You Can Have What You Say

Living Inside Out (4)

One way to release the Kingdom is by speaking.

Jesus showed us how this is done in the Mark 4 passage. In this passage, how did Jesus calm the storm? He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm (Mk 4:39, NKJV). Jesus “rebuked” the wind and “said” to the sea – that’s how He did it, by His words.

Words carry enormous amount of power: death and life are in the power of the tongue (Prov18:21). Jesus said His words are spirit and are life (John 6:63). Words are of the spirit realm and His Kingdom is also of the spirit realm. The Kingdom could be carried by words. In fact, Jesus demonstrated that He could use words to bring the Kingdom into the world around Him. When peace replaced the storm, when the reality of heaven prevailed, it was proof that the Kingdom had come on the scene.

But just as life could be transmitted through words, so could death. Therefore it’s not the case of saying words like a formula to get what we want, but what matters is the spirit that the words carry – whether it is of the devil or of God. Only faith-filled words bring God’s Kingdom on the scene. Having said that, we could all start with being careful in what we say.

A few days ago I had an experience that illustrates the point well. Over the telephone Sister Rose complained to me about an abnormal condition: she was shivering in cold and sweating profusely at the same time. She had not been feeling well for over a month and the condition was getting worse. The doctors did not find anything serious except to say that a valve of her heart was not functioning well. The medication did not seem to help. But our sister sure believed in God’s healing power and gladly received my prayer. While I prayed the Lord led me to speak against an evil oppression on her. I rebuked the oppression and commanded the body to be well. It didn’t take long after putting down the phone that she found herself completely liberated. She went for a walk and the sweating and the “body-cold” left her. This is a classic case of speaking the Kingdom into the situation, even over the phone.

Jesus’ disciples used words too in the crisis: Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing? (Mk 4:38, NKJV) However, their words were not positioned to make a decree on the situation to change the circumstances, but merely state the fact they were facing. It’s like what the Lord told Charles Capps once (which he related in his book The Tongue – A Creative Force):

I have told my people they can have what they say, but my people are saying what they have.

Release the Kingdom - you can have what you say.

Releasing the Kingdom

Living Inside Out (3)

We can only give what we have.

One time the apostles Peter and John went up to the temple at Jerusalem and on their way met a lame man at the gate who begged for money. Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” (Acts 3:6, NKJV) The lame man was healed on the spot, strength coming into him. Leaping up, he stood on his feet and walked.

What Peter had done was simply to give away the Kingdom. It’s not that there was no silver or gold in God’s Kingdom, but Peter understood that there’s health and wholeness in the Kingdom - that’s what the lame man needed.

Just as Peter could release the Kingdom into the world around him, so could all born again believers. God’s Kingdom is within us (Luke 17:21) – this is an amazing truth. It doesn’t matter what are the needs we face or others around us face, we have the solution. Every time the Kingdom comes into collision with the reality of this world the Kingdom always wins, and the reality of the Kingdom would take over. There is life, peace, health and abundant prosperity in the Kingdom, but there’s no lack in anything.

Jesus asked His disciples to pray that the Kingdom come (Matt 6:10). The Kingdom can come upon the believer as well as being released from the believer. If you think about it, this is similar to the Holy Spirit. Jesus told His disciples before His ascension that they shall receive power when the Spirit has come upon them (Acts 1:8). But before that He also said that the Spirit would flow from their hearts like rivers of living water (John 7:38-39). Although we can’t say that the Spirit and the Kingdom are one, we do know that the Kingdom is in the Spirit (Rom 14: 17). Therefore, like the Spirit, the Kingdom can be released from the believer.

Now, this is the make-up of the believer: he hosts and releases the Kingdom. But like Jesus’ disciples facing the storm, many of us have not learned to live this way. Perhaps it is simply because we are not aware of what we carry inside.

Rise up and calm the storm! You can give what you have.


Photo Credit: Evgeni Dinev on FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Scripture Link: BibleGateway.com

Let Your Internal Reality Change Your External Circumstances

Living Inside Out (2)

Mark 4:35-41

Jesus had perfect peace inside, and His focus was on this internal reality rather than the storm outside. That’s why He did not panic like His disciples did.

