Practically Speaking: An Example of Resisting a Physical Symptom Play by Play

Practically speaking, how in the world does one put all of this into actual actions? On Tuesday this week I did a little demo of what this looks like in my home presently. I will try to summarize in writing but the physical demo I think is the more effective tool. Here is my approach to resisting a physical symptom… Now of course this varies but give you a good visual hopefully and the steps plus the why behind the steps.

James 4:7 King James Version (KJV)”Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

FIRST ABOVE ALL ELSE:  SUBMIT TO GOD

When do I do this…. Sometimes before I do anything else (ideally), sometimes after I have done everything else (more often than I care to admit) and sometimes somewhere in the middle. There is no condemnation is seeking the help of doctors, natural remedies etc… These can cure some things and can often provide varying degrees of relief to what is ailing you. In other words this can be done, before, concurrently or after you have tried everything else. The longer I walk this thing out, the more often I see these steps break the yoke and the symptoms quickly diminish and disappear.

I usually stand up, being on my feet makes me feel more like I am positioned for action instead of passivity and as a victim. I am physically positioning myself for victory even with this tiny step even though it is not necessary.

And then I fix my gaze and heart on God and His Word. I seek to position myself in a position of utter and total submission to who He is (Creator of all and exceedingly more powerful than any other) and what His Word says about me. “By Jesus stripes I was [past tense] healed” Therefore, if I was to base my conclusion of my present state of health or wellness on the Word alone, I would have to conclude that means I am “healthy” today right now.  This is also the perfect time to ask God to reveal to you anything that you may need to repent for, anything that may have opened the door for the symptom to come.  Perhaps you were recently exposed to someone who had a cold and you felt fear that you would catch it…   Simply repent for fearing.   Perhaps you were sharp with someone.    Whatever He reveals to you agree that you have missed the mark and do a 180 mentally rededicating yourself and your hours to holy, blameless and total dedication to serving as God’s child and as His temple.   Remember the annointing with oil is to signify that the one/thing annointed has been set apart as holy, blameless, pure and for the services of the Lord alone.

“Praise You Jehovah Rapha, My Jehovah Nissi (the Lord is my banner/my victory), You have already set me free from all symptoms, all sin, all hell, death and destruction, every element of the Fall.  I praise YOU, you are worthy of all my praise.    Thank you that I am no longer subject to the begarly elements of this world but have been fully redeemed.  I am your beloved child, You uphold me with you right hand so I will not fall.    You strengthen my arm for war, you equip me to scale every wall, and to walk as more than a conqueror.    You are watching over Your Word and have healed me and saved me from my destructions.    Though people are falling all around me, no harm will befall me and no plague will come near my dwelling place.   I submit my body an thoughts to You Lord God and ask that you do all to enforce the victory established by Your son and lead me to take every step necessary now.”

Here are some verses that I meditate on in preparation for these times:

Luke 10:19 King James Version (KJV) “19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you”

Psalm 91 King James Version (KJV)
91 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.   2 I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.  4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.  5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;  6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.  7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.  8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.  9 Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;  10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.  11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.  12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.  13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.  14 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.  15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.   16 With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.”

Colossians 2:15 KJV “And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.”

Colossians 1:13 13Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:”

Galatians 4 KJV “Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:4But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, 5To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. 6And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. 7Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.8Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods.
9But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?”

Ephesians 4:27-30 King James Version (KJV) “27 Neither give place to the devil. 28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. 29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.”

John 10:10 King James Version (KJV) “10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”

Romans 6:13 King James Version (KJV) “13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.”

Luke 6 kJV “/6 And it came to pass also on another sabbath, that he entered into the synagogue and taught: and there was a man whose right hand was withered. 7 And the scribes and Pharisees watched him, whether he would heal on the sabbath day; that they might find an accusation against him.   8 But he knew their thoughts, and said to the man which had the withered hand, Rise up, and stand forth in the midst. And he arose and stood forth. 9 Then said Jesus unto them, I will ask you one thing; Is it lawful on the sabbath days to do good, or to do evil? to save life, or to destroy it? 10 And looking round about upon them all, he said unto the man, Stretch forth thy hand. And he did so: and his hand was restored whole as the other.”

Do note here especially that to leave anyone in a state of infirmity to come into agreement with evil and destroying life which goes completely against what Jesus came to do, to give life and life more abundantly and to agree with the thief who “came to kill, steal and destroy.”   From my unerstanding this means that resisting infirmity and sickness is to be accomplice to Jesus and to not resist is to be accomplice to the thief.     

I also often think about how we got into this mess in the first place. Adam and Eve had been commanded to take dominion over all living things on behalf of God and to subdue them and take the land. To not subdue what God has commanded us to subue is disobedience. So in order for me to subject myself to all of what these scriptures say, and therefore submit to God, I must have these things first fixed in my heart and mind. So pre-meditating on these verses is absolutely essential to position me for victory. Long before the temptations come, we much prepare our hearts and minds to resist effectively.

Once I am have positioned myself in submission to God, I am now walking and acting under HIS BANNER, His authority and His Kingdom.      This is the most essential piece for victory.    In Christ I can do all things…   but human effort, no matter how zealous, accomplishes nothing.    

For me, this has been the hardest part.   I do not naturally submit well to anything or anyone.    Over the last dozen years I think I have been unintentionally trying to strike the balance between being submitted to God in the  ways but still subject to my own appetites and plans in others….    LOL… I have unwittingly  been trying to negociate middle ground, asking God to concede to my flesh and my agendas as I rise up in some areas to His.    That is not the way that Lordship goes though.   I am finally coming to the conclusion that being subject to God means entirely, in all areas, all the time.    GASP, CHOKE AHHHHH (that was my flesh and self’s instant response to realizing that it must absolutely defer to and give way to God).  SIGH……………..   Total relief that the whole thing, every last bit of the burden, of the responsibility, of the results, the full weight of it lies on the Word, on Jesus Christ and on the Father.     The recognition that my victory/ my personal success/ my personal responsibility is not the outcome… but the simple act of submitting and doing what God calls me to do.  Every other part of the equations is HIS.  THANK GOD!  Now I am positioned to fight from a place of REST and utter confidence in Him as my Saviour and Deliverer.

2ND PIECE OF THE PUZZLE:  Spend lots and lots of time pre-meditating on the faithfulness, on the promises, on the things that please God, on His Capacity, on His Love and His nature especially as expressed through Jesus Christ.      All Fear is disarmed when we realize that our Abba Father is the one who has already established and will enforce the victory.  Too many verses to list here. That handout of the Father’s Love Letter is a perfect one to meditate on.

1 John 4:18 “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.”

Psalm 63:8 “My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me.”

Jeremiah 1:12 English Standard Version (ESV)  “12 Then the Lord said to me, “You have seen well, for I am watching over my word to perform it.”

2nd  Resist the Devil

So now that I am submitted, I view myself merely as an extension of the Lord, His Words and body in action on earth.    I am simply enforcing what He has done and is watching over to ensure.    

Me “You weak and begarly symptom (s), I am subject to what the Lord says about me, I am healthy, I am immune to any harm you can bring against me, I am subject to Him alone and have been completely delivered from the dominion of darkness.   You publicly shamed and utterly defeated nothing, get off/out of God’s temple (my body).   Jesus nailed you to that cross, with His blood, by laying down His life for mine.   I died with Him in baptism, and rose up with Him from the waters in resurrection.  I am immune from all the elements of darkness and the fallen world.   I am truly free and YOU have no place here.    Get back on the other side of the blood, you have NO authority hear.   I have yielded my body and thoughts and heart to the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Third  Deny Yourself, CommanSd Your Body to Line Up with Scripture

Body, listen up, you are subject to the Lord Jesus Christ and His Word.   Be healed, be filled with SOZO (health and utter wholeness), be completely free of all pain, all discomforts, all infirmities, all afflictions, etc.  Be healthy, in perfect balance, whatever is lacking be multiplied now (as in the miracle of the loaves and fish), whatever is harmful or on assignment against my body be cursed to utter destruction.  Every evil assignment, every soulish prayer, every evil prayer, every curse that has been sent against my body be annulled now in the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ. “

  Body, I commit you and rededicate you, I do NOT yield any member (body part) to anyone other than to my Lord.  I am fully committed to keeping His temple Holy and Set Apart for His purposes.   The LORD rebuke you for attempting to defile and set up camp in HIS temple.”  If the symptoms don’t immediately subside  ” The LORD rebuke you for not honouring HIS NAME, HIS KINGDOM and YOUR sentence as being publicly shamed and disarmed.   I commit my body and wellness to the Lord.”

I am definitely more fiesty when i stop and recognize that my body is the temple of the holy Ghost and these things are actually trying to desecrate the dwelling place of the Most High.

1 Corinthians 6:19 KJV “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?”

If my children are the ones tempted, I love referring to Isaiah 54:13 .   If I have been tempted.  I tend to stop with the above declaration and move on with my day, not allowing the sensation of the symptom to change my agenda but essentially ignoring it (not even deeming to give it my slightest attention).   Any remnants of the symptom tend to clear up shortly after (signs that yes indeed the enemy is facing the Lord for His impudence and failure to honour His Word and His name)  If my children are affected, I tend to pray until the symptoms are entirely gone.    

“And all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace {shalom}of thy children.”

Finally:  Turn and receive ministry and strenghthening from the Lord

We have at least 2 examples in scripture of times when Jesus was tempted.

Matthew 4:11 “Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.”

And also in the garden after which time the angels came and strengthened Him for the work at hand.   If Jesus Himself needed ministry after temptations, how much more so do we.

“Dear Heavenly Father, I feel weakened and somewhat shakened by this temptation.   Dear Lord, please send your ministering angels to strengthen me and bind up any broken or wounded parts of my heart, and body, that I may be strengthened to serve you and fulfill the plans and purposes you have laid on my life day and life”

This is proving in my own life to be a powerful step.   We actually get stronger and receive healing to a place of better than before we had the encounter when we receive this ministry that the Lord has prepared for us for these occasions.    Jesus was able to walk out what He did in part, because He submitted to and received the strengthening in this way.     This also reveals the reason why we seek restoration.. Not to serve our own pleasures, or be restored to our own agendas but to be effectively about the Father’s business.   

Our eyes often to turn people, either prayer partners (nothing wrong in this but God has more for us than this alone),  or to those that have hurt them.   Sadly, the perpetrators (or more rightly, the spirits behind those who hurt us) are not likely motivated to right the wrongs that they have inflicted.    But in every case, our Heavenly Father wants to mend our broken hearts and set us free from all bondages and wash us clean from all the dust that  inevitably clings to us as we serve in the fallen world.

Hebrews 1:14 KJV “Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?”

 

 

 

Sizing up our Adversary

Genesis 1:28 King James Version (KJV) “28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.”

Jumping right in as this is more or less a continuation of the last post.   Keeping always in mind that God equips us, strengthens us, renews our minds, gives us wisdom, imparts knowledge to us through His Word and as we cry out to Him and spend regular times in fellowship and prayer with Him.   Our part is to faithfully do these things and then He faithfully does  the rest including givine us the desire and ability to do what pleases Him.   Our part is always the doable part…  Mind you, I am constantly crying out for help with my part too.  Blessings as you consider these verses.  As always, be Berean.             

