the gospel.” Gospel means good news! Paul was giving good news, the man heard, and he believed!
You hear some people say, “We don’t preach healing around here, we just preach the Gospel.” That’s amazing. When Paul preached the Gospel, people had faith to be healed! A person can’t preach the whole Gospel without preaching healing.
“This man heard Paul speaking. Paul, observing him intently and seeing that he had faith to be healed…” Paul was speaking, but also watching the audience. The scriptures indicate that Paul saw the man had faith. Faith is belief with action. My personal opinion, because there is no detailed account, is that when Paul looked at this man, the man was doing something that indicated to him that he not only believed, but wanted to test what he heard. The man hadn’t taken a step yet, but I believe he was pulling out his legs, placing them in position to stand. When Paul saw him working with his legs, he commanded in a strong voice, “Stand up straight on your feet!” Immediately he jumped up and leaped and walked.
It isn’t right to say to someone, “Well, if you had faith, you’d be healed.” Sometimes people just haven’t come to the point of stepping out and acting on their faith to get results. Their belief has to be built stronger. The man in this story believed what he heard. There was an atmosphere created by the words of the Good News and he had someone encourage him to get up and walk!
Also, you can’t say, “Well, so-and-so is not healed because he isn’t acting on his faith.” No, a number of things can keep faith from working. The bottom line is that we can’t judge another person’s faith. However, we can know that it is God’s will to heal every person every time, because we have His Word on it! It is our job to believe then act on His laws and trust Him for the results.
Confession: I hear the full Gospel of salvation and healing, and faith rises in me to be healed. I act on my faith in God’s Word and it produces what I desire. God’s Word works!
That crippled man had never taken a step in his life. Then suddenly, he was leaping and praising God! How did that happen? He received through faith. But first, the man had to believe that what Paul said was truth. He heard with his physical ears, but that hearing deposited a belief in his heart or his understanding. Scripture says, “The man heard Paul speak.” What did Paul speak? Verse 7 says, “And there they preached the gospel.” Gospel means good news! Paul was giving good news, the man heard, and he believed!
You hear some people say, “We don’t preach healing around here, we just preach the Gospel.” That’s amazing. When Paul preached the Gospel, people had faith to be healed! A person can’t preach the whole Gospel without preaching healing.
“This man heard Paul speaking. Paul, observing him intently and seeing that he had faith to be healed…” Paul was speaking, but also watching the audience. The scriptures indicate that Paul saw the man had faith. Faith is belief with action. My personal opinion, because there is no detailed account, is that when Paul looked at this man, the man was doing something that indicated to him that he not only believed, but wanted to test what he heard. The man hadn’t taken a step yet, but I believe he was pulling out his legs, placing them in position to stand. When Paul saw him working with his legs, he commanded in a strong voice, “Stand up straight on your feet!” Immediately he jumped up and leaped and walked.
It isn’t right to say to someone, “Well, if you had faith, you’d be healed.” Sometimes people just haven’t come to the point of stepping out and acting on their faith to get results. Their belief has to be built stronger. The man in this story believed what he heard. There was an atmosphere created by the words of the Good News and he had someone encourage him to get up and walk!
Also, you can’t say, “Well, so-and-so is not healed because he isn’t acting on his faith.” No, a number of things can keep faith from working. The bottom line is that we can’t judge another person’s faith. However, we can know that it is God’s will to heal every person every time, because we have His Word on it! It is our job to believe then act on His laws and trust Him for the results.
Confession: I hear the full Gospel of salvation and healing, and faith rises in me to be healed. I act on my faith in God’s Word and it produces what I desire. God’s Word works!
Thursday, June 4, 2009
A Crippled Man Walks
And they (Paul and Barnabus) were preaching the gospel there(Lystra). And in Lystra a certain man without strength in his feet was sitting, a cripple from his mother’s womb, who had never walked. This man heard Paul speaking. Paul, observing him intently and seeing that he had faith to be healed said with a loud voice, “Stand up straight on your feet!” And he leaped and walked. ---Acts 14:7-10
Paul and Barnabus were preaching the Gospel, the Good News, in the cities of Lycaonia. Good news to a sinner is that he can be saved. Good news to a poor man is that his needs can be met. And good news to a sick man is that he can be healed. Therefore, the gospel, which Jesus told us to “Go into all the world…” with was being shared by those who never new Him personally. They were sharing the Good News everywhere they went and signs and wonders were following them. The healing of the physical body is part of the Good News and Paul and Barnabus would respond to people who had faith. Such is the case in this story.
As Paul and Barnabus taught and preached in Lystra, a crippled man who had never walked sat in the crowd. Suddenly, something radically changed his condition. What was it that changed the course of his life? “The man heard Paul speak.” The man heard the Gospel. Then Paul “observing him intently and seeing that he had faith to be healed said in a loud voice, “Stand up straight on your feet.” And he leaped and walked.”
