The Prayer of Faith

James 5:13-16  (ESV)

13)  Is anyone among you suffering?  Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful?  Let him sing praise.
14)  Is anyone among you sick?  Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the LORD.
15)  And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the LORD will raise him up.  And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.
16) Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

English Standard Version (ESV)The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers
As much as I enjoy the English Standard Version for ease of reading, I prefer the King James Version when it comes some verses such as verse 16a:  "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."  Which means it accomplishes much!

My Soul Waits for God Alone

Psalm 62  (ESV)

1)  For GOD alone my soul waits in silence; from Him comes my salvation.
2)  He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken.
3)  How long will all of you attack a man to batter him, like a leaning wall, a tottering fence?
4)  They only plan to thrust him down from his high position.  They take pleasure in falsehood.  They bless with their mouths, but inwardly they curse.
5)  For GOD alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from Him.
6)  He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken.
7)  On GOD rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is GOD.
8)  Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before Him; GOD is a refuge for us.
9)  Those of low estate are but a breath; those of high estate are a delusion; in the balances they go up; they are together lighter than a breath.
10)  Put no trust in extortion; set no vain hopes on robbery; if riches increase, set not your heart on them.
11)  Once GOD has spoken; twice have I heard this: that power belongs to GOD,
12)  and that to You, O LORD, belongs steadfast love.  For You will render to a man according to his work.

English Standard Version (ESV)The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers

I Know In Whom I Have Believed

2 Timothy 1:12  (KJV)

I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day.

GOD’s Promises of Healing

Isaiah 53:5 (NKJV)

But He was wounded for our transgressions,

He was bruised for our iniquities;

The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,

And by His stripes we are healed.

The LORD has had me researching healing in the scriptures. I came up with 22 pages of scriptural reference! Instead of listing the whole scripture like I usually do, I’m going to list simply the references. Needless to say, if the LORD mentions something once, that should be enough. Most churches say that if it is mentioned or repeated twice, then you can take that to the bank. Because of the overwhelming amount of Word GOD has sent our way on this topic, you can be sure that GOD wants to heal you! The scriptures mostly talk about Jesus’ ministry. No matter where He went, crowds followed Him and HE HEALED THEM ALL. He even healed people that just touched the hem of His garment. And this happened more than just the woman with the issue. It talked about once when He let the whole crowd do it. He healed Simon Peter’s mother-in-law. She was so grateful, she cooked for them. Jesus came just so that we could have a more intimate knowledge of how much GOD loves us and just how much He cares for every little detail of our lives.

So what happens, why don’t we always receive the healings today?

I think there are several reasons, any one of which would prevent the healing. And most of this is from my own experience. I have received healings many times. There have also been healings I didn’t get when I asked for them. What were the differences?

     1.     I did not ask with nothing doubting. Jesus often said, “Your faith has made you well.” Do you believe GOD for your salvation? How can you believe Him for one thing and not another? There can be no question marks in the back of your mind when you ask GOD for anything! “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask GOD, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the LORD; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” James 1:5-8 For some reason, as soon as I asked, there was a fleeting thought, “This is too small for GOD” or some such thing. And it sabotaged my healing.
     2.     I had become comfortable with the thing. I asked for the healing, I got the healing, and then I kept looking for the rash one time, and the pain another. I didn’t just go my way and forget the whole thing. I have a pain in my back that’s quite bad. And I kept moving around looking for the pain instead of just getting up and getting about my daily chores. I got bit by several ‘crazy ants’ another time. I kept checking to see if the bites had gone away. In reality, I was expecting to see them still there. Some faith. A lot of people that have been sick for very long times have this problem. They are used to being sick. They really need to ‘grab the horns of the altar’ and keep praying, never give up! We need to remember, “GOD said it, I believe it, and that settles it!”
     3.      We need to be thankful and humble. GOD is not some magic wand we use to get what we want. We need to remember that we are here to do the will of GOD. Not GOD to do our wills. Very important difference. Luke 17:11-19 (NKJV) “Now it happened as He went to Jerusalem that He passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. Then as He entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off. And they lifted up their voices and said, ‘Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!’ So when He saw them, He said to them, ‘Go, show yourselves to the priests.’ And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed. And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan. So Jesus answered and said, ‘Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?’ And He said to him, ‘Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well.’ ”
     4.     GOD is sovereign. Too many people use this as an excuse when they don’t receive their healings, but it is true sometimes. There are times when GOD does not remove whatever it is. Paul had that happen. He was given a ‘thorn in the flesh’. “And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the LORD three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:7-10