This goes right back to the very beginning.   Adam not only had authority over the serpent who came and tempted Eve in the garden, he had a responsibility and a direct command from God to take dominion over him  and subdue him.     The serpent was the craftiest/subtlest creature… and is still whispering to the sons and daughters of Adam and Eve today.   If he can convince us that we are subject to the powers of darkness, to sickness, to sin, to the begarly elements of this world, we are easy prey.    If we understand what Jesus has done and restored to us, that we are now free from the dominion of darkness and the begarly elemental powers of this world, and have once again been given power over all the power of the enemy, then we are truly free and positioned to help others be set free as well.    This original command stands today, and those who submit to God (accept Him as Lord and hearken to and obey His commands)  are called just as Adam and Eve were called to have dominion over every living thing and subdue the earth.   We cannot subdue that which we subject ourselves to.   One might be thinking, I don’t choose to subject myself to these things, I am simply powerless to prevent them.   The question becomes what does scripture say about this.  Let’s see.

 

Luke 10:19 King James Version (KJV) “19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

Galatians 4 ” Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world: But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,  To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.  And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.  Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.  Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods.  ?  But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage”

                 Paul asks a tough question.   Why are you making yourselves subject again to the things from which Jesus has set us free?    His question confronts us with the scriptural reality that God has put it within out power to decide to whomand what  we subject ourselves and put ourselves in bondage to.    These verses also indicate that it was predominantly through false teachings that the people believed these lies and were deceived back into bondage in spite of the freedoms obtained for them by Christ.

Colossians 1:12-13 King James Version (KJV)  “12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:  13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:”

2 Corinthians 10:5 King James Version (KJV) “5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;”

Colossians 2:10-23 Easy-to-Read Version (ERV) “10 And because you belong to Christ you are complete, having everything you need. Christ is ruler over every other power and authority.  11 In Christ you had a different kind of circumcision, one that was not done by human hands. That is, you were made free from the power of your sinful self. That is the kind of circumcision Christ does. 12 When you were baptized, you were buried with Christ, and you were raised up with him because of your faith in God’s power. God’s power was shown when he raised Christ from death.  13 You were spiritually dead because of your sins and because you were not free from the power of your sinful self. But God gave you new life together with Christ. He forgave all our sins. 14 Because we broke God’s laws, we owed a debt—a debt that listed all the rules we failed to follow. But God forgave us of that debt. He took it away and nailed it to the cross. 15 He defeated the rulers and powers of the spiritual world. With the cross he won the victory over them and led them away, as defeated and powerless prisoners for the whole world to see.

16 So don’t let anyone make rules for you about eating and drinking or about Jewish customs (festivals, New Moon celebrations, or Sabbath days). 17 In the past these things were like a shadow that showed what was coming. But the new things that were coming are found in Christ. 18 Some people enjoy acting as if they are humble and love to worship angels.[a] They always talk about the visions they have seen. Don’t listen to them when they say you are wrong because you don’t do these things. It is so foolish for them to feel such pride, because it is all based on their own human ideas. 19 They don’t keep themselves under the control of the head. Christ is the head, and the whole body depends on him. Because of Christ all the parts of the body care for each other and help each other. So the body is made stronger and held together as God causes it to grow.

20 You died with Christ and were made free from the powers that influence this world. So why do you act as if you still belong to the world? I mean, why do you follow rules like these: 21 “Don’t eat this,” “Don’t taste that,” “Don’t touch that”? 22 These rules are talking about earthly things that are gone after they are used. They are only human commands and teachings. 23 These rules may seem to be wise as part of a made-up religion in which people pretend to be humble and punish their bodies. But they don’t help people stop doing the evil that the sinful self wants to do.”

              We see here again that the people are being deceived by human ideas, teachings and traditions, to the point where they are no longer being lead by/controlled by Christ.    When we submit to others, we are no longer submitted to Christ.

Putting Physical Death In Perspective:

Luke 17 NLT “33 If you cling to your life, you will lose it, and if you let your life go, you will save it”

Romans 8:35-39 King James Version (KJV) “35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.  37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.  38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,  39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Seeing things through the lens of scriptures can change everything.    Our flesh cries out that the big deal is to be comfortable, pain free, happy and alive, our words, actions and lives speak to this perspective.   We spend most of our days working hard to establish these ends.    Scripture record that the central goal of our lives is to know God and live in fellowship with Him.   Eternal life is knowing Him and living in fellowship with Him.    The big deal according to scripture is living in God’s presence. 

The world sees physical death as the final blow, the scripture records that separation from God is the very worst thing for a man to experience.  From the one perspective, in many ways death represents the end of all thing.   From the perspective of scripture,  death is talked about in the same terms as taking off a garment.  Physical death  releases a person into even greater intimacy and union with the Father.

Philippians 1:20-22 King James Version (KJV) “20 According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.  22 But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not.”

2 Corinthians 5 Contemporary English Version (CEV)
“5 Our bodies are like tents that we live in here on earth. But when these tents are destroyed, we know that God will give each of us a place to live. These homes will not be buildings that someone has made, but they are in heaven and will last forever. 2 While we are here on earth, we sigh because we want to live in that heavenly home. 3 We want to put it on like clothes and not be naked.  4 These tents we now live in are like a heavy burden, and we groan. But we don’t do this just because we want to leave these bodies that will die. It is because we want to change them for bodies that will never die. 5 God is the one who makes all of this possible. He has given us his Spirit to make us certain that he will do it. 6 So always be cheerful!  As long as we are in these bodies, we are away from the Lord. 7 But we live by faith, not by what we see. 8 We should be cheerful, because we would rather leave these bodies and be at home with the Lord. 9 But whether we are at home with the Lord or away from him, we still try our best to please him. 10 After all, Christ will judge each of us for the good or the bad that we do while living in these bodies.”

Give No Place to the Devil

Ephesians 4:27-30 King James Version (KJV)
“27 Neither give place to the devil.  28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.   29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.  30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.”

John 10:10 King James Version (KJV) “10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”

If it is killing from us, stealing from us or destroying us, who is the author?   If we are commanded to give no place to the devil, then what must we do when we spot his handywork in our lives?

Luke 6 KJV “6 And it came to pass also on another sabbath, that he entered into the synagogue and taught: and there was a man whose right hand was withered.  7 And the scribes and Pharisees watched him, whether he would heal on the sabbath day; that they might find an accusation against him.  8 But he knew their thoughts, and said to the man which had the withered hand, Rise up, and stand forth in the midst. And he arose and stood forth.  9 Then said Jesus unto them, I will ask you one thing; Is it lawful on the sabbath days to do good, or to do evil? to save life, or to destroy it?  10 And looking round about upon them all, he said unto the man, Stretch forth thy hand. And he did so: and his hand was restored whole as the other.”

To leave infirmity, even something like a withered hand unhealed, Jesus equated with doing evil and destroying life.    The thing that strikes me every time I read this passage is that sometime doing nothing is equivalent to agreeing with the destruction of life and doing evil.  Is it within our power to heal the sick and set the captives free?   What does scripture say.  This also reminds me of Proverbs 3:28.     

Proverbs 3:28 NLT  “If you can help your neighbor now, don’t say, “Come back tomorrow, and then I’ll help you.”

Luke 13 KJV  “16 And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?”

Acts 10:38 King James Version (KJV) “38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.”

Mark 16:17-19 King James Version (KJV)”17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;  18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.”

John 14:12 King James Version (KJV)  “12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.”

 

How do we resist temptation/symptoms?

Dear Brothers and Sisters,  Thank you as always for your grace and mercy as I attempt to tackle some of the more difficult questions of our times together.  Please note that I am still working these things out so this post will likely be editted a number of times and my wording may fall short.

I have been camping in Galatians and am particularly drawn back to Galatians 4 over and over again.  I encourage you to pause right here and ask for eyes to see, and ears to hear and the ability to understand what this says and perhaps read it out loud a few times… Even maybe meditate on it, just think on it for a couple of days even before reading my thoughts.

Galatians 4 KJV ” Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;  But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.   Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:  But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,  To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.   And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.   Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.  Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods.  But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?   10 Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years.  11 I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.

21 Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?   22 For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.   23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.  24 Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.  25 For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.   26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.   27 For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband.   28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.   29 But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.   30 Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.  31 So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.”

James 4:7 King James Version (KJV) “7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

                Submiting to God is THE most important part of the above verse.  We will never be ideally positioned to resist temptation or symptoms or any other work of darkness  if we have not yet submitted to God.    What exactly does submitting to God mean and actually look like though?     We need to know Him, know His heart, know His general desires for all of mankind and His creation and learn to hear Him clearly enough so that we can know His day to day plans and purposes for us along with His big picture vision and agenda for our lives.    We need to truly and deeply know our God and let Him give us the desire, power and ability to do what pleases Him.    Submitting to Him requires us to resist the devil and all other dominion and subjection to the powers of darkness because He has commanded us lrto do so.   

1st point.   We resist the devil from a position of doing so because God has commanded us to resist.   

Most of the time, when we resist the devil and symptoms, we do so to try to avoid pain, suffering, discomfort and adverse circumstances.      Most of our resisting is actually self motivated instead of God motivated.    Once we have obtained enough relief for ourselves, our resistance often stops.       Let’s take the verse from Romans 6.   Hear the command to not yield your body parts (or any part of your life) to sin and that sin no longer has dominion over us.   We don’t resist sin/symptoms, both elements of the dominion of darkness attempting to re-establish dominion over us,  for our own benefit.   We resist, because God has commanded us to not yield even one part to the things from which He has set us free.     

2.  An ounce of prevention is worth more than a pound of cure…   Snuff our every thought/symptom/temptation that raises itself up against the reality of Christ and the Kingdom.

Many of us won’t even bother to pray about a stuffy nose or a little ache or pain because it is more trouble to us to pray then to live with the symptom.    When we realize that God has called us into a holy war and to resist all the works of darkness, then even these seemingly trifling things are worth our attention and snuffing out.    One little match left burning is all it takes to set a forest on fire under the right conditions.   Each symptom and temptation left unchecked is by default us submitting our members, thoughts etc to the dominion of darkness.   Even my own head is shouting, well that is just plain outrageously radical.    Do note that these verses say, that we become a slave to anything we submit to.   It is far easier to snuff out that little match than to put out the fire once that one little match lights a huge portion of our lives on fire.

Romans 6 KJV “5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:  6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.   7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.  8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: 9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.  10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.  11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.  13 Neither yield ye your members [body parts] as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.  15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.  16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?  17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.  18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.  19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.20 For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.  21 What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.  22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.”

3rd point:   We resist from the position of knowing who we are in Christ, of understanding what our identity is in Him and what our authority is based on this reality.

     Again I turn to Galatians though there are likely hundreds of verses one could quote on this topic.   Who we are in Christ will be  one of our next topics and we will likely devote at least 2 sessions to it as understanding who we are is essential to how we think, act, speak and live.   I have intersperced my commentary through Galatians 3 as I think this gives us a solid glimpse of who we are and hopefully enough to motivate us to dig deeper and pray hard for more and more revelation on this essential key to our walk in Christ.

