Healing Word

On February 21, 2022   /   Word of the Day   /   Leave a comment

Psalm 107:20

He sent His word and healed them.

We have reached my very favorite healing verse. I love this one. Just a quick caveat though. It is not the one I use for myself in all circumstances. Often God leads me to a different verse for my situation, which is why it is vitally important to inquire of Him rather than leaning on our own understanding.

Back in the Old Testament, they would not have had the revelation on this that we do. They didn’t have John 1: 1, 14, “In the beginning was the Word . . . and the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us.” We know that Jesus is the Word, and we know him as healer so combining the Word with healing seems consistent to us once we piece it together. It is a bit mind expanding though when you consider this is an Old Testament passage.

So, that leaves me with this question, when did God send the Word? My guess is as soon as the curse entered the earth and that would have been as soon as Eve and Adam bowed their knees to Satan.

In God’s kingdom, there is no dis-ease. There is only ease. He made it to operate perfectly. When Satan got a foothold in the earth, corruption and decay entered in like a seething plague. It has been destroying the earth ever since. God had to implement a plan to save his creation, both humans and the earth. So, he sent the Word, and we know the Word has triumphed over Satan.

What does this mean for you and me? Well, it means that Bible you hold in your hands, also holds the keys to life. The more we immerse ourselves in it, meaningfully immerse, not just reading it like reading a school textbook, the more we find the Living Word, Jesus. Jesus is the Word, and the Word is life. “He was the source of life, and that life was the light for humanity,” (John 1: 4 GW).

So, God sent His healing Word and healed us all. Life and healing are in the Living Word. The Living Word is Jesus, as well as all the truths God sent us in the Bible. It is Jesus who brings those words to life. Getting to know one leads to knowing the other. Together they bring life and light. Take daily as directed.

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Forget Not

On February 18, 2022   /   Word of the Day   /   Leave a comment

Psalm 103:1 – 3

1 Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His Holy name.
2 Bless the Lord, O my soul and forget none of His benefits.
3 Who pardons all your iniquities; who heals all your diseases.

When we began this series, did you realize how many times God spoke about healing? Health and healing is not one of those topics with only two or three verses. God has been clear from the beginning and has reiterated His position that He is our healer.

So, it turns out that one of the benefits of life with Yahweh is that He heals all your diseases. Apparently, He pardons all our iniquities too. Do you find it easier to believe this one than the former? Certainly, we hear more about the forgiveness of sins than we do healing, so it puts that benefit more in the front of our minds, but we need all the benefits of the Lord.

David, the author of this psalm, was preaching to his own soul. He would not let his internal self deny the grace the Lord had bathed him in. He commanded his soul to remember the benefits God has bestowed on His children but also, he ordered his soul to bless the Lord. I think that shows his relationship with God. He, David, certainly appreciated the benefits like healing, but he always backed it up with adoration and praise for the Father. He clearly was not taking his healing for granted. He wasn’t ignoring it either, and that is a key for us.  Acknowledging the benefits and the benefactor seems to be the key here.

Fully appreciate the benefits. Don’t deny them or ignore them and in the balance be thankful and bless the Lord.

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Satisfied

On February 17, 2022   /   Word of the Day   /   Leave a comment

Psalm 91:16

With a long life I will satisfy him.

Earlier in this series we saw Exodus 23: 26 which in the NLT reads, “I will give you long, full lives.” That is some pretty simple stuff; good promises from God to you. What’s not to understand? Still, there is a place in these two verses where people get hung up. It’s this question, “What is a long life?” Today’s verse holds the answer. You get to determine what long life means. You can hang out here on earth until you get satisfied.

The best story I have ever heard on this was from Reverend Kenneth Hagin. He said, “If you ever hear I died, you will know I got satisfied.” Well, one morning he was eating some strawberries, I think. He ate the bowl of berries he had been served but then thought he would like a few more. So, he ate a few more, laid his head down on the table and went to heaven. He got satisfied. How cool is that? He punched out when he was good and ready. Not a minute before.

That story, and it’s a true story, creates a comfort within me. We don’t have to get sick and die. Just comfortably satisfied. We have gotten fooled that moving to heaven is a result of sickness. That’s not gospel. That’s a lie. It doesn’t even make sense. It’s like someone had the idea that God invented disease so that he could get people off the earth into heaven. Really? Nuts, right? No, God wants you to translate yourself to His Kingdom in heaven when you are ready. Doesn’t that sound more rational?

