COMPASSION, MERCY AND GOD'S HEALING!

Psalm 145:8-9" The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy. The LORD is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works."



On one of my recent trips to Africa the day was rapidly approaching for the time of Ministry and I had NOTHING to say on my heart. I was having a very difficult time in getting through with sending or receiving emails when all of a sudden only one email broke through containing the above verse of Scripture. God spoke to my heart and I preached for seven straight days and the insight on God's Mercy and Compassion just kept pouring out from His heart to mine, to those in the meetings.



Incredible miracles were breaking out all over the place and I knew that I had discovered a part of the Heart of God that few people of our time had encountered. I knew that we had touched a part of the heart of God that few men rarely ventured into. We were pursuing the very heart and essence of God...not what He could do or be for us! We were no longer seeking a healing touch from God; we were seeking the Healer Himself! There is a vast difference in the search and the resulting treasure. 2 Chronicles 16:9 "For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect (loyal) toward him." God is not only willing but eager to pour out His favor and demonstrate His power on behalf of all those who enable Him to do so.

When the people heard the truth concerning God's Heart of Mercy and Compassion and began to cry out for His Mercy and Compassion, tugging at His Heart strings, His Power began to flow! Just like the Bible stories, when you catch a hold of His heart, His Power begins to flow! Do you know that when you receive a revelation concerning His Mercy and begin to cry out you cause Jesus to take notice of you and your situation? Matthew 29:30-34 "...behold, two blind men sitting by the way side... cried out, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David...And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, What will ye that I shall do unto you? They say unto him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened. So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight..." When they cried out for His Mercy...Jesus stood still! They stopped Him in His tracks and He focused His attention on them and their situation!

In today's Scripture it is stated that "The Lord is gracious..." This means that the Lord is disposed to show favor. This is the same Lord Jesus who during His earthly ministry "went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick." Matthew 14:14 Today the Lord Jesus is seated at the right hand of God "that he might be a merciful (compassionate)and faithful high priest..." Hebrews 2:17

He continues today in healing sick bodies, tormented minds and bruised emotions because He is still moved by Compassion. Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. Compassion is defined in the Greek and Hebrew as "loving tenderly, showing mercy or compassion, eagerly yearning from deep within." The same word is used interchangeably throughout the Scriptures. The Mercy of God can then be defined as "the deep eager yearning from the heart of God (His core essence; 1 John 4:16...God is Love!") to remove the source of distress in someone's life.

God's Mercy and Compassion is not something that God does; it is Who He is! Ths essence of God is what motivates or moves His heart to respond to our needs. God doesn't heal to show off or demonstrate His power. He does it because He can't help but respond, because of His Mercy, to those who will allow Him and whenever we make it possible for Him to do so.

WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT WHAT GOD CAN DO. WE ARE TALKING ABOUT WHAT HE YEARNS TO DO!

MARK 1:41 And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean. By showing His Compassion in the healing of the sick, Jesus unveiled the very heart of God to help the people, and the multitudes came to Him for help. The enemy and some church people are shouting that the age of Miracles is past, until they have almost silenced the Truth of God's Word that Jesus has Not Changed!

Today's pulpits are more concerned and focused on the Power of God rather than concentrating on the Heart of God. We wrongly focus on the power of God instead of HIS WILLINGNESS TO USE THAT POWER FOR US.

READ THIS VERY CAREFULLY AND READ IT OVER AND OVER UNTIL YOU GRAB A HOLD OF THIS TRUTH:

IT IS NOT FAITH IN GOD'S POWER THAT RELEASES YOUR HEALING. IT IS FAITH IN HIS LOVE, HIS MERCY, HIS COMPASSION AND HIS WILL!

Allow me to give you the Bombard paraphrase to ponder...

"The Lord is gracious and naturally disposed to pour out His favor upon you. He is full of compassion and of great mercy. He can't help Himself but pour out of His innermost being, the essence of Who he is, that being Love, in order to remove any source of distress in your life, including sickness, infirmity and disease. This He will do on all who allow Him by walking in obedience to His eternally established principles and take Him at His Will as revealed in His Word, believing in its final authority! Above all remember that His tender mercies, compassion and love reign supreme as the primary motivation over all that He does!" Psalm 145:8-9

GET A HOLD OF THE HEART OF GOD; GET HEALED!

IS HEALING GOD'S WILL?

1 John 5:14 “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he hears us: And if we know that he hears us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.”

Whenever I want to know God’s will in most any matter, the first place I look obviously, is in the Bible. The Bible is The Manufacturer’s Handbook and it reveals to us God’s Will in most areas of our lives. If you want to know His will regarding the mission trip to Africa or exactly how much money to give in the next offering, then you need to talk with the Holy Spirit and He will lead you into all truth regarding those kinds of matters. (John 16:13)

If you need to know God’s will for your eternal destiny, loving others, proclaiming the Good News or Divine Healing, then we dive into the riches of His Written Word. In regards to healing, 1 John 5:14 states that if we are to be confident that he will heal us of our sicknesses, diseases and infirmities, then we NEED TO KNOW HIS WILL pertaining specifically to this matter. We must know what His will is concerning any matter if we are to receive from God.

James 1:6-8 states that we are to “…ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”If we are unable to know God’s will on any specific matter then it is impossible to ask God “in faith”and to be single minded on the eventual outcome. The Bible states that a man that does not know His will is unable to “receive anything from God.” If you want the possibility of God healing you, then you must know it to be His Will!

Even more specifically, I dive into the Gospels and listen to the Words of Jesus and watch His life and actions toward those who are sick. Jesus said “He who has seen Me has seen the Father…”John 14:8 If I want to know how God responds to the sick, I observe His characteristics as evidenced in the life of Jesus. “Behold, I have come to do your will O God.”Hebrews 10:7 “For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. John 6:38”

Do you know the only time Jesus would not or could not heal EVERYONE who came to Him for healing was when He was faced with incredible unbelief attempting to minister to those in need in His own home town. “And he could there do no mighty work, except he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them. And he marveled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching…”Mark 6:5-6

When I discovered this event, I learned that people can literally thwart the healing power of God from flowing. It says He COULD NOT DO, not that he didn’t want to but that he Couldn’t heal many people. Notice His response to this unbelief. “He went round about the villages teaching…” When He encountered unbelief and was unable to fulfill the will of God for healing these people, He began to teach them on faith, believing and receiving from God.

