We are to take God's Word like medicine.
Proverbs 4:20-23
My son, attend to my words;
incline thine ear unto my sayings.
Let them not depart from thine eyes;
keep them in the midst of thine heart.
For they are life unto those that find them,
and health/medicine to all their flesh.
Keep thy heart with all diligence;
for out of it are the issues of life.
Meditate on them as much as possible. The more we let them fill our heart, the more faith will grow and the more effective our prayers will be.
Prayer is neither magical or mechanical. It's an important part of our relationship with God. It's not positive thinking or mind-over matter.
Faith is all about believing God and what He says in His Word.
Prayers concerning God's Will cannot be prayed with "if it be thy will", because His will is known and the "if" puts doubt or unbelief in our request.
"If it be thy will" is only appropriate for prayers of dedication or consecration where His will isn't known.
It is important to pray in faith when God's will is known. Prayers for forgiveness, salvation, healing, safety and protection are all known blessings in His will.
Faith will always praise and worship God before, during and after praying what is His will. This is done before we even see the answer to our prayers because we know He answers us.
"If it be thy will" is only appropriate for prayers of dedication or consecration where His will isn't known.
It is important to pray in faith when God's will is known. Prayers for forgiveness, salvation, healing, safety and protection are all known blessings in His will.
Faith will always praise and worship God before, during and after praying what is His will. This is done before we even see the answer to our prayers because we know He answers us.
As we take in the Word of God and meditate on it, faith grows and begins to stir in our heart.
By praying God's Word back to Him, we honor Him because His Word reveals His heart to us. Also by praying it back to Him our heart begins to line up with His.
Remember that we are not just seeking His blessings, we are seeking the Blesser!
By praying His Word back to Him, we are exercising our faith. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.
Jesus said that faith is like a mustard seed, it isn't the size that is important, its what we do with it. A seed must be planted and prayer is a way to plant it.
By praying God's Word back to Him, we honor Him because His Word reveals His heart to us. Also by praying it back to Him our heart begins to line up with His.
Remember that we are not just seeking His blessings, we are seeking the Blesser!
By praying His Word back to Him, we are exercising our faith. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.
Jesus said that faith is like a mustard seed, it isn't the size that is important, its what we do with it. A seed must be planted and prayer is a way to plant it.
The Word of God shows us the will of God and helps us to pray effectively.
1 John 5:14-15 "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."
Salvation, healing, deliverance, prosperity, love, joy, peace, and so much more is God's will for us; so we can pray confidently, knowing that He hears us and that we will receive what we ask. Of course it has to be according to His will.
In other words, we can't as for somebody else's husband or wife or anything that belongs to someone else. We can't ask for someone death or disaster or anything that may harm someone else. That all belongs to satan.
John 10:10 "The thief [satan]comes not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I [Jesus]am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."
John 10:10 distinguishes what is from the devil and what is from God.
1 John 5:14-15 "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."
Salvation, healing, deliverance, prosperity, love, joy, peace, and so much more is God's will for us; so we can pray confidently, knowing that He hears us and that we will receive what we ask. Of course it has to be according to His will.
In other words, we can't as for somebody else's husband or wife or anything that belongs to someone else. We can't ask for someone death or disaster or anything that may harm someone else. That all belongs to satan.
John 10:10 "The thief [satan]comes not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I [Jesus]am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."
John 10:10 distinguishes what is from the devil and what is from God.
Prayer is not about overcoming God's reluctance, but about laying hold of his willingness. God's willingness to heal is seen in His Word.
Begin reading the scriptures regarding the present need. Read them out loud, so that your eyes see them, your mouth will speak them, and your ears can hear them; then your minds can perceive them. Keep reading them, letting them penetrate into your heart and into your spirit.
"Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God"
Romans 10:17
Ask the Holy Spirit to make these words alive inside you. Then you will be able to speak them out by faith.
Jesus said that the mouth speaks out of the abundance of the heart.
Begin reading the scriptures regarding the present need. Read them out loud, so that your eyes see them, your mouth will speak them, and your ears can hear them; then your minds can perceive them. Keep reading them, letting them penetrate into your heart and into your spirit.
"Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God"
Romans 10:17
Ask the Holy Spirit to make these words alive inside you. Then you will be able to speak them out by faith.
Jesus said that the mouth speaks out of the abundance of the heart.
"For only we who believe God can enter into his place of rest."
Hebrews 4:3
When we are in difficult situations and need a miracle, we need to determine what we believe. Is it God's Word or is it what people say or our circumstances.
What we believe produces rest and what we hear determines what we believe. If we haven't entered into rest, we are not to waste our time feeling condemned, discouraged or upset; but just realize that our faith isn't strong enough yet to produce rest.
So we must go to the Word of God and see what it says about our situation. Then get the scriptures that cover our case and feed [read, speak and meditate by hearing them over and over] on them, which will produce faith. They will get into the heart and what gets into the heart will come out our mouths. Matthew 12:34
Hebrews 4:3
When we are in difficult situations and need a miracle, we need to determine what we believe. Is it God's Word or is it what people say or our circumstances.
What we believe produces rest and what we hear determines what we believe. If we haven't entered into rest, we are not to waste our time feeling condemned, discouraged or upset; but just realize that our faith isn't strong enough yet to produce rest.
So we must go to the Word of God and see what it says about our situation. Then get the scriptures that cover our case and feed [read, speak and meditate by hearing them over and over] on them, which will produce faith. They will get into the heart and what gets into the heart will come out our mouths. Matthew 12:34
". . .for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh."
Luke 6:45
We can find out why a person is struggling in faith by just listening to them for a short while.
Not only can we locate other people's faith by their words, we can also discover what we really believe as we listen to our own words.
When things aren't working well, we must listen to what we say. Our words are important. If we can get our thinking, believing and speaking straightened out, our lives will get straightened out.
Luke 6:45
We can find out why a person is struggling in faith by just listening to them for a short while.
Not only can we locate other people's faith by their words, we can also discover what we really believe as we listen to our own words.
When things aren't working well, we must listen to what we say. Our words are important. If we can get our thinking, believing and speaking straightened out, our lives will get straightened out.