But be very careful here. Paul was very specific to say that GOD gave it to him ‘lest I should be exalted above measure’ because he was blessed with many revelations by the LORD. GOD does not send us sicknesses or whatever to keep us ‘under His thumb’. Paul was highly blessed by GOD with incredible wisdom from the LORD in order to teach us and lead us into the New Covenant. He could have easily gotten what we would call ‘a big head’. We need to learn to also live in complete submission to the LORD where His grace is all we need, and not look to our own weaknesses but in His strength for everything we need.

Do NOT be afraid to ask the LORD for what you need. Do NOT be afraid to walk in your healing. Don’t let satan rob you of it by placing doubts in your mind. Don’t let your friends and family rob you of it either. Place your faith in the LORD, He is the only one who truly cares for you and wants to heal you. “Be strong, and very courageous.” Joshua 1:7

New King James Version (NKJV)
The Holy Bible, New King James Version Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.

References:
Isaiah 53:5
Psalm 30:1-3
Jeremiah 17:14
Matthew 4:2; 8:1-17; 9:18-38; 12:9-21; 14:13-14; 14:34-36; 15:21-31; 17:14-21; 19:1-2; 21:12-14
Mark 1:29-31, 32-34, 40-42; 3:7-12; 5:1-13, 21-43; 6:1-6, 7-13, 53-56; 8:22-25; 9:14-29
Luke 4:38-40; 5:12-16; 6:17-19; 7:1-10; 8:26-33, 40-56; 9:1-6, 10-11, 37-43; 13:10-13; 14:1-4; 17:11-19; 22:47-51;
John 4:46-53; 5:1-9; 9:1-7
Acts 3:1-8; 5:12-16; 8:4-8; 9:1-18; 14:8-10; 28;7-10
James 5:13-16
1 Peter 2:18-25

GOD will never leave us or forsake us

Praise GOD who reigns in glory!  It is so nice when I start out the day with Bible reading.  When you make it a habit, you begin to hear the LORD speaking to you through the words.  "Come, listen to Me."   "This is what this means."  "These words are for you today."

I hear Him at other times, too.  Like when I'm reading Charles Spurgeon's devotional.  Also when I just spontaneously pray throughout the day.  I hardly ever end my prayers with "Amen" because I don't stop praying per se.  There may be an interruption, or a pause.  But it's kind of like spending the day with my best friend.  We never quit talking!  You say something and then listen for the answer.  Listening is so important.  When you hear the LORD for the first few times, you question it.  "Did I think that up myself?"  or, "Did I imagine that?"  It's not an intrusive voice.  But when He speaks you get a full understanding with very little confuson.  He never brings condemnation.  But He will get you to look at things.  satan always drags your mind though all your trash and failures.  satan is the one who condemns you by making you think you're not doing it well enough, or you never will.  You have to do more, be better, look better, never good enough. "Look at what you've done in the past.  You're doomed to repeat the same mistakes.  You'll never get to heaven."  GOD has always drawn me, encouraged me, pointed out the scriptures that show me just how much He loves me and everything He has done for me to ensure I will be with Him in eternity.  It makes the cares of this world small and insignificant.

Just like this:  I posted yesterday how nothing can separate us from GOD's love and I read Charles Spurgeon's message for May 11th (I'm a little behind), and I hear this little voice say, "Yes, I will never leave you or forsake you.  I AM with you always."

