January 26
God Routs Fear
“Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob, neither is there any divination against Israel.”— Numbers 23:23
HOW this should cut up root and branch all silly, superstitious fears! Even if there were any truth in witchcraft and omens, they could not affect the people of the Lord. Those whom God blesses, devils cannot curse.
Ungodly men, like Balaam, may cunningly plot the overthrow of the Lord’s Israel; but with all their secrecy and policy they are doomed to fail. Their powder is damp, the edge of their sword is blunted. They gather together; but as the Lord is not with them, they gather together in vain. We may sit still, and let them weave their nets, for we shall not be taken in them. Though they call in the aid of Beelzebub and employ all his serpentine craft, it will avail them nothing: the spells will not work; the divination will deceive them. What a blessing this is! How it quiets the heart! God’s Jacobs wrestle with God, but none shall wrestle with them and prevail. God’s Israels have power with God and prevail, but none shall have power to prevail against them. We need not fear the fiend himself, nor any of those secret enemies whose words are full of deceit and whose plans are deep and unfathomable. They cannot hurt those who trust in the living God. We defy the devil and all his legions.
Spurgeon, C. 2000. Faith's Checkbook (electronic ed.) . Ephesians Four Group: Escondito, California
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Friday, January 22, 2010
From the church for all
Pride and Humility
PROVERBS 22:4 NKJ
4 By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches and honor and
life.
Humility is the opposite of pride.
Humility does not think it is better than anyone else. "I am
what I am by the grace of God."
1 PETER 5:5 NKJ
5 Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your
elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be
clothed with humility, for "God resists the proud, but gives
grace to the humble."
A humble person is one who follows God's instructions, instead
of leaning to their own understanding.
Being a humble person does not mean being a loser. A humble
person is one who has the proper relationship to God and grasps
reality, which is: without God, we can do nothing.
Humility will cause a person to remember their need to pray.
A humble person is one who prefers to suffer wrong rather than
do wrong.
Pride will bring you low. Humility will cause God to exalt you.
LUKE 14:11 NKJ
11 "For whoever exalts himself will be abased, and he who
humbles himself will be exalted."
God cannot exalt proud people without it harming them.
JAMES 4:10 NKJ
10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift
you up.
1 PETER 5:6 NKJ
6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God,
that He may exalt you in due time,
SAY THIS: Lord, please help me to beware of pride.
PROVERBS 22:4 NKJ
4 By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches and honor and
life.
Humility is the opposite of pride.
Humility does not think it is better than anyone else. "I am
what I am by the grace of God."
1 PETER 5:5 NKJ
5 Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your
elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be
clothed with humility, for "God resists the proud, but gives
grace to the humble."
A humble person is one who follows God's instructions, instead
of leaning to their own understanding.
Being a humble person does not mean being a loser. A humble
person is one who has the proper relationship to God and grasps
reality, which is: without God, we can do nothing.
Humility will cause a person to remember their need to pray.
A humble person is one who prefers to suffer wrong rather than
do wrong.
Pride will bring you low. Humility will cause God to exalt you.
LUKE 14:11 NKJ
11 "For whoever exalts himself will be abased, and he who
humbles himself will be exalted."
God cannot exalt proud people without it harming them.
JAMES 4:10 NKJ
10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift
you up.
1 PETER 5:6 NKJ
6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God,
that He may exalt you in due time,
SAY THIS: Lord, please help me to beware of pride.
Saturday, January 16, 2010
.....................WHOSOEVER - !..........................................................
January 16
Even the Faintest Call
“And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered.”— Joel 2:32
WHY do I not call on His name? Why do I run to this neighbor and that, when God is so near and will hear my faintest call? Why do I sit down, and devise schemes, and invent plans? Why not at once roll myself and my burden upon the Lord? Straight-forward is the best runner—why do I not run at once to the living God? In vain shall I look for deliverance anywhere else; but with God I shall find it; for here I have His royal shall to make it sure.
I need not ask whether I may call on Him or not, for that word “whosoever” is a very wide and comprehensive one. Whosoever means me, for it means anybody and everybody who calls upon God. I will therefore follow the leading of the text, and at once call upon the glorious Lord who has made so large a promise.
My case is urgent, and I do not see how I am to be delivered; but this is no business of mine. He who makes the promise will find out ways and means of keeping it. It is mine to obey His commands; it is not mine to direct His counsels. I am His servant, not His solicitor. I call upon Him, and He will deliver me.
Spurgeon, C. 2000. Faith's Checkbook (electronic ed.) . Ephesians Four Group: Escondito, California
Even the Faintest Call
“And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered.”— Joel 2:32
WHY do I not call on His name? Why do I run to this neighbor and that, when God is so near and will hear my faintest call? Why do I sit down, and devise schemes, and invent plans? Why not at once roll myself and my burden upon the Lord? Straight-forward is the best runner—why do I not run at once to the living God? In vain shall I look for deliverance anywhere else; but with God I shall find it; for here I have His royal shall to make it sure.
