Saturday, August 18, 2012
I Almost Gave Up
I almost gave up. I see how Dad is taking a turn for the worst, I recognize that God stepped in two years ago and extended Dad’s life. I prayed that he would eat again, and somehow he was able to eat. I asked the Lord to put supernatural weight on him, and he went from 110 lbs. to 160 in less than nine months. God has heard, and answered our prayers.
So why not let go? He has lived a long life. He has fought a long battle. Death is swallowed up in victory in Jesus Christ. Death has no teeth, it‘s jaws have been crushed under Jesus feet. “I am the resurrection and the life. If a man lives, he shall never die, and if he dies he shall live.” To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. I am convinced that when Dad’s foot hits the threshold of heaven, when he open his eyes to look into the face of Jesus Christ, he would not turn back to planet earth for anything, or anyone. So why not just let go? The word of the Lord is why I cannot let go.
Several years ago, I learned of Dad’s diagnosis and decided to lay hold of God’s promises. I was spurned on by what God had already done in my life. My faith was strengthen by past experience of His absolute faithfulness to his word. I would still be smoking today if I had not set my heart on experiencing God’s word. (I was utterly unable to do it in my own strength!) I had no other option (but to keep smoking), and I wanted to know if God was good for his word. He was.
This and many other experiences caused me to place complete confidence in God’s word. So naturally, hearing that Dad’s life was threatened was a call to “war” so to speak. Early on I saw a few things in Genesis that became the clarion call to battle. These truths have kept me going these past seven years. There are many dimensions to the fall, but a primary aspect is that we fell from believing in God’s word-which holds everything together-to believing in our own ideas, which are based on sensory experience and reasoning.
Eve departed from the word of God because she judged (trusted in her own understanding) the fruit good for eating. In so doing, she dismissed the divine warning label: “Thus Saith the Lord Your God, Do Not Eat. Consumption Will Lead To Rapid Death.” Na, I think it looks good. Munch, munch….Compare this with the second Adam, Jesus Christ, who himself declared, “I do nothing according to my own understanding.” In Isaiah 55, it is said that the Messiah “did not judge according to what he saw or heard, but according to the Spirit of the Lord.” Eve thought for herself, Jesus trusted God’s word alone.
"Only believe on me" Jesus said. Do not judge with your own understanding. When faced with the facts that his daughter had died, Jesus immediately turned to the centurion to catch his failing faith. “Don’t let go Jarius! Only believe!” Keep your eyes on me!” Only believe and you will see the glory of God in this fallen earth realm. I love this interchange because it so illuminates the Lord’s heart for us. Could it be that he is almost pleading with Jarius to keep believing. Oh, if you will only trust me! You will see so many awesome things.
If we can believe Jesus and the word of the Lord over and above the enemies that surround us, we will enter into all the He has already given.
In 2 Chronices 20 when the armies of Jehosephat went out to face the enemy, they put everything on the line. The word was that God would handle the battle, it was His fight (2 Chronicles 20: 15-17). If that one prophetic utterance was wrong, they were toast. But with eyes fixed on God, holding unswervingly to the promise, they stood their ground IN THE FACE of the enemy. To face the enemy means in open view of your circumstances that look really, really hopeless: this is the FACE of your enemy. In the face of a besetting bondage, will we wait on God’s promise of freedom? In the face of crushing depression, will we stand firm in God’s promise of healing? In the face of ongoing umemployment, do we trust in God's provision and blessing? In the face of terminal illness, will we keep our eyes on Jesus and all that he accomplished? I believe, just like with the armies of Jehosephat, God wants to give us the spoils of the enemy.
Another reason why I cannot let go pertains to the prophetic word. About a year ago the Lord seemed to impress upon me that the genuine prophetic word is the word of the Lord too. It is not scripture alone. He took me to 2 Chronicles 20 again. “Believe his prophets and you shall be established.“ I journaled about this one afternoon and that very same night read the same exact thing in Bob Sorger’s book, “The Fire of Delayed Answers to Prayer.“ I had never heard this before in reference to this scripture, but it seemed the Holy Spirit was impressing upon me the significance of cleaving to the true prophetic word. I have prophetic words that Dad was healed of cancer and in the 11th hour, that this would be used for God’s glory, and that he would be healed in his sleep. Now can I believe it despite what I see? The woman who said that he would be healed as he sleeps and would sing again radiated Jesus's love. She was herself confined to a wheelchair and trusting God for healing. She also prophesied that a woman who I was visiting in a nursing home would experience certain things that came to pass a year later. I think that was a sign for me that her gift is genuine.
So we experience God’s glory in the face of insurmountable odds. It is always insurmountable odds that we must confront in order to see God’s glory. We cannot experience a “Valley of blessing” if we do not stand looking into the the face of an enemy. Our eyes look up to see the snarling face of depression, cancer, addiction marching against us, breathing out threats to take us down and utterly demolish us. We see that we are outnumbered, outmaneuvered, outsmarted and surely going down. But God says, “In Christ, I have given these enemies into your hands. No march out against them and see the salvation of God.”