Every other time when people came to Jesus for healing, He never refused them. Sometimes the Providence of God was released and Healing flowed. Other times people were healed in response to their own faith. God may choose to heal you through Divine Choice (Providence; Mark 3:1-6) but He will always heal those who come in Faith asking! Matthew 9:29 “Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.”

Observe the following Scriptures and see the Will of God on display in Jesus’life…

Mt 12:15 But when Jesus knew it, he withdrew himself from thence: and great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all;

Mt 14:36 And besought him that they might only touch the hem of his garment: and as many as touched were made perfectly whole.

Mr 6:56 And wherever he entered, into villages, or cities, or country, they laid the sick in the streets, and besought him that they might touch if it were but the border of his garment: and as many as touched him were made whole.

Luke 4:40 Now when the sun was setting, all they that had any sick with divers diseases brought them unto him; and he laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them.

Lu 6:19 And the whole multitude sought to touch him: for there went virtue out of him, and healed them all. Lu 6:19 And the whole multitude sought to touch him: for there went virtue out of him, and healed them all.

Matthew 8:16-17 When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.

David was a man who pursued and discovered the very heart of God and the Holy Spirit revealed to him a very special fact. Let these words sink deep into your heart today.

“Praise the LORD, I tell myself, and never forget the good things he does for me. He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. He ransoms me from death and surrounds me with love and tender mercies. He fills my life with good things. My youth is renewed like the eagle’s!” Psalm 103:2-5

Since Jesus is the “…same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” Heb 13:8, He has not changed and still desires to heal you today. In Acts 10:34 the Bible states “Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:” Simply put, this means if God forgives all of David’s sins and heals all of his diseases, He will do the same for you! God does not love you any less than He does David!

Let me leave you with this thought. If you are convinced that God might not want to heal you, then why are you going to the Doctor and shaking your fist in the Face of God’s Will?

Settle in your mind….That God wills to heal You of all your sickness, disease and infirmities!

“I am the Lord that healeth thee!” Exodus 15:26

SICKNESS AND DISEASE ARE RUNNING RAMPANT. WE NEED TO LOOSE THE WORD OF GOD REGARDING DIVINE HEALING. I’M CONFIDENT THERE IS SOMEONE IN YOUR CIRCLE OF INFLUENCE WHO NEEDS A TOUCH FROM GOD TODAY. GET THESE WORDS IN YOUR HEART. IF YOU DON’T NEED THEM TODAY, REST ASSURED THAT YOU WILL SOON. WE ARE UNDER ATTACK!

There is healing in the Name and provision of Jesus!

Miracles!

Mark 16: 17 & 20 “These signs will accompany those who believe: They will cast out demons in my name…They will be able to place their hands on the sick and heal them.” And the disciples went everywhere and preached, and the Lord worked with them, confirming what they said by many miraculous signs.”

Do you know that the Lord Jesus wants you to live in the place where signs, wonders and miracles are as natural to you as breathing? In the Scripture listed above, as well as many others, He simply qualifies any Believer who believes in His Name as the one who will live with signs following themselves. When we consider the Word of God, miracles should be part of our every day experience. The Power of God should be flowing freely in and through our lives, not just on occasion!

You are part Diety. You are part Divine! Don’t suck all the oxygen out of the room, stop and consider what the Word of God says. “Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your law, ‘I said, “You are gods”’?” John 10:34 “And by that same mighty power, he has given us all of his rich and wonderful promises. He has promised that you will escape the decadence all around you caused by evil desires and that you will share in his divine nature.” 2 Peter 1:4

Consider David laying on his back in the hill country gazing up into the heavens and experiencing this revelation from the Spirit of God. “When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers—the moon and the stars you have set in place—what are mortals that you should think of us, mere humans that you should care for us? For you made us only a little lower than God, and you crowned us with glory and honor. You put us in charge of everything you made, giving us authority over all things…” Psalm 8:3-6

That thinking takes my breath away! That, however, is exploding with truth! Revelation 5:10 “And has made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.” What kind of religious excuses can we make to avoid having to deal with THIS Truth!

I am not saying that you are God! There is only one God, BUT you were created in the image and likeness of God and you are His Offspring. Genesis 1:26 “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion…and over all the earth…” Acts 17:28 “For in him we live, and move, and have our being…For we are also his offspring.”

Miracles are natural to God. They appear supernatural to us, but now we are living in the realm of the supernatural, therefore miracles should be a natural part of our lives. A miracle happens by supernatural means and that means now abides in you! Acts 1:8 “But when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, you will receive power to testify about me with great effect…” Herein lies the secret to Church growth for the next twenty years or so, or until Jesus returns. Church growth will come as a direct result of a Holy Church walking in loving obedience and intimacy with Christ, resulting in the manifestations of the miraculous in the Body of Christ!

Walking Holy enables us to abide in Jesus and experience the miraculous. John 15:7-8 “But if you stay in me and obey my commands, you may ask any request you like, and it will be granted! My true disciples produce bountiful harvests. This brings great glory to my Father.” The world is hungry to see the Power of God, and they will on a magnanimous scale. The Church---You and I---will release these through the Power of the holy Spirit within us and the Name of Jesus!

Miracles are Powerful tools in the Kingdom of God! “But Simon’s wife’s mother lay sick with a fever…So He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and immediately the fever left her…At evening, when the sun had set, they brought to Him all who were sick and those who were demon-possessed. And the whole city was gathered together at the door.” Mark 1:30-33 Because Jesus healed Peter’s mother-in-law of a simple fever, the entire town gathered at the door.

The outpouring of the Holy Spirit has happened, the Gifts are resident within each of us, (maybe dormant, but they’re in there!) and healings are running rampant all over the world. We will have a revival of miracles like the world has never seen. The book of Acts will come alive right here in our midst! MIRACLES ARE FOR YOU RIGHT NOW!

If you want to see something you’ve never seen before, you must be willing to do something you’ve never done before! Here’s my suggestion!
1) Connect with Jesus constantly.
2) Commit to walk Holy before Him.
3) Listen to His voice and obey His every directive.
4) Give Him the glory!

“The truth is, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father.” John 14:12

Let me hear about the miracles in your life!

Redeemed From the Curse!

