The Last Enemy

Before I say anything else, I know there will some who may disagree with me, that is your privilege, but what I am writing is Biblical, and spiritual, may the Holy Spirit lead you into the truth. And I will tell you, I recently prayed for a two year old who passed away having had multiple surgeries, so I know some people ask for miracles and receive mercy.

Death is the last enemy anyone will ever defeat, but can I tell you this? Jesus has already defeated it for us, and we can too.  I have been reading some amazing stories of survival for my research. I have to tell you that death is a demon, the last enemy to come against a person of faith. Other things may lead you to it, it could be lurking around waiting to devour someone as people are murdered, at the wrong place at the wrong time, even believers who ignore warnings. It is not an angel in a white suit walking you to heaven.

It is darkness, and not the good kind God created. it will envelope you spirit, soul and body. Soul being the mind. will and emotions. Death does’t care about age, race or gender, death is united with the devil and the unholy three, fear, terror and torment.  All the things hell is made up of why it is referred to as the second death, all unbelievers will go there forever, I hate to think of anyone going but I can’t decide for them. I wish everyone could know His love.

But the believer, though engulfed by it through some instance, disease, or even old age, they pass through the darkness to the light and love of Jesus. But don’t believe everyone who claims to have had a near death experience will be truthful or at least credible, they probably did see this light, but were they being deceived, thinking they were alright, not knowing Jesus, only to have the devil fool them into hell. Hardly anyone admits they were going there or at least not as many.

I wrote a post about suicide and September is Suicide Prevention Month, I can barely imagine that hopelessness, because I have always had hope in Jesus. I have come close to death, too close, not only at birth, and my mother as well, but on a couple of occasions, and prayer intervened. And I had to admit being afraid, even as a believer. Death is fear, death is the devil, death is destruction. I knew I was going to heaven and yet, I resisted the fear and even death, that was eight years ago. Jesus gave us the authority to speak in tongues, put out devils and raise the dead, but do we? Do we even believe that? Or stand on it in faith?

We can’t always do it alone and with unbelieving people around, miracles don’t happen. And sometimes, it is His wisdom for mercy to be the answer, knowing that some, in fact, most people may not understand resisting the devil, who or what he really is, and that they may not be in submission to God. And I’m not saying you don’t have faith, are not a believer, or judging. There is simply things we don’t understand, but the Spirit does.

And I am not bragging on myself, but on Him, He saved my life through prayer and gave me healing when no one else could. I had a good intercessor, and best of all I had Jesus. I really was working too hard to get to a place God had already put me in, He slowed me down, restored my soul, made me rest in green pastures and let Him bear the load.

Let’s look at how Jesus defeated death, and how He wanted us to live life more abundantly, we were created  to live forever originally, and our spirits will, in heaven or hell. God could not allow Adam and Eve to live forever, not until He sent Jesus to take our place, the second Adam, to make the perfect sacrifice and go to hell, taking the keys of, death, hell and the grave, did He restore us to authority.

Now, of course, not everyone lived forever, still, but we have the benefit of living in a time such as this when the catching away of the church will come, we can be alive and remaining in love and faith. We can call life and health to our flesh, speak His peace, ask the Holy Spirit to pray for us and through us, we have the benefit of centuries of wisdom, and though evil abounds and lawlessness is on the horizon, and the Antichrist will appear and deceive many, we still have victory in Jesus. We can resist death and it will have to flee as we wait for His glorious appearing. The devil is a liar, the accuser, and he will tell believers they are not Christians and non Christians that they are okay. Only Jesus is the way to heaven because He made the sacrifice, other religions many have good principals but not cover you eternally, it is the most important decision you will ever make.

I was recently told that you start to die the moment your are born, perhaps the flesh, but really shouldn’t you  start to live? And all the more so, being born again…..and remember, Jesus and His Father are revealed along, He does have the final say, but God is life and love, John 10:10 makes it clear, who our enemy is.

