The will of God on earth

The will of God on earth

 

 

 

The will of God on earth

 

 

What is God's will here on earth?

The Holy Spirit spoke to me about His will on earth. There are three big things that we find in scrpture, which clue us in on God's will for us here on earth. They include heaven, the Garden of Eden, and Jesus' ministry here on earth.

The Holy Spirit just gave me fresh revelation on a Bible passage that I know we're all familiar with. It's where Jesus teaches His disciples how to pray, and in that prayer Jesus says:

After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

Matthew 6:9-10

The Holy Spirit spoke to me very clearly saying, "How do we know what God's will is here on earth? Just look at what's taking place in heaven!"

The truth is that there are a lot of things which take place on this earth which are not the will of God. Just because something happens here on earth, does not mean that it was God's will that it happened that way. If it were, then it means that every time a woman is raped, or a child is molested, or a father is murdered... then it would have to be the will of God. That kind of thinking is absolutely absurd! If God willed such things, it would make Him out to be a terrible god who has no love in his heart! It would make Him out to be a liar, because His Word tells us that He is love, and that He desires good things for us.

I was thinking the other day about the story of Job, and how the devil tore his life apart, but then how God turned around and blessed him with twice as many blessings. As if the man wasn't blessed already, God turned around and DOUBLED his wealth! The Holy Spirit then spoke to me and said, "I WANTED him blessed!"

While sitting here writing this teaching, I was just thinking in my mind, "We need to be radical for Jesus and the ways of God, for He is GOOD!" And the Holy Spirit spoke to me and said, "That's the way I want you!" Then the verse came to me where Jesus tells the believers on judgment day...

I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

Revelation 3:15-16

I don't know about you, but I'd say that's a pretty serious warning about our spiritual temperature concerning the things of God. But how can we be fiery hot for God, if we don't know why we are so hot and on fire? That is yet another reason why we need to have the knowledge of His goodness!

We can get another glimpse of God's will for humanity here on earth today by looking at what Jesus went about doing in His earthly ministry. Jesus only went about doing what He saw the Father doing:

Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.

John 5:19

What did Jesus go about doing in His earthly ministry? The Bible tells us that Jesus went about doing good, and healing all who were oppressed of the devil.

How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.

Acts 10:38

Now Jesus could have just came down and died for our sins... but no, he also came to demonstrate what He really wanted to happen here on earth by healing, delivering, and carrying out the work of the kingdom. It was the will of God for the sick to be healed, the lame to walk, and the demons cast out! Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil (see 1 John 3:8), and the fruit of Satan's labor is sickness, disease, bondage, and all the other things that God never wanted to come upon the human race. God the Father endorsed Jesus by causing these signs and wonders to follow Him:

Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake.

John 14:10-11

Jesus went about demonstrating the will of the Father here on earth!

Let's take a look at what God wanted for His people, the Israelites. Remember that God is no respecter of persons (see Acts 10:34), and He is the same yesterday, today, and forever (see Hebrews 13:8). The good things that He wanted for His people back then, He wants for His people today. He laid before them a life of blessing, and a life lived under curses. He urged them to choose the blessings, because that's what He wanted for them!

And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God. Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field. Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattle, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep. Blessed shall be thy basket and thy store. Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out. The LORD shall cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten before thy face: they shall come out against thee one way, and flee before thee seven ways. The LORD shall command the blessing upon thee in thy storehouses, and in all that thou settest thine hand unto; and he shall bless thee in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee. The LORD shall establish thee an holy people unto himself, as he hath sworn unto thee, if thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God, and walk in his ways. And all people of the earth shall see that thou art called by the name of the LORD; and they shall be afraid of thee. And the LORD shall make thee plenteous in goods, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy ground, in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers to give thee. The LORD shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow. And the LORD shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the LORD thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them:

Deuteronomy 28:2-13

Now that is a mouthful of blessings, isn't it? God included everything from financial prosperity, to health, and about anything else a person could want! Ask any farmer today if he would like his field or flocks blessed and increased and overflowing! That was their businesses back then, and God wanted to bless their businesses and finances. We find a couple of chapters later, that God is urging them to choose life and blessings. He didn't want them to inherit the curses, but the blessings! What Father doesn't want His children blessed in all their ways?

I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live.