Galatians 3 KJV ” O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?

This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?

Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain.

He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

                   Miracles are a fruit of hearing and acting on faith

Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.

Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.

Identity, our identity hangs on believing everything Jesus has said that we are. Remember, Abraham knew that his body was impotent to birth a son at his age AND YET by faith, he believed God anyways.  He believed God’s Word over the witness of his own body and that of his elderly wife Sarah.  Romans 4 gives many details.  We will explore the promises made to Abraham (to which we are now heirs) more fully when we explore the topic of our identity in an upcoming session.

And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.

So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.

10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.

The enemy capitalizes on our tendency to need to feel like OUR righteousness / our ability to do what is right, our good works etc are the basis for the promises of God being fulfilled.   The promises come to us based on who we are /who we believe ourselves to be.   Our actions and lives follow our identity.     In Galatians 4 we see the inheritance goes to the child of the free woman.    Faith is the mother of the true heirs, the Law is the mother of the servant.     

We truly are truly a son or a slave based on what we believe and to whom we submit. 

Our actions are a mere reflection of our faith and always give away what we really believe and who we are truly submitted to.     For most of us, we are double minded.   We choose to fight some battles, but are complacent in others.    We want to move from a place of being partially submitted to God and partially submitted to the dominion of darkness to fully submitted to God. 

11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.

12 And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.

13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

Yeshua, the Lord Jesus, has been (past tense) made the curse for us.     Our penalty has been paid in full.    Paul said that all that he preached was Jesus crucified and His resurrection.    To understand out identity, increading our understanding of the fullness of what Jesus accomplished through His torture, death and ressurection is essential to faith.   If we don’t know what He did, we cannot have confidence in what He accomplished on our behalf.       He set us completely free from the curse of the Law.

14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

15 Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man’s covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto.

16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.

17 And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.

This is a tremendous verse.  It spells out that the law was not in place from the beginning but only implemented 430 years after the promise was given to Abraham.  It inicates that the Law in no way disannul the promise given to Abraham and plainly that Abraham was not under the Law.

18 For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.

19 Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.

Why the Law then?    Again, here spelled out so clearly,  man in his fallen state needed help.    With a dead spirit, (due to man’s loss of ability to be in fellowship with God, to tolerate God’s presence and inability to hearken to God’s voice), God spelled out for the people guidelines that they could relate to and understand in their fallen state.      God never stopped broadcasting, the radio station never closed but the people lost their ability to tune into His voice and instead found that they were now tuned into the god of this world (Satan) and appetites and lusts of the flesh.    Jesus has now made it possible for anyone who believes to be able to learn to hear God’s voice again.    This is why my central prayer is “Lord, Heavenly Father, help me to hear what you are saying and give me the desire, power and ability to live for and do what is pleasing to you”.  It is a simple prayer that can change everything if prayed with all sincerity.   This is a wonderful first step for any believer who wants to truly grow in Christ.

20 Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one.

21 Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.

22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.

23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.

24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

The Law was never intended to be the solution to the problem of the Fall.   It was always a temporary stop gap measure, a governor, a tutor, a guardian to keep people from some measure of sin, and to reveal to them just how utterly impossible righteouness is to man.      There was a gap of some 4000 years between when God first conceive Christ in the flesh right at the moment of the fall and His birth, time of ministry on earth and His death and resurrection.

25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

Once we receive Jesus as Lord, we are no longer subject to the Law as we are now governed internally by the Spirit instead of externally by the Law.    The first requires us to study, to try, to make lists, to exercise continuous effort to conform to the outward boundaries set around us.   The second is written on our hearts, it is the force within us, our conscience with a megaphone, our conscience (the Holy Spirit really) to do right empowered to the point that we can plainly hear and do what He prompts us to do.   Our thinking and desires being healed and restored so that the fruit of His presence flows out of us like a river, without conscious effort or striving.  In other words, one leads us into constant works and striving, the other into a place a constant rest in that we are totally confident and totally reliant on the reality that God will faithfully prompt us and lead us as we walk with Him.   Once we have tuned into His voice, it is as simple as listening to and doing all that he shows us to do.   It is a place of peace, joy and provision…. of knowing that the one who knows best has done all the hard work.    Our hands don’t fret all day about what they need to do.   They simply wait for the impulse and instructions to come from the head and then they act.  It is the head that keeps them safe, it is the head that cares for the hands, and directs them.    Christ is the head of the church and we are the body (Colossians 1:18).   Such is the simplicity of lives in Christ.

26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

Is it possible that baptism, annointing with oil etc…. are more like the monuments that we read about in the Old Testament? That are the seal, the moment in time that mark a momentous event in our lives.    Sure, I can take a pile of 12 stones and set them up in our backyard and take my kids there often and tell them all about when the Israelites crossed the Jordan river on dry ground.  But because those stones were not put there by the 12 tribes, because they did not come from the dry river bed that the walked over as God supernaturally held back the waters etc.. that monument isn’t really that meaningful to my children.    Baptism is the action that follows a soul that cries out to the LORD, “YES!!!!  I choose to die to myself, to my life, to my agendas, to sin, to sickness, to the Fall, to cultures and fallen world that surrounds me, to everything other than you taking pre-eminence in my life.    I agree with You that following others gods, including self is meaningless and that You are the one TRUE LORD and that I am choosing with all my will to submit to You as LORD of all my life.”    The action of being dunked in water is one that we have all experienced many times as babies and infants and children . 

There is of course a world of difference between a bath and baptism.     The changes do not occur only because of the physical action of being immersed.   A human marriage in some ways echoes Baptism…   A marriage is consumated by a couple post sharing their vows and committing their lives to one another.  First we say I do and commit our lives with vows to be His and His alone, and then, after the vows (some would argue this order can be reversed), we consumate our union with Him in death and resurrection when we are baptized.  It is the two elements combined  that make for a God honouring union.   We can never put on Christ, if we have not first taken off self.   In  marriage we understand that in saying yes to one we are forsaking all others,  how much more so should it ought to be when  we enter into union with our LORD.     In ancient times, a seal was used to indicate that what was inside the sealed document was legitimate and carrying the weight of the authority of the ones whose seal bore it.    Even in home canning a seal is used to keep what is inside a jar from being contaminated and keeping the contents fresh, palatable and safe to eat.   Those who can take great cares to make sure that the contents are stelirized and prepared first.    A good seal will do absolutely nothing to prevent ill prepared food from spoiling in that jar.   Is it possible that we have shifted the importance to the seal itself and have in some ways, forgotten that what is behind the seal, the preparation and the experience that proceeds the act of annointing etc is the actually the weightier matter?  Is annointing essential.. Absolutely.    Is baptism a necessary step to entering fully into a union with Christ? Scripture records that only those baptized into Christ have put Him on, so YES, 100%.   This is a newer question that has just recently stirred up in my own heart.

“28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

29 And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians+3&version=KJV

Once we are Christ’s alone, once we have died to self, to the world, to sin etc.  Our identity has changed.    When I was married, my old life in many ways ended.   I instantly gained a new name, a new family, a new home etc.  I bound myself to the city in which my husband is bound, I inherited all that he had and became part of the community in which he dwelt.    There are so many parallels here but still these fall short of the the radical shift that takes place when we become born again.        Scripture records that we are “new creations” and that we have put on Christ as our new identity.   It is this new creation, this one clothed in Christ, that is truly heir and truly free.  

Romans 6:4 KJV “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”

2 Corinthians 5:16-18 KJV “16Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. 17Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 18And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;”

Galatians 5  KJV”“1Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.  Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.”

Scripture calls us “to submit to God, resist the devil and he will flee”.    For us to submit to God as Lord, we first and above all things have to know Him, know His will for our lives, we have to earnestly with all diligence study the instructions He has spelled out for us in His Word, we have to eat the food He has lovingly prepared for us daily to grow in strength and wisdom, we have to willingly submit to His chastisement and correction and count these a blessing when they come, we need to find a community of others who are also committed to Him and seeking His Kingdom and face above all other things, and do all that we can to live at peace with and be a blessing to the precious brothers and sisters who surround us.

“24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.  25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”

4th point.   Recognizing the limitations of our enemy and enforcing the Kingdom

I am going to tackle this one in a separate post.    This will also be a future topic to be covered in another session.

From the verses above… Galatians 4.  We are no longer subject to the begarly elements of this world so why are we submitting to them if we don’t have to?

Colossians 1:12-13 King James Version (KJV)
“12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:  13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:”

Many vs All being healed

Exactly how many times did healing happen in the Bible?   And exactly how many times did he heal all, a few, one or many.    That is a big question and one that would likely take me months to put together into a HUGE post.

So I will invite you in to the process I use when researching and seeking our verses.  I invite you to join me and look up the verses.  Discover the ones where many is used in place of all and then seek out the context.  Did all get healed a  few verses later or in the next town they went to?

How relevent is the question?      As Jesus certainly did heal them all relatively often, anyone who kept following Him for any length of time would have been healed.   If they weren’t healed during one the passages where “only” many(abundant, plenteous, great numbers) were, and they followed Him to the next town where all were, they would have surely been healed. The punchline works out to anyone who persisted in following Jesus was healed.  This is a very very encouraging thing.

Starting with the word heal, I found at least 3 Greek words that are translated to this one English word.  Interesting that while all three have different nuances, all three do include the idea of  restoring to health, healing and curing.   Sozo and Iaomai also include the element of making whole.  Together this adds ups to approx 190x that these words are used in the NT.

therapeuō See https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=G2323&t=KJV  for verses with this Greek word.    It is used 44 times in the NT

sozo seehttps://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=G4982&t=KJV It is used 118 times in 103 different verses

ἰάομαι iáomai, ee-ah’-om-ahee; middle voice of apparently a primary verb; to cure (literally or figuratively):—heal, make whole.   See https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=G2390&t=KJV  It is used 28 times and is similar but not identical to sozo in its meaning.

Verses that say many were healed

And great multitudes came unto him [Jesus], having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus’ feet; and he healed them:
And he [Jesus] healed many that were sick of divers diseases, and cast out many devils; and suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew him.

The Word “many” could be as easily translated as plenteous, abundant, great, numerous See https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=G4183&t=KJV for the meaning of the Word many.     In other verses we read and as many as were sick were healed.  These passages that say many were healed could simply mean as many as sick were healed and those of course who were well were not.   Regardless, we do see many verses where all were healed so all being healed should still be happening the majority of the time today.    The language here is ambiguous.    So keep it in mind that there are possibly, if you translate it just so, less than a handful of verses that say Jesus healed many… 
For he [Jesus] had healed many; insomuch that they pressed upon him for to touch him, as many as had plagues.

Mark 3:9-15 King James Version (KJV) “9 And he spake to his disciples, that a small ship should wait on him because of the multitude, lest they should throng him. 10 For he had healed many; insomuch that they pressed upon him for to touch him, as many as had plagues.  11 And unclean spirits, when they saw him, fell down before him, and cried, saying, Thou art the Son of God.  12 And he straitly charged them that they should not make him known.  13 And he goeth up into a mountain, and calleth unto him whom he would: and they came unto him.  14 And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach,   15 And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils:”

Jesus gave them the ability to heal “all manner” of disease so they had the capacity to do so and expected all to be healed.   We can see this in their response to the boy with epilepsy not being healed.   They asked “Why couldn’t we heal him?”.  They had fully expected him to be healed.