I need not ask whether I may call on Him or not, for that word “whosoever” is a very wide and comprehensive one. Whosoever means me, for it means anybody and everybody who calls upon God. I will therefore follow the leading of the text, and at once call upon the glorious Lord who has made so large a promise.
My case is urgent, and I do not see how I am to be delivered; but this is no business of mine. He who makes the promise will find out ways and means of keeping it. It is mine to obey His commands; it is not mine to direct His counsels. I am His servant, not His solicitor. I call upon Him, and He will deliver me.
Spurgeon, C. 2000. Faith's Checkbook (electronic ed.) . Ephesians Four Group: Escondito, California
Friday, January 15, 2010
A prayer for life as we are travelers on our way to a new heaven and earth...
Traveler's Prayer
The Prayer for a Safe Journey
May it be Your will, G-d, our G-d and the G-d of our fathers, that You should lead us in peace and direct our steps in peace, and guide us in peace, and support us in peace, and cause us to reach our destination in life, joy, and peace (If one intends to return immediately, one adds: and return us in peace). Save us from every enemy and ambush, from robbers and wild beasts on the trip, and from all kinds of punishments that rage and come to the world. May You confer blessing upon the work of our hands and grant me grace, kindness, and mercy in Your eyes and in the eyes of all who see us, and bestow upon us abundant kindness and hearken to the voice of our prayer, for You hear the prayers of all. Blessed are You G-d, who hearkens to prayer.
[This prayer was found on www.chabad.org]
The Prayer for a Safe Journey
May it be Your will, G-d, our G-d and the G-d of our fathers, that You should lead us in peace and direct our steps in peace, and guide us in peace, and support us in peace, and cause us to reach our destination in life, joy, and peace (If one intends to return immediately, one adds: and return us in peace). Save us from every enemy and ambush, from robbers and wild beasts on the trip, and from all kinds of punishments that rage and come to the world. May You confer blessing upon the work of our hands and grant me grace, kindness, and mercy in Your eyes and in the eyes of all who see us, and bestow upon us abundant kindness and hearken to the voice of our prayer, for You hear the prayers of all. Blessed are You G-d, who hearkens to prayer.
[This prayer was found on www.chabad.org]
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Rest a sabbath Matthew 3-4
January 14
Rest Is a Gift
“Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavyladen, and I will give you rest.” — Matthew 11:28
WE who are saved find rest in Jesus. Those who are not saved will receive rest if they come to Him, for here He promises to give it. Nothing can be freer than a gift; let us gladly accept what He gladly gives. You are not to buy it, nor to borrow it, but to receive it as a gift. You labor under the lash of ambition, covetousness, lust, or anxiety: He will set you free from this iron bondage and give you rest. You are laden—yes, heavy laden —with sin, fear, care, remorse, fear of death; but if you come to Him, He will unload you. He carried the crushing mass of our sin that we might no longer carry it. He made Himself the great Burden-bearer, that every heavy laden one might cease from bowing down under the enormous pressure.
Jesus gives rest. It is so. Will you believe it? Will you put it to the test? Will you do so at once? Come to Jesus by quitting every other hope, by thinking of Him, believing God’s testimony about Him, and trusting everything with Him. If you thus come to Him, the rest which He will give you will be deep, safe, holy, and everlasting. He gives a rest which develops into heaven, and He gives it this day to all who come to Him.
Spurgeon, C. 2000. Faith's Checkbook (electronic ed.) . Ephesians Four Group: Escondito, California
Rest Is a Gift
“Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavyladen, and I will give you rest.” — Matthew 11:28
WE who are saved find rest in Jesus. Those who are not saved will receive rest if they come to Him, for here He promises to give it. Nothing can be freer than a gift; let us gladly accept what He gladly gives. You are not to buy it, nor to borrow it, but to receive it as a gift. You labor under the lash of ambition, covetousness, lust, or anxiety: He will set you free from this iron bondage and give you rest. You are laden—yes, heavy laden —with sin, fear, care, remorse, fear of death; but if you come to Him, He will unload you. He carried the crushing mass of our sin that we might no longer carry it. He made Himself the great Burden-bearer, that every heavy laden one might cease from bowing down under the enormous pressure.
Jesus gives rest. It is so. Will you believe it? Will you put it to the test? Will you do so at once? Come to Jesus by quitting every other hope, by thinking of Him, believing God’s testimony about Him, and trusting everything with Him. If you thus come to Him, the rest which He will give you will be deep, safe, holy, and everlasting. He gives a rest which develops into heaven, and He gives it this day to all who come to Him.
