Revival or Riots Ministries » healing

I Get My Theology from Jesus

Ryan — Sat, 12 Feb 2011 21:53:16 +0000

With so many misconceptions of who God is today, it is no wonder the vast amount of confusion that I find so many Christians to be in as I talk with people from all over the world.

The vast overhwelming reality is that most Christians do not have a clue who Jesus is or what He did. They don’t have any understanding that God is good and what Jesus came to do (and subsequently accomplished), and thus they don’t have a true revelation of Jesus Christ.

Jesus is the expressed perfect image and will of God (Heb. 1:3, Col. 1:15) and He healed all the sick (Matthew 4:23-24, Matthew 8:16, Matthew 9:35, Mark 6:56, Luke 9:11, Acts 10:38).

Because most Christians don’t have a true revelation of Jesus Christ, they don’t have a true revelation or understanding of who they are. So they have to make stuff up that backs up why they are leading and living powerless, defeated lives.

I don’t know why so many “Christians” are so quick to defend sickness and sin in their lives. That just sounds like the devil to me.

It is mindblowing how many Christians can quote 3 or 4 verses that might, at face value, seem to support their doctrine of God “giving” sickness or at least “allowing” it.

Yet they will completely and utterly ignore you whenever you bring up all the times that Jesus healed everyone and the fact that He put the onus on the disciples if they couldn’t get the job done—yet He Himself then went and healed the boy they couldn’t heal!

Any parent that does NOT want their children to be healthy and well is sadistic, a murderer, and should be locked up.

No, I am not one of these hyper “prosperity gospel” people. But you will never, not once, never ever hear me say that sickness is something God permits, allows, gives, or condones in any way.

It is from the pit of hell.

The frustrating part is that the only people who teach this stuff are people who usually are themselves sick and/or not healing the sick.

This is not me diminishing their pain, I am not calling them “lesser Christians”, and I’m not elevating myself as “higher” or “better” than them or any of that nonsense.

I simply am saying that what they are teaching is not Biblically accurate and is not reflected in the life of Christ and is therefore, wrong.

I won’t listen to someone’s theology on healing who isn’t doing it anymore than you wouldn’t listen to someone try to tell you how to play football who has never played.

So then the natural question — why isn’t everyone healed then?

Jesus always put it back on the disciples if they couldn’t get the job done in terms of seeing somebody set free from sickness or oppression (Matthew 17:19-20).

He never put it on the sick person themselves (by telling them it was the sick person’s lack of faith) and He CERTAINLY never chalked it up to “God is sovereign. God is in control.”

I think I’ll get my theology from the Son of God and not the John Piper’s or John MacArthur’s or the Joni Eareackson Tada’s or the Justin Peters’ of the world, thank you very much.

It’s amazing—I currently still wear glasses and yet you’ll never hear me blame it on God!

Oh, brothers and sisters the FREEDOM that comes to trust our Father when you realize He is not a child abuser!

“Bowls of Intercession”, Joel 2, and the Gospel

Ryan — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 10:42:58 +0000

There are untold millions of people on the planet today who are praying and crying out for God to pour out His Spirit like He promised He would in Joel chapter 2.

I am here to tell you that He has already done so.

Lots of folks sing songs about this stuff with lyrics like “Come like you promised…” and “Release the fullness!”

As if He somehow has been hiding this whole time? As if there is anywhere we can go without Him?

The apostle Peter said the following about Joel 2 in Acts 2:16-18:

“This (speaking of these supernatural things they were witnessing)

is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:

‘In the last days, God says,

I will pour out my Spirit on all people.

Your sons and daughters will prophesy,

your young men will see visions,

your old men will dream dreams.

Even on my servants, both men and women,

I will pour out my Spirit in those days,

and they will prophesy. “

God did not scoop up his spirit back into heaven, pour it into a bowl, and now is sitting there waiting for people to pray enough to ‘fill the bowls of intercession’ so that He can finally, once again, pour out His spirit once the ‘bowls’ are filled with enough prayers that God finally decides He can answer.

The doctrine that is very common in the church today teaches the opposite.

It creates a mentality that God has been holding out on His people but that through their works (prayer, fasting, discipline, worship, etc.) they can somehow eventually convince God (as long as you get enough people doing so in large numbers) to answer once again.

The trouble is that doctrine (of the bowls of intercession) comes from a single verse, taken very much out of context.

Defining our lives and ministries around single verses rather than on Christ is extremely unhealthy and easily will lead people into religious deception.

One such verse that is commonly used to defend these practices is Revelation 5:8:

“And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.”

There is nothing anywhere about the bowls being poured out and that being equated with God pouring out His Spirit and finally deciding to answer His people.

Luke 12:32 says it is the Father’s good pleasure to give us the Kingdom.

Matthew 7:7 and John 14:14 says if we ask anything in the name of Jesus that He hears us and it will be given to us.

Jesus didn’t say “If you ask in my name, and as long as you keep asking enough to fill up the bowls of intercession, and get enough intercessors fasting and praying, I will answer.”

These mindsets keep people in a perpetual state of crying out and begging for God to:

1.) do something He already did through Christ

2.) do something He told us to do

3.) not do something He won’t do (like send judgment on a nation for sin) because of the new covenant through Christ’s blood

The Gospel is simple.

Jesus’ mission statement, from His own lips, was as follows:

“THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME,

BECAUSE HE ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR.

HE HAS SENT ME TO PROCLAIM RELEASE TO THE CAPTIVES,

AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND,

TO SET FREE THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED,

TO PROCLAIM THE FAVORABLE YEAR OF THE LORD.” – Luke 4:18-19

Preach the Good news to the poor (financially and spiritually).

Tell captives that they are free because of Christ.

Open the eyes of the blind (spiritually and physically).

Set the oppressed free (healing, deliverance, etc).

Proclaim God’s favor (He’s not angry. Sins are forgiven. Turn to Him.)

Our lives MUST be centered on Christ and what He said to do.

He told his followers to preach a certain type of message in Matthew 10:7-8:

“And as you go, preach THIS MESSAGE, saying, ‘Repent, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’

“Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give.”

There is absolutely nothing anywhere in the Gospels where Jesus instructed His followers that they must fast and pray and ‘cry out’ and ‘fill the bowls of intercession’ before they could see a city transformed.
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The Gospels say absolutely nothing about needing to fast and pray and ‘cry out’ to ‘pierce the heavens’ or ‘push back the spiritual darkness over the region’ before ‘revival’ could break out.

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The Gospels say absolutely nothing about needing to cast down principalities over cities before we go into them to bring the Good News.

Here’s a newsflash: light pushes back darkness.

Every time.

Darkness can’t even argue when you turn a light on.

The trouble is, we’ve got millions of people who have been taught to beg God to turn the light on when He already told you that you were the light of the world (Matthew 5:14).

Seems a lot of folks are putting their lamp that God already lit under a bowl (Matthew 5:15).

Pun intended? Maybe.

Joel chapter 2 and the outpouring of God’s Spirit has been fulfilled (Acts 2:16, 2:33) and now it is 100% the responsibility of the CHRISTIAN to do as Jesus instructed His disciples upon His resurrection and go into all the world and preach the Gospel to all creation with signs and wonders following (Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 16:15-20, John 20:21).

If this is contrary to what you have been taught, I’d highly encourage you to look into this for yourself.

If you’re someone who has been taught you must ‘cry out’ and do a whole lot of fasting and prayer (for an unspecified period of time) and especially those of you who have been doing it for years—I ask you this–how’s that working out for you?

Are you seeing the results that Jesus and the apostles saw? And more importantly, why are you doing things that have absolutely no Biblical backing in the life and ministry of Christ?

Ask hard questions of your leaders and those around you. Look into these things for yourself. You will see them to be true.

Be free.

It is Christ-in-you, the hope of glory (Col. 1:27, Gal. 2:20, 1 Cor. 6:17).

He is not holding out on you. He has answered.

If He indeed does live inside of you, you have everything you need to be the answer to the prayers of the world around you.

It is finished.

I used to do all of this, folks.

I used to be the one crying out in the prayer rooms. I used to be the one repenting over and over for the sins of my nation pleading with God to pour out His Spirit. I used to call myself an ‘intercessory missionary’. I used to pray to ‘fill the bowls of intercession’. I know all the lingo, I’ve gone to all the meetings, I’ve rocked back and forth, I’ve travailed, I’ve cried, I’ve moaned, I’ve wept, I’ve prophesied a ‘future revival’…I’ve done it all.

Then I read the New Testament and found out that there is no such thing as a ‘coming revival’. I found out that God has already poured out His Spirit and that Christ has accomplished an amazing task by fulfilling God’s end of the ‘revival’ deal.

I found out that the Gospel really is good news and that God is no longer counting man’s sins against them (2 Cor. 5:19) and that He has forgiven the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2).

I found out that Jesus never even once mentioned 95% of the stuff you hear in popular charismatic churches today and it all made sense why I wasn’t seeing things happen in my life or in my city. And now we are seeing things happen worldwide that would blow your mind to hear about.

The sick are healed, the dead are raised, demons are cast out, the Gospel is preached and souls are saved—and it is entirely dependent not on millions of people fasting and praying for God to “move” (He is not stuck)—it is dependent on the reality of the finished work of the New Covenant through Christ and the loving obedience of people just like you and me who are no more or less ‘anointed’ than anyone else (1 John 2:20, 1 John 2:27).

The deficiency was on my end—by not understanding what Christ had really accomplished on the cross.

So you get to decide.

Are you going to get offended because I ask the questions that everyone has but is too afraid to ask for fear of “dishonoring leaders” who aren’t really leading anybody anywhere except into more religious bondage?

Or are you going to actually look into this stuff for yourself and ask the Holy Spirit to guide you into all Truth and a revelation of the finished work of the cross and the New Covenant?

The choice is yours.

I only offer you the Truth–nothing more.

Are you ready to wake up?

For a more extensive look at this subject, click here.

Thoughts & Quotes on “Praying for Revival”

Ryan — Sat, 04 Dec 2010 20:50:55 +0000

These are a compilation of quotes from some names you will recognize, and some you may not.

They are all on the topic of “praying for/crying out for revival“.

These will challenge you.

The question is not whether you will be challenged—the question is will you be changed?

That decision is entirely up to you.

“All that is required for evil to prevail is for good men to do nothing.” – Edward Burke

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“You’d have a lot more revival if you’d stop crying out for an open heaven and just use the one you already have.

You’d have a lot more revival if you’d actually believe that greater is the God in your left pinky than all the anti-Christs in hell. (1 John 4:4)

You’d have a lot more revival if instead of listening to all the commissions to pray for God to send revival, listen to the Great Commission that Jesus gave and do it. (Mark 16, Matthew 28)

You’d have a lot more revival if you realize you are light, and darkness is quaking in its boots, then arise and SHINE because there’s a whole world of darkness out there.

You’d have a lot more revival if instead of begging and pleading God to answer your cry, realize that Jesus IS the answer and that He has already given you everything to become the very answer you’ve been praying for.

You’d have a lot more revival if you’d realize that God/Holy Spirit doesn’t have to “come” because He’s already in you and never leaves or wanes (only your awareness does).

You’d have a lot more revival if you’d stop inventorying your weaknesses/lacks and realize Who is with you and the strength/abundance/gifts He gives.”

- Brandon Lee

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“It’s true that (many) are praying for a worldwide revival. But it would be more timely, and more scriptural, for prayer to be made to the Lord of the harvest, that He would raise up and thrust forth laborers who would fearlessly and faithfully preach those truths which are calculated to bring about a revival.” – A.W. Pink (1886 – 1852)

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“Have you noticed how much praying for revival has been going on of late & how little revival has resulted? We have been trying tosubstitute praying for obeying, & it simply will not work. To pray for revival while ignoring the plain precept laid down in Scripture is to waste a lot of words & get nothing for our trouble. Prayer will become effective when we stop using it as a substitute for obedience.” -A.W. Tozer (1897 – 1963)

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“Revival is not the discovery of some new truth. It’s the rediscovery of the grand old truth of God’s power in and through the Cross.” – Sammy Tippit

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“I had a vision of a bunch of people pushing against a wall. They were working really hard and crying out for revival and open heavens. They had a battering ram and were banging against the wall. It was the Holy of Holies and they were trying to get in.

Beside them was a door, but they couldn’t see it. There were a few people going right through the door, and miracles were happening all around them. It was easy. The door was the body of Jesus.

It showed the the deception of trying to get into God’s presence by any other way than the one way that was opened, which was the Body of Jesus that was torn for us.

No one can get into Gods presence by praying or fasting or pushing against the darkness. Praying and fasting are valuable, but it is deception to try to get into God’s presence by them. We pray because we are in Gods presence and we know that we recieve whatever we ask from him, and we fast to increase our awareness and focus.

It is also deception to try to Get into Gods presence by pushing against the darkness. If one goes into God’s presence through the one door that was opened, the veil that was torn, the body of Jesus, the mountains melt like wax before them because they are carrying the presence of the Lord. Scriptural precedent for this vision can be found in Hebrews 9 and 10.” - Jonathan Brenneman

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“The situation from a natural point of view was desperate, and if there was ever a time when a man was seemingly justified in calling on God in prayer, it was then. But, I want to show you tonight, one of the things I regard as hindrance in our life for God. Most of us do just exactly as Moses did.When the test comes we stop and cry, and as a second thing we stop and pray and put ourselves in a position where we become amenable to exactly the same rebuke that came upon Moses.

Moses started to pray. It is not recorded how long he prayed, or what he said, but, instead of God being pleased, He was grieved, and said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on.” I will turn to the Scripture and read the exact words:

“Then the LORD said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on. Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground.” - Exodus 14:15-16

God did not even say, you stretch out your hand, and I will divide the sea. But God said to Moses: “Stretch out your hand over the sea, and divide it.”