For God so loved the world, that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16

Truly, truly, I tell you, if anyone keeps My word, he will never see death.  John 8:51

No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of My own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from My Father. John 10:18

So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 5:21

Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dies no more; death has no more dominion over Him. Romans 6:9

But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the fruit you reap leads to holiness, and the outcome is eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:22,23

And being found in human form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Phillipians 2:8

But we see Him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone. Hebrews 2:9

( Jesus gave His life willingly for He was lower than angels, in hell but overcame, having been obedient to death, He was raised again. He was lower than angels in order to be a perfect man, our kinsman redeemer, He will not restore fallen angels, and angels do not get saved. and the devil has been judged, damned forever. )

Since the children have flesh and blood, He too shared in their humanity so that by His death He might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— Hebrews 2:14

For because He, Himself, has suffered when tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted. Hebrews 2:18

I really hope this helps someone, we want to bind as much as possible, and loose that enemy of death from its assignment, not all may receive, but the Spirit knows hearts and He raised Jesus, and even we are not doing it, He raises the dead. I heard of one last week, she was at the mortuary.

Rebecca Jones

I do hope you have enjoyed studying healing with me, let’s look forward to the pouring out of the Spirit in September.

 

Perception / Deception Sunday Bonus

 

 

 

 

Is the girl smelling the flowers or hiding a smile from camera? This would be a fun idea to use as a visual demonstration of how God perceives, and how the devil deceives. Really, God perceives us as He created us to be, the finished masterpiece of Ephesians 2:10. But knows we are not there yet, I know you hear it said that He looks at us through the blood of Jesus, He doesn’t see sin because we are forgiven,that is true, we are under grace but He doesn’t expect us to keep on sinning and just claiming grace, that abuses the sacrifice of His Son. He knows hearts.

Deception, on the the other side will tell you how bad God is. He puts things on you, is out to get you, punish you. That couldn’t be farther from the truth. While Exodus 15:26 say He is the God who heals, and won’t put on them…the plagues, more or less, that is Old Testament, the word allow is a better description.

He sent His Son to die for us, He is out to get you saved, but not every one receives. They perceive Him as cruel or vengeful. He isn’t, Isaiah 53 details the horrific death of Christ, pure love as God allowed Him to take the punishment and wrath. His punishment is our peace. His peace, John 14:27.

Jesus was perceptive, He knew what people were thinking, as well as being able to see in the Spirit. People who operate in spiritual gifts get glimpses, but this is the Son of God walking in the Spirit without measure.

The enemy deceives, like a roaring lion waiting to devour, he tries to pass himself off as God but that is where wisdom comes in. And he is still the serpent from the garden, ” Did God really say that? Then why doesn’t He heal you, why did He take so and so? You must be doing something wrong. He is punishing you. “

See what I mean, and sometimes confiding in people is the worst thing to do, be sure of who trust, even believers or ministries. Even perfect people in the garden were deceived, and there is lots of false teaching, and I can tell you it goes both ways. Many of the people that are classified as false teachers are the ones who have helped me and some of the ones that many would swear by, well, just aren’t for me. But I can tell you the Spirit gives us discernment, and I always tell my readers to study for themselves. So let’s look at the Word on it to clarify what is perception and deception.

And immediately when Jesus perceived in His Spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, He said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts? Mark 2:8

…they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding; otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!'” Mark 4:12, I like Contemporary on this, look and look and never see, listen and listen but never hear.

When Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answered them, “Why do you question in your hearts? Luke 5:22

But Jesus said, “Someone touched me, for I perceive that power has gone out from me.” Luke 8:46

When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take Him by force, to make Him a king, He departed again into a mountain Himself, alone. John 6:15

To perceive is to know by the senses, spiritual perception ramps up the natural senses, why we can try spirits or discern spirits, even put them out. Most of us will do well to cast down imaginations and focus our thoughts on Him. And Hebrew ra ah, to perceive, consider, visualize

The Greek word aisthanomai, still to know or perceive with the senses. Luke 9:45 is the only use of the disciples not perceiving what He prophesied about the crucifixion, they were afraid to ask Him. So perceive is to know through natural senses, the mind, and inner being.

Deceive is to defraud by fraud or stealth. So don’t be misled, my dear brothers and sisters.  James 1:16 Hebrew, nasha, to beguile. Greek dolioo, to deceive.

“With God are strength and sound wisdom; both the deceived and those who deceive are responsible to Him. ” Job 12:16

You dwell in the midst of deception; in their deceit they refuse to know Me,” declares the LORD. Jeremiah 9:6 ( Berean, I mostly use ESV. )

For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. Matthew 24:24 ( Concerning end times. )

The officers then came to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, “Why did you not bring Him?” The officers answered, “No one ever spoke like this man!” The Pharisees answered them, “Have you also been deceived? John 7:45,46,47

For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive. Romans 16:18

The coming of the lawless one will be accompanied by the working of satan, with every kind of power, sign, and false wonder, and with every wicked deception directed against those who are perishing, because they refused the love of the truth that would have saved them. For this reason, God will send them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie, and be damned. 2 Thessalonians 2:9-11 ( The Antichrist is coming. )

See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. For in Him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in Him, who is the head of all rule and authority. Colossians 2:8-10

The woman was deceived, and sin was the result. 1 Timothy 2:14 Adam was a willing sinner.