Spurgeon, C. 2000. Faith's Checkbook (electronic ed.) . Ephesians Four Group: Escondito, California
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
“Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.”— John 6:37
January 13
Never Cast Out
“Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.”— John 6:37
IS there any instance of our Lord’s casting out a coming one? If there be so, we would like to know of it; but there has been none, and there never will be. Among the lost souls in hell, there is not one that can say, “I went to Jesus and He refused me.” It is not possible that you or I should be the first to whom Jesus shall break His word. Let us not entertain so dark a suspicion.
Suppose we go to Jesus now about the evils of today. Of this we may be sure—He will not refuse us audience or cast us out. Those of us who have often been, and those who have never gone before—let us go together, and we shall see that He will not shut the door of His grace in the face of any one of us.
“This man receiveth sinners,” but He repulses none. We come to Him in weakness and sin, with trembling faith, small knowledge, and slender hope; but He does not cast us out. We come by prayer, and that prayer broken; with confession, and that confession faulty; with praise, and that praise far short of His merits; but yet He receives us. We come diseased, polluted, worn out, and worthless; but He doth in no wise cast us out. Let us come again today to Him who never cast us out.
Spurgeon, C. 2000. Faith's Checkbook (electronic ed.) . Ephesians Four Group: Escondito, California
Never Cast Out
“Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.”— John 6:37
IS there any instance of our Lord’s casting out a coming one? If there be so, we would like to know of it; but there has been none, and there never will be. Among the lost souls in hell, there is not one that can say, “I went to Jesus and He refused me.” It is not possible that you or I should be the first to whom Jesus shall break His word. Let us not entertain so dark a suspicion.
Suppose we go to Jesus now about the evils of today. Of this we may be sure—He will not refuse us audience or cast us out. Those of us who have often been, and those who have never gone before—let us go together, and we shall see that He will not shut the door of His grace in the face of any one of us.
“This man receiveth sinners,” but He repulses none. We come to Him in weakness and sin, with trembling faith, small knowledge, and slender hope; but He does not cast us out. We come by prayer, and that prayer broken; with confession, and that confession faulty; with praise, and that praise far short of His merits; but yet He receives us. We come diseased, polluted, worn out, and worthless; but He doth in no wise cast us out. Let us come again today to Him who never cast us out.
Spurgeon, C. 2000. Faith's Checkbook (electronic ed.) . Ephesians Four Group: Escondito, California
Saturday, January 9, 2010
A new article from Jerry Baysinger
Published by Jerry Baysinger on 08 Jan 2010 at 04:52 pm
HEAL THE SICK
The Lord Jesus called me to a healing ministry in 1993. Through the years I’ve had opportunity to speak to many ministers and read many books about healing, but most spoke about praying for the sick, and it didn’t seem to produce a great percentage of results. It made me wonder why all these prayers weren’t getting the sick healed.
Most of my Bible study is spent in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Why? Because I want to know how Jesus did things, and what He taught His disciples to do. One day when asking the Lord why so many people were not being healed these days, the Holy Spirit impressed very strongly on me, I didn’t tell My disciples to pray for the sick. I told them HEAL the sick.
I did a search through the Gospels looking for every time that Jesus prayed for the sick, and could not find any. Nor could I find any place where Jesus instructed His disciples to pray for the sick. However, He did command them in Matthew 10:8, Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give. Obviously, if Jesus commanded the disciples to heal the sick, then the backing from heaven was there to do it, otherwise Jesus would have been at fault for commanding them to do something they were not empowered or enabled to do.
Then revelation became clear to me, Jesus never once prayed for the sick, asking His Father to heal them. He simply commanded them to be healed, or said I will, be thou healed, and it was done. Sometimes He rebuked a sickness and it left, such as when He rebuked a fever from Peter’s mother-in-law. This may strike you as being very controversial, and “out there on the edge”. But what I’m telling you is absolutely scriptural, please, check it out for yourself.
Many have been the prayers sent up for the sick through the ages, and through the mercy of God in answer to those praying, there have been people healed. But there is a better way, and it’s the way Jesus healed, and instructed His disciples to do. Did Jesus pray? Yes, of course, the Bible says he sometimes stayed up all night praying to His Father. Was He asking His Father to heal people? Not that the Bible shows. He was simply communicating with His Father in heaven, worshipping Him and seeking His Father’s will. In John 5:19-21 it is written,
Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.
For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel.
For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.
When the Lord Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, He prayed, but not asking God to raise Lazarus. He just commanded Lazarus to come forth. And he did, too.. Let’s read about it in John 15:41-44,
Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.
And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.
And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.
