The Promise for Your Healing Nov 10, 2021 • Pastor John Carter

 

Dilemma and Deliverance - Charles Spurgeon Sermon

We all have: "Just One Of Those Days"

 

 Todays blog will be a bit different. Have ya ever just had a day? You know what I mean? A day where ya just want to go back home, crawl under a blanket and shut off your mind for the rest of the day.?

I think we all have haven't we?

 I wanted to take a break from my usually highly spiritual blogging(sarcasm intended) and just let you know that no matter how spiritual, stable, successful or in control a person may seem, we all have a day now and then. Sometimes those days can string together cant they?

 I have had times in my life where those days, became weeks, and those weeks became months, and for a particular difficult time in my life, those months became years.   

 Years of struggle that no one knew about. Months of extreme physically painful stress that weighed on me like I was carrying 1000 pounds on my shoulders.  It is almost painful to even remember those years. No matter how hard I try I can not make sense of them or bring closure to them.  I can only look back , cringe a little and thank God for His Grace, and trust Him that there is a reason He didn't reveal His Delivering Arm to me.  

 I am sharing this today, because, well today has been a day. My vision is clouded and it is hard to look forward to even good things without a sense of anxiety and fret.  I have educated myself on what is going on inside my brain when I feel this way. I know what is coming from certain chemicals in my brain and what is coming from the enemy of my soul taking advantage of it. 

 But , ya know, having knowledge of what is going on helps, but it doesn't make the feelings, the struggle, the fight of faith any less of a fight.  I know that something like visiting my loved ones is going to be so much fun and bring joy to my heart. But, it gets annoying on days like today when looking forward to even good things brings a shot of negative energy from from brain to my gut, like I am fretting over a major operation.  That is what an anxiety disorder does, it robs the joyful moments of life of thier joy, by covering our eyes with a filter of fret and worry.  

Then add work issues, the daily grind and the everyday annoyances of doing life, it can make for a day you just want to end. Punch out, go home, go to bed, binge watch TV, eat cake, anything to just unhook. 

  Lets stop these nasty little days from growing into weeks, months and years. Reach out to somebody who encourages you when you talk to them. And for those who are the open ear and the comforting voice, be there for them.  Pray and believe The Lord will tell you when somebody is trapped in depression and anxiety and needs you to call. Believe for a word from God , so that the trapped one can be reached no matter how trapped they are. It is funny, sometimes you will be the one who needs a hand out of the murky water, just to have God tell you to help somebody else out of the murky water the next day. We need each other to help minimize and even turn around bad days. 

I do, you do , we all do.   With love

Here are some poems that I have posted many times over the years. Some came out of The Days I mentioned above, some came out of The Weeks and a couple came out of The Years of  , "just one of those days"  strung together.

Nothing Can Take Our Victory. When We Abide In Christ!

Nothing can take our victory in Christ when we abide in His presence
Problems are not burdensome
They are only challenges
Resistances that will help you build strong faith.
Weaknesses are not defeats
They are just battlegrounds
That will build character
And trust in the grace of God.
Setbacks, temptations and attacks
Can’t steal your joy
They are just opportunities for testimonies.
Who is the deliverer of your soul?
Who has given you the victory?
Who has brought you this far?
Will he leave you behind?
Will He leave you without victory?
Will He abandon His word?
Will He leave His children unprotected?
Will He not keep His promises?
He is worthy of all trust, worship and honor.
He can be relied upon to do all He has said in His Word.
He is always willing to meet the expectation of Faith in His promises
Problems are not burdensome
They are only challenges
Resistances that will help you build strong faith.
Weaknesses are not defeats
They are just battlegrounds
That will build character 

And trust in the grace of God.
Setbacks, temptations and attacks
Can’t steal your joy
They are just opportunities for testimonies

Declare!

When you feel like the children of Israel
Pressed against The Red Sea!

This is what the declaration
Of your mouth needs to be!

That Jesus Christ Is Lord, over all The Earth
And by His mighty hand, your deliverance will be birthed

He is your savior, your God, your Lord
He is your Father, who is watching diligently over His WORD!

He loves you more, than your human heart can understand
He has paid the price, with His Blood, so you could inherit HIS Land!