But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. 2 Timothy 3:13 ( Concerning end times. )

We know, for instance, deceitfulness of riches, one of the ways the enemy works, goes both ways, from get rich quick schemes, the love of money making people evil, to the false piety of poverty, not everyone has to live in that kind of monastic vow.

I pray this helps and remember we can deceive ourselves, If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 1 John 1:8, and in other ways not studying and rightly dividing.

Rebecca Jones / freepik

 

 

 

As He Is, So Are We.

 

So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as He is so also are we in this world. 1 John 4:16, 17…

What powerful words from John, and again, he writes about the love of God. I like to read the gospel of John and the three shorter books are packed with, love, wisdom and power. The Holy Spirit had to be on John to write so purely about the love of Jesus. And John referred to Himself as the disciple Jesus loved. He chose that confession for himself. Is it any wonder he survived torture and was the last disciple and was able to write the final Revelation of Christ?

Though the phrase, as He is, so are we in this world is what we are focusing on, that we have the power, love and even mind of Christ, that we are crucified with Him and yet we are alive, we can even go back to John, that He overcame so we could. Writing about healing is important, but it is also wisdom to know what He went through for that healing, to make us like Him.

Jesus was subject to a fallen world as a person, was He ever sick? If He was, I’m sure He was healed quickly. He cured disease, He not punish with them. He took the punishment for peace in Isaiah 53. Jesus was strong and healthy, He walked a lot and talked a lot, did He get tired, weary, hoarse? Surely, as a human, He did. But as the Son of God, He had the wisdom and the Spirit resting on Him and without measure.

He had to rest, He had to be still and know God. Psalm 46:10. He was a master at keeping quiet in the face of adversity and accusations. The Spirit even led Him into the wilderness, and He was tempted during a forty day fast. Most people will never experience that much temptation or hunger, and will walk in a measure of the Spirit, even so, we are to be like Him in this world, there is nothing too hard for Him to change, even if we can’t.

But we are to emulate Christ and the love of God that the chapter talks about. He was crucified, risen and seated in the heavenlies and as sons and daughters so are we, if we can believe. Love and healing are powerful, it is always love that heals. Love and peace are also powerful. Rest and healing are powerful, not just mere physical rest, but deep spiritual rest, so you will even have the faith it takes to be healed. Do what you can, let the doctors and nurses do their best, but God can do wonders as we rest in His love.

Healing is a promise from Isaiah 53, but I tell people to do what you need to as far as medicine and keep that faith built up and getting stronger, because as He is, so are we in this world, and it takes love to accomplish that.

Rebecca Jones  Miguel Bruna

 

 

 

Whom Seekest Thou?

There is a lovely Greg Olsen painting of Jesus with an inviting look and He is in a garden with columns behind Him. It is inspiring as I write ” Whom Seekest Thou? ” during our healing study. It came to me after a late lunch as I am committed to doing a partial fast, take Communion and read Isaiah 53 every day this month, that Mary Magdalene went to the tomb, but she was still expecting Him to be there.

He wants us to seek a risen Lord, one that is whole and restored from death and crucifixion. It is His will for us to walk in health, peace and be the overcomer He was and is. He is the only way we do. I have mentioned before that I live in the South, it may anger some that I would say to them stop worrying about Ten Commandments, you no longer live under the law but of grace. And I’m not advocating breaking the law by any means, but if you truly follow His command to love God and each other, wouldn’t you be keeping the ten? This is spiritual law anyway, not a speeding ticket or a bank robbery.

Remember, Paul called the law Moses gave, the ministry of death. Why because eternal life had not yet come.We live under the grace and truth of our Lord Jesus Christ if we have truly believed on Him. We lived under grace and truth, we are not law breakers, we live under the ministry of the Spirit. He is our teacher and guide.

Why are we seeking healing from a Lord on a cross or in a tomb? Though He probably still could. He isn’t there any more and never will be again. Believe me, I have the utmost respect for Him and His sacrifice, that is why I can say that it on my heart that we start identifying with Him as a risen Savior. He overcame death. hell and the grave, carried everything we have talked about in Isaiah 53 and probably more. He took our place and redeemed us.