We know the Lord Jesus healed people because of His great compassion, but also to prove He was who He said He was. Some people say Jesus healed because He was the Son of God. There’s no arguing with that. But later when Jesus empowered His disciples to heal, in Matthew 10:8, that opened the door for ALL of Jesus’ disciples (that’s you and me) to be empowered to heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, and cast out devils. Jesus said, …Freely ye have received, freely give. How can we know this command is to us today? It is written in Acts 2:36-39,
Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
With the promise of the gift of the Holy Ghost, comes the power unto the believer. We need to be using that power to do the works that the Lord Jesus commanded us, including healing the sick. But how freely have we been giving out healing? How many lepers have been cleansed? How many dead raised? Not very many. Yes, we’ve prayed a lot, but looking back, how convincing are the results?
I propose to you that most of Jesus’ followers since the early church have not been taking advantage of the resources the Lord Jesus made available to them. Once in a while there have been those who through much study and prayer and revelation, have operated powerfully in areas not even touched by the majority of believers. And it isn’t because it isn’t available to all of Jesus’ followers, it’s because they fail to believe it’s for them. You can’t operate in a gift of God if you don’t believe you have it. Let’s look at an example written of the disciple Peter, in Acts 9:36-40.
Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did.
And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick, and died: whom when they had washed, they laid her in an upper chamber.
And forasmuch as Lydda was nigh to Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent unto him two men, desiring him that he would not delay to come to them.
Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them.
But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up.
Peter had been with Jesus, and heard His teachings. After Peter received the Holy Spirit, and the power thereof, he healed the sick and raised the dead, even after Jesus had returned to heaven.. The Apostle Paul was not a follower of Jesus until after Jesus had ascended into heaven, yet the power of the Holy Ghost was in Paul to heal, we can read of an example in Acts 28:8:
And it came to pass, that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and of a bloody flux: to whom Paul entered in, and prayed, and laid his hands on him, and healed him.
I want you to notice something here, Paul prayed, then laid his hands on him AND healed him. It doesn’t say he prayed asking God TO heal him. We don’t actually know WHAT Paul prayed, it doesn’t say. But I focus on the part where it says AND HEALED HIM. That was an act of obedience by walking in the authority granted him by Christ Jesus.
The custom of praying for the sick may have been started by James, who wrote the first book in the New Testament. It is written in James 5:14-15,
Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:
And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
I don’t necessarily see anything in these verses that indicate the person was physically healed by the prayer of faith, simply that the sick would be saved, and the Lord shall raise him up (at the last day), and his sins shall be forgiven him. The context of this passage was talking about salvation. But healing comes by command as Jesus taught His disciples.
It’s time we stopped “praying for the sick” and started HEALING them, according to the commandment of Jesus. Remember, YOU are not the healer, CHRIST JESUS is. You’re merely His servant here on earth, carrying out His work.
COMMENTS
One Response to “HEAL THE SICK”
judith smith on 08 Jan 2010 at 8:06 pm #
Excellent article. Hope to study up on this soon! It’s like the difference between trying to pick up a pencil or actually picking up the pencil. You either pick it up or you don’t. There is no trying to do it - unless you are learning how to do it.
Acts 2:22: Ye men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a MAN approved of God among you BY miracles and wonders and signs which GOD did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves know: (Jesus did things as a man through God, just like we are to.)
HEAL THE SICK
The Lord Jesus called me to a healing ministry in 1993. Through the years I’ve had opportunity to speak to many ministers and read many books about healing, but most spoke about praying for the sick, and it didn’t seem to produce a great percentage of results. It made me wonder why all these prayers weren’t getting the sick healed.
Most of my Bible study is spent in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Why? Because I want to know how Jesus did things, and what He taught His disciples to do. One day when asking the Lord why so many people were not being healed these days, the Holy Spirit impressed very strongly on me, I didn’t tell My disciples to pray for the sick. I told them HEAL the sick.
I did a search through the Gospels looking for every time that Jesus prayed for the sick, and could not find any. Nor could I find any place where Jesus instructed His disciples to pray for the sick. However, He did command them in Matthew 10:8, Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give. Obviously, if Jesus commanded the disciples to heal the sick, then the backing from heaven was there to do it, otherwise Jesus would have been at fault for commanding them to do something they were not empowered or enabled to do.
Then revelation became clear to me, Jesus never once prayed for the sick, asking His Father to heal them. He simply commanded them to be healed, or said I will, be thou healed, and it was done. Sometimes He rebuked a sickness and it left, such as when He rebuked a fever from Peter’s mother-in-law. This may strike you as being very controversial, and “out there on the edge”. But what I’m telling you is absolutely scriptural, please, check it out for yourself.
Many have been the prayers sent up for the sick through the ages, and through the mercy of God in answer to those praying, there have been people healed. But there is a better way, and it’s the way Jesus healed, and instructed His disciples to do. Did Jesus pray? Yes, of course, the Bible says he sometimes stayed up all night praying to His Father. Was He asking His Father to heal people? Not that the Bible shows. He was simply communicating with His Father in heaven, worshipping Him and seeking His Father’s will. In John 5:19-21 it is written,
Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.