Hey, forget this sickness business. Let’s just leave that to the Egyptians. Let’s live in the promise of God, intertwine our lives around Jesus and get full and satisfied. Yeah, I like that!

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Decree

On February 16, 2022   /   Word of the Day   /   Leave a comment

Job 22:28

You will also decree a thing and it will be established.

You may wonder about the selection of this verse in a series on healing. I will go so far as to say this may be the most important verse in the whole series. If we wish to live in the Lord’s health, prosperity, abundant life, or anything else he has for us, eventually we have to accept his words and make our words come into agreement with his.

There is more power in this verse today than my words can begin to touch upon. I am even sure that I do not yet have a full revelation of it. However, I am pressing in on this point so that the Father can show me more. One of Jesus’ strongest teachings is found in Mark 11: 23. We, the church, are still trying to figure this one out. Kenneth Hagin spent a 50 year preaching, ministering life on verses 23 and 24. Let’s look at verse twenty-three, “Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it shall be granted him.” The word “granted” is in italics in the Bible indicating it was added. The text should be more like, “It shall be.”

This was the lesson Job had to learn to get himself out of the trouble he was in. As long as he was mired down in his language, blaming God for his troubles and focusing on them, he remained in the muck. Once Job renewed his mouth, he was restored. His fears and doubts brought about his calamity but his faith in the God of Israel restored him.

In Mark 11 Jesus’ disciples were astonished when they walked by a fig bush that Jesus had cursed the previous day. The fig tree had withered from the roots up. Jesus was astonished that they were surprised. That is when he explained to them that whatever they say, believing, will happen. When faith comes out of our mouths, things have to happen. Jesus was not surprised the fig tree had died. What other outcome was possible? Speaking faith fueled words is how God created everything. God said let there be . . . and it was. He didn’t take out a magic wand and swing it around. He spoke, expecting the elements to obey him. And He is in you. The power that is alive in you creates through spoken language.

What you say, has an enormous impact on your life, including your health. Do you say you are going to get the flu because you get it every year? Guess why you get it every year.

Now don’t get crazy. I am not telling you to go get in someone’s face who has Covid. That is stupidity, not faith. Faith is in walking in God’s wisdom. Get a word from God and stand on it. Job knew the Word of God but got derailed and began speaking the wrong words. We have the Word of God too. All we have to do is to take this list of verses and speak their truths. You don’t have to make up confessions. Just speak the Word.

If you believe for sickness or injury and continually confess it, you are going to live in sickness. If you believe these verses on healing and speak them, then you will establish health. Do not accept a doctor’s prognosis alone. Get God’s advice too. I do not deny that God anointed doctors, but we need to include our healer also. Do not accept that once you reach a certain age you must accept aches, pains and sickness. Reject that junk. It is heathen garbage. You are the blessed of Abraham, Jesus’ own inheritance. Stand on your promises and speak words of belief in those promises. What you say, will be established. Decree something good.

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Promises, Promises

On February 15, 2022   /   Word of the Day   /   Leave a comment

1 Kings 8:56

Blessed be the Lord, who has given rest to His people Israel, according to all that He promised; not one word has failed of all His good promise, which He promised through Moses His servant.

Not one word of God’s promise has failed. Those are important words. Do you remember last Tuesday’s Word of the Day? It was titled Promised Health. Truly, every verse since we began this series is a promise from God. Of course that is important because we arrive at this verse which says that not one word of His promises has ever failed. See also that His promises are of good. Our God is a good God and makes good promises to His kids. There is another element, though, that I don’t want us to miss.

Look at the beginning. Yahweh, our Lord, God and Father, gives rest to His people. We are not to be a restless people emotionally or physically. Do you hear that in here? He gives us peace and comfort in our hearts and minds so that we are not in despair. Emotionally we can, and should, be peaceful and calm. Our God gives us peace of mind. This is an element of our health and of critical importance. You cannot be healthy, physically, if you are not at peace. Anxiety, anger, and angst create stress in the body which causes malady. We cannot live in distress and be physically healthy. It just does not work that way. So, this emotional rest the Lord gives us creates physical wellbeing.

