“The work of Christ in cleansing the leper from his terrible disease is an illustration of His work in cleans-ing the soul from sin . . . . Whoever will fall at His feet, saying in faith, “Lord (Adoni – Sovereign King), if Thou wilt, Thou canst make me clean,” shall hear the answer, “I will; be thou made clean !”
Matthew 8:2-3
In some instances of healing, Jesus did not at once grant the blessing sought. But in the case of leprosy, no sooner was the appeal made than it was granted. When we pray for earthly blessings, the answer to our prayer may be delayed, or God may give us something other than we ask, but not so when we ask for deliverance from sin.
. . . It is His will to cleanse us from sin, to make us His children, and to enable us to live a holy life.
Christ “gave Himself in exchange for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father.” Galatians 1:4. And “this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He heareth us: and if we know that He hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have desired of Him.” I John 5:14
“For without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is (I Am), and that He is (I Am) a rewarder of all those who diligently seek Me . . . !” Hebrews 11:6 – ref: Desire of Ages p.266
So often I have found myself, and other souls, who are struggling to really believe a Promise of God; they say that they know He can do a thing, but they are not sure if He will? And as I have wrestled with this quest-ion of true faith, I have found that the LORD is very clear on how this Life of faith is achieved. For true faith is not simply know that “God can do a thing,” but that He has already spoken, and the thing is already done !
The first assurance of this Truth which comes to my mind, is that of the events in the life of the Roman centurion, who came to Jesus on behalf of his servant who was sick, and grievously tormented with palsy. “And Jesus said unto him, I will come and heal him. But the centurion answered and said, Lord (Sovereign King), I am not worthy that Thou shouldest come under my roof . . . . But speak the Word only, and my servant shall be healed !
When Jesus heard this, He marveled and said to them that followed . . . Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not even in Israel . . . !” Matthew 8:1-12
So, upon what was this gentile centurion’s great faith built ? . . . verily, none other than the Word of the Living God. For He hath promised, and cannot lie, “Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and He saveth them out of their distresses . . . He sent His Word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions . . . !” Psalm 107:20
“And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a Root of Jesse, and He that shall rise to Reign over the Gentiles . . . and in Him shall the Gentiles trust !” Romans 15:12-13
And then there is the woman which pressed her way through the crowd, on that day when Jesus was traveling to heal Jairus’ only daughter. She, like many of us, had spent all her living on the physicians and medicines, and herbs, yet “neither could be healed of any !” And she “came behind Him, and touched the border of His garment: and immediately her issue of blood was stanched !” Luke 8:40-48
And I ask, upon what was this poor woman’s faith based? Verily, upon the Word of God. For He hath spoken, will not lie, “Unto you that fear My name shall the Sun of Righteousness arise with healing in His wings (H3671 -edge, extremity, borders of the outer garment) !” Malachi 4:2 In each and every case where a soul was forgiven, sins were pardoned, sickness cured, a disease was healed, the lame was made to walk, the blind was made to see, and even the captives of evil spirits and demons were set free ! . . . in every case there was simple living (active) faith in the spoken Word of Jehovah God (Yehuwah Elohim) !
And cannot we, living in the end of this present evil world; and upon whom that greatest of Blessings has now been freely poured out . . . expect with hope and complete confidence to receive even greater power to do our Lord and Saviour’s will ?
“And this mighty Redeemer, Who but a few hours before stood glorified before His wondering disciples, stoops to lift the victim of Satan from the earth where he is wallowing, and in health of mind and body restores him to his father and his home. It was an object lesson of Redemption, –the Divine One from the Father’s glory stooping to save the lost. It represented also the disciples’ mission. “Then said Jesus to them again . . . As My Father hath sent Me, even so send I you . . . !” John 20:21
“Verily, verily, I say unto you . . . He that believeth on Me (The Word of God), the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall ye do; because I go unto My Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in My name . . . for it is Christ in you the hope of glory! . . . that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in My name, I will do it . . . !” John 14:12-14 & Colossians 1:27
Not alone upon the mountaintop with Jesus, in hours of spiritual illumination, is the life of Christ’s servants to be spent. There is work for them down in the plain. Souls whom Satan has enslaved are waiting for the Word of faith and prayer to set them free !