To redeem is to buy back, purchase, He literally bought back our souls from the hell they were going to and I am thankful. I want to live as best I can, write what I can to help others and praise Him for it, and I want Him to get the glory. I want you to receive Him as Lord if you don’t already know Him, He is love and longs to have you receive forgiveness and eternal life.

As I said to all of you, I respect the cross, the Ten Commandments, what the patriarchs and prophets endured, but more so what Jesus went through, and now He is in heaven watching over His followers. Why look for the dead among the living? Jesus is alive and well and on the throne, still saving, healing, delivering us from evil. Let’s shake of the dead, the dust and serpents in our lives.

He was ministered to by angels and surrounds us with them. He is alive forevermore and will return soon and as we want to live with our Lord, we must keep our hearts on minds on His great sacrifice but see Him as a risen Jesus, full of the love and joy, peace and healing He desires for us.

Are we, like Mary Magdalene, searching the tombs, or are we like the Mary Magdalene who proclaimed Him risen? Though she could not touch Him because He had not ascended before the Father, we can, and may His Spirit touch us with the revelation of that great love, and the healing we need. We can touch Him and He us through the Spirit.  One of the most beautiful songs ever is He Touched Me.

I just got a prophetic word from that we are living far below what God wants us, it is our choice to believe Him or not and like Mary Magdalene, who the disciples thought was crazed or just wrong, there will be those who scoff, mock and even hate us for our faith but we can believe or doubt, hide in fear or have faith. That is not to say not to use wisdom, for there are dangers in this world, but we serve a greater God.

Whom seekest thou? I am seeking Jesus, the risen one. I am pursuing the Prince of Peace, because He has chased me for years and I need His peace, His rest and His security. And I ‘m guessing you do to.

Rebecca Jones Ash Ashley / Unsplash

 

Jesus Knew Fear

When Jesus was in heaven, and Lucifer was an anointed cherub, there was no fear. When iniquity or sin was found in him, pride and jealousy, he was cast from heaven. Jesus saw him fall as lightning, and Luke 10:17 says that nothing will harm us. He was cast into our atmosphere. Now that the devil was fear, and deceived Eve, he brought fear into the hearts of God’s creations and chaos. Jesus could make that promise that he will not harm us, as long as we are believers. Jesus is our protection.

Of course, we live in a fallen world and things happen. We still have to renew our minds in Jesus, and remain in love, receive His gift of peace. John 14:27….and while we have to count the trying of our faith joy, we will receive, He counted the cross joy, the end is better than the beginning.

Many people suffer with phobia and fears, and they can oppress the mind heavily. Fear is not normal caution, we are not to go pick up snakes, like Mark 16:6, though some do, it is spiritual, and literal, there are evil forces at work, dreams and praying in the Spirit will let you put them out.

1 Timothy 1:7, talks about us not being given a spirit of fear, but power, love and a sound mind. That is the Holy Spirit in us, as people. we can be afraid, but He makes us fearless, at least we can fear less. The Holy Spirit is good about intervening and interceded and protects and comforts us as we yield to Him, we have to submit to God and resist fear and the devil,

Confessing that we are the righteousness of God activates Isaiah 54:17, that no weapon formed against us will prosper. And we are only righteous by His sacrifice. Galatians 3:13 declares Him cursed for hanging on a tree, He gave us His righteousness, for our filthy self righteous rags.

As for Jesus knowing fear, He never did until He came to earth, I’m not sure He knew it as a child, but even as a baby in a stone manger wrapped in swaddling clothes, He was born to die for mankind, Herod was already trying to kill Him. So I’m sure that He was not a fearful child, but was aware of it, especially by the time He was teaching the temple sages.

He knew He had to be about His Father’s business, and it wasn’t carpentry. Perhaps, the plan was revealed along, just as He does with us. He never tells me everything, I know I couldn’t handle it. None of us could, we are divinely protected much more than we know. Jesus had angels and so do we.

Jesus knew fear as He grew older, and was taken to trial, His heart had almost burst in the Garden of Gethsemane. His soul was poured out long before His blood was. He had to totally trust that what He had prophesied would be carried out by His Father, He and the Father were one, and were close but as a man, He knew fear and especially when God looked away from Him, and He went to hell to obtain the keys, His mind had to know God would spare Him from death and hell, the grave. He retrieved Adam’s authority and gave it to us as believers, why we don’t have to live in fear.