Ga 3:13 "Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangs on a tree:"

As a result of mankind's initial fall to sin we have been subjected to the curse of sin (Or the Curse of the Law) and it's effects. When mankind was walking in fellowship with God and obedience to His Word and His Principles, we were under the influence of the blessings of the Law.Both the blessings and curses can be found in Deuteronomy 28.

Let's begin with the Blessings and make ourselves happy:Dt 28:1 "And it shall come to pass, if you will hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments...that the LORD your God will set you on high above all nations of the earth: And all these blessings will come on you, and overtake you...Blessed will you be in the city, and blessed will you be in the field. Blessed will be the fruit of your body, and the fruit of your ground...Blessed will be your basket and your store. Blessed will you be when you come in, and blessed will you be when thou go out. The LORD shall cause your enemies that rise up against you to be smitten before your face...The LORD shall command the blessing upon you in your storehouses, and in all that you set your hand to; and he will bless you in the land...And all people of the earth will see that you are called by the name of the LORD...And the LORD will make you plenteous in goods...The LORD will open unto you his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of your hand: and thou will lend...and ...not borrow. And the LORD shall make you the head, and not the tail; and you will be above only, and ...not be beneath..."

In today's Scriptural nugget we are told that Jesus "Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law." Redeemed is defined as "being set free, rescued or ransomed." Today's passage tells us that we have been set free from whatever the curse of the law is; so let's take a look in Deuteronomy and see what we've been set free from, especially in regards to healing!

Deuteronomy 28:18 "Cursed shall be the fruit of thy body..."vs 21... "the pestilence..."vs 22... "consumption(tuberculosis), and with a fever, and with an inflammation, and with an extreme burning..."vs 27... "the botch of Egypt, and with the emerods(hemorrhoids) and with the scab, and with the itch, whereof thou canst not be healed."vs 28... "madness, and blindness, and astonishment of heart..."vs 35... " in the knees, and in the legs, with a sore botch that cannot be healed, from the sole of thy foot unto the top of thy head."vs 45... " all these curses shall come upon thee, and shall pursue thee, and overtake thee, till thou be destroyed..."vs 60&61... " all the diseases of Egypt, which thou wast afraid of; and they shall cleave unto thee. Also every sickness, and every plague, which is not written in the book of this law..."vs 66... "And thy life shall hang in doubt before thee; and thou shalt fear day and night, and shalt have none assurance of thy life..."

You have just read a complete list to include "every sickness & every plague...". This is what Jesus Christ has redeemed you from. Jesus went to the Cross in spirit, soul and body; therefore He has redeemed us, spirit, soul and body! The Cross is the Center of Salvation for your spirit, soul and body! 1 Corinthians 6:20 "For you were bought with a price, therefore glorify God in your spirit and your body because they both belong to God."

If He had not redeemed them, they wouldn't belong to Him.Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the Law! Sickness of every kind was included in the curse of the Law. Therefore Christ has redeemed us from Sickness and Disease! Don't you let ignorance keep you from getting what rightfully and legally belongs to you! Read God's Word.

Study the Character and Nature of God as revealed in His Word and in the Life of Jesus. ANYONE who came believing received!Mt 21:22 "nd all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.Matthew 7: 7 Ask, and it shall be given you...For every one that asks receives...If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?" Now you know better...go ahead and ask Him to heal you right now in the Name of Jesus!

I'd like to pray with you in agreement! Mt 18:19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.

WILL GOD HEAL ME?

MARK 1:40 "Now a leper came to Him, imploring Him, kneeling down to Him and saying to Him, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.”

Cancer...its everywhere...front page news today is "tanning beds cause serious cancer." Over the last week or so, I have heard people tell me that well over twenty five people have been stricken with cancer. The State we live in (Maryland) has one of the highest rates of cancer in the entire United States and a great percentage of the population is being struck down.

Arteriosclerosis (Hardening of the arteries) is running rampant and taking the lives of additional thousands, not to mention diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, liver disease etc.. Even though science now dramatically points to the consumption of fat in the diet when combined with large doses of carbohydrates as one of the major culprits, to those who already have the damage done, it is stealing, killing and destroying the lives of thousands of additional.

Jesus said "The thief's purpose it to steal, kill and destroy. My purpose is to give life in all its fullness" John 10:10 What is one to do in the midst of these trying times? Is sickness and disease just an acceptable part of life, or is there something that can be done to defend ourselves against these attacks when they come? Is it too late if we're already facing the inevitable? My standard response is to discover and apply whatever the Manufacturer's Handbook has to say concerning this matter.

The leper in the introductory Scripture listed above asked the question that most people, including Christians still do. "I know you can; BUT are You willing to heal me?" No one doubts that God can heal. No one questions His ability to make one whole. We all believe in miracles; just not for ourselves. I believe that the greatest obstacle to those who are seeking healing or desire to walk in divine heath, is the uncertainty in their minds as to the Will of God in the matter.

Exodus 23:25And ye shall serve the LORD your God...and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee...the number of thy days I will fulfil."Exodus 15:26 " ...I am the LORD that healeth thee." Translated in plain old English it goes this way. "I am the Lord Who is healing you now!" (Present tense ad-infinitum)Until you believe that God wants you, His child, to be healed, there will always be doubt in your mind as to whether or not you will be healed according to His Will. Hebrews 11:6 " But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that comes to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him."

This Scripture says that God rewards (In this case heals) those who believe that He is The Healer and He can heal us. Now here's the key to this verse. We don't pursue healing; we pursue the Healer! When you get to the best physician, the odds of being healed increase. He is the great Physician!When we go to God and ask our petitions of Him, we need to go in a certain attitude of faith (Simple childlike faith...God said it; that settles it!) James 1:6-8 "But when you ask Him, be sure you really expect Him to answer, for a doubtful mind is as unsettled as a waveof the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. People like that should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. They can't make up their minds. They waiver back and forth in everything they do."

What this Scripture states is pretty straightforward. Anyone who prays the faith destroying prayer "Lord if it be thy will, please heal me." can not ask him like you "really expect him to answer..." And they usually don't expect to receive anything (healing) from the Lord; resulting in exactly what they believed!We begin with the simple basic Bible truths. If you can't seem to believe that you will be chosen to be one of the fortunate ones to be healed, I ask you this question. Do you believe that God will keep His promise to you? If you do...That is simple belief...spelled F-A-I-T-H!

