Psalm
103:2-3 talks about God’s benefits and reminds us that he heals all of our
diseases. God told his people in Old Testament times that as long as they listened
to him, obeyed his commandments and did what was right they would walk in his
healing and health (Ex 15:26). We live in New Testament times and we know that
we are healed by the stripes of Jesus (1 Peter 2:24). Jesus body was flogged,
broken and striped with wounds so we could be whole.
In
Acts 10:38 (KJV) Luke the physician wrote about Jesus: “How God anointed Jesus
of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing
all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him”. Jesus is still our
healer today; are told in the book of Hebrews that he never changes (Heb 13:8).
So,
he can heal but will he heal me you may ask? Well God is no respecter of person
(Mark 12:14). Jesus reassured the doubting leper: “And, behold, there came a
leper and worshipped him, saying Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean”.
And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean.
And immediately his leprosy was cleansed” (Matt 8:3).
Alleluia!
Healing is yours, believe God for it today.
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When
we were born again it was our spirit that was reborn, not our flesh (soul and
body). “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot
see he kingdom of God. Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of
water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born
of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit” (John 3:3,
5-6; KJV). We need to renew our minds (Rom 12:2) and bring our bodies under (1
Cor 9:27). This is all put another way in Eph 4:22-24 (also see Col 3:9-10).
Paul writes about putting off the old man or old nature and lifestyle and
putting on the new man or allowing the Holy Spirit and the word to transform us
to be more and more like Christ.
We
cannot do this in our own strength, we need to come before God in humility and
ask his help in emptying ourselves of self and to be transformed into his
likeness. Sure, this involves things like controlling lust and anger and
watching what we say but we also need to examine ourselves and ask God to show
us the things in our core that limit his hand in our lives: pride, ego,
stubbornness, rebelliousness, lack of submission, self-seeking, seeking
recognition, to mention a few.
I
heard a preacher once say that the thing that most struck him about Christians
was how little they changed; how superficial their relationship with God was. I
don’t think he was being cynical but honest. Wow, this isn’t where I want to
be; how about you? God will change us if we let him; but be warned, it can be a
painful process. However, the rewards of intimacy with God and growing in him
are awesome. Let’s get serious with God. He’s waiting on his church.
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I
love the Psalms; reading one a day is a good plan. David really shows his love,
fear of and heart for God in his poetry. In writing Psalm 139 verses 23 and 24 King
David humbled himself before his God and cried out that his heavenly Father
would search his heart for any wickedness and show him how to walk in
Godliness.
As
with David, we cannot do this and walk the walk on our own; o how we need God
in our lives. In Romans chapter 2 and verse 15 we are told that our born-again
spirits, (hearts or consciences) will show us if we are right or wrong if we
allow the Holy Spirit to illuminate and strengthen our spirits with the word of
God (John 14:26; Rom 8:16).
Get
in the word, ask God to bring you revelation by the Holy Spirit as you read and
meditate his word. Allow the spotlight of God’s word to show you where you need
to change so you can draw ever closer to God. Remember it is not in our own
strength but it is God who shows us the way and empowers us to change and be
more like him: “being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good
work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Phil 1:6; KJV).
Lord,
flood us with your presence, your Holy Spirit today and have your way in our
lives.
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“Ye
shall walk after the Lord your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and
obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him” (Deut 13:4; KJV). Our
lives should line up with the word of God. We need to look into the word today
and see if our lives, our thoughts, words and actions are on track. So often we
look but only want to pull out our favorite words.
The
word is truth (John 17:17), inspired by God (2 Tim 3:16) and his counsel for
every aspect of our life (Pr 4:20-23). We can look into the word and it will encourage
us as we see areas where we are lined up with it. However, the word will also bring instruction
and reproof if we are open to receive it (Pr 2:10-11). To grow in God, we need
to allow his word to not only strengthen us and encourage us but also to
challenge and change us. If we refuse, we will stagnate and be frustrated,
going nowhere.
How
often we have favorite words but the very next verse we gloss over because it
is an ouch; a word that challenges our stubbornly held opinions where we do not
want to change. It is only when we are open to God’s whole counsel that we can
move on to be used by God and experience that true life of abundance (John
10:10).
Moving
on in true revelation of God’s word is wonderful, going to new heights and places
we have never been before. Let’s give God permission to open our eyes and ears
to his word today and do a new thing in our lives. O my, how I want that, do
you?
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Check out our web site ( www.onthewayinlove.com ) for information on our
book: “On the Way: Basic Christian Training”, including how to purchase it and
also to see more encouraging Bible based blogs. Please recommend our book to
others.
We all sin but we
are no longer sinners (1 John 1:8). Through Christ’s sacrifice on the cross the
price was paid for our sin’s past, present and future (1 Cor 15:3). As born-again
Christians God no longer sees us as sinners, he sees us in Christ, forgiven and
the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus (2 Cor 5:21). Righteousness basically
means right standing with God. Satan may try to condemn us but we have an
Advocate (Rom 8:34), Christ Jesus, who pleads our case before God (1 John 2:1).
As God’s children
and members of his kingdom (Col 1:13) we are still tempted to sin and we do sin
(1 John 1:8), but the word says that if we repent and ask for forgiveness God
is quick to forgive us (1 John 1:9). Now
that’s good news. So, how many times will he forgive us in any given day? Well,
we are instructed to forgive our brother 7 time seventy times (Matt 18:22) and
God is far more loving and merciful than we are. But brother Norman you don’t
know what I have done. God forgave David when he repented after committing
adultery and murder (2 Sam 11). Don’t be condemned, look to God our loving and
merciful father, humble yourself and ask forgiveness with a truly repentant
heart.
Now, as Christians we should not go on
willfully and deliberately sinning, if we do then there is something very wrong
as if we are born again, our spirit (conscience) should convict us of sin and in
fellowship with God (Rom 2:15). Check yourself; are you truly born again? Have
you given your life to the Master? Talk to a mature Christian friend and settle
the matter today.
As Christians we
should be quick to repent whenever we sin (1John 1:9); sin does not cause us to
lose our salvation but it does cloud our fellowship with God, just as in any
human relationship (1 John 1:7). Run to your loving father, repent and enjoy
unbroken fellowship with him. There is nothing better.
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