When facing difficult circumstances we can choose to remain at ease connected to God’s Kingdom or we can act according to what we see and feel. As children of God, His Kingdom is within us (Luke 17:21). If God is with us, we will surely make it to the other side. To choose to live according to what we see and feel is to ignore the invisible and invincible Kingdom inside.

Jesus’ disciples allowed themselves to be overwhelmed by the storm. They saw, they felt, they thought about it and they decided that it could be fatal. Before they approached Jesus their hearts were already gripped with fear. Fear is something tangible, it’s something real. But this reality is inside, not outside. So what actually happened to the disciples?

The storm had moved from outside their body to inside their soul.

We have to guard what we have, because there is a thief who comes to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10). If we are not careful, he will steal our peace. Then, like the disciples, we would have let what’s outside affect what’s inside.

Jesus lived the other way round. He would not let the outside affect the inside. I have read the passage in Mark many times, but every time I thought it comical that Jesus could keep on sleeping in that kind of condition. Apart from the fact that it’s because He lived in Shalom peace, I believe Jesus also wanted to teach us something by his sleeping. He was effectively saying this: shut the external conditions out of your system. Ignore them. Of course, Jesus could laugh heartily and He could weep at what He saw. He lived like a normal man. Even so, He was never fazed or intimidated by unfavorable external circumstances.

But there’s more to it. Inside Jesus there’s no storm, but He did have a lot of peace. His Kingdom is peace. He carried it in great measure and He could release it to the world around Him. What He had not he could not give but what He had He could give. He released His Shalom peace into the outside world. Just as the disciples’ fear was tangible, His peace was also tangible and of superior reality. The storm had to cease. Jesus then rebuked His disciples; obviously He meant that they could have done what He did. So, in whatever storm you find yourself in, do what Jesus did:

Let your internal reality change your external circumstances.


Scripture Link: BibleGateway.com

Facing Difficult Times

Living Inside Out (1)

At times we find ourselves going through trying circumstances. Broken marriage, ill-health, retrenchment from work, financial crisis, natural disaster – you name it. Often we have no control over these things happening, but sometime we ourselves are the cause of the trouble. It doesn’t matter how they happen, they do happen. The important thing is how we react to them.

One time Jesus was crossing a lake with his disciples. There arose a mighty storm that threatened to sink their boat. The disciples panicked but Jesus was sleeping soundly in the stern. The seasoned fishermen, amazed that the Lord could keep on sleeping in the face of such life-threatening circumstance, woke Him up and reprimanded Him of His indifference. But this was how Jesus responded:

Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?” (Mk 4:39-40, NKJV)

Jesus’ disciples had been in the fishing business for a long time, plying their trade on the waters. We could trust them to recognize a life-threatening storm whey they saw one. They certainly reacted in a way that everyone would think reasonable. But Jesus seemed to think otherwise. Not only that, His reaction was totally opposite to that of his disciples. Why?

The reason is that Jesus did not live in the storm.

His disciples lived in the storm and from the storm - their whole beings were entrenched in their surroundings. They saw that strong wind wreaked havoc on the lake making waves as high as the mast. The waves were pounding on the boat and pouring into it. The disciples could hardly stand still as the boat rocked feverishly. Their senses told them everything was far from okay – they could be drowned anytime. What they saw and felt caused them to be gripped with fear internally. They had their focus totally zoomed in on the outside world, the storm. That’s where they lived.

Jesus lived in His Kingdom and from His Kingdom. In the world where He lived there was no storm. Perfect peace reigned. There was no room for fear. Jesus had His focus zoomed in on this internal reality, thereby oblivion to outside circumstances. He was sure that He was safe and would make it to the other side, therefore He continued to sleep.

In times of tribulation, there’s a simple way to take stock of things. Just ask yourself: where do you live? 

