By Pastor J.D. Link

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Mat 15:22, 25-28 says, “And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me. But He answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs. And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table. Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.”

Do you not think this woman hated this demon? Do you not think this poor woman hated this sickness her daughter had? You better believe she did. She didn’t get offended when Jesus called her a dog. I believe He could have insulted her all day long, but she wouldn’t have budged an inch. Why? Because her daughter was sick, and she hated it - as well she should.

Sickness and disease are our enemies. Disease is a thief. It steals people’s faith; it steals their joy; it steals their time; it steals their money. It is not, nor ever will be, a blessing. Who comes to steal, kill, and destroy? The thief (Jn 10:10). Who comes to give abundant life? Jesus. Disease is demonic. It is from the devil. It is not of love, and God is love. It is the Devil who oppresses. It is the devil who steals. Disease is of him. Abundant life is of God. Healing is of God. One of the greatest lies satan has perpetuated in the church, is that disease is of God. The devil is a liar, and the father of lies. There is no truth in him.

Jesus went about doing good, healing all who were oppressed of the devil (Acts 10:38). This verse alone should forever settle what is good, who the healer is, and who the oppressor is. The devil is evil. He oppresses with sickness. Jesus is good. He heals the oppressed. It’s real simple. If you think for a moment that God has something to do with you being sick, then satan has already whipped you. He has fed you a lie, and you have swallowed it. Besides that, you better not go to the doctor or take any medicine. If God is behind your sickness, then let His will be done. Don’t be rebellious and try to fight it - that would be sin. Does that sound stupid? Of course it does. That’s how double minded and stupid that belief is.

We must hate disease with a holy hatred. We must not be passive. We must actively resist the devil, and he will flee from us (Jam 4:7). Hate sickness and disease. Hate it with a passion. Disease is a curse, not a blessing (Read Deut. 28). We must understand this. God is the healer. He is Jehovah-Rapha, The Lord our Physician. He is the same - yesterday, today, and forever. He does not change.

You feel you don’t deserve healing. You are right. No one deserves anything from God. Thank God we don’t get what we deserve. He gives us grace. We are healed by His grace through faith. We are saved by His grace through faith. Did all those healed in the four Gospels deserve healing? Not one. They weren’t even born again! Why did they get healed? Their faith put a draw on God’ grace. That is it. Don’t believe the lie any longer. God is your healer. Trust in Him for your healing.

Jesus showed us The Father’s will. He healed EVERY sickness and disease. He healed EVERYONE that came to him in faith. He NEVER put sickness on anyone for any reason. He NEVER told anyone to keep their disease and glorify Him with it. Sickness does not glorify God. Healing glorifies God. People did not glorify God because Lazarus died before his time; they glorified God when Jesus raised him from the dead! That brought glory to God!

We must know that it is always God’s will to heal. Why? Because “With His stripes, we ARE healed”. It is already done in God’s eyes. Jesus took our sicknesses and carried our pain. We must declare it. We must believe it. We must stop thinking God sprinkles healing on certain individuals He likes more than others. No, Jesus healed us at Calvary: spirit, soul, and body. To wonder if God wants you free from sickness, is to wonder if God wants you free from sin. Does God want you living in sin? No. Does God want you living in sickness? No. Jesus paid for them both. He “Heals all our diseases, and forgives all our iniquities” (Ps 103:1-3). “Your sins be forgiven you; take up your bed and walk (Mt 9:2-6). “The prayer of faith will heal the sick, and his sins will be forgiven (Jam 5:15). The Bible puts healing and forgiveness together - why do we separate them? Selah. Meditate on this. Until next time, rejoice in The Lord!

Divine Healing Pt. 2

By Pastor J.D. Link

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Matthew 8:16-17 says, “When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying, (Jesus) Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.” There have been many arguments about whether or not Isaiah 53:3-5 was talking about physical healing as being part of the atoning sacrifice of Christ. Matt. 8:17 clears this up quite nicely. Jesus Christ bore our griefs (Heb - sickness & disease), and carried our sorrows (Heb- pain & anguish). Matthew, under inspiration of the Holy Spirit, wrote this in his gospel. Jesus came to heal us - spirit, soul, & body. Unfortunately, much of the church has denied this - to our detriment.

In Matt 8:16, it says Jesus healed ALL that were sick. In Acts 10:38, Jesus healed ALL who were oppressed of the devil. Was this God’s will? Certainly. The last part of Acts 10:38 says, “because God was with Him”. Jesus is God in the flesh (Jn 1:14). He is the express image of the Father (Heb 1:3). Does God want all healed? Didn’t Jesus heal all? Yes and yes. We must understand this. We must know Jesus is our healer. We must know sickness is not from God. If we think it is from God, we cannot have faith to be healed. We cannot have “Disney” faith, and wish upon a star. We don’t throw pennies in wells and hope to be healed. Our faith can only be effective when it is based on the Word of God. God’s Word is God’s will.