Cancer screams, “I am victorious! Everyone fears me! See how the church trembles at my name?”
I say, “You are crushed under the feet of Jesus!”
Cancer says, “See how weak your Dad is feeling? See how he is losing his appetite? How long will you try to win a losing battle? Aren’t you tired?
I say, “The battle is the Lords and Christ has already won!”
Cancer says, “I am winning like I always do!”
I say, “You are a liar and have been stripped of all power!”
Cancer says, “See how I keep taking people and prayer has no power to stop me?”
I say, “See how Jesus crushed you and made a mockery of your power?”
This is hy I cannot stop trusting in God. Why should I believe what my eyes see over the Lord's word and promises? No, I am keeping my eyes on Jesus, Savior, Healer, Redeemer. No, I cannot give up. He did not say to stand against the enemy for a day, a year, or a decade. He just said to stand and “only believe.” God help me to stand and not back down. I will circle this walled city seven more times, blowing the trumpet of praise and declaring the word of God until the wall comes crumbling down!
As a footnote, I want to address what I see as belief strongholds in the church about all that I just wrote. (Not than anyone but myself will ever read this….but whatever.) The first is the belief that placing any emphasis on faith leads to condemnation such as “You would be healed if you believed enough!” etc. etc. First, such a concern only reveals pride that we feel we should be totally mature in faith and leaves no room for the reality that we are maturing. We are spiritual children, growing up into Christ. There is no condemnation and no spiritual perfectionism in his Kingdom. In our weakness, He is strong. So we should never feel condemned in our weakness, and do not need to cling to perfectionist expectations of self or others. All such thinking is not of God, who accepts us as we are right now, today. Also, we are in a spiritua battle. Nothing is that simple and healing can be a complex issue. I think we have a lot to learn and much to overcome as the body of Christ. So let’s just believe God and keep pressing on and in for all that He has already given. Also, the other stronghold is again fear related. It goes something like, “People have believed prophesy and been deeply hurt.” The prophetic is a precious, powerful weapon. We do not get rid of every powerful machine gun because a mentally ill man used it in a way that hurt innocent people. We still need those weapons to protect the United States from enemy attacks. The fact that weapons can fall into the hands of the wrong people or be misused does not mean that the weapons are bad. Nuff said!
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
The God of the Impossible
"Going a little further, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass before him. 'Abba, Father,' he said, 'everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will." Mark 14: 35-36
Jesus had declared to his disciples that what is impossible with man is possible with God. And here, in the hour of his greatest suffering, he shows that he really believed in his own teaching. In an astounding display of faith, he asks his Father if there is another way to accomplish the plan of salvation-a plan that he has known since the beginning of time.
Jesus spoke of his death on many occasions. In fact, only a few hours before this Jesus had prepared his disciples for his coming death. He frequently quoted prophetic scripture from the Old Testament that foretold of his death and resurrection. He was fully aware of his purpose as a sacrificial lamb, yet as he agonized on the night of his death, he prayed for the impossible. In effect, Jesus pleads,"Can we save them some other way? Is this the only way to fulfill your will, or is their another way?" He asked the impossible because he knew the God of the impossible.
It is noteworthy that God brings forth salvation only through impossible situations. The nation of Israel was birthed through Abe and Sarah, who were "well past child bearing" age. They should have been living in Florida playing shuffleboard and bingo, but instead, they were having babies. John the Baptist was born of a barren woman. It is hard to miss the hilarity in the angels declaration to Mary that her cousin Elizabeth was now with child, "...and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God." (Lk 1:36-37). I can just see the angels in heaven, rolling in laughter at it all. It pleases God to intervene in the most ridiculously hopeless circumstances.
And best of all, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world was born of a virgin. A virgin! We so spiritualize this that we may miss the bigger message. Virgins do not have babies. It is physically impossible. I have a friend who often wonders what makes God laugh. I think that this could be it. "Hey, you know that girl Mary, that virgin girl who has never married? Yea, well, she is giving birth to the prophesied Messiah, King of Kings and Lord of Lords." I think I can hear Him chuckling even now.
How many different ways can God say it? He is almost screaming it from the rafters of heaven: I am the God of the impossible! He not only works through impossible situations, but he prefers them. Over and over he astounds us and breaks the mold of human limitations. He fed 5,000 people with a few loaves of bread and a couple fish, made the dead to live, stopped storms with his words, and walked on the water. Best of all, he transformed the sickest and most hopeless souls. We have a God that delights to show himself strong in the midst of hopeless situations. So we can take heart and expect to see His hand move in the midst of our impossible circumstances.
Jesus had declared to his disciples that what is impossible with man is possible with God. And here, in the hour of his greatest suffering, he shows that he really believed in his own teaching. In an astounding display of faith, he asks his Father if there is another way to accomplish the plan of salvation-a plan that he has known since the beginning of time.