It was not an act for God to perform,but it was an act for Moses to believe for. The responsibility was not with God, it was with Moses.

A weak Christianity is ever inclined to whine in prayer, while God waits for the believer to command it.

In my judgment, that is the place of extreme weakness in Christian character. I feel that very frequently prayer is made a refuge, to dodge the action of faith.

And just exactly as Moses came down there and began to pray, instead of honoring God’s word to him by the use of his rod, so many times our prayer become offensive to God, because instead of praying as Moses did, God demands us to stretch forth our hand, exercise our rod of faith, and divide the waters.” – John G. Lake

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William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army (written in the 1800′s):

“On one of my recent journeys, as I gazed from the coach window I was led into a train of thought concerning the conditions of the multitudes around me. They were living carelessly in the most open and shameless rebellion against God, without a thought for their eternal welfare. As I looked out the window, I seemed to see them all… millions of people all around me given up to their drink and their pleasure, their dancing and their music, their business and their anxieties, their politics and their troubles.

Ignorant-willfully ignorant in many cases – and in other instances knowing all about the truth and not caring at all. But all of them, the whole mass of them, sweeping on and up in their blasphemies and devilries to the throne of God. While my mind was thus engaged, I had a vision.

I saw a dark and stormy ocean. Over it the black clouds hung heavily; through them every now and then vivid lightning flashed and loud thunder rolled, while the winds moaned, and the waves rose and foamed, towered and broke, only to rise and foam, tower and break again.

In that ocean I thought I saw myriads of poor human beings plunging and floating; shouting and shrieking, cursing and struggling and drowning; and as they cursed and screamed, they rose and shrieked again, and then some sank to rise no more.

And I saw out of this dark, angry ocean, a mighty rock that rose up with its summit towering high above the black clouds that overhung the stormy sea. And all around the base of this rock I saw a vast platform. Onto this platform, I saw with delight a number of the poor struggling, drowning wretches continually climbing out of the angry ocean.

And I saw that a few of those who were already safe on the platform were helping the poor creatures still in the angry waters to reach the place of safety.

On looking more closely, I found a number of those who had been rescued, industriously working and scheming by ladders, ropes, boats, and other means more effective, to deliver the poor strugglers out of this sea.

Here and there were some who actually jumped into the water, regardless of all the consequences, in their passion to “rescue the perishing.” And I hardly know which gladdened me most-the sight of the poor drowning people climbing onto the rocks, reaching the place of safety, or the devotion and self-sacrifice of those whose whole beings were wrapped up in the effort for their deliverance.

As I looked on, I saw that the occupants of that platform were quite a mixed company. That is, they were divided into different “sets” or classes, and they occupied themselves with different pleasures and employment.

But only a very few of them seemed to make it their business to get the people out of the sea.

But what puzzled me most was the fact that though all of them had been rescued at one time or another from the ocean, nearly everyone seemed to have forgotten all about it. Anyway, it seemed the memory of its darkness and danger no longer troubled them at all.

And what seemed equally strange and perplexing to me was that these people did not even seem to have any care – that is any agonizing care – about the poor perishing ones who were struggling and drowning right before their very eyes, many of whom were their own husbands and wives, brothers, and sisters, and even their own children.

Now this astonishing unconcern could not have been the result of ignorance or lack of knowledge, because they lived right there in full sight of it all and even talked about it sometimes. Many even went regularly to hear lectures and sermons in which the awful state of these people drowning creatures was described.

I have already said that the occupants of this platform were engaged in different pursuits and pastimes. Some of them were absorbed night and day in trading and business in order to make gain, storing up their savings in boxes, safes, and the like.

Many spent their time in amusing themselves with growing flowers on the side of the rock, others in painting pieces of cloth or in playing music or in dressing themselves up in different styles and walking about to be admired. Some occupy themselves chiefly in eating and drinking, others were taken up with arguing about the poor drowning creatures that had already been rescued.

But the thing to me that seemed the most amazing was that those on the platform to whom He called, who heard His voice and felt they ought to obey it–at least they said they did–those who confessed to love Him much and were in full sympathy with Him in the task He had undertaken – who worshipped Him or who professed to do so – were so taken up with their trades and professions, their money saving and pleasures, their families and circles, their religions and arguments about it, and their preparation for going to the mainland, that they did not listen to the cry that came to them from this Wonderful Being who had Himself gone down into the sea.

Anyway, if they heard it they did not heed it.

They did not care.

And so the multitude went on right before them struggling and shrieking and drowning in the darkness.

And then I saw something that seemed to me even more strange than anything that had gone on before in this strange vision.

I saw that some of these people on the platform whom this Wonderful Being had called to, wanting them to come and help Him in His difficult task of saving these perishing creatures, were always praying and crying out to Him to come to them.

Some wanted Him to come and stay with them and spend His time and strength in making them happier.

Others wanted Him to come and take away various doubts and misgivings they had concerning the truth of some letters which He had written them.

Some wanted Him to come and make them feel more secure on the rock-so secure that they would be quite sure that they should never slip off again into the ocean.

Numbers of others wanted Him to make them feel quite certain that they would really get off the rock and onto the mainland someday; because as a matter of fact, it was well known that some had walked so carelessly as to lose their footing, and had fallen back again, into the stormy waters.

So these people used to meet and get up as high on the rock as they could, and looking toward the mainland (where they thought the Great Being was)they would cry out, “Come to us! Come, help us!” And all the while He was down (by His Spirit) among the poor struggling, drowning creatures in the angry deep, with His arms around them trying to drag them out, and looking up oh! so longingly, but all in vain to those on the rock, crying to them with His voice all hoarse from calling, “Come to Me! Come, and help Me!”

And then I understood it all. It was plain enough. That sea was the ocean of life-the sea of real, actual human existence. That lightning was the gleaming of piercing truth coming from Jehovah’s throne. That thunder was the distant echoing of the wrath of God. Those multitudes of people shrieking, struggling, and agonizing in the stormy sea, were the thousands and thousands of poor harlots and harlot-makers, of drunkards and drunkard-makers, of thieves, liars, blasphemers, and ungodly people of every kindred, tongue, and nation.

Oh, what a black sea it was! And oh, what multitudes of rich and poor, ignorant and educated were there. They were all so unalike in their outward circumstances and conditions, yet all alike in one thing all sinners before God all held by, and holding onto, some iniquity, fascinated by some idol, the slaves of some devilish lust, and ruled by the foul fiend from the bottomless pit! “All alike in one thing?”

No, all alike in two things not only the same in their wickedness but, unless rescued, the same in their sinking, sinking… down, down, down… to the same terrible doom. That great sheltering rock represented Calvary, the place where Jesus had died for them. And the people on it were those who had been rescued.

The way they used their energies, gifts, and time represented the occupations and amusements of those who professed to be saved from sin and hell: followers of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The handful of fierce, determined ones, who were risking their own lives in saving the perishing, were true soldiers of the cross of Jesus. That Mighty Being who was calling to them from the midst of the angry waters was the Son of God, “the same yesterday, today, and forever,” who is still struggling and interceding to save the dying multitudes about us from this terrible doom of damnation, and whose voice can be heard above the music, machinery, and noise of life calling on the rescued to come and help Him save the world.

My friends in Christ, you are rescued from the waters, you are on the rock.

He is in the dark sea calling on you to come to Him and help Him. Will you go? Look for yourselves. The surging sea of life crowded with perishing multitudes rolls up to the very spot on which you stand. Leaving the vision, I now come to speak of the fact a fact that is as real as the Bible, as real as the Christ who hung upon the cross, as real as the judgment day will be, and as real as the heaven and hell that will follow it.

Look! Don’t be deceived by appearances: men and things are not what they seem. All who are not on the rock are in the sea! Look at them from the standpoint of the great white throne, and what a sight you have! Jesus Christ, the Son of God is, through His Spirit, in the midst of this dying multitude, struggling to save them.

And He is calling on you to jump into the sea to go right away to His side and help Him in the holy strife. Will you jump? That is, will you go to His feet and place yourself absolutely at His disposal?

A young Christian once came to me and told me that for some time she had been giving the Lord her profession and prayers and money, but now she wanted to give Him her life. She wanted to go right into the fight. In other words, she wanted to go to His assistance in the sea.

As when a man from the shore seeing another struggling in the water, takes off those outer garments that would hinder his efforts, and leaps to the rescue sowill you who still linger on the bank, thinking and singing and praying about the poor perishing souls, lay aside your shame, your pride, your cares about other people’s opinions, your love of ease and all the selfish loves that have kept you back for so long, and rush to the rescue of this multitude of dying men and women?

Does the surging sea look dark and dangerous?

Unquestionably it is so. There is no doubt that the leap for you, as for every one who takes it, means difficulty and scorn and suffering.

For you it may mean more than this. It may mean death. He who beckons you from the sea however, knows what it will mean and knowing, He still calls to you and bids you come.

You must do it! You cannot hold back. You have enjoyed yourself in Christianity long enough. You have had pleasant feelings, pleasant songs, pleasant meetings, and pleasant prospects. There has been much of human happiness, much clapping of hands and shouting of praises, very much of heaven on earth.

Now then, go to God and tell Him you are prepared as much as necessary to turn your back upon it all, and that you are willing to spend the rest of your days struggling in the midst of these perishing multitudes, whatever it may cost you.

You must do it.

With the light that is now broken in upon your mind, and the call that is now sounding in your ears, and the beckoning hands that are now before your eyes, you have no alternative.

To go down among the perishing crowds is your duty. Your happiness from now on will consist in sharing their misery, your ease in sharing their pain, your crown in helping them to bear their cross, and your heaven in going into the very jaws of hell to rescue them.

Now, what will you do?”

- William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army

Below is a video depicting the above vision:

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For more on this topic, see the below articles:

An Appeal to those Seeking & Praying for Revival

Stop Praying for Revival

Every Example of Healing in the New Testament

Ryan — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 20:06:55 +0000

This is a post from an old website that seems to have been taken down (layhands.com). Some of the links in here will still work as they are archived copies of the page. A lot of good information on there!

Enjoy!

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Healing Passages

Matthew 4:23 Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.
Matthew 4:24 News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed, and he healed them.

Notice that Jesus healed every sick person. It is still His will to heal people today. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever (Hebrews 13:8).
Matthew 8:2 A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”
Matthew 8:3 Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cured of his leprosy.

Mark 1:40 A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.”
Mark 1:41 Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!”
Mark 1:42 Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cured.

Luke 5:12 While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell with his face to the ground and begged him, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”
Luke 5:13 Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” And immediately the leprosy left him.

Jesus was willing to heal the sick back then, and He is still willing to heal the sick today. Notice that He did the healing by laying hands on the man and commanding the man’s body to be healed. Jesus did not pray for the healing (in the sense of asking God to heal the man), He commanded it. Healing works exactly the same way today.
Matthew 8:5 When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help.
Matthew 8:6 “Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralyzed and in terrible suffering.”
Matthew 8:7 Jesus said to him, “I will go and heal him.”
Matthew 8:8 The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed.
Matthew 8:9 For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”
Matthew 8:10 When Jesus heard this, he was astonished and said to those following him, “I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.
Matthew 8:11 I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 8:12 But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
Matthew 8:13 Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! It will be done just as you believed it would.” And his servant was healed at that very hour.

Luke 7:2 There a centurion’s servant, whom his master valued highly, was sick and about to die.
Luke 7:3 The centurion heard of Jesus and sent some elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and heal his servant.
Luke 7:4 When they came to Jesus, they pleaded earnestly with him, “This man deserves to have you do this,
Luke 7:5 because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue.”
Luke 7:6 So Jesus went with them. He was not far from the house when the centurion sent friends to say to him: “Lord, don’t trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof.
Luke 7:7 That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed.
Luke 7:8 For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”
Luke 7:9 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, “I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel.”
Luke 7:10 Then the men who had been sent returned to the house and found the servant well.

Healing requires faith today just as it did two thousand years ago.
Matthew 8:14 When Jesus came into Peter’s house, he saw Peter’s mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever.
Matthew 8:15 He touched her hand and the fever left her, and she got up and began to wait on him.

Mark 1:30 Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told Jesus about her.
Mark 1:31 So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them.

Luke 4:38 Jesus left the synagogue and went to the home of Simon. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and they asked Jesus to help her.
Luke 4:39 So he bent over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. She got up at once and began to wait on them.

Again we see Jesus healing someone by laying hands on the person. Notice that she got up and was healed. This is an important principle that we will see over and over in these Scripture passages. It is important for the sick person to put his or her faith into action. Many times the healings don’t happen until people mix action with their faith. This is just as true today as it was in the first century. Also, notice that Jesus did not pray for the woman to be healed, He spoke to the fever and rebuked it, and it left her. Healing often works exactly the same way today.
Matthew 8:16 When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick.
Matthew 8:17 This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: “He took up our infirmities and carried our diseases.”

Mark 1:32 That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed.
Mark 1:33 The whole town gathered at the door,
Mark 1:34 and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was.

Luke 4:40 When the sun was setting, the people brought to Jesus all who had various kinds of sickness, and laying his hands on each one, he healed them.
Luke 4:41 Moreover, demons came out of many people, shouting, “You are the Son of God!” But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew he was the Christ.

Over and over Jesus healed all of the sick people who were brought to Him. It is His will to heal, then and now. Notice that He did not pray for the demons to leave, He rebuked them and commanded them to come out, Hedrove them out with a word. Deliverance works just the same way today and is often just as easy as in this passage.
Matthew 8:28 When he arrived at the other side in the region of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men coming from the tombs met him. They were so violent that no one could pass that way.
Matthew 8:29 “What do you want with us, Son of God?” they shouted. “Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?”
Matthew 8:30 Some distance from them a large herd of pigs was feeding.
Matthew 8:31 The demons begged Jesus, “If you drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs.”
Matthew 8:32 He said to them, “Go!” So they came out and went into the pigs, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and died in the water.

