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Why Are There So Many Sick Among Us? (Part IV)

As you read God’s word you will realize that God places conditions for blessings and that there are conditions for curses. Deuteronomy 28:1-2 tells us, “If you fully obey the LORD your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. All these blessings will come upon you and accompany you if you obey the LORD your God:”

Let us see if there are for healing.

Are there conditions for healing?

According to Exodus 15:26 there is an ordinance for healing.

  • Diligently hearken (to listen, to pay careful attention) to the voice of the Lord
  • Do what is right in his sight
  • Give ear to his commandments
  • Keep his statues

If you do this then God will not permit any of the diseases that the Egyptians experienced to come upon you.

In John 15:7, Christ said that if we live in him, and his words live in us, we can ask what we will and it will be done for us. If we are his and we know his word and it is alive in us that we can ask and receive from him.

Many Christians know the word of God but it is all theory… it is not applied or believed—so for all practical purposes it is a dead word for them. In order for the word to be alive it has to be activated—by faith. It has to be believed and implemented. Our position should be God said it, I believe it, I declare it, it is mine—there should be no doubt.

The faith that appropriates God’s promises rests on the knowledge of his word which expresses his will for us. It is this truth that will set us free (John 8:32)—but it can only accomplish this for us when we know the truth and act on the truth we know.

David put it this way, “God’s promises are life to those that find them, and health to all their flesh” Prov. 4:22. If we find and believe God’s promises we will live. And his promises will be health to ALL of our flesh. There is no exception in this passage of scripture.

If you want to read earlier parts of the series please click on the link.

Part I What is God’s will for us concerning healing?

Part II Do you believe?

Part III How does faith factor in?

Part V The dual provision of God’s healing

Part VI When you were saved you were healed

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Why Are There So Many Sick Among Us? (Part III)

You believe that God wills to heal…but do you have faith that he wants that for you? Do you secretly believe that God plays favorites? Or that only a few people can achieve healing because they have supernatural faith? Let’s discover how faith factors in and if God will is a respecter of persons.

How does faith factor in?

The word of God tells us that without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6). But how does one get faith?

By hearing! Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ” Romans 10:17 (NIV).

It is more than hearing empty words—the word that must be heard is the message as spoken by Christ. Nothing should be added to or subtracted from the words that Christ spoke.

The message is that healing is for you! If God heals anyone he will heal you. Christians need not be sick. Christ paid it all so that all can benefit (Isaiah 53:5). People need to know God’s will—according to his last will and testament (the New Testament) is that you be healed—from sickness, disease, sin, spiritual illness and from any other situation that can be classified as a sickness—lack of food, clothing, shelter, provisions, finances etc.

According to T. L. Osborn in his book Healing the Sick, “Healing is for all and should be preached to all.”

If healing is taught as God’s provision for all, faith is always imparted…and people are always healed. And the Bible bears this out—Paul preached Christ and people received faith to be healed and were healed (Acts 14:8-10), Peter preached Christ and people were healed (Acts 5:14-16, Acts 9:34, Acts 3:6). Phillip preached Christ and people were healed (Acts 8:6-8).

Therefore, if you preach Christ people will be healed. And if you believe Christ you will be healed. Let this be a settled fact, it is God’s will to heal.

Christ came to do the will of God according to Hebrews 10:7 and John 6:38. While he was here he healed all those who touched him (Matthew 14:36), all who sought to touch him (Luke 6:19), all those who followed him (Matthew 12:15), and those that others brought to him (Matthew 8:16-17). Therefore Christ established through his life and ministry that God wills to heal people.

If you want to read the other parts of the series please click on the link.

Part I What is God’s will for us concerning healing?

Part II Do you believe?

Part IV Are there conditions for healing?

Part V The dual provision of God’s healing

Part VI When you were saved you were healed

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Releasing the Ability of God Through Prayer

Title of Book: Releasing the Ability of God Through Prayer
Author: Charles Capps
ISBN Number: 978-1-5779-669-4
Publisher: Harrison House
Year of Release: Revised 2004
Book Length: 172 pages
Part of a series: No
Price: $10.99
Book type: Paperback
Primary Audience/age group: Christian
Genre: Religious
Recommended: Yes
Rating: 5 out of 5 points

Description: Prayer is governed by spiritual laws and they are designed to work for you. But if you don’t know what they are they are probably working against you.