"For we all often stumble and fall and offend in many things.
And if anyone does not offend in speech [never says the wrong thing], 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
If we can control our mouth, we can control our body and entire nature. James gives us information about the tongue. We can apply his words to our own life.
The problems we face come from within, our resistant will, the lusts of the flesh, etc. And they come without, symptoms of illnesses and accidents may come against us.
The principle holds true; as we control our mouth, we can control ourselves inside and out.
And if anyone does not offend in speech [never says the wrong thing], 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
If we can control our mouth, we can control our body and entire nature. James gives us information about the tongue. We can apply his words to our own life.
The problems we face come from within, our resistant will, the lusts of the flesh, etc. And they come without, symptoms of illnesses and accidents may come against us.
The principle holds true; as we control our mouth, we can control ourselves inside and out.
"And he 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 Pharisee, and the other a publican.
The Pharisee stood and prayed thus 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 breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner."
Luke 18:9-13
Jesus is trying to show us the difference between the two men's attitudes:
The Pharisee arrogantly boasting....
The Publican humble....
True, we must stand up in our righteousness; but we shouldn't come with an arrogant attitude.
God's mercy, compassion and grace provides everything we have in Jesus Christ and we must treat His blessing as a gift.
Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
The Pharisee stood and prayed thus 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 breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner."
Luke 18:9-13
Jesus is trying to show us the difference between the two men's attitudes:
The Pharisee arrogantly boasting....
The Publican humble....
True, we must stand up in our righteousness; but we shouldn't come with an arrogant attitude.
God's mercy, compassion and grace provides everything we have in Jesus Christ and we must treat His blessing as a gift.
"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."
Romans 12:2
In order for God's word to work, we must be sure we're following His instructions. Many times we are deceived because we only try to stand on His word to believe for our answers to prayer.
We need to stand on the right scriptures, have them located and memorized and planted on the inside of us. We don't need head knowledge. Our heart needs to grasp what the WORD is really saying.
We need to read, study, meditate and confess the WORD continually. It takes time and work to believe what God says in our heart and not just our head, it's the difference between victory and defeat.
Do we just mentally agree with the word or do we know, that we know, that we know what it says?
If we go to the word and grasp it and believe it; then we can watch it go into action because "God watches over His Word to perform it"! Jeremiah 1:12.
Romans 12:2
In order for God's word to work, we must be sure we're following His instructions. Many times we are deceived because we only try to stand on His word to believe for our answers to prayer.
We need to stand on the right scriptures, have them located and memorized and planted on the inside of us. We don't need head knowledge. Our heart needs to grasp what the WORD is really saying.
We need to read, study, meditate and confess the WORD continually. It takes time and work to believe what God says in our heart and not just our head, it's the difference between victory and defeat.
Do we just mentally agree with the word or do we know, that we know, that we know what it says?
If we go to the word and grasp it and believe it; then we can watch it go into action because "God watches over His Word to perform it"! Jeremiah 1:12.
"The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself."
Ecclesiates 10:12
Our words create an atmosphere; they are powerful! They carry faith or unbelief, love or hate; they hurt or destroy. Whatever we fill our words with will affect our lives.
Proverbs 18:21 says, "Death and life are in the power of the tongue...." we are what we have be saying. We must go to the Bible and get our minds renewed with the Word of God, so our thinking is straightened out, then we will speak great things to effect our lives.
We are in great shape when we get our thinking, speaking and believing in line with God's words!
Ecclesiates 10:12
Our words create an atmosphere; they are powerful! They carry faith or unbelief, love or hate; they hurt or destroy. Whatever we fill our words with will affect our lives.
Proverbs 18:21 says, "Death and life are in the power of the tongue...." we are what we have be saying. We must go to the Bible and get our minds renewed with the Word of God, so our thinking is straightened out, then we will speak great things to effect our lives.
We are in great shape when we get our thinking, speaking and believing in line with God's words!
"Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised).
Hebrews 10:23
We are told to hold on to our faith. If we have to hold on to something, it means it is something we can lose. One of the most difficult things to hold is our confession of our faith.
Someone can make a comment to us that will tempt us to change from our confession of faith to the natural realm and speak it out. We can hold fast to our circumstances or we can hold fast to our faith in God's Word about our circumstances.
Holding fast to God's Word about our circumstances will bring us the results we will be happy with.
Hebrews 10:23
We are told to hold on to our faith. If we have to hold on to something, it means it is something we can lose. One of the most difficult things to hold is our confession of our faith.
Someone can make a comment to us that will tempt us to change from our confession of faith to the natural realm and speak it out. We can hold fast to our circumstances or we can hold fast to our faith in God's Word about our circumstances.
Holding fast to God's Word about our circumstances will bring us the results we will be happy with.
"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
In this verse, the word therefore is used 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.
We can spend a lot of time feeding on God's Word, but what we continually say is what we'll ultimately believe.
2 Corinthians 4:13
In this verse, the word therefore is used 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.
We can spend a lot of time feeding on God's Word, but what we continually say is what we'll ultimately believe.
"Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha.
Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick.
When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby."
John 11:1,3,4
We must not misunderstand Jesus' comment of Lazarus' sickness. He was not saying, "Lazarus' sickness isn't unto death; but that his suffering with this sickness to bring God glory."
If we're not careful, we can get confused because we don't study the Word enough to rightly divide it.
Jesus wasn't talking about the problem. He was talking about the result. Jesus always talked about the end result. He was saying the end result of this sickness will not be death but the glory of God. His life was given back to him when Jesus raised him from the dead.
Lazarus' sickness wasn't for the glory of God. It was his resurrection from the dead that brought God glory; the end result.
Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick.
When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby."
John 11:1,3,4
We must not misunderstand Jesus' comment of Lazarus' sickness. He was not saying, "Lazarus' sickness isn't unto death; but that his suffering with this sickness to bring God glory."
If we're not careful, we can get confused because we don't study the Word enough to rightly divide it.
Jesus wasn't talking about the problem. He was talking about the result. Jesus always talked about the end result. He was saying the end result of this sickness will not be death but the glory of God. His life was given back to him when Jesus raised him from the dead.