Deuteronomy 30:19

Let's look at what God considered to be a curse. After the list of blessings above in Deuteronomy 28, there is also a list of curses which would come upon the people if those chose not to follow God. I think it's safe to say that God did not want any of these things for His children. I'm not even going to list them all here, but they included everything from poverty, every kind of sickness and diseases, war, famine, and the list just goes on and on. I encourage you to read verses 15 through 68 in Deuteronomy 28 to learn of what God considered a curse, and not a blessing for His people. Today we find Christians thanking God for their curse, when God's Word is clear that such a thing is never once said to be a blessing for humanity!

After you go through all the curses listed in Deuteronomy 28, I want you to remember that the work of Christ has made it possible for us to be redeemed from the curses of the law. Christ came to destroy the work of the devil, and is considered to be the 2nd Adam who brings us life through His name. Jesus said clearly that it is the thief who came to steal, kill, and destroy, but He came so that we could have life, and have it more abundantly.

The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

John 10:10

Is that abundant life just for when we get up into heaven? No! God wants to bless us here on earth, just as He blesses those who are already in heaven. Some say that we are called to a life of poverty and suffering. Poverty and sickness, no, but persecution, yes. Many times, Christians walk around with the sickness and poverty (which is not God's will for them), yet they never see persecution (which God said would come to all of His true followers). Am I missing something? The truth is that we are called to endure persecution just as Jesus has, but that doesn't mean that He doesn't want us to be blessed and taken care at the same time.

And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's, But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.

Mark 10:29-30

What was Jesus saying? "Now in this time" means here on earth! When He asks us to give up homes and relationships with those whom we love, then He has in mind to bless us with much greater blessings right here on earth. How many of you would like to receive a hundredfold blessing here on earth?

To find out God's master plan, just look at the Garden of Eden! When God first made man, everything was the way that He wanted it. No sickness, disease, lack, poverty, shame, or sin. That was God's great plan for man, but it was fouled when Adam decided to rebel. Before sin entered the picture, there was perfect health, provision, and all the good things a person could want. God created mankind to be blessed, and His plan hasn't changed!

 

God's desire to give us good things

God's Word is clear that He desires to give us good things, give us great joy by answering our prayers, and fulfill the desires of our heart. What good earthly father would give his child a serpent when he asks for a baseball? Our Father in heaven wants us to know that He is much greater than any earthly Father, and how much more does He desire to give us good things when we ask:

Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

Matthew 7:9-11

Did you know that God wants us to ask Him for things, and receive them, that our joy may be full? Now don't get me wrong, our motives must be right in asking, because when we ask amiss, we may not receive (see James 4:3). But none the less, God wants us to ask Him for good things, and He desires to give us those things:

And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.

John 16:23-24

Psalms tells us clearly that God desires to give us the desires of our hearts. This sounds more like a loving heavenly Father than what most religious folks have pictured Him!

Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

Psalms 37:4-5

How do we tap into this king of life, to where we're asking God for good things, and He's giving them to us? God's Word tells us to seek first His kingdom, then these things will be added onto us:

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Matthew 6:33

In another passage, Jesus tells the disciples how to ask of God, and receive from Him, but He also warns them of the importance of forgiving those who have wronged us. Unforgiveness will hinder our prayers from being answered and will corrupt the plan of God for our lives.

And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.

Mark 11:22-26

Our obedience to God goes a long way in Him giving us the desires of our heart. God's Word also tells us that if the people were willing and obedient, they would eat the good of the land:

If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land.

Isaiah 1:19

 

The kingdom of God

This is a whole teaching in itself, but let me briefly touch on something here. Many of us hear of the kingdom of God, and the first thing we think is when we go to be with the Lord in heaven. Yes, that is the kingdom of God, but did you know that the kingdom of God can be entered into right here one earth? Do you know what the kingdom of God really is? I was thinking about this one day, when I felt the Holy Spirit say to me, "Why don't you just ask me?" I did, and He replied, "It's where I reign and My will is done." Jesus connected these two things together when He taught His disciples how to pray, saying, "Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven." (see Matthew 6:10)

How do we know that the kingdom of God is available to us right here on earth? The following passages make it very clear that the kingdom of God is available to us right here on earth:

And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand [or available to you right now]: repent ye, and believe the gospel.

Mark 1:15

Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

Luke 17:21

We are told to seek first the kingdom of God, then these things will be added unto us, for it is God's good pleasure to give us the things of the kingdom.

But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you. Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

Luke 12:31-32

So let's take a look at some examples of the kingdom of God being manifested here on earth. By the following passage, we know that the kingdom of God includes physical bodies being healed:

And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.

