Thursday, December 19, 2019

Intercession



This is the day which the LORD hath made ; we will rejoice and be glad in it. 
Psalms 118:24






Each day, I thank God for  all that He has done in my life, I thank Him for His creation of the world and for the new creature He has caused me to be;  

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away ; behold , all things are become new. and in Yours that is moving us ever closer to the design He has purposed for our life.  2 Corinthians 5:17

Secondly, I praise God from whom all blessings flow!  And always, we want to thank God for Jesus, the sacrificial lamb who made salvation possible for us.

My prayer this morning is directed toward intercession for the people; for the miraculous power of God to be manifest in our lives, our friends, family, loved ones, co-workers; and whoever else God has laid on our hearts to pray for.

The scripture for today is found in Exodus:

We see that the children of Israel had just been led into the desert of Shur and they had been there 3 days with no water and they began to mumble and complain against Moses.  But, this is it – Moses, being in the position he was, interceded before God for the people.  And after having a conversation with God, told the children of Israel:


. . . If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, and wilt do that which is right in His sight, and wilt give ear to His commandments, and keep all these statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the Lord that healeth thee. (Exodus 15:26)

What’s interesting about this is that Moses applied to the people what he had applied to himself. So we want to put our self in a position so that we can intercede on behalf of those that need healing rather it be natural or spiritual healing.

The word tells us that even as we spread the gospel of the good news, we are to also minister healing and deliverance. We are to, among other things, heal the sick.

Signs and wonders are to follow us, but we have to be in position for that to happen; namely, diligently hearkening to the voice of the Lord; our God, doing that which is right in His sight, giving ear to His commandments, and keeping all His statutes . . .

The word tells us 

 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven.  (James 5:15)

We know the God we serve as Jehovah Rapha; meaning he is the physician, the healer.  And he operates through us based on our faith in Him.

It is not our own doing.  We are to be the facilitators of healing; allowing God to work through us; we are the channel through which the Healer, Christ Jesus, operates through.  Through Him healing comes to:
  • People who face terminal malignancies and endure great pain.
  • People who are frustrated, hopeless, and ready to give up.
  • People who have lost loved ones or been hurt by others.
  • People bound with chains of sin and demonic oppression.
  • People in or facing financial distress

God is able to do that and much more than we can even think or imagine!

Having said that, with all minds being on one accord, let us pray:

Dear Heavenly Father, we come to You this morning with grateful hearts and praise on our lips that You woke us just one more day; that You allowed us to wake this day with our health and our strength and clothed in our right mind. Lord, in this day and time, we do not take anything for granted and we recognize that it is because of your grace and mercy that we are here and it is by your grace and mercy that we live, move and have our being.  We thank You because we have a continued mind to serve You.  And because we serve and trust You Lord, we have a blessed assurance that You are our refuge and our fortress, the one true living God in whom we trust!

Dear Heavenly Father, we thank You for one more opportunity to unite in prayer and supplication before You. 

We come to You heavenly father with thanks giving in our hearts knowing that You and only You are able to supply our every need; to equip us to run this race, to defeat everything that comes up against us, everything that is not like You.

Even as the disciples prayed, we pray also, "Sovereign Lord,"  "You made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything in them.   “Lord God, we ask that You stretch out Your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of Your holy servant Jesus."     

And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them.  And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is:  Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things?  The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ.  For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,  For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.  And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word,  By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.  And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.  Acts 4:23-31

Even so, Lord, that the doubting and unbelievers know that our faith, and theirs too, should not rest on men's wisdom, but on Your power. 

That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.  1 Corinthians 2:5  

. . . that their faith and hope might be in You God:

Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.  1 Peter 1:21

Dear God, we thank You for great and everlasting faithfulness!  We thank You for Your goodness and for Your mercy.  We know that when we walk in obedience according to Your word that You will supply every need we have according to Your riches in glory. 

Lord we know that some of our trials of sickness come on us as a testing of our faith and that when we put our trust and faith in You and deliverance comes there may be found of us unto praise and honour and glory unto You.   

That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:  1 Peter 1:7

Lord we know faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.  Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by Your word, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.  


Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.  Hebrews 11:1

Lord, we know that we are victorious in You.  We are armed with the shield of faith; trusting in You for the healing that thru the blood of Jesus Christ is possible.  By Jesus' stripes we are healed.  Heavenly Father, we thank You Lord for the blood of Jesus; for the power of the blood of Jesus.  Because of the blood, we can receive healing, sinners can be saved, delivery from mental depression and oppression is possible, yokes are broken, my God, hallelujah, demons have to flee at the precious name of Jesus.  Oh my God, thank You for Jesus and the power through Him to work signs and miracles in His name!  