Lazarus' sickness wasn't for the glory of God. It was his resurrection from the dead that brought God glory; the end result.
"And, behold, there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and when he saw Him [Jesus] he fell at His feet, and besought Him greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her that she may be healed; and she shall live.
And Jesus went with him......
Mark 5:22-24
Jesus had started walking with Jairus to his house when a woman with an issue of blood came up behind Him in the crowd and touched the hem of His garment.
Jesus turned and asked who had touch Him, so the woman fell down before Him and told Him how she had been healed.
All this was going on while Jairus' daughter was at home dying.
When Jesus left the woman and started again to Jairus' house, some one came running and told Jairus that it was too late and not to trouble the Master because his daughter was dead.
Immediately Jesus turned to Jairus and told him not to fear but only believe. So at that point Jairus had a choice to either fear or believe Jesus. The man chose to continue believing Jesus that his daughter would be healed. His choice brought Jesus on to his home and his daughter was raised up and made whole.
Our choices can bring us the answer or open the door for the devil to attack us.
And Jesus went with him......
Mark 5:22-24
Jesus had started walking with Jairus to his house when a woman with an issue of blood came up behind Him in the crowd and touched the hem of His garment.
Jesus turned and asked who had touch Him, so the woman fell down before Him and told Him how she had been healed.
All this was going on while Jairus' daughter was at home dying.
When Jesus left the woman and started again to Jairus' house, some one came running and told Jairus that it was too late and not to trouble the Master because his daughter was dead.
Immediately Jesus turned to Jairus and told him not to fear but only believe. So at that point Jairus had a choice to either fear or believe Jesus. The man chose to continue believing Jesus that his daughter would be healed. His choice brought Jesus on to his home and his daughter was raised up and made whole.
Our choices can bring us the answer or open the door for the devil to attack us.
"The Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:
And when he had given thanks, he brake it and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.
After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, this cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.
For as often as ye eat this bread and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come."
1 Corinthians 11:23-26
Under the new covenant, we take communion to look back and remember what Jesus did for us.
The perfect Lamb shed His blood to redeem us from every yoke of bondage that includes healing as well as forgiveness.
Communion services should be some of the biggest healing rallies. When we take part in communion we remember what Jesus did for us. The bread reminds us of His body broken for our physical healing.
Thank you Jesus that you shed your blood for our sins and the beating you took for our healings.
And when he had given thanks, he brake it and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.
After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, this cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.
For as often as ye eat this bread and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come."
1 Corinthians 11:23-26
Under the new covenant, we take communion to look back and remember what Jesus did for us.
The perfect Lamb shed His blood to redeem us from every yoke of bondage that includes healing as well as forgiveness.
Communion services should be some of the biggest healing rallies. When we take part in communion we remember what Jesus did for us. The bread reminds us of His body broken for our physical healing.
Thank you Jesus that you shed your blood for our sins and the beating you took for our healings.
"And being not weak in faith, he [Abraham] considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb.
Romans 4:19
Abraham never denied the problem;he just didn't consider it. God doesn't want us to deny that problems exists. That would be lying.
God wants us to consider His word and keep our eyes on the answer. He wants us to say what His word says and not what we look like or feel.
The word says that by Jesus' stripes we are healed. So we are to choose to believe His word and not consider how we look or feel.
Then soon our bodies will look and feel what the word says.
Romans 4:19
Abraham never denied the problem;he just didn't consider it. God doesn't want us to deny that problems exists. That would be lying.
God wants us to consider His word and keep our eyes on the answer. He wants us to say what His word says and not what we look like or feel.
The word says that by Jesus' stripes we are healed. So we are to choose to believe His word and not consider how we look or feel.
Then soon our bodies will look and feel what the word says.
"And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us."
Romans 5:5
One way for us to stay healthy, spirit, soul and body is to walk in love.
God gave His laws and commandment to His people to prove to them that they needed a Savior.
Galatians 3:24 says the served as a schoolmaster to bring His people to Jesus. They needed a redeemer.
Are we able to obey Jesus' commandment to "love one another" [John 13:34] any better than the Old Testament people were able to keep the Law? The people under the Law had no power to keep it. But we who are under the New Testament, who are born-again with the Holy Spirit indwelling us have the love of God in our spirits to give us the power to keep the law of love. And as long as we walk in love, we have the power to fulfill the other commandments also.
Our purpose on this earth is to walk in love. And as long was we walk in love and obedience, our God will take sickness from us when we ask.
Romans 5:5
One way for us to stay healthy, spirit, soul and body is to walk in love.
God gave His laws and commandment to His people to prove to them that they needed a Savior.
Galatians 3:24 says the served as a schoolmaster to bring His people to Jesus. They needed a redeemer.
Are we able to obey Jesus' commandment to "love one another" [John 13:34] any better than the Old Testament people were able to keep the Law? The people under the Law had no power to keep it. But we who are under the New Testament, who are born-again with the Holy Spirit indwelling us have the love of God in our spirits to give us the power to keep the law of love. And as long as we walk in love, we have the power to fulfill the other commandments also.
Our purpose on this earth is to walk in love. And as long was we walk in love and obedience, our God will take sickness from us when we ask.
"When he [Jesus] had thus spoken, he spat on the ground and made clay of the spittle and he anointed the eyes of the bind man with the clay and said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, [which is by interpretation, Sent.] He went his way therefore and washed and came seeing.
John 9:6,7
Jesus asked this man to act his faith by going and wash. We must not do something just because it worked for someone else, but let God show us what to do or how to act in faith.
That we know of, Jesus didn't tell anyone else to go dip in that pool. He gave people a variety of instructions for acting their faith.
We are not to try to make something happen instead of acting because we believe God has already healed us.
We must let God teach us what we need to do to act in obedience to His word and to receive by faith.
John 9:6,7
Jesus asked this man to act his faith by going and wash. We must not do something just because it worked for someone else, but let God show us what to do or how to act in faith.
That we know of, Jesus didn't tell anyone else to go dip in that pool. He gave people a variety of instructions for acting their faith.
We are not to try to make something happen instead of acting because we believe God has already healed us.
