Drawing on the Blessing of God

I was recently praying for a lady who was in pain after an operation she’d undergone was only partially successful. I prayed as I usually do. Nothing seemed to be happening. Then a word came to my mind and I spoke it out. Suddenly, the lady said, “It’s gone! The pain has gone!”

At other times, I pray with people and nothing happens immediately, but they get healing later in the day or even later in the week.

Still others come back again and again and seem to get little or no improvement.

This got me thinking – How do we draw on the blessing of God? I mean, if there is power in our “account“, how do we make a withdrawal?

First, I believe there is plenty of credit in the account. Our balance is not, as many suppose, connected to what we have done. It’s connected to what God has done in Jesus.

The very first thing God did when he created people was to bless them.

Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

(Genesis 1:28)

The blessing is not something we just say after someone sneezes. ‘Blessing’ means empowerment. Just like when the Queen Knights someone and makes them a Sir – it gives them an empowerment. But obviously, the blessing of God is far more significant.

So how do we draw on the power and blessing of God?

How were the worlds formed? The worlds were formed when God spoke – “God said...”

1. Make a declaration

So, firstly, drawing on the blessing involves a declaration.

Death and life  are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.

(Proverbs 18:21)

I think some people try to abuse this truth by going round declaring any old thing they want, regardless of whether it’s what God wants. But, if we know we are declaring something God wants, we can go right ahead. Healing, by the way, is something God wants!

2. We carry the name of God

Secondly, we need to understand that, through the blessing, we carry the name of God on us. Moses gave Aaron instructions on how to put the blessing on God’s people so they carried the name of God with them.

And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:

“Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying,

‘This is the way you shall bless the children of Israel. Say to them:

“The Lord bless you and keep you;

The Lord make His face shine upon you,

And be gracious to you;

The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,

And give you peace.”

“So they shall put My name on the children of Israel, and I will bless them.”

(Numbers 6:22-27)

We now know that the name of God is “Jesus“. That’s why we are told to pray in the name of Jesus.

Now the blessing that came on Adam, and the blessing that Aaron used, and the blessing that was upon Abraham – came upon believers through Jesus dying on the cross and rising again.

Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”), that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

(Galatians 3:13, 14)

3. Put a demand on the blessing

Thirdly, in order to draw on the blessing, I think we have to put a demand on the blessing. I don’t mean we go around saying, “God, I demand you do so and so.” I mean that we should put pressure on the blessing.

David put a demand on the blessing when he faced up to Goliath in the name of the Lord.

40 Then he took his staff in his hand; and he chose for himself five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in a shepherd’s bag, in a pouch which he had, and his sling was in his hand. And he drew near to the Philistine.

45 Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.

(1 Samuel 17:40, 45)

And perhaps the best example of putting a demand on the blessing is the woman with the issue of blood in Matthew 9:20, 21.

And suddenly, a woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years came from behind and touched the hem of His garment. For she said to herself, “If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well.”

She didn’t ask for prayer. She didn’t go forward at a meeting where Jesus was healing people. She put a demand on the blessing – that if she touched the hem of Jesus robe, she would be made well. And she proved that demand by pressing through a crowd to touch him, knowing that she should still be in isolation for medical reasons.

The first Jesus knew of it was when he felt power go out of him.

I’m sure there is even more to it than this, but if we are going to see more miracles, I think we have to rise up and put a demand on the blessing and make a withdrawal.

How could you put a demand on the blessing today?

Disabled no more!

I was speaking at a church in East Anglia recently. At the end of my talk we had a time of praying for healing. There was a wonderful sense of God being with us and meeting with people. A few days later, my friend forwarded me this story from a lady who came forward for prayer that day. I post it here for your encouragement.

“Almost 5 years ago I had an accident in which I badly damaged my foot and I was advised that it may need to be amputated. However, following a 4 hour operation the surgeons were able to save my foot, but at a price. The movement was extremely limited. I spent the following 5 months in a wheelchair unable to put my foot to the ground. This was followed by the wearing of a knee high “Space boot” both night and day for the next 2 months, when this was eventually removed, I had muscle wastage and had to learn to use my foot again.

Until Sunday I had walked with a limp and encountered daily pain from my foot. (At this point I should also add that, more recently I have totally lost the hearing in one of my ears, only to be replaced with the most annoying Tinnitus.)

Therefore, when Don invited members of the congregation to join him at the front of the church for healing prayers, I went along. Whilst Don had hold of one of my hands in prayer, my thoughts were centred around my deaf ear and the tinnitus, but I actually sensed a very gentle nibbling sensation along the outer side of my foot, I then returned to my seat.

However, by the time I left the church I was filled with an overwhelming sense of joy and happiness, I could hardly contain it, I was bubbling over.

Later that afternoon I was out with my husband when I turned to him and said, “look John I’m walking” he replied “of course you’re walking.”
I said “no you don’t understand, I’m walking properly I’m not limping.”

It felt as though my tendons had been cut to release my foot.

Furthermore, although I have a stair lift, I do try to use the stairs as much as possible. Normally when I come down the stairs, I hold on to the banister with both hands and walk down sideways, like a crab, one step at a time.

On Monday morning I descended the stairs normally with my head held high, and later that day whilst shopping, I parked in an ordinary parking bay because I felt I couldn’t justify using my Disabled Parking Permit.