Mark 5:1 They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes.
Mark 5:2 When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an evil spirit came from the tombs to meet him.
Mark 5:3 This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him any more, not even with a chain.
Mark 5:4 For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him.
Mark 5:5 Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones.
Mark 5:6 When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him.
Mark 5:7 He shouted at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Swear to God that you won’t torture me!”
Mark 5:8 For Jesus had said to him, “Come out of this man, you evil spirit!”
Mark 5:9 Then Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” “My name is Legion,” he replied, “for we are many.”
Mark 5:10 And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area.
Mark 5:11 A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside.
Mark 5:12 The demons begged Jesus, “Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them.”
Mark 5:13 He gave them permission, and the evil spirits came out and went into the pigs. The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned.

Luke 8:26 They sailed to the region of the Gerasenes, which is across the lake from Galilee.
Luke 8:27 When Jesus stepped ashore, he was met by a demon-possessed man from the town. For a long time this man had not worn clothes or lived in a house, but had lived in the tombs.
Luke 8:28 When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell at his feet, shouting at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, don’t torture me!”
Luke 8:29 For Jesus had commanded the evil spirit to come out of the man. Many times it had seized him, and though he was chained hand and foot and kept under guard, he had broken his chains and had been driven by the demon into solitary places.
Luke 8:30 Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” “Legion,” he replied, because many demons had gone into him.
Luke 8:31 And they begged him repeatedly not to order them to go into the Abyss.
Luke 8:32 A large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside. The demons begged Jesus to let them go into them, and he gave them permission.
Luke 8:33 When the demons came out of the man, they went into the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned.

Notice that Jesus first commanded the demon to come out, then he asked the man or the demon a question (“What is your name?”) to get some more information, then He completed the deliverance. Healing and deliverance work the same way today. We should interview the sick person to get some information before doing the healing, then we should ask further questions after the healing to determine if there are any further needs. Notice in Luke 8:29 (above) that the demons did not immediately leave when Jesus commanded them to go. Sometimes we have to be persistent when doing deliverance.
Matthew 9:2 Some men brought to him a paralytic, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.”
Matthew 9:3 At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, “This fellow is blaspheming!”
Matthew 9:4 Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, “Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts?
Matthew 9:5 Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’?
Matthew 9:6 But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins. . . .” Then he said to the paralytic, “Get up, take your mat and go home.”
Matthew 9:7 And the man got up and went home.
Matthew 9:8 When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to men.

Mark 2:3 Some men came, bringing to him a paralytic, carried by four of them.
Mark 2:4 Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus and, after digging through it, lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on.
Mark 2:5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”
Mark 2:6 Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves,
Mark 2:7 “Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
Mark 2:8 Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, “Why are you thinking these things?
Mark 2:9 Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’?
Mark 2:10 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins . . . .” He said to the paralytic,
Mark 2:11 “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.”
Mark 2:12 He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”

Luke 5:17 One day as he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law, who had come from every village of Galilee and from Judea and Jerusalem, were sitting there. And the power of the Lord was present for him to heal the sick.
Luke 5:18 Some men came carrying a paralytic on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus.
Luke 5:19 When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus.
Luke 5:20 When Jesus saw their faith, he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.”
Luke 5:21 The Pharisees and the teachers of the law began thinking to themselves, “Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
Luke 5:22 Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked, “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts?
Luke 5:23 Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’?
Luke 5:24 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins. . . .” He said to the paralyzed man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.”
Luke 5:25 Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had been lying on and went home praising God.

Here again we see that healing requires faith. Also, we see Jesus commanding the man to be healed (not praying for God to heal the man), and we see the man putting his faith into action and then receiving his healing.
Matthew 9:18 While he was saying this, a ruler came and knelt before him and said, “My daughter has just died. But come and put your hand on her, and she will live.”
Matthew 9:19 Jesus got up and went with him, and so did his disciples.
Matthew 9:23 When Jesus entered the ruler’s house and saw the flute players and the noisy crowd,
Matthew 9:24 he said, “Go away. The girl is not dead but asleep.” But they laughed at him.
Matthew 9:25 After the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took the girl by the hand, and she got up.

Mark 5:22 Then one of the synagogue rulers, named Jairus, came there. Seeing Jesus, he fell at his feet
Mark 5:23 and pleaded earnestly with him, “My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live.”
Mark 5:24 So Jesus went with him. A large crowd followed and pressed around him.
Mark 5:35 While Jesus was still speaking, some men came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue ruler. “Your daughter is dead,” they said. “Why bother the teacher any more?”
Mark 5:36 Ignoring what they said, Jesus told the synagogue ruler, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.”
Mark 5:37 He did not let anyone follow him except Peter, James and John the brother of James.
Mark 5:38 When they came to the home of the synagogue ruler, Jesus saw a commotion, with people crying and wailing loudly.
Mark 5:39 He went in and said to them, “Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep.”
Mark 5:40 But they laughed at him. After he put them all out, he took the child’s father and mother and the disciples who were with him, and went in where the child was.
Mark 5:41 He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!” (which means, “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”).
Mark 5:42 Immediately the girl stood up and walked around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished.

Luke 8:41 Then a man named Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue, came and fell at Jesus’ feet, pleading with him to come to his house
Luke 8:42 because his only daughter, a girl of about twelve, was dying. As Jesus was on his way, the crowds almost crushed him.
Luke 8:49 While Jesus was still speaking, someone came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue ruler. “Your daughter is dead,” he said. “Don’t bother the teacher any more.”
Luke 8:50 Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed.”
Luke 8:51 When he arrived at the house of Jairus, he did not let anyone go in with him except Peter, John and James, and the child’s father and mother.
Luke 8:52 Meanwhile, all the people were wailing and mourning for her. “Stop wailing,” Jesus said. “She is not dead but asleep.”
Luke 8:53 They laughed at him, knowing that she was dead.
Luke 8:54 But he took her by the hand and said, “My child, get up!”
Luke 8:55 Her spirit returned, and at once she stood up. Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat.

This is another example of Jesus healing someone by the laying-on of hands. Another point is demonstrated here as well. Jesus stressed that the father of the dead girl needed to have faith, and because healing requires faith it sometimes helps to have all those who are full of unbelief to leave the room. Even Jesus told those who had no faith to go outside so that the healing could take place.
Matthew 9:20 Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak.
Matthew 9:21 She said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.”
Matthew 9:22 Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed from that moment.

Mark 5:25 And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years.
Mark 5:26 She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse.
Mark 5:27 When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak,
Mark 5:28 because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.”
Mark 5:29 Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.
Mark 5:30 At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?”
Mark 5:31 “You see the people crowding against you,” his disciples answered, “and yet you can ask, ‘Who touched me?’”
Mark 5:32 But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it.
Mark 5:33 Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth.
Mark 5:34 He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”

Luke 8:43 And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years, but no one could heal her.
Luke 8:44 She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped.
Luke 8:45 “Who touched me?” Jesus asked. When they all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you.”
Luke 8:46 But Jesus said, “Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me.”
Luke 8:47 Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed.
Luke 8:48 Then he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.”

This is another example of the laying-on of hands, but in reverse. The sick woman laid hands on Jesus’ garment, and she was healed because she put her faith into action. This method of healing works today just as well as it did back then. Many people have been healed in this way because it releases the sick person’s faith and allows the healing to take place. Notice that lots of people were pressing against Jesus, but the woman’s faith drew healing power from Jesus. In fact, this healing took Jesus by surprise, because He didn’t know who had been healed. Jesus did not “do” this healing, it was her faith that brought about the healing.
Matthew 9:27 As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, calling out, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!”
Matthew 9:28 When he had gone indoors, the blind men came to him, and he asked them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” “Yes, Lord,” they replied.
Matthew 9:29 Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith will it be done to you”;
Matthew 9:30 and their sight was restored.

Another example of Jesus healing people by laying hands on them. We are specifically told that He laid hands on the problem area, the men’s eyes. It is usually best to lay hands as close to the problem area as possible because this allows the healing power of the Holy Spirit to be applied as directly as possible to the sickness or injury. We will see Jesus doing this over and over. Notice that Jesus said the healing was based on their faith. This is just as true today as it was back then.
Matthew 9:32 While they were going out, a man who was demon-possessed and could not talk was brought to Jesus.
Matthew 9:33 And when the demon was driven out, the man who had been mute spoke. The crowd was amazed and said, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.”
Matthew 9:34 But the Pharisees said, “It is by the prince of demons that he drives out demons.”

This passage demonstrates that physical afflictions are sometimes caused by demons. Cast out the demon and then either the affliction is gone or else it can easily be cured. This is just as true today as it was back then. Also, notice the reaction of the religious leaders (the Pharisees). They accused the things of God as being of the devil. Christians sometimes do the same thing today, so we need to expect a certain amount of persecution from our brothers and sisters when we step out in obedience to Christ by laying hands on the sick. Love them anyway!
Matthew 9:35 Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness.
Matthew 9:36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

Jesus had compassion on people, and He healed every sick person who came to Him. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever (Hebrews 13:8), and He still has compassion on us and He still heals by the laying-on of hands. The only difference is that now He lives in us and He uses our hands for healing the sick.
Matthew 10:1 He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.
Matthew 10:5 These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans.
Matthew 10:6 Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel.
Matthew 10:7 As you go, preach this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven is near.’
Matthew 10:8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.

Mark 3:14 He appointed twelve–designating them apostles –that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach
Mark 3:15 and to have authority to drive out demons.

Mark 6:7 Calling the Twelve to him, he sent them out two by two and gave them authority over evil spirits.
Mark 6:12 They went out and preached that people should repent.
Mark 6:13 They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.

Luke 9:1 When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases,
Luke 9:2 and he sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.
Luke 9:6 So they set out and went from village to village, preaching the gospel and healing people everywhere.

Christ gave the twelve disciples the authority to heal every disease and sickness, and He gave us the very same authority in the Great Commission (see my Healing Training Course ).
Matthew 11:2 When John heard in prison what Christ was doing, he sent his disciples
Matthew 11:3 to ask him, “Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?”
Matthew 11:4 Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see:
Matthew 11:5 The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor.

Luke 7:21 At that very time Jesus cured many who had diseases, sicknesses and evil spirits, and gave sight to many who were blind.
Luke 7:22 So he replied to the messengers, “Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor.

In addition to Jesus’ compassion for the sick, one of the biggest purposes for healing was to prove that Jesus is the Son of God and to bring people into the Kingdom. We are part of the same New Testament Church that the apostles were a part of (there is no such thing as an “early Church” and a “modern Church,” it is all the same Church!), and healing has the same purpose and the same importance today as it did back then.
Matthew 12:9 Going on from that place, he went into their synagogue,
Matthew 12:10 and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, they asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”
Matthew 12:11 He said to them, “If any of you has a sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will you not take hold of it and lift it out?
Matthew 12:12 How much more valuable is a man than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.”
Matthew 12:13 Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” So he stretched it out and it was completely restored, just as sound as the other.

Mark 3:1 Another time he went into the synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there.
Mark 3:2 Some of them were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath.
Mark 3:3 Jesus said to the man with the shriveled hand, “Stand up in front of everyone.”
Mark 3:4 Then Jesus asked them, “Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they remained silent.
Mark 3:5 He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored.

Luke 6:6 On another Sabbath he went into the synagogue and was teaching, and a man was there whose right hand was shriveled.
Luke 6:7 The Pharisees and the teachers of the law were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal on the Sabbath.
Luke 6:8 But Jesus knew what they were thinking and said to the man with the shriveled hand, “Get up and stand in front of everyone.” So he got up and stood there.
Luke 6:9 Then Jesus said to them, “I ask you, which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?”
Luke 6:10 He looked around at them all, and then said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He did so, and his hand was completely restored.

Jesus commanded the man to put his faith into action, and when the man stretched out his hand it was healed. This principle is just as true today.
Matthew 12:15 Aware of this, Jesus withdrew from that place. Many followed him, and he healed all their sick

Jesus healed all the sick. It is His will to heal the sick. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever (Hebrews 13:8).
Matthew 12:22 Then they brought him a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute, and Jesus healed him, so that he could both talk and see.
Matthew 12:23 All the people were astonished and said, “Could this be the Son of David?”

Luke 11:14 Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute. When the demon left, the man who had been mute spoke, and the crowd was amazed.

Again, casting out a demon is sometimes all it takes to get someone healed, both then and now.
Matthew 13:57 And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, “Only in his hometown and in his own house is a prophet without honor.”
Matthew 13:58 And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.

Mark 6:4 Jesus said to them, “Only in his hometown, among his relatives and in his own house is a prophet without honor.”
Mark 6:5 He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them.
Mark 6:6 And he was amazed at their lack of faith.

When you step out in obedience to Christ and begin laying hands on the sick, people (often other Christians) will be offended, so expect it. Notice that Jesus could not do many miracles in His hometown because of their lack of faith. Faith is just as important today.
Matthew 14:14 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.

Jesus had compassion on people and He healed all the sick who came to Him, all throughout His ministry. His compassion and healing continue to this day.
Matthew 14:34 When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret.
Matthew 14:35 And when the men of that place recognized Jesus, they sent word to all the surrounding country. People brought all their sick to him
Matthew 14:36 and begged him to let the sick just touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched him were healed.

Mark 6:53 When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret and anchored there.
Mark 6:54 As soon as they got out of the boat, people recognized Jesus.
Mark 6:55 They ran throughout that whole region and carried the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was.
Mark 6:56 And wherever he went–into villages, towns or countryside–they placed the sick in the marketplaces. They begged him to let them touch even the edge of his cloak, and all who touched him were healed.