Review:

Did you know that you could be bound…spiritually bound by scripture?

I didn’t…but you can. In Releasing the Ability of God Thorough Prayer, Charles Capps teaches how this is done and how to avoid this trap of the enemy. He points out in the book that rightly dividing the word of God is one way to ensure that you are not ensnared by the devil.

Releasing the Ability of God Thorough Prayer, will help Christians that desire to know the spiritual laws that govern answered prayers. But it also points out the differences in the types of prayer. Capps reveals that there are prayers of dedication, thanksgiving, praise, intercession and petition. Each is different and has a spiritual law that needs to be fulfilled in order to get an answer from God.

Many believe that faith is a feeling, but this is not so according to Capps. Some Christians believe that we should pray to Jesus but this is an error according to Releasing the Ability of God Thorough Prayer. Christians are to pray in Jesus name but not to Jesus.

Capps points out in his book that many pray the problem rather than the solution. And by releasing this is to get what you pray for…more of the problem and none of the solution. It is a prayer that magnifies the devils activities and not God’s ability to change the situation.

If you desire to pray with power…if you want to have answered prayers rather then a continuation of the problem… or if you want to learn how to pray according to spiritual laws Releasing the Ability of God Thorough Prayer, is the book for you.

This book is a powerful and informative book that every Christian should have in their library. I recommend reviewing it each year so that you can develop the skills needed to have effective and mind blowing results because you pray in accordance to spiritual laws and within the will of God.

Ratings:

Spiritual Elements 5 of 5

Recommendation

I recommend this book because it is information, corrective and it unveils the subtle schemes that the enemy uses to ensnare the children of God. The Bible says that people perish because of the lack of knowledge…with Releasing the Ability of God Thorough Prayer, there is no need for you to perish or for you to experience unanswered prayers!

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Why Are There So Many Sick Among Us? (Part II)

Now that you know God’s will concerning healing…the question to be asked is…

Do you believe?

The real question is do you believe God? Do you take him at his word? When God told the Israelites (over six hundred thousand of them according to Ex. 12:37) that he was the God that heals them in Ex. 15:26 they believed his words and he did what he promised according to Ps.105:37. There were not feeble, sick, or diseased persons among them.

This is evidence that God meant what he said and if we believe his word he will do exactly what he promised. So the question is do you believe what God says? Do you believe some of what he says? Do you believe that God’s word is impartial—for some and not for others? Does God play favorites? Or do you believe none of his word?

These are questions that you have to answer for yourself—the answers will indicate whether you are walking in faith or not and if you are truly a believer—for a believer believes God’s word completely.

It is impossible to boldly claim by faith a blessing or a promise if we are unsure that God offers it or that he is willing to perform it. We have to know what God says and to allow his word to be forever settled in our heart—for his word is already settled in heaven (Ps. 119:89) and it will never change (Ps. 89:34).

To read the other parts of the series please click on the link.

Part I What is God’s will for us concerning healing?

Part III How does faith factor in?

Part IV Are there conditions for healing?

Part V The dual provision of God’s healing

Part VI When you were saved you were healed

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Why Are There So Many Sick Among Us? (Part I)

This series of articles will concentrate on the reasons why Christians have so many sick within the body of Christ. The articles are geared to help believers establish in their minds that healing is for them, that God’s expressed will is for their healing, that faith is required for healing, and knowledge of the word of God is necessary for faith to abound.

I have often asked this question of the Lord. Why are there so many sick Christians in the body of Christ?

As I explored this with the Lord the answers came—many are ignorant about the word of God, others do not believe that God means exactly what he says, while others have misplaced their faith—in doctors and medicine.

What is God’s will for us concerning healing?

First let us establish a fact God has expressed his will for our healing in concrete terms, unbreakable and in no uncertain terms. “I will take sickness away from you. The number of your days I will fulfill.” Exodus 23:25-26. In Exodus 15:26, God says, “I am the Lord who heals you.”

