How You Can Be Led by the Spirit: Chapter 29

“ For if I am praying in a tongue, my spirit is engaged in prayer but I have no clear understanding of what is being said. So here’s what I’ve concluded. I will pray in the Spirit, but I will also pray with my mind engaged. I will sing rapturous praises in the Spirit, but I will also sing with my mind engaged.”

— 1 Corinthians 14:14-15

We are a spirit being and God has given us one of the greatest gifts, the ability to pray in tongues. The gift of praying the mind and the will of the Father. The ability to pray beyond our physical senses, our emotions, and even our will. Praying in tongues is something we should do every single day. That is how we train our spirit, it is how we become more confident in hearing the Father speak.

Get out of the sense realm. Get out of the flesh realm. Get out of the human reasoning realm.

Get over into the faith realm. Faith is of the spirit - and that’s where great things happen! p.150

I have been so thankful for this book! As we finish up with the last chapter, let’s see how much we have grown during these last few weeks by revisiting the characteristics of a spirit-filled life from the introduction.

1. Do we have a song in our hearts?

2. Do we give thanks?

3. Do we listen to others?

Thank you to all of you that have followed along through this book! I pray that it has blessed you as much as it has me. Please share this week on the group wall a little bit about how this book has helped you grow spiritually.

I’m looking forward to our next book that we will jump into the first Monday in November, two weeks from today. Be looking out on our facebook group for details!

Love you,

Pastor Lisa

How You Can Be Led By The Spirit: Chapters 27 & 28

In Acts 27:9-10 Paul says that he PERCEIVED that the voyage would be with hurt and much damage. I love the way that Hagin breaks down this scripture in chapter 27. Did he perceive it mentally? Did he perceive it physically? NO! He perceived this in his spirit — that inward witness we’ve been talking about.

“The reason that we as spirit-filled believers continually miss it, make mistakes, and fail is because our spirits, which should guide us, are kept locked away in prison, so to speak. Knowledge, or intellect, has taken the throne….Any person who shuts his spirit away and never listens to it — because the spirit of man is the candle of the Lord— becomes crippled in life and becomes an easy prey to selfish and designing people.”
- page 132

I pray that over the course of this book you’ve been able to take a good look on the inside at how you are perceiving your current situation and decisions you may need to make for the future. Is it based off of your own intellect? You may have even begun to notice in conversation with other people that everything that they are saying may make “sense” mentally but something just isn’t sitting right. That is your inward witness recognizing the difference between being guided and directed by human intellect rather than the spirit of God! Aren’t you grateful for the holy ghost?

Just as Hagin refers to the pastor’s situation in chapter 27, we are all capable of missing it! This is why we must endeavor every day to become more spirit-conscious. It’s easy to be body-conscious and mental-conscious because from a young child we naturally developed our body and our soul. To be spirit-conscious is the opposite of natural. It takes determination and focus to educate and develop our spirit man:

1. By meditation in the Word

2. By practicing the Word

3. By giving the word first place

4. By instantly obeying the voice of the spirit

Chapter 28 breaks down each of the ways to develop your spirit above. Make sure to do a study on these scriptures and post what God is showing you through this. Have you grown during this study? I know that many of you have and I am excited to see your comments. Have an awesome spirit-led week!

Love you,

Pastor Lisa

How You Can Be Led by the Spirit: Chapters 25-26

I am so thankful for these chapters and for the Holy Spirit who leads and guides us! God tells us in 1 Corinthians 14 to desire spiritual gifts because He loves us so much that He doesn’t want us to lack anything. However, just because you flow in the gifts doesn’t make you a Prophet. I want everything God has for me and I don’t want anything He doesn’t have for me.

Walking in the Spirit takes faith. It takes faith to step out and speak when God gives us a message. His gifts are to edify, exhort, comfort, lead, and guide. All gifts should confirm what God has already spoken to us individually.

Brother Hagin describes 3 types of visions: Spiritual, Trances, and Open Visions and God uses all 3 of them still today. I am thankful for all the ways God leads and directs us. Let’s heed the warning from Brother Hagin, “I would encourage you NOT to seek a vision. You could get beyond the Word where the devil can deceive you.”