It is now very late on Thursday evening and I am still limp free and pain free. Praise be to God.

Pat (from Mildenhall)

The other King’s speech

The recently released film The King’s speech is a film about King George VI of Britain, his unexpected ascension to the throne and the speech therapist who helped the unsure monarch become worthy of it.

The King suffered from a stammer all his life and was suddenly forced into a role where he had to make more and more public speeches.

It’s a moving story not least because we all have weaknesses in certain areas of our life. For most of us, our difficulties are not thrust before the gaze of the public day after day.

There was another King’s speech which was delivered without impediment. It was a King’s speech declaring freedom, liberty and healing. It came at the launch of a new era of history.

At the time, this King didn’t look like a king but like a young rabbi.

He declared that he was the fulfilment of an ancient prophecy.

“The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed;

To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD .”

Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him.

And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

Luke 4:18-21

In this King’s speech Jesus said, “He has sent me to heal…”

Jesus was sent to heal us. To heal our sin sick soul. To heal us in body, mind and spirit. To restore us to a relationship with God our Father.

He came to release us from the prison of sin, sickness and disease.

He came to do us a favour – in fact a year of favour!

Is it God’s will to heal you? It is. Did he send Jesus to heal? He did. Did he send his Holy Spirit to continue his work on earth? He did.

Today, the Sovereign Lord sends a messenger to you – his Spirit. And… he has sent him to heal you.

Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty

Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

2 Cor 3:17

Most of the wars and battles throughout history have been battles for freedom. We were created free. We are designed to live in freedom.

Yet tyrants and oppressors appear from time to time to rob us of our freedom. They want control of our lives and our submission.

The Bible talks of being “oppressed by the devil” (Acts 10:38)

Satan’s plan is to oppress you by stealing, killing and destroying. (John 10:10)
The devil wants you in debt, in poverty, bowed down with sickness and disease. In short, he wants you dead.

But Jesus came to bring us into a life of complete freedom (John 10:10) Jesus came to overthrow the work of Satan’s oppression in your life.

For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. (1John 3:8)

and we read

how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.

Acts 10:38

So we see Jesus in the gospels going from village to village, speaking about the kingdom of God and healing the sick.

Now we don’t have that Jesus who walks about in the flesh. He returned to his Father.

But he said that when he went, he would send the Holy Spirit, who is not flesh and is therefore not restricted to one place at a time.

So the Lord we have today is not an itinerant miracle working Rabbi. The Lord we have today is the Spirit. The Spirit of the Father. The Spirit of Jesus. And where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty – freedom!

Freedom from fear
Freedom from sickness
Freedom from pain
Freedom from oppression
Freedom from all disease
Complete freedom!

Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.

(John 16:7)

Did Jesus go? Yes he went. Did he send the Holy Spirit? Yes he sent him.
Is the Holy Spirit here? Yes the Holy Spirit is here.

Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

2 Cor 3:17-18

So freedom from all pain disease and sickness is within our grasp. Let us then, like the woman who came through the crowd, touch the hem of his garment and believe we receive our healing.

Take a moment to meditate on the Holy Spirit being with you right now.

Holy Spirit release us now. Bring us into your perfect freedom in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Reposition yourself for blessing

As the plane lifted off the ground the navigational systems failed. The pilot decided to press on and use his years of experience. After about one hour, the Captain came on the loud speaker.

“The bad news” he told the passengers, “is that we are totally lost. The good news is that we are making excellent time!”

If we don’t know where we are, it’s impossible to know where we are going. From the very beginning of time, men and women have been on a journey. And that journey depends on our relationship with God.

 

But the LORD God called to the man, “Where are you?”

Genesis 3:9

I don’t believe God’s question was one of geography but of relationship. Where are we in relation to God?

God’s plan was to bless human beings. Those were his first words to human beings. When that all went wrong he chose Noah and his family to start all over again. As the waters of judgement receded, God pronounced the same blessing on Noah as he had on Adam.

 

Then God blessed Noah and his sons, saying to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth. …As for you, be fruitful and increase in number; multiply on the earth and increase upon it.”

Genesis 9:1, 7

Sadly, Noah’s family fell out of relationship with God. So later, God appears to a man called Abram who was living in Haran, part of modern day Turkey. His family was involved in the worship of ‘Sin’ – not our word for wrongdoing, but the Moon god of Haran in ancient Turkey. (Interesting that Turkey’s flag has a moon on it today).

God told Abram to leave his family and the land he was living in and start off on a journey and that God would bless him. He put on Abram the blessing he put on Adam and Noah.

 

The LORD had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” So Abram left, as the LORD had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Haran.

Genesis 12:1-4

Abram was promised a great blessing if he repositioned himself for the blessing, by following God’s lead on an incredible journey.

It is not enough just to pray for God’s blessing. However fervently we may pray the time comes when we must do something. God promises to prosper what we do, not what we pray.

 

“Whatever he does prospers.”

Psalm 1:3

What is the vision or call that God has given you? Men in particular are very visual. That’s why God later showed Abraham the stars as he told him ‘So shall your descendants be’. It was visual so it stirred up vision in the man’s heart.

What do you see? If you can see the invisible you can do the impossible. Is it time to reposition yourself for a new season of blessing?

 

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