Second, He gives us physical rest. If you are not resting well, then you need to speak with Father about it because you have an absolute promise and not one word of His good promise has failed. Expect to sleep and rest. Pray this verse over yourself when you go to bed. Rest well and enjoy all the promises of the Lord.

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My Valentine

On February 14, 2022   /   Word of the Day   /   Leave a comment

My Valentine for God

Will you please take this heart of mine?
Place it in your garden of love;
Please water it well with kindness
And feed with wisdom from above.
Take the ugliness from within,
Replace with understanding and light;
Then each day bless and hallow it,
That it may rest in peace at night.

Alma Hopkins

I am going to take a pause from our healing scriptures to send you this special Valentine.

This is another of those newspaper clippings found recently. There is no telling how long ago this was clipped from the paper or even which newspaper it is from. It is unique in that most of us don’t even get a newspaper and haven’t for a while. This is a bit like having a time machine and being able to go back in time. I want you to pause today and take this in. Imagine a newspaper even printing this today. Feel the paper in your hands and the smell of ink and paper. Enjoy this moment.

Then, really take in the content of the poem. Which word ministers most to you? For myself, I think it is that there is feeding and watering for my heart. That is an interesting concept.

Giving our heart into God’s hands is the safest place for it. Receiving His nurture just adds to it. I hope you have a wonderful Valentine’s Day with your special (though not secret) valentine.

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Long and Full

On February 11, 2022   /   Word of the Day   /   Leave a comment

Exodus 23: 26     NLT

I will give you long, full lives.

I want to go back to Exodus today to tie this point in with the blessing and our choices. Let’s think, again, about what is going on here.

God has liberated the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. The people had a slave mentality, so the Father is having to teach them how to live with His presence and how to flourish. He is having to completely rebuild His nation, and this, really is, from the ground up. He has just taught them about the blessing of Abraham which is theirs by birth. He also warned them about the curse. Then He concluded by telling them that He has given them the choice between life and death but that, ultimately, it is their right to choose. This is of critical importance!

God very clearly articulates His will here. He wants to give us long, full lives. Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full,” (John 10: 10 NIV). In this we see the continuity between the Father and the Son. God sent Jesus to earth so that we might have abundant, full lives. Now, why is this so important? For health to continue to bloom in our lives we must begin with the understanding that God wants us to have long full lives. We must settle in our hearts that God isn’t trying to kill us. Remember the story of Job and how He struggled. Once He came to understand the truth, he was able to receive full restoration. As long as He thought God was tormenting Him, He was defeated. The same will be true for us. One cannot pray in faith for healing if he has the misconception that God created his sickness. You cannot believe in your heart that God has made you sick and that he is going to heal you. The two beliefs are inconsistent and will destroy your faith.

Go one step further, if we believe that God has caused us to be sick, then that is to say we believe God’s will is for us to be ill. Why, then, would we pray for healing? That would be to pray against God’s will. This is why it is so important that we begin by accepting God’s desire for us to live long and fruitful lives.

Understanding God’s will also impacts how we think about life and death. Many people think God holds the threads of our lives like the fates, toying with us like stringed puppets. That just is not Biblical as you will continue to see as we move forward. Yesterday’s Word of the Day was the beginning of that revelation. God said, “I have set before you life and death, . . . choose life in order that you many live,” (Deuteronomy 30: 19). God gave us the choice. His will is that we live long, abundant lives. So, this means that we have to get out of our minds and hearts two things; First, that God is pulling our life springs and two that He is responsible for taking our lives from us. We are so accustomed to saying, “Well, if it’s God’s timing . . .” but now we know it is not God’s timing. Say this aloud, “God isn’t killing me!” We’ve got to get that down in our hearts. He isn’t “taking people.” He is trying to save people. It’s what He does! We, however, don’t have to follow His leading. We make our own choices. That is point number one. Beyond that is the curse. In God’s perfect will there was no sickness to be had, but the earth fell into corruption and decay and now we must live with those consequences.

Here is the promise of God, “I will give you long, full lives.”  Meditate on that night and day until your spirit accepts it as truth. God isn’t taking life; He is the giver or life. Long, full and abundant life is His desire for you. Pray towards that reality.

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