Jesus spoke of his death on many occasions. In fact, only a few hours before this Jesus had prepared his disciples for his coming death. He frequently quoted prophetic scripture from the Old Testament that foretold of his death and resurrection. He was fully aware of his purpose as a sacrificial lamb, yet as he agonized on the night of his death, he prayed for the impossible. In effect, Jesus pleads,"Can we save them some other way? Is this the only way to fulfill your will, or is their another way?" He asked the impossible because he knew the God of the impossible.
It is noteworthy that God brings forth salvation only through impossible situations. The nation of Israel was birthed through Abe and Sarah, who were "well past child bearing" age. They should have been living in Florida playing shuffleboard and bingo, but instead, they were having babies. John the Baptist was born of a barren woman. It is hard to miss the hilarity in the angels declaration to Mary that her cousin Elizabeth was now with child, "...and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God." (Lk 1:36-37). I can just see the angels in heaven, rolling in laughter at it all. It pleases God to intervene in the most ridiculously hopeless circumstances.
And best of all, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world was born of a virgin. A virgin! We so spiritualize this that we may miss the bigger message. Virgins do not have babies. It is physically impossible. I have a friend who often wonders what makes God laugh. I think that this could be it. "Hey, you know that girl Mary, that virgin girl who has never married? Yea, well, she is giving birth to the prophesied Messiah, King of Kings and Lord of Lords." I think I can hear Him chuckling even now.
How many different ways can God say it? He is almost screaming it from the rafters of heaven: I am the God of the impossible! He not only works through impossible situations, but he prefers them. Over and over he astounds us and breaks the mold of human limitations. He fed 5,000 people with a few loaves of bread and a couple fish, made the dead to live, stopped storms with his words, and walked on the water. Best of all, he transformed the sickest and most hopeless souls. We have a God that delights to show himself strong in the midst of hopeless situations. So we can take heart and expect to see His hand move in the midst of our impossible circumstances.
Friday, December 3, 2010
Faith That Takes!
This prayer and testimony blog is now about this journey of praying, and believing, for Dad's healing. (It is quite possible to pray without believing I think). The last month or so has been a new journey of faith in this battle against cancer. Ever since my fast about a month ago, I have had a new faith rise up inside of me. It began when I noticed that I was just kind of coasting, sort of hoping that something would happen. I began to press into God harder, to inquire about what I can/should expect from him-and why this healing has not yet manifested. Yes, he has been spared, that much is obvious. But Dad has not been healed.
As always, the Lord answered my cry. He always responds to us, and even waits for us to draw near to Him. The thing that the Holy Spirit seemed to be showing me was the power of the prophetic word/proclamation. Again, I reread 2 Chronicles 20 and this time, I saw how the army of Jehosephat went out against the enemy that was to great for them-based on the prophetic word. Long story short, the scripture jumped out at me that read: Have faith in God and his prophets, and you shall be established. This was spoken in regards to the prophetic word that was given to the army that the Lord would fight the battle; they would not have to fight. Still, they were commanded to go out against the enemy and to stand and watch the Lord fight for them!
I marveled as I realized the faith that it took for the Israelites to go out against the enemy without any intention of fighting. (Have you ever noticed how God speaks as if things are already done even before they are done?) They went worshipping and praising God for the victory that was only promised by the prophetic word. This took incredible faith! I thought, if I had been there, I would have taken that prophet aside and asked, very pointedly, "Dude, are you suuure that you heard correctly? Because if you are wrong, we are toast!"The Lord reminded me of the prophetic words spoken about my Dad's healing. Here they are:
1. He will have an eleventh hour healing. Just like the guy (Gandolf the Grey) in the Lord of the Rings came riding in on his horse at the very last minute when it looked like the evil hoardes were closing in, the Lord would come in and bring healing to Dad. (That was how she explained it, really.)
2. That this cancer would not end in death, but it was for the glory of God.
3. That Dad would sing again (she didn't know that he did sing when he was young, but he indeed did), and that he would be healed in his sleep.
To be honest, I did not highly esteem these words-mainly because of churchianities bias against these kinds of words. I shared this bias. But the Lord seemed to be bringing them to mind, and nudging me to stand upon them as I stand upon any of His promises. He brought the above scripture to mind and then I realized that the genuine prophetic utterance IS THE WORD OF THE LORD. It is spoken by the unction of the Spirit, and when we percieve that it is to the Lord, we can stand on it and be established. Any gift of the Spirit is priceless, to be honored and revered. The Lord has really been impressing me with the awe, wonder, and holiness of the gifts of his Spirit. We cannot grow up in Christ the "head" without these beautiful gifts. They are gifts. Gifts...from God. We must revere them and not diminish them due to various perverted forms that emerge and tempt us to pull away from them in fear or disdain. So anyways...
