Choose Life
Our God is a God of covenant.
By His name, Yahweh, He entered into covenant with the children of Israel.
As they prepared to enter the Promised Land, God renewed His covenant with them.
The book of Deuteronomy is the document of that renewal, and it is laid out in the form of a covenant.
In Deuteronomy 28, God proclaimed a list of blessings and curses.
If His people obeyed His voice and kept His commandments, they would experience the blessings of God in every single area of their lives.
Read Deuteronomy 28:1-14
If the people of Israel chose not to hear the voice of the Lord or obey His commands, they would not experience His blessings.
Outside the blessing, there is nothing left but the curse. Read Deuteronomy 28:15-68
Sicknesses and diseases belong to the curse, not to the blessing.
This required a choice for the people of God.
Read Deuteronomy 30:19,20.
Outside the covenant blessing, there is nothing to look forward to except all of the curse.
But for those who choose life and blessing, life is completely different.
Living in the blessing of God can bring health, wholeness, prosperity and peace.
God gives the choice, "I have set before you life and death, blessing or cursing", then He even reveals the answer: "Therefore, choose life."
By His name, Yahweh, He entered into covenant with the children of Israel.
As they prepared to enter the Promised Land, God renewed His covenant with them.
The book of Deuteronomy is the document of that renewal, and it is laid out in the form of a covenant.
In Deuteronomy 28, God proclaimed a list of blessings and curses.
If His people obeyed His voice and kept His commandments, they would experience the blessings of God in every single area of their lives.
Read Deuteronomy 28:1-14
If the people of Israel chose not to hear the voice of the Lord or obey His commands, they would not experience His blessings.
Outside the blessing, there is nothing left but the curse. Read Deuteronomy 28:15-68
Sicknesses and diseases belong to the curse, not to the blessing.
This required a choice for the people of God.
Read Deuteronomy 30:19,20.
Outside the covenant blessing, there is nothing to look forward to except all of the curse.
But for those who choose life and blessing, life is completely different.
Living in the blessing of God can bring health, wholeness, prosperity and peace.
God gives the choice, "I have set before you life and death, blessing or cursing", then He even reveals the answer: "Therefore, choose life."
Healing Names of God
"I will love You, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold."
Psalm18:1,2
There are many other names in the Old Testament by which God reveals Himself in a healing way:
Faithful God Deuteronomy 7:9
Strength of My Life Psalm 27:1
God of My Strength Psalm 43:2
God of My Salvation Psalm 88:1
God My Helper Psalm 54:4
Help of My Countenance Psalm 42:11
Balm of Gilead Jeremiah 8:22
Sun of Righteousness Malachi 4:2
Almighty and Everlasting God, forever and
ever, You remain the same, perfect in power, love and purity.
Nothing is too great for Your power.
Nothing is too small for Your lovingkindness
and mercies.
You are the Provider, who sees needs and
moves to meet them.
You are the Healer, who heals all diseases.
You are the Victory Banner, the sign of healing.
You are the Sanctifier, the Anointed One
who lifts burdens and destroys yokes.
You are the Peace, who makes whole, nothing missing, nothing broken.
You are the Shepherd, who gives rest in
green pastures and restores souls beside
still waters.
You are the Righteousness who reconciles
the Father and all the blessings of heaven
and earth.
You are the Lord who is There in every
circumstance of life, and You heal and
restore in every way.
Psalm18:1,2
There are many other names in the Old Testament by which God reveals Himself in a healing way:
Faithful God Deuteronomy 7:9
Strength of My Life Psalm 27:1
God of My Strength Psalm 43:2
God of My Salvation Psalm 88:1
God My Helper Psalm 54:4
Help of My Countenance Psalm 42:11
Balm of Gilead Jeremiah 8:22
Sun of Righteousness Malachi 4:2
Almighty and Everlasting God, forever and
ever, You remain the same, perfect in power, love and purity.
Nothing is too great for Your power.
Nothing is too small for Your lovingkindness
and mercies.
You are the Provider, who sees needs and
moves to meet them.
You are the Healer, who heals all diseases.
You are the Victory Banner, the sign of healing.
You are the Sanctifier, the Anointed One
who lifts burdens and destroys yokes.
You are the Peace, who makes whole, nothing missing, nothing broken.
You are the Shepherd, who gives rest in
green pastures and restores souls beside
still waters.
You are the Righteousness who reconciles
the Father and all the blessings of heaven
and earth.
You are the Lord who is There in every
circumstance of life, and You heal and
restore in every way.
God Who Forgives
"You answered them O LORD our God;
You were to them the God Who Forgives, El Nasa"
Psalm 99:8.
The name "God Who Forgives" is not only forgiveness of sins, but also healing of sicknesses and diseases.
There has alway been a close connection between the two.
David said, "Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits:
Who forgives all your iniquities;
who heals all your diseases"
Psalm 103:2,3.
Isaiah 53:4,5 shows that Jesus bore both our sins and our sicknesses. "Surely He has borne our griefs [literally sicknesses] and carried all our sorrows [literally pains] . . . He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed".
When Jesus healed the paralytic man in Luke 5, He told him that his sins were forgiven.
Then so the Scribes and Pharisees would realize that He had authority to forgive, Jesus told the man to arise and take up his bed and go home.
The man received both forgiveness of sins and physical healing.
James 5:15,16 said, "The prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.
Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed".
The God who forgives our sins is the same God who heals our sicknesses and diseases!
You were to them the God Who Forgives, El Nasa"
Psalm 99:8.
The name "God Who Forgives" is not only forgiveness of sins, but also healing of sicknesses and diseases.
There has alway been a close connection between the two.
David said, "Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits:
Who forgives all your iniquities;
who heals all your diseases"
Psalm 103:2,3.
Isaiah 53:4,5 shows that Jesus bore both our sins and our sicknesses. "Surely He has borne our griefs [literally sicknesses] and carried all our sorrows [literally pains] . . . He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed".
When Jesus healed the paralytic man in Luke 5, He told him that his sins were forgiven.
Then so the Scribes and Pharisees would realize that He had authority to forgive, Jesus told the man to arise and take up his bed and go home.
The man received both forgiveness of sins and physical healing.
James 5:15,16 said, "The prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.
Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed".
The God who forgives our sins is the same God who heals our sicknesses and diseases!
The Living God
"My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God, El Hay"
Psalm 84:2.
God, like His Word, is "living and powerful"
Hebrews 4:12.
He is El Hay, the living God.
To speak this name is to speak of His awesomeness!
"For who is there of all flesh who has heard the voice of the living God speaking from the midst of the fire, as we have, and lived?"
Deuteronomy 5:26
"It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God" Hebrews 10:31.
But for those who know Him and call on His name, the living God is the God of life!
"We trust in the living God, who is the savior of all men, especially of those who believe"
1 Timothy 4:10.
Paul called Him "the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy"
1 Timothy 6:17, all things includes life, healing and wholeness.
Those who trust in Him are children of the living God.
"And it shall come to pass in the place where it was said to them, 'You are not my people,' there it shall be said to them, 'You are the sons of the living God"
Hosea 1:10.
God will not withhold healing from His children.
The Bible says that we are the dwelling place for the God of life.
