In Jesus' Hands: Day 5

30 Days In Jesus' Hands

Five days ago I threw myself into Jesus' hands and will have no medications or contact with medical people for thirty days. When Trish, my wife, and I were praying about this I had a great sense that God loves me, as Father, as Son, and as Holy Spirit. Both Trish and I had an inner peace that we could trust God's Word, as given to us in the Bible, that Jesus would, in fact, be our rock: (Isaiah 26:4 NIV) Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord, is the Rock eternal.

I am still amazed how full of hope I am. Not the hope of a farmer facing a dry year, but the certain hope of a Christian for whom Jesus has already done everything. Hope from assurance which comes from faith (Hebrews 11:1). Faith which comes from knowing our Lord Jesus Christ, and our Father who sent Him. Faith elicited by the testimony of those who have experienced God's love and power and working for good in their lives.

Today was another busy day with good progress in many things. One new thing, for the first time in two weeks I took Star, our dog, walking. My knee seemed not to mind a bit. We brought flowers home for the kitchen.

The knee is significant because it so affects my testimony.

My Knee
About four years ago my left knee began to ache. It got very painful and I developed an involuntary limp. I saw my doctor who sent me to a specialist orthopaedic surgeon who had x-rays and an MRI scan done. He said "look, you can see that the cartilage is worn like an old blanket . . there is significant arthritis . . your knee is finished . . I'll see you again in six years or so, to fit a plastic knee".

After prayer at a healing meeting the pain left and mobility returned. Hallelujah! Rejoicing! A miracle? I thought so, and testified many, many times. All the swelling never quite left the knee, sometimes it would be hot, sometimes sore, but I had my mobility. I called it a miracle and for me it was.

Six weeks ago the same knee mushroomed in size. I saw my new orthopaedic surgeon. He said that it is common for worn and arthritic joints to be inflamed and sore, then, for no apparent reason, become virtually normal for extended periods before returning to the painful condition. The new x-rays showed clear deterioration, particularly in the cartilage. I believed this to be my "miracle knee". Clearly no doctor would see the changes as a sign or a wonder in the biblical sense. Where does this leave my testimony?

Testimony Is My Work
Whenever I share, or teach, even when I pray, testimony is a mainstay. I speak of what I know in my spirit to be true through my own experience or through direct observation.

Everything I write contains testimony. If my miracle knee is not a miracle then what do I write and publish? Should this web-site be dismantled and deleted. Didn't PsalmsOfJohn.com come from Jesus, our Lord?

This was a huge crisis in my understanding of who I am in Christ, even as that understanding is, at last, becoming firmly established.

So I prayed. We prayed, many of us. Now, here I am, in Jesus' hands.

Favourite Scripture:
(Matthew 7:11) "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!"

Praise Jesus
Amen

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Bless us all.

In Jesus' Hands: Day 4

Testimony - 30 Days In Jesus' Hands

We just got home from a Friday night "Well" meeting. Our church is host. People come from many local churches; pastors, parish priests, elders, and leaders too. We go to the "well" and get a drink from the Lord. Fabulous. Jesus always shows up. Tonight many found a new assurance and freedom. We sang "I sing because He is good, I dance because He is good, I shout because He is good, He is good to me". Many danced. It was a time of release and freedom in Christ Jesus, particularly freedom from religion.

The Scripture (Luke 11:11) "Which of you fathers, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone?" was spoken. What a truth! What an affirmation to me for these 30 days with no drugs or doctors! Trish came tonight which is wonderful, usually going out Friday night is too much for her. She was blessed. We all were. Jesus looks after His people. He is good.

Dad, How Do You Feel?
Generally my kids don't ask after my health much, unless I've just come out of hospital. Today I was asked more than once. I was so blessed to be asked, and blessed that I could answer in the positive. I am well. My left hand is a little sore (like arthritis), I think it is tired from the tough weeding I did yesterday.

There are no obvious effects of my not taking drugs. (Also, I have had no caffeine for 8 days, no nicotine or alcohol or dope for years!).

There are also no obvious signs of healing, but that's OK. These are early days, healings often take some time. Jesus loves me, His Abba Daddy is my Abba Daddy.

Favourite Scriptures:
(Hebrews 11:1 NIV) Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Meditating on this verse is so very rewarding. Am I sure? Yes. Do I see? No.