In sum, I have begun to grasp, to seize, to take this healing, even like the woman with the issue of blood took her healing from Jesus. My Dake study Bible translates the word prayer to mean: to sieze, to wax strong, to apprehend, take up, overtake, to overcome. For five years I have prayed and asked the Lord, but now I believe that it is time to take it from the Lord-for he has already "given the enemy" into our hands, if we believe. Cancer is an enemy. There have been two or three words of healing spoken over Dad, and I discerned that these words were from the Lord. But as all things inthe kingdom of God, we must seize the promises by believing and refusing to doubt. This is the battle of faith-and I,for one, cannot do it alone. I don't want to give them impression that I am strong. I am weak. But as I abide in Him, I am strong.I draw upon His strength daily, day by day through dwelling on His word. I meditate, or "mutter" to myself about the word of God any chance that I get. It is my food. His words are Spirit and they are life. He never fails. Ever.
Tonight as I was reading and "muttering" (my new favorite thing...can ya tell?), I was struck by something new. In the passage where the guys lower the paralytic through the roof, I never noticed how they were interceeding for their paralyzed brother. I saw two things: 1.) some in the body are spiritually paralyzed, and they must have brothers that will pick them up, put them on a mat, hoist them onto the roof, dig open the roof, and lower them to Jesus, and 2.) each miracle that Jesus performed was unique and illustrated a different truth. We cannot limit God. God may move because he see's our faith, or he may see the faith of those who surround the "paralyzed" brother, or one may take her healing from Jesus, even when he isn't paying attention! God is so much bigger than our religious, man-generated thoughts of him. May he open my eyes, our eyes, to see Him in all of his glory! For he is glorious.
As always, the Lord answered my cry. He always responds to us, and even waits for us to draw near to Him. The thing that the Holy Spirit seemed to be showing me was the power of the prophetic word/proclamation. Again, I reread 2 Chronicles 20 and this time, I saw how the army of Jehosephat went out against the enemy that was to great for them-based on the prophetic word. Long story short, the scripture jumped out at me that read: Have faith in God and his prophets, and you shall be established. This was spoken in regards to the prophetic word that was given to the army that the Lord would fight the battle; they would not have to fight. Still, they were commanded to go out against the enemy and to stand and watch the Lord fight for them!
I marveled as I realized the faith that it took for the Israelites to go out against the enemy without any intention of fighting. (Have you ever noticed how God speaks as if things are already done even before they are done?) They went worshipping and praising God for the victory that was only promised by the prophetic word. This took incredible faith! I thought, if I had been there, I would have taken that prophet aside and asked, very pointedly, "Dude, are you suuure that you heard correctly? Because if you are wrong, we are toast!"The Lord reminded me of the prophetic words spoken about my Dad's healing. Here they are:
1. He will have an eleventh hour healing. Just like the guy (Gandolf the Grey) in the Lord of the Rings came riding in on his horse at the very last minute when it looked like the evil hoardes were closing in, the Lord would come in and bring healing to Dad. (That was how she explained it, really.)
2. That this cancer would not end in death, but it was for the glory of God.
3. That Dad would sing again (she didn't know that he did sing when he was young, but he indeed did), and that he would be healed in his sleep.
To be honest, I did not highly esteem these words-mainly because of churchianities bias against these kinds of words. I shared this bias. But the Lord seemed to be bringing them to mind, and nudging me to stand upon them as I stand upon any of His promises. He brought the above scripture to mind and then I realized that the genuine prophetic utterance IS THE WORD OF THE LORD. It is spoken by the unction of the Spirit, and when we percieve that it is to the Lord, we can stand on it and be established. Any gift of the Spirit is priceless, to be honored and revered. The Lord has really been impressing me with the awe, wonder, and holiness of the gifts of his Spirit. We cannot grow up in Christ the "head" without these beautiful gifts. They are gifts. Gifts...from God. We must revere them and not diminish them due to various perverted forms that emerge and tempt us to pull away from them in fear or disdain. So anyways...
In sum, I have begun to grasp, to seize, to take this healing, even like the woman with the issue of blood took her healing from Jesus. My Dake study Bible translates the word prayer to mean: to sieze, to wax strong, to apprehend, take up, overtake, to overcome. For five years I have prayed and asked the Lord, but now I believe that it is time to take it from the Lord-for he has already "given the enemy" into our hands, if we believe. Cancer is an enemy. There have been two or three words of healing spoken over Dad, and I discerned that these words were from the Lord. But as all things inthe kingdom of God, we must seize the promises by believing and refusing to doubt. This is the battle of faith-and I,for one, cannot do it alone. I don't want to give them impression that I am strong. I am weak. But as I abide in Him, I am strong.I draw upon His strength daily, day by day through dwelling on His word. I meditate, or "mutter" to myself about the word of God any chance that I get. It is my food. His words are Spirit and they are life. He never fails. Ever.