"For you are the temple of the living God"
2 Corinthians 6:16.
This means life for us, "For He is not the God of the dead but of the living"
Luke 20:38.
We have the very principle of life, the God of life and the life of God, at work in us.
We do not need to tolerate sickness in our bodies any more than we need to tolerate sin in our lives, for the holy God who lives in us is also living and powerful, able to heal as well as sanctify.
Jesus is the living God!
Peter, speaking by the Holy Spirit, said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God" in Matthew 16:16.
In contrast to the devil, who comes to steal, kill and destroy, Jesus comes to bring us the very life of God, and to give it to us in abundance in John 10:10.
Psalm 84:2.
God, like His Word, is "living and powerful"
Hebrews 4:12.
He is El Hay, the living God.
To speak this name is to speak of His awesomeness!
"For who is there of all flesh who has heard the voice of the living God speaking from the midst of the fire, as we have, and lived?"
Deuteronomy 5:26
"It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God" Hebrews 10:31.
But for those who know Him and call on His name, the living God is the God of life!
"We trust in the living God, who is the savior of all men, especially of those who believe"
1 Timothy 4:10.
Paul called Him "the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy"
1 Timothy 6:17, all things includes life, healing and wholeness.
Those who trust in Him are children of the living God.
"And it shall come to pass in the place where it was said to them, 'You are not my people,' there it shall be said to them, 'You are the sons of the living God"
Hosea 1:10.
God will not withhold healing from His children.
The Bible says that we are the dwelling place for the God of life.
"For you are the temple of the living God"
2 Corinthians 6:16.
This means life for us, "For He is not the God of the dead but of the living"
Luke 20:38.
We have the very principle of life, the God of life and the life of God, at work in us.
We do not need to tolerate sickness in our bodies any more than we need to tolerate sin in our lives, for the holy God who lives in us is also living and powerful, able to heal as well as sanctify.
Jesus is the living God!
Peter, speaking by the Holy Spirit, said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God" in Matthew 16:16.
In contrast to the devil, who comes to steal, kill and destroy, Jesus comes to bring us the very life of God, and to give it to us in abundance in John 10:10.
God Most High
"I will cry out to God Most High, To God who performs all things for me.
He shall hear from heaven and save me:
He reproaches the one who would swallow me up.
God shall send forth His mercy and His truth."
Psalm 57:2,3
God Most High is the name which shows that He is LORD over all.
The Most High is the possessor of heaven and earth in Genesis 14:19-22.
He establishes the inheritance and boundaries in the nations in Deuteronomy 32:8.
He is the source of knowledge, revelation and counsel in Numbers 24:16 and in 2 Samuel 22:14 and
Psalm 107:11.
The Most High is King over all the earth in Psalm 47:2, but He is also a refuge and fortress to deliver us from sickness and disease: "He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.
Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence.
Because you have made the LORD, who is my refuge, even the Most High your dwelling place,
No evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling."
Psalm 91:1-3,9,10
David said, "I will cry out to God Most High, to God who performs all things for me."
God Most High performs all things for us.
To perform means to bring to completion. He will bring us to completion in every area of our life.
There is no situation God cannot handle, no need He will not meet.
He delivers us from every evil.
We can confidently call on Him to deliver us from every plague and heal us from every disease.
Jesus is God Most High, He is seated at the right hand of the Father, "far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come"
Ephesians 1:21.
"Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name"
Philippians 2:9.
The name of Jesus is far above the name of cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and every other sickness that can be named.
He is LORD over all!
He shall hear from heaven and save me:
He reproaches the one who would swallow me up.
God shall send forth His mercy and His truth."
Psalm 57:2,3
God Most High is the name which shows that He is LORD over all.
The Most High is the possessor of heaven and earth in Genesis 14:19-22.
He establishes the inheritance and boundaries in the nations in Deuteronomy 32:8.
He is the source of knowledge, revelation and counsel in Numbers 24:16 and in 2 Samuel 22:14 and
Psalm 107:11.
The Most High is King over all the earth in Psalm 47:2, but He is also a refuge and fortress to deliver us from sickness and disease: "He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.
Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence.
Because you have made the LORD, who is my refuge, even the Most High your dwelling place,
No evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling."
Psalm 91:1-3,9,10
David said, "I will cry out to God Most High, to God who performs all things for me."
God Most High performs all things for us.
To perform means to bring to completion. He will bring us to completion in every area of our life.
There is no situation God cannot handle, no need He will not meet.
He delivers us from every evil.
We can confidently call on Him to deliver us from every plague and heal us from every disease.
Jesus is God Most High, He is seated at the right hand of the Father, "far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come"
Ephesians 1:21.
"Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name"
Philippians 2:9.
The name of Jesus is far above the name of cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and every other sickness that can be named.
He is LORD over all!
Everlasting God
"Then Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and there called on the name of the LORD, the Everlasting God, El Olam."
Genesis 21:33
The covenant God made with Abraham is everlasting.
"I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting [olam] covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you"
Genesis 17:7.
Those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ are called descendants of Abraham. "And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise"
Galatians 3:29
In Christ, we are heirs to an everlasting covenant with an everlasting God.
"The LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting [olam]"
Psalm 100:5.
God's mercy in Hebrew is His covenant love and faithfulness.
He has committed Himself to our well-being, and He will not break His promise.
Not ever!
Genesis 21:33
The covenant God made with Abraham is everlasting.
"I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting [olam] covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you"
Genesis 17:7.
Those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ are called descendants of Abraham. "And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise"
Galatians 3:29
In Christ, we are heirs to an everlasting covenant with an everlasting God.
"The LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting [olam]"
Psalm 100:5.
God's mercy in Hebrew is His covenant love and faithfulness.
He has committed Himself to our well-being, and He will not break His promise.
Not ever!
Almightly God
"When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, 'I am Almighty God, El Shaddai; walk before Me and be blameless.
And I will make My covenant between Me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly.'"
Genesis 17:1,2
God revealed Himself to Abram [Abraham] as El Shaddai, Almighty God, and made a covenant with him.
Abraham confirmed this covenant to Isaac, and Isaac confirmed it to Jacob: May God Almighty bless you, and make you fruitful, and multiply you. . .and give you the blessing of Abraham"
Genesis 28:3.
Jacob spoke the blessing of El Saddai over his son Joseph: "By the God of your father who will help you, And by the Almighty who will bless you with the blessings of heaven above,
Blessing of the deep that lies beneath,
Blessings of the breasts and of the womb."
Genesis 49:25
In the book of Job, righteous Elihu understood El Saddai as the one who gives, sustains and restores life. "The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life"
Job 33:4.
This in Hebrew means life preserved, life repaired, life made whole.
El Shaddai is a refuge in time of trouble, "He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty"
Psalm 91:1.
All who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ are in covenant with Almighty God.
We are a part of the "multiplication of Abraham" and heir with him to all the blessings of God.
El Shaddai is faithful to His covenant.
He is our continual refuge in every need, and He is mighty to sustain and restore us to wholeness.
And I will make My covenant between Me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly.'"
Genesis 17:1,2
God revealed Himself to Abram [Abraham] as El Shaddai, Almighty God, and made a covenant with him.