Don’t you realize that together you have become God’s inner sanctuary and that the Spirit of God makes his permanent home in you?

1 Corinthians 3:16 TPT

The Holy Spirit lives in us and we need to trust Him to give us what we need at all times. Let’s continue to follow the inward leading of the Holy Ghost and read the Word of God so we are not led astray. Is anyone else thankful for this book? If you had to pick one thing that stuck out the most in these chapters, what would it be? Please share with the group on facebook! Thanks for following along.

Love,

Pastor Lisa

How You Can Be Led by the Spirit: Chapters 23-24

Being led by the Spirit is at the heart of every servant of God. Even in the Old Testament, they wanted and needed divine guidance, yet had to depend on a Prophet, or an angelic visitation. Yet the Prophet or the angel didn’t appear very often. Today, we have the Spirit within us to guide us every single minute of every single day and yet mess up so much.

So how do we cultivate or set an atmosphere for the Spirit of God to lead us and speak to us in our daily lives?

• Worship- Singing songs about Him, who He is, not what He has done for us.

• Prayer - Not the prayer of petition, but of thanksgiving and telling Him how much we love Him.

• Fasting - Denying our flesh to make us more sensitive to the Spirit.

All of these things sets the atmosphere for God to speak to us. But here is the key — be quick to obey! Quick obedience leads to more opportunities for God to speak. Disobedience brings dullness of hearing. Let’s be like Paul and become an obedient believer.

“So, you see, King Agrippa, I have not been disobedient to what was revealed to me from heaven”

— Acts 26:19

Are you still hanging in there with me? This book is rich in truth! I’m praying that you finish these chapters strong. I want to remind you that the reason we are reading this slowly is so that you are able to treat this book as a study and a guide to get into God’s Word and get your spirit in-tune!

What are you doing this week to set an atmosphere for the Spirit of God to lead you and speak to you? Share with us on the group page!

Love,

Pastor Lisa

How You Can Be Led by the Spirit: Chapters 21-22

Many times when we are trying to hear the voice of God we second guess everything. Is it just me or is it God? The real question Hagin asks is, “which me? The body, the soul, or the spirit me?”. It really shouldn’t take us long to figure out which one it is. If you are not sure, ask yourself , “Is it good, is it in line with the Word?” If you can answer yes to these questions, then go for it!

If you allow your flesh to dominate you, you will continue to miss it, if you continue to let your natural mind dominate you, and do not get your mind renewed with the Word. you will continue to miss it. p. 98

I don’t enjoy missing it. There is always a mess to clean up or a delay in the promise coming to pass. I want to be so sensitive to the Holy Spirit that I quickly obey, quickly make a change, and quickly repent. As we become more aware of the Spirit and yielding to Him, we can learn how to better cooperate with Him. Remember the mission God gave Ezekiel, God measured his success not with how many responded but with obedience.

What is God saying to you this week?

Pastor Lisa

How You Can Be Led by the Spirit: Chapters 18-20

So far we have learned that the Holy Spirit leads us by:

1. the inward witness which is that still small voice (conscience) within us

2. speaking directly to our spirit. Hagin explains it as an, “authoritative voice from inside of you. It is so strong, it is almost audible.”

I can remember when Pastor Kempie came to me wanting us to have one more baby, a little girl. Now you have to remember that I had to believe God for each of my children. That is why there is 6 years between each of them. My first thought was there is no way I am going to go through that again. First, I am too old (I was 36). Second, the financial burden was too big. Third, it was too emotional. I gave God and Kempie all the excuses for why this wasn’t going to happen.

BUT GOD! During a Sunday service while I was worshipping, I heard a voice. It was so clear and loud I swore it was audible, “With supernatural increase is there financial difficulty?” I said, “No Sir”. He responded, “Have her, I will take care of you.” I just started crying and I leaned over to Kempie and said, “We can have her.”