For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel.
For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.
When the Lord Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, He prayed, but not asking God to raise Lazarus. He just commanded Lazarus to come forth. And he did, too.. Let’s read about it in John 15:41-44,
Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.
And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.
And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.
We know the Lord Jesus healed people because of His great compassion, but also to prove He was who He said He was. Some people say Jesus healed because He was the Son of God. There’s no arguing with that. But later when Jesus empowered His disciples to heal, in Matthew 10:8, that opened the door for ALL of Jesus’ disciples (that’s you and me) to be empowered to heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, and cast out devils. Jesus said, …Freely ye have received, freely give. How can we know this command is to us today? It is written in Acts 2:36-39,
Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
With the promise of the gift of the Holy Ghost, comes the power unto the believer. We need to be using that power to do the works that the Lord Jesus commanded us, including healing the sick. But how freely have we been giving out healing? How many lepers have been cleansed? How many dead raised? Not very many. Yes, we’ve prayed a lot, but looking back, how convincing are the results?
I propose to you that most of Jesus’ followers since the early church have not been taking advantage of the resources the Lord Jesus made available to them. Once in a while there have been those who through much study and prayer and revelation, have operated powerfully in areas not even touched by the majority of believers. And it isn’t because it isn’t available to all of Jesus’ followers, it’s because they fail to believe it’s for them. You can’t operate in a gift of God if you don’t believe you have it. Let’s look at an example written of the disciple Peter, in Acts 9:36-40.
Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did.
And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick, and died: whom when they had washed, they laid her in an upper chamber.
And forasmuch as Lydda was nigh to Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent unto him two men, desiring him that he would not delay to come to them.
Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them.
But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up.
Peter had been with Jesus, and heard His teachings. After Peter received the Holy Spirit, and the power thereof, he healed the sick and raised the dead, even after Jesus had returned to heaven.. The Apostle Paul was not a follower of Jesus until after Jesus had ascended into heaven, yet the power of the Holy Ghost was in Paul to heal, we can read of an example in Acts 28:8:
And it came to pass, that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and of a bloody flux: to whom Paul entered in, and prayed, and laid his hands on him, and healed him.
I want you to notice something here, Paul prayed, then laid his hands on him AND healed him. It doesn’t say he prayed asking God TO heal him. We don’t actually know WHAT Paul prayed, it doesn’t say. But I focus on the part where it says AND HEALED HIM. That was an act of obedience by walking in the authority granted him by Christ Jesus.
The custom of praying for the sick may have been started by James, who wrote the first book in the New Testament. It is written in James 5:14-15,
Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:
And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
I don’t necessarily see anything in these verses that indicate the person was physically healed by the prayer of faith, simply that the sick would be saved, and the Lord shall raise him up (at the last day), and his sins shall be forgiven him. The context of this passage was talking about salvation. But healing comes by command as Jesus taught His disciples.
It’s time we stopped “praying for the sick” and started HEALING them, according to the commandment of Jesus. Remember, YOU are not the healer, CHRIST JESUS is. You’re merely His servant here on earth, carrying out His work.
COMMENTS
One Response to “HEAL THE SICK”
judith smith on 08 Jan 2010 at 8:06 pm #
Excellent article. Hope to study up on this soon! It’s like the difference between trying to pick up a pencil or actually picking up the pencil. You either pick it up or you don’t. There is no trying to do it - unless you are learning how to do it.
Acts 2:22: Ye men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a MAN approved of God among you BY miracles and wonders and signs which GOD did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves know: (Jesus did things as a man through God, just like we are to.)
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
From the Church for all www.churchforall.org
The Accurate Message Of Jesus
JOHN 8:31-32 NKJ
31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you
abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.
32 "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you
free."
The promise of Jesus is clear: the end result of staying in His
Word will be freedom.
So, if you are not becoming more free, you need to examine if
you are accurate in your understanding of the Word of God.
JOHN 8:31-32 KJV
31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye
continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you
free.
Whether the Greek word is translated as continue, abide, or
remain, the meaning is clear. You need to stick with the Word;
not stop and start; not try it for awhile; but jump in with
both feet and stay there.
"What do you mean by freedom, preacher?"
I don't mean a license to sin. Sin produces bondage -- the
opposite of what I am talking about.
I mean freedom in every area of life. Freedom from having to
sin. Freedom from fear. Freedom from worry. Freedom from doubt.
Freedom from strife. Freedom from confusion. Freedom from
family problems. Freedom from oppression. Freedom from poverty.
Freedom from disease.
Note that Jesus did not promise that everyone who called Him
Master would automatically and instantly be free. Instead Jesus
indicated that time would be involved before those who truly
followed Him would see the full result of the freedom His Word
would produce in their lives.
If you continue....
If you abide....