Abraham confirmed this covenant to Isaac, and Isaac confirmed it to Jacob: May God Almighty bless you, and make you fruitful, and multiply you. . .and give you the blessing of Abraham"
Genesis 28:3.
Jacob spoke the blessing of El Saddai over his son Joseph: "By the God of your father who will help you, And by the Almighty who will bless you with the blessings of heaven above,
Blessing of the deep that lies beneath,
Blessings of the breasts and of the womb."
Genesis 49:25
In the book of Job, righteous Elihu understood El Saddai as the one who gives, sustains and restores life. "The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life"
Job 33:4.
This in Hebrew means life preserved, life repaired, life made whole.
El Shaddai is a refuge in time of trouble, "He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty"
Psalm 91:1.
All who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ are in covenant with Almighty God.
We are a part of the "multiplication of Abraham" and heir with him to all the blessings of God.
El Shaddai is faithful to His covenant.
He is our continual refuge in every need, and He is mighty to sustain and restore us to wholeness.
The Lord is There
"And the name of the city from that day on shall be: The Lord is there, Yahweh Shammah,"
Ezekiel 48:35
Looking toward a time of healing and restoration, the Book of Ezekiel closes with this name, Yahweh Shammah, The LORD is there.
It is a name which signifies the glory of the LORD, His divine presence manifesting in power and purity.
It is a healing presence, for there is no more place in it for sickness or disease than there is for sin.
They are overtaken by healing and wholeness.
David said, "You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy" Psalm 16:11.
Jesus brings this joyful, life-giving presence of God close to us.
"Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel," which is "God is with us" Matthew 1:23.
Jesus said, "He who has seen Me has seen the Father" John 14:9.
Paul said, "For in Him [Jesus] dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily" Colossians 2:9.
This fullness dwells in us, for God has revealed to us a great mystery, "which is Christ in you, the hope of glory"
Colossians 1:27.
All the fullness of God dwells in Christ, and all the fullness of Christ dwells in us.
Ezekiel 48:35
Looking toward a time of healing and restoration, the Book of Ezekiel closes with this name, Yahweh Shammah, The LORD is there.
It is a name which signifies the glory of the LORD, His divine presence manifesting in power and purity.
It is a healing presence, for there is no more place in it for sickness or disease than there is for sin.
They are overtaken by healing and wholeness.
David said, "You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy" Psalm 16:11.
Jesus brings this joyful, life-giving presence of God close to us.
"Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel," which is "God is with us" Matthew 1:23.
Jesus said, "He who has seen Me has seen the Father" John 14:9.
Paul said, "For in Him [Jesus] dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily" Colossians 2:9.
This fullness dwells in us, for God has revealed to us a great mystery, "which is Christ in you, the hope of glory"
Colossians 1:27.
All the fullness of God dwells in Christ, and all the fullness of Christ dwells in us.
The Lord Our Righteousniss
"Behold, the days are coming," says the LORD, "that I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness; a King shall reign and prosper, and execute judgment and righteousness in the earth.
In His days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell safely.
Now this is His name by which He will be called: The LORD our Righteousness, Yahweh Tsidkenu"
Jeremiah 23:5,6.
The Hebrew word for righteousness, speaks of that which is altogether right and just.
It also refers to prosperity.
Righteousness is God's way of doing and being right.
It is His 'righteousness'.
When we walk in His righteousness, we experience His blessings and prosperity.
Psalm 112 describes the blessing and prosperity of those who are righteous.
Jesus is the Branch of David, the King who reigns and prospers. He is our righteousness.
"For He [God] made Him [Jesus] who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."
2 Corinthians 5:21
We are eligible for every blessing and benefit that belongs to the righteous.
Sickness and disease belong to the curse, but healing and wholeness belong to the blessing and the blessing belongs to us the righteous.
In His days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell safely.
Now this is His name by which He will be called: The LORD our Righteousness, Yahweh Tsidkenu"
Jeremiah 23:5,6.
The Hebrew word for righteousness, speaks of that which is altogether right and just.
It also refers to prosperity.
Righteousness is God's way of doing and being right.
It is His 'righteousness'.
When we walk in His righteousness, we experience His blessings and prosperity.
Psalm 112 describes the blessing and prosperity of those who are righteous.
Jesus is the Branch of David, the King who reigns and prospers. He is our righteousness.
"For He [God] made Him [Jesus] who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."
2 Corinthians 5:21
We are eligible for every blessing and benefit that belongs to the righteous.
Sickness and disease belong to the curse, but healing and wholeness belong to the blessing and the blessing belongs to us the righteous.
The Lord is My Shepherd
"The Lord is my Shepherd, Yahweh Rohe, I shall not want." Psalm 23:1
The shepherd takes care of the sheep, providing for every need.
He satisfies their hunger in fresh, green pastures.
He quenches their thirst and refreshes them beside the calm, cooling waters.
He restores them to wholeness.
He guides and protects them,
He leads them safely throught the valley of the shadow of death.
Isaiah 40:11,
"He will feed His flock like a shepherd;
He will gather the lambs with His arms and carry them in His bosom."
Jesus said, "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep"
John 10:11
The devil is a false shepherd, the thief who comes to steal, kill and destroy the sheep.
But "I have come," Jesus said, "that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly"
John 10:10
Jesus is our Shepherd, who brings us the abundant life of God.
There is healing and wholeness in Him, and no lack at all.
The shepherd takes care of the sheep, providing for every need.
He satisfies their hunger in fresh, green pastures.
He quenches their thirst and refreshes them beside the calm, cooling waters.
He restores them to wholeness.
He guides and protects them,
He leads them safely throught the valley of the shadow of death.
Isaiah 40:11,
"He will feed His flock like a shepherd;
He will gather the lambs with His arms and carry them in His bosom."
Jesus said, "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep"
John 10:11
The devil is a false shepherd, the thief who comes to steal, kill and destroy the sheep.
But "I have come," Jesus said, "that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly"
John 10:10
Jesus is our Shepherd, who brings us the abundant life of God.
There is healing and wholeness in Him, and no lack at all.
The Lord of Hosts
"The Lord of hosts is with us; Yahweh Sabaot, the God of Jacob is our refuge."
Psalm 46:7
The LORD of Hosts is the name by which God wages warfare on behalf of His people.
He reveals Himself as our faithful defender, and the one who establishes justice for us.
There is also an indication of intimacy associated with this name, He is identified as our Redeemer.
"Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel, and his redeemer, the LORD of hosts"
Isaiah 44:6.
"As for our Redeemer, the LORD of hosts is His name" Isaiah 47:4.
More specifically, He is our Kinsman Redeemer that is the one who acts on behalf of his next of kin, to ransom, redeem or deliver.
A kinsman redeemer would buy back his relative's property or marry his widow, for the sake of the family and to protect their inheritance.
The LORD of Hosts is also identified as our husband.
"For your Maker is your husband, the LORD of hosts is His name" Isaiah 54:5.
We see the healing significance of this name in the prayer of Hannah, who cried out to the LORD in her barrenness, "O LORD of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life." 1 Samuel 1:11.
Jesus is the LORD of Hosts, our kinsman redeemer.
He is the faithful husband who defends and delivers us in every situation, bringing healing and restoration for barrenness and every illness.