God clear about what he wants to do and what he does for us. In the first scripture he says “I will”—this indicated that there is something that he intends to do, future tense if you will. In the second scripture he tells not only who he is but also what he does. He is the Lord—“who heals” us.

From these two verses it is clear that the expressed will of God is to heal—not some of his people but all of his people—the “you” is inclusive. He did not qualify the “you” so the “you” can be replaced with any name.

To read the other parts of the series please click on the link.

Part II Do you believe?

Part III How does faith factor in?

Part IV Are there conditions for healing?

Part V The dual provision of God’s healing

Part VI When you were saved you were healed

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Wigglesworth On the Anointing

Title of Book: Wigglesworth on the Anointing

Author: Smith Wigglesworth

ISBN Number: 0-88368-530-2

Publisher: Whitaker House

Year of Release: 2000

Book Length: 192 pages

Part of a series: No

Price: $11.19 

Book type: Paperback

Primary Audience: Christian

Genre: Religious

Recommended: Yes

Rating: 5 out of 5

Description: Learn how to walk in the anointing of God.

Review:

Smith Wigglesworth is known as a faith filled man of God whose ministry span several decades. He is known for his straight forwardness and his uncanny ability to trust God no matter what.

This man of God has confronted the devil where ever he met him and in his book Wigglesworth on the Anointing the show the reader how to do the same. This book is a collection of sermons which were compiled into a book so that readers could experience a deeper anointing  from God in their lives.

Wigglesworth points out that each Christian has the ability live in victory and power through the equipping of Holy Spirit. But in order to do so self must die. He points out that the devil will take all the comfort that we give him. In order to have victory the devil must be challenged and defeated and that can only occur through Jesus.

Each believer has a choice…you can stay at the level you are at or you can seek a deeper anointing. If you are ready for a deeper anointing then this book is for you.

Wigglesworth comes across as a powerhouse of faith. His book is written in a simple yet straight forward manner. There are some typographical errors and incomplete thoughts…nonetheless you will feel the anointing of God on you as you read his words.

This book is for people who want to experience a closer walk with God…a more powerful anointing on their lives, or who desire to do greater works for the Lord…

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Zucchini Bread

I wanted to share with you a wonderful recipe for Zucchini Bread. I tried it with minor substitutions and it came out wonderfully! The bread came out moist and light and it was a delight to my family. This was my first bread and it has encouraged me to try to make more in the future.

If you are not normally a bread maker… you may want to try this recipe from All Recipes.

Try it my way

You can substitute agave 1 1/2 cups for the sugar. Use self-raising flour and omit the baking soda, baking powder, and salt. You can also use pecans instead of walnuts. Or you can use the original recipe as given at www.allrecipes.com.

Ingredients

3 eggs
1 cup vegetable oil
2 cups white sugar
2 cups grated zucchini
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3 cups all-purpose flour
3 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Directions

  • Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
  • Grease and flour two 8×4 inch loaf pans.
  • In a large bowl, beat eggs, then mix in oil and sugar.
  • Stir in zucchini and vanilla.
  • Combine flour, cinnamon, soda, baking powder, salt and nuts; stir into the egg mixture. Divide batter into prepared pans.
  • Bake for 60 to 70 minutes, or until done.

Feel free to heat  bake the bread at 300 degrees.  To make sure that it is done dip a knife or a skewer into the middle to make sure it is fully baked.

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HELP WANTED!

Did you know that there are vacancies in the Kingdom of God? Did you know that God has jobs openings—posted in his classified section? And that there is one job specifically tailored for you!

Well there is!

Linda Gourdine-Hunt in her book Help Wanted… Vacancies in the Kingdom of God, lists a few of the job opening God has available.  Through poetic expression she gives you insight into the plight, heart, pains, desires, and needs of the people—the homeless, the sick, the poor, the abandoned, the hurting, the gang member, and the lonely—that God wants you to help.

Help Wanted challenges every believer to apply for a position. Is service hard? Is it reserved for the selected few? Do you have to do great exploits to qualify for the position? Do you have to have a college degree? Or many years of training?