The closer you are to Jesus, the more fear you may encounter but He is greater. Like healing, if you need help, deliverance from fear, study the verses, see how many fear nots there are. Okay, I will tell you, 365. Seventy are commands and are declarative, profound statements. Here’s a good one,

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10

I have quaked in my boots and told the devil to leave in Jesus name, and he will. You may have to use His name three times, but he will go, and the peace returns. Now, the enemy will keep trying but Jesus is still greater, so if you are delivered from a fear don’t take it back. While some fearful characters have been a source of entertainment over the years, there is nothing funny about it when it is real. But Jesus knows it better than anyone, He faced it as a man and defeated it as the Son of God and helps us to, Jesus knew fear but would rather we did not.

Rebecca Jones   Shelby Miller / Unsplash

The God Who Sees

It was Hagar, way back in Genesis 16:23 who called Him, El Roi, the God who sees and interestingly enough she is the only person who appears to have given God a name. When she left the camp after the many quarrels with Sarah, pregnant with Ishmael, they are perishing in the desert, and God brings them to a well.

Actually, it is likely Jesus as He often appeared in the Old testament as the Angel of the Lord. Of course, Abraham and Sarah picked her up along with their wealth after Abimelech had a dream and released Sarah, they were loaded with  goods and even a slave, I have read accounts that she could have even been a princess or daughter of Pharoah, though that could be possible, she had more rank in the palace than with them, whether or not she chose servitude having witnessed the miraculous recovery in the palace.

However, it was she who went with them and we all know the story of the child of promise, Isaac, when God’s promise had not come to pass, Sarah sent her husband, who did refuse at first, to his credit, to be with Hagar, when he had relented and she conceived, it was trouble. Sarah’s handmaiden became more the wife, and she did not like losing her place, Hagar should not have had Abraham’s attention to that degree. But it had been her idea, and a bad one. It was a great source of conflict.

And of course, he was visited by the three angels and one Jesus, as the Angel of the Lord, promises a son, Sarah might have been old and laughed but she had a son as promised. There was a lot of tension there, just like today’s families when they are step, blended, fostered or adopted, everyone vying for attention.

If I had a dollar for every time I have heard, ” Nobody cares, nobody can do anything, nobody loves me. ” And so on.  I’d be a rich blogger. Let’s stop feeling sorry  for ourselves. I have done it I know how it is, but pity parties aren’t helpful, I won’t tell you to just get over it  but don’t just linger in your desert. Jesus showed up to save Hagar, and He will us.

She was a slave and referred to as such but He called her by her name just like us. Of course, He sent her back and put her in her place, just as He will to us. She was back under Sarah, who was the matriarch, she was back in submission and under authority, we have to be to receive from God. We have to submit to Him, resist the devil and he will flee. James 4:7…..

Hagar saw the Angel of the Lord and named Him, He called her by name and He does us as well. He sees us, has our tears, Psalm 56:8. Psalm 139 describes us how He knows when we get up or sit down, He numbered the stars and know their names, and He counts head hair, Matthew 10:30, that is how well He know us, what we will say or pray or do, our inaction or reactions, The Lord knows us intimately, but do we know Him that way? We can by the the Spirit.

So let’s not be questioning Him like the disciples in the storm? They asked if He cared if they could die. He stopped the storm, and was not offended but questioned their short lived faith. He loves us more than anyone ever will. He knows our name, it is “engraved” on the palm of His hand, Isaiah 49:16. Being engraved is deeper and carries more weight than being written. It was carved into Christ’s wrist and base of the palm, Just through the palm would not hold a man’s weight.

See how much you mean to Him and we have to allow Him to help us, to lift our head and heart, give us water in the desert, the water is the well spring of life, the Holy Spirit in us. Please remember, He is the God who sees, the next time you start to worry or doubt, I have trouble questioning His decisions, after all He lived and died Isaiah 53, I’m going to read it again.

Rebecca Jones  Karoline Soares / Unsplash

Hagar’s name means stranger or reward, the Angel of the Lord gave her water and promised her a son, His name means God hears, kind of like Samuel, he was to be wild but have many descendants. El Roi, the God who sees, is similar to the Hebrew, shepherd in Psalm 23, ro eh. And you know I had to reread this story, I was thinking she already had Isaac when she ran away, I learn something every day.