Psalm 46:7
The LORD of Hosts is the name by which God wages warfare on behalf of His people.
He reveals Himself as our faithful defender, and the one who establishes justice for us.
There is also an indication of intimacy associated with this name, He is identified as our Redeemer.
"Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel, and his redeemer, the LORD of hosts"
Isaiah 44:6.
"As for our Redeemer, the LORD of hosts is His name" Isaiah 47:4.
More specifically, He is our Kinsman Redeemer that is the one who acts on behalf of his next of kin, to ransom, redeem or deliver.
A kinsman redeemer would buy back his relative's property or marry his widow, for the sake of the family and to protect their inheritance.
The LORD of Hosts is also identified as our husband.
"For your Maker is your husband, the LORD of hosts is His name" Isaiah 54:5.
We see the healing significance of this name in the prayer of Hannah, who cried out to the LORD in her barrenness, "O LORD of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life." 1 Samuel 1:11.
Jesus is the LORD of Hosts, our kinsman redeemer.
He is the faithful husband who defends and delivers us in every situation, bringing healing and restoration for barrenness and every illness.
The Lord is Peace
"So Gideon built an altar there to the LORD, and called it Yahweh Shalom "The Lord is Peace."
Judges 6:24
The shalom, or peace of God, is wholemess and well-being.
It signifies health, prosperity, safety, wellness, restoration and joy.
God desires to bless His people with peace.
David said, "I will both lie down in peace and sleep; for You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety"
Psalm 4:8
"The LORD will give strength to His people; the LORD will bless His people with peace"
Psalm 29:11
In Isaiah 55:12, the Lord promises "You shall go out with joy, and be led out with peace"
This is possible because of what the Lord Jesus did, for as Isaiah 53:5 prophecied, "the chastisement of our peace was upon Him".
A great exchange took place; Jesus was chastised in our place so that we might experience His peace and wholeness in our lives.
He took our sins and gave us His righteousness.
He took our sicknesses and pains and gave us His healing and health.
We can receive all of it right now!
Judges 6:24
The shalom, or peace of God, is wholemess and well-being.
It signifies health, prosperity, safety, wellness, restoration and joy.
God desires to bless His people with peace.
David said, "I will both lie down in peace and sleep; for You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety"
Psalm 4:8
"The LORD will give strength to His people; the LORD will bless His people with peace"
Psalm 29:11
In Isaiah 55:12, the Lord promises "You shall go out with joy, and be led out with peace"
This is possible because of what the Lord Jesus did, for as Isaiah 53:5 prophecied, "the chastisement of our peace was upon Him".
A great exchange took place; Jesus was chastised in our place so that we might experience His peace and wholeness in our lives.
He took our sins and gave us His righteousness.
He took our sicknesses and pains and gave us His healing and health.
We can receive all of it right now!
The Lord Who Sanctifies
"I am the LORD who sanctifies you."
Exodus 31:13
To be sanctified means to be cleansed and made holy, set apart for God's special purposes and promises.
It is signified by anointing oil.
David said to the Lord, "You anoint my head with oil"
Psalm 23:5
Isaiah prophesied, "it shall come to pass in that day that [the oppressor's] burden will be taken away from your shoulder, and his yoke from your neck, and the yoke will be destroyed because of the anointing oil"
Isaiah 10:27
The anointing removes the oppressive burden of sickness and destroys the yoke of disease.
James 5:14 said, "Is anyone among you sick?
Let him call for the elders of the church,
and let them pray over him,
anointing him with fresh oil. . ."
The anointing oil is a sign of God's sanctifying and healing presence.
Sanctification is for the entire person, and includes healing for the body.
Paul said, "Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you will do it"
1 Thessalonians 5:23,24
Exodus 31:13
To be sanctified means to be cleansed and made holy, set apart for God's special purposes and promises.
It is signified by anointing oil.
David said to the Lord, "You anoint my head with oil"
Psalm 23:5
Isaiah prophesied, "it shall come to pass in that day that [the oppressor's] burden will be taken away from your shoulder, and his yoke from your neck, and the yoke will be destroyed because of the anointing oil"
Isaiah 10:27
The anointing removes the oppressive burden of sickness and destroys the yoke of disease.
James 5:14 said, "Is anyone among you sick?
Let him call for the elders of the church,
and let them pray over him,
anointing him with fresh oil. . ."
The anointing oil is a sign of God's sanctifying and healing presence.
Sanctification is for the entire person, and includes healing for the body.
Paul said, "Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you will do it"
1 Thessalonians 5:23,24
The Lord Our Banner
"And Moses built an altar and called its name, The LORD is My Banner."
Exodus 17:15
Moses built an altar of thanksgiving after the Lord gave victory to the children of Israel over the Amalakites.
He called it Yahweh Nissi, for the Lord is a banner of victory and truth, a rallying place for His people.
David said, "You have given a banner to those who fear You, that it may be displayed because of the truth" Psalm 60:4.
When the LORD is our banner, victory is assured.
Paul said, "If God be for us, who can be against us?"
Romans 8:31.
"In all these things, we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us".
Romans 8:37
"Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ".
1 Corinthians 15:57
In Song of Solomon 2:4, the banner is a symbol of intimacy between the LORD and His bride.
"He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner of me was love".
"God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son" John 3:16
Jesus is not only our victory banner, He is the banner of God's love over us.
Exodus 17:15
Moses built an altar of thanksgiving after the Lord gave victory to the children of Israel over the Amalakites.
He called it Yahweh Nissi, for the Lord is a banner of victory and truth, a rallying place for His people.
David said, "You have given a banner to those who fear You, that it may be displayed because of the truth" Psalm 60:4.
When the LORD is our banner, victory is assured.
Paul said, "If God be for us, who can be against us?"
Romans 8:31.
"In all these things, we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us".
Romans 8:37
"Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ".
1 Corinthians 15:57
In Song of Solomon 2:4, the banner is a symbol of intimacy between the LORD and His bride.
"He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner of me was love".
"God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son" John 3:16
Jesus is not only our victory banner, He is the banner of God's love over us.
It's Fulfilled
Isaiah spoke of Messiah and "the day that the LORD binds up the bruise of His people and heals the stroke of the wounds"
Isaiah 30:26
Luke 4 records that when Jesus began His public ministry, He read from the scroll of Isaiah 61:1,2.
"The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me,
Because He has anointed Me
To preach the gospel to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives,
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set at liberty those who are oppressed;
To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD"
Jesus closed the scroll, sat down and declared,
"Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing."
In this way, Jesus revealed Himself as our Healer.
God sent His Word to make us whole.
He forgave all our sins and healed all our diseases.
He anointed Jesus to mend our broken hearts.
Jesus binds up our wounds.
He give sight to the blind.
He set captives free.
This Scripture is fulfilled and we can declare it in our lives.
Isaiah 30:26
Luke 4 records that when Jesus began His public ministry, He read from the scroll of Isaiah 61:1,2.
"The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me,
Because He has anointed Me
To preach the gospel to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives,
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set at liberty those who are oppressed;
To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD"
Jesus closed the scroll, sat down and declared,
"Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing."
In this way, Jesus revealed Himself as our Healer.
God sent His Word to make us whole.
He forgave all our sins and healed all our diseases.
