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!

All Rise!

 He is risen!  He is risen indeed!  The early church would celebrate the resurrection of Jesus by declaring this powerful truth and the response in agreement.  One Easter morning I was sharing the Word and encouraged my audience to respond in like manner, shouting, "He is Risen!" and they would respond "He is Risen indeed!"  Unknown to me, there was present a lady who had pneumonia but was allowed to leave the hospital to attend Easter services.  As she was leaving the church, she stopped to say there was a strange warmth and presence in her chest as we declared He is Risen, and that all of a sudden she could breathe normally.  Later doctors confirmed that she was healed.

There is power in the resurrection.  Jesus Christ "was declared to be the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead. (Romans 1:4).  The resurrection also establishes Jesus's complete victory over death, sin and sickness.  After the resurrection Jesus announced to His disciples "all authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth."  No wonder then, that the Word (Acts 4:33) records that the apostles "with great power gave witness to the resurrection from the dead."  

This overcoming power and authority is available to all who believe Jesus Christ is God's Son who died and rose for them.  Romans 6:5 assures us, "If we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall in the likeness of His resurrection."  Paul, even after all his preaching and miracles, had one overwhelming request, "that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection."  The person of the Holy Spirit makes this reality a part of our daily experience, as the Word says in Romans 8:11, "the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you."    

God's eternal plan for man is past, present, and future.  The resurrection of Jesus 2000 years ago settles the fact of Jesus' love and victory for all men.  Through the Holy Spirit this released power equips us today to walk in overcoming faith and victory.  However, 1 Peter 1:3 blesses God who "according to His abundant mercy, has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead."  This living hope is a sure future promise to rise with Him and be with Him forever.

Therefore, this foundation doctrine of the resurrection provides eternal assurance that Jesus' "It is finished" statement from the cross is confirmed.  Man sinned and lost his dominion authority over the earth to Satan.  Jesus destroyed the works of the devil, brought man back to God, and paid the supreme price to re-establish man in the righteousness and authority of God Himself.  We are now called to rise up and walk in the triumphant, overcoming power of the living God.  Believers in Jesus Christ and His resurrection have passed from death to life.  We are now to reckon ourselves dead to sin (and its consequences) and alive to God.  All rise, and give glory to God by walking in His resurrection power.      

Amen - Necessary to Receive the Promises

It is Finished.  Done,  Complete.  Jesus has accomplished it all. 

Clearly, Jesus accomplished His mission and as He declared "It is Finished" from the cross, He redeemed man from all the consequences of sin.  This substitutionary work, taking the death we deserved and giving us the righteousness of God, enables every person to pass from death to life, from condemnation to being right with God, from fallen human nature to sharing His divine nature forever.  Since all that is needed has already been done by Jesus Christ, what is the key to actually experiencing His complete victory in our lives now?

The key to walking in the fullness of all the Lord Jesus accomplished is in this verse. "For all the promises of God in Him are yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through (by) us". 2 Corinthians 1:20  We will take a closer look at this key to see how to make it work.

Let's start with an example from the Old Testament.  Notice that when God instructed Joshua (1:3) to go over the Jordan and possess the promised land that I have given to you, the verb tense is past.  It was already given.  Yet Joshua still had to do something: "Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given to you."  He had to literally walk on it to make it his.  

In the New Testament, our verse states that all the promises of God are "Yes" in Christ Jesus.  He accomplished what was needed to make every promise valid and effective.  2 Peter 1:3-4 further states that through these "exceedingly great and precious promises" we escape the corruptible fallen condition and "partake of the divine nature."  So clearly the provision of God that is already given is all the wonderful promises of God.  However, they are just promises and unfulfilled, if we passively just look at them.  Our key verse in 2 Corinthians 1 states that we add the "Amen."  Amen means "so let it be" or in other words, "it is established."  Amen is our agreement.  

We need to understand how to agree.  Let's start with the foundation.  First, many times we cry out to God and sort of beg Him to do something for us.  This is an insult to God's goodness and the finished work of Jesus.  It is finished.  God has already done everything to completely overcome every challenge of life.  Therefore, we are releasing His provision for some need rather than trying to pray and work hard enough to get God to give you something that you don't have.  He has paid it all.

Secondly, just as God told Joshua (Joshua 1:8) to be careful to do, to meditate on, and to speak His Word; we are to likewise think, speak, and act on what He has promised.  However, there are times each of us feels a little like the man who told Jesus, "I believe, but help my unbelief."  Yet God is faithful and He wants us to receive the promises more than we do.  Faith comes by hearing and hearing the Word of God.  Notice it doesn't matter who is speaking it, your ears will hear and your heart will receive it even if you say it!   Regardless of how you feel or how extreme the situation, God's Word works. Find the promise that applies to your area, and begin reflecting on God's goodness and mercy that has provided it for you.  Begin to speak it out loud every time you think of the situation.  Thank Him that it is done. The more negative thoughts come, the more you declare God's truth.  Let God be true and every man a liar. (Romans 3:4)  Here is the principle: Every promise that fits my situation and meets my need is for me now..  Thank you, Jesus.

One more important point, our 2 Corinthians 1:20 verse ends "to the glory of God.": When we claim and receive the promises, it gives glory to God.  The same truth is found in John 15:7-8 "If you abide in Me and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.  By this My Father is glorified..."  Jesus is pleased to glorify the Father by having His finished work transform us.  Ask the Holy Spirit to help you stand on and settle your "Amen" to His promise.  He will help you give glory to God by receiving what Jesus has done.  God honors those who believe He is and rewards those who diligently seek Him.  He who called you is faithful and He will do it.  Amen.