This is another example of putting faith into action for healing, and it is also another example of the laying-on of hands in reverse (people were laying hands on Jesus’ cloak as a point of contact for their faith). Both of these are just as true and valid today.
Matthew 15:21 Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon.
Matthew 15:22 A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is suffering terribly from demon-possession.”
Matthew 15:23 Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.”
Matthew 15:24 He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.”
Matthew 15:25 The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said.
Matthew 15:26 He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to their dogs.”
Matthew 15:27 “Yes, Lord,” she said, “but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.”
Matthew 15:28 Then Jesus answered, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.

Mark 7:25 In fact, as soon as she heard about him, a woman whose little daughter was possessed by an evil spirit came and fell at his feet.
Mark 7:26 The woman was a Greek, born in Syrian Phoenicia. She begged Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter.
Mark 7:27 “First let the children eat all they want,” he told her, “for it is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to their dogs.”
Mark 7:28 “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “but even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.”
Mark 7:29 Then he told her, “For such a reply, you may go; the demon has left your daughter.”
Mark 7:30 She went home and found her child lying on the bed, and the demon gone.

Bread was a staple of life in the first century, meaning that it was a standard part of meals in those days. This is why the word “bread” is used in so many illustrations in the Gospels. Notice that Jesus described healing and deliverance as the “bread” of the children of Israel (the children of the Old Covenant). In other words, Jesus considered healing to be as important for them as bread was important in their daily meals. As Christians, we are under the New Covenant, which is founded upon better promises than the Old Covenant was (Hebrews 8:6). If healing and deliverance were “bread” to the children of the Old Covenant, how can we have “better” promises if healing and deliverance are not available to us today? That would be worse than the promises of the Old Covenant! Also, the principle of persistence is demonstrated here. We need to be persistent when ministering healing. We do not know everything there is to know about divine healing, so if one thing does not work then we need to keep trying other things and being persistent. If we are unable to minister healing to people, then they should allow other people to lay hands on them because their persistence will ultimately pay off. Only God knows why the healing is delayed, but He honors persistence.
Matthew 15:29 Jesus left there and went along the Sea of Galilee. Then he went up on a mountainside and sat down.
Matthew 15:30 Great crowds came to him, bringing the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute and many others, and laid them at his feet; and he healed them.
Matthew 17:14 When they came to the crowd, a man approached Jesus and knelt before him.
Matthew 17:15 “Lord, have mercy on my son,” he said. “He has seizures and is suffering greatly. He often falls into the fire or into the water.
Matthew 17:16 I brought him to your disciples, but they could not heal him.”
Matthew 17:17 “O unbelieving and perverse generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me.”
Matthew 17:18 Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed from that moment.
Matthew 17:19 Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”
Matthew 17:20 He replied, “Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

Mark 9:17 A man in the crowd answered, “Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech.
Mark 9:18 Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not.”
Mark 9:19 “O unbelieving generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.”
Mark 9:20 So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth.
Mark 9:21 Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?” “From childhood,” he answered.
Mark 9:22 “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.”
Mark 9:23 “‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for him who believes.”
Mark 9:24 Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”
Mark 9:25 When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the evil spirit. “You deaf and mute spirit,” he said, “I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.”
Mark 9:26 The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, “He’s dead.”
Mark 9:27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up.
Mark 9:28 After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”
Mark 9:29 He replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer.”

Luke 9:38 A man in the crowd called out, “Teacher, I beg you to look at my son, for he is my only child.
Luke 9:39 A spirit seizes him and he suddenly screams; it throws him into convulsions so that he foams at the mouth. It scarcely ever leaves him and is destroying him.
Luke 9:40 I begged your disciples to drive it out, but they could not.”
Luke 9:41 “O unbelieving and perverse generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you and put up with you? Bring your son here.”
Luke 9:42 Even while the boy was coming, the demon threw him to the ground in a convulsion. But Jesus rebuked the evil spirit, healed the boy and gave him back to his father.

The disciples, who had done many healings and deliverances by this time (see Mark 6:7-13), were unable to cast out this demon. Jesus explained that “This kind can come out only by prayer” (some manuscripts say, “by prayer and fasting”). Jesus said that prayer was needed for casting out this kind of spirit, but notice that He did not pray for the demon to go. He rebuked it and commanded it to go. In other words, Jesus led a lifestyle of prayer and fasting which put Him in the position to be able to cast this demon out. Another thing to note in this passage is that the disciples were unable to bring about the healing because they did not have adequate knowledge concerning how to cast this kind of demon out. This holds true even today. The more we learn about healing, the more knowledge and experience we acquire, the more people we will see being healed.
Matthew 19:1 When Jesus had finished saying these things, he left Galilee and went into the region of Judea to the other side of the Jordan.
Matthew 19:2 Large crowds followed him, and he healed them there.
Matthew 20:29 As Jesus and his disciples were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed him.
Matthew 20:30 Two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was going by, they shouted, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”
Matthew 20:31 The crowd rebuked them and told them to be quiet, but they shouted all the louder, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”
Matthew 20:32 Jesus stopped and called them. “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked.
Matthew 20:33 “Lord,” they answered, “we want our sight.”
Matthew 20:34 Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him.

Mark 10:49 Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” So they called to the blind man, “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.”
Mark 10:50 Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus.
Mark 10:51 “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him. The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.”
Mark 10:52 “Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.

Luke 18:35 As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging.
Luke 18:36 When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening.
Luke 18:37 They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.”
Luke 18:38 He called out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
Luke 18:39 Those who led the way rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
Luke 18:40 Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him,
Luke 18:41 “What do you want me to do for you?” “Lord, I want to see,” he replied.
Luke 18:42 Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.”
Luke 18:43 Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also praised God.

Another important principle is being demonstrated here. Notice that Jesus interviewed the blind men in order to determine what healing they needed. This is equally important when we are ministering healing today. We need to determine what the physical problem is, what the medical diagnosis is, how the problem happened (car accident, etc.), where the pain or affliction is in the body, and so on. This information helps us to lay hands on or near the actual affliction and to command healing for the specific problem. Notice that Jesus laid hands on the specific area of the men’s affliction, their eyes.
Matthew 21:14 The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them.
Mark 1:23 Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an evil spirit cried out,
Mark 1:24 “What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are–the Holy One of God!”
Mark 1:25 “Be quiet!” said Jesus sternly. “Come out of him!”
Mark 1:26 The evil spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek.

Luke 4:33 In the synagogue there was a man possessed by a demon, an evil spirit. He cried out at the top of his voice,
Luke 4:34 “Ha! What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are–the Holy One of God!”
Luke 4:35 “Be quiet!” Jesus said sternly. “Come out of him!” Then the demon threw the man down before them all and came out without injuring him.
Mark 1:30-31 (see Matthew 8:14-15)
Mark 1:32-34 (see Matthew 8:16-17)
Mark 1:40-42 (see Matthew 8:2-3)
Mark 2:3-12 (see Matthew 9:2-8)
Mark 3:1-5 (see Matthew 12:9-13)
Mark 3:9 Because of the crowd he told his disciples to have a small boat ready for him, to keep the people from crowding him.
Mark 3:10 For he had healed many, so that those with diseases were pushing forward to touch him.
Mark 3:11 Whenever the evil spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, “You are the Son of God.”
Mark 3:14-15 (see Matthew 10:1-8)
Mark 5:1-13 (see Matthew 8:28-32)
Mark 5:22-42 (see Matthew 9:18-25)
Mark 5:25-34 (see Matthew 9:20-22)
Mark 6:4-5 (see Matthew 13:57-58)
Mark 6:7-13 (see Matthew 10:1-8)
Mark 6:53-56 (see Matthew 14:34-36)
Mark 7:25-30 (see Matthew 15:21-28)
Mark 7:32 There some people brought to him a man who was deaf and could hardly talk, and they begged him to place his hand on the man.
Mark 7:33 After he took him aside, away from the crowd, Jesus put his fingers into the man’s ears. Then he spit and touched the man’s tongue.
Mark 7:34 He looked up to heaven and with a deep sigh said to him, “Ephphatha!” (which means, “Be opened!”).
Mark 7:35 At this, the man’s ears were opened, his tongue was loosened and he began to speak plainly.

The people knew that Jesus healed by the laying-on of hands, so they begged Him to place His hands on the deaf mute person. Jesus still heals by the laying-on of hands, only it is our hands that He uses, since we are His bodyhere on earth. Notice that Jesus laid His hands on the specific areas which needed healing. Even today we find that healing often works best when hands are laid on or near the afflicted area of the body. Also note that Jesus did not pray for the healing to take place, He commanded the healing. Finally, notice that Jesus first took the man away from the crowd, away from any doubt and unbelief. These same principles of healing are just as valid today.
Mark 8:22 They came to Bethsaida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him.
Mark 8:23 He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit on the man’s eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, “Do you see anything?”
Mark 8:24 He looked up and said, “I see people; they look like trees walking around.”
Mark 8:25 Once more Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly.

Many of the principles of healing which we have been seeing are demonstrated here. Removing the person from an atmosphere of possible doubt and unbelief, laying hands on the specific area of affliction, asking questions to determine if further healing is required, and laying hands again to complete the healing. This is another case where the person did not get healed or delivered the first time, even though it was Jesus doing the healing or deliverance. Persistence is important when ministering healing.
Mark 9:17-29 (see Matthew 17:14-20)
Mark 10:49-52 (see Matthew 20:29-34)
Luke 4:33 – 35 (see Mark 1:23-26)
Luke 4:38-39 (see Matthew 8:14-15)
Luke 4:40-41 (see Matthew 8:16-17)
Luke 5:12-13 (see Matthew 8:2-3)
Luke 5:15 Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses.
Luke 5:17-25 (see Matthew 9:2-8)
Luke 6:6-10 (see Matthew 12:9-13)
Luke 6:18 who had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. Those troubled by evil spirits were cured,
Luke 6:19 and the people all tried to touch him, because power was coming from him and healing them all.
Luke 7:2-10 (see Matthew 8:5-13)
Luke 7:11 Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went along with him.
Luke 7:12 As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out–the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her.
Luke 7:13 When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, “Don’t cry.”
Luke 7:14 Then he went up and touched the coffin, and those carrying it stood still. He said, “Young man, I say to you, get up!”
Luke 7:15 The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother.
Luke 7:21-22 (see Matthew 11:2-5)
Luke 8:26-33 (see Matthew 8:28-32)
Luke 8:41-55 (see Matthew 9:18-25)
Luke 8:43-48 (see Matthew 9:20-22)
Luke 9:1-6 (see Matthew 10:1-8)
Luke 9:10 When the apostles returned, they reported to Jesus what they had done. Then he took them with him and they withdrew by themselves to a town called Bethsaida,
Luke 9:11 but the crowds learned about it and followed him. He welcomed them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who needed healing.
Luke 9:38-42 (see Matthew 17:14-20)
Luke 10:1 After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go.
Luke 10:9 Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God is near you.’
Luke 10:17 The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.”
Luke 10:18 He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.
Luke 10:19 I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.
Luke 10:20 However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

Earlier, Jesus had sent out the Twelve with the instruction to preach the Good News of the kingdom, to heal the sick, and to cast out demons (Luke 9:1-6). Now look whom Jesus is sending out: 72 ordinary believers! These average, ordinary believers were sent out to do exactly what the apostles had been sent out to do.
Luke 11:14 (see Matthew 12:22-23)
Luke 13:10 On a Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues,
Luke 13:11 and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all.
Luke 13:12 When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, “Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.”
Luke 13:13 Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God.
Luke 13:14 Indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, the synagogue ruler said to the people, “There are six days for work. So come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath.”

First of all, notice that demons can cause physical afflictions. Today we would probably diagnose this woman as having scoliosis or something and do surgery on her, when all that might really be needed is a simple deliverance. Notice the reaction of the religious leaders. They were indignant when Jesus did something which did not conform to their doctrines. When you step out in faith and claim that Jesus still heals today by the laying-on of hands, some people will be indignant, so expect such reactions. Love them anyway!
Luke 13:32 He replied, “Go tell that fox, ‘I will drive out demons and heal people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach my goal.’

It is Jesus’ will to heal people.
Luke 14:2 There in front of him was a man suffering from dropsy.
Luke 14:3 Jesus asked the Pharisees and experts in the law, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?”
Luke 14:4 But they remained silent. So taking hold of the man, he healed him and sent him away.

Jesus constantly confronted people’s narrow doctrinal boundaries! Wouldn’t He do the same if He were on the earth today?
Luke 17:11 Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee.
Luke 17:12 As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance
Luke 17:13 and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!”
Luke 17:14 When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed.
Luke 17:15 One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice.
Luke 17:16 He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him–and he was a Samaritan.
Luke 17:17 Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine?
Luke 17:18 Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?”
Luke 17:19 Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”

Notice that the ten lepers were not instantly healed by Jesus. They were healed “as they went.” The same principle applies today, because some people are instantly healed while other people’s healing takes a few minutes or days.
Luke 18:35-43 (see Matthew 20:29-34)
Luke 22:49 When Jesus’ followers saw what was going to happen, they said, “Lord, should we strike with our swords?”
Luke 22:50 And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear.
Luke 22:51 But Jesus answered, “No more of this!” And he touched the man’s ear and healed him.
John 4:46 Once more he visited Cana in Galilee, where he had turned the water into wine. And there was a certain royal official whose son lay sick at Capernaum.
John 4:47 When this man heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he went to him and begged him to come and heal his son, who was close to death.
John 4:48 “Unless you people see miraculous signs and wonders,” Jesus told him, “you will never believe.”
John 4:49 The royal official said, “Sir, come down before my child dies.”
John 4:50 Jesus replied, “You may go. Your son will live.” The man took Jesus at his word and departed.
John 4:51 While he was still on the way, his servants met him with the news that his boy was living.
John 4:52 When he inquired as to the time when his son got better, they said to him, “The fever left him yesterday at the seventh hour.”
John 4:53 Then the father realized that this was the exact time at which Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” So he and all his household believed.