Numbers 23:19 "God is not a man, that he should lie...has He spoken, and will he not do it? or has he spoken, and will he not make it good?"1 Kings 8:56 "...there has not failed one word of all his good promise..."Psalm 119:89 "For ever, O LORD, your word is settled in heaven." When God makes a promise...he keeps it. He's not like people who continue to modify our promises and declarations. When He speaks a Spiritual Law into existence, there is enough power behind that Word to enforce it throughout eternity. Let me give you an illustration. In Genesis 1:3 "God said, Let there be light: and there was light." When God spoke that Word, He infused that Word with enough power to sustain it throughout all eternity, unless He says "Light Cease!" The universe is still expanding from that Command at the rate of 186,000 miles per second!

When God spoke the Word in Exodus 15:23 "I am the Lord that healeth thee.", He empowered that Word to endure and empower throughout all eternity, as well.God's Word is law! A law is something that always works. It may be a fact that you are sick right now, but there is a law that over-rides that fact. Romans 8:2 "For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death."Obviously you've heard and understand the "Law of Gravity." The Law of Gravity simply states that whatever is dropped within the earth's atmosphere begin to fall. Take an airplane, for example. If the engines quit in midflight, what happens? It falls to the ground. That is Fact! However there is a Truth that over-rides the law of Gravity; its called the Law of Lift. When an airplanes engines accelerate and with certain aerodynamic principles in effect, the Law of Lift supercedes the law of Gravity and they plane doesn't fall, it rises!

The fact may be that you have cancer, or are facing precancerous conditions, or your family has a history of cancer. The fact may be that right now you're in the fight of your life, BUT the Truth of God's Word, His law, supercedes that fact!

Where do I begin?

1) Get into the Word of God and begin to discover what it has to say about healing.

2) Look at the life of Jesus as recorded in the Gospels. He said "if you've seen me, you've seen the Father." If you look at His life and Ministry, God's desires become much clearer!

3) Pray that the Holy Spirit would reveal to you the Truth about God's Will concerning your healing.

4) Get yourself some good books on healing ...T.L. Osborn's "Healing the Sick" or F.F Bosworth's "Christ the Healer" read them and back up what they claim with the Scriptures.

5) Memorize Healing Scriptures that you discover.

6) Find others who want to discover the Truth, who will make the journey with you!

7) Get in a Church that believes that Divine Healing is for you!

PLEASE LET OTHERS KNOW ABOUT THIS WEBSITE. KNOWING THE TRUTH WILL SET ANYBODY FREE. DON'T KEEP IT FOR YOURSELF IF IT BLESSES YOU. WE ARE UNDER A PHYSICAL ATTACK ON THIS EARTH LIKE NEVER BEFORE. YOU HAVEN'T SEEN ANYTHING YET. THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING, AND WE NEED TO KNOW GOD'S WORD ON THIS TRUTH!PASS IT ON...

http://heart2heartblog.blogspot.com/

There is Healing in Him!

Does God Will to Heal Me?

MARK 1:40 "Now a leper came to Him, imploring Him, kneeling down to Him and saying to Him, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.”

Cancer...its everywhere...front page news today is "tanning beds cause serious cancer." Over the last week or so, I have heard people tell me that well over twenty five people have been stricken with cancer. The State we live in (Maryland) has one of the highest rates of cancer in the entire United States and a great percentage of the population is being struck down.

Arteriosclerosis (Hardening of the arteries) is running rampant and taking the lives of additional thousands, not to mention diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, liver disease etc.. Even though science now dramatically points to the consumption of fat and/or bad carbohydrates in the diet as one of the major culprits, to those who already have the damage done, it is stealing, killing and destroying the lives of thousands of additional.

Jesus said "The thief's purpose it to steal, kill and destroy. My purpose is to give life in all its fullness" John 10:10 What is one to do in the midst of these trying times? Is sickness and disease just an acceptable part of life, or is there something that can be done to defend ourselves against these attacks when they come? Is it too late if we're already facing the inevitable? My standard response is to discover and apply whatever the Manufacturer's Handbook has to say concerning this matter.

The leper in the introductory Scripture listed above asked the question that most people, including Christians still do. "I know you can; BUT are You willing to heal me?" No one doubts that God can heal anyone. No one questions His ability to make one whole. We all believe in miracles; just not for ourselves. I believe that the greatest obstacle to those who are seeking healing or desire to walk in divine heath, is the uncertainty in their minds as to the Will of God in the matter.

Exodus 23:25And ye shall serve the LORD your God...and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee...the number of thy days I will fulfil."Exodus 15:26 " ...I am the LORD that healeth thee." Translated in plain old English it goes this way. "I am the Lord Who is healing you now!" (Present tense ad-infinitum)Until you believe that God wants you, His child, to be healed, there will always be doubt in your mind as to whether or not you will be healed according to His Will.

Hebrews 11:6 " But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that comes to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him." This Scripture says that God rewards (In this case heals) those who believe that He is The Healer and He can heal us. Now here's the key to this verse. We don't pursue healing; we pursue the Healer! When you get to the best physician, the odds of being healed increase. He is the great Physician!When we go to God and ask our petitions of Him, we need to go in a certain attitude of faith (Simple childlike faith...God said it; that settles it!) James 1:6-8 "But when you ask Him, be sure you really expect Him to answer, for a doubtful mind is as unsettled as a waveof the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. People like that should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. They can't make up their minds. They waiver back and forth in everything they do."

What this Scripture states is pretty straightforward. Anyone who prays the faith destroying prayer "Lord if it be thy will, please heal me." can not ask him like you "really expect him to answer..." And they usually don't expect to receive anything (healing) from the Lord; resulting in exactly what they believed!We begin with the simple basic Bible truths. If you can't seem to believe that you will be chosen to be one of the fortunate ones to be healed, I ask you this question. Do you believe that God will keep His promise to you? If you do...That is simple belief...spelled F-A-I-T-H!

Numbers 23:19 "God is not a man, that he should lie...has He spoken, and will he not do it? or has he spoken, and will he not make it good?"1 Kings 8:56 "...there has not failed one word of all his good promise..."Psalm 119:89 "For ever, O LORD, your word is settled in heaven." When God makes a promise...he keeps it. He's not like people who continue to modify our promises and declarations. When He speaks a Spiritual Law into existence, there is enough power behind that Word to enforce it throughout eternity.