Luke 10:9

The kingdom of God also includes casting out demons, thus setting the captives free:

But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you.

Luke 11:20

Where God reigns and His will is done, there is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit!

For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

Romans 14:17

We today are called to go forth and preach the kingdom of God (the will of God being done on earth as in heaven), and demonstrate it by healing the sick, casting out demons, and yes, even raising the dead!

And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.

Matthew 10:7-8

 

Living far below God's standard

So many believers are convinced that they should expect nothing good from this life, and that our only blessings are after we die and go to heaven. The idea of God's will being done here on earth just exactly as it is up in heaven, is completely foreign to them. It sounds too good to be true! But let's stop to think about who told us about all these wonderful things that are available for us? It was Jesus Himself! If we can trust Him with our eternal salvation, then we ought to be able to trust Him with everything else that He said was true.

In the middle ages, healing, casting out demons, and so forth was unheard of in many areas of the world. Why? The promises of God were just as valid then as they were in Jesus' day, and their still just as solid today. What happened? People began to exalt human reasoning and experience over the Word of God. They never saw somebody healed, because nobody believed God's promise for healing. They never saw a demon cast out, because nobody believed the Word of God concerning the work of demons, and how we can cast them out in Jesus' name. I believe the reason that so many Christians today are living so far below God's standard here on earth, is because they have accepted human reasoning and experience over what the Word of God has to say.

They believe it's normal for a Christian to be sick because they aren't getting their prayers answered for healing. They don't believe that demons are really at work, because they've never seen anybody do what Jesus commanded and cast them out. How come are there just as many sicknesses among Christians as there are the world, yet us Christians are so duped to say that God gave us our sickness to make us a better person. Did God give the sinners sickness too, so that they could become better people? How is the Christian community different than the rest of the world, if we both have just as many sicknesses and diseases and folks dying of cancer? Yet at the same time, people in the early church were getting healed right and left. Everybody who came to Jesus to be healed, got what they needed! You'd think that the Christian community would have a little higher success rate at dealing with sickness and disease, just as was being done in the early church. When Jesus told us to lay our hands on the sick and they would recover... there was no hesitation whatsoever about checking first to see if it was the will of God.

I hate to say this, but when I see what is going on inside most churches today, and then I open my Bible and read of the accounts of what was taking place back then, it's almost as if I'm reading two different gospels. One was alive, and brought real help to those with real problems. Take a real problem such as cancer to today's churches, and they don't know the first thing to do about it!

God has shown me clearly that if we want to get back to the early church experience, and carry it forward today, then we need to get back into our Bibles, and learn the truth for ourselves. We cannot get any closer to the truth, than if we read God's Word about something. God's Word, if I'm not mistaken, was not presented in just words (as it is today), but also in POWER!

For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.

1 Corinthians 4:20

For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power [the Greek word 'dunamis' tells us that this is MIRACILOUS power!], and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.

1 Thessalonians 1:5

If we want to see what the will of God is here on earth, then our only reliable source is the Bible. The Holy Spirit led me to point out three very powerful keys to understanding on the will of God here on earth, and although I already covered them, I want to list them one more time:

#1 The garden of Eden was God's desire and ideal home for man to live in. God never corrupted it, man did when he opened the door to sin. By looking back at God's original plan for man, we can get a sense of what He desired here on earth. Jesus went to the cross to destroy the work (or fruit) of Satan's work (see 1 John 3:8) and redeem us from the curse of the law (see Galatians 3:13).

#2 God wants His will to be done on earth, just as it is done in heaven. In heaven, there is no lack or poverty, there is no sickness or disease, or any symptoms of a fallen world. We all dream of going to heaven someday, but how many of us would believe God when He tells us that He wants His perfect will done here on earth, just like it is in heaven?

#3 The will of the Father which was being demonstrated through Jesus' earthly ministry. It was not the will of God to heal people back then, while letting those of us today suffer with cancer. Jesus not only proved the will of God here on earth, but He also sent us forth to continue proving it until the day He returns for us (see John 20:21, Mark 16:15-18).

WORD OF LIFE: The Four Laws of God’s Blessing

WORD OF LIFE: The Four Laws of God’s Blessing: The Four Laws of God’s Blessing   “I will bless you … and you will be a blessing.” (Genesis 12:2 NIV) 1. Our blessings should flow t...