We did and God did! No fertility drugs and no waiting. The doctor was so surprised, he said, “How is this possible?” All things are possible with God! Then, as soon as I left the doctors office I began to bleed. I remembered what God said. We reminded Satan that she would not be born before her time. We continued to believe God’s Word. She was born on her due date, beautiful and healthy.

John 14:26 and John 16:13 tells us that the Holy Spirit will:

• guide us into all truth

• lead us

• speak only what He hears

• show us things to come

• teach us

• bring all things to our remembrance

With the Holy Spirit, how can we go wrong, how can we quit? When people are telling us anything opposite to what the Word says let’s respond like Hagin did, “……But I know Jesus, and I know the Spirit of God. I know what He said to me!”

I want to encourage you to know Him and know His Word. Don’t seek voices because the enemy will accommodate you. God will speak to you through His Word and through your spirit.

Can’t wait to hear your story! Make sure to post in the facebook group and share something that stuck out to you during these chapters. Where is this taking you in God’s Word? How you is your spirit man being strengthened. Your comments in the group will help encourage others to dive into this study. Thanks for following along!

Love you,

Pastor Lisa

How You Can Be Led by the Spirit : Chapters 14-17

“Many times, if we would have waited, God would have shown us. We could have avoided many things. But let’s not moan and groan about past failures. Let’s just take advantage of what is ours and see to it that it doesn’t happen again. We can do nothing about what is past anyhow. Let’s begin to develop our spirits, and learn to listen to them.” - p. 60

It is imperative to our lives and the lives around us that we continue to develop our spirit man! I know many of you have stories of either listening to that inward witness and/or missing His leading, however, today is a new day!

You are the temple of the Holy Ghost. How amazing is that? If He is dwelling within us than He will surely speak to us. It’s our job to be sensitive and ready for Him to speak. We cannot be sensitive to His voice without becoming dependent on Him.

Hagin explains on page 66, “ I listened to my spirit. Faith is of the spirit. Your faith will not work to its fullest until you learn some of these things. Learn to depend on Him — the One who is in you. Learn to develop your own spirit. Have faith in the fact that your faith in God works!”

When we are facing a challenge whether big or small, what or who do we depend on? A great way to test yourself is to think about a recent challenge you have faced — who was the first opinion you sought? What voice did you follow? Who’s voice carried the greatest value? Was it your opinion, the opinion of others, or the leading of the Holy Ghost?

“The Spirit itself [Himself] beareth witness with our spirit...””

— Romans 8:16

Being dependent on God and being sensitive to His spirit has absolutely nothing to do with how we feel about our lives or circumstances. We cannot understand or discern for ourselves or our situation by our feelings. We must understand ourselves as born-again, Spirit-filled Christians by what the Word of God says about us! I love how Hagin describes Christians who are led by their feelings as yo-yo Christians. One day they are on the mountain top and the next day they are in the valley. If we are being led by the spirit, everyday we should be on the mountain top!

I hope you are enjoying this book as much as I am and that you are encouraged to dive into God’s Word and develop your spirit man like never before! Increase your time with Him this week and become more dependent on Him.

Assignment

Leave a comment on my most recent post on our facebook group and let us know what stuck out to you the most! Are you making any changes? Breaking any habits? We all are!

Love you,

Pastor Lisa

How You Can Be Led by the Spirit: Chapters 11-13

Last week we discovered that the number one way we are led by the Spirit is the inward witness. That inward leading and guiding on the inside of us. God promises that each of His children can know and be led by His Spirit. The second way we are led is by the inward voice which is referring to our conscience or that still small voice.

The key is to have a good conscience and not a bad one. If you are born again, your spirit has been created into a brand new being where the Spirit of God now resides. This means that the old you, the bad conscience, has been replaced with a good conscience or a God-like conscience. We can follow and trust that inward voice now that we are born again!

“And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brothers, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day. ”

— Acts 23:1

“Oh! If people would learn to follow their spirits! If they would learn to take advantage of the life that is in them!” Our lives would be so much less trouble and less chaos if we would only stop and listen to that still small voice trying to lead and guide us. The Spirit of God is now within us and our spirit man has been recreated! Our recreated spirit has the nature of God and will not steer us wrong. We can trust our recreated conscience.