The nine disciples were yet pondering upon the bitter fact of their own failure; and when Jesus was once more alone with them, they questioned, “Why could not we cast him out?” Jesus answered them, “Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove . . . . and nothing shall be impossible unto you !”
– Desire of Ages p.428-431
“Verily I say unto you . . . If ye have faith and doubt not (for he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven by the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord) . . . . ye shall not only do this which is done unto the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain . . . Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done ! And all things whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive . . . !”
Matthew 21:21-22 & James 1:6-8
And the LORD has not left us to doubt as to how this gift of faith, upon which our own Salvation and that of a world of souls, may be gained. For “faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God !” Romans 10:17. So we must find the Promise in God’s Word; and as the man who when he had found, sold all that he had, in order that he might buy the field in which the treasure lay hidden (Matthew 13:44-46). And once found, we must simply believe (and act in faith), that He Who has spoken that Word, cannot lie.
“For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it to bring forth and bud (blossom), so that it may give Seed (Luke 8:10-11) to the sower, and Bread to the eater (John 6:48) . . . . So shall My Word be that goeth forth out of My mouth: It shall not return unto Me void, but It shall accomplish that which I please, and It shall prosper in that whereto I send It !” Isaiah 55:6-11
“For God is not a man, that He should lie; neither he son of man, that He should repent (change His mind): for hath He said, and shall He not do it? or hath He spoken, and shall He not make it good ?” Numbers 23:19
It is His greatest desire that we might know, as did Christ Jesus, that He is faithful, Who hath promised. And then go humbly, yet boldly to the throne of grace.* Asking, claiming by faith, and praising Him for already giving us in Christ, that which we most need . . . Not because we deserve it, or have earned it, but because of the merits (worthiness) of our Saviour Jesus Christ (Yehushua ha Moshiac) ! ref: Hebrews 4:16 & 10:22-23
And this is where so many of God’s children stumble and fall; they struggle to believe that the LORD will do what He has already promised us, because they do not think or see themselves as worthy. But this is the voice of that great liar. For God’s Word says, “Faith worketh by love . . . not that we loved Him; but that He first loved us, even while we were yet sinners !” ref: Galatians 5:6, Ephesians 2:1, Colossians 2:13 & I John 4:19
“For God, Who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He hath loved us . . . Even when we were yet dead in sins, hath He quickened us together with Christ (for by grace* are ye saved)! . . . And hath raised us up together with Him . . . having forgiven you all trespasses (error or wilful transgression) . . . and made us sit together in the heavens in Christ Jesus . . . !” Ephesians 2:4-7 & Isaiah 66:1
This is the key to all Victory in the Christian’s life. We must know the love of God and Christ “which passeth all understanding”. . . so that we may be filled with all the fullness of God (Divinity)! Ephesians 3:19-20. And it is for this which the disciples fasted and prayed so earnestly 2000 years ago, as they day of Pentecost and promised outpouring of the early Rain drew nigh !
And this is our Redeemer’s prayer for us Today, “that the eyes of our understanding being enlightened; that we may know what is the hope of His calling (for the gifts and calling of God are without repentance), and what is the riches and abundance of the glory of His Inheritance in the saints.* ref: Romans 11:29
And that we might know what is the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe, accord-ng to the working of His mighty power . . . which He wrought in Christ when He raised Him from the dead, and set Him at His Own right hand in the heavens. Far above all principalities, and powers, and might, and dominions, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come . . . !” Ephesians 1:17-21
“And for this cause also thank we God without ceasing . . . Because when ye received the Word of God which ye heard from us, ye received It not as the word of men (yea, nay, or may-e), but as It is in Truth (Verily), the Word of God (Deity), which effectually worketh also in you that believe . . . !” I Thessalonians 2:13
“The Lord’s work is One (ekh-awd’), and His people are to be One. He has not directed that any one feature of the message should be carried on independently or become all-absorbing. In all His labors He united the medical missionary work with the ministry of the Word . . . . He sent out the twelve apostles, and afterward the seventy, to preach the gospel (Glad Tidings) to the people, and He gave them power also to heal the sick and to cast out devils in His name. Thus should the Lord’s messengers enter His work today.