Tonight as I was reading and "muttering" (my new favorite thing...can ya tell?), I was struck by something new. In the passage where the guys lower the paralytic through the roof, I never noticed how they were interceeding for their paralyzed brother. I saw two things: 1.) some in the body are spiritually paralyzed, and they must have brothers that will pick them up, put them on a mat, hoist them onto the roof, dig open the roof, and lower them to Jesus, and 2.) each miracle that Jesus performed was unique and illustrated a different truth. We cannot limit God. God may move because he see's our faith, or he may see the faith of those who surround the "paralyzed" brother, or one may take her healing from Jesus, even when he isn't paying attention! God is so much bigger than our religious, man-generated thoughts of him. May he open my eyes, our eyes, to see Him in all of his glory! For he is glorious.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Violence and the Kingdom of Heaven
Well, the last post the I wrote stirred something inside of me, and I began a 7 day fast to lay hold of the riches that are ours in Christ Jesus. I have been asking, seeking, knocking, praying, but so far, he has not been healed. God has sustained him, and I am so full of gratitude, but this is not healing. But something has stirred in my heart. I simply must lay hold of the kingdom of heaven for my father.
Something has risen inside of me and said "Lord, are you not God in heaven? Do you not hear my cry? Is healing not a part of the Kingdom of God that is to come on earth?" This is the conflict the spurs something violent in my spirit: the promises and claims of scripture are not being realized in this situation. God promises healing through Christ, answers to prayer. The prayer of faith shall heal the sick. Jesus gives his children power over all of the power of the enemy. As of yet, none of these promises have materialized. Is God a liar? Is the Bible unreliable? Are certain conditions not being met? Is it a matter of time, perservering and never waivering? It is something, and I have set my heart to find out what it is!
Divine discontent, holy desperation, if you will, has seized me. I thank God for it, because without it we will never obtain the promises of God. Today in prayer, I felt the Lord say this to me: I am relentless for you, for the church, and you must be relentless for me. I experienced a heavy burden of the Lord for his church, his children, that we would relentlessly pursue him and lay hold of the abundant, glorious riches that are ours in Christ Jesus.
Jesus mentioned this holy violence when he spoke of the kingdom of heaven. Of this kingdom, he said that it is "pushing forward violently, and the violent are forcing their way into it." In the Greek, the word violence is translated, force. The kingdom comes in force, and some force their way into it. These violent ones are the poor, the broken, the desperate. Violent ones do crazy stuff, like the Gentile woman who had the audacity to suggest to Jesus that he should share the children's bread (healing) with her after he had effectively compared her to a dog. (She was not Jewish). Those of us who are less violent and desperate would have been highly discouraged by his remark, if not put-off, or plain ticked off. But she recognized who he was, and so she pushed her way into the kingdom. Jesus was amazed by her faith - because she recognized exactly who he was.
I have noticed that the violent ones experience two things that others do not: a desperate sense of need, and Jesus's identity. As I read the New Testament very closely, I see that whenever someone recognized who Jesus was, miracles happened. When the Living Word meets Living Faith, mountains move, always. This is best illustrated in the story of Lazerus I believe. Jesus said that he was glad that he had not been there when Lazerus had died, so that God would have greater glory. Well, couldn't Jesus had been there and allowed Lazerus to die, and then raised him? I don't think so.
Upon his long awaited arrival, Jesus proclaimed to Martha, "I am the resurrection and the life, if any man believes in me if he dies he shall live, and if he lives, he shall never die." Both Martha and Mary demonstrated their faith level when they said to Jesus, "if you would have been here, my brother would not have died." And he would not have died, because people do not die in the presence of the resurrection and the life. Martha and Mary were believers; they had a despearte sense of need, and they recognized that Jesus was the Christ.
Our Lord and Savior is pure life. I have a desperate need, and I know who Jesus is. He is the Christ, the Son of God, the resurrection and the life. Can I become so full of faith and expectation that I draw out that resurrection power for Dad? I absolutely believe that I can. It lives in me, and it lives in all of the believers who have stood with me. Though the healing delays, I am not deterred. I actually feel stronger than when I first began this journey. I know that this is the Holy Spirit's quickening power in me, for I could never produce such tenacity. It must be God. He seeks an intercessor, one to stand in the gap- and for this, he picked me. Thank you Lord.
I am more and more convinced that we have specific, divine purpose in our lives. I have never felt such a sense of divine purpose, and I am weaker and poorer in the natural than I have ever been. So Lord, I bring my weakness, I bring my poverty to you and I ask you to come. Do what you do! Glorify your name on earth, as it is in heaven. I will in relentless pursuit of you!
Something has risen inside of me and said "Lord, are you not God in heaven? Do you not hear my cry? Is healing not a part of the Kingdom of God that is to come on earth?" This is the conflict the spurs something violent in my spirit: the promises and claims of scripture are not being realized in this situation. God promises healing through Christ, answers to prayer. The prayer of faith shall heal the sick. Jesus gives his children power over all of the power of the enemy. As of yet, none of these promises have materialized. Is God a liar? Is the Bible unreliable? Are certain conditions not being met? Is it a matter of time, perservering and never waivering? It is something, and I have set my heart to find out what it is!