The Spirit of God within us doesn’t just lead and direct us but also changes every part of us. The way we think, the way we learn, and even the way we react! Didn’t you love the story of Mary? God changed everything about her — her looks, her behavior, and her intelligence. That is the power of God!

I am so thankful for the leading of the Holy Spirit! I will never forget the night I received a phone call from my mother with life altering news for our family and for the ministry. It was at that moment, I heard a still small voice within me, that leading of the Holy Spirit speak, “You can’t go back to the hospital.” I hung up the phone and said those words to my husband, Kempie. In the natural I really didn’t know all that leaving my job at the hospital would entail. I just knew my life was about to change and no matter how scary it was, I had to obey.

As I look back to that night, I cannot imagine where my life would be right now if I had not obeyed and instead continued working at the hospital, a career I had built for over 20 years. What if I would’ve given in to my natural thoughts, feelings, or the opinions of others? Thank you God for the leading of the Holy Spirit!

What has He asked you to do?

How has He led you?

Assignment

Visit the facebook group and share an instance where you know you were being led by that still small voice!

Love,

Pastor Lisa

How You Can Be Led by the Spirit of God: Chapters 7-9

We all want to hear the voice of God but many have no idea how He really leads and directs us. So, how does God lead His children? The number one way is by the inward witness, spirit to spirit. God is a spirit and He guides, directs, and leads us by His Spirit within us. As a child of God you do not need someone else to speak into your life to give you “a word”. You have the Holy Spirit to lead and guide you.

“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.”

— Romans 8:14

“If you will learn to follow that inward witness, I will make you rich. I will guide you in all the affairs of life, financial as well as spiritual. [Some think God is only interested in their spiritual well being, and nothing else. But He is interested in everything we are interested in.] I am not opposed to My children being rich; I am opposed to their being covetous.” - page 30

We must learn to not only hear and obey the leading of the Holy Spirit but to also know when we have missed His leading. There have been times when we have all missed it. Today is a new day! You are a spirit led child of God!

“God, all at once you turned on a floodlight for me! You are the revelation-light in my darkness, and in your brightness I can see the path ahead.”

— Psalm 18:27 TPT

Spend time in God’s presence today and in His Word strengthening your spirit man and listening for His leading!

Homework

1. Spend time studying the scriptures that Hagin emphasizes in these chapters. Write them down and see where God’s Word takes you.

2. What scripture stands out to you? Share the verse on the facebook group to encourage others to spend time in God’s Word this week.

How You Can Be Led by the Spirit of God: Chapters 4-6

Growing up in the church we would often say,” Three Souls were saved today”, or “Soul winning this Sunday.” The problem is — this is is not really scriptural. 2 Corinthians 5:17 tells us that when we are born again we are reborn into a brand new creation in Christ. Our spirit man is recreated, born again, or saved. James 1: 21 says “…receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.”

The spirit is saved; the soul needs work.

The spirit is born again; the soul needs to be renewed.

Do you see the difference? So our spirit is immediately changed but our soul (our mind, our emotions, and our will) only changes as we spend time in God’s Word. As we read and meditate on the His Word it is as if we are washing or cleansing our minds which in turn changes the way we think, the way we handle our emotions, and our will becomes His will.

We also have a third aspect of our being that we have to deal with — our body or also referred to as our flesh. We will always face problems and frustrations with our flesh no matter how long we stay in the Word. However, we have the power and the authority to overcome it! Our Spirit man should dominate our flesh.

You not only can do it, you must! Let the man on the inside rule. It is through your spirit that God will guide you and give you the power to control your soul and your body.