We must let God teach us what we need to do to act in obedience to His word and to receive by faith.
"And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years, ...came in the press behind and touched his garment."
Mark 5:25,27
The more we consider this woman with the issue of blood, the more we understand that she had to be determined to be healed.
Under Jewish law, she was considered unclean and when a woman with an issue of blood was out in public, she risked being stoned.
And if that wasn't bad enough, a ruler of the synagogue was walking with Jesus at the time.
Jesus was on His way to Jairus' house to heal his daughter when He perceived power flowing out of Him and stopped to find out who had touched Him. Jairus had the authority to have her stoned.
This woman had to overcome her fear and go against the religious leaders. She also had to overcome unbelief and her weakness. She had to decide that no matter what happened, she was going to receive her healing.
We have to do the same and not care what others say if we want to receive out healing. We have to take a stand on God's Word and that's all there is to it.
Mark 5:25,27
The more we consider this woman with the issue of blood, the more we understand that she had to be determined to be healed.
Under Jewish law, she was considered unclean and when a woman with an issue of blood was out in public, she risked being stoned.
And if that wasn't bad enough, a ruler of the synagogue was walking with Jesus at the time.
Jesus was on His way to Jairus' house to heal his daughter when He perceived power flowing out of Him and stopped to find out who had touched Him. Jairus had the authority to have her stoned.
This woman had to overcome her fear and go against the religious leaders. She also had to overcome unbelief and her weakness. She had to decide that no matter what happened, she was going to receive her healing.
We have to do the same and not care what others say if we want to receive out healing. We have to take a stand on God's Word and that's all there is to it.
"Then came she and worshiped him, saying, Lord, help me. But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread and to cast it to dogs.
And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table.
Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt.
And her daughter was made whole from that very hour."
Matthew 15:25-28
If that had happen to us, most would have given up; but not this woman.
First Jesus ignored her; then He said to His disciples, "I'm not even sent to help her." Still she continued to worship Him saying, Lord help me." She would leave Him alone.
Then Jesus told her it wasn't right to take the children's bread and give it to dogs. He called her a dog!
Most of us would have gone home angry; but she said, "Truth Lord, yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table.
She was saying, Lord I don't need the whole loaf, give me a crumb. I know what your bread will do.
She talking about how powerful Jesus was. He could call her any thing, but heal my daughter!
Jesus said, "With faith like that, you can have anything you want."
He took her to the limit and she past. He knew her faith would turn His power loose.
Her daughter was healed then!
And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table.
Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt.
And her daughter was made whole from that very hour."
Matthew 15:25-28
If that had happen to us, most would have given up; but not this woman.
First Jesus ignored her; then He said to His disciples, "I'm not even sent to help her." Still she continued to worship Him saying, Lord help me." She would leave Him alone.
Then Jesus told her it wasn't right to take the children's bread and give it to dogs. He called her a dog!
Most of us would have gone home angry; but she said, "Truth Lord, yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table.
She was saying, Lord I don't need the whole loaf, give me a crumb. I know what your bread will do.
She talking about how powerful Jesus was. He could call her any thing, but heal my daughter!
Jesus said, "With faith like that, you can have anything you want."
He took her to the limit and she past. He knew her faith would turn His power loose.
Her daughter was healed then!
"This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous and then thou shalt have good success." Joshua 1:8
If we want to walk in divine health and God desires that we do, we have to be doers of His Word. We must meditate on God's promises. That way we will find His Word getting so big on the inside of us that we start acting like healthy people.
He also says that WE will make our way prosperous and/or deal wisely in all the affairs of life.
God has made health and success available to us in every area of our lives. It's our choice whether or not we become a doer of His Word and actually receive what He has given us.
If we want to walk in divine health and God desires that we do, we have to be doers of His Word. We must meditate on God's promises. That way we will find His Word getting so big on the inside of us that we start acting like healthy people.
He also says that WE will make our way prosperous and/or deal wisely in all the affairs of life.
God has made health and success available to us in every area of our lives. It's our choice whether or not we become a doer of His Word and actually receive what He has given us.
"Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witness." 1 Timothy 6:12
Some think when a person operates in faith, they wouldn't have any problems. If we pray for no problem we are asking to die because it is the only way to get away from problems. We can count on it because the enemy will come with them. He comes to kill, steal and destroy. John 10:10.
The devil tries to stir up negative circumstances, symptoms, thoughts, imaginations and trials. He does anything he can to discourage us and to make us quit.
We need to stay scriptural, when every time symptoms, temptations, test or trials come along. We throw in his face the Word of God, in the name of Jesus!
Some think when a person operates in faith, they wouldn't have any problems. If we pray for no problem we are asking to die because it is the only way to get away from problems. We can count on it because the enemy will come with them. He comes to kill, steal and destroy. John 10:10.
The devil tries to stir up negative circumstances, symptoms, thoughts, imaginations and trials. He does anything he can to discourage us and to make us quit.
We need to stay scriptural, when every time symptoms, temptations, test or trials come along. We throw in his face the Word of God, in the name of Jesus!
"My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing." James 1:2-4.
"Let patience have her perfect work...." test and trials don't perfect us. It is what we do with them that is important.
We are not perfect because of a bunch of problems come our way. We are perfected because we stick with the Word of God in the midst of those problems and patiently endure. That's when patience has its perfect work.
Patience is constant endurance. When we walk in patience, we stay consistent throughout our problems. We base everything on God's Word.
We can't get up in the morning and check to see how we feel about what is going on in our lives or bodies. We must open our Bibles and tell ourselves how we feel according to the Word of God.
"Let patience have her perfect work...." test and trials don't perfect us. It is what we do with them that is important.
We are not perfect because of a bunch of problems come our way. We are perfected because we stick with the Word of God in the midst of those problems and patiently endure. That's when patience has its perfect work.
Patience is constant endurance. When we walk in patience, we stay consistent throughout our problems. We base everything on God's Word.
We can't get up in the morning and check to see how we feel about what is going on in our lives or bodies. We must open our Bibles and tell ourselves how we feel according to the Word of God.