We thank You Lord for Jesus, who is the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame . . .for us.  Hallelujah!  Thank You for the love that You bestowed upon us, the love that sent Your son, Jesus Christ, to die for us that we may live and have life more abundantly through You.

Lord, You said that we only have to believe on You and the works that You did, You said we shall do them also and even greater works (more) than those!  This is a prayer for belief in You.  Decrease our unbelief; put our total confidence and dependence on You; knowing that You and You alone are able! 

Lord, You said if we have faith the size of a mustard seed; that if we believe in You . . .

. . . that signs will follow us . . .  In Your name we shall cast out devils . . . we shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover.     (Mark 16:17-18)

Lord let Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven; according to Your will for You are sovereign.  You have power and dominion over all; power belongs to You and is subject to Your will. 

And because we love You, we trust You for who You are, Lord, we come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. 

For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.  Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.  (Hebrews 4:15-16)

We know that we can’t do anything without You; that we operate only through You.

In all of our ways, You said Lord, that we are to acknowledge You; that You will direct our path. 

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  (Proverbs 3:5)  

Lead us and guide us today; allow us to be Your ambassadors, remembering at all times that we are walking in the holy spirit with the anointing that You, the sovereign one, the King of kings and Lord of Lords have placed within us. 

Even as Paul prayed, Lord, we are praying that You stir up the gifts within us; we need to see Your glory manifested; Your dunamis power revealed to a sin sick world that they may believe that it is You and only You in Your awesomeness that is able to heal, to destroy the yoke, to cast out demons, to provide real comfort, blessed assurance and peace - to be unleashed from bondage and free to serve you without restraint!

Dear Heavenly Father, in the name of Jesus, we plead the blood against everything that is not like You.  We ask that You command Your angels to guard us in all our ways; in our comings and in our goings; to protect us from all hurt, harm and danger of those things seen and unseen.

Remember all of those who are suffering both physically and mentally.  We pray, oh Lord God that You bring peace and deliverance to those that are troubled, that You bring comfort to those in sorrow, healing to those who are sick.  We are looking to You for divine  healing; healing of the body, of the mind and of the spirit.  We look to You Lord for great and mighty accomplishments.  We pray in the precious name of Jesus that You bind everything that is not like You.

Lord You’ve given us everything in Your word to keep us and sustain us, You’ve given us Your precious gift of Your holy spirit and You said If we delight ourselves in You that You will give us the desires of our heart, You said if we commit our ways unto You and trust You that You will bring it to pass.  Because You said it in Your word, Lord, because of our trust and faith in You, we believe it.

Lord we acknowledge that we just can’t do without You, we can’t win without You, we need Your power and Your strength.  We realize that it is no goodness of our own but You Lord, in Your sovereignty, that keeps us and allows You to accomplish Your will in our lives.

And now, Lord we pray that You be with us, that You lead us and guide us, give us wisdom and knowledge to speak and act according to Your will; that we may be laborers in Your field; that Your manifested glory be revealed through us dear God. 

We ask all these things and we thank You for all things, in Jesus’ wonderful name we pray, amen!

So, today, I admonish each of You to keep an atmosphere of faith by looking to God's Word as your guide.  

·             *   Praise God for Your healing and those that You are praying for also.
·             *  Keep in contact with Your Healer, God, through Your continued prayers.
·             *  Testify about Your healing to others, giving glory to God.   
·             *  Resist the attacks of Satan with the "Rhema" Word of God by quoting specific verses about healing.
·             *  Don’t waver in Your belief, as a man who wavers will not receive from God.  

But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.  For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.  A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.  (James 1:6-8).  
·             
          *  And finally, contend (wrestle) earnestly in the faith for Your deliverance. 

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.(Romans 10:9)

Let me leave this final scripture with You:   

But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;  That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.  For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.  For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.  For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.  Romans 10:8-13  

Thank God for the prayer today; hopefully something was said that will bless us and keep us today that our minds will be in perfect peace with the Lord!

God bless . . .