Photo Credit: Vlado at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

God Is Faithful

God is faithful, even when we are faithless. It is His nature, and He doesn’t change.  As His children, our lives are full of opportunities to showcase His faithfulness. And He longs to show the world who He is and how He is like, through us.

Most times we miss these opportunities. Because we don’t like to take risk, we do our best to stay in control or to get out of situations where we don’t have control. We don’t like to put ourselves in situations whereby we cannot do anything. We feel uncomfortable; it scares us. We want to do something, and to know that we can do something. This is the mark of living in the flesh – to meet our needs through self-effort, apart from God. 

But God longs to show Himself strong in our behalf (2 Chron 16:9), He desires that we rely on and expect His supernatural intervention. When God’s children forgo the privilege of living in His supernatural providence the world misses the chance to get a glimpse of God – His nature and His power.

George Mueller was not one of your normal Christian. He ran an orphanage in Bristol, England for more than half a century in the 1800s, without collecting a cent from the public. At one time (1874), he had two thousand one hundred to feed at the orphanage, one hundred and eighty nine missionaries to assist and one hundred schools to be supported entirely. He didn’t have a fund-raising committee and he didn’t ask any one for money.  He asked from one person and one only, the almighty God, in prayer. And God never failed him. 

A Pastor Charles Parsons interviewed Mueller towards the close of the latter’s life. In the course of their conversation Parsons asked Mueller if he had found the Lord to be always faithful, this is how Mueller answered: “Always. He has never failed me! For nearly seventy years every need in connection with His work has been supplied. The orphans, from the first until now, have numbered nine thousand five hundred; but they have never wanted a meal. Hundreds of times we have commenced the day without a penny; but our Heavenly Father has sent supplies the moment they were actually required. There never was a time when we had no wholesome meal. During all these years I have been enabled to trust in the living God alone. Seven million five hundred thousand dollars have been sent to me in answer to prayer. We have needed as much as two hundred thousand dollars in one year, and it has all come when needed. No man can ever say I asked him for a penny. We have no committees, no collectors, no voting, and no endowment. All has come in answer to believing prayer …”**

A. T. Pierson, who later wrote a biography for Mueller, once visited at the orphanage. One night when everybody had retired Mueller asked Pierson to pray together with him. Mueller revealed that there was absolutely nothing in the house for next morning’s breakfast, Pierson was shocked and remonstrated with Mueller that at such hour they could find no supply. Mueller knew about it. So they prayed. At least Mueller did and Pierson tried to. They went to bed and sleep, and breakfast for two thousand children was there in abundance at the usual breakfast hour! In answer to their prayer, the Lord called a man out of his bed to send breakfast to Mueller’s orphanage. Knowing nothing of the need, he sent supply good enough for a month!

How faithful is our God! But how many give Him a chance to demonstrate His faithfulness like George Mueller did?

You can.

YOUTUBE VIDEO - GREAT IS THY FAITHFULNESS

** Source: George Muller Man of Faith, published by The Navigators, Singapore, printed by permission of Zondervan Publishing House

YOUTUBE video by fontz2001 (http://www.youtube.com/user/fontz2001) 

Scripture Link: BibleGateway.com

Hunger after His Kingdom

Hunger after His Kingdom (7)

If, after reading my last post, you are still not convinced of God’s will concerning your health, consider the following incident recorded in Matthew 8 right after the Sermon on the Mount.

When He had come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed Him. And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Immediately his leprosy was cleansed. (Matt 8:1-3, NKJV)

This passage again expressed God’s will regarding the matter. Most have no problem recognizing that God has the power to heal, but too many have doubt as to His willingness to heal. The above passage should settle the case once for all. In telling the leper that He was willing to heal him, Jesus is telling all who would come before Him that He is willing to heal them, or else He wouldn’t be the Jesus who is the same yesterday, today and forever (Heb 13:8). Today, to say “If you are willing” in prayer may sound pious, but it is actually blatant unbelief. Make up your mind and believe what Jesus says: “I am willing; be healed.”