Jesus went to the cross and shed His blood for us. Through His death, burial and resurrection, He forgave our sins, redeemed us, delivered us from the power of darkness and enable us to become partakers of His inheritance.
Most Christians have had a very low opinion of what redemption really is. They will say, "Well, Jesus redeemed me from sin." That's true, but there's so much more to it. Thank God, we've been redeemed from every curse in the Old Testament and that includes sickness!
Jesus didn't redeem us from all the Old Testament blessings, healing was a blessing back then, so it's still a blessing. Jesus didn't do away with the blessings; He just added to them.
Jesus not only redeemed us from our sins, but He also redeemed us from torment and oppression so we could have peace. He redeemed us from sickness so we could have health.
God's word says we were forgiven, delivered and healed. Not all we have to do is receive by faith any and all of the covenant blessings.
They all belong to us because Jesus has already paid the price so we don't have to.
Most Christians have had a very low opinion of what redemption really is. They will say, "Well, Jesus redeemed me from sin." That's true, but there's so much more to it. Thank God, we've been redeemed from every curse in the Old Testament and that includes sickness!
Jesus didn't redeem us from all the Old Testament blessings, healing was a blessing back then, so it's still a blessing. Jesus didn't do away with the blessings; He just added to them.
Jesus not only redeemed us from our sins, but He also redeemed us from torment and oppression so we could have peace. He redeemed us from sickness so we could have health.
God's word says we were forgiven, delivered and healed. Not all we have to do is receive by faith any and all of the covenant blessings.
They all belong to us because Jesus has already paid the price so we don't have to.
Hearing the Word of God produces faith. We can't call on God unless we believe and we can't believe unless we hear. Romans 10:13-14.
That's why hearing and healing go hand in hand. Once we hear, we can believe; and once we believe, we can be healed.
Romans 10:17 says, "So then faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God." Hearing God's Word causes faith the rise up on the inside of us. That's why Mark 9:23 says, "All things are possible to him that believeth."
God made it easy for us. He said simply to hear and be healed. So if we are having trouble believing God for our healing, we don't try to work up faith; we back to the Word of God and hear what He said by reading it out loud. Then keep on hearing until faith rises up on the inside.
Healing will be the result.
That's why hearing and healing go hand in hand. Once we hear, we can believe; and once we believe, we can be healed.
Romans 10:17 says, "So then faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God." Hearing God's Word causes faith the rise up on the inside of us. That's why Mark 9:23 says, "All things are possible to him that believeth."
God made it easy for us. He said simply to hear and be healed. So if we are having trouble believing God for our healing, we don't try to work up faith; we back to the Word of God and hear what He said by reading it out loud. Then keep on hearing until faith rises up on the inside.
Healing will be the result.
My blogs have had technical difficulties since Nov 20th. The company I am with put up a create a new blog page and it kept me from getting to my blog dashboard. So I had figured I am out of the blogging business.
There has been a lot of communication between myself and google, blogger.com and webcolleagues in order to get this back online. I do thank every body for their patience and all those who helped to solve the problem. I am sure I wasn't the only one who was having this problem because there are 100's of thousand of people blogging on these cites. Thanks again everyone!
From John 15:7 we understand that it is God's will to heal everyone, because it is God's will to answer prayers. God promises to answer any prayer that lines up with His Word.
We know that healing lines up with God's Word because Psalm 107:20 tells us God sent His Word to heal us.
We know healing lines up with His Word because Matthew 9:35 tells us Jesus went through all the cities and villages, teaching, preaching, and healing every sickness and disease among the people.
We know healing lines up with His Word because Hebrews 13:8 says Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever.
Jesus said, "If you abide in Me and My words abide in you, you shall ask whatever you will and it shall be done."
We know that healing lines up with God's Word because Psalm 107:20 tells us God sent His Word to heal us.
We know healing lines up with His Word because Matthew 9:35 tells us Jesus went through all the cities and villages, teaching, preaching, and healing every sickness and disease among the people.
We know healing lines up with His Word because Hebrews 13:8 says Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever.
Jesus said, "If you abide in Me and My words abide in you, you shall ask whatever you will and it shall be done."
We can receive all that Jesus bought and paid for through His death, burial and resurrection.
We know that faith operates on knowing God's will. So, we must look into God's Word where we can find His perfect will for every person to be born again and healed.
We must believe we receive, not when we see our answer; but when we pray (Mark 11:24). When we believe, the anointing begins to flow into our bodies whether we feel it or not. God's healing power begins to effect a healing in our physical bodies the moment we believe we receive.
Anyone can believe when they see or feel something. But as christians we are suppose to believe we receive our answer before we see or feel, because we believe the Word.
We are to say what we believe. Thank God for being healed by the stripes of Jesus. He bore those stripes when they whipped Him before they hung Him on the cross.
Forgiveness of sin and healing of the physical body were paid for in His atonement for us on the cross.
We know that faith operates on knowing God's will. So, we must look into God's Word where we can find His perfect will for every person to be born again and healed.
We must believe we receive, not when we see our answer; but when we pray (Mark 11:24). When we believe, the anointing begins to flow into our bodies whether we feel it or not. God's healing power begins to effect a healing in our physical bodies the moment we believe we receive.
Anyone can believe when they see or feel something. But as christians we are suppose to believe we receive our answer before we see or feel, because we believe the Word.
We are to say what we believe. Thank God for being healed by the stripes of Jesus. He bore those stripes when they whipped Him before they hung Him on the cross.
Forgiveness of sin and healing of the physical body were paid for in His atonement for us on the cross.
Proverbs 4:20-22 literally says that God's Word is medicine/health to our flesh.
What if someone invented a medication that could cure anything wrong with the human body. People would take that medicine faithfully to make sure it worked.
If we'd give God's promises on healing the same credibility that we give medicines, we would have 100 times the results.
God's words may be medicine to all our flesh, but just like medicine, we have to take it. We take God's medicine by hearing it and hearing it and hearing it. Romans 10:17 says, "So then faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.
When we take the time to continually hear God's Word, our faith hooks up and releases God's power for our healing!
What if someone invented a medication that could cure anything wrong with the human body. People would take that medicine faithfully to make sure it worked.