Look To Jesus And Live

I have to admit I am writing this post and I am tired, even though I just got up. I have been in a lot of prayer lately, so much so, it is wearing on me but I want the message out there about Jesus and His love and that He heals. There is a lot of panic with COVID, there are more requests for prayer. Ans so  many others.

It is fine to ask for prayer, but please understand that Jesus has already taken whatever it is on the cross, and allow the Spirit to spark the flicker in you, the holy imagination that lets you see Him taking your place, or even a loved one’s. There are many way to be healed, we would all like instantly, but that is not always the case, however, in these times as you look to the cross, I believe it is even more possible as He desires us to be in health, He is returning for a spotless bride.

If you are a believer, you know that Jesus was lifted up on that cross like the serpent in the wilderness. When the children of Israel were bitten by poisonous vipers, Moses was instructed to fashion a brass serpent and put it on the pole, everyone who looked at lived. It was a type of Christ, way back then. How much more then will the death of the true Christ give life? Beauty  for ashes, joy for mourning, love over fear?

These are just visual exercises, like physical ones, they strengthen you. But don’t just look at Christ as crucified, He knew no sin, but became sin, so if the Holy Spirit shows you something ask forgiveness and let it go. He made us righteous, because were never going to be otherwise. He was cursed as He hung on a tree. Galatians 3:13. He was obedient to death or death could not have taken Him, He had to die in our place as a human being, and go to hell to get the keys, of death, hell and the grave. Read over Isaiah 53 until it sinks in, not just your mind, this is spiritual and much deeper. Head knowledge doesn’t always cut it, this is heart knowledge. This is the love of Jesus.

Even the medical emblem is two snakes on a sort of cross. The serpent the magicians tossed down was devoured by the staff of Moses, God always wins, The waters of Mara, once bitter, were made sweet by a type of cross thrown in. Sickness and sin cause bitterness, let the sweetness of Christ, remove the roots of bitterness. Taste and see that the Lord is good. Psalm 34:8.

Imagine that He took upon Him, sin, sickness, disease, every scorpion and serpent that we are to tread upon through Him, I wish I had fully understood how He was punished for my peace, His peace, John 14:27. There was no beauty about Him, Isaiah envisioned, but He is beautiful, and the sacrifice was. It changes us from sinner to saint, sick to well, and even from death to life.

But don’t stop there, look at the beauty of the risen Lord, His ascension into heaven, His Father’s embrace as He was pleased with His Son, who had opened up the windows of heaven and gave His creation access to Him again, He retrieved Adam’s authority, and gave us the right to use it over the enemy, He backs us up.

See Him as our beloved High Priest, easily touched by the plight of His children, His blood is on the mercy seat and He was the once and for all sacrifice, for all who would believe. Look to Him for salvation, but it is so much more, healing is here as we look to Him and love Him, trust His word and promises, go to the doctor, take medicine, but believe He is Lord, look to Jesus and live.

Rebecca Jones

Healing From The Inside Out

I wanted to write this post to help others understand true healing. It is a gift, part of the plan of salvation, and it works in many ways, and some are kind of mysterious. Jesus spat on dirt and healed a blind man, I think He actually created him new eyes. Some people were healed instantly, others as they went and some from that very hour. He even raised the dead, a few minutes, a day and Lazarus three days. Some never returned to give thanks, like the other nine, and some were not healed because of unbelief.

While we might not be spitting in the dirt, we can be healed in many ways, speaking in tongues, laying on hands, anointing with oil, Communion, and even medicine and operations, He sees us through those as well. He wants to be the healer but will meet us where we are and allow faith to work in us.

Many people are misunderstanding how God works, the Spirit is in us as believers and we are healed from the inside out, not the other way around. Of course, if you have a cut, you can apply cream or have stitches, but what about the heart, liver, kidneys, spine and the cancers, the flus and viruses, the internal bleeding.

And even the effects of spiritual warfare, the battle for your mind, mental health and depression. Tongues moves a lot of demonic influences, however, Jesus said spirits will return and with seven worse, so your house, mind, will and emotions, have to be kept free of clutter, and the oil of His Spirit pours in, filling you. That is why addiction to drugs or alcohol can be hard to break as well as other things.

We often hear of the Holy Spirit falling on people, and He does, Jesus can heal and forgive all at once. Some people will wonder why a sinner gets healed and not the church organist, but how does she feel about healing? Sometimes we are taught wrong, our confessions are wrong, we move into fear and worry, doubt can lead you to an evil and unbelieving heart. Unbelief may be the cause of not receiving healing, but that isn’t always the case, God just knows more that we do, and sometimes, He is merciful. Someone questioning the death of an infant grandson, would rather God take her. He doesn’t work that way. She may not have understood but knew she should not question, and now she ministers hope to others.