If you live in....
If you remain in....
Don't forget the "IF." And don't forget the "CONTINUE." This
Scripture promise is NOT for everyone who claims to be a
Christian. Only for those who are willing to spend the time and
effort required to feed on God's Word.
While I do not wish to criticize any group of Christian
believers, I do think we should all individually judge our own
situations. If the Bible teachers you have been listening to
are not producing freedom in your life, you should prayerfully
examine whether the message they proclaim is accurate -- or
distorted.
Remember that it only takes a tiny amount of poison added to an
otherwise wonderful and nutritious meal to make it dangerous.
SAY THIS: I will continue, abide in, and remain in the accurate
message of Jesus Christ, without ever giving up, and it will
produce freedom in my life.
JOHN 8:31-32 NKJ
31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you
abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.
32 "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you
free."
The promise of Jesus is clear: the end result of staying in His
Word will be freedom.
So, if you are not becoming more free, you need to examine if
you are accurate in your understanding of the Word of God.
JOHN 8:31-32 KJV
31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye
continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you
free.
Whether the Greek word is translated as continue, abide, or
remain, the meaning is clear. You need to stick with the Word;
not stop and start; not try it for awhile; but jump in with
both feet and stay there.
"What do you mean by freedom, preacher?"
I don't mean a license to sin. Sin produces bondage -- the
opposite of what I am talking about.
I mean freedom in every area of life. Freedom from having to
sin. Freedom from fear. Freedom from worry. Freedom from doubt.
Freedom from strife. Freedom from confusion. Freedom from
family problems. Freedom from oppression. Freedom from poverty.
Freedom from disease.
Note that Jesus did not promise that everyone who called Him
Master would automatically and instantly be free. Instead Jesus
indicated that time would be involved before those who truly
followed Him would see the full result of the freedom His Word
would produce in their lives.
If you continue....
If you abide....
If you live in....
If you remain in....
Don't forget the "IF." And don't forget the "CONTINUE." This
Scripture promise is NOT for everyone who claims to be a
Christian. Only for those who are willing to spend the time and
effort required to feed on God's Word.
While I do not wish to criticize any group of Christian
believers, I do think we should all individually judge our own
situations. If the Bible teachers you have been listening to
are not producing freedom in your life, you should prayerfully
examine whether the message they proclaim is accurate -- or
distorted.
Remember that it only takes a tiny amount of poison added to an
otherwise wonderful and nutritious meal to make it dangerous.
SAY THIS: I will continue, abide in, and remain in the accurate
message of Jesus Christ, without ever giving up, and it will
produce freedom in my life.
Monday, January 4, 2010
On - "Knowing God"
"all manmade images of God, whether molten or mental, are really borrowings from the stock–in–trade of a sinful and ungodly world, and are bound therefore to be out of accord with God’s own holy Word. To make an image of God is to take one’s thoughts of him from a human source, rather than from God himself; and this is precisely what is wrong with image–making."
"Then the Bible adds the further point that we know God in this way only through knowing Jesus Christ, who is himself God manifest in the flesh. “Don’t you know me . . . ? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father”; “no one comes to the Father except through me” ( Jn 14:9 , 6 ). It is important, therefore, that we should be clear in our minds as to what knowing Jesus Christ means."
These quotes are from: "Packer, J. 1996, c1973. Knowing God. Index created by Christian Classics Foundation.;Published in electronic form by Christian Classics Foundation, 1996. (electronic ed.). InterVarsity: Downers Grove"
"Then the Bible adds the further point that we know God in this way only through knowing Jesus Christ, who is himself God manifest in the flesh. “Don’t you know me . . . ? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father”; “no one comes to the Father except through me” ( Jn 14:9 , 6 ). It is important, therefore, that we should be clear in our minds as to what knowing Jesus Christ means."
These quotes are from: "Packer, J. 1996, c1973. Knowing God. Index created by Christian Classics Foundation.;Published in electronic form by Christian Classics Foundation, 1996. (electronic ed.). InterVarsity: Downers Grove"
Friday, January 1, 2010
From http://everyoneshouldbeanewman.typepad.com/
DECEMBER 17, 2007
Bible Quotes Of The Day: Part Three Hundred-Thirty-Six
"You were running well; who hindered you from obeying the truth?
This persuasion did not come from Him Who calls you."
Galatians 5:8-9
Notes:
1. The question is asked, "who hindered you from obeying the truth"? The answer is clearly the insidious subterfuge of Satan; he wants to destroy your daily fellowship with God, and then destroy your eternal life. Although he cannot take that eternal life from you, which is the gift of the very life of God Himself, Satan can destroy your confidence and obedience to God, therefore destroying your usefulness to God here on earth.