Let me give you an example:

Just this morning I woke up with a migraine. I laid there for a couple of hours because the pain was so bad that I didn’t want to move. I wanted my medicine but I didn’t want to move either. I heard Pastor Kempie moving around in the room and I asked him to get my medicine. Immediately the spirit inside me said, “You get up and get it.” Listen, my flesh wanted to remind my spirit how bad I felt, and explain exactly how bad it hurt. My flesh wanted to take the medicine that knocks me out so I can sleep for about 6 hours and wake up without a headache. The flesh wanted the easy way out.

But I let my spirit rule and not my flesh. I got up and took the medicine that usually takes over an hour to work and started getting dressed. I was determined to ignore my flesh and continue to get ready. The whole time I am praying in the spirit and reminding my body that it has to line up with the Word. That by the stripes of Jesus I am healed. My spirit ruled and my body responded!

Assignment:

1. Increase your time praying in the spirit.

2. Can you share a time where your spirit had to rule over your soul or your body?

3. What did you get out of this weeks reading? Post a comment in our Facebook Group this week!

How You Can Be Led by the Spirit of God - Introduction

Hey bookclub participants! I’m so excited to begin our next book together. If you haven’t, make sure to join our closed Facebook Group where we’ll have discussion each week to help challenge and encourage each other to be led by the spirit of God in all things. You’ll find that we will only do a couple of short chapters each week in order for us to dive in deep to our study each week. This will also help our slower readers to stay caught up. If you’re an avid reader, this will give you more time to dive in deeper to God’s Word.

Introduction

“18 Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, 19 singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. 20 And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” - Eph. 5:18-21

According to God’s Word, being filled with the spirit is not optional when it comes to living as a Christian. So what does it mean to truly be filled with the spirit? When we are born again the spirit of God transforms us into new creations. Yes, His spirit resides on the inside of us, but there is a second experience awaiting.

Take a look at Acts 19: 1-2, 6;

“While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul traveled through the interior regions until he reached Ephesus, on the coast, where he found several believers. 2 “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” he asked them. “No,” they replied, “we haven’t even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”…6 Then when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in other tongues and prophesied.”

If the believers in Ephesus were already filled with the Holy Ghost, why would Paul ask them, “Have you received the Holy Ghost since you believed?”. At the very moment that Paul laid his hands on them they “spoke in tongues and prophesied”. Paul told them that this was not a one time event but that they should be filled and keep on being filled.

Let’s take a moment and ask ourselves — Are we truly displaying the characteristics of a spirit-filled life?

1. Do we have a song in our hearts?

2. Do we give thanks?

3. Do we listen to others?

Homework

1. As we begin this week reading chapters 1-3 keep these characteristics in mind. Our goal for the next 13 weeks is to have each of these truly displayed in our lives.

2. Post in the Facebook Group this week! We want to hear what you got out of the first 3 chapters. The chapters are short so you can do it!

Love,

Pastor Lisa

The Will of God: Chapters 11-13

It is exciting when you hear and begin to follow the will of God for your life. Yet, when you are pursuing God, the enemy will do anything to deviate you from God’s plan. He will use anything and everything, including people. It is at that moment that we must pass up every opportunity to be offended. It is not easy, however, to live in the blessing it is required. You never know where or when your next divine appointment may be and offense can take you out of fellowship with the Holy Spirit and cause you to miss it. A right attitude is vital in the pursuit and fulfillment of God’s call on your life.

“Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life”

— Proverbs 4:23

Not dealing with offense allows a root of bitterness to fester. This bitterness can and will disqualify you from the call of God. You must deal with it immediately.

“if you keep your heart attitude right and your heart free of offense - if you’ll respond in faith, love, and forgiveness - even disaster can be turned into your victory.” - p. 206

Paul told the early church in the book of Hebrews that our confidence and faith in God has great rewards. Although it may seem you are all alone, remember you are “compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses.” Hebrews 12:1. The Word of God is full of stories of people who stood in faith and received the promises. They are now in the bleachers of heaven cheering you on!

So cheer up, lay aside all wrong attitudes and behaviors. Change your environment. Make sure you are in a place of faith. This is a conscious decision to make a change. the Word says to run from any negative environment and run from sin. As you turn and run, as you lay aside all sin and wrong attitudes, God can begin to turn your situation around.