I don’t think God just took the baby, perhaps, he was spared from some terrible illness or a life of suffering, which opens a can of worms, right? Yes, it does, why a loving God allows suffering. We live in a fallen world, and not all sicknesses are the devil and his minions, but most evil and deadly things are, and they can include unforgiveness and grief, guilt and shame, all the things Jesus bore on the cross if people could believe and let the Holy Spirit in to heal their hearts and souls, and even bodies. Not everyone is strong in faith, even as a believer and when a major illness occurs, it can even try the most believing, why we need to so healing in before anything happens and draw from it if it does.

If you are a believer in Christ, you have His Spirit, get into His Word, sow healing into your soul. Even if you take medicine, see a counselor, or have surgery. The Holy Spirit is in you, the living water that flows from the inside to heal  you from the inside out. What is in you heart comes out you mouth, I thank Him for healing so much, even when I felt bad or was in pain. Instead of relating to His pain and suffering I realized HE took it for me, things I cannot handle He will. And by His wounds I am healed is my profession of faith.

I can be still, rest in His promises. His word is sent to heal us, He watches over it, not one word will fail. Don’t wait for your miracle to fall out of the sky, it is already in you, and is a gift waiting to be opened. His timing is always perfect. Isaiah 53 says it all. His love heals, let Him love you today.

Rebecca Jones  Lina Volkmann / Unsplash

Are You Striking The Rock?

Now, you might be wondering about a lighthouse and rocks and how that ties into Isaiah 53, our base Scripture, in our month of healing.  I am about to tell you. A thought occurred to me, that we should not overlook the story of Moses in our study. You know, after all he went through, he wasn’t allowed into the Promised Land. Once he was told to strike a rock and water would pour forth, but the next time God him to speak to the rock, but he struck it twice.

First, let me say Moses was a patriarch, he witnessed healing first hand, Miriam, and people in the Exodus. He died, the devil wanted his body, people liked shrines and God wanted the worship, he buried him. Now, Moses would have been in Paradise, and eventually, heaven, when Jesus ascended, but he never made it to the land flowing with milk and honey because of his disobedience. Disobedience he may not have understood but we do looking back.

Jesus Christ is the rock of our salvation, God smote Him or allowed Him to be for that salvation in Isaiah 53. He should have obeyed and spoke to the rock, but he struck it twice. Once was enough. Jesus was a once and for all sacrifice to those who would believe. Moses made a costly mistake.

We mustn’t make that mistake. The crucifixion changed the old covenant, and Jesus brought grace and truth. He made the way to the Father, because He is the way, truth and life. We don’t have to be angry at God, He is slow to anger believe me, we do not have to scream and yell or beg and plead. No, we are His beloved children and He expects us to speak to the rock, Jesus, about any problem.

I hear people all the time saying to pray and pound the gates of heaven, or storm them. You don’t have to, Matthew 7:7, says to seek, knock and ask. And if evil people know how to give good gifts to their children, how much better are God’s? I thought of that yesterday, that He was really giving me what I asked and better, only I didn’t always get that. I wasn’t angry and not mad at God but I was disappointed, but His timing is just right. He gives us time to grow.

Water flowed to the children of Israel, when Jesus was pierced blood and water flowed. He was beaten, scourged, spat upon, his beard plucked the crown of thorns was for our peace, which is His peace, John 14:27. So, just talk to Him, He gave us His Spirit to help us. Speak to you rock, Jesus and don’t inadvertently strike Him with anger, or even doubt and unbelief as to His will, just trust His timing. And that He knows best because He knows what we don’t.

I’m not going to tell you that being angry with God will cause you to lose your salvation, if your are truly born again, Jesus doesn’t lose people, only Judas, even he may have been forgiven had he repented, and whomever the Antichrist will be, I think he would be included, but we are to be caught up with Jesus first, is my personal belief. Only people who will not receive His love and Him as their Lord will be turned into hell. But you might miss your promises here.

And just another word about Jesus, He saw Moses and Elijah on the Mount of transfiguration and spoke to them. Moses had died and Elijah carried away to heaven in a chariot. Believers should not talk to the dead, Jesus was the Son of God and He raised the dead, that is entirely different. Though believers should have His power and the authority, most do not have the wisdom and discernment they would need to walk in it, but He does give good gifts.