Having satisfied ourselves, let us look at the passage from another point of view. The incident happened immediately after Jesus preached the Sermon. In fact, Jesus was demonstrating what He preached. According to the Apostle Paul, the best preaching is not one with eloquence of speech or human wisdom, but with the demonstration of power and of the Spirit (1 Cor 2:4-5). Paul must have learned from the Lord Jesus Himself. In the Sermon, Jesus stroked the fire in His audience; He wanted them to hunger and thirst for God’s Kingdom. He told them that all their desires and needs shall be fulfilled when the Kingdom had come on them. And here came the leper, perhaps himself had his desire and hunger aroused, so much so that he risked the exasperation of many coming through the crowd to where Jesus was. Lepers were not allowed in a crowd. They had to go about shouting “unclean”. But he became the perfect subject for Jesus demonstrating the Kingdom. Jesus laid His hand on him; He touched him. His Kingdom came on the leper. There is no leprosy in His Kingdom. The reality of the Kingdom was made manifest.

What Jesus did and what He preached cannot be separated. That is why we can say His actions before and after the Sermon (that is, His actions in Matt 4 and Matt 8) gives us the context for the Sermon. His actions addressed the needs and desires of the people, so His Sermon must addressed the same. I don’t know about you, but I find this approach easiest to understand Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount (Matt 5-7). It is clear this is what Jesus wanted to tell His audience, and to tell us:

Hunger after His Kingdom, and all that you hunger after shall be filled.    

Scripture Link: BibleGateway.com

Your Desire for Health & God's Will

Hunger after His Kingdom (6)

There cannot be a more basic need or desire than this – good health. And surely, there cannot be a greater blessing this side of eternity. For one simple reason: without good health we cannot enjoy any other blessing, no matter how much we are blessed. What good is it to have all the money in the world if you cannot eat what you like because of ill health? Or you need to lie on the sick bed perpetually? You simply cannot live life, not to say enjoy it. Sickness brings pain and suffering. It drains resources and eliminates peace from our lives. Most times, it is not only the sick who suffer, their loved ones also suffer along with them. Do you think it is God’s will for us to be sick?

Your answer to the above question is crucial; it determines whether you would be a candidate to experience divine healing and divine health. It may even be a life and death matter. Not long ago I heard of a testimony. Jane (not her real name) found herself given the death sentence by the doctor. Jane had cancer. The stomach was bloated as if she was pregnant. The doctor said there’s nothing more he could do. You can go home, he said. But she could not accept it. This cannot be my destiny, she said. Jane believed Jesus would not let her die like that; it’s His will that she be healed. So she refused to accept the report of the doctor and sought the Lord, and the Lord alone. Jane prayed, and she asked others to pray for her. She didn’t go for any further treatment. In a few months she was completely healed, completely well. Free of cancer. It has been more than a year now that Jane has lived in this divine health. What would happen if she had thought that it could be God’s will that she be sick? Many are defeated right at this point. Not Jane. You see, what we believe is truly important.

There are too many out there who are not sure of God’s will regarding this matter. Even church ministers. But Scripture is very clear about it. In the Sermon of the Mount, Jesus taught us how to pray. He has this to say praying about God’s Kingdom:

Your Kingdom come.

Your will be done

On earth as it is in heaven. (Matt 6:10, NKJV)

Jesus had been telling the crowd that they must seek God’s Kingdom, because in it they would find their needs met and their desires fulfilled. Pray earnestly “Your Kingdom Come”, He said. It is obvious that in His Kingdom He rules. God has full dominion – that is to say His will takes precedence. How does His will look like? Jesus gives us a specific answer: on earth as it is in heaven. In heaven, everything is in the most perfect state possible, full of God’s glory and beauty. There can be nothing broken and nothing lacking. Perfect peace and joy permeate all. When the Kingdom comes on us, only what’s allowed in heaven is allowed here; what’s not allowed in heaven is not allowed here. That is God’s will as spelt out by Jesus. Now, do you think sickness can be allowed in heaven?  

Therefore, you need have no doubt as to what is God’s will for you in this matter. It is just as you’ve desired.