The man “took Jesus at his word.” We also need to take Jesus at His Word, because He cannot lie. In the Great Commission Jesus said that those who believe will lay hands on the sick, so we must take Him at His Word and obey Him.
John 5:2 Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades.
John 5:3 Here a great number of disabled people used to lie–the blind, the lame, the paralyzed.
John 5:4
John 5:5 One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years.
John 5:6 When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?”
John 5:7 “Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.”
John 5:8 Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.”
John 5:9 At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked. The day on which this took place was a Sabbath,
John 6:1 Some time after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias),
John 6:2 and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the miraculous signs he had performed on the sick.
John 7:21 Jesus said to them, “I did one miracle, and you are all astonished.
John 7:22 Yet, because Moses gave you circumcision (though actually it did not come from Moses, but from the patriarchs), you circumcise a child on the Sabbath.
John 7:23 Now if a child can be circumcised on the Sabbath so that the law of Moses may not be broken, why are you angry with me for healing the whole man on the Sabbath?
John 7:24 Stop judging by mere appearances, and make a right judgment.”
John 9:1 As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth.
John 9:2 His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
John 9:3 “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.
John 9:4 As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work.
John 9:5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
John 9:6 Having said this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes.
John 9:7 “Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means Sent). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.
John 9:24 A second time they [the Pharisees] summoned the man who had been blind. “Give glory to God, ” they said. “We know this man is a sinner.”
John 9:25 He replied, “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!”

This example demonstrates that Jesus healed in many different ways, always being sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit. We need to be just as sensitive to the Spirit when ministering healing today because God will sometimes tell us to do things which don’t make much sense. If God tells you to do something, do it, and the person will be healed. Notice that the Pharisees (the religious leaders) accused Jesus of being a sinner. Even today people will accuse you of all kinds of things when you step out in faith and make the claim that Jesus still heals by the laying-on of hands. Love them anyway and don’t let this deter you, because blessed are you when people ridicule you for the obedient works that you are doing in His Name (Matthew 5:11).
John 11:39 “Take away the stone,” he said. “But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.”
John 11:40 Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?”
John 11:41 So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me.
John 11:42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.”
John 11:43 When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!”
John 11:44 The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”

Martha was a believer, but she had no faith in a “now” miracle. She believed that Jesus was the Christ, but she did not believe that He would do a miracle right then and there. Christians today believe that Jesus is the Christ, but they often do not believe that He will do a miracle right here and now. He will, if there is faith present.
Acts 3:2 Now a man crippled from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts.
Acts 3:3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money.
Acts 3:4 Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!”
Acts 3:5 So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.
Acts 3:6 Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.”
Acts 3:7 Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong.
Acts 3:8 He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God.
Acts 3:16 By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see.

When did the lame man’s feet and ankles become strong? When he put his faith into action. How was he healed? By Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him. These principles are just as valid today.
Acts 5:14 Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number.
Acts 5:15 As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by.
Acts 5:16 Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by evil spirits, and all of them were healed.
Acts 8:6 When the crowds heard Philip and saw the miraculous signs he did, they all paid close attention to what he said.
Acts 8:7 With shrieks, evil spirits came out of many, and many paralytics and cripples were healed.
Acts 8:8 So there was great joy in that city.
Acts 9:10 In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!” “Yes, Lord,” he answered.
Acts 9:11 The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying.
Acts 9:12 In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.”
Acts 9:13 “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem.
Acts 9:14 And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.”
Acts 9:15 But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel.
Acts 9:16 I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”
Acts 9:17 Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord–Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here–has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”
Acts 9:18 Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized

Acts 22:11 My companions led me by the hand into Damascus, because the brilliance of the light had blinded me.
Acts 22:12 “A man named Ananias came to see me. He was a devout observer of the law and highly respected by all the Jews living there.
Acts 22:13 He stood beside me and said, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight!’ And at that very moment I was able to see him.
Acts 9:33 There he found a man named Aeneas, a paralytic who had been bedridden for eight years.
Acts 9:34 “Aeneas,” Peter said to him, “Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and take care of your mat.” Immediately Aeneas got up.
Acts 9:35 All those who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.

This is exactly how Jesus healed the lame man by the pool in Bethesda (“Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.”" – John 5:8). The only difference is that Peter did the healing in Jesus’ Name. Healing works exactly the same for us as it did for the apostles. It is by faith and in the Name of Jesus.
Acts 9:36 In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which, when translated, is Dorcas ), who was always doing good and helping the poor.
Acts 9:37 About that time she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room.
Acts 9:38 Lydda was near Joppa; so when the disciples heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to him and urged him, “Please come at once!”
Acts 9:39 Peter went with them, and when he arrived he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them.
Acts 9:40 Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, “Tabitha, get up.” She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up.

Notice that Peter sent everyone out of the room before raising the girl from the dead. An atmosphere of doubt and unbelief can hinder healing. Also notice that Peter prayed before raising her from the dead, but then he quitpraying and commanded her to get up.
Acts 10:37 You know what has happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached–
Acts 10:38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.

How did Jesus heal the sick? Was it by His own power? No, He healed the sick by the power of the Holy Spirit within Him. How did the apostles heal the sick? Was it by their own power? No, they healed the sick by the power of the Holy Spirit within them. Do we have access to the same Holy Spirit that Jesus and the apostles did? Absolutely!
Acts 14:8 In Lystra there sat a man crippled in his feet, who was lame from birth and had never walked.
Acts 14:9 He listened to Paul as he was speaking. Paul looked directly at him, saw that he had faith to be healed
Acts 14:10 and called out, “Stand up on your feet!” At that, the man jumped up and began to walk.
Acts 16:16 Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling.
Acts 16:17 This girl followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved.”
Acts 16:18 She kept this up for many days. Finally Paul became so troubled that he turned around and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” At that moment the spirit left her.
Acts 19:11 God did extraordinary miracles through Paul,
Acts 19:12 so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them.
Acts 20:9 Seated in a window was a young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep as Paul talked on and on. When he was sound asleep, he fell to the ground from the third story and was picked up dead.
Acts 20:10 Paul went down, threw himself on the young man and put his arms around him. “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “He’s alive!”
Acts 22:11-13 (see Acts 9:10-18)
Acts 28:3 Paul gathered a pile of brushwood and, as he put it on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand.
Acts 28:4 When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, “This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live.”
Acts 28:5 But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects.
Acts 28:6 The people expected him to swell up or suddenly fall dead, but after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god.
Acts 28:7 There was an estate nearby that belonged to Publius, the chief official of the island. He welcomed us to his home and for three days entertained us hospitably.
Acts 28:8 His father was sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him and, after prayer, placed his hands on him and healed him.
Acts 28:9 When this had happened, the rest of the sick on the island came and were cured.

In this passage we see that Paul prayed, but he healed Publius’ father by the laying-on of hands.
Philippians 2:25 “But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs.”
Philippians 2:26 “For he longs for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was ill.”
Philippians 2:27 “Indeed he was ill, and almost died. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow.”
1 Timothy 5:23 “Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses.”

People sometimes assume that Timothy had a stomach problem which was not healed, but in reality he had a number of “illnesses” (plural) which were healed each time. For more on this, I invite you to see Timothy’s Stomach .
2 Timothy 4:20 “Erastus stayed in Corinth, and I left Trophimus sick in Miletus.”

For more on this verse, I invite you to see Paul Left Trophimus “Sick” in Miletus .
Revelation 11:3 “And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.”"
Revelation 11:7 “Now when they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the Abyss will attack them, and overpower and kill them.”
Revelation 11:8 “Their bodies will lie in the street of the great city, which is figuratively called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified.”
Revelation 11:9 “For three and a half days men from every people, tribe, language and nation will gaze on their bodies and refuse them burial.”
Revelation 11:10 “The inhabitants of the earth will gloat over them and will celebrate by sending each other gifts, because these two prophets had tormented those who live on the earth.”
Revelation 11:11 “But after the three and a half days a breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and terror struck those who saw them.”
Revelation 11:12 “Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” And they went up to heaven in a cloud, while their enemies looked on.”
Revelation 13:3 “One of the heads of the beast seemed to have had a fatal wound, but the fatal wound had been healed. The whole world was astonished and followed the beast.”
Revelation 13:4 “Men worshiped the dragon because he had given authority to the beast, and they also worshiped the beast and asked, “Who is like the beast? Who can make war against him?”"
Revelation 13:11 “Then I saw another beast, coming out of the earth. He had two horns like a lamb, but he spoke like a dragon.”
Revelation 13:12 “He exercised all the authority of the first beast on his behalf, and made the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose fatal wound had been healed.”
Revelation 13:13 “And he performed great and miraculous signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to earth in full view of men.”
Revelation 13:14 “Because of the signs he was given power to do on behalf of the first beast, he deceived the inhabitants of the earth. He ordered them to set up an image in honor of the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived.”

An Appeal to those Seeking and Praying for Revival

Ryan — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 02:16:38 +0000

Most of you who are reading this will read it as a direct result of someone contacting you directly and sharing it with you. The beginning few lines are a repeat of the message you have received.

The rest of the message is below the jump.

Please read it in its entirety.

If you’d like to share it via Facebook, use this link: http://www.revivalorriots.org/archives/1382

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You probably do not know me.

I offer you eyes to see and ears to hear what many are too afraid to see and listen to.

Though this message is long, I assure you that if you have a heart to see the nations impacted for the glory and Kingdom of God, your life will never be the same if you put into practice what I have presented to you.

What I have compiled here is simply information from the Word of God—information that is not put into practice will lead to stagnation and deception (James 1:22).

Information that is put into practice through the renewing of the mind will bring transformation (Romans 12:1-2).

The reason I am contacting you is because I know that you have a heart to see the nations of this world become gripped with tangible demonstrations of the Presence and power of God through Jesus Christ.

I know that you would not be affiliated with the organizations that you are with and doing what you are doing if you did not have a desire to see Jesus get His full reward and for the transformational power of the resurrected Christ to destroy the strongholds of darkness that have so ensnared the minds of this generation.

The realities that are presented in this message are, as you will soon find, in direct conflict with a majority of what people have been taught is the ‘route to revival’ today.

However, I assure you that if you have a heart for Truth and if you set aside the initial offenses that will undoubtedly come and look into the Scriptures for yourself, you will find that what I am offering to you is the Truth–nothing more.

I have gone out on a limb by contacting you—but my heart is only to see captives set free—both those inside the church and those outside.

This message has contained within it the keys you need to see ‘revival’ break out everywhere you go.

_______________________

“An Appeal to Those Seeking Revival”

By Ryan Rhoades

(www.RevivalOrRiots.org)

Albert Einstein said that the definition of insanity is to keep doing the same thing over and over, yet expecting a different result.

Let me ask you a question—how much “praying for revival” have you done, and how much “revival” have you seen and experienced?

And again—can you think of a single place in the New Testament where Jesus instructed the disciples to take years and years of their lives to commit to extended fasting and prayer before they were sent into the cities they impacted with the Gospel of the Kingdom?

Or did they simply obey and believe in faith that Jesus had sent them to accomplish a mission that would produce results (healing, deliverance, freedom from oppression, salvation) and they acted on what they believed?

Am I even remotely suggesting prayer and intercession are a bad thing? No, of course not.

What I am saying is that much of what is considered prayer and intercession today is not producing the fruit that many boast of—and that there are better ways to pray that will accomplish the end which so many seek and are crying out for.

What I am offering here is precisely that.

I once was where you are. I once was one to spend hours ‘contending’ for revival.

I once was one who spent extended periods of time fasting and praying, “crying out” for God to pour out His Spirit.

It was not until the things that are contained in this message were presented to me that I realized a lot of what I had been taught was simply not true in the light of Scripture and the life of Christ and His finished work on the cross.

It never really occurred to me that despite my own lack of seeing results and answered prayer, that I could potentially have been the one that was in the way of seeing God “show up”.

THE TRUTH WILL SET YOU FREE

As you will find if you choose to look through the material that I am presenting you with, God has already answered and fulfilled the prophecy of Joel 2 to pour out His Spirit on all flesh (Acts 2:16, 2:33) and now the resurrected Christ lives inside each and every born-again believer (Gal. 2:20) and we have indeed been blessed with everything we will ever need to see our world transformed with the power of God (Eph. 1:3, 2 Peter 1:3).

You will find that we have already received the fullness of the Spirit through Christ (John 1:16, Col. 2:8-10) and Jesus really meant it when He said “it is finished” (John 19:30).

The Truths that I am presenting to you will, if you let them, awaken you to the reality that the mystery of the Gospel has already been revealed–and it is Christ-in-you, the hope of glory (Col. 1:26-27).

They will open your eyes to the fact that Jesus Christ took the penalty for the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2) and that God is no longer holding people’s sins against them (2 Cor. 5:19).

This does not mean it is okay to sin. There are consequences to sin, surely. But what it does mean is that God is not going to punish the world or judge our nation for sin.

Jesus Christ became sin for us so that we could become the righteousness of God in Christ (2 Cor. 5:21).

Jesus ‘stood in the gap’ for us. He bridged the gap between the sinfulness of man and the wrath of God towards sin. He offered Himself as a sacrifice, once for all men and all time (Heb. 10:12) and is now seated at the right hand of the Father waiting for His enemies to be made His footstool (Heb. 10:13) because He has now made us perfect through His sacrifice (Heb. 10:14).

God crushes His enemies under OUR feet (Rom. 16:20)

Because we are in Christ, God no longer remembers our sins (Heb. 8:12, Heb. 10:17).

This does not mean I am even remotely implying that all people are “saved” or “going to heaven”.

What it does mean is that God is not going to wipe out our nation unless we fast and pray and ‘cry out’ enough.