Elder C. Henry

Monday, December 16, 2019

Holistic Healing: Spiritually


Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: 
Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;  
Psalm 103:2-3

 Spiritually:

No doubt there is something to be said of the healing of the body, to have our finances restored to stability, to be in our right mind; free from worry, stress and other mental imbalances and to have all of our emotional wounds, hurts and scars removed.   As wonderful as all of that is, it in no way compares to the healing of your soul.  It does us no good to have a healed body, healthy bank account, no emotional turmoil and no mental distress only to have our soul destined to hell.  The intent; the desire is that we are holistically well which would include our inside, outside and our eternal destination.

Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.  3 John 1:2

Thanks be to God that just as He has remedies for our natural maladies, He has a remedy for us spiritually.  God can heal our sin-sick soul! 

Return, ye backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings. Behold, we come unto thee; for thou art the Lord our God.  Jeremiah 3:22

There is a balm for our souls that will cleanse us and make us whole.  That balm is the price that Jesus paid on the cross.

Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
1 Peter 2:24 

But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.  Isaiah 53:5

To see an example of this we can look at King David.   King David realized that in order to be healed spiritually his heart needed to be right before God.

®        Account example

Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.  Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.  Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.  Psalms 51:10-12


King David realized that the condition of his heart was not pure nor was his spirit right concerning the wrong he had done to Bathsheba and in the sight of God.  The compounding of sin because of the condition of his heart.  Who's to say how much farther he would have went if it had not been for the prophet Nathan letting him know the magnitude of his sin.  King David did the only thing that could heal his soul.  He confessed his sin and repented to God:

For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.  Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.  Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.  Psalms 51:3-5

Repentance is crucial in the healing and restoration of our spirit.  The bible tells us:

*  Without repentance we will die spiritually

I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.  Luke 13:3

He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.  Proverbs 28:13

*  God takes no pleasure in our sin-sick condition and wants us healed:

For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord God: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.  Ezekiel 18:32

The only way we can become spiritually whole is through the confession, repentance and forsaking of our sins.  It is only then that we are in total alignment where we can be as John prays - prosperous in health and spirit.  This leaves us unfettered to do the will of God without the weight or sin to drag us down,

TOTALLY UNLEASHED!







(Biblical Studies)

02/12/22

Friday, December 13, 2019

Holistic Healing: Financial



Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper 
and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. 
3 John 1:2



There are 5 major areas wherein we are promised holistic healing, they are:
  • Spiritual
  • Emotional
  • Mental
  • Physical
  • Financial


Financial:
The health that God desires for us is holistic meaning it encompasses our entire being including those things that make for a healthy life.  Is it any wonder that God says He will 'heal the land' or 'blessed shalt thou be in the field. Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattle,' - because His desire is to see us prosper not only spiritually but naturatually.  
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.  1 Chronicle 7:14
And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the Lord thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth:  And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God.  Deuteronomy 28:1-2
King David has this realization:
I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.  Psalm 37:25

®  Account example

Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets unto Elisha, saying, Thy servant my husband is dead; and thou knowest that thy servant did fear the Lord: and the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons to be bondmen.  And Elisha said unto her, What shall I do for thee? tell me, what hast thou in the house? And she said, Thine handmaid hath not any thing in the house, save a pot of oil.  Then he said, Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbours, even empty vessels; borrow not a few.   And when thou art come in, thou shalt shut the door upon thee and upon thy sons, and shalt pour out into all those vessels, and thou shalt set aside that which is full.  So she went from him, and shut the door upon her and upon her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured out.  And it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said unto her son, Bring me yet a vessel. And he said unto her, There is not a vessel more. And the oil stayed.  Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, Go, sell the oil, and pay thy debt, and live thou and thy children of the rest.  2 Kings 4:1-7
From the example above, we can see financial success is tied both biblically and naturally to the willingness to follow the instructions given.  We may not understand them, but follow the instructions nonetheless!

Deuteronomy is an excellent discourse on the relationship of obeying God's commands and the benefits that result as well as the resultant consequences if we are not obedient.
But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee:  Deuteronomy 28:15





Thursday, December 12, 2019

Holistic Healing: Physical


For I will restore health unto thee, 
and I will heal thee of thy wounds, 
saith the Lord.  
Jeremiah 30:17



Remember, it’s important for believers to go to the Bible for direction and guidance. Believers should want to approach healing in a biblical way, and in Scripture we discover the source and purposes for healing, as well as instruction and methods for asking and acting in faith.  There are 5 major areas wherein we are promised holistic healing, they are:

  • Spiritual
  • Emotional
  • Mental
  • Physical
  • Financial
Today's focus is on our physical health; our body

