Battle for Healing: Faith and Patience Inherit the Promises

 Jesus shed His blood to forgive sins, but at the same time His body was broken beyond recognition (Isaiah 52:14), so we could be made whole, "by His stripes we were healed (1 Peter 2:24)."  Many people know this truth until they get a diagnosis for cancer or some other ailment, then the real battle of the mind begins.  

We may also know that 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 reveals that in this war we have supernatural power for "pulling down strongholds, casting arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ."  Since God's thoughts and ways (Isaiah 55) are not our thoughts and ways, it is necessary to renew the mind or our way of thinking to prove that "good and acceptable and perfect will of God."  Jesus promised, and He has kept that promise, to send the Holy Spirit to teach us all things so we have the mind of Christ.  

Here lies the problem: many of us are aware we aren't good enough, haven't prayed enough, and in short, don't deserve to be healed.  We think we need to convince God to heal us.  Number one, it is already done, it is finished, the price has been paid in full.  Number two, God delights to show mercy (Micah 7:18) because that is part of His nature and His mercy endures forever.  He heals because He loves and cares about us.  So rather than trying to persuade God to heal, we are called to agree with God that it is done.  What we are actually doing is standing with God against the devil and his attack on our bodies, which happens to be God's temple.  God wants to confirm His Word and is waiting on us to stand with the authority He has given, so He can crush Satan under our feet (Romans 16:20).  

Therefore, each time we declare "by His stripes I am healed (Isaiah 53:4)," or realize His benefits "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits, who forgives all my iniquities, who heals all my diseases (Psalm 103:2) " or enable the Holy Spirit by saying  "the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead gives life to my mortal body (Romans 8:11)" we are agreeing with God against the devil.  Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8) and He never changes, He continues to destroy the works of the devil as we declare His Word.  Don't give up or shrink back by thinking maybe I don't believe enough, just depend on the simple stated principle of Hebrews 6:12, "faith and patience inherit the promises."  God is faithful to keep HIs promises.

1 Peter 5:8-10 reminds us that the devil is looking for someone to devour and then instructs us to "Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.  But may the God of all grace, who called us to HIs eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you."

Fight the good fight of faith and let God complete His good work in and through you.  Be healed, in the name of Jesus!  Praise God forever!

Ankle Deep?

How deep are you in God?   A mile wide and only one inch deep!  This is the description of the American church by a Chinese Christian who had suffered persecution for his faith in Jesus.  

Consider the Word in Ezekiel 47: There was water flowing from under the threshold of the temple toward the east, for the front of the temple faced east; the water was flowing from under the right side of the temple, south of the altar.”  Jesus told the Samaritan woman that if she asked He would have given her living water.  Clearly the water represents the life and revelation of Jesus that flows from God.

However, notice the truth that the Ezekiel passage continues to share.  God’s representative (the Holy Spirit) brought the man through the waters and it was ankle deep.  A thousand cubits downstream the man was brought through the waters again, it was up to his knees.  Another thousand, it was up to his waist. Finally, another thousand, and the man could not walk across but only could let the water carry him.  Everything this water touches is healed and lives!   

Question:  how deep is your knowledge of Jesus and your walk in His living water?   Many of us realize God has called us to be a light in the world and a witness of Him that draws others to come to the Father.  However, there is a universal principle that you can only give what you have. 

The conclusion is simple.  If you want to see more of the power of God in your life and desire to make a difference in more people’s lives, you have to get deeper in God yourself.  Jesus, in John 17, prayed that He dedicated Himself to the Father's will so His followers would dedicate themselves. Obviously, we can step out into Him until the living water carries us rather than keeping our feet on the earth and only letting Him only flow around our ankles, or knees, or waist.  Those who know their God will do great exploits, according to Daniel 11:32.

There is no substitute for spending time with Him, for letting the Word abide in you, and hearing and obeying His voice.  Can you let the Spirit help you answer the question, how deep is your walk in God?  Then, ask Him to take you deeper.