No!

All that God asks is that you be willing to be used. Share a word of encouragement, plant a garden, rake some leaves, read a book, play a game, or share the word of God. If you have desired to be used by God to meet the needs of a lost, dying or hurting generation—now is your chance… apply for a position today call “L-O-R-D-S-E-N-D-M-E.”

You will not be turned down, the hours are reasonable, the pay is unmatchable, the rewards unfathomable, and the benefits… eternal. If you want to know what you can do…pick up a copy of Help Wanted and apply to be used by God Today!

Our Recommendation:

4 out of 5 stars

Linda Gourdine-Hunt gives voice to those among us who are overlooked. She challenges us to pay attention and to get involved.  Help Wanted includes an application for all who are interested in applying for a position–it covers acceptance of Jesus as your Savior and Lord, your motivation for service, your area of interest for ministry, your skills, talents and gifts, your prior experience, your availability and whether you are willing to give God the Glory or if you want it for yourself.

The job application helps the reader to put things into focus… it’s all about God! And the wonderful thing about God is that if you lack experience he will still accept you. If you don’t know your talents he will reveal them to you. If you don’t have days available he will use the time you have and maximize it. If you are not sure about your ministry he will direct you to your purpose. If you have the wrong motivation he will replace it with his desires. All he asks is that you accept his son as your savior and be willing to work. And the willingness to pray for others is part of the job description.

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If Disaster Struck Would You Be Ready?

Terrorist attacks, natural disasters, and mechanical failures are commonplace today. Trains derail, power outages occur, rivers over flow their banks. How can you prepare for such events? How can you cope without feeling stressed, overwhelmed, or lost? If disaster struck…would you be ready?

You will… if you make a plan!

Repeatedly the request has gone out from The American Red Cross, FEMA, and New York City Office of Emergency Management that every individual and family should have a survival plan, which would include an evacuation plan if necessary. In the midst of a disaster, you will not be able to think clearly to pack all the essentials. But if you have them already prepared you can get out of dodge quickly. They strongly suggest that you pre-pack all that you will need. Store it in an easily accessible place—that all family members know.

What items should be in your emergency kit?

A random search on the internet will yield dozens of sites that offer suggestions, tips and survival kit supplies from free to a cost. How do you choose?

What do you want to be ready for?
First, decide what you want to be prepared for—a blackout, hurricane, tornado, biochemical warfare, etc.

How long do you need to be prepared for?
Then consider how many days you expect to need rations and supplies for: a day, three, a week a month etc.

How many people or pets will need supplies?
How many people do you need to provide for, yourself, kids, spouse, parents, grandparents, your dog, cat or hamster?

Each of these considerations will affect the how much you need and how much it will cost you upfront. Now you are ready to start to build your survival kit.

First aid kit
With every disaster, the possibility exists that you might need a first aid kit to help bandage and treat wounds, and cuts to prevent infections. This is top on the list. The first aid kit should include all medicines that an individual is on as well as painkillers. It is true that humans can survive days without food, but water is absolutely essential. Man can survive from two to ten days without water depending on the temperature and climate.

Water
You should keep a gallon of water for each person per day on hand as recommended by the Red Cross. It helps to have rations of food available as well: can goods that don’t require cooking, bars and comfort foods (which to help reduce stress).

A basic kit includes:
• A radio
• Batteries, various sizes
• Toilet (optional)
• Femine care products
• Sleeping bag
• Thermal underwear
• Poncho
• Change of clothing’s
• Bath care products (travel size)
• Vitamins
• Flashlights
• Thermal blanket
• Flairs
• Food
• Water

If traveling with young children include:
• Formulas
• Diapers
• Wipes
• Jared foods
• Games
• Books
• Favorite toy(s)
• Additional water

If traveling with a senior include:
• All medications (speak with doctor about proper storage for medications)
• Assistive devices
• Depends (if necessary)
• Additional water and food

If traveling with pets:
• Foods stored in airtight and water proof containers
• Water (calculate pet into the water equation)
• Toy (if applicable)
Survival Kits can be purchased
If you buy a survival kit, many of the foods have a shelf life of five years. If however, you assemble your own survival kit, you should check your supplies and batteries every six months. Replace any expired items.