It means that Jesus Christ took all the sins of the entire world upon Himself, past, present and future, and that we must appropriate His sacrifice to our lives, by grace through faith (Eph. 2:8-9)

IMAGINE THIS

The picture I want to paint for you is simply as follows:

What would it look like if instead of believing that God is still angry and needs His wrath appeased by all of our meetings and sacrifices and constant repentance, that we accepted the reality that God is good, in a good mood, and has already had His wrath towards sin satisfied through the blood sacrifice of His Son?
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What would it look like if instead of believing that in order to see “revival” that we must get untold millions of people fasting and praying, pleading with God to pour out His Spirit (which He already did – Acts 2:16, 2:33), as if we are wanting to see “revival” more than He does and that we must now convince Him to answer our pleadings and our works by rewarding us with “revival” and a “fresh outpouring”—if instead of all that, if we simply acknowledged every good thing that is in us through Christ (Philemon 1:6) and acted like the powerful people and royalty He has made us to be and set the captives free everywhere we went?
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What would it look like, if instead of gathering together for a 24 hour prayer meeting every week, crying out TO God, if the people of God (who already have Christ living in them) rose up and realized that there is a world around them already who is crying out FOR a DEMONSTRATION of the goodness of God that will lead them to repentance (Rom. 2:4), and that it is our responsibility as Christians (those who emulate Christ – 1 John 2:3-6) to do so and be faithful with the commission we have been given already (Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 16:15-18, John 20:21)? What if we spent a few hours in prayer and worship and then took this Good News Gospel out and set people free on a consistent basis? What if we would just thank God that He has empowered us to do what He’s called us to and took that joy OUT of the building?
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What would it look like if the thousands and thousands of people all over the world who are praying for revival realized that they themselves are the very answers to the prayers they are praying?
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What would it look like if instead of spending millions of dollars advertising and renting stadiums for events where multiple thousands of Christians can gather to “seek God” (who already lives in them), if those Christians went into the cities in which they live (or even a specific city for an organized ‘strike’ against the works of darkness) and set captives free by healing the sick, preaching the Gospel, casting out demons, and demonstrating the love and character of Christ in all that they do (Matthew 10:7-8, Luke 10:8-9)?

I think it would look like worldwide ‘revival’.

The reality is that most Christians have been spoon-fed a destructive mixture of law and grace, old covenant principles with New Covenant truths. Jesus said putting new wine into an old wineskin would cause both to burst (Mark 2:22).

The reality is that most of our ‘worship’ songs and most of our ‘prayers’ in the church are asking God to do things that He has already done, or asking Him to do things He told us to do, or pleading with Him not to do things that He will not do because of the sacrifice of His Son.

If you are not living a victorious, overcoming Christian life, then you have probably been taught and bought into something that is preventing you from doing so.

IT’S ALL ABOUT JESUS

As Jesus is, so are we in this world (1 John 4:17).

Our responsibility is to demonstrate and re-present Jesus to everyone around us. That is why we call ourselves “Christians”.

For us to emulate the life and ministry of any other person in the Bible other than Christ (John the Baptist, Elijah, David, Anna, Peter, Paul, etc.) is an affront to what God intended for us to do—Jesus said among those born of women, none are greater than John the Baptist—but that those who are least in the Kingdom of God (us, now, because we are born again) are greater than John.

Why? None of the saints who served God before the crucifixion and resurrection were born again. Their spirits were not one with God as ours are now (1 Cor. 6:17). They were not new creations in Christ (2 Cor. 5).

They were not the temple of the Holy Spirit, as you are right now if you are in Christ (1 Cor. 3:16, 1 Cor. 6:19).

That means that you are not seeking to dwell in His temple (as David wrote in Psalm 27 under the Old Covenant). That means that YOU are now His temple. That should change everything about how you look at life. God goes where you go! He lives in you! This is almost-too-good-to-be-true news!

God does not need to “come”. He does not need to pour out His Spirit. He lives in you. You need to pour out your life and help the world around you if you want to see God “show up”.

In the past, God spoke through the prophets and in various ways. In these last days, He speaks through His Son, Jesus Christ (Heb. 1:1-3).

Jesus is the expressed perfect image and will of the Father on earth, right now. Any revelation or understanding about the character and nature of God that you do not see in the person of Jesus is one you should seriously question.

SO, NOW WHAT?

I know that a lot of what I have said is pretty much diametrically the opposite of what you have been taught or heard before.

I assure you that this message does not make one popular in mainstream circles.

But it is the one that will revolutionize the face of and expression of Christianity in one generation who embraces the reality of God living and dwelling in and through them.

There is no “coming revival”.

There is no “coming harvest”.

The harvest is ripe now. It always has been. (John 4:34-35)

It is our job to reap it.

If what I have said has sparked a fire inside of you, and even if it sparked anger and offense, I would humbly request that you prayerfully look through the links posted below.

If you really want to see ‘revival’ and transformation in your life and in your city, I have given you everything you need to start seeing it happen.

If you are interested in learning more, feel free to check out our group on Facebook by clicking here.

You can connect with people who have, “woken up“, so to speak, from the slumber that religious, man-made traditions had put on them.

A GIFT TO YOU

Below are links to free resources and teachings that will radically transform your life and the lives of those around you.

If you can get past some of the initial offenses that will rail against what you have been taught most of your life, nothing will ever be the same.

You will be empowered to disciple nations, set captives free, preach the Good-News of the Gospel, heal the sick, cast out demons, understand your sin nature is dead (Gal. 5:24, Col. 2:11, Rom. 6:2-11), and you will learn how to BE revival to those who need to be revived by the power of the indwelling, resurrected Christ-in-you (spiritually, emotionally, mentally, physically).
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You will learn better ways to pray; you will learn what intercession is and what it is not, you will learn how undeniably, amazingly and awesomely GOOD our Father is who sent His Son to stand in the gap on our behalf, to do what we could never do in our own strength and in the power of His love and His grace.
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You will learn that God is not angry with you and not disappointed in you-–that He doesn’t just love you, but that He actually does LIKE you too. You will learn that God is not going to punish you for making mistakes (Isaiah 54:9).
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You will learn how to see this planet impacted with the power and love of God like never before.

Are you willing to embrace a lifestyle that bucks the status quo of religion today?

Are you willing to go against the grain of what the masses have been taught and stand up for the goodness of God and demonstrate who Jesus is by living a life that reflects Him and His nature in all that you do?

The ball is in your court.

The resources are below.

I look forward to seeing you on the front lines.

Warmest Regards and With Deepest Love for Christ and His Church,

Ryan Rhoades

www.RevivalOrRiots.org

______________________

RESOURCES

Jesus Stands in the Gap

- A common practice today is ‘identificational repentance’, or as it is commonly called, “standing in the gap” prayer. What most people don’t realize is that you, in reality, cannot repent on behalf of someone else, or a nation, as it was done under the Old Covenant. The idea is that unless enough people ‘repent’, God will send judgment for all the sin in the land. Jesus stood in the gap for us to satisfy the wrath of God towards sin. Check out this video to see more of what we’re getting at.

A Better Way to Pray – Andrew Wommack

“Prayer is something that every Christian knows they need to do but very few Christians feel like they have a successful prayer life. There are many reasons for that. It may surprise you to find that one of the big reasons believers struggle with prayer is because of all the wrong teaching they’ve received about it. In this series, Andrew counters many modern religious traditions about prayer and establishes a foundation upon which a rewarding and effective prayer life can be built upon.”

Sample videos from this series:

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

The War is Over – Andrew Wommack

“There have been many wars throughout history, and more are yet to come. However, the most important one is over, and most Christians don’t even know it. Which war could that be? Listen as Andrew explains; it will change the way you relate to God forever.”
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“Stop Praying for Revival”

- This is an article I wrote to deal with the trend of praying for revival as an excuse to not do what Jesus said to do.

“…if my people…” No Longer Applies to You under the New Covenant

.- As popular as it is, 2 Chronicles 7:14 is probably one of the most widely-quoted scriptures used to hammer people over the head that they need to get on their faces and grovel before God before He’ll do anything…but do you know how out-of-context it is and that it doesn’t apply to you after the cross of Christ?

God is Not Going to Judge Our Nation for Sin

- This is a small article I wrote as well as a great video/audio teaching by Roberts Liardon that undeniably deals with the issue of “God’s judgment”.

______________________________________

Now go.

Speak up.

Ask questions that demand answers.

Do not bow to religious control.

Set captives free.

Change the world for the Kingdom of God!

Our Journey – The Motivation for All of It

Ryan — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 02:50:22 +0000

This is a cross-post from Brandon’s site that sums up where we are at right now and where we are going. Make sure to read to the end to figure out why we’ve been so silent lately:

_________________________

Here are some of the motives people have when doing signs and wonders (obviously not comprehensive).

because they want to get over their own fears
because they want to see what they’re capable of
because they want to see the miraculous
because they want to be seen by others
because they want attention
because they want money
because they want to build up a ministry/name/reputation
because they want to prove someone else (or group) wrong
because they want to validate/prove their own beliefs
because they want to prove their identity
because they want approval from God
because they hate the devil
because they want to do what Jesus said
because they want to steward what they have been given
because they want to provoke others to good works
because they have compassion for the lost and broken

Reading through this list, I am sure you can pick out the “good” and “bad” motives. But the point I want to make is that there is a “good,” “better,” and “best.”

There is only one motive that Jesus repeatedly mentioned and demonstrated in the gospels, and that is, compassion. He did do what His Father said, He did have a hate for the work of the devil, He did provoke others to good works, but the only one he preached was compassion.

Every one of those motives that I listed, I’ve done at one point (good and bad), but I have since found that compassion must be the first and foremost motive while I am demonstrating this gospel.

About 8 months ago when I was first starting up, there was a point where I got bored even in the midst of seeing many, many miracles. Everything somehow started to become routine and the luster of seeing the impossible happen began to wear out.

I started from pure excitement to see what else I could do with resurrection power (Rom 8:11), to feeling completely satisfied because it felt like I was on top of the world, to feeling bored because I wasn’t seeing the “bigger” breakthroughs.

I was pondering this to myself when Holy Spirit matter-of-factly said, “You’re not walking in compassion, you’re not serving, you’re being selfish. This has been all about you you you.”

Ouch.

I thought for a few minutes and realized what I had done. I was healing the sick for my own satisfaction rather than having compassion for people and serving them.

Healing the sick had become about me, rather than the person in front of me.

“Which miracle I can see today?” rather than “How can I serve my brothers and sisters?”

“I can show you a miracle” rather than “I want you to experience the freedom that Christ has paid for.”

Why is this relevant?

Jesus placed a very high value on motive.

1.) Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. (Matthew 6:1)

Jesus never said charitable deeds were bad, but if you’re doing it with the wrong motive, “you have no reward from your Father in heaven.”

2.) Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread… If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down… All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.” (Matthew 4:1-11)

Jesus never denied his ability to do any of those things. The issue was not about the task, but whose voice He was listening to.

3.) And though I have [the gift of] prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed [the poor], and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. (1 Cor 13:2-3)

You can read someone’s mail, you can have the greatest revelation, you can have mountain-moving faith, you can feed the poor, you can die a martyr’s death, but if it isn’t because of the outworking of love, you’ve missed it.

Let me explain…

1.) If you are healing the sick for the purpose of getting a name or reputation, or building a ministry (to be seen by other people), you’ve missed it.

2.) If you are healing the sick for the purpose of proving your identity, or to prove someone else wrong, or prove your theology right, you’ve missed it.

If someone challenges you by saying “If you are who you say you are, prove it” or “If you can really do what you say you can do, prove it” you are being tempted on the level that Jesus was tempted.

My friend Cornel said this recently:

The greatest temptation is not porn, alcohol, drugs, success or wealth.The greatest temptation you will face is when you are asked to prove your identity by supernatural manifestations.

The devil tempted Jesus in the wilderness, and the Pharisees tempted him twice (Matt 12:38, Matt 16:1). Both times, Jesus passed the test and didn’t comply to their request.

3.) It is possible to do signs/wonders – even other things we have been commanded to do – without love and compassion.

‘Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ – Matthew 7:22-23

You can do everything Jesus did, but not actually know Him. You can mimic His acts, but still miss His ways. You can have all the supernatural signs and wonders, but not have supernatural Love.

“By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” – John 13:35

Again, to reiterate, not every single motive is bad. Healing the sick because you hate the devil and his work or because Jesus said to do it are both good motives. But let it first and foremost be because you have compassion for people.

“And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” – 1 Cor 13:13

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If you’re walking in resurrection power, it is very easy to go back to your church to “prove” that healing is for today. It is easy to confront powerless preaching by demonstrating power.

It is easy to do miracles just because it’s exciting, but if compassion is not your first motive, people can tell when you are treating them like projects rather than a person.

It is easy to see miracles everyday, but it’s just as easy to get to a point where you do it mechanically, “Ok, be healed. Awesome. Jesus loves you. Bye” rather than flowing in compassion and actually caring about the person.

If you’re just starting out, it’s very easy to get caught up with seeing more miracles. That’s not bad in itself, but don’t stay there, learn to walk in compassion for people.

If you’re around old friends or skeptics and you want to show them real power, it’s tempting to get caught up in trying to prove that what you have is real, rather than walking in compassion.

If you’re praying for someone that seemingly isn’t getting better, it’s easy to get angry at the devil and have that become the driving force instead of having compassion.

If you didn’t think “outreach” wasn’t good/successful solely because you didn’t see anyone get healed, something is off.

If you feel like you can’t minister to a person just because that person doesn’t have a sickness or ailment, then you’ve missed the point. The point is to demonstrate Jesus and have compassion for the person you are in front of.

If the only reason why you’re doing the Great Commission is because Jesus told us to do it, rather than it being an overflow of the Greatest Commandment, you’ve missed it.

The point is NOT to build a healing ministry, the point is to have a life that looks like Jesus; to walk as he walked (1 John 2:3-6) and re-present Him (1 John 4:17). In the context of the whole book of 1 John, it is overwhelmingly clear that “love” is the command.