He has given you all things freely
That pertain to this life

He has given you Faith and Joy
To replace Fear and Strife

There is only one thing that
You must be diligent to do

That is to open your mouth BOLDLY
And DECLARE HIS WORD TO BE TRUE!

Look at bondage
And declare I am free

Look at blindness
And declare I can see!

Look at fear
And declare I am full of Faith!

Look at depression
And declare strength for the race

Then look away from the problem
And to His Glorious Throne

For in Truth and in Spirit
That is your true Home

And say

I am not weak
But strengthened with ALL MIGHT

According To His POWER
I AM WAGING AND WINNING THE GOOD FIGHT!

I AM NOT SICK
BUT THE HEALED OF THE LORD

THE HEAD AND NOT THE TAIL
I HAVE FULL FAITH IN HIS WORD!

I AM NOT FULL OF SIN
BUT WASHED CLEAN BY THE BLOOD

THE HOLY SPIRIT IS MY HELPER
EVEN AS THE ENEMY IS COMING LIKE A FLOOD

So say with me, with a shout from your heart
Say it boldly, say it loud, tear the enemy's lies apart!

I am a child of Light
A new creature in Christ!

I am Born Again, Blood Bought
And full of Power and Might!

I am the head and not the tail
Above only and not beneath

I have on His Mighty Armour
His all powerful SWORD in my sheath

In Him, I stand strong
In Him, I stand Tall

For He who keeps me
IS LORD OF ALL

I AM FREE
I AM FREE
I AM FREE

AND IN HIM WILL FOREVER BE!

March On!!

March On, Faithful Soldier
March On, Mighty Ones
March through, this Muddy Valley
For The Kingdom, Of Gods Son!

When your legs, begin to falter
And your soul, grows tired and weary
Stand Up, In The Spirit!
And declare, The VICTORY!!

AND THEN

March On, Faithful Soldier
March On, Mighty Ones
March through, this Muddy Valley
For The Kingdom, Of Gods Son!
When your head, begins to drop down
And you lose sight, of Your Kings Face
Lift up, your eyes, and FOCUS!
For The LORDS help, will soon come!

AND THEN

March On, Faithful Soldier
March On, Mighty Ones
March through, this Muddy Valley
For The Kingdom, Of Gods Son!

He is Faithful. Who has called you
And He is leading you, by His Hand!
He is able, and more than willing!
To bring you, to The Promised Land!

SO

March On, Faithful Soldier
March On, Mighty Ones
March through, this Muddy Valley
For The Kingdom, Of Gods Son!
(repeat)

He Is Faithful

We are the army, of The Blood Bought Redeemed!
We are led by The Lord, and upon His Spirit we lean!
We are fully armed and equipped, to fight the good fight!
We are filled to overflowing, with Our Lords Love, Power and Might!
We stand as one, in The Love of Christ!
We receive, and deploy, all the benefits, of this New Creation Life!
We will go forth, in The Authority, of His Mighty Name!
We will be the hands The Lord uses, to heal the blind sick and lame!
But above all else, we will be His Voice!
To spread the Gospel Of Christ, and in A Great Harvest of Souls.. WE WILL REJOICE!!!!!




A New Day

I see upon the horizon the dawning of a new day
A time when even the most stiffed neck will have to say
Jesus is LORD over all the land
And he has dominion of all the work of His Hand
The day Isaiah spoke that a great light will arise
The day of Gods vengeance, and His enemies soon demise
The season of The Harvest and The Gathering into Gods Sanctuary
The Precious Fruit of The Earth, finding their place in eternity…..
I will boldly say without fear
The Return of Our King is Very Near.

The "Problem" With Revival Part 2 (He Never Leaves, He Never Changes)

  After I posted Part 1 to this message, I was drawn to listen to part of an audio book by Andrew Murray.(Posted Below) He understood that the very revival he was part of , was meant to give The Body of Christ a revelation of the truth that all Christ accomplished , was to bring to The Father many sons and daughters.  Andrew Murray had a deep revelation of our call to Abide In Christ.  The message The Lord gave him is the very message The Lord needs us to understand now. 

  For all the gimmicks, supernatural schools of ministry, spiritual sales pitches and a down right false teachings and heresies about walking in Gods Power and Anointing, we are missing the heart of God. 

