King
Solomon gave us some sound advice on living a healthy life (Prov 3:7-8). He
exhorted us us to not be wise in our own eyes but to fear and worship the Lord
and to turn from sin. The king continued that this will bring us health. So,
what does not "being wise in our own eyes" mean? I believe it means not
being proud but being humble and trusting God rather than yourself.
In the New Testament we also read a similar verse
where man is taught: “not to think of himself more highly than he ought” (Rom 12:3;
KJV). If being healthy is important to us (and I assume it is) then these
verses above would be a good ones to pay attention to.
Interestingly,
in the next chapter of Proverbs, King Solomon outlines what we can do to
experience health and healing. In Proverbs chapter 4 and verses 20 and 21 we
are encouraged to pay close attention to the word, so much so that it becomes
rooted in our hearts; this the King writes, will also bring health and healing.
We read
in the New Testament that: "out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth
speaketh" (Matt 12:34). If we have an abundance of the word for healing and
faith for healing, on the inside of us, in our hearts, then we can speak those
words over our bodies to effect healing and health.
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There
are many places in the Bible where we are promised long life. In the book of Genesis
God promised us 120 years (Gen 6:3) and he reaffirmed this in Exodus chapter 23
and verse 26 (KJV): "the number of thy days I will fulfill”. Again, in
Psalm chapter 91 and verse 16 we read: "with long life will I satisfy him
and show him my salvation."
So,
what can we do to live a long life? We are taught that: "the fear of the
Lord prolongs days" (Prov 10:28) and that to obey God’s law and commandments
will add: “length of days, and long life and peace” (Prov 3:2). The men (or women)
that seek wisdom will also see long life (Prov 3:16) and in Deuteronomy (Deut
5:16) we were commanded to honor our parents with the promise that we would the
enjoy a long and prosperous life.
These
are all great promises but in order to receive them we have to believe them and
receive them by faith. If you feel you just cannot believe them then spend time
reading them over and over and speaking them out loud till you get a revelation
of them and have faith in them (till you get them in your heart and not just
your mind; Rom 10:17). God's word is powerful, never fails but always achieves his
objectives (in other words it gets the job done) (Isa 55:11). His promises are
yes and amen (2 Cor 1:20).
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In
Acts 14:22b Paul clearly tells us that as Christians if we visibly walk the walk,
we will suffer tribulation (see also 2 Thess 1:4-5). Tribulation is best seen
as pressure applied to us to make us give up. Obviously, this is engineered by
the devil (1 Peter 5:8) but he uses circumstances, situations and people to
bring this pressure. Jesus told us to expect this pressure in the world but he
encouraged us by adding the we should rejoice because he has: “overcome the
world” (John 16:33; KJV).
We
share in Christ’s victory over the devil (Col 2:15) and we walk in Christ’s authority
(Matt 28:18-20). Remember the greater one lives in you (1 John 4:4). We are not
fighting people here but simply asserting the spiritual authority Jesus won for
us with the spiritual weapons he provided (Eph 6:10-18).
Stand
firm and put on God’s armor: “having your loins girt about with truth, and
having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the
preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith,
wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take
the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God”
(Eph 6:14-17).
Resist
the devil with your armor and spiritual weapons and he has to flee from you (James
4:7). When tribulation comes, speak the word in faith. Have a victorious day.
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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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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.
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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