Matthew 10:1 King James Version (KJV)  “10 And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.”

And they  [the apostles] cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them.

Luke 7:20-22 King James Version (KJV) “20 When the men were come unto him, they said, John Baptist hath sent us unto thee, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another? 21 And in that same hour he [Jesus] cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits; and unto many that were blind he gave sight.  22 Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached.”

 

We are only getting a glimpse of this day… the verse says, in that same hour, Jesus healed many.   

Acts 8:7 [Philip was the one ministering]
For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed.

Humility vs Hypocrisy and Pride

As we were reading the verses this week, it struck me that for many years I was confused by and perhaps potentially even offended by true humility.

True humility is the ability to totally submit to God Word and will wholy without giving our human intellect or natural appetites and desires have a vote.    This requires us to act with great boldness and confidence in God and His Word, with tenacity to His precepts, and with what can be mistaken as a “stubborn” or “know it all attitude”.

 

James 4:4-6 Amplified Bible (AMP) “4 You adulteresses [disloyal sinners—flirting with the world and breaking your vow to God]! Do you not know that being the world’s friend [that is, loving the things of the world] is being God’s enemy? So whoever chooses to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5 Or do you think that the Scripture says to no purpose [a]that the [human] spirit which He has made to dwell in us lusts with envy? 6 But He gives us more and more grace [through the power of the Holy Spirit to defy sin and live an obedient life that reflects both our faith and our gratitude for our salvation]. Therefore, it says, “God is opposed to the proud and haughty, but [continually] gives [the gift of] grace to the humble [who turn away from self-righteousness].”

1 Peter 5:5 Amplified Bible (AMP) “5 Likewise, you younger men [of lesser rank and experience], be subject to your elders [seek their counsel]; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another [tie on the servant’s apron], for God is opposed to the proud [the disdainful, the presumptuous, and He defeats them], but He gives grace to the humble.”

Pride can be readily spoted in these attributes:    Self-centredness, false humility, entitlement, thinking more of self than others, putting on a false face to appear better than we are in front of others, blaming others for our shortfalls/not accepting responsiblity for weaknesses, self-reliance, independence, the inability to cast our cares and worries and stresses on God (the feeling that we are the source of our salvation or the solution to situations instead of casting our cares and needs on God), inability to delegate for fear others won’t do it will well enough, desire for the praise and recognition of others, any kind of shift in our behaviours between our private (secret) life and our public face, thought like “If only I would…. then it would all be fine”.

Humility recognizes that without God’s help, we are absolutely hopeless and helpless to live in a way that pleases Him, BUT also recognizes that we can do ALL things in Christ.

Humility

HUMIL’ITYnoun [Latin humilitas.]

1. In ethics, freedom from pride and arrogance; humbleness of mind; a modest estimate of one’s own worth. In theology, humility consists in lowliness of mind; a deep sense of one’s own unworthiness in the sight of God, self-abasement, penitence for sin, and submission to the divine will.

Before honor is humility Proverbs 15:33.

Serving the Lord with all humility of mind. Acts 20:19.

2. Act of submission.

With these humilities they satisfied the young king.

http://webstersdictionary1828.com/Dictionary/humility

Andrew Wommack is a teacher who I appreciate.  He has an excellent teaching on this topic on youtube.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntMRgJdnxCo

Hypocrisy is also the antithesis of Humility.     Hypocrisy drives us to put on masks depending on who our audience is at the time, to put on a show to impress others, to give lipservice that is not backed by heart service and lifestyle etc.    Godliness and integrity call us to acting in righteousness and holiness wherever and in whatever we do.

This link will bring you to all sorts of verses about the curses and ill effects of living as a hypocrite:   https://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=hypo&qs_version=KJV

This is important as Jesus rebuked the hypocrites more than any other group and it was His primary accusation against theJewish leaders in His day.

Here is a link to the verses about pride: https://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=pride&qs_version=KJV

And one more for verses about being humble:  https://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?qs_version=KJV&quicksearch=hum

God says to seek first the Kingdom and His righteousness.  Humility is a central character trait of every genuine follower of the Lord Jesus Christ so this Word study is one I encourage everyone to do at some point in their walk.  Blessings.

This Week September 24 and 26th

Hello Precious Brothers and Sisters,

This week we will continue our overview study on the many ways in which scripture reveals some of the unlimited in ways in which He has healed people in the past.

We are page 3 for both days and will be starting with Numbers 12-9-13.   If you have the chance, please pre-read to the end of page 5 and highlight, circle etc what God reveals to you.

John 9:1-32 is a very long passage about the healing of the man born blind.   It is one I did not include in the original passage but I think one that is an interesting read as well.

Praise God that we are truly sitting down to a feast every week.     Keep in mind, His table is so complete and so lavish that no one can “eat” everything in one sitting.   Listen for the one or two gems that He wants to bless you with this week.   Be so encouraged knowing that even though it often doesn’t feel like much is changing,  He is faithfully washing you clean, He is equipping you, He is renewing your mind and healing your body and thinking every time you sit down and devote time to reading and chewing on His Word.   He is leading us little by little into the fulness of the Kingdom.  Praise Our Heavenly Father!!!

Catching a glimpse of the Ministry of the Holy Spirit

 

It is so wonderful to see a growing sense of community and love and compassion in our group! I realized this week how deep the desire to help and encourage one another is.

As we go forward and explore a veritable treasure trove of the most wonderful and amazing truths laid out for us in the Word, it is likely that we will all bump into truths and or areas of our hearts, minds and bodies that need extra healing. What we read may sound so impossible, so utterly too good to be true, or so foreign to our way of thinking, or potentially so contradictory to what we presently know, that our emotions and hearts may respond strongly at times. All of these things are indications that God is revealing new things to us, is at work in us, healing us, building us up, growing us up, equipping us for His work, and establishing us in His Word, so that we will not be easily swayed or shaken away from His Kingdom.

We are seeing some measure of this in our group times already which affords us precious and wonderful opportunities to encourage and build one another up. I have been blessed to see such love and compassion from each one in the group.

A group setting is very tricky in the sense that it is very nearly impossible for a person who is struggling (physically, spiritually or emotionally) to do so without someone else in the group noticing. As caring group members, we naturally offer anyone who seems to be in distress encouragement/ministry while we are in the group setting. As we do not want to put anyone on the spot, we must strive to protect everyone who is struggling or vulnerable, establishing a better protocol is important.

I think this best falls to myself, or at times Angie during a group time. We will likely take a brief time to pray for and acknowledge the situation in a group appropriate way. I am almost always able to stay afterwards for further ministry and prayer if this brief ministry is not sufficient.

I also recognize, though that the need for encouragement or prayer might not wait until the end of a meeting. I have asked Angie, Andrea and Helen to watch for these situations  and respond to this need by gently tapping someone in this position on the shoulder and discreetly asking them if they are ok. If not, they will be available to leave the room quietly and spend a bit of time encouraging and praying with anyone who has this need.

Now after our meeting wraps up, I absolutely encourage you to go up to the person privately, if you believe Holy Spirit has led you, to encourage and ask them gently if they would appreciate prayer or encouragement and if so, by all means follow through. We want to encourage one another to take steps to make sure that this attention is welcome before sharing.

The reality is, we may not see someone “feel better” during our times together even when we do our uttermost to help. This is ok too. Just agape-ing (God-style-loving), on one another and caring for one another sincerely, speaks volumes.

The other part of the equation is that these strong responses are often tied into challenging and very impactful questions. God cares about every thought, every tear and is more than happy to answer all your questions in full. It is very likely that we will hit questions that we simply won’t hear a “satisfying” answer to. This is just fine. God heard it and He has promised to answer.

Keep in mind, sometimes the group in general may not be quite ready to explore a certain topic, in which case I may ask if it is ok for me to defer it for a time when I can collect the appropriate scriptures and prepare a group appropriate answer, or I might offer to be available to discuss it with someone one on one or in a smaller group setting. We have 12 more topics to explore in depth so we will have lots of opportunities to explore many different verses and discover our answers.

Most of us will have to wrestle some things out privately with God. Y’all know my primary heart in these things is to point back to the Word and say, go read it for yourself, figure out what it really says and then live accordingly.

At the end of day, my own place of rest is knowing that all the answers we are looking for are in His book and that He has promised to lead us, each one, into all truth. This is in part what the Holy Spirit is doing for each one of us. It is so wonderful to think about the fact that He who began the good work in each one of us is fully committed to finishing it!

The Importance of Community: Ponderings about The Book of Acts through the Lens of Pilgrim’s Road

Acts 2:40-47 New King James Version (NKJV)
A Vital Church Grows
“40 And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this [a]perverse generation.” 41 Then those who [b]gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. 42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ [c]doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43 Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. 44 Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, 45 and [d]sold their possessions and goods, and divided[e] them among all, as anyone had need.46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added [f]to the church daily those who were being saved.”

I encourage you to take the time to read this verse a few times and circle or underline the key things that the people in the book of Acts did in response to the hearing the Gospel.  I personally believe passages like these reveal the key differences between the church today vs the community of believers then.    My own heart’s prayer is to see the church as it was in the book of Acts here and now.   

This week we were blessed to hear a testimony of the transformative power and the life altering effects of purposefully leaving the daily grind before and walking a new and different road.  I have been chewing on the lessons learned on that road and I am even more fired up to follow Jesus down the road He reveals in His Word.  

My ponderings regarding our time together and  the verses that it brought to mind:

 

Some Potential Benefits of Walking as the Disciples and/or Pilgrims Walk

  1.  Freedom from stuff is well, freeing:

James 5 KJV “Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten.  Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.”

Confession:  The stuff in our home demands far too much of time, my thinking and my energy.  This verse in James takes it a step further and warns us that the things that we take on as stewards but don’t care for actually accuse us before God.   This reminds me to make sure that I recognize that whatever comes into my home (my jurisdiction) is really me saying “yes, I will care for this child, this relationship, this item etc.  Less stuff often means more freedom.   Some verses below that came to my heart as I was thinking of the power that stuff can have in my own life.

Luke 9:2-5 King James Version (KJV)  “2 And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.  3 And he said unto them, Take nothing for your journey, neither staves, nor scrip, neither bread, neither money; neither have two coats apiece.  4 And whatsoever house ye enter into, there abide, and thence depart.  5 And whosoever will not receive you, when ye go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet for a testimony against them.”

Matthew 4:18-20 King James Version (KJV) “18 And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.  20 And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.”

Exodus 23:29-31 King James Version (KJV) “29 I will not drive them out from before thee in one year; lest the land become desolate, and the beast of the field multiply against thee.  30 By little and little I will drive them out from before thee, until thou be increased, and inherit the land.  31 And I will set thy bounds from the Red sea even unto the sea of the Philistines, and from the desert unto the river: for I will deliver the inhabitants of the land into your hand; and thou shalt drive them out before thee.”