  We were born again as sons and daughters that can abide with Christ continually, and given full access to go before The Father with confidence and love. He Himself loves us, and desires to give us all good things. Any thought, teaching, mindset or stronghold that informs us that we need to perform in order to go before our Daddy, is a lie. 

  He never changes He never leaves us, He hasn't abandoned His Children and He has done all that needs to be done in order to fulfill His plans and purposes on this earth through His Church. We are called as believers to simply abide with Him, abide in Him and allow Him to abide and live through us.

 That is where discipleship comes in. Discipleship isn't the path that brings us to a place of abiding, or a place of being accepted by God. No ,once we are born again, we are made righteous, He makes His home in us, His Spirit is sealed in us, to abide forever. We are disciples as we learn from Him, Love one another, and trust in Him and His Word.  

 I can't stress enough the importance of The Church receiving this truth. The Lord is not interested in another man led "revival" . He is not interested in lifting a few men up in order to bring a revival message to His People. His people walking once again with Him , and with each other in Love Unity and Purpose is His hearts desire. 

 We saw glimpses of this unity and purpose in the beginning rains of Pentecost and The First Church Gatherings. The latter rains were spawned by His Leaders and His people continually abiding in Him. They were raw new believers, not perfected in their minds and bodies, but they dwelt in His presence daily. 

  The leaders, gave themselves totally to The Word and Prayer together. They were not distracted by business or even outreach. When there were issues that came up that would draw them away from this time of dwelling they chose men who were full of wisdom and The Holy Spirit to care for the things of the people.  

 Even these men were caught up in the Power of this former rain, as Stephen performed signs and wonders among the people.  The Apostles were in a place of deep dwelling in the presence of The Lord and His Word. They and the people were one, walking in the very Prayers of Jesus before He went to The Cross.  It was a season in which The Lord was confirming not only His own words, but The Words of The Apostles and Disciples, with accompanying signs and wonders. They were abiding as one, just as Jesus and The Father walked as one on the earth.

  This was not , as Cessationist would say, a season only assigned to The age of The Apostles. All that is written in The Word, even The Book of Acts is good for Doctrine, Teaching, Correction and Instruction. The Gospels and The Book of ACTS make it very clear, both through The Ministry and The Demonstrations of Power and Glory in the early church that it is Gods Will to continue to bring salvation,  healing and deliverance to the ONE SOUL and to the MULTITUDES.  

  I have heard it said , or at least implied, even by those that would in no way identify as Cessationist,  that after The Book of Acts we see The Church moving from signs and wonders to instruction and teaching on how to live a good life.  That is true if you are reading the bible like a novel. However, it just is not good teaching or doctrine. 

 The Epistles are a continuation of The Lord building His Church. He laid the foundations, living foundations, in Power and  Glory. As His church grew, through preaching, mighty signs and wonders and The Fullness of The Gifts of The Spirit operating through very green, at times very messed up new believers, questions began to arise. Problems between people began to arise, issues with bad doctrine trying to send Gods people back to works, began to arise, so The Lord had His Holy Apostles answer these questions and deal with these issues.  

  In this process He inspired The Apostle Paul, and gave him revelation on all that The Finished Work of Christ accomplished both for Jew and Gentile. He answered and faced all the questions of The Jews and those wanting to deny The Work of Christ had.  The Epistles were not written to show that God had somehow took the supernatural, demonstrative aspects of The Ministry of Jesus and put them on the back burner, not at all.  We can see in the words of Paul , by comprehending some of the questions he was answering, that the believers in Corinth and Ephesus were operating powerfully in The Gifts of The Spirit. 

 He wasn't addressing the glory they were operating in, he had to instruct them that although they were moving in Gods Power, love and walking in the light of Christ were of the utmost importance. They couldn't let pride cause them to think Gods grace, and glory operating through them, was because of them. They needed to know that Gods Grace was not an license to walk in sin. They were expected to add to their faith in Christ, knowledge, wisdom, brotherly love and kindness. 

 None of the instructions were to teach them how to operate in a signs and wonders ministry (except how to keep it orderly). Nobody was opening schools of the supernatural. Actually there were a few that began to teach that way and Paul had to rebuke them openly.  They were already walking in the powerful supernatural gifts of The Spirit, but they were in danger of losing these things, because they were moving away from their first love, from the dwelling place of the joy of their salvation. They allowed confusion, disorder, pride, and works to invade their place of unity and abiding in Christ.