Let me give you an illustration. In Genesis 1:3 "God said, Let there be light: and there was light." When God spoke that Word, He infused that Word with enough power to sustain it throughout all eternity, unless He says "Light Cease!" The universe is still expanding from that Command at the rate of 186,000 miles per second! When God spoke the Word in Exodus 15:23 "I am the Lord that healeth thee.", He empowered that Word to endure and empower throughout all eternity, as well.God's Word is law! A law is something that always works. It may be a fact that you are sick right now, but there is TRUTH that over-rides that fact.

Romans 8:2 "For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death." Obviously you've heard and understand the "Law of Gravity." The Law of Gravity simply states that whatever is dropped within the earth's atmosphere begin to fall. Take an airplane, for example. If the engines quit in midflight, what happens? It falls to the ground. That is Fact! However there is a Truth that over-rides the law of Gravity; its called the Law of Lift. When an airplanes engines accelerate and with certain aerodynamic principles in effect, the Law of Lift supercedes the law of Gravity and they plane doesn't fall, it rises!

The fact may be that you have cancer, or are facing precancerous conditions, or your family has a history of cancer. The fact may be that right now you're in the fight of your life, BUT the Truth of God's Word, His law, supercedes that fact!

Where do I begin?

1) Get into the Word of God and begin to discover what it has to say about healing.

2) Look at the life of Jesus as recorded in the Gospels. He said "if you've seen me, you've seen the Father." If you look at His life and Ministry, God's desires become much clearer!

3) Pray that the Holy Spirit would reveal to you the Truth about God's Will concerning your healing.

4) Get yourself some good books on healing ...T.L. Osborn's "Healing the Sick" or F.F Bosworth's "Christ the Healer" read them and back up what they claim with the Scriptures.

5) Memorize Healing Scriptures that you discover.

6) Find others who want to discover the Truth, who will make the journey with you!

7) Get in a Church that believes that Divine Healing is for you!

PLEASE LET OTHERS KNOW ABOUT THIS WEBSITE. KNOWING THE TRUTH WILL SET ANYBODY FREE. DON'T KEEP IT FOR YOURSELF IF IT BLESSES YOU. WE ARE UNDER A PHYSICAL ATTACK ON THIS EARTH LIKE NEVER BEFORE. YOU HAVEN'T SEEN ANYTHING YET. THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING, AND WE NEED TO KNOW GOD'S WORD ON THIS TRUTH!PASS IT ON... http://heart2heartblog.blogspot.com/

WALKING YOUR WAY UP WHEN YOU'RE DOWN!

1 Timothy 4:8 “Physical exercise has some value…”

For the last year I have been observing a major attack of depression on the Body of Christ and people in the world alike. I preached on “How to Defeat depression according to the Bible” just a few short weeks ago and have also written several recent articles right here on the Blog site!

Since the Lord created our bodies, He knows that physical exercise does have some value in our lives. 1 Timothy 4:8 as listed above continues to say “…but spiritual exercise is much more important, for it promises a reward both in this life and the next.” Spiritual principles have the major place in dealing with depression for it deals with the root source of a wounded spirit.

However I read a recent article that I want to share with you on Exercising your way out of Depression! Does science line up with Scripture? Of course it does. “Physical exercise does have some value…”

Read the following quotes from the Article entitled Exercise and Depression” I’ll give you the link at the bottom of the message.

“Energy loss is one of the key characteristics of depression.”

“Exercise generates energy”

“There’s a whole series of things that happen when we begin to exercise. As we get up and begin to move and exercise, there’s a general bodily arousal state that occurs. It includes many different systems of the body -- everything from metabolism to cardiovascular activation, various kinds of endocrine changes in the brain, various kinds of hormonal changes and shifts."

“With moderate exercise, [in our research] we’ve been working with short, brisk walks [of] five or 10 minutes. The primary mood effect in that situation is increased energy. Secondarily, sometimes -- but not always -- there’s a tension reduction."

"With more intense exercise -- for example, an hour of heavy aerobic exercise -- there is a reduction in energy and a reduction in tension. But oftentimes, after recovery [from the workout], there’s an energy resurgence that occurs."

“Short, brisk walks’ studies really illustrates this point. People can think about ... how tired they’re feeling, then get up and begin to walk -- walking moderately, maybe quickly down the street for a short while. Immediately, they will begin to feel differently. As we’ve found with short, brisk walks of five to 10 to 15 minutes, there’s a significant increase in energy. They begin to feel it almost immediately."

“It’s a significant problem because when you’re depressed, you have no energy. When you think about exercising, you have no energy to try it. What I suggest is to start out very minimally, just getting up and walking a few steps or just down the street. Then as they begin to move a little bit, they start feeling differently, and they’re able to do some more."

“Exercise is vital."

"Exercise should be part of a treatment plan for depression. The exclusive use of exercise for depression could be a problem for various reasons. But it should be part of an entire treatment plan."

Check out the full article. http://health.webmd.com/cgi-bin21/DM/y/mBGi10MsAKT0GB0B5J80Fj

So the next time you are feeling blue, grab the Ipod, put on some Praise and Worship music and take a walk…even a short one. Let your body work the way it was designed. Start out with five-ten minutes and don’t feel the need to overdue it.

1 Timothy 4:8 “Physical exercise has some value…”

JUST A PERSONAL NOTE: BEGINNING TUESDAY JULY 13, 2010 @ 7:15 pm, I WILL BEGIN A SERIES ON "THE END TIMES" AT CALVARY CHAPEL. FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL THE CHURCH OFFICE @ 410-969-5100. EVERY TUESDAY EVEBNING AT 7:15 LOVE TO SEE YOU THERE!

Your Worth!

Revelation 1:5-6 “All praise to him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by shedding his blood for us. He has made us his kingdom and his priests who serve before God his Father. Give to him everlasting glory! He rules forever and ever! Amen!”

We need to come to the place where we are secure enough in who we are in Christ that we will not allow our sense of worth to be based on the opinions or actions of others.

Don't try to find your worth in how you look. Don't try to find your worth in what you do or what you’ve done in the past. Worth does not come from the amount of money you make, the performances you render, or the number of lovers you embrace. Don't try to find your worth in how other people treat you.

You are worth something because Jesus shed His blood for you.

You may have faults, and there may be things about you that need to be changed, but God is working on you the same as He is on everybody else. Don't let somebody else dump their problems off on you and allow them to re-entangle you in the web of worry, doubt, doom, gloom, shame & sin.