Genesis 1:28 King James Version (KJV) “28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.”

James 5:12 English Standard Version (ESV) “12 But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation.”

Matthew 6:33 King James Version (KJV) “”33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

2. Walking in the spirit of Acceptance

Romans 14:10-18 King James Version (KJV)
“10 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.  11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.  12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.  13 Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way.  14 I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean.   15 But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.  16 Let not then your good be evil spoken of:  17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.   18 For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.”

One thing that stood out to me was the acceptance that people experienced while walking in this way.  Now I have never walked 20-30 km per day, but I am guessing that it comes with several temptations and challenges and clearly demands a huge portion of ones time and energy for that day.   What a blessing it must be to look at those walking next to you, near you, ahead of you and behind  you, knowing that in some measure they are all facing the same trials, the same challenges and yet in their minds and bodies are processing and experiencing this same road uniquely.    I think I will learn much just chewing on this one piece of the puzzle.  The narrow road is a hard road.  Each one walking it deserves my love, my encouragement, my respect and as needed, whatever help I can offer.   For whatever reason, walking this type of road alone and yet together seems to breed camaraderie on a whole other level

3.Inability to turn back

Luke 9:61-62 King James Version (KJV)  “61 And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house.  62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

There are somethings in life, some roads we walk that are so impactful that our hearts and minds, our priorities etc are forever shifted.  Being born again is only the beginning.  Many are born again and yet go right back to their old lives.   In some cases, the outward evidence of the change is imperceptible.    But that is not all we are called to.   Jesus said “Deny yourself, pick up your cross and follow me” (Matthew 16:24).   Once we start sincerely following Jesus and walking as He walked, going back is almost impossible.    Jesus wasn’t so much walking to arrive at a physical destination, but He was walking with Kingdom Destination in His mind always.  A pilgrim’s walk is purposeful, set on accomplishing or visiting certain things along the way.  There is a greater destination but the journey itself is equal in value to reaching the end point.

So interesting that many who do this find that when they return to their “old life” they no longer feel comfortable or like they fit there and how deeply etched the desire to be back on the road is.

Ephesians 2:18-22 King James Version (KJV)
“18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.  19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;  20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;  21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:  22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.”

1 Peter 2 [Amplified]”9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a consecrated nation, a [special] people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies [the wonderful deeds and virtues and perfections] of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people [at all], but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.11 Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers [in this world] to abstain from the sensual urges [those dishonorable desires] that wage war against the soul. 12 Keep your behavior excellent among the [unsaved] Gentiles [conduct yourself honorably, with graciousness and integrity], so that [c]for whatever reason they may slander you as evildoers, yet by observing your good deeds they may [instead come to] glorify God [d]in the day of visitation [when He looks upon them with mercy].”

Hebrews 11 KJV”13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.  14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.  15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.  16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.”

 

4.The Road Requires Discipline

The core of being a disciple to be disciplined… both in that one is following a teacher’s lead and in that one must be disciplined in their routines and thinking.   We have x number of years here on earth to accomplish the fullness of God’s plans and purposes for our lives.  He has plotted out a road before us and each of the stops along the way is essential in for our own walk.  I can only guess that there are things that way lay pilgrims along their way.  Whether it is lack of conditioning, injury to things like their feet, bunny trails that they hit along the way, finances etc, life happenings etc.    Preparation and prayer, both mentally and physically were the two keys mentioned on Thursday to walking the way of the pilgrim successfully.  Again, potentially much for me to learn and apply to my own walk.

5.Do not Worry…

Matthew 6:27-32 King James Version (KJV)  “27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? 28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:  29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.  30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?  31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?  32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.”

It struct me that those on the walk, walked with confidence knowing that all along the route were eating establishments that catered specifically to the pilgrims, hostels and other inns to provide places to sleep, and other comforts (the ability to send one’s bags on ahead to lighten the load of the walk).   Our Heavenly Father has equally reliable sources of provision for us all along the road He has called us to walk.  If I could only walk in the same confidence these pilgrims what, how many of my own stresses/fears/worries/thoughts would be free to focus on and enjoy the journey?

6.Eating and Walking Together

Going right back to the top verse, the book of Acts Church made it a priority to do life together daily.  They gathered daily and broke bread together from house to house.  They made room for doing life but incorporating together into it often.   In life, I have been blessed with several close sister that I walk with daily.  We talk often, we meet regularly, we pray together, we do retreats together as often as our lives presently allow.  We listen for one another’s needs and help one anothere where we can.  We encourage one another.  Others, I have had the privilege of walking with only for a short season and yet my life is changed and blessed for having known them.  On the pilgrim’s road, there are some that we see more of and some less, but the feeling of community still pervades because even before they meet, they have much in common.   How extraordinary, to have such a sense of brotherly love for all who are walking in the way.   Dear Brothers and Sisters, I long for this community and hope to reach out for walks with you, for meals with you, for deeper friendships with you but also recognize that each one is walking at their own pace.  I am always thankful for the parts of my journey that I get to share with each one but also thankful that when our roads part, it is because God faithful in leading each one along the unique roads of His purposes and callings on their lives.

I am so thankful for your grace, mercy, generosity, encouragement and forbearance each week.   This week what stood out to me was that one or even two windows of time each week is simply not enough time to do all that these verses call us to together.    As I listened on Thursday, it struct me that having time to talk with other believers is potentially a far more essential element of the christian walk than perhaps we realize.   I am so thankful for this glimpse.    

I would like to add the caveats of if,  when, however this looks like to you, in whatever measure you feel personally called (from none to much more)…  I would like to encourage you as our sense of community and family grows to reach out to one another, to plan to eat meals together, take up activities together, and invest in one another.   We are all walking in different shoes, with different demands on our lives and we are in different seasons so nothing in this post is intended to communicate you MUST do such and such etc.  This is a hopefully an encouragement to tune your heart, head and potential time to see and respond to God’s call to deeper community (whatever that looks like in your life) when it comes.   Seek to find out what others needs are and if you have the means to meet these godly needs, do what you can to meet them.  

I sincerely take delight to see you all connecting with one another and realized that this too is an essential part of the gathering of the saints.  I was thinking perhaps we should have some more social gatherings, perhaps one at the end of each session for people to have the opportunity to chat with one another.   As I do need to keep us focussed during our meeting times on the materials AND I also realize the necessity of life together daily.    Perhaps one thing that would be easy to do would be to encourage anyone who really wants this fellowship time to come half an hour before our start time.  The course description can be changed to incorporate this.   

6:30 to 7 pm Optional Tea/Coffee and snacks social time

7 to 8:30pm Verse study time

8:35 to 9pm Going Deeper study time

9 to 9:15 clean up and godly connection time (if someone says something and you feel you would like to connect with them further on that topic, please take this window to ask if they are willing and if so, exchange contact information to make the appropriate arrangements)

 

Here is how we try to incorporate life together daily in our home.   We delight in inviting dear ones to join us for a meal…  This is a time of day where we hit the pause button and sit down and have the time to really connect with one another.   It is always more fun to prep a meal with another and definitely more enjoyable to clean up after one with help.   I have felt intimidated to invite people into our “not quiet” and “real” home (remember 4 kids) which is clean up impossible to keep tidy.    I need to be more transparent about the realities of my days.   We cannot sincerely help one another if we don’t know one anothers needs.  This impedes the sharing in all things portion of the verse above.  So many have the capacity or giftings to fill the needs we each have.   

I was reminded on Tuesday by the voice of wisdom (hopefully you know who you are) that we need one another to measure up to the fullness of Christ.

I will take some time here to share what I have been chewing on and the scriptures that have come to my mind thanks to our discussions this week.  

 

 

 

 

This Week’s Bible Study

Hello and welcome back!!!

This week we are starting a new Topic so you will all be receiving a new bunch of scriptures to read, meditate on and ponder.   If you want to preview these at home, here is the link:

https://healinganddiscipleship.com/2019/09/02/topic-2-healing-an-overview-of-different-types-of-healings-in-scripture-by-grace-by-mercy-by-miracles/

We typically cover 9 to 12 verses each week, so if you pre-read the first 12 verses, writing down your notes etc, you will be well prepared.

Tuesday morning, doors open for 9:15 although on most mornings I will be there at 9am should you have any questions etc.  We will start at 9:30 and go to 11:30.  The last half hour is fully optional and will as always be reserved for the more “hot topic” type discussions etc.

Thursday, we meet from 7 to 9pm… again that last half hour between 8:30 and 9pm is fully optional.   Doors open for 6:45 so you all can come in and get settled for 7pm.

Guests are always welcome and of course if you are delayed, do slip in quietly even if you are arriving late.   With so many verses to explore it is possible to jump in at any time.

Blessings,  I have missed our times together and look forward to seeing you all.

 

 

 

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Topic 2 Healing: An Overview of Different types of healings in Scripture (By Grace, By Mercy, By Miracles)

 

 

Overview:  This is an overview lesson to understand how God is known to have healed in the past and present.    We can only hope to get a glimpse based on John 21:25 as Jesus did far too much for any book to contain or any man to record.

 

Prayer: Father God, I pray that you would help us each one to meditate on your majestic, glorious splendour and your wonderful miracles. Help us to get the power and awesomeness and your willingness to pour them out over lives right here in our hearts.  In Jesus Christ’s name. [Psalm 145:5]

 

 

Micah 7:15 “Yes,” says the Lord, “I will do mighty miracles for you, like those I did when I rescued you from slavery in Egypt.”

 

1.__________________________________________________________________

 

John 21:25 “And there are also many other things which Jesus did. If they should be all recorded one by one [in detail], I suppose that even the world itself could not contain (have room for) the books that would be written.”

 

 

2.____________________________________________________________________

 

Mark 10:46-52 “Then they reached Jericho, and as Jesus and his disciples left town, a large crowd followed him. A blind beggar named Bartimaeus (son of Timaeus) was sitting beside the road.  When Bartimaeus heard that Jesus of Nazareth was nearby, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”  “Be quiet!” many of the people yelled at him.  But he only shouted louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”  When Jesus heard him, he stopped and said, “Tell him to come here.” So they called the blind man. “Cheer up,” they said. “Come on, he’s calling you!”  Bartimaeus threw aside his coat, jumped up, and came to Jesus. “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked. “My rabbi,” the blind man said, “I want to see!” And Jesus said to him, “Go, for your faith has healed you.” Instantly the man could see, and he followed Jesus down the road.”

 

 

 

Matthew 9:20-22 and Mark 5:28-30 and Luke 8:43-48 “A woman in the crowd had suffered for twelve years with constant bleeding, and she could find no cure.  Coming up behind Jesus, she touched the fringe of his robe. Immediately, the bleeding stopped.  “Who touched me?” Jesus asked.    Everyone denied it, and Peter said, “Master, this whole crowd is pressing up against you.”  But Jesus said, “Someone deliberately touched me, for I felt healing power go out from me.”  When the woman realized that she could not stay hidden, she began to tremble and fell to her knees in front of him. The whole crowd heard her explain why she had touched him and that she had been immediately healed.  “Daughter,” he said to her, “your faith has made you well. Go in peace.”