I know the Old English is hard to read, but please read this devotional.  It's great!

May 11th, Morning

Charles H. Spurgeon
Morning and Evening

"I am with you always."
Matthew 28:20

IT is well there is One who is ever the same, and who is ever with us. It is well there is one stable rock amidst the billows of the sea of life. O my soul, set not thine affections upon rusting, moth-eaten, decaying treasures, but set thine heart upon Him who abides forever faithful to thee. Build not thine house upon the moving quicksands of a deceitful world, but found thy hopes upon this Rock, which, amid descending rain and roaring floods, shall stand immovably secure. My soul, I charge thee, lay up thy treasure in the only secure cabinet; store thy jewels, where thou canst never lose them. Put thine all in Christ: set all thine affections on His person, all thy hope in His merit, all thy trust in His efficacious blood, all thy joy in His presence, and so thou mayest laugh at loss, and defy destruction. Remember that all the flowers in the world's garden fade by turns, and the day cometh when nothing will be left but the black, cold earth. Death's black extinguisher must soon put out thy candle. Oh! how sweet to have sunlight when the candle is gone! The dark flood must soon roll between thee and all thou hast; then wed thine heart to Him who will never leave thee; trust thyself with Him who will go with thee through the black and surging current of death's stream, and who will land thee safely on the celestial shore, and make thee sit with Him in heavenly places forever. Go, sorrowing son of affliction, tell thy secrets to the Friend who sticketh closer than a brother. Trust all thy concerns with Him who never can be taken from thee, who will never leave thee, and who will never let thee leave Him, even "Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, and to-day, and forever." "Lo, I am with you alway," is enough for my soul to live upon, let who will forsake me.

Nothing Can Separate Us From GOD's Love

This is probably the number one favorite of all my scriptures!  And I prefer it out of the New King James Version.

Romans 8:35-38  (NKJV)

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 Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter."
37.  Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who 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 created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

New King James Version (NKJV)
The Holy Bible, New King James Version Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.

Amen!  That means NOTHING!  Not man nor beast nor earth nor sky nor water nor fire nor spirits nor angels nor demons nor asteroids nor solar flares nor gamma rays nor governments nor creditors nor old age nor youth nor philosophies nor laws nor ANYTHING!

Praise GOD who reigns in glory!  It gives me so much peace to know He's there and concerned with every little detail of every day.  He's everything to me!

Christ Our Advocate

1 John 2  (ESV)

1.  My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

2.  He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.

3.  And by this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments.

4.  Whoever says "I know Him" but does not keep His commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him,

5.  but whoever keeps His word, in him truly the love of God is perfected.  By this we may know that we are in Him:

6.  whoever says he abides in Him ought to walk in the same way in which He walked.

The New Commandment

7.  Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment that you had from the beginning.  The old commandment is the word that you have heard.

8.  At the same time, it is a new commandment that I am writing to you, which is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining.

9.  Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness.

10.  Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling.

11.  But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

12.  I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for His name's sake.

13. I am writing to you, fathers, because you know Him who is from the beginning.  I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one.  I write to you, children, because you know the Father.

14.  I write to you, fathers, because you know Him who is from the beginning.  I write to you, young men because you are strong, and the word of GOD abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.

Do Not Love the World

15.  Do not love the world or the things in the world.  If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

16.  For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.

17.  And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of GOD abides forever.

Warning Concerning Antichrists

18.  Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come.  Therefore we know that it is the last hour.

19.  They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us.

20.  But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge.
21.  I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth.

22.  Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ?  This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son.

23.  No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also.

24.  Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you.  If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father.

25.  And this is the promise that He made to us—eternal life.

26.  I write these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you.

27.  But the anointing that you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you.  But as His anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie—just as it has taught you, abide in Him.

Children of God

28.  And now, little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears we may have confidence and not shrink from Him in shame at His coming.