Yet in the waiting period, if your faith gets tired and you just can’t seem to see the victory, you won’t. Bill Winston says, “if you are believing for something and you don’t see it come to pass, you do not “know” enough.” You may have knowledge but it must move from knowledge to knowing. It is at this point that you must raise your eyes upward, hear more of the Word, speak more of the Word, renew your thinking with the Word, act on the Word, and pray in the Holy Spirit. Praying in the Holy Spirit will give you the power to run your race to the finish line. Repeat this over and over again until it goes from knowledge to knowing.

You must be fully committed to this. No wavering, no slacking, keep the pattern going, and you WILL receive the reward!

Has anyone else enjoyed this book these last few weeks? Join me next week in our new bookclub facebook group where we’ll post our next book, links to my blog post, and also where you’ll be able to post questions or your feedback. I want to know how these books are changing your life! Can’t wait to connect and begin our next book on Monday!

Love,

Pastor Lisa

The Will of God: Chapters 9-10

I love reading and studying the life of the Apostle Paul. Like most of us he lived a pattern of hearing from God, adding his own reasoning, partially obeying, and then getting himself into more messes than he could’ve imagined. With that came frustration, aggravation, and at times even physical pain. And yet, the moment Paul stepped in line with what God called him to do, he began to walk in a “ brand-new level of victory and success.” (p. 170). Oh, if only we could learn to obey fully the first time!

The victory and success didn’t come without problems. The devil didn’t leave him alone and he won’t leave us alone either. What God said to Paul is for us too!

• Don’t be afraid, speak

• I am with you

• No one will attack you and hurt you

• I have many people around you

In spite of all that was coming against him, Paul consistently experienced divine favor, provision, and protection, even in the midst of bad situations. This divine favor on his life allowed him to produce supernatural fruit for the Kingdom of God.

5 For he will conceal me there when troubles come;
    he will hide me in his sanctuary.
    He will place me out of reach on a high rock.
6 Then I will hold my head high
    above my enemies who surround me.
At his sanctuary I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy,
    singing and praising the Lord with music.

Psalm 27:5-6 (NLT)

When I worked in the corporate world, I loved getting a new project, or new department, or a hard case, that seemed to by unsolvable. I would look at each project as a new opportunity. I would dive in, learn all I could, and work really hard to see the project through to success. We need to approach our walk with God the same way. Every crisis is a new opportunity to use our faith, dig in His Word, trust our God, and to show forth His glory and mercy on this Earth.

Change the way you view the situation, change the way you talk! Ask God to help you line up your mouth with His Word and your perspective to line up with His! You were born for such a time as this. Dig in and refuse to budge. If you need more faith, get in the Word! Up the dosage!

“Even in the face of apparent defeat, God can take you places that you never imagined you could go and connect you with people He has divinely ordained for you to meet to fulfill His purposes for your life.” -p. 98

Start by thanking God that He is your shield, your hiding place, your strong tower, and your mountain! You are an overcomer, more than a conqueror, and a child of the King. No weapon formed against you will prosper. Together we will sing, “The Lord is good, and His mercy endures forever!”

Love,

Pastor Lisa

The Will of God: Chapter 7-8

Paul received specific instructions from God and yet he did what most of us do and began to rely on human thinking and reasoning and as a result was led out of the will of God. He experienced all kinds of hardships and frustrations. Once Paul aligned himself with God’s will, supernatural provision and power “erupted” in his life and he received his very first offering. This all sounds great, however, the offering (which came from God) was delivered by two people who had good intentions but put pressure on Paul to again rely on human reasoning and go back to focusing on the Jews.  

Paul listened to them and immediately experienced the same frustrations as before.  