Faith in His ability to heal is a gift in itself, just talk to Him. People are just people, no matter how rich, famous, or great. But Jesus is worthy or respect and admiration, and like Moses, He is our deliverer, and He will get us to the Promise Land healed and delivered and no feeble among us. Let heal and raise the dead, literally and spiritually dead.

And remember He fulfilled the law and the prophets, Moses brought the law and Elijah was a prophet. But Elijah and Enoch are the only two people who never died and will be the two witnesses mentioned in Revelation, and they will be killed. But before the Antichrist comes, I’m look to Jesus to perfect my faith, be my healing and deliverance, and for Him to come, I’m speaking to my rock and He speaks His peace to me. And meet to be forever with the Lord.

Rebecca Jones  Michael Judkins / Unsplash

Getting Low Before The Lord

Funny how the Lord works on your heart sometimes, I was writing posts in advance, I was telling you all about Isaiah 53, healing verses and I was looking at Jehovah Rapha, one of God’s many names and how it means healer, I was reading Exodus 15:26, about the plagues but God says to listen to Him, it is for His people then and now, I AM the Lord who heals you, and then I am literally on my face in prayer. He is the great I AM, who heals and delivers.

I have been praying and seen some results, but I knew that to be delivered I was being brought low before the Lord, kneeling before the Lord my maker. And I found myself in the book of James, 4:10, to be exact, about humbling ourselves, and being exalted by God.

I’m still reading Isaiah 53, still taking Communion, still doing a partial fast for August, but I am also going to be getting lower before Him, as we near the end of the month. I hope I can share some of God’s heart for His children, by what I am doing as a believer to walk in His path to healing.

I can tell you the problems both health and otherwise and seeing Him raise me out of them is a humbling experience. It was never how good I was, and I was good, but it was that He was. He planned my life, He made the sacrifice. My suffering was not His intent, He knew I had faith and it would grow, and that I would come under attack but He was there. He really was, when I hadn’t a clue.

A lot of us, women especially, though I know men can understand it, have that not good enough or unworthy feeling, when it is He who makes us worthy. I do write a lot of affirmations of faith, I have a Pinterest board by that name. Like many women, I have had to draw from the well of my salvation, and claim promises and be sure to read an profess good  words and actions over my life. Verbal abuse is a terrible way to live, and not God’s way, we hear enough from other people and the enemy of our souls, we don’t need to listen to anyone but the Lord, reject the world’s opinions and believe how God sees us, silence the accuser.

There is nothing wrong with professing your faith or His promises over you life, and I don’t really care for name it and claim it, blab it and grab it idea. While so many have been claiming and making demands on Him, they have become arrogant and even self centered, it works both ways among believers the ones leaning in one direction and another toward just getting to heaven.  God is love and peace, striving so hard took His joy.

Jesus did die for your salvation, and it is much more than just getting into heaven, it was for healing, protection, peace and yes prosperity. But He expects you to have wisdom. The devil exalted himself and was put out of heaven, I’m not telling you that making affirmations or believing in who God wants you to be will make you exalt yourself or get you booted out of heaven, but you do have to be careful that you are not just building up yourself but your faith and giving Him the glory, you might miss blessings, by shooting for the stars, and not counting on the Lord to promote you.

I have had people see the Lord in me, and some have probably considered me the enemy. Sometimes, I feel as though I am on a fine line dealing with others, and I have to just walk away. But it is true, that we must be on the straight and narrow, that is the way to enter in. Many people are called and few are chosen, called to minster or chose perhaps, but even to salvation. Many are called and don’t receive or only that they are saved. Isn’t that a shame? Isn’t it an insult to refuse His gifts?

That verse amazed me to think that like the disciples, He chose me, and I thought I chose Him. I told you it was funny how He works sometimes. We are to be childlike, but then ready to eat the meat of the Word, not babe with milk. We are to let Him be our confidence, to  go boldly to the throne, and yet we are being humble for Him to exalt us.

I truly hope this post is a help, don’t be ashamed to be in your prayer closet on your knees, or if you can’t kneel just bowing your head, you are in the secret place of the Most High, you can be His dwelling place, give Him your heart, He might break it with the story of the love and sacrifice of Jesus, but that’s what heals you, an gets you to heaven, so let’s get low before the Lord.

Rebecca Jones    Priscilla Whendy / Unspalsh