2. "This persuasion did not come from Him Who calls you": GOD NEVER ACCUSES YOU! If your spirit is being accused, IT IS NOT GOD WHO IS ACCUSING YOU! God CONVICTS you; i.e., disciplines you to know His good, just and perfect will, but never tells you how worthless you are because of the sin that you commit. He tells you in your own conscience of your sin, and then offers saving life and forgiveness. ALWAYS.
3. God is continually in action on your behalf; He constantly "calls" you to Himself. He "calls" you to peace in His life through the Person of His Son, Jesus Christ the Lord. God's goal is to make you perfect through His own Son.
"O Lord God, thank You for You incomprehensible mercy. Thank You for Your saving life, through the shed blood and life of Your Son. Forgive me of my sin, and live Your perfect life through the members of my body. I ask these things in the blessed name of Jesus. Amen."
Bible Quotes Of The Day: Part Three Hundred-Thirty-Six
"You were running well; who hindered you from obeying the truth?
This persuasion did not come from Him Who calls you."
Galatians 5:8-9
Notes:
1. The question is asked, "who hindered you from obeying the truth"? The answer is clearly the insidious subterfuge of Satan; he wants to destroy your daily fellowship with God, and then destroy your eternal life. Although he cannot take that eternal life from you, which is the gift of the very life of God Himself, Satan can destroy your confidence and obedience to God, therefore destroying your usefulness to God here on earth.
2. "This persuasion did not come from Him Who calls you": GOD NEVER ACCUSES YOU! If your spirit is being accused, IT IS NOT GOD WHO IS ACCUSING YOU! God CONVICTS you; i.e., disciplines you to know His good, just and perfect will, but never tells you how worthless you are because of the sin that you commit. He tells you in your own conscience of your sin, and then offers saving life and forgiveness. ALWAYS.
3. God is continually in action on your behalf; He constantly "calls" you to Himself. He "calls" you to peace in His life through the Person of His Son, Jesus Christ the Lord. God's goal is to make you perfect through His own Son.
"O Lord God, thank You for You incomprehensible mercy. Thank You for Your saving life, through the shed blood and life of Your Son. Forgive me of my sin, and live Your perfect life through the members of my body. I ask these things in the blessed name of Jesus. Amen."
From the power of faith minitries - Dan Douglas
~ HAPPY NEW YEAR ~
I'd like to say Happy New Year and I hope you've had a wonderful Christmas, I did! With the new year just around the corner, I'm going to prepare you for something that is certain to come. It is the same thing that comes every single year, but this time you will be prepared for it. If you turn on Christian television, you'll see it. If you go to Church, you'll see and hear it.
At the beginning of every new year, you will certainly be bombarded with the tithing sermons. Not only will you be bombarded, it will be intense. Why now? Because, this is the time of year everyone makes their new years resolutions. The people who receive your money (No, not God) want you to commit to giving it to them "all year long".
First, I would like to point out that "New Years Resolutions" are not only "Not" scriptural, they are "anti-scriptural" when it comes to making promises to God.
Matthew 5:34 - "But I say to you, make no oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is the footstool of His feet, or by Jerusalem, for it is THE CITY OF THE GREAT KING. "Nor shall you make an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. "But let your statement be, 'Yes, yes' or 'No, no';
anything beyond these is of evil.
If you really think about it, it is a very warped message to be heard at this time of year, or any other for that matter. What can you compare this message to? In times past, (and sometimes present) the mafia would visit small business owners and tell them to pay a percentage of their earnings. If they did, they would be protected by the mafia. If they didn't, they would get their legs broken or their store burned down.
Similarly, you are being told (by the kindly old pastor) that if you give 10% of your income to your church, (or whomever is gouging you for it) that God will bless you so much that you won't have room to keep all that money and "stuff" that he will give you. The flip side to this is, If you don't give 10% of your earnings to them, you will be cursed and basically, you're "toast!" Deep down in your heart, do you really believe that God would conduct business that way?
I'm sure you've heard preachers cleverly say: (In their deepest most holy sounding voice) "GOD IS IN THE HEALING BUSINESS" or "GOD IS IN THE MIRACLE BUSINESS". Granted, it sounds good and it makes you feel good and it makes you want to give a huge offering but, you need to know that God is not in any business at all! To use the word business is to imply that someone is making a profit. The preacher may be in business, but make no mistake, GOD IS NOT!!
Even if your name is Bill Gates or Donald Trump you do not have enough money to buy a healing or miracle from God. God does indeed heal and perform miracles and he will do so in your life, but tithing will hinder your prayers before it will help you. God does not work on a barter system, he doesn't need your money and he doesn't obligate anyone. God does not take, he gives!
~ DONATIONS ~
I was just watching the news and saw that a very large, well known ministry is desperately asking for donations to pay off a large debt. Don't misinterpret me, there is absolutely nothing wrong with giving or donating, to support a ministry. To the pastors credit, he was not desperately asking for tithes, just donations. Feel free to give all you want. God encourages it and will bless you if you give in a way that is pleasing to him.