Don't allow someone else to make you feel worthless or useless just because they don't know how to treat you right and love you as you deserve to be loved… as a blood -bought child of God.

Don't spend all your life trying to win somebody else's acceptance or approval. Just do unto others as Jesus commands us to do and if that isn’t good enough…that’s HIS problem. Remember that you have already been accepted and approved by God. Make sure that your affirmation, your validation, your sense of self-worth come from Him and what He says about you in His Word.

• You are an heir of God…a Joint Heir with Jesus Christ.


• You are a Son OR Daughter of God.You are the Apple of God’s Eye.


• You are the Righteousness of God in Christ. (That means you stand in the presence of God as though sin has NEVER touched your life.)


• You are Made in the Image & Likeness of God.


• You possess a Soul which is greater than all the value the world has to offer.


• You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people.


• Angels minister unto us , and rejoice in our obedience.


• Jesus is preparing a place for you to live with Him in Heaven forever.


• You can do all things thru Christ Who strengthens you!


• You are fearfully & wonderfully made.You have the favor of God & of man.


• You are Free to live in Christ.

Need I say More?

Peace in Jesus!

Ken Bombard

HEALING COMMISSION!

“Great multitudes followed Him, and he healed them all.” Matthew 12:15

Subsequently He also commissioned the twelve to carry on the Ministry of Healing. Matthew 10:5-8 “These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying…as you go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely you have received, freely give.”

Later Jesus also commissioned seventy others to carry on the ministry of healing to the physical body. Luke 10:1-9 “After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also…and he said he to them…into whatsoever city you enter, and they receive you…heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.”

Whenever The Kingdom of God is at hand (near) there is always healing power flowing. David recognized this simple fact as part of the benefits of relationship with our Heavenly Father. As a matter of fact, we would also do well to command our soul to rehearse the benefits of God on a regular basis. “ Bless the LORD, O my soul, and do not forget all his benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities; who heals all thy diseases; Who redeems your life from destruction; who crowns thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies…” Psalm 103 2-5

Of course, David was very special to God and you’re not! So God only forgives all of David’s sin and heals all of his diseases. You He has chosen to walk in sickness, disease and sin! For you there is no hope!

Popycock (What?)! Popycock! Balderdash! Absurd! The Bible states that “…God is no respecter of persons.” Acts 10:34
That means God does not play favorites. We are all His favorites! His love and His Covenant is not based on your performance or ranking in the Kingdom of God. If God heals David of ALL His diseases…He will heal you of all your diseases.

Check the Ministry of Jesus. There were times when even those who sought to kill Him were able to be healed in the Presence of the Lord! “And it came to pass…that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judaea, and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was present to heal them.” Luke 5:17

Matthew 7:11 “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?” Healing is a good thing and He wants to give it to you!

Jesus then commissioned “all who believe.” Mark 16:17-18 “…these signs shall follow them that believe…they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.” He also confirms this commission in James 5: 14-16 “Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save (Literally-heal or make whole) the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up… Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”

Sadly we have taken this healing Scripture and turned it into a way to “oil up” those who are sick, fully expecting them to die. Perhaps we can in some way help them slide easier into Heaven. This is not a “Last Rite,” it is a call to healing…to carry on the same Ministry as Jesus had. “Great multitudes followed Him, and he healed them all.” Matthew 12:15
It’s supposed to be a prayer of Faith…believing God for the Commission and taking Him at His Word!

Hebrews 13:8 “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.”
He has not changed!
His Commission has not changed!
His Word has not changed!
His promises have not changed!
It’s time for you to change!

Cry out to God for what He has Promised! He loves you and wants you whole. 1 Corinthians 6:20 For you are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which both belong to God.”

God is about to breakthrough on your behalf. Step out of your religious tradition and step into the Word of God!

A HEALING CHALLENGE!

In my thirty plus years in Christian service, I have heard many testimonies concerning healing. Some were good and some not so good. The first person I ever prayed for in a hospital died that same night. Some stories ended with miraculous results, while others ended tragically.

Do you want to know the truth? Testimonies have absolutely nothing to do with the truth, integrity and power of God’s Word. The Bible does not say that we live and move by the tales we hear or tell. The Bible says “…the just shall live by faith...” Heb 10:38

The stories either positive or negative, may stir up our emotions, but the emotions produce no power. It is our childlike Faith on the Promises of God that produces results. 2Peter 1:4 states that by these “…exceeding great and precious promises…ye might be partakers of the divine nature… and you will have “…escaped the corruption that is in the world…”

I want to issue you a challenge today…

FIRST: Understand that everything that Jesus did was a perfect manifestation of the will of God. (If He had done anything against Gods’ will, He would have sinned) read the Scriptures below to confirm this fact…

Jesus said “…I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will…” O God. Heb 10:7
John 4:34 “Jesus said to them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me…”
John 6:38 “…I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.”
John 5:30 I can of my own self do nothing…because I seek not my own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.”

He said to Phillip when he wanted to see the Character and Nature of God… “…he that has seen Me has seen the Father; and how then can you say then, Show us the Father?” John 14:9

“If you’ve seen me you’ve seen the Father!”

HERE’S YOUR CHALLENGE: IT WILL TAKE SOME EFFORT (Remember God rewards those who “diligently seek Him…Hebrews 11:6) IT WILL TAKE SOME TIME! IT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE.

I WANT YOU TO READ THE GOSPELS, WHICH CONTAIN THE LIFE ACTIONS AND WORDS OF JESUS. EVERYTHING HE DID AND EVERY WORD HE SPOKE WAS THE PERFECT MANIFESTATION OF GOD’S WILL.
I WANT YOU TO MEDIATE ON EVERY WORD AND STORY CONCERNING HEALING. I WANT YOU TO FOCUS ON THE FACT THAT EVERY TIME HE HEALED, HE WAS MANIFESTING THE WILL OF GOD.

