Saturday, November 7, 2009

Jesus Saves and Heals, too!

"Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 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. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth (Isaiah 53:4-7)."

When I think about the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ, it overwhelms my heart with joy and praise to know he cared so much for me that he was willing to give his life. One day I was thinking about how he died for my sins and immediately Jesus spoke to my heart and said, "My people believe that I died for their sins, but they do not believe I died for their healing, too." I thought about it for a while. And then I said, "That's true!"

You need to understand something. I was raised around Christians who wholeheartedly believed that Jesus saves, but they made it look like it was "okay" to suffer sickness, disease, and poverty. By their actions, they taught me that it was against God's will for them to be healed or prosperous. It was their way of suffering for Jesus. So I made it a habit in saying "If it's God's will, He will do so and so." I did not realize this saying invited doubt into my life!

As I studied God's word, I found their actions to be false! It's a deception from Satan! A well used tactic against the children of God! Jesus died so we can have (abundant) life. The word abundant means plentiful which is an adequate supply. And this adequate supply involves all our needs. In other words, Jesus died so we could have abundant life and divine health on this earth now! But the prerequisite to this "God life" is obedience and faith in His word. Sure God's love is unconditional. But the fullness of His love is conditional.


That's why it's very important that we study the word of God—the Holy Bible—to learn about the conditions that God requires in order for us to live a healthy, prosperous, and gracious life in Jesus Christ. The word of God says, "It's impossible to please God without faith." Faith in the supernatural world is just like money in the natural world. And money moves people, places, and things. Now can you see and understand just how important faith is to God! Faith moves God! We must believe every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God — the Holy Bible. We must believe that Jesus the Christ, the Anointed One and His Anointing, did not just die for our sins. He died for our sicknesses and diseases, too. The word of God did not say with his stripes we will be healed. It said, ". . . and with his stripes we are healed." That is present tense.

Jesus has already healed us! Let's put our faith to work and believe him! I know you're saying, "But I'm hurting because of this, that, and the other." I'm hurting too, but I'm also believing what God said. I'm healed! This is why I praise and worship Jesus night and day. I sing praises to His glorious Name. I stopped concentrating on my hurts, pains and the circumstances in my life and redirected my focus on God's goodness, mercy and grace. I give thanks, praise and worship to Him as often as possible. Because He's my life, He's my provider. He's my everything. In Him is my righteousness. My peace. My joy. He's my hiding place from the evil one of this world.


The scripture says that Satan is a thief. His goal is to steal, kill, and destroy whatever God has already given to His children. His goal is to send the spirit (or demon) of heaviness to all those that accept him. But Jesus said in Isaiah 61:1-3, ". . . The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me. . .To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified."

The word "tree" is a symbol for "mankind" and "righteousness" means "right standing with God." So through Jesus Christ we are in right standing with God the Father. Don't let the liar (Satan) make you feel that you're not worthy enough to receive salvation and divine health from God the Father. In the Name of Jesus we must believe that we already received. You know, sometimes Satan comes and tell me the same lie. But you know what, when he does, I always say, "You're right! It's Jesus Christ's righteousness that makes me worthy in the sight of God the Father." Hallelujah! Praise God for the Lamb that was slain for the world! Glory to His Name! Always remember that Jesus not only saves, but he heals, too.

I want to share with you a true and honest "open vision" that God gave a young man whose wife has left him for another man. It seems as though God is drawn to hurting people. Everybody else may forget you, but God will never leave or forsake you. God not only showed this young man He cares about his situation, but He also showed him he has a hidden talent waiting to be used of Him. Here is the vision in the form of a poem.

Vision:

Last night, as I stood in my backyard hurt,
thinking and all alone,
An omen, or vision, or reality appeared to me,
and in a second or two was gone.

Four beautiful white birds,
orderly in unison,
and lovely in flight.

I said to myself, "Can this be, for I know not of
any bird that flies at night."
Whether omen, vision, or reality,
I honestly know not.

I know and believe what I saw,
but know nothing of what I thought.
I will by virtue of need call it a vision,
A subtle solution in a split second of decision.

My life is on a course full of hurt,
pain, and strife.
I think, "Yes. A vision to guide my
way to a changed and peaceful life."


Interpretation:

When this young man asked me about what he had seen. I spoke that which the Lord had given my heart to say. I first assured him that this was an open vision from God. The Holy Spirit told me to ask him how many people make up his immediate family. He said, "Four." Well the four birds symbolized him, his wife, and their two children. White is a symbol for purity. Satan had separated this man's family. If he would repent of his sins and obey God's word, then his family would be amended together again. But God must come first in his life in order to experience this unity and peace.