If we'd give God's promises on healing the same credibility that we give medicines, we would have 100 times the results.
God's words may be medicine to all our flesh, but just like medicine, we have to take it. We take God's medicine by hearing it and hearing it and hearing it. Romans 10:17 says, "So then faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.
When we take the time to continually hear God's Word, our faith hooks up and releases God's power for our healing!
People who say, "God doesn't heal anymore," haven't read Hebrews 13:8. It says that Jesus is the same now as He has ever been. If He healed while He walked on this earth, He still heals today.
Most people believe it is God's will to heal some; but the big questions is, "Is it God's will to heal all?"
Some say, "Well, that can't be true because I know brother so and so, he wasn't healed." If we go by the experiences of people, we might conclude it isn't God's will to heal anybody.
We must gather together all the experiences, traditions, doctrines, theories and denominationalism and just push it aside. We must look at nothing but God's Word and find out what He says.
For example: If you wanted to know my will about something, I hope you wouldn't go ask someone who doesn't know me because it's no telling what they might say!
Most people have done just that with God. If they want to know God's will, they've gone to people who don't even know Him and asked what they think. That way we get all kinds of wild ideas, not having the slightest idea what the bible says.
So if we want to find God's will on any matter, we have to go to the bible to see what it says.
When we are really in the place where we feel completely connected to God, we have an instant peace. Everything makes sense and becomes centered in an instant. It's as if our spirit, soul and body are saying 'aahhh.'
Because we know what it feels like to be connected with God, we have become much more aware of how it feels when we've lost that connection.
When we learn that when we are not walking in that connection with God, we begin to feel insecure. Everything begins to feel out of sorts and we have to re-connect with God and His presence to make everything right again.
Another way we can tell if we are not connecting with God is that we begin to let outside influences affect our emotions and our decisions.
The place of connection with God is the place of rest. We are supposed to be walking in rest as much as possible every day and all day.
In a true rest we must cease from our labors and efforts; it means having a heart rest in all circumstances.
Because we know what it feels like to be connected with God, we have become much more aware of how it feels when we've lost that connection.
When we learn that when we are not walking in that connection with God, we begin to feel insecure. Everything begins to feel out of sorts and we have to re-connect with God and His presence to make everything right again.
Another way we can tell if we are not connecting with God is that we begin to let outside influences affect our emotions and our decisions.
The place of connection with God is the place of rest. We are supposed to be walking in rest as much as possible every day and all day.
In a true rest we must cease from our labors and efforts; it means having a heart rest in all circumstances.
Jesus makes it very clear that we must have faith and doubt not. Every believer has faith, but most believers also have an abundance of doubt that negates their faith. It is when we purify our faith and only believe, that victory comes.
Every Christian is at war. There is a perpetual struggle against Satan and his kingdom where there are no "leaves" or "discharges." Our enemy goes about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8). Those who resist the devil will see him flee (James 4:7). The only ones whom he devours are those who don't actively fight against him.
The mind is the battlefield where thoughts and reasonings that are contrary to God's Word, need to be captured and submitted to Christ, our Commander.
Our rebel thoughts must be taken captive and made to submit to Christ. Our battle against the devil takes place right between our ears. The spiritual weapons given to us are designed for the purpose of taking EVERY thought captive and making them obedient to Christ. Keeping our minds completely stayed upon the Lord is an obtainable goal.
These weapons of ours are for the casting down of two things: Imaginations; and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God. Both of these areas are dealing with the mind. Focus on the good in every area of your life. Failure to recognize God's blessings in every day living will cause care and anxiety. Recognizing God's hand in even the smallest thing will cause peace and keep our hearts and minds following hard after the Lord.
Only Mark points out that Jesus would not allow anyone to carry any vessel through the temple. No explanation is offered as to why Jesus would not allow this. It is probable that Jesus wanted His Father's house to be dedicated completely to prayer and the ministry of God.
As with the Sabbath, work symbolizes our own effort, and our own effort will always fall short of what God demands for salvation. Anything that resembled work was inappropriate in the house of God.
What are "works of the law?" Any rule, command or law that a person observes in an attempt to be accepted in right standing with God is a "work of the law." In other words, "works of the law" are a righteousness produced by one's self, a righteousness belonging to one's self, offered to God as a means of meeting God's standard for acceptance.
It takes a revelation of the gospel of grace to abandon faith in the works of the law. God's standard of righteousness is the RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD alone. God has designed salvation in such a way as to eliminate any boasting from man. If salvation was by works either partially or wholly, then man could boast.
But grace and faith eliminate man's boasting. Faith towards God and what He has done through Christ Jesus is the only means of receiving His free gift of salvation. Salvation by grace brings praise and glory to God. If we could save ourselves, either partially or wholly, we would take the credit for it. But that is not the case.
All the glory goes to God.
When we, who are the temple of the Lord, are occupied with the cares of this life, the needs of others are not met. When we are cleansed (John 15:3), then the Lord can accomplish His ministry through us.
Jesus tells us not to worry or be anxious about our material needs being met. It would be impossible to never think about our physical needs, even Jesus thought about His need for money to pay taxes. We are simply not to be occupied with thinking about riches or spend time worrying about our necessities. They will be added unto us as we seek first the kingdom of God.
Prosperity can be damaging to the Body of Christ. God wants to bless His children with things, but a preoccupation with these things will choke God's Word and make it unfruitful. If we follow God's formula for prosperity found in Matthew 6:19-34, then the Word will bring forth fruit and we will enjoy the physical blessings of this life too.
There are people who have received God's Word, committed themselves to it to the degree that they are able to remain faithful in persecution, but because of being occupied with the affairs of this life, the Word sown in their heart is choked and no fruit is produced. Just as weeds in a garden will steal the nutrients and starve the plant, so the pleasures of this life, if we allow them to dominate our thinking, will stop the fruit of the Word from producing.
It takes time, effort, and diligence to be a fruitful Christian. It's quicker and easier to raise weeds than it is to raise tomatoes or corn. Let God's Word produce fruit.