According to scripture, you are free to give whatever your heart tells you to give. If your heart tells you to give 90% and you feel good about giving 90%, then by all means, give 90%. However, If you gave even $10.00 and have the slightest regret deep down in your heart, you've given too much!
God loves the cheerful giver. There's nothing cheerful about being made to pay a set amount (10%) or face a curse if you don't. That is not God, that is called "Extortion".
I realize that tithing is a very controversial subject. It is the only page on the Power of Faith website from which I even receive hate mail from time to time. If I were to condense this ministry down to one word, that word would be "Truth". What I have written about tithing "is" firmly rooted in scripture.
I myself tithed for many years. On one occasion in my life, I even tithed my last $14.00 to the church. I used to be a firm believer in tithing until I learned that Jesus had set us free from those laws. Personally, I don't care what you do with your own money as long as you know the truth. And the truth is that Jesus has set you free.
Thank you to those who have written letters of encouragement, and shown your support in one way or another.
God Bless You - Dan Douglass
I'd like to say Happy New Year and I hope you've had a wonderful Christmas, I did! With the new year just around the corner, I'm going to prepare you for something that is certain to come. It is the same thing that comes every single year, but this time you will be prepared for it. If you turn on Christian television, you'll see it. If you go to Church, you'll see and hear it.
At the beginning of every new year, you will certainly be bombarded with the tithing sermons. Not only will you be bombarded, it will be intense. Why now? Because, this is the time of year everyone makes their new years resolutions. The people who receive your money (No, not God) want you to commit to giving it to them "all year long".
First, I would like to point out that "New Years Resolutions" are not only "Not" scriptural, they are "anti-scriptural" when it comes to making promises to God.
Matthew 5:34 - "But I say to you, make no oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is the footstool of His feet, or by Jerusalem, for it is THE CITY OF THE GREAT KING. "Nor shall you make an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. "But let your statement be, 'Yes, yes' or 'No, no';
anything beyond these is of evil.
If you really think about it, it is a very warped message to be heard at this time of year, or any other for that matter. What can you compare this message to? In times past, (and sometimes present) the mafia would visit small business owners and tell them to pay a percentage of their earnings. If they did, they would be protected by the mafia. If they didn't, they would get their legs broken or their store burned down.
Similarly, you are being told (by the kindly old pastor) that if you give 10% of your income to your church, (or whomever is gouging you for it) that God will bless you so much that you won't have room to keep all that money and "stuff" that he will give you. The flip side to this is, If you don't give 10% of your earnings to them, you will be cursed and basically, you're "toast!" Deep down in your heart, do you really believe that God would conduct business that way?
I'm sure you've heard preachers cleverly say: (In their deepest most holy sounding voice) "GOD IS IN THE HEALING BUSINESS" or "GOD IS IN THE MIRACLE BUSINESS". Granted, it sounds good and it makes you feel good and it makes you want to give a huge offering but, you need to know that God is not in any business at all! To use the word business is to imply that someone is making a profit. The preacher may be in business, but make no mistake, GOD IS NOT!!
Even if your name is Bill Gates or Donald Trump you do not have enough money to buy a healing or miracle from God. God does indeed heal and perform miracles and he will do so in your life, but tithing will hinder your prayers before it will help you. God does not work on a barter system, he doesn't need your money and he doesn't obligate anyone. God does not take, he gives!
~ DONATIONS ~
I was just watching the news and saw that a very large, well known ministry is desperately asking for donations to pay off a large debt. Don't misinterpret me, there is absolutely nothing wrong with giving or donating, to support a ministry. To the pastors credit, he was not desperately asking for tithes, just donations. Feel free to give all you want. God encourages it and will bless you if you give in a way that is pleasing to him.
According to scripture, you are free to give whatever your heart tells you to give. If your heart tells you to give 90% and you feel good about giving 90%, then by all means, give 90%. However, If you gave even $10.00 and have the slightest regret deep down in your heart, you've given too much!
God loves the cheerful giver. There's nothing cheerful about being made to pay a set amount (10%) or face a curse if you don't. That is not God, that is called "Extortion".
I realize that tithing is a very controversial subject. It is the only page on the Power of Faith website from which I even receive hate mail from time to time. If I were to condense this ministry down to one word, that word would be "Truth". What I have written about tithing "is" firmly rooted in scripture.
I myself tithed for many years. On one occasion in my life, I even tithed my last $14.00 to the church. I used to be a firm believer in tithing until I learned that Jesus had set us free from those laws. Personally, I don't care what you do with your own money as long as you know the truth. And the truth is that Jesus has set you free.
Thank you to those who have written letters of encouragement, and shown your support in one way or another.
God Bless You - Dan Douglass
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