The Word says we have a better covenant with better promises. If physical healing was a promise in the Old Testament, is having no healing in the New Covenant a “better” promise? No. In the OT, sickness was a curse (Dt 28:15-68). Is it now a blessing in the NT? No. In fact, we have been redeemed from the curse (Gal 3:13). Jesus became sin with our sins, and He became sick with our sicknesses. If He bore my sins so that I can be free, did He not bear my sickness so that I can be healed? Yes.

The church has failed to preach this good news. It has exalted vain traditions of men above the Word of God (Mk 7:5-13), and kept multitudes from receiving their healing. The gospel of healing and the gospel of forgiveness of sins is the same gospel (God heals all thy diseases and forgives all thine iniquities Ps 103:3). Many stop preaching healing because someone dies. Should we stop preaching salvation because someone goes to Hell? Should we stop giving to the Lord‘s work, because someone misuses some funds? Of course not. God’s Word is eternal truth. It does not change. It is not based on circumstances. Individual decisions and results do not change God’s Word. His Word is never the problem. We need to change, not God.

Many are weak and sickly in the church because they do not discern the Lord’s body. They take communion in ignorance of the healing benefits of Jesus our Passover. They don’t take communion in faith; they take it as an empty ritual. Communion is the “Meal that Heals”.

Healing is based on atonement, not on a whim of God. In the OT, they looked on the bronze serpent (a type of Jesus), and were healed and their pain taken away. The lepers were cleansed when the atonement was made. The year of Jubilee started on the Day of Atonement. Aaron made an atonement for the people, and the plague of death was stopped that broke out among the people. Do you see the connection? Jesus was our atoning sacrifice. With His wounds, we are healed. When we exalt God’s Word, and start confessing it and believing it and acting on it - then we will start seeing God’s results. Is this just wishful thinking? No. it is “faithful” thinking.

Most Christians have more faith in doctors and pharmaceutical drugs than in God’s Word. I’m not against doctors - I’m just stating a fact. Imagine if we operated in the faith of the centurion in Matt 8:5-13. The kind of faith that amazed even Jesus. The kind of faith that says, “The Word of God is all I need to be healed”. This centurion was not even a born again believer. But look what his faith produced. Will we, his covenant children through faith in Jesus shed blood, receive any less? Away with such thinking in Jesus Name! Let us believe and receive! Until next time, rejoice in The Lord!

Divine Healing Part 3

By Pastor J.D. Link

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Psalm 107:20-21 says, “He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions. Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!” We see from this verse that God sends His Word to heal and deliver us. Who is the Word? Jesus Christ (Jn 1:1). The Word heals and delivers - Jesus heals and delivers. The Word is truth (Jn 17:17). The Word is eternal (Mk 13:31). The Word is forever settled in Heaven (Ps 119:89). “With His stripes, we are healed” is forever settled. “Jesus does good, healing all oppressed of the devil“ - is forever settled. “They shall lay their hands on the sick, and they shall recover” - is forever settled. God does not change. His Word does not change. He will not break His covenant, nor alter the thing which has gone forth from His mouth (Ps 89:34). We must be settled on God’s Word - because God is.

We do not pray, “Lord, if it by Thy will” concerning healing. His will is clearly revealed concerning healing (Mk 1:40-41). There is not even one New Testament example of anyone praying if it be God’s will to heal. Not one. We pray “If it be Thy will”, because we do not know God’s will - because we do not know God’s Word. God’s Word is God’s will. No one questioned God’s will to heal in the New Testament. His will was known. It is known now. “I am the Lord, I change not” (Mal 3:6). We are either ignorant, or in unbelief. We must stop accusing God. We must stop blaming God. God made His will known.

John 15:7 says, “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” The word “ask” can mean to beg or plead; but it also means to require or demand. How can we find out what Jesus meant in these Scriptures concerning healing and deliverance? Did He mean plead or beg, or did He mean require or demand? It’s easy to find out. All we have to do is look at the Book of Acts and see how His disciples prayed.

Did Peter ask or beg for the man at the beautiful gate to be healed, or did he demand, “In the name of Jesus, rise up and walk!” (Act 3:6)? Did Paul beg and plead for the demon to come out of the girl, or did he demand “I command thee in the Name of Jesus, come out of her!” (Act 16:18)? When Peter raised Tabitha from the dead, did he say, “Lord, if it be Thy will” - or did he say, “Tabitha, arise!”. We must speak with authority in Jesus Name.

Some may say, “Supernatural healing was only for the Apostolic age”. Well, let me ask you this: Was the great commission only for the Apostolic age? Most of us would agree the great commission is still for us today. If that is true, do you know what Jesus said in the great commission? “Make disciples…baptize them…..teach them to observe ALL things that I commanded you” (Mt 28:18-20). What did Jesus command them? “Heal the sick” (Mt 10:8, Lk 9:2, 10:9). If healing isn’t for us, I guess preaching salvation, making disciples, and baptizing them isn’t either. We must not try to explain away parts of the Bible we do not like or understand. Gods Word is perfect. He does not need us to “fix it” for Him.