NOTICE THE DIFFERENT WAYS PEOPLE GOT HEALED.
LOOK FOR COMMON DENOMINATORS.
OBSERVE THE PART FAITH PLAYED IN EACH HEALING.
WAS HE SELECTIVE ON WHOM HE HEALED?
CONSIDER THE DIFFERENT SITUATIONS AND CIRCUMSTANCES.
WHAT WAS THE PEOPLE’S ROLE? WHAT WAS JESUS’ ROLE?
DID HE EVER SAY NO TO ANYONE WHO ASKED HIM FOR HEALING?
WERE THERE TIMES WHEN HE COULDN’T HEAL? (MARK 6) WHAT WAS THE ATMOSPHERE LIKE?
WHAT STIRRED HIS HEART TO HEAL?
HOW MANY SICK OR DISEASED PEOPLE DID HE HEAL?
READ LUKE CHAPTER 5 AND SEE WHERE THE POWER OF THE LORD WAS PRESENT TO HEAL EVERYONE IN THE ROOM (PHARISEES, SADUCEES & SCRIBES) BUT ONLY ONE CAME TO GET HEALED. (HE GOT WHAT HE CAME FOR)

WHAT IS YOUR CONCLUSION ON DIVINE HEALING FOR EVERYONE? YEA OR NAY?

Jesus healing Ministry in this earth was to fulfill the will of God (Hebrews 10:7) He, Himself is a revelation of the Will of God. He did the Will of God on earth in everything He did! He moved in the Love of God. Matthew 14:14 “And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.”

Allow me to sum up His ministry using the Word of God. Acts 10:38 “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.”

During His earthly ministry Jesus always manifested the perfect and complete will of God when He healed all those who were in need.

Now here’s the real good news as stated in Hebrews 13:8. “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today and forever.”

IS YOUR FAITH COMING ALIVE? WILL YOU ACCEPT THE CHALLENGE?

FAITH FOR HEALING!

Do you know that you can not exercise your faith if you are undecided as to whether or not it is God’s will to heal you!

The Bible says that there is a way that we can know that God hears our Prayer. 1John 5:14 “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that if we ask any thing according to his will, he hears us…” If God “hears” our prayer, then we know that we have what we’ve prayed for. 1 John 5:15 “And if we know that he hear us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.”

In James 5 we are told to call for the elders of the Church when we’re sick James 5:15 “And the prayer of faith shall save (heal, make whole) the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up…”

How can anyone pray the “prayer of faith” unless we know what God’s will is? Some will say “I wonder if God wills to heal this one?” Most of you reading this blog often say the same thing! “Perhaps this is one of those God has chosen to remain sick and suffer.” How can you pray for anyone concerning healing if you don’t know God’s will? If you’re not so sure that God wants you healed, or perhaps He is willing that you suffer a while, then why do you go to the doctor to try and get better? Don’t you want God’s Will?

God said “I am the Lord who heals you.” Exodus 15:26 If God said this and He cannot lie, He meant exactly what He said. Read the Gospels and watch as Jesus manifests the perfect will of the Father while healing everyone who came to Him for healing. The only place He “could not” heal (Mark 6) was in His own hometown where the people throttled the healing hands of God by their “unbelief.”

Meanwhile we keep waiting for some special revelation from God concerning His will in our own case. We continue to do everything in our own power to get well utilizing doctors and not even considering that we may be opposing the will of God!

The Bible is a written revelation of the will of God concerning healing. Are you still waiting for a special revelation about the surety of your salvation? Of course not! You discovered what the Bible had to say concerning the “free gift of God” and believed it with your heart and confessed Jesus as Lord with your mouth and you were “born again.” Is it any different for receiving anything else from God? Is it any different to receive Healing from God’s Word?

In Romans 10:10 we receive the formula for receiving from God. “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” In this particular context the Bible is speaking about SALVATION.

At one time in your life, you believed that God raised Jesus from death on the cross to pay the price for your sins and you invited His Lordship over your life. He then became your Lord and Savior through the belief of your heart and the confession of your mouth. Romans 10:9 “…if thou will confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and will believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, thou will be saved.”

The word “SALVATION” as listed above in Romans 10:10 does not just mean eternal life. It is the Greek word “soteria” which literally means to be made whole, to rescue or to save(physically or morally), to deliver, to heal, safety soundness, deliverance and protection.

When the Jew or the Greek of Jesus’ day heard the word “soteria or it’s derative “sozo” as in Acts 16:31 “…Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou will be saved (sozo)…”, what they heard is “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved eternally; healed or made whole spirit, soul and body; delivered from any type of bondage or hurt; and made safe and protected from all harm.”

We don’t have a word in the English language that encompasses all of the meaning in those two Greek Words. The words “sozo” and “soteria” are translated throughout the bible as, saved, healed, delivered and made whole!

Let me close today with this portion of Scripture. John 3:14-17 “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be SAVED (SOZO)”

You constantly repeat John 3:16 to unbelievers, but you don’t really understand what you’re saying at all. Why did Jesus tie in the “serpent in the wilderness with this key salvation passage? In Numbers 21:8-9 we discover the answer. “And the LORD said to Moses, Make a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it will come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looks upon it, shall live. And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.”

These people were sick and in need of healing, facing certain death because they had sinned against God. When they looked upon the serpent (sin hanging on a pole) (a type or example of the Christ to comewho was made to be sin for us on the cross) and believed God, they were healed and escaped the jaws of sin, sickness and death.

In John 3:14-17 listed above. Jesus says that “anyone” or “whosoever” looks at the payment for sin upon the pole(cross), will be “sozo-ed” or will be saved eternally; healed or made whole spirit, soul and body; delivered from any type of bondage or hurt; and made safe and protected from all harm.”

So look today at Jesus (made to be your substitute) hanging on the cross. “For you are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which both belong to God.” 1 Corinthians 6:20.

He purchased the whole, complete, entire package! It’s wholeness He purchased…Spirit, Soul & Body! Believe with your heart that He Made you SOZO…WHOLE and confess it with your mouth! Watch God work!

THE KEY TO THE KINGDOM: PART 2

^{Mark 4:13-14 "He said to them, "Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand any of the parables? The sower sews the word"}

<sup>Last week we saw that Jesus was telling us that we need to take time and genuinely reflect on the meaning and content of this parable, because it holds the key to understanding how the Kingdom of God functions. In verse 11 He tells us, "You are permitted to understand the secret (mystery or hidden truths) about the Kingdom of God, " and He proceeds to tell us exactly what the "secret" is.