 There is another way I could explain what I KNOW The Lord is speaking right now, however I do not wish to expose other ministers. I spent many years trying to point at error. It only brings more discord and confusion.  I know that is not Gods will. He will demonstrate His Will by restoring His Church to Her Fist Love, and away from works, worldliness and pride.   

He will complete His Work. The Latter Rain will be just as the Former Rain. 

 Below is an audio book by Andrew Murray. I highly recommend listening to it carefully. God is speaking to us today through it. 

Abide in Christ - Andrew Murray (Full Audio Book)

The "Problem" With Revivals Part 1

Why do revivals have to end?

Why have many revivals gotten off?

Why have some revivals ended in shipwreck?

Was it Gods original purpose in Christ to build a Church that would need to be revived? 

I wanted to share with you something that I talk to The Lord about often and something that I believe is of great importance to all of us that call ourselves Christians. In doing so, I pray that in some way all these questions above will be answered in your heart. The Lord loves you very much, He loves The World far more than we can imagine. He paid a high price so that we could become partakers of His Divine Nature and Ambassadors of His Great Commission He gave us to complete.

(2Peter 1:1-10) (Mark 16:14-20) (John14:7-18)

You have heard the statement "Revivals are not meant to last, they come and go".

Honestly when people say that there is something in my heart that understands that is true, but also I get a check , not really a check but bit of an asterisk in my spirit when I hear that.

I absolutely have seen how people try and prolong what God was doing for a season and it is never good. I have been there personally in my walk with God. Trying to carry an anointing far past its intended season can wear out every system of the body and mind. However, does that mean that God moving in miraculous and wonderful ways to heal, deliver and set free has a time limit on it, or does it reveal something in us, that needs to change?

This has been my question to The Lord in the many years I have been praying and walking with The Lord over these things:

"Lord, do you just decide enough people have been set free and delivered? Enough people have been healed? Enough people have had life changing interactions with you and your LIFE giving Spirit? "

The answer is always the same, "No it is my great desire to continue My ministry on earth through my church. To go about doing good and healing all who are oppressed of The Devil. To give beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, sight to the blind, to set the captives free and declare the time of The Lords Favor."

I have come to believe that what we know as "revival" isn't really The Lords best for His people. He truly does not want to have to revive us. He wants us to abide in Him, with Him and do all things through Him, as He works The Works of The Father through us. We have been given all these great and precious promises so we can always live in Gods favor as we have become partakers of His divine nature. We can dwell with Him, we can walk with Him, we can be fully authorized Ambassadors of His Kingdom every day of our lives. If we choose to make that our only goal and agenda. If we choose to abide in Him and fellowship in unity with His Church.

John 17:20-26

20 “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; 21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22 And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: 23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me. 

24 “Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. 25 O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me. 26 And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.”

He said He would build His Church and the Gates of Hell would not prevail against it. He didn't say He would build men, in different times to revive His Church . He said He would build His Church. His Church are His People gathered. His called out ones coming together in unity under His Banner and Great Commission to take The Gospel of His Kingdom to all creatures, making disciples of all nations.

When we are engaged in that, operating together for His Purpose, following his path, obeying His command for us to love one another. We build a people who can continually walk in all His precious promises, as Ambassadors of His Kingdom, and empowered with authority to demonstrate His Love. Not just as planned services in the building we gather, but as we walk in the park, go to the store, work in our jobs.

The Lord is not going to place a time limit on how close His people walk with Him. He isn't going to limit the access we as his children have to His presence. He isn't going to withhold His love, compassion and Spirit from those who continually, as an act of thier will, draw close to Him everyday. If we learn, and decide to dwell in Him and with Him and for Him, we will see His Great Love spill out of us and powerfully effect those around us. Demons will be irritated and even manifest themselves , only to be cast our, just as Jesus did. He hasn't set a limit on the deliverance He wants to bring to hurting humanity and lost souls. He will move us with compassion when we see see somebody bound by sickness, disease and evil spirits and as we are obedient to do as He instruct, how He instructs He will heal and set people free.