Mark 11:14 says that Jesus "answered" this fig tree. The tree had not spoken to Him verbally but it communicated that it had figs by the leaves on it. It is a fact that a fig tree should have figs by the time the leaves are evident. A fig tree actually produces green figs before the leaves appear and if no figs are produced by that time, then the tree will not have any figs that year. This fig tree was professing something that it didn't have even though it was still too early for figs.
Not only plants, but other things can communicate with us too. Circumstances can tell you that you have failed. Your body can tell you that your prayer didn't work - the Lord didn't heal you, etc. You need to follow Jesus' example and answer these things with a positive statement of your faith.
What good could it do to talk to a tree or an inanimate object? God created the heavens, the earth, and everything that's in the earth, by His words (Hebrews 11:3). The whole creation was made by and responds to words. Our words, when spoken in faith, release either life or death (Proverbs 18:21). They also affect people, things, and circumstances. We can release the power that's in faith by our words.
Speaking God's Word in faith brings the Holy Spirit into action. In Luke 4, when Jesus was tempted of the devil for forty days, it was the Word of God that Jesus used to defeat the enemy at His temptation. We must take advantage of God's Word by placing it in our hearts so that the Holy Spirit may bring it to pass at the right time to accomplish a complete and total victory.
The Greek word for presently means "instantly; immediately; soon." The disciples didn't realize that the fig tree had died until the next day. If the tree died instantly, why didn't they notice it until the next morning? The answer to this question is found in Mark 11:20. The tree was dead from the roots up. The tree did die instantly just as the Word declared, but what had happened to the roots wasn't visible until the next morning.
There is a spiritual lesson here that applies to us receiving things from God. When we ask, we do receive, but it may take a period of time before we perceive it in the natural realm. God's answer comes before we see the manifestation of what we have believed the Lord for when we prayed. Just as with this fig tree, the answer lies beneath the surface, and we don't "see" what God is doing until the answer manifests.
Not all answers to prayer are manifested instantly. Satan can hinder God's power even after it has been released. In Daniel 10:1-13, God answered Daniel's prayer instantly, yet it took 21 days for Daniel to see God's answer manifest, because the prince of Persia (a demonic power) withheld the manifestation.
Prayer that meets the requirements outlined in God's Word is always answered.
Many times we don't sense the answer because it always comes in the spiritual realm first then is manifested in the physical realm. If we waver from our confident faith, then we abort the manifestation of our answer to prayer. But God did answer. Everyone that asks receives.
John 12:39-40 could be interpreted as the ultimate teaching in predestination. That interpretation would be that these people were never given the opportunity to believe because of Isaiah's prophecies.
The Word of God makes it clear that "whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Romans 10:13); "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20); and "whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely" (Revelation 22:17). No one has ever been denied the opportunity to accept salvation (Timothy 2:11).
Mark 6:5 says that "he (Jesus) could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them." In that instance, it is evident that the reason Jesus couldn't do any mighty work was not because He didn't possess the power, but because He chose not to use that power against a person's will. He couldn't perform the mighty works because of His decision to uphold our freedom of choice.
These Jews could not believe because of their choice to reject Jesus. They could not believe because they chose not to believe. "They stumbled at the stumblingstone" (Romans 9:32), which was Jesus.
Isaiah did not predestine them to this fate. Rather he saw that very few would receive the report (Isaiah 53:1) about the Messiah, and therefore would be kept from the knowledge of salvation because they rejected Him in whom all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are found (Colossians 2:3). This is what Isaiah prophesied, and it came to pass. Choose carefully!
The only reason satan ever had any right to become a prince or rule over us was because we yielded ourselves to him through sin (Romans 6:16). Since Jesus "bore our sins in His own body on the tree" (1 Peter 2:24), satan no longer has power or authority over those who accept Jesus' gift of salvation.
Satan has been "cast out" stripped of any power he had. Now he can only deceive, and if we fall for his lies, we stop God's blessings from flowing in our lives.
The reason why a believer must live a holy life, is to avoid satan's bondage. When we obey sin, we yield ourselves to satan, the author of that sin.Yielding to sin is yielding to a person, satan. God doesn't impute the sin to us but the devil does. Our actions either release the power of satan or the power of God in us.
God is not imputing our sins unto us, so we cannot afford the luxury of sin because it allows satan to have access to us. When a Christian does sin and gives the devil an opportunity to produce death in his life, the way to stop him is to confess the sin. God is faithful and just to take the forgiveness that is already present in our born-again spirit and release it in our flesh, thereby removing satan and his strongholds.
A person who abandons himself to sin is actually becoming a slave to the devil while a person who obeys righteousness is yielding himself to the Lord. This is why a Christian should live a holy life.
There is still a future judgment of the world coming, where the wicked will be separated from the righteous and cast into the lake of fire. This verse refers to the sins of the world that were about to be placed on Jesus and that He would suffer our punishment.
Jesus suffered the punishment for our sins, so there is no reason why we should suffer for them too. The price for sin has already been paid by the only one who could fully pay it and that is Jesus. All Jesus asks of us to make His redemption ours, is faith in Him as our Lord.
Sin has a wage it must pay and no one can avoid payday without faith in Jesus. Anyone who does not receive the new birth will be held liable for all the wrong they committed as a result of their sinful nature. Those who receive the new birth through faith in Jesus, don't have a sin nature and will not receive the payment of death.
Physical death as well as every result of the sin nature (i.e. sickness, depression, fear, etc.) is only a by-product of the spiritual death that was already inside of us. The Lord told Adam that in the day he ate of the forbidden tree, he would surely die (Genesis 2:17). Adam didn't die physically that day but he did die spiritually. Physical death came 930 years later for Adam (Genesis 5:5) as a by-product of his spiritual death.
Eternal life is a gift. The dictionary defines a gift as "something that is bestowed voluntarily and without compensation; a present." We have nothing to do with earning this gift. All we have to do is receive it by faith.
This is the third time recorded in the gospels that the Father spoke in an audible voice to or about Jesus (First, at Jesus' baptism in the Jordan River and second, at the transfiguration of Jesus).
This verse makes it clear that it was a voice that the Father spoke in; however, there were different reports of the same event. Some people heard a voice and thought it was an angel who spoke. Others thought it was thunder.