“So take a moment to ask yourself, Is my life aligned with God’s will, or am I doing my own will while pretending that it’s God’s? Be honest with yourself; Does it seem like you are seldom happy or satisfied and often frustrated and exasperated – including frustrated financially? If your answer is yes, I want to encourage you to ask the Lord whether or not you’re in the right place, doing the right thing. If you are in the will of God, it is likely that you’re going to experience joy, peace, and fulfillment – even in the midst of hardships. But if your life is generally joyless and frustrating – if it seems like you go through one defeated experience after another – there's probably an adjustment that needs to take place in where you are or in what you’re doing.”                                                                                     p.148 

Unfortunately, Paul listened to human reasoning and went back to ministering to the Jews, where he was most comfortable and where it made the most sense to his human intellect. It didn’t take long before frustration built up and Paul realized he was out of the will of God and made the decision to fully obey God’s call where divine grace empowered him to overcome any and every obstacle.  

Being in the will of God doesn’t mean you won’t have hardships or trials. What it does mean is that you will experience joy, peace, and contentment in the midst of those trials. Divine connections will occur. God makes sure the right people are in place with the exact gifts and tools needed to advance you and get you where He wants you to be.  A divine connection was made for the Apostle Paul when he met Aquilla and Priscilla. The Bible says that they not only gave birth to the church of Corinth but that they did it with energy. God will do the same for you! He will connect you with the right people at the right time to help you successfully fulfill the plan of God for your life.  

Be open before God and pray like David did, “Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. May your gracious Spirit lead me forward on a firm footing.” 

Love,

Pastor Lisa

Health and Healing: Final Chapters

As I’m reading these final chapters I’m thinking about the many instructions that God gave the disciples on healing. These instructions weren’t just for that time period but for us to be flowing in today!

Jesus : “Lay hands on the sick and see them recovered.” (Mark 16:15-18)

Jesus : “Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father” (John 14:12)

“So when the apostles, Peter and John, saw this lame man reaching out his empty hand — all he could move — and asking for an alms, they remembered the word of the Lord. And Peter fastened his yes on him with John. Oh how we need to work together in healing! And he commanded, “Look on us” (Acts 3:4). Whether you get healed or not depends entirely on where you look. If that man had fixed his gaze on his legs he would not have been healed no matter how earnestly the apostles had prayed for him. Jesus Himself, “did not many might works” in His own hometown. Why? Because of their unbelief. (Matt. 13:58.) It is “according to your faith,” the Lord Himself said so.”

It is according to our faith! Not only for our own healing but to lay hands on others and see them recovered. We believe that as you press into God’s Word and that as you continue to walk in faith that the Holy Spirit will be working through each of you. Get ready for greater works!

If you find yourself still asking, “Is there healing and health for me?” YES. God, who changeth not, has promised to heal ALL who call upon Him in His name. He is, “The Lord that healeth thee.” (Exodus 15:26) It is only up to you to believe!

Join us for our series on healing on the CAJ Podcast as we continue to talk about our healer! Remember, faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God! Take your daily prescription of God’s Word today and get prepared for our next book beginning next week.

July/August Bookclub: The Will of God by Rick Renner
On sale this weekend in our bookstore & cafe

Love,

Pastor Lisa

Health and Healing: Chapters 4-5

But for you who fear my name, the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in his wings. And you will go free, leaping with joy like calves let out to pasture.” - Malachi 4:2

Fear - an awe. a reverence for God.

When I hear the word ‘fear’ in this context I think of loving Him so much that I never want to disappoint Him. David tells us in Psalm 32 that sin leads to sickness and decay and when we repent we can then shout for joy! Our bodies becomes strengthened and our pain stops.

When sickness seems to overtake us and when the doctor has exhausted all he knows to do it may be time to get a second opinion. We need to consult the physician that doesn’t need to collaborate with any other physician. His name is Jesus. The great physician who knows all things and has all power. Before we make the appointment there are several things we need to do according to Dr. Yeomans:

1. Confess our sin

2. Speak the Word

3. Praise and more Praise

We know that Jesus paid the price for our healing. We have His Spirit residing on the inside of us and we have His Word in written form for us to hear and meditate on.

It is so much easier for us that it was for those in Malachi’s time for his vision has come to pass. The Lord Jesus Christ was made man and dwelt among us. We have beheld His glory. He was crucified for us and buried; but death could not hold Him, and He rose from the dead and ascended to the right hand of God where He is exalted, and He hath shed forth the Holy Spirit upon those who believe.