 

 

 

Matthew 9:27-29 “After Jesus left the girl’s home, two blind men followed along behind him, shouting, “Son of David, have mercy on us!”  They went right into the house where he was staying, and Jesus asked them, “Do you believe I can make you see?” “Yes, Lord,” they told him, “we do.”  Then he touched their eyes and said, “Because of your faith, it will happen.”  Then their eyes were opened, and they could see!”

3._____________________________________________________________

 

Acts 20:9-12 “As Paul spoke on and on, a young man named Eutychus, sitting on the windowsill, became very drowsy. Finally, he fell sound asleep and dropped three stories to his death below.  Paul went down, bent over him, and took him into his arms. “Don’t worry,” he said, “he’s alive!”  Then they all went back upstairs, shared in the Lord’s Supper, and ate together. Paul continued talking to them until dawn, and then he left. Meanwhile, the young man was taken home unhurt, and everyone was greatly relieved.”

 

 

 

Luke 22:50-51 “And one of them struck at the high priest’s slave, slashing off his right ear.  But Jesus said, “No more of this.” And he touched the man’s ear and healed him.”

 

 

 

4_________________________________________________________________________

James 5:14-18 “Are any of you sick? You should call for the elders of the church to come and pray over you, anointing you with oil in the name of the Lord. Such a prayer offered in faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will make you well. And if you have committed any sins, you will be forgiven. Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.  Elijah was as human as we are, and yet when he prayed earnestly that no rain would fall, none fell for three and a half years! Then, when he prayed again, the sky sent down rain and the earth began to yield its crops.”

 

 

 

Mark 6:12-13 “So the disciples went out, telling everyone they met to repent of their sins and turn to God.  And they cast out many demons and healed many sick people, anointing them with olive oil.”

 

 

 

 

5.________________________________________________________________________

 

Acts 19:11-13 “God gave Paul the power to perform unusual miracles.  When handkerchiefs or aprons that had merely touched his skin were placed on sick people, they were healed of their diseases, and evil spirits were expelled.”

 

 

 

Matthew 14:33-36 “Then the disciples worshiped him. “You really are the Son of God!” they exclaimed.  After they had crossed the lake, they landed at Gennesaret.  When the people recognized Jesus, the news of his arrival spread quickly throughout the whole area, and soon people were bringing all their sick to be healed.  They begged him to let the sick touch at least the fringe of his robe, and all who touched him were healed.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

6.___________________________________________________________________________________

 

Numbers 12:9-13 “The Lord was very angry with them, and he departed.  As the cloud moved from above the Tabernacle, there stood Miriam, her skin as white as snow from leprosy. When Aaron saw what had happened to her,  he cried out to Moses, “Oh, my master! Please don’t punish us for this sin we have so foolishly committed.  Don’t let her be like a stillborn baby, already decayed at birth.”  So Moses cried out to the Lord, “O God, I beg you, please heal her!” But the Lord said to Moses, “If her father had done nothing more than spit in her face, wouldn’t she be defiled for seven days? So keep her outside the camp for seven days, and after that she may be accepted back.”

 

 

 

2 Kings 15:9-15  “Then Naaman went with his horses and chariot, and he stood at the door of Elisha’s house.  And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored to you, and you shall be clean.” But Naaman became furious, and went away and said, “Indeed, I said to myself, ‘He will surely come out to me, and stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, and wave his hand over the place, and heal the leprosy.’ Are not the Abanah[and the Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?” So he turned and went away in a rage.  And his servants came near and spoke to him, and said, “My father, if the prophet had told you to do something great, would you not have done it? How much more then, when he says to you, ‘Wash, and be clean’?” So he went down and dipped seven times in the Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God; and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.”

 

 

 

1 Kings 17:17-30 (context 8-30) “Some time later the woman’s son became sick. He grew worse and worse, and finally he died.  Then she said to Elijah, “O man of God, what have you done to me? Have you come here to point out my sins and kill my son?”  But Elijah replied, “Give me your son.” And he took the child’s body from her arms, carried him up the stairs to the room where he was staying, and laid the body on his bed.  Then Elijah cried out to the Lord, “O Lord my God, why have you brought tragedy to this widow who has opened her home to me, causing her son to die?”  And he stretched himself out over the child three times and cried out to the Lord, “O Lord my God, please let this child’s life return to him.”  The Lord heard Elijah’s prayer, and the life of the child returned, and he revived!  Then Elijah brought him down from the upper room and gave him to his mother. “Look!” he said. “Your son is alive!”  Then the woman told Elijah, “Now I know for sure that you are a man of God, and that the Lord truly speaks through you.”

 

 

 

2 Kings 20:1-10 “About that time Hezekiah became deathly ill, and the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to visit him. He gave the king this message: “This is what the Lord says: Set your affairs in order, for you are going to die. You will not recover from this illness.” When Hezekiah heard this, he turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord, “Remember, O Lord, how I have always been faithful to you and have served you single-mindedly, always doing what pleases you.” Then he broke down and wept bitterly. But before Isaiah had left the middle courtyard, this message came to him from the Lord:  “Go back to Hezekiah, the leader of my people. Tell him, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of your ancestor David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears. I will heal you, and three days from now you will get out of bed and go to the Temple of the Lord.  I will add fifteen years to your life, and I will rescue you and this city from the king of Assyria. I will defend this city for my own honor and for the sake of my servant David.’”  Then Isaiah said, “Make an ointment from figs.” So Hezekiah’s servants spread the ointment over the boil, and Hezekiah recovered!  Meanwhile, Hezekiah had said to Isaiah, “What sign will the Lord give to prove that he will heal me and that I will go to the Temple of the Lord three days from now?”  Isaiah replied, “This is the sign from the Lord to prove that he will do as he promised. Would you like the shadow on the sundial to go forward ten steps or backward ten steps?” “The shadow always moves forward,” Hezekiah replied, “so that would be easy. Make it go ten steps backward instead.”  So Isaiah the prophet asked the Lord to do this, and he caused the shadow to move ten steps backward on the sundial of Ahaz!”

 

 

 

2 Kings 4:17-37 “But sure enough, the woman soon became pregnant. And at that time the following year she had a son, just as Elisha had said. One day when her child was older, he went out to help his father, who was working with the harvesters.  Suddenly he cried out, “My head hurts! My head hurts!”   His father said to one of the servants, “Carry him home to his mother.” So the servant took him home, and his mother held him on her lap. But around noontime he died.  She carried him up and laid him on the bed of the man of God, then shut the door and left him there.  She sent a message to her husband: “Send one of the servants and a donkey so that I can hurry to the man of God and come right back.”  “Why go today?” he asked. “It is neither a new moon festival nor a Sabbath.”    But she said, “It will be all right.”  So she saddled the donkey and said to the servant, “Hurry! Don’t slow down unless I tell you to.”  As she approached the man of God at Mount Carmel, Elisha saw her in the distance. He said to Gehazi, “Look, the woman from Shunem is coming.  Run out to meet her and ask her, ‘Is everything all right with you, your husband, and your child?’”  “Yes,” the woman told Gehazi, “everything is fine.”  But when she came to the man of God at the mountain, she fell to the ground before him and caught hold of his feet. Gehazi began to push her away, but the man of God said, “Leave her alone. She is deeply troubled, but the Lord has not told me what it is.”  Then she said, “Did I ask you for a son, my lord? And didn’t I say, ‘Don’t deceive me and get my hopes up’?”  Then Elisha said to Gehazi, “Get ready to travel; take my staff and go! Don’t talk to anyone along the way. Go quickly and lay the staff on the child’s face.” But the boy’s mother said, “As surely as the Lord lives and you yourself live, I won’t go home unless you go with me.” So Elisha returned with her.  Gehazi hurried on ahead and laid the staff on the child’s face, but nothing happened. There was no sign of life. He returned to meet Elisha and told him, “The child is still dead.”  When Elisha arrived, the child was indeed dead, lying there on the prophet’s bed.  He went in alone and shut the door behind him and prayed to the Lord.  Then he lay down on the child’s body, placing his mouth on the child’s mouth, his eyes on the child’s eyes, and his hands on the child’s hands. And as he stretched out on him, the child’s body began to grow warm again!  Elisha got up, walked back and forth across the room once, and then stretched himself out again on the child. This time the boy sneezed seven times and opened his eyes! Then Elisha summoned Gehazi. “Call the child’s mother!” he said. And when she came in, Elisha said, “Here, take your son!” She fell at his feet and bowed before him, overwhelmed with gratitude. Then she took her son in her arms and carried him downstairs.”

 

 

 

7.____________________________________________________________________________________

2 Kings 13:21 “Once when some Israelites were burying a man, they spied a band of these raiders. So they hastily threw the corpse into the tomb of Elisha and fled. But as soon as the body touched Elisha’s bones, the dead man revived and jumped to his feet!”

 

 

 

 

 

 

8._____________________________________________________________________

 

1 Samuel 16:14-23 “Now the Spirit of the Lord had left Saul, and the Lord sent a tormenting spirit that filled him with depression and fear.  Some of Saul’s servants said to him, “A tormenting spirit from God is troubling you.  Let us find a good musician to play the harp whenever the tormenting spirit troubles you. He will play soothing music, and you will soon be well again.” “All right,” Saul said. “Find me someone who plays well, and bring him here.” One of the servants said to Saul, “One of Jesse’s sons from Bethlehem is a talented harp player. Not only that—he is a brave warrior, a man of war, and has good judgment. He is also a fine-looking young man, and the Lord is with him.”  So Saul sent messengers to Jesse to say, “Send me your son David, the shepherd.”  Jesse responded by sending David to Saul, along with a young goat, a donkey loaded with bread, and a wineskin full of wine.  So David went to Saul and began serving him. Saul loved David very much, and David became his armor bearer.  Then Saul sent word to Jesse asking, “Please let David remain in my service, for I am very pleased with him.” And whenever the tormenting spirit from God troubled Saul, David would play the harp. Then Saul would feel better, and the tormenting spirit would go away”

 

 

 

9.__________________________________________________________________________

 

Deuteronomy 34:7  “Moses was 120 years old when he died, yet his eyesight was clear, and he was as strong as ever.”

 

 

 

Genesis 5:22-24  “After the birth of Methuselah, Enoch lived in close fellowship with God for another 300 years, and he had other sons and daughters.  Enoch lived 365 years,  walking in close fellowship with God. Then one day he disappeared, because God took him.”

 

 

 

Hebrews 11:5 “It was by faith that Enoch was taken up to heaven without dying—“he disappeared, because God took him.” For before he was taken up, he was known as a person who pleased God.”

 

 

 

Psalm 92:12-14 “But the godly will flourish like palm trees and grow strong like the cedars of Lebanon.  For they are transplanted to the Lord’s own house. They flourish in the courts of our God. Even in old age they will still produce fruit; they will remain vital and green.”

 

 

 

2 Kings 2:11 “As they were walking along and talking, suddenly a chariot of fire appeared, drawn by horses of fire. It drove between the two men, separating them, and Elijah was carried by a whirlwind into heaven.”