He anointed Jesus to mend our broken hearts.
Jesus binds up our wounds.
He give sight to the blind.
He set captives free.
This Scripture is fulfilled and we can declare it in our lives.
The Lord Who Heals
By this name, Yahweh Rapha, God reveals Himself as the One who brings healing to all those who heed His voice and walk in His ways.
Rapha means to mend, cure, heal, repair and make whole.
Psalm 103 says "Bless the LORD, O my soul and all that is within me bless His holy name. . . and forget not all His benefits:
He forgives all our iniquities,
He heals all our diseases,
He redeems our lives from destruction,
He crowns us with loving kindness and tender mercies,
He fills our mouths with good things that
our youth is renewed like the eagles;
Psalm 107:20, "God sent His word [Jesus]
and heal them and deliver them from all
their destruction."
Psalm 147, the LORD "heals the brokenhearted
and binds up their wounds."
Rapha means to mend, cure, heal, repair and make whole.
Psalm 103 says "Bless the LORD, O my soul and all that is within me bless His holy name. . . and forget not all His benefits:
He forgives all our iniquities,
He heals all our diseases,
He redeems our lives from destruction,
He crowns us with loving kindness and tender mercies,
He fills our mouths with good things that
our youth is renewed like the eagles;
Psalm 107:20, "God sent His word [Jesus]
and heal them and deliver them from all
their destruction."
Psalm 147, the LORD "heals the brokenhearted
and binds up their wounds."
The LORD Will Provide
"And Abraham called the name of the place, Yahweh Yireh, The Lord will provide."
Genesis 22:14
Yireh means God is present to provide whatever is needed.
God sees the need and moves to meet it.
In Genesis 22, God saw the need for a sacrifice to be offered in place of Isaac, so He provided a ram.
God has seen our needs and has already made a provision for them.
Jesus Himself is the provision of God who opens the way for us to receive every blessing, including healing and prosperity.
We can call on His name as our provider!
Genesis 22:14
Yireh means God is present to provide whatever is needed.
God sees the need and moves to meet it.
In Genesis 22, God saw the need for a sacrifice to be offered in place of Isaac, so He provided a ram.
God has seen our needs and has already made a provision for them.
Jesus Himself is the provision of God who opens the way for us to receive every blessing, including healing and prosperity.
We can call on His name as our provider!
Praise
The Bible says, "Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name"
Hebrews 13:15
The Greek for 'giving thanks' means to confess, or agree with.
When we call on the name of the Lord, giving thanks to His name, we are exercising faith, agreeing with who He is and how He has revealed Himself.
In this way, the names of God become paths to healing.
Hebrews 13:15
The Greek for 'giving thanks' means to confess, or agree with.
When we call on the name of the Lord, giving thanks to His name, we are exercising faith, agreeing with who He is and how He has revealed Himself.
In this way, the names of God become paths to healing.
His Name
There are many names in the Old Testament that reveals God in ways concerning healing.
Many of these names are combinations based on His personal name, Yahweh, the name that He relates to His people and reveals His purposes.
Others are combinations based on EL, the Hebrew for 'God', the name He displays His power.
These names demonstrate both His greatness and goodness.
God not only desires wholeness for His people, He is able to bring it about.
The Bible says, "For whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved" (Romans 10:13
The Greek word for 'saved' is SOZO and means to be saved, healed, delivered, restored, made whole.
We receive these benefits by coming into agreement with His name.
Many of these names are combinations based on His personal name, Yahweh, the name that He relates to His people and reveals His purposes.
Others are combinations based on EL, the Hebrew for 'God', the name He displays His power.
These names demonstrate both His greatness and goodness.
God not only desires wholeness for His people, He is able to bring it about.
The Bible says, "For whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved" (Romans 10:13
The Greek word for 'saved' is SOZO and means to be saved, healed, delivered, restored, made whole.
We receive these benefits by coming into agreement with His name.
God is Good
"The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him.
It is good that one should hope and wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD."
Lamentations 3:25-26
"I will seek what was lost and bring back what was driven away, bind up the broken and strengthen what was sick."
Ezekiel 34:16
"But to you who fear My name the Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings: and you shall go out and grow fat like stall-fed calves."
Malachi 4:2
God is good to those who seek Him, to those who revence His name.
He seeks what is lost and restores what is scattered.
He binds up the broken and gives strength to the sick.
Those who wait quietly and with joyfulness He will give His salvation.
Jesus is the Sun of Righteousness who is risen with His healing [our healing] in His wings!
It is good that one should hope and wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD."
Lamentations 3:25-26
"I will seek what was lost and bring back what was driven away, bind up the broken and strengthen what was sick."
Ezekiel 34:16
"But to you who fear My name the Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings: and you shall go out and grow fat like stall-fed calves."
Malachi 4:2
God is good to those who seek Him, to those who revence His name.
He seeks what is lost and restores what is scattered.
He binds up the broken and gives strength to the sick.
Those who wait quietly and with joyfulness He will give His salvation.
Jesus is the Sun of Righteousness who is risen with His healing [our healing] in His wings!
Restore
"Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved, for Your are my praise."
Jeremiah 17:14
For thus says the LORD. . . "I will visit you and perform My good word toward you.
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you," says the LORD. "thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.
And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.
I will be found by you," says the LORD.
Jeremiah 29:10-14
"For I will restore health to you and heal you of your wounds," says the LORD.
Jeremiah 30:17
"Behold, I will bring . . . health and healing; I will heal them and reveal to them the abundance of peace and truth."
Jeremiah 33:6
Jeremiah 17:14
For thus says the LORD. . . "I will visit you and perform My good word toward you.
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you," says the LORD. "thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.
And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.
I will be found by you," says the LORD.
Jeremiah 29:10-14
"For I will restore health to you and heal you of your wounds," says the LORD.
Jeremiah 30:17
"Behold, I will bring . . . health and healing; I will heal them and reveal to them the abundance of peace and truth."
Jeremiah 33:6
Isaiah
"Is this not the fast that I have chosen: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every yoke?
Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out; when you see the naked, that you cover him, and not hide yourself from your own flesh?
Then your light shall break forth like the morning, your healing shall spring forth speedily, and your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry, and He will say, 'Here I am.'
If you take away the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness, if you extend your soul to the hungry and satisfy the afflicted soul, then your light shall dawn in the darkness, and your darkness shall be as the noonday.
The Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your soul in drought, and strengthen your bones; you shall be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail."
Isaiah 58:6-11
Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out; when you see the naked, that you cover him, and not hide yourself from your own flesh?
Then your light shall break forth like the morning, your healing shall spring forth speedily, and your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry, and He will say, 'Here I am.'
If you take away the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness, if you extend your soul to the hungry and satisfy the afflicted soul, then your light shall dawn in the darkness, and your darkness shall be as the noonday.
The Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your soul in drought, and strengthen your bones; you shall be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail."
Isaiah 58:6-11
Confessing Sin
"I have seen his ways, and will heal him; I will also lead him, and restore comforts to him to his mourners. I create the fruit of the lips: Peace, peace to him who is far off and to him who is near, says the Lord, And I will heal him."
Isaiah 57:18-19
This is directed to the backslider who returns to the Lord in faith and obedience.