The Four Laws of God’s Blessing

The Four Laws of God’s Blessing

 “I will bless you … and you will be a blessing.” (Genesis 12:2 NIV)

1. Our blessings should flow to others.

The Bible teaches us that we are blessed not just so that we can feel good, not just so we can be happy and comfortable, but so that we will bless others. God told Abraham in Genesis 12:2, “I will bless you ... and you will be a blessing” (NIV). This is the first law of blessing: It must flow outwardly.

How do you bless others? By serving a need, whether it is physical or emotional support, financial help, or practical advice. "Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand" (Philippians 1:4 MSG).

2. When we bless others, God takes care of our needs.

God promises that if we will concentrate on blessing others, he’ll take care of our needs. There’s almost nothing that God won’t do for the person who really wants to help other people. In fact, God guarantees this blessing. In Luke 18, Jesus says, “I guarantee this. Anyone who gives up anything for the kingdom of God will certainly receive many times more in this life and will receive eternal life in the next world to come.”

When you care about helping other people, God assumes responsibility for your problems. And that’s a real blessing, for he’s much better at handling your difficulties than you are.

3. Our blessings to others will come back on us.

The more you bless other people and the more you help others, the more God blesses your life. Luke 6:38 tells us, “Give away your life; you’ll find life given back, but not merely given back — given back with bonus and blessing” (MSG). You cannot out-give God. The more you try to bless other people in the world around you, the more God says, “I’m going to pour blessings out on you. We’ll play a little game here. Let’s see who will win. Let’s see who can give the most. The more you bless others, the more I’m going to bless you in return.”

4. The more we’re blessed by God, the more he expects us to help others.

Jesus said it this way in Luke 12: “Much is required from the person to whom much is given; much more is required from the person to whom much more is given” (GNT). We are blessed to be a blessing.

Talk About It

- Based on the blessings of your life, what would you say God expects from you?

- What are the needs around you for which you can use your gifts to be a blessing?

by jon@gracecreates.com

WORD OF LIFE: Bible Verses About Children25 Inspirational Scripture Quotes

WORD OF LIFE: Bible Verses About Children25 Inspirational Scripture Quotes
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WORD OF LIFE: WORD OF LIFE: Power in the Word of God

WORD OF LIFE: WORD OF LIFE: Power in the Word of God: WORD OF LIFE: Power in the Word of God : Power in the Word of God For the Word of God is living, and powerful, and sharper than any two...

Bible Verses About Children25 Inspirational Scripture Quotes

Bible Verses About Children-25 Inspirational Scripture Quotes

The word of God contains so many great Bible verses about children. Anyone raising children knows how difficult things can get but also what a blessing the children are. I have put together a  list of Bible verses to help understand what the Bible says about children,  the importance of raising and teaching children and some famous children from the Bible. I pray that God speaks to you and touches your heart with these Scriptures. Remember the Bible tells us not to merely listen to the word of God but to do what it says (James 1:22).  Take what your read here, write it down and put it into action!

If you enjoy Christian music, you will love the video and song to the right of this article about leading a family. The song is called “Lead Me” by Sanctus Real.

Raising Godly Children Bible Scripture Quotes

Genesis 18:19   For I have chosen him, that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing righteousness and justice, so that the LORD may bring to Abraham what he has promised him.”

Proverbs 22:6  Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.

Isaiah 54:13  All your children shall be taught by the LORD, and great shall be the peace of your children.

Colossians 3:21 Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of Godmay be competent, equipped for every good work.

Teaching Children Bible Verses

Deuteronomy 4:9  “Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. Make them known to your children and your children’s children—

Deuteronomy 6:6-9 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.  You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.  You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

Isaiah 38:19 The living, the living, he thanks you, as I do this day; the father makes known to the children your faithfulness.

Matthew 7:12 ”So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

2 Timothy 1:5 I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.

2 Timothy 3:14-15 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

Bible Verses About the Discipline of Children

Proverbs 13:24 Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.

Proverbs 23:13-14 Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you strike him with a rod, he will not die. If you strike him with the rod, you will save his soul from Sheol.

Proverbs 29:15  The rod and reproof give wisdom, but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother

Proverbs 29:17 Discipline your son, and he will give you rest; he will give delight to your heart.

Ephesians 6:4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

Children are A Blessing From God Bible Scriptures

Psalm 113:9 He gives the barren woman a home, making her the joyous mother of children.Praise the LORD!

Psalm 127:3-5  Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.

Psalm 139:13-16  For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you,when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.