Divine discontent, holy desperation, if you will, has seized me. I thank God for it, because without it we will never obtain the promises of God. Today in prayer, I felt the Lord say this to me: I am relentless for you, for the church, and you must be relentless for me. I experienced a heavy burden of the Lord for his church, his children, that we would relentlessly pursue him and lay hold of the abundant, glorious riches that are ours in Christ Jesus.
Jesus mentioned this holy violence when he spoke of the kingdom of heaven. Of this kingdom, he said that it is "pushing forward violently, and the violent are forcing their way into it." In the Greek, the word violence is translated, force. The kingdom comes in force, and some force their way into it. These violent ones are the poor, the broken, the desperate. Violent ones do crazy stuff, like the Gentile woman who had the audacity to suggest to Jesus that he should share the children's bread (healing) with her after he had effectively compared her to a dog. (She was not Jewish). Those of us who are less violent and desperate would have been highly discouraged by his remark, if not put-off, or plain ticked off. But she recognized who he was, and so she pushed her way into the kingdom. Jesus was amazed by her faith - because she recognized exactly who he was.
I have noticed that the violent ones experience two things that others do not: a desperate sense of need, and Jesus's identity. As I read the New Testament very closely, I see that whenever someone recognized who Jesus was, miracles happened. When the Living Word meets Living Faith, mountains move, always. This is best illustrated in the story of Lazerus I believe. Jesus said that he was glad that he had not been there when Lazerus had died, so that God would have greater glory. Well, couldn't Jesus had been there and allowed Lazerus to die, and then raised him? I don't think so.
Upon his long awaited arrival, Jesus proclaimed to Martha, "I am the resurrection and the life, if any man believes in me if he dies he shall live, and if he lives, he shall never die." Both Martha and Mary demonstrated their faith level when they said to Jesus, "if you would have been here, my brother would not have died." And he would not have died, because people do not die in the presence of the resurrection and the life. Martha and Mary were believers; they had a despearte sense of need, and they recognized that Jesus was the Christ.
Our Lord and Savior is pure life. I have a desperate need, and I know who Jesus is. He is the Christ, the Son of God, the resurrection and the life. Can I become so full of faith and expectation that I draw out that resurrection power for Dad? I absolutely believe that I can. It lives in me, and it lives in all of the believers who have stood with me. Though the healing delays, I am not deterred. I actually feel stronger than when I first began this journey. I know that this is the Holy Spirit's quickening power in me, for I could never produce such tenacity. It must be God. He seeks an intercessor, one to stand in the gap- and for this, he picked me. Thank you Lord.
I am more and more convinced that we have specific, divine purpose in our lives. I have never felt such a sense of divine purpose, and I am weaker and poorer in the natural than I have ever been. So Lord, I bring my weakness, I bring my poverty to you and I ask you to come. Do what you do! Glorify your name on earth, as it is in heaven. I will in relentless pursuit of you!
Saturday, October 23, 2010
When Healing Delays
I have fallen down many times during this season of contending for the miraculous, and often wondered if my theology is correct. I ask the Lord, is healing really a part of the atonement? How do we enter into a living faith in a certain area? I know that the word of God must be mixed with faith in order to obtain the promises (Hebrews 4). I also know that faith is a power, not mental agreement. I would even go so far to say that faith is the very Spirit of God apprehending the promises of God within the the believer.
I also firmly believe, based on the word of God and my personal experience, that there is an experience where faith moves from mental belief to a living reality, when it comes alive. When faith comes alive, you know it. Before I experienced divine freedom from my smoking habit, I mentally believed the scripture, "who the Son sets free is free indeed," but I wasn't free. But it was my very belief in the scripture that fueled my desire to apprehend this freedom. Nine months later, after marinating in the truth of scripture, faith came alive. When faith came alive, I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that I was really free.
When the shift occured, it was pure joy. A powerful reality exploded inside of me: I am free from my addiction! Jesus Christ has made me free! Substantive, tangible power was released when faith came alive. The freedom came shortly thereafter-within days- and it was as if I had never smoked a day in my life. I could drive by 7/11 and I didn't have to make a smoke run. I was compelled to shout it from the rooftops! Had I not testified in church, I am absolutely certain that I would have physically imploded, such was the power that was bursting inside my spirit.
That experience showed me that there is a tremendous difference betwen mental belief (hope), and living faith. Faith has power, substance. Faith is positively convinced. Hope catapults us into faith, if we do not lose heart. Herein lies the crux of the matter, and the true battle, I think; can we hold on and hope until living faith is birthed within through the indwelling Spirit of God?
With Dad's cancer, I have had hope, but not true faith yet. I have mentally believed for a miracle, in the sense that I agree with the word of God. I wonder then, why has faith not sprung to life yet? That vibrant, living, joyful, substantive power that knows the promise will come to pass? One thing I do know is that it takes time and focused study and prayer to move from mental belief to living faith. What happens when the time that it takes to build a living faith works against our belief? In other words, what happens when the answer delays for a long, long time?