Run Drills
Run periodic survival drills—at least two per year. Assign tasks to each member that is able to shoulder responsibility. Time how long it takes you to get the supplies from the pre-selected location.

Escape ladders
Consider purchasing escape ladders for each room. Identify two ways to escape from each room within your home. And as with fire drills, practice will help to ensure smooth implementation of plans without much thought.

Living in a world of uncertainty one should always be prepared. Keep a miniature version of your home survival kit in your car and at work. As we all witnessed on 9/11 one never knows where or when disaster will strike.
For additional information visit:

The American Red Cross

FEMA
Survival Information for Kids
Information for Pets
A Guide to Winter Storms Preparedness

NYC Office of Emergency Management
Download your copy of A Household Preparedness Guide

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ANGER THE FORBIDDEN EMOTION!

Are you like millions of people who view anger as something wrong, bad, or to be avoided at all costs? Do you deny your anger, suppress it, or try to ignore it even when it is yelling through your voice box?

Many suffer with a syndrome I call “anger denial.” They try to play down how things are affecting them emotionally—especially when it comes to anger. Is this a wise tactic? Is this something that we should do? Is it healthy for us in the long run?

I don’t think it is!

Why?

Because as we try to play it down, avoid it, or deny it we are cutting off one-half of our emotional self. David Augsburger in his book, Caring Enough to Confront puts it this way, “To cut off one-half of your emotional spectrum and reject all negative feelings is to refuse to be a whole person.”

Why would anyone what to be only half a person? Some choose to be half a person because they believe to let anger out is to do something wrong, forbidden or unacceptable.

Is anger wrong? Does it have to be bad? Is anger always destructive? Does anger have to be hostile? Can anger be productive? I don’t believe that anger in and of itself is bad, negative, or destructive. It is the way in which we express our anger and how we choose to act it out that can be destructive and harmful.

Attempting to shoot someone because they cut you off on the freeway is destructive—and can be harmful, but expressing that you don’t like the fact that a mad man was given a license is not destructive—even if you state this with passion.

Often anger is used as a way to attack a people—their character, skill, intelligence, worth, abilities, or looks etc. This is destructive to the person—on whom your anger is unleashed, it is damaging to your relationship, and it is unproductive for you—even if it makes you feel good in the short run.

Man is a social being—he was designed for relationship. Anger expressed as a violent weapon kills relationships. Relationships are built with love, understanding, service, truth and much more. But anger that is out of control or hostile can bulldoze a relationship—leaving many casualties in its wake. And can leave the one who welded the weapon alone and isolated. People who are always angry are not magnets that draw people to them—but rather repel people thus leaving them alone and isolated.

Anger doesn’t need to be expressed in a way that causes wounding, hurt, or cause one to be out of control. You can express your anger in a loving and controlled way. If you have been putting your negative emotions on the shelf, if you have labeled anger a forbidden emotional fruit it is time to dust it off—take it off the shelf and start to be a whole person again. Express your anger but do it in love and without losing control.

How can you express anger in a positive way?

  • Identify why you’re angry
  • Think about what you want to say—does it target the issue rather than the person
  • Take time to get your emotions in check—count to 100 or 1000 if necessary
  • State how you feel—“when you did this it made me feel_____ and it made me angry because it came across like ________.”
  • Write it down. Sometimes it is easier articulate what you feel after you write it down
  • If you feel out of control put that extra emotional energy to work—exercise. Then have a talk
  • Speak the “I” message and not the “you” message. “I feel a wall is up between us” rather than “You’re putting up a wall”
  • Follow the example of a great man—King David (Psalms 40) learn from someone who was able to express the depths of his emotions and still retain a heart, attitude and disposition that was pleasing to God

If you happen to be a person who is full of anger…it is time to get some love…let go of the anger and allow your heart and emotions to be healed. I recommend Jesus—he works wonders especially when you choose to forgive.

If you want to learn more about confronting in love, and healthy ways to express anger…check out…

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