John 16:21 When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world.

James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

Famous Children In the Bible

·         Moses

Exodus 2:10 When the child grew up, she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter, and he became her son. She named him Moses, “Because,” she said, “I drew him out of the water.”

·         David

1 Samuel 17:33-37 And Saul said to David, “You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him, for you are but a youth, and he has been a man of war from his youth.” But David said to Saul, “Your servant used to keep sheep for his father. And when there came a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb from the flock, I went after him and struck him and delivered it out of his mouth. And if he arose against me, I caught him by his beard and struck him and killed him. Your servant has struck down both lions and bears, and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God.” And David said, “The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” And Saul said to David, “Go,and the LORD be with you!”

·         Josiah

2 Chronicles 34:1-3 Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem. And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, and walked in the ways of David his father; and he did not turn aside to the right hand or to the left. For in the eighth year of his reign, while he was yet a boy, he began to seek the God of David his father, and in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem of the high places, the Asherim, and the carved and the metal images.

·         Jesus

Luke 2:42-50 And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom. And when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, ⁴⁴but supposing him to be in the group they went a day’s journey, but then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances, and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him. After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.” And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them.

WORD OF LIFE: Power in the Word of God

WORD OF LIFE: Power in the Word of God: Power in the Word of God For the Word of God is living, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword’  Hebrews 4:12 The Lord ...

Power in the Word of God

Power in the Word of God

For the Word of God is living, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword’ Hebrews 4:12

The Lord has given us a great gift in the testimony of Dale and Pearl Raatz. Their story is one of victory over a medically hopeless situation through skillfully applying the Word of God. Dale said, “God raised my wife up from a brain-dead condition, and has proven to me that He will perform His Word for any of us, in any situation that we face in life. However, we must position ourselves to receive from Him. My heart is to let you know that this is not just for selected people. You can also learn how to bring God’s power into yoursituation.”

Dale and Pearl have told their story in a book about the power of God’s Word, calledThe God of Now. Their story begins in 1997 on a cold February evening. Dale and Pearl had just arrived at a church music program in Iron Mountain, Michigan. As they were taking off their coats, Pearl fell over, crying, “My head! My head feels like it’s exploding!” After crying out, she experienced convulsions, and then fell into a deep coma.

Dale describes what happened next: “While we waited for an ambulance, the other pastors and I laid hands on Pearl and prayed. My natural mind was numb from the shock of what was happening, but from deep within, I heard the words of Psalm 118:7, ‘You shall live and not die, and declare the works of the Lord.’ I began to speak these words over my unconscious wife. I said them repeatedly, and by the time the ambulance came, I had an inner sense that I would see them come true. Pearl would live and not die, by the authority of the Word of God. This inner conviction became like a rock of truth that sustained me through many battles of faith until Pearl was completely healed.

Power in Praise
“A friend went to the hospital with me, and while the doctors worked over Pearl, we waited in a nearby room. I was in the worst storm of my life, and I did the only thing that I knew to do. I lifted my hands and began worshipping God, thanking Him for His Word. As I worshipped, comfort came to me. My sense of shock and numbness gave way, and the rich deposit of God’s Word came flowing out of my heart like a river of living water. I began confessing some of the many promises for healing that the scripture teaches, inserting Pearl’s name in each one.

‘Jesus, Himself, bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness. By His stripes Pearl was healed.’ 1 Peter 2:24.

‘That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying Jesus, Himself, took Pearl’s infirmities and bore her sicknesses.’ Matthew 8:17.

‘I call those things that be not, as though they were.’ Romans 4:17.

‘I have the faith of God, and I speak to this mountain of physical destruction, commanding it, Be thou removed and be thou cast into the sea. Mark 11:23.

‘God has highly exalted Jesus and given Him a Name above every name, that at the Name of Jesus every knee must bow. Every disease, every infirmity, every problem has to submit itself to the Name of Jesus. And every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God.’ Phil 2:9-11.

Hoping Against Hope
“All through that night of waiting, I confessed these and other scriptures. When I grew tired, my friend took over the job of speaking God’s Word over Pearl’s situation. When the doctors came out, they said, ‘Your wife has had a massive stroke, and most likely will be dead within hours. If she does live, she will never regain consciousness, and will be totally paralyzed from the neck down.’