Love is not contained in healing the sick, but healing the sick is an act of love. If you feel like you can’t minister to someone if they don’t have a sickness, you have not learned to love [fully]. Some people just need a glimmer of hope (Proverbs 13:12), some people need Wisdom from God (Eph 3:10), some people need some cash to buy food, and some people just need a listening ear.

Let me reiterate, most of these motives I have listed are not bad (or evil),and I have done them myself at one point, I’m just saying there is one motive that we are told to operate in.

“By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” – John 13:35

My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and intruth. – 1 John 3:18

—–

On a different point, we, at the house, have decided to take an indefinite amount of time off from the internet to answer some questions that we have. We understand that many people have been impacted by what we are doing, but we have failed when we have created a following that looks to us rather than the Teacher Himself.

Self-educate. Take responsibility for the world around you. Get answers for yourself. If you have something to say, say it. It is not pride to shout something you know is true and/or if you know that it will set people free.

When Paul said, “Imitate me, for I imitate Christ,” I think he was saying, “Do what I am doing, I am following Jesus; you should follow Jesus.” He was NOT saying, “Copy me, because I copied Jesus.” He was saying, “Copy me, in the sense that all I am doing is learning to be like Jesus.”

If you make a copy of a copy of a copy, eventually you will look quite different than the Master.

“In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being.” – Hebrews 1:1-3

Jesus is perfect theology… Anything you think you know about about God, that you can’t find in the person of Jesus, you have reason to question. – Bill Johnson

If you guys really need to connect with us, email will work and you can use the contact page on our site to do that.

So until next time, peace to you, grace to you.

- Ryan, Laura, Brandon, SueEllen

Testimony of Deafness BROKEN!

Ryan — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 20:11:55 +0000

We just got this email from my wife’s aunt from when we visited her church in Colorado (a few weeks ago) and were asked to pray for people…full testimony of a woman’s leg and ears getting healed! Doctors have verified it and we will be putting up the verification as we are able to get it.

The video testimony is directly below here—the e-mail below that is what has happened since this video was taken. She sent it to her pastor and it made its rounds to us.

To download the 5 pictures of the doctor’s report that confirms her healing, click here!

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“While you were in India, I felt impressed to join the Prayer Team at the front of the sanctuary and pray for people who needed special prayer that Sunday morning (almost 3 weeks ago). I had taken a sabbatical, as you know, for quite a long time from the Prayer Team as well as being a Guest Specialist until I had fully recovered from my many injuries, surgeries, etc. of this past year. But because of how God spoke to me through Pastor Jason’s message, I knew it was time to “get back in the race.” What a joy it was for me to intercede for others!!

On my way out of the sanctuary, I was stopped by some young people I’d never met before. I had forgotten that Pastor Jason had mentioned a healing team from California being in the prayer room for those who needed healing prayer. They asked me why my right foot was in a boot. I told them about dropping the computer monitor on it over Memorial Day weekend and crushing it. It had really been throbbing and painful all day Saturday and I was feeling discouraged that I’d have to wear the boot for another month, according to my doctors.

They also commented on my hearing aids and asked how long I’d been wearing them. I told them for 11 years and that my hearing was so bad, my audiologist told me I had the hearing loss of someone in their 70′s (back when I was 50!). The young people asked if they could pray for my hearing as well as my foot! I told them I didn’t think anyone had ever prayed for my hearing before and that it would be fine if they wanted to do that.

They sat me in a chair and the leader of the group lifted both feet up towards him and told me one leg was shorter than the other. I told him it was probably from months of limping around funny in both boots at different times. He said, “Watch this!” As he prayed a very short but direct prayer for healing, we watched my right [leg] grow longer right before our eyes!! I didn’t remove the boot until I got home because I didn’t have an extra shoe with me.

But when I got home, I removed the boot and haven’t worn it since.

Then the young people prayed for my ears. The young man snapped his fingers over each ear and said, “Be open in the name of Jesus!” I didn’t feel anything or notice a difference until he asked me to please remove my hearing aids. So I held them in my hand while he walked behind me and told me to “repeat after me”! Pastor Peter, he was halfway across the Sanctuary when I turned around and realized I could hear him whispering to me!! I haven’t worn the hearing aids since that Sunday either.

The only person I told at work was my boss, Dan, who’s a Christian. He kept trying not to cry on that Monday morning. He believed me but suggested I contact my audiologist and get a hearing test done so I’d have proof for those who didn’t believe me and thought I was a kook!

My audiologist has been on vacation but I saw her this morning at 7:30 and she did a thorough audiology test in the little booth they use. Half-way through, I could hear Linda sniffling and I knew she was crying.

She kept saying, “I can’t believe this! I just can’t believe this!” I not only scored 100% on the high and low sounds she played in both ears while I punched the button to let her know I could hear them, I also was able to repeat every single word back to her without missing any of them. I’ve never been able to do that before.

Linda came into my booth and asked me to tell her again what happened to me at church a few weeks ago. She took my chart and told me she had to show my test results to Dr. Reiner because he would never believe it! But she was so disappointed he wasn’t at work yet, she grabbed the billing lady and brought her in and asked me to repeat my story. The billing lady was a Believer and just kept grinning at me and said, “I believe! I know God can heal people today!”

Linda was crying and said, “Well, I’ve heard of things like this happening, but I just never saw it until today, and I’ve been an audiologist for years (She’s even a “Doctor of Audiology”)! I just kept shouting, “Praise God! Praise God! Praise God!” Linda told the billing lady that I had started losing my hearing from all the scar tissue caused by my Dad’s beating for so many years when I was a little girl. It was inoperable and their fear was that someday I might lose my hearing totally!

Linda said she’d write up a report and mail it to me along with copies of my past tests to show the comparisons between then and today. I just couldn’t wait to share this wonderful news with you, Pastor Peter. I haven’t told anyone but my boss because I wanted to wait for the report to prove what I’m sharing is true. Isn’t God good?

Please let the staff know and whoever else you might want to share this awesome news with and rejoice with me at God’s goodness. He truly is a miracle working God and I want the whole world to know!

- Jayne”

Paul’s Thorn Was Not Sickness

Ryan — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 23:33:33 +0000

This is one of the most frequently used passages of Scripture that is quoted to refute the goodness of God and His desire to heal and set free all who are oppressed by the devil. Regardless of all of the verses which say “Jesus healed them all”, the issue of Paul’s thorn is one that is very frequently used to defend the works of the devil and call them works of God that are sent to teach character and humility.

I assure you that if you have spent any amount of time in the church, you have probably been taught that Paul’s thorn was some strange eye disease or something that God refused to heal. That is absolutely a doctrine of devils.

Here is a video I did on the topic:

If you would like to go to the original site where this article was posted, please click here.

The audio series that goes with the article below is called God Wants You Well and can be downloaded here.

Healing Is In Christ’s Atonement	Real	MP3
What About Paul’s Thorn In The Flesh	Real	MP3
Why Isn’t Everyone Healed?	Real	MP3
The Laws Of Faith	Real	MP3

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Paul’s Thorn In The Flesh

By Andrew Wommack

“And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan (NOT GOD) to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.” (2 Cor. 12:7-10)

This thorn in the flesh that Paul mentioned has been used and misused by Christians to justify submitting to nearly any problem that comes along. Satan has twisted this passage of Scripture to deceive many, many people into believing that God would not heal Paul, so how can they expect to be healed? Let us examine this closely and find out exactly what Paul’s thorn in the flesh was.

First of all, this “thorn” came because of the abundance of revelations Paul had received. Until a person has an abundance of revelations, similar to what Paul had, he is not going to have a “thorn.” That would disqualify just about all of those who have been hiding behind Paul’s thorn.

Then, verse 7 says it came lest Paul should be exalted above measure. Traditionally, that has been interpreted to say the thorn was to keep Paul humble. Therefore, God had to be the author of it, because only God would want Paul to be humble. But there is a godly way of being exalted.

First Peter 5:6 says, “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time.” Those who submit (humble) themselves to God will be exalted by God. Paul was not speaking of exalting himself above measure through pride, but rather, the thorn came from Satan to keep Paul from being exalted by God in the eyes of the people. Many more people would have received what Paul preached if everything was always “rosy” for him. But there was this messenger of Satan who always buffeted Paul and scared away the faint-hearted from committing themselves to Jesus, whom Paul preached.

God magnified, or exalted, Joshua in the sight of his people (Josh. 3:7). He continued to do that with the people He used on into the new covenant (Acts 5:13). So, we see that the exalting spoken of is not a negative kind but a godly kind. That just further strengthens the fact that the thorn was not God’s doing.

In verse 7, right after the thorn in the flesh is mentioned, there is a phrase set off by commas which says, “The messenger of Satan to buffet me.” This is an explanation of what the thorn was. It was not a thing but rather a demonic messenger. The word used as “messenger” here is always translated as angel or messenger and refers to a created being. So, Paul’s thorn was literally a demon sent from Satan to buffet him. The word “buffet” means to strike repeatedly as waves would buffet the shore.

How did this demonic force continually strike Paul? Traditionally it has been taught that it was with sickness, and the thing that made many accept that is the use of the words “weakness” and “infirmity” in verses 9 and 10. Infirmity definitely does mean sickness and is used that way in 1 Timothy 5:23, but that is not the only meaning of the word. The number two definition is any lack or inadequacy. For instance, Romans 8:26 says, “the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities.” In this case, the context makes it clear that it is not speaking of sicknesses but rather not knowing what to pray for. Our finite minds are an infirmity, or an inadequacy.

If we look at the context of Paul’s thorn in the flesh, we find that infirmity does not mean sickness in 2 Corinthians 12:9 and 10. In 2 Corinthians 11:30, Paul uses the exact terminology of “glorying in infirmities” that is used just a few verses later in speaking about this thorn. In the eleventh chapter he had just finished listing what those infirmities were. In verses 23-29, he lists such things as imprisonment, stripes, shipwrecks, and stonings; none of these speak of sickness. Verse 27 mentions weakness and painfulness, which some have tried to make mean sickness, but it is just as possible he could have been weary and suffered painfulness from such things as being stoned and left for dead (Acts 14:19). All these things listed in 2 Corinthians 11 refer to persecutions as infirmities. So, in context, Paul’s thorn was a demonic angel or messenger sent by Satan which continually stirred up persecution against him. This is also verified by three Old Testament references (Num. 33:55; Josh. 23:13 and Judg. 2:3), where people are spoken of as being “thorns in your sides” and “thorns in your eyes.”

Paul asked the Lord to remove persecution from him, not sickness, and the Lord told him His grace was sufficient. We are not redeemed from persecution, and Paul later stated that when he said in 2 Timothy 3:12, “All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” Most gladly, therefore, he gloried in persecutions, reproaches, necessities, and distresses that the power of Christ might rest upon him (2 Cor. 12:9). The word “glory” is an old English word which means to have dominion over or command. It is used in Exodus 8:9 where Moses told Pharaoh to glory over him, or command him, when to destroy the frogs. So when Paul spoke of glorying in these infirmities or persecutions, he was speaking of victory even in the midst of continual harassment.

In Acts 14:19, Paul was stoned and left for dead, but God raised him up, and the next day he walked at least twenty miles into the next town and started preaching again. The Lord did not stop the persecution, but God’s strength was certainly made perfect in Paul’s weakness (verse 9). Can you imagine what those that stoned him must have thought? They could see Paul’s humanity in the cuts and bruises, but they could also see the supernatural strength of God flowing through him. “For when I am weak, then am I strong” (verse 10).

There are two other passages of Scripture that those who believe Paul’s thorn in the flesh was sickness have tried to use to verify that. One is Galatians 4:13-15. Here Paul says that he preached the Gospel to these Galatians through an infirmity of the flesh, and in verse 15, he makes reference to these people being willing to poke out their own eyes and give them to him. From this, I have heard ministers preach that Paul’s thorn was a rare, ancient disease which was characterized by runny, puffy eyes. But let us look at whom Paul was speaking to when he said this. He was writing to the people who lived in the region known as Galatia, which had as its major cities, Derbe, Lystra, and Iconium. The instance we mentioned earlier, where Paul was stoned and left for dead, happened in Lystra, a city of Galatia. The next day Paul walked to Derbe, another city of Galatia, and began preaching unto them. I’m sure he had runny, puffy eyes, along with multiple cuts and bruises, but they were not the result of some disease. They were the result of having just been stoned. He also says in verse 13 that his infirmity was “at the first,” which leaves the impression it was only a temporary thing that he recovered from.

The next scripture used to say Paul’s thorn was bad eyes is also in Galatians, chapter 6, verse 11. It says, “Ye see how large a letter I have written unto you with mine own hand.” People have said Paul’s eyes were so bad that he had to write in large letters, and this is what he was making reference to. That is only a supposition and not a very good one at that. It is a lot more credible to believe that he was simply referring to the long letter he had written to the Galatians.

The reason it is so important to realize that the thorn in the flesh was not something which Jesus died to redeem us from, such as sickness, is so that we won’t submit ourselves to these things. James 4:7 says, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” We have to resist, or actively fight against, the devil and the things he brings, to see them flee. Satan has used traditional teaching about Paul’s thorn to bring many Christians to a place of submitting to him. But, praise God, you shall know the truth and the truth, shall set you free.
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This is a short article that our friend Jeremy Penwarden wrote on this topic:

“What was Paul’s thorn in the flesh? It’s a well kept secret in the church – don’t want too much truth out there spoiling our religion.

We say you’re a pain in the neck. That doesn’t mean discomfort just above the shoulders. In England we say for heavy rain ‘it’s raining cats and dogs’. 1000 years from now some historian may think that we used to have literal dogs and cats falling from the sky!

It’s in the Hebrew culture..

“But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, then those of them whom you let remain shall be as barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides, and they shall trouble you in the land where you dwell. ” – Num 33:55-56

“I will not drive them out before you, but they shall become thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare to you. ” – Judges 2:3

Both talking about a people group who are your enemy causing trouble.

So it’s clear that thorn in the flesh or thorn in the side is a Hebrew saying, not to be understood literally.

If we accept that Paul’s thorn in the flesh was a people group who were his enemy it seems clear to me that this was what he called the circumcision party. The religious Jews who were infiltrating the church to bring it back to having to obey Jewish laws.

God said He wouldn’t stop that religious spirit in the church. He wants us to fight it. Why you may ask? Well, Jesus never cast out a religious spirit. He cast out every other kind, but not that. Actually, Satan’s fall when He was Lucifer was a religious fall – he wanted to be worshipped along side God.

Adam and Eve’s fall was also religious. They had been made already like God, but the temptation was that if they ate the fruit they’d BECOME like God. So they wanted by their own works to become that which God had already made them, which is at the heart of religion.”

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For more information (ammunition) and some more intensive articles on this subject, please check out our friend Cornel’s site below:

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

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Here is also a video of a friend, Pete Cabrera, who spoke on Paul’s thorn.

Santa Rosa Healing/Deliverance/Salvation Outreach

Ryan — Sat, 29 May 2010 19:30:19 +0000

This is a cross-post from Brandon’s site:

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“On Saturday, I went to Santa Rosa with Ryan/Laura and Andrew. We were invited by an acquaintance, Jose Coelho, who we met in Redding, to minister at a healing crusade. We arrived at VerticalCall around 10 in the morning, and Coelho brought us behind the church building.

There were about 50 people there waiting in line for food to be handed out and Coelho announced to everyone that we were there to heal them. A couple of hands went up (they were more interested in getting food) and we went to each one individually to pray.

I prayed for a few who needed jobs and had sick family members.

One lady was healed of neck pain (3 years) after Ryan laid hands on her.

There wasn’t much happening, so we asked Coelho to get a chair so we could start growing legs out. For the next ~20 minutes we grew legs out, causing backs, nerve problems, knees and various ailments to be healed. A crowd finally started to gather because people were praising God and clapping after hearing that healings were taking place.

…

We all laid hands on one of the leaders who was about to go in for a test for the possibility of cancer.

Laura ministered to a boy who had a cast on his arm had metal in it had his pain decrease. He regained lots of movement.

A family brought their little girl up for prayer because she was born with asthma. Ryan commanded it to go, and went running with her. The family was in awe!

There was a boy who was diagnosed with ADD and Ryan ministered to him (didn’t see any apparent change).

An older woman came up to us also had asthma and carried 2 inhalers with her. We ministered to her for about 10 minutes and she coughed up stuff and got set free from a bunch of demons. From what I heard, she received the Lord and was also baptized in the Holy Ghost. She was able to run by the time she left!!

Many people with all kinds of pain in their bodies came for healing, all those where healed.

There was more that happened, but I don’t remember them all…

—

After we left VerticalCall, we went to the Fairgrounds where the “Healing Crusade” was going to take place. We arrived to see only about 20 people in the room, but we worked with it.

Ryan was directed to pray for a lady who had some kind of pain, I don’t remember what, but she got healed.

Nothing else was really happening until we saw a lady with a wheelchair roll in. Andrew and I went up to her and asked if we could pray. She had really bad problems and weakness in her hips or something. We hit it once, told her to walk and helped her up. She stood and started to walk around.

When people around us saw what was happening, they joined in and prayed, and before we knew it, they had taken over. Everyone else gathered around her and continued to minister to her while Andrew and I just waited off to the side.

Andrew and I were feeling bored after a little bit so I said, “Hey let’s grow some legs out.”

We saw a group of tough-looking younger guys with tattoos, so we went up to them and asked if they had ever seen a leg grow out. We started growing out all their legs, and it opened up conversation to other problems they had. Some of them used to do drugs, and wanted prayer for hepatitis C.

One guy had a screw in his knee, and after we commanded it to be better, he could do squats without any problems (he couldn’t before).

I got to share with some of them about authority, and told them they could break the power of addictions off of their friends that were still doing drugs!

We were going back to Coelho’s house to have lunch, so on the way to the car, Andrew approached a lady sitting on a bench, but I think he got shut down.

—

We had homemade Brazilian food for lunch (Coelho’s wife cooked, the food was awsome). Ryan got a word of knowledge for Coelho’s daughter’s back pain. He grew out her leg, and her arm, and all her pain left. She told us about her bad knee and it got healed too.

What was great about that was because she had been hurt a lot in the past (with religious stuff), so Ryan was able to bring some peace to that.

After we finished lunch, we probably grew out another 7 legs (neighbors that Cuelho knew). We got to talk and share testimonies with Cuelho (he’s got a lot of experience) for a few hours before we went (again) to the Fairgrounds where the healing service was.

—

When we got to the fairgrounds, we pulled out Ryan’s “free healing” sign, set it up outside, and waited for the fish to jump in. For the next few hours we ministered to whoever stopped by.

…

I laid hands over an older lady who had a cataract, posture problems and some other stuff… didn’t see much change.

Andrew and I went up to a guy we saw sitting with his cane, Andrew hit it a few times but the guy didn’t really feel comfortable with any of it.

We had plenty of rejections…

…

I went inside the “healing crusade” building because there was a guy with some deafness that needed healing. When I found him, I grew out his leg and his wife’s leg.

We spoke a little more and found out that the wife had pain along her whole left side. I hit it once, and she said most of the pain left, but her lower half still hurt a bit. I hit it again and then she said there was even less pain, but still a little bit in her hip. I hit it again and then it was good.

Then, she told me that she had a weird ache in her right ring finger. I commanded the pain to go and then she told her husband, “hey I think the growth is shrinking!”

I laid hands on the husband for his deafness (and ringing in the ear), but he said he couldn’t really test it unless there was less noise. Also prayed for some rash he had on his stomach, and a week-old encounter with poison ivy (no apparent change).

I took 5 minutes to teach them basics on healing the sick and they were very thankful because they had been planning to go to a school of ministry. I simplified a lot of things for them and gave them Ryan’s card. They told me they had been listening to Andrew Wommack’s stuff, and I told them they would enjoy listening to Curry…

A mother asked Ryan to pray for her son who was born with club feet. So first, Ryan grew out his leg, and then we took turns laying hands on her son. We told him to go run and his mom and sister were quite surprised because his walk/run looked a lot smoother (it was more crooked before).

—

We decided not stay for the “healing crusade” part of the meeting because there were too many Christians (ironic) there. Coelho suggested that we go to the mall because it would probably be more fun.

At the mall entrance, there was a group of ~10 young teenage girls. Ryan went up to them and asked if any of them had any pain in their body. At first, most of them didn’t take us seriously, but when some of them started getting healed from a variety of pain, they started to listen.

Coelho grew some of their legs out, only a handful of them stayed to listen to what he had to say. The rest of them were weirded out to some degree…

We wandered around the mall until we found the food court. I saw a girl on crutches and asked what happened but she totally ignored me. Cuelho followed her and created a conversation out of thin air. He was able to lay hands on the leg and the girl walked off 5 minutes later with her crutches in her hand.

…

Todd Casselberry – “He’s Better than You Think”

Ryan — Wed, 26 May 2010 22:04:58 +0000

This is a note posted on facebook by a close friend, Todd Casselberry.

I wanted to share it and get it out to the public as much as possible.

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“A short story of our (Todd & Chloe Casselberry’s) journey to Bethel

Our journey here began about 2 ½ years ago when we noticed our son Haven, hadn’t started to crawl yet. He was about 7 months old and so full of life. The doctors did not have any answers, only foreboding guesses.

About this time, our friend told us of a place called ‘Bethel’ where God still did miracles. I had always wondered where miracles went. I was only familiar with such stories in far away lands. We heard the testimonies, and the testimonies brought Hope. Our healing journey began.

I had heard the message of this House that ‘God is good’ and although we knew this theology, we quickly realized the areas of our life that had to be transformed if we really believed this. We later heard that ‘God was in a good mood’, was this really true? Always? I soon realized that how I perceived God determined how I received from Him.

We received the diagnosis of Haven’s condition an hour outside of Redding on a trip to a Jesus Culture event, our second visit to Bethel. The doctor said it was terminal…We were devastated. Our hope quickly began to collapse in our hearts like a balloon losing air. How could this be true?

The next morning we received two words of knowledge in the conference: The first was that God wanted to heal someone with a bad disk in the lower back. My leg started to tingle, and I stood and leaned down, as I heard a ‘pop’ and my herniated disk was healed. Then a woman stood up and declared that ‘There was a young married couple who had a child, a young boy who had a disease, and God wanted to heal his disease’ and as we stood in a whirlwind of amazement, the restoration of our hope began. The eyes of my heart were opened to the Healing Power Jesus made available a long time ago, I saw the miracles, and I discovered….

“God is more willing than You think”

Over the next 1 ½ years, we would make our journey to the House of Love here at Bethel. Every 6 weeks we piled in our car for the 9 hour drive, expectancy consuming our hearts. We Received the love of a family on every trip, although we barely knew them. People would pick us out of the crowd, as if they had a radar for the hungry ones desperately in need of hope. With every hug and prayer God kissed us. With every prophetic word, our faith increased & we had the courage to contend for his healing as we left on our long drive home.

‘The Kingdom of Heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.’ I had a prosperous and influential career in the action sports industry,….yet we found a treasure here in God, that far outweighed the cost of the sacrifice. God spoke to my heart and asked me my desire. He would bless us if we stayed, and He would bless us if we came, it was my choice. He wanted us to pursue the desires of our heart, and it was our desire was to come, so we moved here for school.

I’ve learned so much this past year. I’ve learned the Value of Rest, but also the Need to Persevere. I’ve learned to Rest and to Trust God, does not mean to stop contending. The more I encountered the Love of God and Intimacy in the secret place, the more I understood how much He had already provided, and realized He was holding little back. He would often say “Yes’ and yet I found I would still need use my faith to see it manifest. If we could only believe what He says, even if we don’t see it right away, we would see it more. I realized…

“He has given us much more than you think”

We learned identity, and sonship, and our minds were renewed to the royalty that He had made us. We learned the danger of a poverty mindset, and that the only ‘closed heavens’ was between your ears. I meditated on how “Every spiritual blessing in the heavenlies had been given to us in Christ” and it became much more clear that…

“He wants to prosper us much more than you think”

I learned through some challenging circumstances as well. God’s will is always good, but God’s perfect will does not always come to pass. God’s sovereignty does not mean He’s in complete control, yet He is always faithful. He’s entrusted us with power and authority to further His kingdom, and yet He relies on Us, to Do the ‘greater works’ .

We have a significant responsibility, and yet this is not to be mistaken for a burden. Heb. 5:14 tells us that many of the ‘more mature’ things of the kingdom can only be experienced by our ability to act on our faith and to ‘do the things our Father has told us to do’. I’ve found that He’s waiting on us to believe Him and to walk in our authority, and we too often are waiting on Him.

I heard the story about Smith Wigglesworth, and how he had said ‘If the Spirit of God is not moving in a meeting, he will make Him move’ and I believe God was saying ‘I’ve been waiting on you!’ I realized that the truth behind that statement is that God is waiting for us to move in faith, the Holy Spirit is eager to support us. This was not an arrogant statement, for God has sent the Holy Spirit to help us, and as we set out to do the work, He comes alongside us to make it happen.

He can lead us, but as we mature, we will find that He follows us and confirms with signs and wonders as we do what we know is the Father’s heart to do.

“All the promises of God are Yes and Amen in Christ” . I believe when we get to heaven, we’ll realize we had all that we needed for breakthrough and victory in this life, and we will wonder at the things that held us back from believing it and acting on it….and He’ll wipe the tears from our eyes. That’s why His grace is so extravagant, there will never be a question that He held anything good back that we needed.

Do we need more mantles, or double portions, or do we just need to know The portion He has already given us? Do we need a new anointing, or do we just need to understand we have been anointed with the Holy Spirit and with power? We have the Resurrection Power dwelling in these earthly temples, do we need more, or do we just need to know how to release Him through faith? Is Jesus in us enough? If He just had more of us…He just wants all of us….What if we were fully His as He has fully given Himself?

As we come to understand how much He’s done & everything He’s given us, we must grow up and take the responsibility He has given to us as co-heirs and children of God. “The Creation is groaning”, waiting for the sons of God to be revealed and to understand this. Does the creation know more about what God has done for us than we do? The angels marvel at the power given to Man. God has bound Himself by His word, yet do we know what His word as says He has done in us?

I’ve come to believe that …

“He has given us much more authority than you think”

I have realized that the main thing the enemy tries to do is get you to doubt the goodness & willingness of God, because the more you know His goodness and what He has done for us, the more you will desire Him and less the things of this world, and the easier it will be to receive from Him the things that He has made available. The problem isn’t in His lack of giving, it’s often in our lack of receiving. I have found…

“He says ‘Yes’ more often than you think”

Now, It’s our time to see Divine Justice demonstrated in this earth. How do You perceive the justice of God? Is He a harsh God or is He always good? I’ve learned Divine Justice is releasing God’s goodness into every situation. God has entrusted this role to us, and now we are commissioned, so as we go always remember…

“He’s Much Better than you think”

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To connect with Todd on Facebook, click here.

Revival or Riots Ministries » healing

I Get My Theology from Jesus

“Bowls of Intercession”, Joel 2, and the Gospel

Thoughts & Quotes on “Praying for Revival”

Every Example of Healing in the New Testament

An Appeal to those Seeking and Praying for Revival

“An Appeal to Those Seeking Revival”

RESOURCES

Our Journey – The Motivation for All of It

Testimony of Deafness BROKEN!

Paul’s Thorn Was Not Sickness

Paul’s Thorn In The Flesh By Andrew Wommack

Santa Rosa Healing/Deliverance/Salvation Outreach

Todd Casselberry – “He’s Better than You Think”

Paul’s Thorn In The Flesh

By Andrew Wommack