(Luke 11:11) "Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead?"

(Luke 12:22-24) He said to his disciples, "Therefore I tell you, don't be anxious for your life, what you will eat, nor yet for your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they don't sow, they don't reap, they have no warehouse or barn, and God feeds them. How much more valuable are you than birds!

Hearing From God
This hearing from God idea is really interesting. Controversial too. Paul talks about it: (1 Corinthians 14:1) "Follow after love, and earnestly desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy".

The prophetic gifting is something we can seek. It is real. Paul is talking to the church, to us. Shouldn't prophetic gifting be commonplace? Yes. I even think it is commonplace.

Think about this .. every week, all around the world, millions (yes, millions) of pastors, ministers, Bible college and Bible class teachers, missionaries, parish priests, home group leaders, and others, say: "Lord, what would you have me share with your people this week? What shall I preach or teach on Tuesday/Thursday/Sunday?"

Then they get out their Bible and all the teaching aids they use: Many Scripture translations, Greek and Hebrew Bibles, computers, text books, devotions, notes, CDs, maps. Then they go to work. On Tuesday, or Thursday, or Sunday they share what they have put together. This whole project is God's work. Their appointment into their position is Jesus work. He is Head of the Church. Jesus was asked for help, help surely came! Not a stone. Bread.

Praise Jesus
Amen

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Bless us all.

In Jesus' Hands: Day 3

30 Days In Jesus' Hands

What a day of progress! Trish and I started the day with a prayer time together, and communion. I don't have to tell you that we talk quite a bit about this 30 day medication free and doctor free project.

We spent some of our time talking about how hard should I work at the spiritual side of this?

Every day should I:
* Read or study Scripture for, say, an hour?
* Have communion?
* Listen to a CD or read a great Christian healing teacher?
* Spend a significant time in prayer? In spiritual warfare prayer?
* Put on the armour of God (Ephesians 6 - each component is Jesus)?
* Do warfare prayer on behalf of our family, houses, cars ..
* Cut off ungodly soul ties?
* Speak to each ailment and body part and system?
* Pray that Jesus will heal each illness, disease, or problem?

Is there stuff I should do that I have not listed? Stuff I don't even know about, that I should be doing?

I have to say that as much as I love Jesus and love being a Christian, I have never been able to do this stuff. I've never had a consistent prayer time, or systematically persued any course of study (except in Bible College). Christianity is relational, it is not propositional, neither is it "do this" and "don't do that".

Jesus gives me thoughts to chew on: I spent a very tough year with Him in Psalm 22. Another year we meditated on John 1 and Genesis 1 and 2, now I am very Christ centred yet totally in awe of God's creation. Right now it is "grace": (John 1:16) From his fullness we all received grace upon grace.

Favourite Scripture:
(Galatians 5:1)  For freedom did Christ set us free: stand fast therefore, and be not entangled again in a yoke of bondage.

I know this to be true; Christians have been set free so that we can be free in Jesus our Lord. We sing a song: "free to sing, free to dance, free to run". All in Him.

When I ponder this and my circumstances I realise that my frustration about time is God inspired. So much time and energy is swallowed up in blood tests, CT scans, X-Rays, clinics, procedures.

Jesus
This is not about me. It is not about my illnesses. It is about Jesus and His Kingdom breaking in on the Earth and on humankind. It is about His glory and all glory going to our Father. We participate with Jesus in bringing glory to Father God. This is why a Christian's whole life is worship!

So my prayer (and Trish's too, and our kids') is this:
"Jesus, my life is for your glory. My time is for your glory. Wash my body, cleanse my systems; redeem my time Lord, I pray. I promise myself for your purposes, for you to glorify yourself. I know you love me, you gave yourself for me, then bought me for your purposes. Do what you will Lord. I am yours".

We had the most wonderful and productive day. We did huge work in the garden, (mostly Trish and Patrick), gorgeous! And I got my little red car ready for sale; when it is sold we will buy something newer and zippier for Trish, and I will take over our trusty family van. Tonight a lovely simple family meal together.

Praise Jesus
Amen

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Amen.

