In Jesus' Hands: Day 8

30 Days In Jesus' Hands

Jesus came and took Trish and I to Himself during the Charismatic Renewal in the 1980s. What an exciting time to learn where life and ultimate security came from. We learned that prayer is foundational in the life of Jesus' people and became intercessors. We learned to hear from the Lord, and share His Word with others. We learned to pray for the sick and expect to see deliverances and healings. 

We also learned that the people of the Kingdom of Light are still under constant savage attack from the kingdom of darkness, that warfare is a reality for Christians.

In the 25 years that I've been Christian I have often felt that I knew less and less of what I seemed to need and often felt stuck. When asked, I would say that I was a "committed" Christian. I now think that my commitment was simply perseverance; (Romans 5:3-4) Not only this, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering works perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope.

Because I knew that Christian hope is a certain hope, I knew that ultimately I would see some of Jesus' victory and know something of being the head and not the tail (Deuteronomy 28:13-14) The Lord will make you the head, and not the tail ..

One Thing Jesus Will Not Do

A few years ago a beloved brother and teacher of prophetic gifting (1 Corinthians 12:1-3) took me aside and leaned towards me. You know how this works, the person has something big to say and wants you to know that they have been thinking and praying about this moment for a while. My paraphrase of what he said: "John, Jesus is Lord. All our salvation, our justification and righteousness come from Him, it is Jesus who grows us in sanctification. It is Jesus who paid for us and we belong to Him. It is clear from your life that you already know this. But there is one thing Jesus will not do. Because we have free will, we choose what we believe. Jesus will not force truth onto us. When we believe something which is untrue, this is a stronghold. We must identify and tear down our own strongholds. John when you can do this, Jesus can bring about the mighty growth that He has planned for you".

Wow! Me? What do I know? One thing I did know; when you are deceived, you are deceived because you are deceived. If you knew you were deceived you could respond and do something about it. But because of the deception ..

Praise Jesus for brothers and sisters who pray for and then disciple us. I began to recognise strongholds, and bring Jesus' truth to bear on them. Great change resulted. I began to come into the freedom Christ secured for all His people (Galatians 5:1 ASV) For freedom did Christ set us free: stand fast therefore, and be not entangled again in a yoke of bondage.

Biblical Truth

A characteristic of teaching about spiritual healing is that we must recognise biblical truth, proclaim it, and stand on it. Every teacher tells you their version of what God's truth is.

Some Things Which I Believe Are God's Truth:
•   God's truth is relational and always comes with love (Romans 5:5).
•  We are in a family (we are all sons because we are included in Father God's inheritance (Galatians 4:6)).
•  We are Jesus' friends, not His servants (John 15).
•  Jesus lives in every Christian (John 17).
•  There is always room for forgiveness and repentance and a new start (Luke 15:24, John 8:11).
•  God's truth is fully backed by Jesus' righteousness in us (Romans 5:17).
•  We are free from guilt in Christ Jesus (Romans 7:15-24, Romans 8:1).
•  We live in grace through faith in Jesus Christ (Romans 5:2)
•  Our circumcision is of the heart, this binds us into the New Covenant (Romans 2:28-29).

And Some Which Are Not:
•  God is not transactional, in no way is reward based on expenditure or effort or sacrifice (Galatians 1:14).
•   Christianity is not rule-bound, not propositional, not religious (Matthew 23:23).
•   The words "must", "ought", "should" and "should not" are more Old Covenant than New.

Where Am I Going With This?

Jesus was beaten mercilessly and this paid for my healing and yours.

Jesus spilt His blood so that I can be washed clean from sin and live in righteousness.

Jesus died to defeat death and Satan, so that I will not die but have eternal life.

Truth. Here is truth. Jesus is here. His Abba Daddy is my Abba Daddy. The illnesses, malfunctions and defects in my body cannot withstand the power set against them by My Lord who reigns in the heavenly places. (Psalm 118:17) I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of Almighty God.

Favourite Scriptures

(Romans 5:17 NIV) For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.

(1 Peter 2:24) [Jesus] who his own self bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live to righteousness; by whose stripes you were healed.

P.S.

Trish wanted to be sure that I knew that I'm not alone in the room while I work on this. I do know. I am very aware that you are here with me precious reader. My prayers are for you that Jesus will meet you in your need, and especially in your need for love and freedom.

It is remarkably difficult to write a fresh piece each day. When I first felt led to stop taking medications and visiting doctors for these 30 days, I planned to keep knowledge of the project within our family.

This web-site has been established nearly four months; within a few hours of the first abstinence from medications, Jesus made it very clear that I was to do daily PsalmsOfJohn.com reports! Every day He comes, He gives me my subjects, and the Scriptures. He shows me what to cut when I write too much. This is His work, with my fingers typing! Thank you Jesus for your love.

Praise Jesus
Amen

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Bless us all.