There can be hindrances to us receiving healing, but never in God granting healing. God has already healed us. He has already made His will known. Jesus already bore our sickness and carried our pain. God is not waiting for us to jump through the right hoop to receive from Him. He has already given us all things (Rom 8:32, Eph 1:3, 2Pt 1:3). If your attitude is, “If God wants to heal me, then He will heal me” - your likely going to die. That’s no different than saying, “If God wants to save me, then He will save me”. Your likely going to Hell. You must reach out by faith, and remove any road blocks, or “mountains”, that are in your way (Mk 11:22-24). Jesus told His hometown that there were many widows in Israel during Elijah’s time on earth - but he went to the widow in Sarepta. Why? Because she believed (Lk 4:24-27). Jesus was saying, “This good news, the Gospel, is available to anyone who will believe it and receive it. However, it’s not going to just drop on you from Heaven. You must act on it. You must acknowledge it. You must confess it. You must believe it“. Next week, we will look at some possible hindrances to people receiving their healing. Until next time, rejoice in The Lord!

Divine Healing, Part 4

By Pastor J.D. Link

agf-blanco.com

Luke 13:16 says, “And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day?” Legalism will blind you. The ruler of the synagogue had become so legalistic, that he couldn’t even appreciate the miracle that happened right in front of his face! However, it seems in the story that when Jesus pointed out his hypocrisy, he was ashamed. This verse is packed with vital information. Let’s get into God’s Word.

First, the word ought means “shouldn’t“ or “it is needful”. Jesus was saying, “This is the right thing to do.” Do what? Heal. Why? She was a covenant child. As a Christian, you are a covenant child of God. It is right and needful for you to be healed as far as Jesus is concerned. Second, notice who was behind her sickness. Satan is the one who oppresses, or binds, with sickness. We have already seen this in Acts 10:38. Satan binds - Jesus looses. Satan oppresses - Jesus sets free. Finally, we see it was proper to heal on the Sabbath day. Why? Because the Sabbath was a day of rest. This woman could now rest after 18 years. Jesus gave her rest. He healed her. What better day to be healed, than on the day of rest? When we cease from our own works, we can enter in to God’s rest.

There are some things that can hinder our receiving our healing. It’s God’s will for all to be saved - but are all saved? No. It is God’s will for all to be healed - but are all healed? No. Things like pride and unbelief can hinder us being saved, and so they can hinder our being healed. We must believe, “When we pray”; not when we see. Another hindrance can be not walking in love. Faith works by love (Gal 5:6), so if you are not walking in love, your faith can be hindered. 1Cor 13 shows us what God’s kind of love is. A third hindrance is unforgiveness. Unforgiveness can eat at you, and make you sick. It is a bitter root. We must forgive from the heart. No one was done more wrong than Jesus was. However, He said, “Father, forgive them. They know not what they do.” We must walk in forgiveness. It’s just not worth carrying it around. It can make you heart sick and bodily sick. Make a decision to forgive, then ask God to help you do it.

Another hindrance to healing is envy and strife. The Bible says where these are, there is also confusion and “every evil work”. We know sickness is evil, not good. Envy and strife can make you physically ill. Be at peace. Eliminate strife from your life. It will raise it’s ugly head when you are weak, but cut it’s head off with forgiveness, love, and peace. Do you always want the last word? You can have it by apologizing. Finally, sin can also be a hindrance. James 5 tells us to confess our faults to one another, that we may be healed. Unconfessed sin can eat at you, and make your faith “shipwreck”. In other words, your own conscience will fight against you. You know your own heart, and if you know you are in sin, you will have a hard time receiving from God. I’m not saying that if you commit a sin, that your going to get sick. I am saying, that if The Holy Spirit has been dealing with you, and you ignore Him - your own conscience won’t allow you to receive. In this case, pride can literally kill you.

In summary, let us look at Proverbs 4:20-23. God’s Word says that if we will pay attention and listen closely to His Word; and read His Word and meditate on it - that it will be life and health to our bodies. Out of the heart flow the issues of life. If the heart is not established on God’s Word, then the issues that flow from it will be doubt and unbelief. On the other hand, if it is full of God’s Word, life and health will flow from it. And as a man thinks in his heart, so is he. If healing is a reality to your heart, it will manifest in your body. We must listen to God’s Word. We must speak God’s Word. Nothing else will suffice. We cannot fake heart faith. We must establish our heart on God’s eternal Word. I pray this series has helped you, and I pray that you would receive your healing and be in health, even as your soul prospers. In Jesus Name, Amen. Until next time, rejoice in The Lord!