The Bible says that if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).
Isaiah 57:18-19
This is directed to the backslider who returns to the Lord in faith and obedience.
The Bible says that if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).
God's Ways
"For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts."
For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and do not return there, but water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it."
Isaiah 55:9-11
We must say 'Yes' to God's ways and God's thoughts, for they are true and powerful and greater than any sickness or disease.
His are life-giving words that accomplishes His purposes upon the earth and our lives.
He has sent His word to heal us!
For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and do not return there, but water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it."
Isaiah 55:9-11
We must say 'Yes' to God's ways and God's thoughts, for they are true and powerful and greater than any sickness or disease.
His are life-giving words that accomplishes His purposes upon the earth and our lives.
He has sent His word to heal us!
Righteousness
The child of God is one who walks, not in his own righteousness, but in the righteousness of the Lord.
"For He [God] made Him [Jesus] who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him" 2 Corinthians 5:21
The Hebrew word for 'righteousness' refers to prosperity.
The one who walks in the righteousness of the Lord prospers in the Lord.
That is why no weapon of the enemy can prosper against us.
It cannot stand up against the prosperity of God.
"For He [God] made Him [Jesus] who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him" 2 Corinthians 5:21
The Hebrew word for 'righteousness' refers to prosperity.
The one who walks in the righteousness of the Lord prospers in the Lord.
That is why no weapon of the enemy can prosper against us.
It cannot stand up against the prosperity of God.
Healer
I AM THE LORD WHO HEALS YOU!
Exodus 15:26
God's desire is for us to have "whole-life", healing and prosperity in our body and in our circumstances.
John expressed the will of God when he wrote, "Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers."
3 John 2
Matthew applied this verse to the healing ministry of Jesus, noticing that Jesus healed all the sick who were brought to Him:
"When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed.
And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying, 'He Himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses"
Matthew 8:16-17
Sickness is a weapon fashioned and used by the enemy to come against the people God loves.
"For the devil is a thief, who comes to steal, kill and destroy"
John 10:10
Exodus 15:26
God's desire is for us to have "whole-life", healing and prosperity in our body and in our circumstances.
John expressed the will of God when he wrote, "Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers."
3 John 2
Matthew applied this verse to the healing ministry of Jesus, noticing that Jesus healed all the sick who were brought to Him:
"When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed.
And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying, 'He Himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses"
Matthew 8:16-17
Sickness is a weapon fashioned and used by the enemy to come against the people God loves.
"For the devil is a thief, who comes to steal, kill and destroy"
John 10:10
Medicine
When taking Scriptures like medicine, read them regularly and meditate on them as much as possible.
The more we let them fill our heart, the more our faith will grow, and the more effective and joyful our prayers will become.
Prayer is not magical, or mechanical, it's an important part of our relationship with the Lord.
Faith is not positive thinking.
Positive thinking is about what we can do.
Faith is about believing God and what He has said.
Pray scriptures by faith, not by sight.
What we experience with our senses must eventually line up with the truth of God's Word.
Pray with expectation.
Watch for the healing, not watch the symptoms.
Do things that were hard to do before.
The more we let them fill our heart, the more our faith will grow, and the more effective and joyful our prayers will become.
Prayer is not magical, or mechanical, it's an important part of our relationship with the Lord.
Faith is not positive thinking.
Positive thinking is about what we can do.
Faith is about believing God and what He has said.
Pray scriptures by faith, not by sight.
What we experience with our senses must eventually line up with the truth of God's Word.
Pray with expectation.
Watch for the healing, not watch the symptoms.
Do things that were hard to do before.
Seed
As we take the Word of God and meditate on it, faith begins to grow in our heart.
We can start praying the Word back to God.
This honor's God because His Word reveals His heart, and when we pray it back to Him, our hearts begins to line up with His.
We are not just seeking the healing, we are seeking the healer.
Faith comes by hearing, but is is exercised by what we say, and by what we pray.
Jesus said that faith is like a mustard seed, it's not the size that is important, it's what we do with it.
A seed must be planted, and prayer is one way of do that.
The will of God concerning healing has been made known, so we do not pray "if it be thy will".
The important thing is to respond with faith to the healing Word of God.
We can start praying the Word back to God.
This honor's God because His Word reveals His heart, and when we pray it back to Him, our hearts begins to line up with His.
We are not just seeking the healing, we are seeking the healer.
Faith comes by hearing, but is is exercised by what we say, and by what we pray.
Jesus said that faith is like a mustard seed, it's not the size that is important, it's what we do with it.
A seed must be planted, and prayer is one way of do that.
The will of God concerning healing has been made known, so we do not pray "if it be thy will".
The important thing is to respond with faith to the healing Word of God.
Faith
The Bible says that "Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God."
Romans 10:17
This happens by the Holy Spirit, so ask the Holy Spirit to make these Scriptures come alive inside.
Then begin to speak them out in faith.
Jesus said that the mouth speaks out of the abundance of the heart.
The will of God reveals the will of God, and enables us to pray effectively.
"Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.
And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him." 1 John 5:14,15
Healing is the will of God for His people, as these Scriptures show, so pray confidently, knowing that He hears and we will receive our healing!
Romans 10:17
This happens by the Holy Spirit, so ask the Holy Spirit to make these Scriptures come alive inside.
Then begin to speak them out in faith.
Jesus said that the mouth speaks out of the abundance of the heart.
The will of God reveals the will of God, and enables us to pray effectively.
"Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.
And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him." 1 John 5:14,15
Healing is the will of God for His people, as these Scriptures show, so pray confidently, knowing that He hears and we will receive our healing!
Prayer
Someone has said that prayer is not about overcoming God's reluctance, but about laying hold of His willingness.
This can be said of healing also.
God's willingness to heal is seen in His Word, where He repeatedly revealed His desire to heal the people.
We can read healing scriptures out loud,
so that our eyes see them,
our mouths speak them,
our ears hear them,
our bodies feel them and
our minds perceive them.
More importantly, keep reading them and let the words penetrate into our heart and spirit.
This can be said of healing also.
God's willingness to heal is seen in His Word, where He repeatedly revealed His desire to heal the people.
We can read healing scriptures out loud,
so that our eyes see them,
our mouths speak them,
our ears hear them,
our bodies feel them and
our minds perceive them.
More importantly, keep reading them and let the words penetrate into our heart and spirit.
Listen
". . .for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh."
Luke 6:45
We can sometimes find out why we are struggling in faith just by listening to ourselves for a few minutes.
Not only can we locate our faith by our words, but we can also discover what we really believe as we listen to our own words.
When things aren't working right, we must be listening to what we are saying.
Our words are important.
If we can get our thinking, our believing, and our speaking straightened out, our lives will straighten out.
As we think, believe, and speak God's truth, His Word can change every area of our lives!
Luke 6:45
We can sometimes find out why we are struggling in faith just by listening to ourselves for a few minutes.
Not only can we locate our faith by our words, but we can also discover what we really believe as we listen to our own words.
When things aren't working right, we must be listening to what we are saying.
Our words are important.
If we can get our thinking, our believing, and our speaking straightened out, our lives will straighten out.
As we think, believe, and speak God's truth, His Word can change every area of our lives!