This abiding in Him , so that we could ask what we will and have it done unto us, was, is and will always be His plan until this age ends. To think He limits the love He wants to pour out through His Church , shows a great misunderstanding of what Christ was manifest for. That type of thinking limits the scope of The Finished Work of Christ.

The Love of Christ operating through us toward others carries an anointing in it that we have just scratched the surface of. Love never fails. Many times, apart from his "scheduled ministry" Jesus saw the plight of people lost and without a Shepheard, hungry without food, thirsty without drink and was moved with Compassion. A compassion unlike normal human compassion, but a compassion that came up from His Own Spirit and through that compassion, unique only to Jesus at that time. He did signs and wonders in order to draw the people to what they needed the most, Him.

(Matthew 9)

I believe this is why Paul prayed so often and earnestly prayed that we would know The Love of Christ, the fullness of The Love of Christ. (Ephesians 3) The depth, the width and the breadth of His Great Love.

I believe we can get to a place as individuals where we are walking in this revelation and reality everyday. I believe we can dwell in His presence and abide in Him in such a deep close way that we will be moved by His Compassion and Love to continue His work of healing and delivering those whom He brings by our path to show His Kingdom to. (Matthew 9:35-38)

I have faith, that we will enter a time, and are already beginning to step into it, in which we will be more aware of spiritual things than natural things. That we will abide in Him and walk with Him so closely that this world and its chaos will be like the temporal puff of smoke it is. We will begin to walk in the spirit and truly be able to say , it is no longer I that live, but Christ who lives through me.

It is a truth in God that He allows His people to walk in certain lesser truths in order to get them to keep moving forward toward the fullness of truth He wants them to walk in. I believe this is where we are at concerning "revival" . What was once accepted in one season has now become something The Lord will no longer, allow. Not revival as we have come to see it. He wants us, I would even be bold enough to say He requires us, to come back to Him. He so desires true ands close relationship with us that He is no longer able to allow us to just be revived for a season, only to have us build idols in His Sanctuary.

Don't we understand how we have so hurt The Lord? How we have been like and unfaithful wife. He reaches His arms out to us, calling us back to Himself and we choose worldly things instead. He welcomes us into His arms and presence , only to have us then walk away into the arms of another. Even then He still calls out to our hearts to return to our first love, only to have us ignore Him, reject His arms and commit adulteries against Him in His very presence. He has created in us a holy temple where He abides. When Jesus prayed for us, He prayed that we would be one with Him and each other. That The AGAPE Love He and The Father had, would remain as we dwelt with Him , He with us and We with Each other. His intent was never to stay distant from us, be secondary to our "ministries" and lives. He calls unto us daily. He paid the highest price to be in us, and move through us. He never intended for us to need revival, His intent is clear. Abide in me even as I abide in you. Draw close to me and I will draw close to you. I am the vine m you are the branches, apart form me you can do nothing. His Love was always meant to flow continuously through us. His Spirit guiding us and growing us, directing us and giving us LIFE and Peace.

John 15:7-12

7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. 8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.

9 “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. 10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.

11 “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. 12 This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.

I hear saints wanting revival to return, and saying it may return, but wont remain. In all of that conversation we can see where we have forsaken our first love. Where we have believed something that was just not true. We look back at revivals with such fascination and longing , wanting to see then again, and I get it, but that time is over. The Lord wants His Children to gather to Him, to abide with Him, to be guided and taught by Him. He wants YOU to know The Love of Christ. He wants you to get a revelation of The Depth and The Width and The Breadth of The Love of Jesus.

Revivals were never meant to last, because revivals were never meant to be needed. Revivals have almost become something like a husband calling his unfaithful wife to come back to her first love, showering her with gifts and demonstrations of his love, only to have her be enamored by the gifts and attention, but not really interested in him. She doesn't even really receive him back anymore, she just wants the gifts ,attention and excitement. Once they go away, there was never any real love her part, even though He loved her with all his heart.

Help us Lord to return to our first love. To rest, abide and like John The Apostle , lay our head on your chest, to hear your heartbeat, to sense your love for us, and the world you were sent to save.

As your word says: So let it be so:

Ephesians 3:14-21

14 For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, 

17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height

— 19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.