In Jesus' Hands: Day 2

30 Days In Jesus' Hands

At the end of my second day in Jesus' hands, away from medications and the care of medical people, I absolutely believe that Jesus loves me, is with me, and is in process of completely healing me.

My wife, Trish, our younger daughter Becky, and I, went to a healing meeting this morning. People were asked to stand if there was "something impossible" before them, "a chasm too deep to cross"; of all the things to ask me today! Amongst others I stood and was prayed for. No details or circumstances were discussed. The prayers of the people brought forth such deep sobs from me, and tears, and an all encompassing knowledge of Jesus' love. My Saviour. God's Son, my fellow son and fellow heir of Father God. My tears seemed so very, very clean, Jesus used them to wash me inside and out.

Later, during a quiet moment, I received a prophetic picture from the Lord: I was standing perfectly upright with my hands by my sides, but instead of being on the ground I was rising, effortlessly and steadily, into the air. Below me, heaped on the ground, was a pile of what looked to be meat, guts, skin, and bone fragments, it looked disgusting, the whole pile was putrid with puss and slime. I believe that I saw a prophetic picture of all that will be left of my "sixteen distinct medical complaints" by the time these 30 days are done.

More Favourite Scriptures:
God, in His Bible, promises that every one of Jesus' followers, indeed every person, already has their healing paid for by Jesus as He suffered and then died on the Cross:
(Isaiah 53:5) But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the punishment that brought our peace was upon him; and by his stripes we are healed.

Jesus' Proximity and Presence
(Deuteronomy 4:29) There you will look for the Lord your God, and if you search for him with all your heart, you will find him.

(Jeremiah 29:13) And you shall seek me, and find me, when you shall search for me with all your heart.

(Proverbs 8:17) I love those who love me. Those who seek me diligently will find me.

(Matthew 5:6) "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled".

All our righteousness is Jesus Christ Himself, He is our righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21) God made the One who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that we might become God's righteousness in Him.

(Matthew 28:20) ". . Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age".

A Simple Question:
IF Jesus has fully and completely paid for our healing, and
IF God is always there for us when we earnestly seek Him,
then
It has to be a travesty of justice that even one person is sick today, that I am sick today and experiencing illness, (especially after years of the excellent medical care I have received here in Australia).

Tonight
A lovely travelling preacher and his wife, who we have known for many years, are in town tonight at a church near here. I am able to join them for a shared meal and a praise, prayer and preaching meeting. He is seventy seven! I am so looking forward. I am cooking chicken drumsticks to take, I must go now and turn them in the ove

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Blessings to all.

n . .

Until tomorrow . . .
Praise Jesus
Amen

In Jesus' Hands: Day 1

In Jesus' Hands: Day 1 of 30

I have thrown myself into Jesus' hands. This sounds pretty dramatic but to me it is completely natural; simply the next step in my walk with Jesus.

Over the next 30 days I'm trusting that Jesus will fully heal me of the sixteen distinct medical complaints that I have been seeing 8 medical specialists and 2 GP doctors for, some for over 20 years. I expect to be healthy, rested, alert, mobile and vigorous, with no illnesses, physical complaints or allergies. I even expect to be able to give my reading and distance glasses away, and to have noticeably lost weight!

In these next 30 days I plan to take none of the 6 medications prescribed for me, and will not see any doctor or other health professional. I am asking Jesus to show me that His Word and His promises are true. I'm nearly in tears as I write this, Jesus' love for me is so near.

I know that Jesus can heal, and often does so. There have been medical, emotional and relational miracles in my family and we often see them in other people. God is real. Jesus is real. Eternal salvation is real. Healing is real.

Praise be to Jesus for the healings I have had, particularly in my spirit and my soul, my emotions and will. I am sure that I would be dead if it were not for His work in me.

A favourite Scripture is: (Philippians 1:1,6  Paul writing to Christians) I thank my God whenever I remember you . . being confident of this very thing, that he who began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.

Jesus began a good work in me more than a quarter century ago. And He has been faithful in working to complete it . .

But, as I have grown older, my list of physical complaints has steadily grown. After hundreds of healing meetings and many, many, prayers, anointings and laying on of hands, I have only ever been partly healed. Never fully.

Each day I will post a fresh report here to www.PsalmsOfJohn.com.

Praise Jesus
Amen

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Bless Jesus.