Today the message comes to us: “As My Father hath sent Me, even so send I you. And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Spirit . . . ” John 20:21-22.
We are nearing the end of this earth’s history, and God calls upon all to lift the standard bearing the inscription: “Here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” He calls upon His people to work in perfect harmony !
All need to be baptized with the Holy Spirit; all should refrain from censuring and disparaging remarks, and draw near to Christ, that they may appreciate the heavy responsibilities which the co-workers with Him are carrying. “Press together; press together,” are the words of our Divine Instructor. Unity is strength; disunion is weakness and defeat.” – 6 Testimonies p.292
“Many feel that it would be a great privilege to visit the scenes of Christ’s life on earth, to walk where He trod, to look upon the lake beside which He loved to teach, and the hills and valleys on which His eyes so often rested. But we need not go to Nazareth, to Capernaum, or to Bethany, in order to walk in the steps of Jesus. We shall find His footprints beside the sickbed, in the hovels of poverty, in the crowded alleys of the great cities, and in every place where there are human hearts in need of consolation.
We are to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and comfort the suffering and afflicted. We are to minister to the despairing, and to inspire hope in the hopeless. The love of Christ, manifested in unselfish ministry (ser-vice), will be more effective in reforming the evildoer than will the sword or the court of justice . . . . The missionary can not only relieve physical maladies, but he can lead the sinner to the Great Physician, Who can cleanse the soul from the leprosy of sin.
Through His servants, God designs that the sick, the unfortunate, and those possessed of evil spirits shall hear His Voice. Through His human agencies He desires to be a Comforter such as the world knows not. – Ministry of Healing p.105-106
“ Take up the stones, (break up the fallow ground – ref: Jeremiah 4:3 & Hosea 10:12) remove the rubbish from your hearts. Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. God’s servants need constantly to lay hold with one hand of souls ready to perish, while with the hand of faith they lay hold of the throne of God.
Souls possessed with evil spirits will present themselves before us. We must cultivate the spirit of earnest prayer, mingled with genuine faith to save them from ruin, and this will confirm our faith.
God designs that the sick, the unfortunate, those possessed with evil spirits, shall hear His Voice through us. Through his human agents he desires to be a Comforter such as the world has never before seen. His Words are to be voiced by his followers: “Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. Ye believe in God, believe also in Me !”
– Spaulding Magan Collection p.89
“And Jesus (Yehushua) came and spake unto them saying, All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth, Go ye therefore . . . into all the world, and proclaim the Glad Tidings to every creature. He that believeth shall be saved (delivered, set free, rescued, healed, and made whole) . . . !
And these signs shall follow them that believe . . . In My name they shall cast out (evict) devils; they shall speak with new languages. They shall take up (loose, and remove) serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not harm them . . . and they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover ! ref: Acts 28:1-9
And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord (Sovereign King) working with them, and confirming the Word preached, with signs following. Amen !”
Matthew 28:18-19 & Mark 16:15-18
May the LORD Bless each of us as we seek His love and power that we may share the Truth of a risen Savior and King !
your brother in Christ,
Eric Wilson and family – Isaiah Ministries
http://isaiahministries.wordpress.com/
Note – if you would like to learn more of the testimony of what the Lord Jesus Christ did in our lives, both to deliver and restore our marriage, family and home, please go to one of the following links online.
http://thedragonrevealed.wordpress.com/ – testimony in booklet form
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZiC8JWoxhqs – video testimony on youtube or preorder your copy of the new release from Little Light Studios called
The Dragon Revealed ! – https://littlelightstudios.tv/projects/the-dragon-revealed/