 

 

 

Hebrews 9:27 “And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment,”

 

 

 

Genesis 25:7-8 “Abraham lived for 175 years, and he died at a ripe old age, having lived a long and satisfying life. He breathed his last and joined his ancestors in death.”

 

 

 

See also Genesis 27:1, Genesis 48:10- interesting that both Isaac and Jacob were going blind in old age

 

 

 

Psalm 71:9 “ And now, in my old age, don’t set me aside. Don’t abandon me when my strength is failing.”

 

 

 

Psalm 90:10-12 “The days of our lives are seventy years; and if by reason of strength they are eighty years, Yet their boast is only labour and sorrow; For it is soon cut off, and we fly away. Who knows the power of Your anger?  For as the fear of You, so is Your wrath. So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”

 

 

 

1 Kings 1:1 “King David was now very old, and no matter how many blankets covered him, he could not keep warm.”

 

 

 

10._______________________________________________________

 

Acts 3:2-8  “As they approached the Temple, a man lame from birth was being carried in. Each day he was put beside the Temple gate, the one called the Beautiful Gate, so he could beg from the people going into the Temple. When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for some money.  Peter and John looked at him intently, and Peter said, “Look at us!”  The lame man looked at them eagerly, expecting some money.  But Peter said, “I don’t have any silver or gold for you. But I’ll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, get up and walk!” Then Peter took the lame man by the right hand and helped him up. And as he did, the man’s feet and ankles were instantly healed and strengthened.  He jumped up, stood on his feet, and began to walk! Then, walking, leaping, and praising God, he went into the Temple with them.”

 

 

 

Acts 5:14-16  “Yet more and more people believed and were brought to the Lord—crowds of both men and women.  As a result of the apostles’ work, sick people were brought out into the streets on beds and mats so that Peter’s shadow might fall across some of them as he went by.  Crowds came from the villages around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those possessed by evil spirits, and they were all healed.”

 

 

Acts 8:5-8 “Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Christ there. When the crowds heard Philip and saw the miraculous signs he did, they all paid close attention to what he said. With shrieks, evil spirits came out of many, and many paralytics and cripples were healed. So there was great joy in that city.”

 

Acts9:33-35  “There he met a man named Aeneas, who had been paralyzed and bedridden for eight years.  Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you! Get up, and roll up your sleeping mat!” And he was healed instantly.  Then the whole population of Lydda and Sharon saw Aeneas walking around, and they turned to the Lord.”

 

 

 

Acts 9:36-41 “There was a believer in Joppa named Tabitha (which in Greek is Dorcas). She was always doing kind things for others and helping the poor.  About this time she became ill and died. Her body was washed for burial and laid in an upstairs room.  But the believers had heard that Peter was nearby at Lydda, so they sent two men to beg him, “Please come as soon as possible!”  So Peter returned with them; and as soon as he arrived, they took him to the upstairs room. The room was filled with widows who were weeping and showing him the coats and other clothes Dorcas had made for them.  But Peter asked them all to leave the room; then he knelt and prayed. Turning to the body he said, “Get up, Tabitha.” And she opened her eyes! “When she saw Peter, she sat up!  He gave her his hand and helped her up. Then he called in the widows and all the believers, and he presented her to them alive.”

 

 

 

John 11:1-44 “A man named Lazarus was sick. He lived in Bethany with his sisters, Mary and Martha.  This is the Mary who later poured the expensive perfume on the Lord’s feet and wiped them with her hair. Her brother, Lazarus, was sick. So the two sisters sent a message to Jesus telling him, “Lord, your dear friend is very sick.”  But when Jesus heard about it he said, “Lazarus’s sickness will not end in death. No, it happened for the glory of God so that the Son of God will receive glory from this.”  So although Jesus loved Martha, Mary, and Lazarus,  he stayed where he was for the next two days.  Finally, he said to his disciples, “Let’s go back to Judea.”  But his disciples objected. “Rabbi,” they said, “only a few days ago the people in Judea were trying to stone you. Are you going there again?”   Jesus replied, “There are twelve hours of daylight every day. During the day people can walk safely. They can see because they have the light of this world.  But at night there is danger of stumbling because they have no light.”  Then he said, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but now I will go and wake him up.” The disciples said, “Lord, if he is sleeping, he will soon get better!” They thought Jesus meant Lazarus was simply sleeping, but Jesus meant Lazarus had died. So he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead.  And for your sakes, I’m glad I wasn’t there, for now you will really believe. Come, let’s go see him.”   Thomas, nicknamed the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let’s go, too—and die with Jesus.” When Jesus arrived at Bethany, he was told that Lazarus had already been in his grave for four days.  Bethany was only a few miles down the road from Jerusalem, and many of the people had come to console Martha and Mary in their loss. When Martha got word that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him. But Mary stayed in the house.  Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died.  But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask.”  Jesus told her, “Your brother will rise again.”  “Yes,” Martha said, “he will rise when everyone else rises, at the last day.” Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this, Martha?”  “Yes, Lord,” she told him. “I have always believed you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who has come into the world from God.”  Then she returned to Mary. She called Mary aside from the mourners and told her, “The Teacher is here and wants to see you.”  So Mary immediately went to him.  Jesus had stayed outside the village, at the place where Martha met him. When the people who were at the house consoling Mary saw her leave so hastily, they assumed she was going to Lazarus’s grave to weep. So they followed her there. When Mary arrived and saw Jesus, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died.”  When Jesus saw her weeping and saw the other people wailing with her, a deep anger welled up within him, and he was deeply troubled. “Where have you put him?” he asked them.    They told him, “Lord, come and see.”  Then Jesus wept.  The people who were standing nearby said, “See how much he loved him!”  But some said, “This man healed a blind man. Couldn’t he have kept Lazarus from dying?”  Jesus was still angry as he arrived at the tomb, a cave with a stone rolled across its entrance.  “Roll the stone aside,” Jesus told them.    But Martha, the dead man’s sister, protested, “Lord, he has been dead for four days. The smell will be terrible.” Jesus responded, “Didn’t I tell you that you would see God’s glory if you believe?”  So they rolled the stone aside. Then Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, thank you for hearing me. You always hear me, but I said it out loud for the sake of all these people standing here, so that they will believe you sent me.”  Then Jesus shouted, “Lazarus, come out!”  And the dead man came out, his hands and feet bound in graveclothes, his face wrapped in a headcloth. Jesus told them, “Unwrap him and let him go!”

 

 

 

Luke 4:33-35 “Once when he was in the synagogue, a man possessed by a demon—an evil spirit—began shouting at Jesus, “Go away! Why are you interfering with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One sent from God!” Jesus cut him short. “Be quiet! Come out of the man,” he ordered. At that, the demon threw the man to the floor as the crowd watched; then it came out of him without hurting him further.”

 

 

 

Mark 1:23-26 “Suddenly, a man in the synagogue who was possessed by an evil spirit began shouting,  “Why are you interfering with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One sent from God!” Jesus cut him short. “Be quiet! Come out of the man,” he ordered. At that, the evil spirit screamed, threw the man into a convulsion, and then came out of him.”

 

 

 

Luke 7:20-22 and Matthew 11:2-5 “So the men came to Jesus and said, John the Baptist sent us to You to ask, Are You the One Who is to come, or shall we [continue to] look for another? In that very hour Jesus was healing many [people] of sicknesses and distressing bodily plagues and evil spirits, and to many who were blind He gave [a free, gracious, joy-giving gift of] sight. So He replied to them, Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the good news (the Gospel) preached to them.”

 

 

 

Luke 8:40-56 “But when Jesus heard what had happened, he said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid. Just have faith, and she will be healed.”  When they arrived at the house, Jesus wouldn’t let anyone go in with him except Peter, John, James, and the little girl’s father and mother.  The house was filled with people weeping and wailing, but he said, “Stop the weeping! She isn’t dead; she’s only asleep.”  But the crowd laughed at him because they all knew she had died.  Then Jesus took her by the hand and said in a loud voice, “My child, get up!”  And at that moment her life returned, and she immediately stood up! Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat.  Her parents were overwhelmed, but Jesus insisted that they not tell anyone what had happened.”

 

 

 

Luke 9:11 “But the crowds found out where he was going, and they followed him. He welcomed them and taught them about the Kingdom of God, and he healed those who were sick.”

 

Mark 1:30-34 also see Matthew 8:14-15 “Now Simon’s mother-in-law was sick in bed with a high fever. They told Jesus about her right away. So he went to her bedside, took her by the hand, and helped her sit up. Then the fever left her, and she prepared a meal for them.  That evening after sunset, many sick and demon-possessed people were brought to Jesus. The whole town gathered at the door to watch.  So Jesus healed many people who were sick with various diseases, and he cast out many demons. But because the demons knew who he was, he did not allow them to speak.”

 

 

 

Mark 3:1-5,  Matthew 12:13  and Luke 6: 6-11 “Jesus went into the synagogue again and noticed a man with a deformed hand.  Since it was the Sabbath, Jesus’ enemies watched him closely. If he healed the man’s hand, they planned to accuse him of working on the Sabbath. Jesus said to the man with the deformed hand, “Come and stand in front of everyone.”  Then he turned to his critics and asked, “Does the law permit good deeds on the Sabbath, or is it a day for doing evil? Is this a day to save life or to destroy it?” But they wouldn’t answer him. He looked around at them angrily and was deeply saddened by their hard hearts. Then he said to the man, “Hold out your hand.” So the man held out his hand, and it was restored!”

 

 

 

Matthew 8:2-3 “2Suddenly a leper came and knelt before Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” 3Jesus reached out His hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” He said. “Be clean!” And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.…”

 

 

 

Matthew 8:35-36 “Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages of that area, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness.  When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”

 

 

 

Matthew 9:32-33 and Mark 5:32-42 “When they left, a demon-possessed man who couldn’t speak was brought to Jesus.  So Jesus cast out the demon, and then the man began to speak. The crowds were amazed. “Nothing like this has ever happened in Israel!” they exclaimed.”

 

 

 

Matthew 12:15-16 “But Jesus knew what they were planning. So he left that area, and many people followed him. He healed all the sick among them, but he warned them not to reveal who he was.”

 

 

 

Matthew 12:22-32 “Then a demon-possessed man, who was blind and couldn’t speak, was brought to Jesus. He healed the man so that he could both speak and see.  The crowd was amazed and asked, “Could it be that Jesus is the Son of David, the Messiah?” But when the Pharisees heard about the miracle, they said, “No wonder he can cast out demons. He gets his power from Satan, the prince of demons.”  Jesus knew their thoughts and replied, “Any kingdom divided by civil war is doomed. A town or family splintered by feuding will fall apart.  And if Satan is casting out Satan, he is divided and fighting against himself. His own kingdom will not survive.  And if I am empowered by Satan, what about your own exorcists? They cast out demons, too, so they will condemn you for what you have said. But if I am casting out demons by the Spirit of God, then the Kingdom of God has arrived among you.  For who is powerful enough to enter the house of a strong man like Satan and plunder his goods? Only someone even stronger—someone who could tie him up and then plunder his house.  “Anyone who isn’t with me opposes me, and anyone who isn’t working with me is actually working against me.  “So I tell you, every sin and blasphemy can be forgiven—except blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, which will never be forgiven.  Anyone who speaks against the Son of Man can be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven, either in this world or in the world to come.”