Let us turn our face toward Him, bask in His presence and take the healing that was provided for us!

Is anyone else loving this book? God is so good!

Love,

Pastor Lisa

Health and Healing: Chapters 1-3

“You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.”

— Psalm 139:16

You were written in God’s book before you were ever born. Our bodies are a gift from God and He has given us the power over them and the ability to control them. Our bodies were made to display the glory of God. Our mouths are used to tell others about Him, to speak for Him, and our hands are used to help those in need. Dr. Yeomans lists what that the Bible says about man’s body on p. 286 taken from 1 Corinthians 6:13-20.

1. It is the Lord’s. He claims it for Himself.

2. He loves it so much that He is going to raise it from the dead.

3. It is a member of Christ.

4. It is the temple of the Holy Spirit.

5. It was bought with a price.

6. When the Lord Jesus Christ comes to take those who are in Jesus to be forever with Him, their bodies are to be changed and made like unto His glorious body.
   (I John 3:2, I Corinthians 15:52-53)

If we obey the book of instructions on how use the bodies God has given us, we will be renewed like the Eagle. If we don’t, the book of instruction tells us that sin invites sickness and death. BUT GOD! In His grace and mercy he has given us medicine (His Word).

He sent out his word and healed them, snatching them from the door of death.
- Psalm 107:20

In her book, Dr. Yeomans tells the story of a lady who had a large family who was always sick. It seemed they went from one sickness to another, so much that she became a joke in the city and referred to as the house that always had a public health card on the door letting everyone know their was sickness in the house. Thank God she got tired of it all and wanted to know how to get out of the cycle of sickness. She ran to someone who knew the answer (Dr Yeoman’s meeting) and listened to the instructions and followed them. She gave her life to the Lord, applied the blood of Jesus to her home and fed on the Word of God. Sickness left!

You too must apply the blood of Jesus into your home and feed on the Word of God. Sickness will have to leave! Today is a good day to start.

“Thus says the Lord….I have heard you prayers, I have seen your tears. Behold, I will heal you.”

— 2 Kings 20:5

“Lord God, I thank you that you’ve heard me when I’ve prayed. And you’ve even seen me when I’ve cried. But not only have you heard me and seen me, you have also healed me! I thank you that I am healed. I’m not going to be healed - I’m already healed!

Thank you Jesus - you are my healer!”

Love,

Pastor Lisa

Balm of Gilead: Chapters 12-16

So this beautiful prayer, “Give us this day our daily bread” (Matt. 6:11), is a petition not for food only but for life, which is more than meat. In other words, it is a prayer for perfect health put in our mouths by the Lord Jesus Himself. - page 257

Pastor Kempie and I had the opportunity to travel to Turkey with Rick Renner and Tony Cooke about four years ago. One morning we went down to the lobby around 5am to find Rick Renner reading his Bible. He shared with us that he never eats breakfast or feeds his flesh before feeding his spirit. Although it’s taken much discipline, we have put into practice this same habit. Every single day.

If you want to grow stronger spiritually, I want to encourage you to also make this a significant part of your morning routine. No matter if you are an early riser or if you typically roll out of bed, you would never neglect your flesh from having a cup of coffee, grabbing a quick bite to eat, or at the very least having a glass of water before leaving the house. Even more essential to your health is time spent in God’s Word. The Bible says that it is health to our entire body! His daily bread is literally the nutrients our spirit and our flesh cry out for!

What problems would be solved, what anxieties stilled, what cares banished if we always did this! (page 255)

“My son, pay attention to what I say;
turn your ear to my words.
Do not let them out of your sight,
keep them within your heart;
for they are life to those who find them
and health to one’s whole body.”

— Proverbs 4:20-22

You may not have the time to do a long Bible study in the morning but each of us have the ability to spend some quality time in His Word, petition Him for not food only but for life, and thank Him for the day that He has given us!

Love,

Pastor Lisa