So simple and so profound

As we participated in the Daniel fast along with several hundred people at James River Assembly for 21 days, we read how Daniel was a prophet in captivity in Babylon, but still a "highly favored" prophet according to the angel Gabriel. Daniel was not released from his captivity. He still had to serve three pagan kings over his lifetime. The favor of God came in promotion from slave to overseer, dreams and visions of the future, and divine rescue from certain death on at least two occasions. We all know the story of the lion's den.
What was the secret of Daniel's favor? We know he continued to eat a kosher diet to honor God instead of the King's rich food. We know he also refused to worship false gods at the risk of death. He also worshiped God three times daily.
He practiced seeking God first, His kingdom and His righteousness. He loved spending time in the presence of the Lord.
In all the current teaching and emphasis on faith and how faith says what God says, the Lord is impressing on my heart that overcoming faith works by love. Yes of course we are to love one another. That is the new command Jesus gave to us in John 13: 34. However, to have faith that works by love, one must believe that God is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him. Love Him. Seek Him first, and seek Him for Who He is, not just for what He can do for you. The rewards follow seeking Him First--not seeking first rescue, healing, provision, etc. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all, Psalm 34: 19. This deliverance follows seeking and loving the Father.
Faith that works by love spends time worshiping Him, like Daniel did. Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desire of your heart. I am impressed that the emphasis is on loving Him and delighting in Him first, even if it means being willing to lay down the desire of the heart.
I am confident that I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living, Psalm 27: 13.

Is it a Sin to Blame God for evil?

I have been meditating on this for days. Difficult to boil it down to 750 words, but here it is.

Is It A Sin to Blame God? (Job 1: 22)

Many Christians expect to endure afflictions and tribulation, thinking this is just part of "suffering because we live under the curse of a fallen world." Others are quick to blame God for the evils in this world. They forget there is a kingdom of spiritual darkness here, and Satan is the prince of this world (John 12: 31) until Jesus comes back again.

The Bible does say, "Many are the afflictions of the righteous" (Psalm 34:19a, KJV). However, that is only  part of the truth. The rest of this scripture is, "But the Lord delivers him out of them all" (v. 19b). People who blame God for "afflictions" have not learned the good part--deliverance! The Lord is not causing the afflictions, or He would not be delivering us from them all. However deliverance is not automatic. Most often it takes a good fight of faith. A fight that doesn't even begin if a person thinks God is afflicting him to somehow perfect his faith. If suffering perfects faith, the church would have been perfect long ago.

A careful look at the book of Job reveals that it is not God who afflicts. It is the adversary walking about as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour (Job 2: 2; 1 Pet. 5: 8).

I know what you're thinking. Satan had to get permission from God to torment Job. True, but it was NOT God who did the tormenting. Torment, death and destruction are never God's will (Luke 12: 32).  He sent His Son that we might have life abundant, redeem us from the curse of sickness, bind up our broken hearts, and bring peace that passes understanding in the midst of trouble (John 10: 10).

The Lord showed me an example. I permitted my 16-year-old daughter to drive a car. She ran a traffic light, got into an accident, and suffered a broken leg. Shards of glass are still embedded in her forehead today. This was not my will. I did not cause it. Yet because I permitted her to drive, someone could blame me for the accident.

Job 1: 22 states, "Job did not sin against God by blaming Him" for the devastation in his life. This verse shows that it IS sin to blame God for destruction, loss, and death.

God  permits. He does not cause.

When Mrs. Job said, "You might as well curse God and die," she was agreeing with the devil instead of trusting in the goodness of God. That was Satan's objective. He wanted Job to blame God for his suffering and curse God to His face (Job 1: 11). Scripture is clear that is was Satan who was afflicting Job, who "smote Job with sore boils," Job 2: 7. 

God is not interested in doing us harm. Jeremiah 29: 11 says God plans to do His people "good and not harm." Harm is saved for the enemies of the Lord.

Jesus said we will have tribulation, "But, be of good cheer, I have overcome the world!" (John 16: 33). Do you see what Jesus is saying? It is the Father's good pleasure to give us the kingdom, (blessings and benefits) but because we have an adversary, there will be difficulties. We must fight the good fight of faith and overcome tribulation by His power working in us. If we do not resist, the enemy persists. Christians were not created for defeat. But so many do not know that. They are walking in the natural world and expecting only natural results. 