As I have traveled to Nigeria, India, Ukraine, Kenya, and many other places, I have seen people respond to the Good News message through faith. They didn’t know us Americans other than knowing we were Christians and from the USA. But we spoke the Gospel and it was their belief in what we said and opening their hearts to receive their healing, that they were healed. I watched a man lame from birth starting to leap on his feet in Aba, Nigeria! I saw a man stone deaf suddenly hear and begin to speak in Colombia, SA. I have seen dozens of legitimate miracles that occurred because of the faith of the person hearing the Gospel!
Miracles happened in Paul’s day and miracles happen today. Yes, these people stood up on new-found feet or heard for the first time, but the first step they took that set a new course of their lives was to hear the Word. To hear the Good News. They tapped into the connection between hearing and healing.
How about you? Have you heard with your heart the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ? If you have, you can receive your healing through your faith in the Word you have heard. Speak this confession out loud several times today:
Confession: I hear the full Gospel of salvation and healing, and faith rises in me to be healed. I act on my faith in God’s Word and it produces what I desire. God’s Word works!
Paul and Barnabus were preaching the Gospel, the Good News, in the cities of Lycaonia. Good news to a sinner is that he can be saved. Good news to a poor man is that his needs can be met. And good news to a sick man is that he can be healed. Therefore, the gospel, which Jesus told us to “Go into all the world…” with was being shared by those who never new Him personally. They were sharing the Good News everywhere they went and signs and wonders were following them. The healing of the physical body is part of the Good News and Paul and Barnabus would respond to people who had faith. Such is the case in this story.
As Paul and Barnabus taught and preached in Lystra, a crippled man who had never walked sat in the crowd. Suddenly, something radically changed his condition. What was it that changed the course of his life? “The man heard Paul speak.” The man heard the Gospel. Then Paul “observing him intently and seeing that he had faith to be healed said in a loud voice, “Stand up straight on your feet.” And he leaped and walked.”
As I have traveled to Nigeria, India, Ukraine, Kenya, and many other places, I have seen people respond to the Good News message through faith. They didn’t know us Americans other than knowing we were Christians and from the USA. But we spoke the Gospel and it was their belief in what we said and opening their hearts to receive their healing, that they were healed. I watched a man lame from birth starting to leap on his feet in Aba, Nigeria! I saw a man stone deaf suddenly hear and begin to speak in Colombia, SA. I have seen dozens of legitimate miracles that occurred because of the faith of the person hearing the Gospel!
Miracles happened in Paul’s day and miracles happen today. Yes, these people stood up on new-found feet or heard for the first time, but the first step they took that set a new course of their lives was to hear the Word. To hear the Good News. They tapped into the connection between hearing and healing.
How about you? Have you heard with your heart the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ? If you have, you can receive your healing through your faith in the Word you have heard. Speak this confession out loud several times today:
Confession: I hear the full Gospel of salvation and healing, and faith rises in me to be healed. I act on my faith in God’s Word and it produces what I desire. God’s Word works!
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Jesus' Will Is the Father's Will
Now when Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him pleading with Him, saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented.”
And Jesus said to him, “I will come and heal him.” ---Matthew 8:5-7
When the centurion asked Jesus to come heal his servant, Jesus responded, “I will.” Jesus was saying, “My will is to heal him because My will is the Father’s will. And the Father’s will is to heal everyone who allows Him to. Therefore, I will come heal him.”
Jesus didn’t know and had never before seen the centurion’s servant. Jesus wasn’t even in the servant’s presence. But Jesus knew the will of the Father.
Then the centurion said, “You don’t need to come to my house, Lord; I’m not really worthy of that. But if You will just speak the word, my servant will be healed.” Jesus commended the centurion for his faith and sent him home. There the centurion found his servant healed and set free!
Healing the servant was God’s will. Jesus was the express image of God’s will. There was never a person who came up to Jesus and asked for healing that He turned away. He never told them, “Not now, you have to suffer a little longer.” And Jesus never said, “God wants to teach you a lesson.” Jesus never said that. He would always say, “What do you want from me or God?” And that person would declare that they believed that Jesus could and would heal them. It was their faith that healed them! Even if it was as small as stretching out a hand to him…the man was healed. If the leper called out to Jesus and said, “If it is your will, you will heal me!” Jesus said, “I will!” The woman who had an issue of blood only touched the hem of His garment, and she was healed.
This is what Jesus died for, for you to reach out to Jesus, the One who loves you, and accept Him in faith and to accept the healing that He has provided for you. Now others may think that God puts disease on people for a reason, but I don’t at all. It is never God’s desire that we are tormented, physically suffering, or die and early death. But there are reasons that these things happen. Basically, we live in a fallen world and without knowing Jesus as our Lord and Savior we will live a defeated life. When we understand our authority as a child in the Kingdom of God, then we will live a victorious life.
Confession: Like the centurion, I believe in the power and authority of Jesus’ words. I know God’s will is that I be healed and walk in health and victory. So I ask in faith for my healing, and I believe I receive my answer.
And Jesus said to him, “I will come and heal him.” ---Matthew 8:5-7
When the centurion asked Jesus to come heal his servant, Jesus responded, “I will.” Jesus was saying, “My will is to heal him because My will is the Father’s will. And the Father’s will is to heal everyone who allows Him to. Therefore, I will come heal him.”