Physical:

Though the accounts of miraculous healing, we can see that with nearly each one, it came with instructions either directly from God or from the prophet:

And Elisha sent a messenger unto him, saying, Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean.  2 Kings 5:10

What shall I say? he hath both spoken unto me, and himself hath done it: I shall go softly all my years in the bitterness of my soul.   O Lord, by these things men live, and in all these things is the life of my spirit: so wilt thou recover me, and make me to live.  Isaiah 38:15-16

The Lord will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing: thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness.  Psalm 41:3

Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he saveth them out of their distresses.  He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.  Psalm 107:19-20

For I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith the Lord.  Jeremiah 30:17

Jesus healed many:

And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.  Matthew 14:14

In the illustration below we see a woman that has spent all of her money on physicians trying to be healed of a physical ailment.   There is nothing wrong in seeking physicians, however, there is a God that can do what man cannot.

And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.  Mark 10:27

Because Jesus healed the man with mental issues who then went and evangelized his city, this same woman heard of a man named Jesus who was able to to heal in a way that the physicians could not:

®  Account example

And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any,  Came behind him, and touched the border of his garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched.   And Jesus said, Who touched me? When all denied, Peter and they that were with him said, Master, the multitude throng thee and press thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?   And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me.  And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before him, she declared unto him before all the people for what cause she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately.   And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.  Luke 8:43-48

We trust in God for many, many things and yet when it comes to healing our body, we lack faith.  Trust that the same God that blesses you with temporal things like money, homes, jobs, cars and other material things is the same God that can save your soul.  If He is able to save your soul, surely, He can heal our body just as it is illustrated throughout the bible.  God has the power to do as He will.  There is no quantifier on His power:

God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongeth unto God.  Psalms 62:11





(Biblical Studies)




Tuesday, December 10, 2019

Holistic Healing: Mental




Then they went out to see what was done; and came to Jesus, and found the man, 
out of whom the devils were departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, 
and in his right mind: and they were afraid.  
Luke 8:35


. . . A continued study on holistic healing

To heal means:

√     to make healthy, whole, or sound; restore to health; free from ailment.
√     to bring to an end or conclusion, as conflicts between people or groups, usually with the
      strong implication of restoring former goodwill; settle; reconcile:
  • They tried to heal the rift between them but were unsuccessful.
√   to free from evil; cleanse; purify:
√   to heal the soul.

As we read various accounts and illustrations in the bible, it is clear that healing does not just deal with the physical body.



Holistic Healing

Spiritual
Emotional
Physical
Mental
Financial

Mental:

God can heal all mental disorders from simple cases of a racing mind, to chemical imbalance to demon possession.   Mental disorders are recorded in the bible.  One such account involved the king of Babylon, King Nebuchadnezzar, who thought of highly of himself far more highly than he ought. 

The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?  Daniel 4:30

Because of his arrogance, God caused him to lose his mind and dwell among the beasts of the fields.

That they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over thee, till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.
Daniel 4:29

The same God that caused him to lose his mental facilities, after a set period of time is the same God who caused him to recover:

And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation:  Daniel 4:34

An extreme case of not being in one's right mind for sure but we do know that mental disorders exist from various reasons from the extreme to the mild.  But God has promised us holistic healing which includes freeing our mind.
  
®  Account example

And when he went forth to land, there met him out of the city a certain man, which had devils long time, and ware no clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs.  Luke 8:27

Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man tame him.  And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones.  Mark 5:4-5

Then they went out to see what was done; and came to Jesus, and found the man, out of whom the devils were departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.  Luke 8:35

If ever there was an example of becoming unleashed, this is it.  This man was unleashed to do the will of God.  He had an assignment – to evangelize the city of  Gadarene.

Return to thine own house, and shew how great things God hath done unto thee. And he went his way, and published throughout the whole city how great things Jesus had done unto him.  Luke 8:39

How do we know he evangelized:

And it came to pass, that, when Jesus was returned, the people gladly received him: for they were all waiting for him.  Luke 8:340

There were people waiting for their own healing:

Ø  Jairus for his daughter
Ø  the woman with the issue of blood

The word of God is full of encouraging strengthening scriptures to help us through our mentally challenging times even as we seek help and remedies from medical professionals.  Always hold on to the fact that God is the light at the end of the dark tunnel and He is more than able to see you through.  

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”  John 1:5




Biblical Studies





02/10/22