Christian author Grace R. Roos had a challenge which lasted for over two years, even though she exercised all the spiritual knowledge and faith she had. The problem persisted. Satan whispered, "You're going overboard in your zeal to make much of the blood of Jesus. Simmer down and leave it to God." Grace knew she could not do that: "I had to utterly believe, or abandon my stand on the power of the blood to deliver from satanic oppression." 

Grace knew that Jesus delivers the sick from oppression (Acts 10: 38).

Thoughts came against her. "You have battled this problem for two years and the end is not yet in sight." Then the Holy Spirit quickened these words: "Do not let anything shake your faith in the power of the blood of Jesus to overcome the enemy. Hold your ground."

She won the battle by her good fight of faith in the blood in the blood of the Lamb and the word of her testimony: 

I will not sin against God by blaming Him for oppression. My Father loves me, and He does not afflict, or make me sick. I do not allow the thief to steal my life, my health, or my family. The blood of Jesus empowers me for victory (I Cor. 15: 57)!" The enemy whispers, "What if you fail this time?' I answer as the three Hebrews facing a fiery furnace: Our God is well able to deliver us, but if He does not, we will not bow our knew to worship any other gods, including the gods of sickness and disease.  

Authority you do not use is Victory you will not have

Authority you do not use is Victory you will not have

I used to think God postponed Adam's death on the day he sinned. Actually, Adam did die that day. His physical body lived on for 930 years, but his spirit died. That is what Jesus calls death--  Separation from God. 

His oneness with the Father was broken. He lost that sweet fellowship with God Who had come to walk with him in the garden each day. He lost his crown of dominion (Psalm 8:5). He lost his garment of light, (Psalm 104: 2; Isa. 61:10;). He was naked and ashamed.  

From that day on, all mankind has been born separated from the Father and spiritually dead (Col. 2:13; Eph. 2: 1-3). Their only way to have any relationship with God was through the blood sacrifice of animals. In Gen. 3:21, God made a garment of animal skin to cover their sin. 

When we receive Christ, we are spiritually reborn because of His perfect blood which paid the ultimate price and legally satisfied Heaven's justice. God becomes our spiritual Father (Heb. 12:9). Not only are we cleansed of all unrighteousness, We get back our garment of light (Christ's robe of righteousness, Isa. 61:10). We have a crown reserved for us in heaven. We also get back our dominion on earth, which is our authority over the god of this world and prince of the power of the air now at work in the sons of disobedience (Luke 10:19).

Authority you do not know is yours and do not use is victory you will not have. The first commandment was to be fruitful, multiply and take dominion over the earth. Note. Satan was already there in the Garden. Adam had the legal right to command the creep to leave (Gen. 1:26). He gave up his dominion that day and Satan became god of this world according Jesus in 2  Cor. 4:4; Luke 4: 5.

Heavenly Father, I thank You for teaching me how to overcome the darkness that tries to steal Your plan for my life. I exercise my authority over the enemy and command him to leave my garden where You walk with me. In the Name of Jesus, I command you Satan to get out! Thank you Jesus for shedding Your blood on the cross for me and restoring my dominion over the earth. Amen. 

The Cross is the Dividing Line

These are short meditations and brief prayers for building faith for God's healing to manifest. They are inspired by a dear friend who is renewing her mind to the fact that healing is the children's bread. The Lord has impressed it on my heart to send her a daily prayer, and He gives me a new insight every morning as I meditate on His word. I am posting these insights for others who would like to have "Word medication and Intensive Prayer."  I will begin by saying that I do not know all the answers to the mystery of prayer for healing. God has mysteries. God has secrets.

As always, the Number One question when it comes to praying and believing for the sick is this: Why isn't everyone healed? Three common scriptural reasons are: Unbelief,  the traditions of men which make the word of none effect, and ignorance of the word, which includes lack of knowing the authority of the believer.  Unforgiveness is also a blocker. Faith, which works by love, will not activate healing in an unforgiving heart.  All these blockers to healing can be easily overcome by spending time in the Word, renewing the mind, and asking the Holy Spirit for revelation knowledge of these truths.

 As you continue to pray these scriptures, the truth in them will develop faith which comes through hearing the Word. And faith is the evidence of things not seen. You must learn to believe what you do not see yet, until it manifests. By the sun's natural light, people only believe what they see. In the supernatural Son light, we believe first what we do not see, and then the supernatural becomes evident in the natural (Mark 11: 23-24).

Everyone at times will lose a loved one or a church member, while praying with all the faith he has. Even Jesus was not always successful at praying for the  sick. In His own hometown of Nazareth, "He could do no mighty works there because of their unbelief," (Matt. 13:58 and Mark 6:5). However, He did NOT stop praying for the sick. We should follow His example.

Let's start with the day Jesus triumphed over death:

Sunday

The Cross is the Dividing Line (rightly dividing the Word of Truth ( 2 Tim. 2: 14-26).

                                

I am seeing more victory when praying for healing for myself and others today, NOT because I have any more faith than other believers. I have learned that the Kingdom operates by law, and when I have appropriated those laws, I see things happen.

Here is something the Lord has just shown me. In Numbers 12:13, When Miriam was stricken with leprosy, Moses cried out, "Heal her O god. Heal her now I beseech Thee."

This is what I call a begging prayer. And this is what most believers are taught to pray and do pray. I have prayed this way for years over two of my grandchildren without seeing any victory.

Then I learned a kingdom law.

Moses had to pray based on the law of blessing and cursing in Deuteronomy 28, and Miriam had brought herself under the curse by her disobedience.

The Dividing line between the old and new testaments is the Cross.

In the New Testament, Jesus and the apostles NEVER prayed a begging prayer for healing. You won't find one example. They simply commanded, "be healed. Take up your bed. Walk." This is the prayer of authority. It is based on the fulfillment of the law, which Christ accomplished at Calvary (Rom. 8: 1-2). He set us all free from the curse of the law. He imparts this same authority over the kingdom of darkness to all who believe (Luke 10: 19).

Here are two examples:

A begging prayer:

For years my mother has suffered with continual sinus infections, allergies, and pain from metal rods in her leg. Together we have prayed something like this: "Father, we know you are our Healer. We know that Jesus took stripes on His back for our healing. We ask you to please heal these maladies and pain (if it be your will) in Jesus' Name, amen." We finally did learn to leave out the faith-destroying "If-it be-thy-will," because we discovered healing is His will (111 scriptures declare it). Still she did not have victory over those pains and disorders without taking a lot of antibiotics and suffering side effects from those strong medications.

A prayer of Authority:

Then we learned a kingdom--law that we have authority over our own bodies, so we began to speak directly to those aches, pains, sinuses, and command normalcy in Jesus' Name like this:  "Father first we submit ourselves to You to honor and glorify Your Name. You taught us to rule and reign over the kingdom of darkness in Ephesians 1:21. Sickness is a curse from darkness in Deuteronomy 28. So by the power of the Blood of the Lamb we overcome it! I speak to the body and command it to be normal. I speak to pain, arthritis, disease of any kind, and command it to leave. These curses are not staying on my mother. We do not allow sickness in the temple of the Holy Spirit. I declare the blood covenant over her body. You're not crossing it Satan. Get out in Jesus Name. Praise God."

            Mom was instantly healed, put her walker aside, cooked dinner and drove to town! Praise God.

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Monday

Authority you do not use is Victory you will not have

I used to think God postponed Adam's death on the day he sinned. Actually, Adam did die that day. His physical body lived on for 930 years, but his spirit died. That is what Jesus calls death.  His oneness with the Father was broken. He lost his crown of dominion (Psalm 8:5). He lost his garment of light, (Psalm 104: 2; Isa. 61:10;). He was naked and ashamed. He lost that sweet fellowship with God Who had come to walk with him in the garden each day. From that day on, all mankind has been born separated from the Father and spiritually dead (Col. 2:13; Eph. 2: 1-3). Their only way to have any relationship with God was through the blood sacrifice of animals. In Gen. 3:21, God made a garment of animal skin to cover their sin.

When we receive Christ, we are spiritually reborn because of His perfect blood which paid the ultimate price and legally satisfied Heaven's justice. God becomes our spiritual Father (Heb. 12:9). Not only are we cleansed of all unrighteousness, We get back our garment of light (Christ's robe of righteousness, Isa. 61:10), we also get back our dominion which is authority over the god of this world and prince of the power of the air now at work in the sons of disobedience (Luke 10:19).

Authority you do not use is victory you will not have. The first commandment was to be fruitful, multiply and take dominion over the earth. Note. Satan was already there. Adam had the legal right to command him to leave the garden (Gen. 1:26).

Heavenly Father, I thank You for teaching me how to overcome the darkness that tries to steal Your plan for my life. I exercise my authority over the enemy and command him to leave my garden where You walk with me. In the Name of Jesus, I command you Satan to get out! Thank you Jesus for shedding Your blood on the cross for me and restoring my dominion over the earth. Amen.

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