But cancer is not the same as smoking. Cancer is on another level entirely I think. If a smoking habit took 9 months of waiting on God, how long does cancer take? Based on my experience with smoking, I knew that it could take awhile to move faith from my head into the substantive realm, a living faith that implodes with power and pulls heaven down to earth. But in long battles, we tend to lose heart and give up before faith has a chance to fully blossom. Will my belief wear out under the contstant atrophy of circumstance?
For me, tiime is the greatest hindrance. Just time. Too much of it. I cannot let go, however. Hope in God propels me. Though I feel much like a battle weary soldier, holes in my boots, frostbit toes, I simply refuse to raise the white flag of surrender to the enemy of cancer. Why should I? Because the healing hasn't come yet? Because others pray and die? Because I don't see evidence?But my heart answers that we live by the word of God, not by what we see and reason. And we are told to never lose heart. So how can I quit? Besides, there is no joy in letting go of God for Dad's healing; and joy is the hallmark of walking in his will.
I recall early on in this journey, I was overcome by the Lord's presence while in prayer about Dad. It was as if the Spirit of the Lord was pleading with his body, the church, to believe all the inheritance that we has in Jesus Christ. So much bought and paid for, but not experienced by his body! The experience was so powerful that I had to pull off of the highway, such was the intesity of his heart too see His children experience freedom, healing, and deliverance. Maybe that is why I am still on this journey. I can't forget the intense longing-passion even-of the Lord.
So, if you have made it this far in this post, I just want to say, no matter the length of the delay, do not let go of God. He longs to give us the kingdom.
God longs to give us the kingdom, but that is not enough. He must have children who will expect the kingdom; who will wait on the kingom. Wait on the lord, wait, I say, on Him.
I also firmly believe, based on the word of God and my personal experience, that there is an experience where faith moves from mental belief to a living reality, when it comes alive. When faith comes alive, you know it. Before I experienced divine freedom from my smoking habit, I mentally believed the scripture, "who the Son sets free is free indeed," but I wasn't free. But it was my very belief in the scripture that fueled my desire to apprehend this freedom. Nine months later, after marinating in the truth of scripture, faith came alive. When faith came alive, I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that I was really free.
When the shift occured, it was pure joy. A powerful reality exploded inside of me: I am free from my addiction! Jesus Christ has made me free! Substantive, tangible power was released when faith came alive. The freedom came shortly thereafter-within days- and it was as if I had never smoked a day in my life. I could drive by 7/11 and I didn't have to make a smoke run. I was compelled to shout it from the rooftops! Had I not testified in church, I am absolutely certain that I would have physically imploded, such was the power that was bursting inside my spirit.
That experience showed me that there is a tremendous difference betwen mental belief (hope), and living faith. Faith has power, substance. Faith is positively convinced. Hope catapults us into faith, if we do not lose heart. Herein lies the crux of the matter, and the true battle, I think; can we hold on and hope until living faith is birthed within through the indwelling Spirit of God?
With Dad's cancer, I have had hope, but not true faith yet. I have mentally believed for a miracle, in the sense that I agree with the word of God. I wonder then, why has faith not sprung to life yet? That vibrant, living, joyful, substantive power that knows the promise will come to pass? One thing I do know is that it takes time and focused study and prayer to move from mental belief to living faith. What happens when the time that it takes to build a living faith works against our belief? In other words, what happens when the answer delays for a long, long time?
But cancer is not the same as smoking. Cancer is on another level entirely I think. If a smoking habit took 9 months of waiting on God, how long does cancer take? Based on my experience with smoking, I knew that it could take awhile to move faith from my head into the substantive realm, a living faith that implodes with power and pulls heaven down to earth. But in long battles, we tend to lose heart and give up before faith has a chance to fully blossom. Will my belief wear out under the contstant atrophy of circumstance?
For me, tiime is the greatest hindrance. Just time. Too much of it. I cannot let go, however. Hope in God propels me. Though I feel much like a battle weary soldier, holes in my boots, frostbit toes, I simply refuse to raise the white flag of surrender to the enemy of cancer. Why should I? Because the healing hasn't come yet? Because others pray and die? Because I don't see evidence?But my heart answers that we live by the word of God, not by what we see and reason. And we are told to never lose heart. So how can I quit? Besides, there is no joy in letting go of God for Dad's healing; and joy is the hallmark of walking in his will.
I recall early on in this journey, I was overcome by the Lord's presence while in prayer about Dad. It was as if the Spirit of the Lord was pleading with his body, the church, to believe all the inheritance that we has in Jesus Christ. So much bought and paid for, but not experienced by his body! The experience was so powerful that I had to pull off of the highway, such was the intesity of his heart too see His children experience freedom, healing, and deliverance. Maybe that is why I am still on this journey. I can't forget the intense longing-passion even-of the Lord.