‘No! She will not die!’ The words rang in my heart. ‘By the Word of God, she will live and make a full recovery.’ I told that to myself over and over. I have learned that fear brings the devil into situations, and that even a little bit of fear is a faith killer. It is faith that gets God’s attention and brings His power into our needs. I resolved to stay in a faith position and to not be moved by fear.”

The next day, the doctors moved Pearl to a larger hospital in Green Bay with more facilities for stroke patients. However, the new doctors gave Dale the same hopeless medical evaluation. One of them told him, “Our tests show that Pearl has suffered a catastrophic stoke and large parts of her brain are totally destroyed. She will probably never come out of her coma, and even if she does, she will never recognize or remember you. I am sorry to have to tell you this, but there is no hope.”

Dale said, “Maybe from a human perspective there is no hope, but where there is God, there is hope! He is the God of Abraham ‘who against hope, believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations.’ (Rom 4:18)”. So, just as Abraham considered not his own body, now dead, I resolved to not consider Pearl’s nearly lifeless body, but to meditate instead on the promises of God, and to continually speak them over my wife.

“Because the situation seemed so discouraging, the doctors delayed doing surgery that would relieve pressure on Pearl’s brain. I felt that they were expecting her to die no matter what they did, so it was a minor triumph when they finally agreed to operate. I had strongly wished they would operate sooner, but the Bible says that faith works by love (Gal 5:6). For this reason, I knew that I could not get into strife with any of the medical people. Even when I was at odds with the medical people, I always tried to deal with them in love and kindness, and this brought about many small miracles.

“For example, I felt that it was important that Pearl be bathed constantly in anointed music and the scriptures, so I wanted to bring in a tape recorder to play them 24 hours a day. The nurses told me that this was absolutely against the rules. But because my loving approach had brought me so much favor with the medical staff, they eventually bent those rules and allowed me to bring in a tape recorder. Soft worship music and reading of the Word filled Pearl’s room 24 hours a day. I knew her spirit could hear and gain strength, even though she remained in a coma.”

God’s Battle Plan
Dale knew that getting Pearl back from this seemingly hopeless state was going to be a long fight. He said, “Through the past years, we had seen enough miracles come about through speaking God’s Word, that I really trusted it. However, I needed more. I needed to hear God’s plan for this situation. He is the Commander in Chief, and I needed to know how He wanted me to fight this battle.

“By praying and meditating on the Word every day, I had long ago learned to discern His voice. I was continually listening for His guidance. One day, as I was reading Second Corinthians 5:17, Therefore, if any man be in Christ he is a new creature, I heard the voice of the Lord asking me what those words meant to me. The question really made me think, ‘Lord, what are You trying to tell me?’ I began to realize that this passage was not limited to the spiritual side of things, but that Pearl was also a new creature physically in Christ. Therefore, she could have a new brain!”

Dale began to call this new brain into being. He persistently spoke to Pearl, as she lay in her coma, saying “You are a new creature in Christ and you have a new brain.” The Lord also showed Dale that the name of Jesus was higher than any other name, and that every knee must bow to that name (Phil 2:9). He began to speak directly to the name ‘stroke’ and demand that it bow to the name of Jesus. He describes the remarkable story of this battle in his book, The God of Now.

Dale stayed in the hospital with Pearl, night and day for several weeks, continuously fighting on her behalf. During this time, he prayed for some other “hopeless” cases in the hospital and saw creative miracles that saved lives and brought the reality of God to those patients and their families. He was in another patient’s room, praying for that person’s healing on the day when Pearl finally opened her eyes, recognized her family and began to speak. He said, “When my children came to tell me Pearl had opened her eyes, I was overjoyed, but I was not surprised. The Word of God is a seed that will always bring forth a harvest if we follow the guidelines laid out in Mark 11:24.”

Mark 11:22-26

And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore, I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.

The Word worked for Pearl. Pearl mended quickly, and today she is completely well. She is vibrant and alive, and ministers healing to others along with Dale.

Pearl is among us today because Dale knew how to apply the Word of God. From the first moment of the stroke, Dale resolved to believe that God’s Word was true, no matter what medical facts were presented to him. He did not refuse medical care, but cooperated lovingly with it. He spoke the promises of God continuously, and let no doubt or unbelief come out of his mouth. He praised and worshipped God in the midst of the storm, and heard God’s battle plan while he was reading the Word. For those who feel that they have to choose between trusting God’s Word and accepting medical care, Dale advises, “If something is good and helpful, it is wrong to turn it away. God has given us medicine; we must use it in faith, always understanding that God is the one who heals.”