 

 

 

Matthew 15:30-31 “A vast crowd brought to him people who were lame, blind, crippled, those who couldn’t speak, and many others. They laid them before Jesus, and he healed them all.  The crowd was amazed! Those who hadn’t been able to speak were talking, the crippled were made well, the lame were walking, and the blind could see again! And they praised the God of Israel.”

 

 

 

Matthew 19:2 “Large crowds followed him there, and he healed their sick.”

 

 

 

Matthew 21:14 “The blind and the lame came to him in the Temple, and he healed them.

 

.

 

11._____________________________________________________________________________

 

Luke 5:18-25, Mark 2:3-11 and Matthew 9:2-8  “Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a sleeping mat. They tried to take him inside to Jesus, but they couldn’t reach him because of the crowd. So they went up to the roof and took off some tiles. Then they lowered the sick man on his mat down into the crowd, right in front of Jesus.  Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the man, “Young man, your sins are forgiven.” But the Pharisees and teachers of religious law said to themselves, “Who does he think he is? That’s blasphemy! Only God can forgive sins!”  Jesus knew what they were thinking, so he asked them, “Why do you question this in your hearts?  Is it easier to say ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up and walk’?  So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!”  And immediately, as everyone watched, the man jumped up, picked up his mat, and went home praising God.”

 

 

 

Luke 7:6-10  (Matthew 8:5-13)“So Jesus went with them. But just before they arrived at the house, the officer sent some friends to say, “Lord, don’t trouble yourself by coming to my home, for I am not worthy of such an honour. I am not even worthy to come and meet you. Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed.  I know this because I am under the authority of my superior officers, and I have authority over my soldiers. I only need to say, ‘Go,’ and they go, or ‘Come,’ and they come. And if I say to my slaves, ‘Do this,’ they do it.” When Jesus heard this, he was amazed. Turning to the crowd that was following him, he said, “I tell you, I haven’t seen faith like this in all Israel!” And when the officer’s friends returned to his house, they found the slave completely healed”

 

 

Matthew 9:18-26 also see Luke 8: 40-56. “As Jesus was saying this, the leader of a synagogue came and knelt before him. “My daughter has just died,” he said, “but you can bring her back to life again if you just come and lay your hand on her.” So Jesus and his disciples got up and went with him. Just then a woman who had suffered for twelve years with constant bleeding came up behind him. She touched the fringe of his robe,  for she thought, “If I can just touch his robe, I will be healed.” Jesus turned around, and when he saw her he said, “Daughter, be encouraged! Your faith has made you well.” And the woman was healed at that moment.  When Jesus arrived at the official’s home, he saw the noisy crowd and heard the funeral music.  “Get out!” he told them. “The girl isn’t dead; she’s only asleep.” But the crowd laughed at him. After the crowd was put outside, however, Jesus went in and took the girl by the hand, and she stood up! The report of this miracle swept through the entire countryside.”

 

 

 

Mark 7:25-30 see also Matthew 15:26-28  “Right away a woman who had heard about him came and fell at his feet. Her little girl was possessed by an evil spirit,  and she begged him to cast out the demon from her daughter.  Since she was a Gentile, born in Syrian Phoenicia, Jesus told her, “First I should feed the children—my own family, the Jews. It isn’t right to take food from the children and throw it to the dogs.”  She replied, “That’s true, Lord, but even the dogs under the table are allowed to eat the scraps from the children’s plates.”  “Good answer!” he said. “Now go home, for the demon has left your daughter.”  And when she arrived home, she found her little girl lying quietly in bed, and the demon was gone. “

 

 

12.___________________________________________________________________________

Hebrews 4:16 “So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.”

 

 

 

Romans 9:14-23  “Are we saying, then, that God was unfair? Of course not! For God said to Moses, “I will show mercy to anyone I choose, and I will show compassion to anyone I choose.” So it is God who decides to show mercy. We can neither choose it nor work for it.  For the Scriptures say that God told Pharaoh, “I have appointed you for the very purpose of displaying my power in you and to spread my fame throughout the earth.” So you see, God chooses to show mercy to some, and he chooses to harden the hearts of others so they refuse to listen.  Well then, you might say, “Why does God blame people for not responding? Haven’t they simply done what he makes them do?”  No, don’t say that. Who are you, a mere human being, to argue with God? Should the thing that was created say to the one who created it, “Why have you made me like this?” When a potter makes jars out of clay, doesn’t he have a right to use the same lump of clay to make one jar for decoration and another to throw garbage into? In the same way, even though God has the right to show his anger and his power, he is very patient with those on whom his anger falls, who are destined for destruction.  He does this to make the riches of his glory shine even brighter on those to whom he shows mercy, who were prepared in advance for glory. “

 

 

 

Psalm 86:13-17  “for your love for me is very great.  You have rescued me from the depths of death. O God, insolent people rise up against me; a violent gang is trying to kill me.     You mean nothing to them. But you, O Lord, are a God of compassion and mercy,  slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness. Look down and have mercy on me.    Give your strength to your servant; save me, the son of your servant. Send me a sign of your favour.  Then those who hate me will be put to shame,  for you, O Lord, help and comfort me.”

 

 

13.__________________________________________________________________________

 

Mark 8:22-25  “When they arrived at Bethsaida, some people brought a blind man to Jesus, and they begged him to touch the man and heal him.  Jesus took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village. Then, spitting on the man’s eyes, he laid his hands on him and asked, “Can you see anything now?”  The man looked around. “Yes,” he said, “I see people, but I can’t see them very clearly. They look like trees walking around.” Then Jesus placed his hands on the man’s eyes again, and his eyes were opened. His sight was completely restored, and he could see everything clearly.”

 

 

 

14.___________________________________________________________________________

 

Acts 14:8-10 “While they were at Lystra, Paul and Barnabas came upon a man with crippled feet. He had been that way from birth, so he had never walked. He was sitting  and listening as Paul preached. Looking straight at him, Paul realized he had faith to be healed.  So Paul called to him in a loud voice, “Stand up!” And the man jumped to his feet and started walking.”

 

 

 

Romans 10:17

NLT “So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ.”

KJV “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

 

 

 

Romans 12:3  “For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.” KJV

 

 

 

15._____________________________________________________________________________

 

Luke 17:14-19  “He looked at them and said, “Go show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed of their leprosy.  One of them, when he saw that he was healed, came back to Jesus, shouting, “Praise God!”  He fell to the ground at Jesus’ feet, thanking him for what he had done. This man was a Samaritan. Jesus asked, “Didn’t I heal ten men? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?”  And Jesus said to the man, “Stand up and go. Your faith has healed you.”

 

 

 

16._______________________________________________________________________

 

Matthew 20:29-34 “As Jesus and the disciples left the town of Jericho, a large crowd followed behind.  Two blind men were sitting beside the road. When they heard that Jesus was coming that way, they began shouting, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”  “Be quiet!” the crowd yelled at them.   But they only shouted louder, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”  When Jesus heard them, he stopped and called, “What do you want me to do for you?”  “Lord,” they said, “we want to see!”  Jesus felt sorry for them and touched their eyes. Instantly they could see! Then they followed him.”

 

 

 

17._______________________________________________________________________

 

Matthew 9:35 “Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages of that area, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness.”

 

 

18.__________________________________________________________________________

Mark 5:1-12 and Luke 8:26-33 “So they arrived in the region of the Gerasenes, across the lake from Galilee. As Jesus was climbing out of the boat, a man who was possessed by demons came out to meet him. For a long time he had been homeless and naked, living in a cemetery outside the town.  As soon as he saw Jesus, he shrieked and fell down in front of him. Then he screamed, “Why are you interfering with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Please, I beg you, don’t torture me!” For Jesus had already commanded the evil spirit to come out of him. This spirit had often taken control of the man. Even when he was placed under guard and put in chains and shackles, he simply broke them and rushed out into the wilderness, completely under the demon’s power.  Jesus demanded, “What is your name?”    “Legion,” he replied, for he was filled with many demons. The demons kept begging Jesus not to send them into the bottomless pit  There happened to be a large herd of pigs feeding on the hillside nearby, and the demons begged him to let them enter into the pigs.    So Jesus gave them permission. Then the demons came out of the man and entered the pigs, and the entire herd plunged down the steep hillside into the lake and drowned. “

 

 

 

19._____________________________________________________________

 

Matthew 8:16-17 “That evening many demon-possessed people were brought to Jesus. He cast out the evil spirits with a simple command, and he healed all the sick. “He took our sicknesses  and removed our diseases.”

 

 

 

20._______________________________________________________________________________

 

John 4:46-52 “As he traveled through Galilee, he came to Cana, where he had turned the water into wine. There was a government official in nearby Capernaum whose son was very sick.  When he heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went and begged Jesus to come to Capernaum to heal his son, who was about to die.  Jesus asked, “Will you never believe in me unless you see miraculous signs and wonders?”  The official pleaded, “Lord, please come now before my little boy dies.”  Then Jesus told him, “Go back home. Your son will live!” And the man believed what Jesus said and started home.  While the man was on his way, some of his servants met him with the news that his son was alive and well.  He asked them when the boy had begun to get better, and they replied, “Yesterday afternoon at one o’clock his fever suddenly disappeared!”

 

 

 

21.______________________________________________________________________

 

Mark 1:35-45 “Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray. Later Simon and the others went out to find him. When they found him, they said, “Everyone is looking for you.”  But Jesus replied, “We must go on to other towns as well, and I will preach to them, too. That is why I came.”  So he traveled throughout the region of Galilee, preaching in the synagogues and casting out demons. A man with leprosy came and knelt in front of Jesus, begging to be healed. “If you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean,” he said.  Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” he said. “Be healed!”  Instantly the leprosy disappeared, and the man was healed.  Then Jesus sent him on his way with a stern warning:  “Don’t tell anyone about this. Instead, go to the priest and let him examine you. Take along the offering required in the law of Moses for those who have been healed of leprosy. This will be a public testimony that you have been cleansed.”  But the man went and spread the word, proclaiming to everyone what had happened. As a result, large crowds soon surrounded Jesus, and he couldn’t publicly enter a town anywhere. He had to stay out in the secluded places, but people from everywhere kept coming to him.

 

 

 

Teachers that I have listened to and would generally recommend (do be Berean, each one has strengths and blind spots)

Resources:

“God’s Generals” by Roberts Liardon

“Azusa Street: They Told Me Their Stories” by Tom Welchel

“A More Excellent Way” by Reverend Henry Wright (a focus on the spiritual roots of disease, )

“John G. Lake: The Complete Collection of His Life Teachings” Roberts Llardon compiler

“Kathryn Kuhlman: A Spiritual Biography of God’s Miracle Worker” by Roberts Liardon

Others I have been blessed by (keeping in mind that I take everything back to scripture and am content to sift everything and set aside any “bones”):   Dan Mohler, Todd White, Andrew Wommack, Smith Wigglesworth, Andrew Murray, E.W.  Kenyon, FF Bosworth, Nerida Walker