The "secret about the Kingdom of God..." is the Word of God and how it operates. In Matthew 7:24-27, Jesus also tells us that the Key to surviving the Storms of this world and the life we live is to discover and apply the Principles of God’s Word! Read these following Scriptures very carefully concerning the Word of God!</sup>

^{Psalm 138:2 I will worship toward your holy temple, and praise your name for your lovingkindness and for your truth: for you have magnified your word above your name.}

^{Jeremiah 1:12 Then said the LORD to me, you have well seen: for I will hasten (Watch Over) my word to perform it.}

^{Isaiah 55:11 So will my word be that goes forth out of my mouth: it will not return unto me void, but it will accomplish that which I please, and it will prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.}

^{Revelation 3:8 I know your works: behold, I have set before you an open door, and no man can shut it: for you have a little strength, and have kept my word, and have not denied my name.}

^{Everything God does, He initiates with His spoken Word! Anything that God desires, He brings it into existence by speaking out His heart’s desire! Romans 4:17 declares that “God…quickens the dead, and calls those things which are not as though they were..”}

^{THE KEYS TO THE WORD OF GOD:}

^{1) In Mark 4:15 we discovered that whenever you discover a new truth in the Word of God you can always expect an attack. When you begin to discover the truths concerning finances, healing, sewing and reaping, etc., you should learn to expect an attack. Don't be surprised when it happens. The Word has forewarned us concerning the attack. Most of the time, it will get worse before it gets better. Be prepared. Launch a preemptive strike. Don't gather yourself into the defensive mode of operation. Get offensive. Swing your Sword of the Spirit (The Word of God)! Search after any and all truths concerning the revelation you've received. Read them out loud. Memorize them. Reflect on them! Speak them in the midst of your situation!}

^{2) The second truth we discovered in verse 16 was if we don't take matters seriously, we'll initially believe the Word of God. However, as soon as the first and least bit of trouble arises, or the first symptom appears to contradict the Truth you've learned, we fall apart and depart from the belief! We waiver back and forth between the symptoms and the Truth. One moment we are giant killers and the next we're waivering. We also learned that when God's Word becomes alive in your life and it becomes your main life source (Matthew 4:4) you will be targeted. The good news is this: Jesus has overcome the fallen world of sin and death (Revelation 1:18), and He will deliver us through them all! You ought to begin to praise God in the midst of your trouble. Increased tribulation and trouble are signs to the believer that we are getting dangerous to the enemy and his minions.}

^{3)The third Key to the Kingdom is contained in verses 18 & 19 “…these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, and the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.” The Word of God is thwarted in the bearing of fruit in our lives by our concerns, thoughts, desires and actions.}

^{Let me give you an example. Most Christians believe that if God truly wanted something to happen, it would happen because of His Sovereignty. (God can do whatever He wills!) Didn’t God out of His love for the world, send His Son Jesus to die for all? John 3:16 states the answer. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes (adheres to, clings to, trusts in, and relies on) him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” The sad news is that even though His provision has been made available to all, some will not accept His provision. “…he that does not believe is condemned already…” John 3:18. Some of the great men and women of faith listed in Hebrews 11 also went through a variety of trials. Hebrews 11:35 “…Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance…”}

^{We have the ability to “choke the word” so “it becomes unfruitful.” WOW! How?}

^{A)The cares of this world.}

^{This word literally means “a divided mind” caused by distractions, anxieties, burdens and worries. The greek word merimna means to be anxious beforehand about daily life. Such worry is unnecessary because the father’s love provides for our daily needs as well as our special problems and situations. We are told in 1Peter 5:7 to “Cast all your care upon Him; for He cares for you.”}

^{If you remain anxious and unsettled in the daily affairs of life, you will choke the Word of God and hinder it’s life giving, life altering power. Remember, there is enough power contained in every promise of God to bring that Promise to pass! Only believe. Mark 9:23 “Jesus said to him, If thou can believe, all things are possible…”}

^{B) The deceitfulness of riches.}

Life is short! Everyday we read in the news about deaths, sometimes thousands at once. Proverb 27:1 warns, "Boast not yourself of tomorrow; for you do not know what a day may bring forth." Today may be the last day of your life.

Oh the deceitfulness of riches! So many people today are consumed with making more money. Sadly, this includes many believers. What are you doing for God? It's been said: " 'This one life will soon be past, only what's done for Christ will last." What will it matter 10,000 years from now how much money you made in this lifetime? It won't! All that will matter 10,000 years from now is:

1. Whether you "died in the Lord" (Revelation 14:13); or "died in your sins" (John 8:24).
2. As a believer, what you did in this life for the name of Jesus Christ and for the Gospel (Mark 10:29,30).

There is no greater deception in this world than financial security. Most rich people are going to Hell (Luke 18:25). The rich already have heaven on earth, so they don't need God (so they think). They are DECEIVED! Nothing has destroyed more lives, friendships, marriages and churches faster than the love of money. The love of money is a road to Hell.

The greatest things in life aren't things. All the money in the world cannot buy peace of heart and mind, cannot buy forgiveness of sins, and cannot buy a happy home. In 1st Timothy 6:9-10, the Bible reveals the dark truth about where the path to earthly riches often leads...

"But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows."

Temptation... a snare... hurtful lusts... erred from the faith??? A book could be written addressing the evils surrounding the pursuit of wealth.

C) Desires (Lusts) for other things.

A lust or the desire spoken of in this verse is a strong desire for someone or something, energized by uncontrollable wants that one intends to satisfy at any cost! It can also be an uncontrollable longing for what is forbidden. There is only one thing we are commanded to desire in this life. Mark 12:30 “…you will love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all you mind, and with all your strength: this is the first commandment.” What more do we need to say?

If your heart however, begins to pursue anything else, you have broken the first commandment of God and have “Choked” the ability of God’s Word in your life and His promises can not come to pass on your behalf!

This is the kind of Word today that initially can be somewhat painful, but in the end can produce and abundance of the riches and treasures that God has in store for us. This week I want you to practice the following…

1) Refuse to worry. When worry approaches your mind, begin to sing praises to God, read His Word or begin to Pray!

2) Turn your finances to the Kingdom of God. Stop running the rat race and invest in His Kingdom. I believe that God will be testing us in this area very soon. His question is “What are you willing to give?”

3) Ask God what has taken His rightful place in your life. Then ask Him for a plan to destroy that “idol.” Now begin to pursue Him. Talk with him. Read His Word. Learn of Him with others.

Next week: The Key to the Kingdom: 30-60 or 100…It’s your choice!