John 12:20-28 shows "the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned" (1 Corinthians 2:14). A carnal man with a hardened heart will always find some natural explanation for the supernatural even if he heard an audible voice from God.
A hard heart keeps us from perceiving spiritual truths and stops us from understanding. When a person doesn't understand God's Word, satan finds no resistance when he comes to steal it away. A hard heart keeps us from remembering. This isn't to say that facts or scriptures can't be recalled, it's the spiritual lessons learned that have been forgotten.
Some people can quote scripture or remember what the sermon was about, but they can't perceive the spiritual life in it or retain what they did perceive, because of a hardened heart.
Jesus didn't need to hear this audible voice of God because he had a more sure word of prophecy than the audible voice of God from heaven (2 Peter 1:18-20). Jesus knew the "voice" of the Old Testament scriptures that spoke of the Christ being glorified and He could also hear the Father's voice in His heart as He had on so many other occasions. This audible voice didn't come to reassure Jesus, but it came to those who had ears to hear, so that they might believe.
Philip and Andrew had just brought word to Jesus that certain Greeks or Gentiles were seeking Him at the feast. He had ministered to other Gentiles, but this is the first time that the Gentiles came specifically to seek Him instead of what He could do.
Apparently, this was an added signal to Jesus that His time had come and that He could no longer confine His ministry to only the Jews. He made statements about His death and glorification, that would break down the middle wall of partition between the Jew and the Gentile.
There was a physical wall of partition that symbolized this division in the Jerusalem temple. The Gentiles could come into a designated area of the temple known as the court of the Gentiles, but a stone wall, about five feet high, stopped them from going further. A sign standing before the wall stated, "No man of another nation is to enter, and whosoever is caught will have himself to blame for his death!"
Many regulations and rules separated Jews and Gentiles for centuries. Christ's work on the cross abolished that separation by removing the law and so removing the barrier between these two groups. Instead of changing the Gentiles into Jews or the Jews into Gentiles, God made a brand new creation.
In the New Testament church there is no such thing as Jew or Gentile, bond or free, for God has created something absolutely new. It's the "one new man," the new creation in Christ Jesus, the church, Christ's body, the fullness of Him, that filleth all in all (Ephesians 1:23). Remember who we are "in Him."
There is nothing wrong with praising God. It is encouraged and commanded thousands of times in the bible. The reason the Pharisees were so upset was because they didn't accept Jesus as God. It would be blasphemy for Jesus to accept worship if He wasn't God. This is another confirmation of the deity of Christ.
Only Luke in 19:29-40 records this instance of the Pharisees' objection and Jesus' answer. This was the triumphant entry of Israel's King that was prophesied and anticipated for centuries. The excitement could not be contained. If people refused to praise Him, the creation would have broken out in praise. No rock should have to do what God created us to do.
By compiling all of the writers' accounts of what the multitudes were saying, we have this record: "Hosanna to the Son of David" (Matthew only). "Blessed is he" ("the King"--Luke "the King of Israel"--John.) "that cometh in the name of the Lord. Blessed be the kingdom of our father David that cometh in the name of the Lord" (Mark. only). "Hosanna in the highest" (Matthew and Mark only). "Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest" (Luke only).
Pride was what caused satan's original sin according to Isaiah 14:12-14. He wanted to be like the most High. One thing reserved for God alone is worship, and the devil has always sought that. If he can't be the one to receive worship, then he seeks to turn others away from giving true worship to the most High God. This is the reason why praise and worship to the Lord are such powerful tools against Satan. He can't stand to see God worshiped.
The gifts of the Spirit are not meant to be a substitute for our own faith in the Lord. We are not to depend so on some individual with a spiritual gift that we neglect our own spiritual growth and maturity.
We can receive anything we need from the Lord without a gift of the Spirit operating through another individual, if we know how to believe. Dependence on the Lord directly is superior to dependence on the Lord indirectly through someone operating in one of the spiritual gifts.
What if there were no gifts of the Spirit and the Lord established that the only way we could receive from Him was through our own faith? There would be some individuals who would get born again who already had terminal diseases but didn't have enough time left to mature in their faith and receive healing. They would die if it wasn't for others interceding for them or someone with the gift of healing praying for them. That's why the Lord gave these gifts--to keep us encouraged and alive so we can mature.
It is also wrong for an individual not to mature in his personal faith in the Lord and become dependent on the gifts. It is not right for someone to receive a miracle through someone with the gift of miracles and then just struggle along until the next time that gifted minister comes through town.
The Lord wants us to receive His power through these gifts, but then we must mature so that we can walk in God's best on our own.
We are able to mature beyond a total dependency on the gifts to where we can hear and receive from God directly. But none of us will ever reach such a level of maturity in the Lord where there is nothing left to learn or receive. Receive His teachings through His Word.
John 12:14-15 is the fulfillment of Zechariah's prophecy in Zechariah 9:9. Zechariah's prophecy is specific and how exactly it was fulfilled.
Zechariah prophesied Jesus not only riding an donkey, but also a colt (unbroken), the foal of an donkey. Zechariah also mentioned the people rejoicing greatly and shouting which certainly came to pass on this day.
All four gospels include a triumphal entry, but only Matthew records a donkey with a colt. A simple explanation to a so-called "contradiction" is that Jesus rode the colt while the other donkey went along. No doubt, He rode each animal part of the way.
Not only was it a miracle that Jesus knew about the donkey and its colt, but also where they would be. God also worked some kind of miracle in the owner of these animals so that he would be willing to release them. It is possible that the Lord also revealed to this man that Jesus would need his animals.
Perhaps he was just a devoted follower of Jesus who gladly surrendered them when he knew Jesus was the one wanting them. Either way, it was just as much a miracle that the owner was willing to surrender them as it was that Jesus knew exactly where they would be.
Jesus hadn't been in Jerusalem in quite a while and there is no indication that He had made previous arrangements with anyone there to obtain this dinkey and its colt. This was nothing less than supernatural knowledge imparted to Jesus through the Holy Spirit. As Jesus did, let God's gifts flow through us.
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