Teacher
"And he taught them many things by parables, and said unto them in his doctrines, Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow."
Mark 4:2-3
Jesus began teaching a crowd in parables.
Later, when He was alone with His disciples, they asked Him the meaning of the parable of the sower.
In a sense they told Him that they didn't understand what He was talking about.
Jesus said to them, "Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables" then He continued, "Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables?"
Jesus was saying, "This is the key.
If you gain understanding of this parable, everything else will start to open up to you."
Many read the Bible and don't understand it.
That's why God gave us the Holy Spirit, to translate, interpret and teach it to us.
The reason they have trouble understanding the Word is because they have never let the Holy Spirit be their teacher.
They try to read it with their own understanding.
The Word is revelation truth!
We need to ask the Holy Spirit to teach us every time we open the Bible.
He is the teacher of the Church and He will reveal to us what is written on its pages.
Mark 4:2-3
Jesus began teaching a crowd in parables.
Later, when He was alone with His disciples, they asked Him the meaning of the parable of the sower.
In a sense they told Him that they didn't understand what He was talking about.
Jesus said to them, "Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables" then He continued, "Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables?"
Jesus was saying, "This is the key.
If you gain understanding of this parable, everything else will start to open up to you."
Many read the Bible and don't understand it.
That's why God gave us the Holy Spirit, to translate, interpret and teach it to us.
The reason they have trouble understanding the Word is because they have never let the Holy Spirit be their teacher.
They try to read it with their own understanding.
The Word is revelation truth!
We need to ask the Holy Spirit to teach us every time we open the Bible.
He is the teacher of the Church and He will reveal to us what is written on its pages.
Control
"For we all often stumble and fall and offend in many things.
And if anyone does not offend in speech [never says the wrong things], he is a fully developed character and a perfect man, able to control his whole body and to curb his entire nature."
James 3:2 AMP
James says that if we can control our mouths, we can control our bodies.
In verse 3 James gives us more information about the tongue, giving us an example of controlling a horse.
And he also shows us how a ship is controlled.
Putting a bit in a horse's mouth and directing a ship by its rudder are examples of controlling both inside and outside desires.
As we control our mouths, we can control ourselves, inside and out!
And if anyone does not offend in speech [never says the wrong things], he is a fully developed character and a perfect man, able to control his whole body and to curb his entire nature."
James 3:2 AMP
James says that if we can control our mouths, we can control our bodies.
In verse 3 James gives us more information about the tongue, giving us an example of controlling a horse.
And he also shows us how a ship is controlled.
Putting a bit in a horse's mouth and directing a ship by its rudder are examples of controlling both inside and outside desires.
As we control our mouths, we can control ourselves, inside and out!
Attitudes
"And He [Jesus] spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:
Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Parisee, and the other a publican.
The Pharisee stood and prayed this with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breat, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner."
Luke 18:9-13
It seems Jesus was trying to show us the difference between the two men's attitudes.
The Pharisee boasted about what he's done and felt that God's blessing belonged to him.
While the Publican just humbly prayed that he didn't deserve anything and begged for His mercy.
But we must stand up in our righteousness that Jesus has given us [not our own righteousness which is as filthy rags].
We are to come boldly to the throne of grace, believing and confessing the Word and acting in faith.
Proverbs 28:1 says, "the righteous are bold as a lion."
But we are not to come with an arrogant, prideful attitude.
God's mercy, compassion and grace provided everything we have in Jesus Christ, and we must treat His blessings as a gift.
So we can be bold when we go before God, but always keeping a good attitude.
It's only by God's grace that we stand!
Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Parisee, and the other a publican.
The Pharisee stood and prayed this with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breat, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner."
Luke 18:9-13
It seems Jesus was trying to show us the difference between the two men's attitudes.
The Pharisee boasted about what he's done and felt that God's blessing belonged to him.
While the Publican just humbly prayed that he didn't deserve anything and begged for His mercy.
But we must stand up in our righteousness that Jesus has given us [not our own righteousness which is as filthy rags].
We are to come boldly to the throne of grace, believing and confessing the Word and acting in faith.
Proverbs 28:1 says, "the righteous are bold as a lion."
But we are not to come with an arrogant, prideful attitude.
God's mercy, compassion and grace provided everything we have in Jesus Christ, and we must treat His blessings as a gift.
So we can be bold when we go before God, but always keeping a good attitude.
It's only by God's grace that we stand!
Renewing
"And be not conformed to this world; but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is the good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God."
Romans 12:2
In order for the Word to work, we must be sure that we're following God's instructions.
Many times we are deceived because we only attempt to stand on the Word, but the Word wasn't planted on the inside.
We may have had some head knowledge, but our heart hadn't grasped what the Word was really saying.
The solution to 'head knowledge faith' is to read the Word, study the Word, meditate on the Word and keep on doing it!
It takes time and work to believe what God says in the face of obstacles.
It's so important to make sure the Word goes from the mental realm to the spirit.
As a matter of fact, the difference between victory and defeat is the eighteen inches between the head and the heart.
Go to the Word, grasp it, believe it, and then watch the Word go into action.
"God watches over His Word to perform it!"
Jeremiah 1:12
Romans 12:2
In order for the Word to work, we must be sure that we're following God's instructions.
Many times we are deceived because we only attempt to stand on the Word, but the Word wasn't planted on the inside.
We may have had some head knowledge, but our heart hadn't grasped what the Word was really saying.
The solution to 'head knowledge faith' is to read the Word, study the Word, meditate on the Word and keep on doing it!
It takes time and work to believe what God says in the face of obstacles.
It's so important to make sure the Word goes from the mental realm to the spirit.
As a matter of fact, the difference between victory and defeat is the eighteen inches between the head and the heart.
Go to the Word, grasp it, believe it, and then watch the Word go into action.
"God watches over His Word to perform it!"
Jeremiah 1:12
Promises
"Then on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off.
And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you."
Genesis 22:4-5
If we always have our eyes on the answer and consider only what God said, we'll overcome in the end, regardless of our situation.
A good example of this is Abraham.
God didn't say to Abraham that He would give him a son. God said He would make Abraham the father of many nations. (Genesis 17:4)
In Genesis 22, God told Abraham to offer Isaac as a burnt offering to Him.
Abraham would have been in trouble if he'd been walking around saying,"I know i'm the father of many nations because I have a son."
If he had been thinking that way, he would have said to God, "Lord, I can't do that. Isaac has to live, or I can't be the father of many nations."
But Abraham was absolutely convinced God's promise had to come to pass.
He believed that if he sacrificed his son, God would have to raise him from the dead to fulfill that promise. (Hebrews 11:17-19).
So Abraham told the servants to wait while he and the lad go yonder and worship and that they would come back.
He was saying that they both were going and they both were coming back, and they did!
We can't take our eyes off the answer!
Off Jesus and the Word, for anything, good or bad.
Even when the body is feeling better, don't dwell on that. Keep the eyes fixed on God's promises.
Keep fully persuaded that what God has promised will come to pass!
And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you."
Genesis 22:4-5
If we always have our eyes on the answer and consider only what God said, we'll overcome in the end, regardless of our situation.
A good example of this is Abraham.