29.  If you know that He is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of Him.

English Standard Version (ESV)The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers

God Is Our Fortress

Psalm 46 (ESV)

1.  GOD is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

2.  Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,

3.  though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling.

4.  There is a river whose streams make glad the city of GOD, the holy habitation of the Most High.

5.  GOD is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; GOD will help her when morning dawns.

6.  The nations rage, the kingdoms totter; He utters His voice, the earth melts.

7.  The LORD of hosts is with us; the GOD of Jacob is our fortress.

8.  Come, behold the works of the LORD, how He has brought desolations on the earth.

9.  He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;  He breaks the bow and shatters the spear;  He burns the chariots with fire.

10.  "Be still, and know that I am GOD.  I will be exalted among the nations,  I will be exalted in the earth!"

11.  The LORD of hosts is with us; the GOD of Jacob is our fortress.

English Standard Version (ESV)The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers

The Pentagon is being encouraged to prosecute Christian soldiers

Normally I don't get involved in politics.  Most of it is over my head and I don't understand all the ramifications involved.  This blog is about encouraging people, there isn't a whole lot about politics that is encouraging.

However I feel I need to let everyone and anyone know about the latest development.  Anti-Christian leader of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, Mike Weinstein, says 'Christians--including chaplains--sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ in the military are guilty of "treason," and of committing an act of "spiritual rape" as serious a crime as "sexual assault." He also asserted that Christians sharing their faith in the military are "enemies of the Constitution."'  You can read the original FOX news article here:
http://radio.foxnews.com/toddstarnes/top-stories/pentagon-religious-proselytizing-is-not-permitted.html

I think if this angers you in even the slightest way, that you contact your congressmen and senators by phone or e-mail immediately.  Let's light up the switchboards!

Something that I touched on in my blog, 'The End Times', August 27th, 2008, is the fact that in the end times we are going to be persecuted like never before.  Being a Christian will be against the law.  They will take us away and either jail us or imprison us or put us into FEMA camps.  People came back and said, 'That can't happen!  Our police and military are sworn to protect us. We are US citizens.  There is no way that they would harm us!'

At that time they will be fulfilling their duty to the law.  Christians will be labeled 'enemies of the state' for probably the same reasons that Mr. Weinstein put forth.  By that time there won't be any Christian police or military.

You see, the world doesn't like being told there is a GOD who is alive and kicking and actively involved in the affairs of men.  Human beings are basically self-centered and selfish in their outlook.  That is why any time you promote legislation to limit personal behavior like your drink size or portion of food it will probably fail.  You can't legislate behavior.

Just to play the devil's advocate for a moment, he has a point.  Too many Christians shove their evangelism down people's throats in a very aggressive manner.  They mean well, but come across adversarial, judgemental, and 'holier-than-thou'.  In other words, a little acerbic. 
We have to be as wise as the serpents around us, but as harmless as doves (Holy Spirit led).  Matthew 10:16 (NKJV)  "Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves.  Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves."

I don't worry about Mr. Weinstein, I pray for him.  satan will find the puppets he needs to get his agenda across.  GOD's word will prevail, we know the end of it all. 

Matthew 26:24  (ESV)    "The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed!  It would have been better for that man if he had not been born."

John 15:18 (ESV)
"If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you."

Proverbs 25:21-22 (ESV)
"If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink, for you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you."

Needless to say, it is going to get a little rough before the LORD returns.  Christians started out being stoned, dismembered, fed to lions, hiding in the sewer system, crucified.  The Jews were unjustly persecuted during the Holocaust.  Mankind has killed every prophet for the LORD in history including His only Son.  If you read Revelation, surely you realize we will have to carry our crosses as well.  You can acurately say that we have enjoyed unparalleled peace in America.  We are spoiled and complacent, not used to persecution.  I only hope I react with as much dignity and bravery as the early Christians. 

English Standard Version (ESV)The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers