Wednesday, May 6, 2009

THE PROMISES OF GOD, FOR YOU IS?

Yellow rose begonia, from last year garden.

I was never one to make plans in my life, I usually just reacted to what came my way and went from there. Every time it, would seem to me, that I made plans, specifically more detail plans about what I would do or how I was going to spend my day , some how or other it never went the way I planned. So over the years , if I had to make some kind of plan, I would make what I call non specific plans , just planning the essential details and allowing God to do as He wills. Because of the fickleness of life , life just happens and I just go with the flow. I find it best to say if God wills when making plans, and many times my will and God's will don't seem to line up!!!! but I find it scriptural and best to say when and if I must make some plans I just say , 'If it be His will".

But many believers believe it is always God's will for what ever they decide they want to do or believe , is it?
In some Christian circles , it would seem that they would pick up on a certain scripture, a promise that was spoken to some specific individual in the bible and make it their own, with out the Holy Spirit, placing that particular promise in their spirit , as belonging to them personally. By doing that , it makes for a lot of disappointments when that promise given by the Spirit to someone else does not seem to manifest in their own lives. I know that has happened to me. We can not willy nilly apply any promise in the bible to ourselves unless the Holy Spirit lays it in your spirit . I have found that if a particular verse or promise seems to just jump out of the bible at me, that in order for me to make the connection that it applies to me personally ,I ask the Holy Spirit for another witness to confirm what I had received from Spirit in my Bible reading. For instance recently, as I was reading, a scripture which was speaking about the Pharaoh , and this verse specifically applied to Him , but every time I read it , it seems to me that the Spirit was also telling me that it also applied to me, but in a different way. So I asked the Holy Spirit that if this applies to me, I need a witness or two, so that I know it is mine. The scripture is found in :
Romans 9:17 TNIV
17 For Scripture says to Pharaoh: "I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth."

As we can see in this scripture and promise, that it was spoken to one individual, it was intended for him, but in actuality it speaks to us all, does it not? But back to my example about the 2 witnesses that I needed so that I knew that God was speaking to me as well but for my good, not as in the case of the Pharaoh who was used negatively for the purpose of God , I left may bible reading that day and went on to read other blogs, or other Christian websites, and on 2 different sites, this scripture came up, and it was unintentional on my part, it just happened that this scripture was sited for various reasons, so I had my 2 witnesses, and I know that in agreement with my own conviction that it applied to me as well , I could then claim that verse to me in that the very purpose of my life is so that God's power may be shown in me, and His name declared or proclaimed in all the earth!

As we can see not all scripture can be applied to our lives unless it is Quickened in us by the Spirit of Truth, and when it is, we must verify it with a witness of some sort, otherwise we go around claiming health and prosperity and all kinds of promises , when it may not apply to us.So we claim it as ours making assumptions on God and when it never comes about we begin to doubt the promises of God and His truth, and we become discouraged. We are told in the Word that through much trial, and tribulation and suffering we enter into the Kingdom of God, and we must remember that.
BUT , we must remember that it is impossible to boldly claim, by faith, a blessing that we are not sure God offers. THE POWER OF GOD CAN BE CLAIMED ONLY WHERE THE WILL OF GOD IS KNOWN.
We could not claim even begin to believe that we are saved and made righteous because of Christ without first knowing that it is so and it is God's will.
If it is not God's will to save everyone and only saves some then we do not ever have any basis for faith unless we have a 'special revelation' that we are among the 'favored' ones.Our faith must rest on the will of God alone and not our desires and wishes.Appropriating faith is not believing that God CAN but that God will.
When it comes to healing, of which I am in great need of I might add, I know that there is no doctrine more clearly taught,that it is God's will to heal ALL who have need of healing so that we all can fulfill the number of our days according to His Promise.I also know that sickness is oppresion from the Devil and not from God, although it is allowed into our lives for a reason. Divine healing and salvation of our souls can go no further than the promise of God. Our God does not promise that we will not physically die but He does say .....in Ex.23:25,26 "I will take sickness away from the midst of thee...the number of thy days I will fulfill." and in Psalm 90:10 TNIV
10 Our days may come to seventy years, or eighty, if our strength endures; yet the best of them are but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away." Psalm 102:24 TNIV
24 So I said: "Do not take me away, my God, in the midst of my days; your years go on through all generations.
If we recall that all those that Jesus called back from the dead were young and they had not lived out their fullness of years..........so if our allotted span for life on earth has not been spent we have a right to claim God's gift of health in our lives especially since there are an abundant amount of scriptural promises of health and healing that apply to all.
We can see in the Old Covenant, and our New Covenant which is much better, that Universal Health in the nation of Israel was continued as long as conditions of God were met, but when they did not meet the conditions they were not given Divine health. In all cases where God's conditions were met they had health, and it always applied to ALL.
In Psalm 91:16 TNIV it says:
16 With long life I will satisfy them and show them my salvation."
Now the individuals that were healed of Jesus in the Gospels was for them, we can't claim their personal gift of healing but we can claim what was given to ALL on Calvary. It is very clear that all of the instances cited in the Old Covenant , that it was God's will to heal all who met His conditions. Where ever forgiveness was offered, healing was offered.

We know or we should know that Jesus was the full expression of the Father's will. His life was both a revelation and a manifestation of the Love and will of God.Jesus literally acted out the will of God for Adam's race. The healing of the sick by Jesus was done as a revelation of God's will for man." And I might add that up unto His death on the Cross He was still working under the conditions of the First 'OLD' Covenant with the people of Israel. Do I or any believer have to depend on Divine revelation for Healing instead of believing what the promises are in Scriptures on this topic? We have a sure word in scriptures what the Will of God is on Healing in 1 Thessalonians 2:13 KJV it says 13For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe."
If you or I was in those crowds that followed Jesus 2000 years ago and He healed all of them, you and I would have been healed just as they were !
Many people believe that Jesus healed ONLY to make it known that He was of God, but the scriptures clearly teach that this was not always the case many times it says in Matt 12:15-16...."15 Aware of this, Jesus withdrew from that place. A large crowd followed him, and he healed all who were ill. 16 He warned them not to tell others about him."
Many believed healing was just for people of that time, but we have evidence in the word that healing occurred 30 years later in the last chapter of Acts 28:8-9" 8And it came to pass, that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and of a bloody flux: to whom Paul entered in, and prayed, and laid his hands on him, and healed him. 9So when this was done, others also, which had diseases in the island, came, and were healed"
The same healing was available after Pentecost that Christ had displayed before!!! The word says that we have been redeemed from the curse of the law Gal.3:13 The curse of the law contains All diseases known and unknown .
Many believe that the suffering we are to go through includes sickness, really? does it say that? IF sickness and disease is of God for us to learn something then why do we go to the Doctor? Aren't we thwarting Gods will for us to be Sick?Does God use sickness and disease to 'chastise' us? Yes when we disobey sickness may be permitted as discipline but God has told us how to avoid and avert this "If we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord that we should not be condemned with the world." 1Cor.11:31-32.These chastisements come to save us from final judgement. When we see the cause of the chastising and turn from it God promises it shall be withdrawn.As soon as we judge ourselves and learn our lesson then we are promised that we shall not be judged. By self judgement we may avoid chastening. Divine healing is not unconditionally promised to all Christians regardless of our conduct, it is for those who believe and obey.
Soteria is the Greek word for Salvation and it means or implies deliverance, preservation,healing,health, soundness. It is applied to the soul sometimes and sometimes to the body only. Sozo is Greek for saved and it means healed,made sound, made whole. It means both salvation and saved for our spirits and our bodies . In Ephesians 5:23..... even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body."

I don't believe disease and sickness is the 'suffering' that the Christian is to go through, This suffering, the trials and tribulations that we go through is because we are Christian, and is done to us for that reason. Or because of the word, Sickness or what ever else that is permitted because we have allowed something in our lives that is not Gods will for us and so because we have not continuously judged ourselves God allows things to happen in order to get us back on track for the Glory of God, sickness is not holy neither is poverty, but it is permitted because we have allowed it so by not keeping God as our focus in some aspects of our lives. Sickness and poverty does not make us holy, God does, Sickness and poverty does not glorify God, but if we are dealing with them we can glorify God while there, but it would be better not to be there in the first place, you think?I am not saying that we all should walk in health and wealth all the time, but I do know that God created our bodies to heal it self when given the right conditions of nutrients, sunlight, living water , exercise and so forth. I know from my experience that I was more likely not to follow the path of Christ when I was healthy and busy and on the go and I was the main focus ,but then when I got to the point that I no longer could do what I use to because of chronic pain and arthritis and a hip no longer able to handle walking, that Christ became more of my focus, so I know that in my case disease was used to get me back on course.
How much faith does it take to say that the Lord is Able? The devil knows God is able and he knows He is willing.But the fact that God is willing, Satan has deluded us from knowing this. We can magnify the Lord's power but this is not sufficient basis for faith, but that God is compassionate and is willing are a basis for our faith.We must first know that The Lord is Gracious and IS willing to save our bodies as He saves our souls. We must come to know that God is both able and willing to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think! Are you aware that Healing is the greatest evangelizing agency that the Lord ever used?
We are not preaching nor are we living the same Gospel/Good News that was preached by Jesus and His Apostles! At least I have not been!!! The Good news, the Gospel did not end with the Apostles, it began , it started then and is ever progressing today until He returns. This Gospel the one Jesus proclaimed, is to be preached in all the world, is it?
The 7 blessings of His covenant are-His Presence, as Provider,Peace/Shalom,Victory,Shepard,Righteousness and as our Physician.
IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO BOLDLY CLAIM BY FAITH A BLESSING THAT WE ARE NOT CERTAIN GOD OFFERS. THE POWER OF GOD CAN BE CLAIMED ONLY WHERE THE WILL OF GOD IS KNOWN.
Our faith begins where the will of God is known, our faith rest on the will of God alone, not our desires or wishes.Appropriating faith is not believing God Can but that He Will. Those who believe in healing or salvation of our souls but only say one word in favor of it but 10 words against it, can not ever produce faith for healing or salvation of our souls.
Faith is expecting God to do what we KNOW it is His will to do.This faith comes by hearing the Word the promises of God to do it.
Acting our faith by praising and thanking God in advance has been throughout history, His appointed way for our appropriation of all His blessings. Heb.13:15 teaches that it is our thanks offering, our sacrifice of praise offered in advance for the blessing God has promised us.Faith is what we have before we are healed or saved, when it is done, it is fact.

So in conclusion, is the promise to someone only spoken of in the Bible?In some cases it is unless God quickens it in our spirit that it is meant for you in that instance, but the promise of salvation is for ALL and we have a sure word on it , that it applies to you and I, and when we know it applies to all, it is ours . When it is for a single individual in the word, we then need a few other witnesses that it is ours, then when we have it, by faith we can have it.
So yes we must suffer, have trials and tribulations, there is no escape from that, but this is for the word sake, and for Christ and for being a Christian that this is mostly talking about , I believe, sickness and disease is not given to us because of our walk as a believer, but may be permitted in our lives because we did not judge ourselves, I am no scholar and I am aware that God is God and what ever is permitted in our lives we must after prayerfully checking in and seeing whether or not we have got off tract, and once we know we must deal with it in light of the Spirit's leading,we can be sure that God knows what is best and needed in our lives and like Paul we need to be content with that and thank God in all circumstances of our lives. So we must always be alert and listen to what God speaks to us from our spirits.
So what do I say to myself, and to others who have not been healed, we need to look at our lives more closely and by the spirit receive what is being said to us in this sickness, did we miss the mark somewhere? We must also come to a place in our walk with God to be steadfast and assured of His promises and know that what ever the reason , God is in control, and that His purpose IS being worked out in our lives , we must be able even when we do not see the answer to stand none the less and be like the 3 faithful witnesses of God mentioned in Daniel 3:16-18 KJV 16Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. 17If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. 18But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
Sometimes there is alot of time gap between our prayer of faith and its results, and it is in that time period that our faith is being tested , as the bible gives witness to in the lives of the faithful like Joesph and Abraham and so forth, many years passed between what was promised and it's fulfillment, and so it will be with us as well. Even in Daniel we have 2 instances of his prayers both were answered immediately in spirit, one fulfilled quickly the other took a 21 days.Read Daniel9:20-23 and in 10:11-14. So just because our prayers don't seem to be answered especially as we stand on His promises that we know are ours, we must remember that there are many things behind the scenes that we are not privy to , and so must in faith continue to stand, as is said in Eph.6:13 that after we have done all that we know to do,STAND. What is it we must do, judge ourselves , check and see that we are obeying what we KNOW to do, check the scriptures to know that we are standing on the sure word of truth and that His promise does apply to that situation, pray in faith, and then stand, and praise God for the results!!!!
There is no silver bullet,there's no formula for a miracle and no other criteria for healing except GOD'S WILL for the person. When He speaks it, He brings it to pass, man's sickness is an opportunity to see God's glory. He also heals through doctors, modern medicine, and any other means He chooses to deliver us from what oppresses us.The long and short of healing is that when God speaks it, we are healed; if He doesn't, we're not.The only thing that keeps me sane is knowing God has a purpose for it all, and it will be for our good and His glory.
But although health and wealth would be nice to have, our main focus in life is Seeking our God,Knowing our God and walking with our God, and everything else will be took care of in God's time and in His will and plan.
Blessings in His Name
ENDURA

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