So, if you have made it this far in this post, I just want to say, no matter the length of the delay, do not let go of God. He longs to give us the kingdom.
God longs to give us the kingdom, but that is not enough. He must have children who will expect the kingdom; who will wait on the kingom. Wait on the lord, wait, I say, on Him.
Friday, December 11, 2009
Deaf Ear Opened
Hi Michelle,
Sorry it has taken a couple days to get back to you.... Life is full of surprises!
So, back in 1998 I was 17. I went on a ride at the fair, the Starship 2000 (if you know which one that is). While I was on it, my tumor burst. We didn't know it existed at that point so we thought it was just my ear drum. After a couple weeks my parents finally agreed that it was time to see a doctor. She said it was not the ear drum, but maybe a cyst, and recommended I see an ENT. The Dr put me on antibiotics and my "cyst" grew. They decided they would do a CT scan and then surgically remove it.. My Mom wasn't too excited about this Dr just removing it, so she took me up to her surgeoun in Seattle. My Mom had skin cancer on her lip a couple years prior and he had done an amazing reconstructive job.
So, we went to see Dr. Clarke. They did all of their tests and decided it was a tumor but only 1% chance of it being cancerous.They removed my whole saliva gland and when I got the 100+ stitches out they told me it was cancerous. I think I was in shock because at that time my response was "Where do I go from here?" The Dr's had already arranged through the University of Washington in Seattle that I would be starting my radiation treatments. Dr Clarke retired about 6 months after my surgery! My radiation treatments are only done in two places world wide, Seattle WA and Detroit. My last day of radiation treatments was 12-31-98.. I started '99 off with a clean slate!
The tumor in my saliva gland put a lot of pressure on my Rt. Eustachian tube. I lost almost all hearing in my right ear. While in Germany at our PWOC retreat 11-08, we were asked to "give up" something we felt was hindering us from giving ourselves completely to Him. I wrote down something that I wanted, but God had other plans! I could feel the pull, but I kept telling myself that I I wasn't done grieving what had happened. I still felt the self-pity. I survived cancer, but why me? I know after 10 years I should have been more emotionally healed, but I was not. So, all of us ladies at the retreat wrote down our "give up" and laid them at the cross. The next song we sung was "I am FREE!" During this song I started to hear voices and music in my right ear! I hadn't heard out of that ear for 10 years! It was a miracle! I have been healed! Physically and Emotionally! After the song I realized God gave me my hearing 10 years to the day after I was diagnosed with cancer! 11-05-98
I was diagnosed and on 11-05-08 my hearing returned! A Miracle from God!
I hope this helps all of you heal! If you have questions I am more than happy to answer ;)
Praying for you guys!
Colleen
Sorry it has taken a couple days to get back to you.... Life is full of surprises!
So, back in 1998 I was 17. I went on a ride at the fair, the Starship 2000 (if you know which one that is). While I was on it, my tumor burst. We didn't know it existed at that point so we thought it was just my ear drum. After a couple weeks my parents finally agreed that it was time to see a doctor. She said it was not the ear drum, but maybe a cyst, and recommended I see an ENT. The Dr put me on antibiotics and my "cyst" grew. They decided they would do a CT scan and then surgically remove it.. My Mom wasn't too excited about this Dr just removing it, so she took me up to her surgeoun in Seattle. My Mom had skin cancer on her lip a couple years prior and he had done an amazing reconstructive job.
So, we went to see Dr. Clarke. They did all of their tests and decided it was a tumor but only 1% chance of it being cancerous.They removed my whole saliva gland and when I got the 100+ stitches out they told me it was cancerous. I think I was in shock because at that time my response was "Where do I go from here?" The Dr's had already arranged through the University of Washington in Seattle that I would be starting my radiation treatments. Dr Clarke retired about 6 months after my surgery! My radiation treatments are only done in two places world wide, Seattle WA and Detroit. My last day of radiation treatments was 12-31-98.. I started '99 off with a clean slate!
The tumor in my saliva gland put a lot of pressure on my Rt. Eustachian tube. I lost almost all hearing in my right ear. While in Germany at our PWOC retreat 11-08, we were asked to "give up" something we felt was hindering us from giving ourselves completely to Him. I wrote down something that I wanted, but God had other plans! I could feel the pull, but I kept telling myself that I I wasn't done grieving what had happened. I still felt the self-pity. I survived cancer, but why me? I know after 10 years I should have been more emotionally healed, but I was not. So, all of us ladies at the retreat wrote down our "give up" and laid them at the cross. The next song we sung was "I am FREE!" During this song I started to hear voices and music in my right ear! I hadn't heard out of that ear for 10 years! It was a miracle! I have been healed! Physically and Emotionally! After the song I realized God gave me my hearing 10 years to the day after I was diagnosed with cancer! 11-05-98
I was diagnosed and on 11-05-08 my hearing returned! A Miracle from God!
I hope this helps all of you heal! If you have questions I am more than happy to answer ;)
Praying for you guys!
Colleen
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