Jesus didn’t know and had never before seen the centurion’s servant. Jesus wasn’t even in the servant’s presence. But Jesus knew the will of the Father.
Then the centurion said, “You don’t need to come to my house, Lord; I’m not really worthy of that. But if You will just speak the word, my servant will be healed.” Jesus commended the centurion for his faith and sent him home. There the centurion found his servant healed and set free!
Healing the servant was God’s will. Jesus was the express image of God’s will. There was never a person who came up to Jesus and asked for healing that He turned away. He never told them, “Not now, you have to suffer a little longer.” And Jesus never said, “God wants to teach you a lesson.” Jesus never said that. He would always say, “What do you want from me or God?” And that person would declare that they believed that Jesus could and would heal them. It was their faith that healed them! Even if it was as small as stretching out a hand to him…the man was healed. If the leper called out to Jesus and said, “If it is your will, you will heal me!” Jesus said, “I will!” The woman who had an issue of blood only touched the hem of His garment, and she was healed.
This is what Jesus died for, for you to reach out to Jesus, the One who loves you, and accept Him in faith and to accept the healing that He has provided for you. Now others may think that God puts disease on people for a reason, but I don’t at all. It is never God’s desire that we are tormented, physically suffering, or die and early death. But there are reasons that these things happen. Basically, we live in a fallen world and without knowing Jesus as our Lord and Savior we will live a defeated life. When we understand our authority as a child in the Kingdom of God, then we will live a victorious life.
Confession: Like the centurion, I believe in the power and authority of Jesus’ words. I know God’s will is that I be healed and walk in health and victory. So I ask in faith for my healing, and I believe I receive my answer.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
You Can Do Something About the Devil
Now when Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him pleading with Him, saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented.”
And Jesus said to him, “I will come and heal him.”
The centurion answered and said, “Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed, for I am a man under authority… ---Matthew 8:5-9
Continuing on with our discussion about the centurion, we see there is a connection between understanding authority and having great faith. Sometimes a believer’s faith doesn’t operate because he doesn’t understand his authority IN Christ. Every time he starts to receive something from God, the devil steals it away, and he doesn’t realize he can do something about it.
So, we must develop an understanding of the authority God has given us because of what Jesus accomplished on the cross. Jesus took back the dominion that Satan held ever since the Garden of Eden. He regained, for you and me, dominion and authority that God intended for us to have. So, when we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we are IN Christ. He is in us and we are in Him.
Authority is not our own power or strength. The best term to explain authority is “delegated power.” Jesus delegated authority to His disciples and to the Church (you). He said, “Verily (Certainly) I say unto you, Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. (Matt. 18:18) Jesus was saying, “Whatever you forbid on earth, heaven will forbid and whatever you allow on earth, heaven will allow.”
Jesus was speaking at that time and He was turning the Kingdom of God over to the Church which He had just established. Jesus was the Head of the Church. We are His body on this earth with the right to use the authority vested in His name. The body has the same authority as the Head. We are heirs of God and joint-heirs of Jesus Christ. (Romans 8:17)
God is waiting for us to give orders to the enemy so He can legally enforce those decisions. We are the ones with the authority to do something about the devil. Whatever we forbid on earth, heaven forbids. Whatever we allow on earth, heaven allows!
Confession: Jesus has spoken healing to me through His Word. Now I have authority on earth to keep the devil from staling my healing. In the name of Jesus, I am healed!
And Jesus said to him, “I will come and heal him.”
The centurion answered and said, “Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed, for I am a man under authority… ---Matthew 8:5-9
Continuing on with our discussion about the centurion, we see there is a connection between understanding authority and having great faith. Sometimes a believer’s faith doesn’t operate because he doesn’t understand his authority IN Christ. Every time he starts to receive something from God, the devil steals it away, and he doesn’t realize he can do something about it.
So, we must develop an understanding of the authority God has given us because of what Jesus accomplished on the cross. Jesus took back the dominion that Satan held ever since the Garden of Eden. He regained, for you and me, dominion and authority that God intended for us to have. So, when we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we are IN Christ. He is in us and we are in Him.
Authority is not our own power or strength. The best term to explain authority is “delegated power.” Jesus delegated authority to His disciples and to the Church (you). He said, “Verily (Certainly) I say unto you, Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. (Matt. 18:18) Jesus was saying, “Whatever you forbid on earth, heaven will forbid and whatever you allow on earth, heaven will allow.”
Jesus was speaking at that time and He was turning the Kingdom of God over to the Church which He had just established. Jesus was the Head of the Church. We are His body on this earth with the right to use the authority vested in His name. The body has the same authority as the Head. We are heirs of God and joint-heirs of Jesus Christ. (Romans 8:17)
God is waiting for us to give orders to the enemy so He can legally enforce those decisions. We are the ones with the authority to do something about the devil. Whatever we forbid on earth, heaven forbids. Whatever we allow on earth, heaven allows!
Confession: Jesus has spoken healing to me through His Word. Now I have authority on earth to keep the devil from staling my healing. In the name of Jesus, I am healed!