God didn't say to Abraham that He would give him a son. God said He would make Abraham the father of many nations. (Genesis 17:4)
In Genesis 22, God told Abraham to offer Isaac as a burnt offering to Him.
Abraham would have been in trouble if he'd been walking around saying,"I know i'm the father of many nations because I have a son."
If he had been thinking that way, he would have said to God, "Lord, I can't do that. Isaac has to live, or I can't be the father of many nations."
But Abraham was absolutely convinced God's promise had to come to pass.
He believed that if he sacrificed his son, God would have to raise him from the dead to fulfill that promise. (Hebrews 11:17-19).
So Abraham told the servants to wait while he and the lad go yonder and worship and that they would come back.
He was saying that they both were going and they both were coming back, and they did!
We can't take our eyes off the answer!
Off Jesus and the Word, for anything, good or bad.
Even when the body is feeling better, don't dwell on that. Keep the eyes fixed on God's promises.
Keep fully persuaded that what God has promised will come to pass!
Open Doors
". . .that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand."
Ephesians 6:13
Sometimes the reason we're experiencing difficulty getting rid of sickness in our bodies is that we've left a door open someplace.
Either we're doing something wrong, or we're not doing something right.
It's not a hard and fast rule, because the devil will still try to attack when we're doing everthing right.
BUT sometimes we will find we left a door open.
We must not mistreat our bodies and leave a door open for the devil to bring in sickness or disease.
Never forget. . .we are the temples of the Holy Spirit!
Ephesians 6:13
Sometimes the reason we're experiencing difficulty getting rid of sickness in our bodies is that we've left a door open someplace.
Either we're doing something wrong, or we're not doing something right.
It's not a hard and fast rule, because the devil will still try to attack when we're doing everthing right.
BUT sometimes we will find we left a door open.
We must not mistreat our bodies and leave a door open for the devil to bring in sickness or disease.
Never forget. . .we are the temples of the Holy Spirit!
Believing
"For we walk by faith, not by sight."
2 Corinthians 5:7
When we make a point of contact with God, believing we receive our answer, we may not immediately look different; but we don't have to look different, we just have to believe what the Bible says and then say what we believe!
We know in our heart that when we pray, our Father hears us and gives us the petition we are asking for.
Then we believe we have received!
2 Corinthians 5:7
When we make a point of contact with God, believing we receive our answer, we may not immediately look different; but we don't have to look different, we just have to believe what the Bible says and then say what we believe!
We know in our heart that when we pray, our Father hears us and gives us the petition we are asking for.
Then we believe we have received!
Words
"The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself."
Ecclesiastes 10:12
Our words create our lives.
Words are powerful 'carriers'; they carry faith, or they carry unbelief.
Whatever we fill our words with will directly affect our lives.
We should ask ourselves, "What have I been saying about the parts of my life I do not like?"
If we don't like where we are in life, change our words.
Quit saying what we're saying.
"Death and life are in the power of the tongue. . ."
Switch over to speaking words of faith.
God's Word is seed planted in our heart, and it works mightily in us.
We are a direct result of what we've believed and said about ourselves in the past.
To make sure our future is different than our past or present, we go back to the Bible and get our minds renewed and our thinking straightened out.
When we get our thinking lined up with the Word of God, it's amazing how easily our believing will line up.
After getting our believing straightened out, our mouth will straighten out.
We are in good shape when our thinking, speaking and believing all line up with God's Word.
Our faithfilled words will carry us into a future of health and abundance!
Ecclesiastes 10:12
Our words create our lives.
Words are powerful 'carriers'; they carry faith, or they carry unbelief.
Whatever we fill our words with will directly affect our lives.
We should ask ourselves, "What have I been saying about the parts of my life I do not like?"
If we don't like where we are in life, change our words.
Quit saying what we're saying.
"Death and life are in the power of the tongue. . ."
Switch over to speaking words of faith.
God's Word is seed planted in our heart, and it works mightily in us.
We are a direct result of what we've believed and said about ourselves in the past.
To make sure our future is different than our past or present, we go back to the Bible and get our minds renewed and our thinking straightened out.
When we get our thinking lined up with the Word of God, it's amazing how easily our believing will line up.
After getting our believing straightened out, our mouth will straighten out.
We are in good shape when our thinking, speaking and believing all line up with God's Word.
Our faithfilled words will carry us into a future of health and abundance!
Symptoms
"Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised).
Hebrews 10:23
This verse talks about holding fast to our profession of faith.
If we have to hold fast to something, it means it's trying to get away from us.
We'll find in life that one of the most difficult things to hold fast to is the confession of our faith.
People will say to us how bad we look and wonder how we are feeling and it is easy to spit out everything in the natural and explain everything in detail.
The flesh likes to get down and wallow in doubt and self-pity, looking for sympathy.
It's much better to have healing than sympathy.
Sympathy only feels good for a few minutes, but healing feels good for a long time.
We can hold fast to our symptoms and get symptoms, or we can hold fast to our confession of faith and get results!
Hebrews 10:23
This verse talks about holding fast to our profession of faith.
If we have to hold fast to something, it means it's trying to get away from us.
We'll find in life that one of the most difficult things to hold fast to is the confession of our faith.
People will say to us how bad we look and wonder how we are feeling and it is easy to spit out everything in the natural and explain everything in detail.
The flesh likes to get down and wallow in doubt and self-pity, looking for sympathy.
It's much better to have healing than sympathy.
Sympathy only feels good for a few minutes, but healing feels good for a long time.
We can hold fast to our symptoms and get symptoms, or we can hold fast to our confession of faith and get results!
Saying
"We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed and therefore have I spoken; we also believe and therefore speak."
2 Corinthians 4:13
Paul uses the word therefore to combine the two parts of faith.
If we're going to believe something, we also have to speak it.
Believing alone doesn't make it come to pass.
It has to be combined with saying what God's Word says.
Jesus said, "If you believe in your heart that what you say will come to pass, you'll have whatever you say." Mark 11:23
The truth is, we can spend a lot of time feeding on God's Word, but what we continually say is what we'll actually believe.
When we first start saying, "By Jesus' stripes I was healed", it may sound strange.
It's easy to think we know the Bible says that, but we feel sick from head to toe.
But as we keep saying it and saying it, soon we'll believe it no matter what we feel like.
We get to that place of faith by feeding on God's Word and speaking it with our mouth.
Once we believe in our heart what God says, we can say it with faith behind it.
Then we can get ready for the answer to come to pass.
2 Corinthians 4:13
Paul uses the word therefore to combine the two parts of faith.
If we're going to believe something, we also have to speak it.
Believing alone doesn't make it come to pass.
It has to be combined with saying what God's Word says.
Jesus said, "If you believe in your heart that what you say will come to pass, you'll have whatever you say." Mark 11:23
The truth is, we can spend a lot of time feeding on God's Word, but what we continually say is what we'll actually believe.
When we first start saying, "By Jesus' stripes I was healed", it may sound strange.
It's easy to think we know the Bible says that, but we feel sick from head to toe.
But as we keep saying it and saying it, soon we'll believe it no matter what we feel like.
We get to that place of faith by feeding on God's Word and speaking it with our mouth.
Once we believe in our heart what God says, we can say it with faith behind it.
Then we can get ready for the answer to come to pass.
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