In Jesus' Hands Day 12

Jesus Heals - 30 Days in His Hands

On 28th September 2010 I threw myself into Jesus' hands. For 30 days I'm trusting that Jesus will fully heal me of all illnesses and diseases, some long lived (1 Peter 2:24). I am sick of being sick. I feel led to take none of the 6 medications prescribed for me, nor see any health professionals. I believe I'll become healthy, rested, alert, mobile, vigorous and of sound spirit, mind, soul and body.

Jesus' Grace Towards Me

(John 1:16 NASB) For of his fullness we all received, and grace upon grace.

My translation: (John 1:16) "Every one of us has abundantly received the free gift of grace, and grace added to grace like waves coming onto the sea shore. Grace, so great a gift, so rich, so precious; we have received no less than grace; this is a gift to be spoken of with awe. Grace comes from Jesus' inexhaustible fullness (from Him who is all in all (Ephesians 1:23)). Jesus pours out blessing because He wants to. This is what He does. This is Jesus' witness in the world. God is love (1 John 4:8)".

A Long Walk

We talk of being on our Christian "walk". This is a good word because it implies movement and makes clear that we are on our way to a place which is not here. This is true for me. It is such a relief and a blessing that I'm no longer where I was! In the 60s, 70, and 80s, before I met Trish and then Jesus, I was pretty hedonistic. Definitely a sinner. By the time I fell head over heels for Trish I'd about had enough of that life, and saw marriage, kids, and an interesting job as being good things to pursue; monogamous marriage, with love, commitment and meaning. Really, I had no idea how I could ever adapt to such a life, but from what I had seen I knew that these were good things.

Soon after we married, Trish encountered Jesus through some loving and fulfilled Christian women. Intercessors. Some little time later He also drew me to Himself. I wanted to change my life to be worthy of His interest and love.

Well, talk about hard! Did you ever try to do this? You'll know what I mean. It's much like making wine out of water; there are so many essential ingredients that you just do not have. Besides, wine has those subtle "extras" that make one wine better than another. Such a struggle, such feelings of inadequacy . .

Now, more than 25 years later, I see Jesus' plans for me, for Trish, our marriage, our family, and His Kingdom, all working out. There was never no progress. But it was always Jesus' progress. It is His plan, He equips and makes ready in His own time. We grow in Jesus by His grace. I have been growing, and I grow still.

Jesus Speaks

A while ago a lovely older man of God spoke to me: he told me that Our Lord was opening a door for me, and that I was to study grace, specifically "grace upon grace".

Then the knee which I had believed to have been miraculously healed mushroomed in size and became very painful. I began to limp again. What I had often testified as my "miracle knee" turned out to be a fairly typical worn and arthritic joint. (see In Jesus Hands: Day 5). This was devastating to me.

Where to from here? There is only one place. Into the arms of Jesus. Prayer, meditating on His Word. Seeking Him.

Now here I am. Being fully restored? I believe so. I have now put my whole trust in Jesus.

Favourite Scriptures:

(John 1:16) For of his fullness we all received, and grace upon grace.

(1 Corinthians 13:13) But now faith, hope, and love remain - these three. The greatest of these is love.

(1 John 4:10) In this is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son as the atoning sacrifice for our sins.

Praise Jesus.

Amen.

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Blessings.

In Jesus' Hands Day 11

Jesus Heals - 30 Days in His Hands

On 28th September 2010 I threw myself into Jesus' hands. For 30 days I'm trusting that Jesus will fully heal me of all illnesses and diseases, some long lived (1 Peter 2:24). I plan to take none of the 6 medications prescribed for me, and will not see any health professionals. I am sick of being sick. I expect to become healthy, rested, alert, mobile and vigorous, with no physical complaints or allergies.

God Loves Faith
Faith is a big thing with Christians. God loves faith. There are so many great faith examples in the Bible; and I am sure all of us know of exciting workings of faith among our family, friends or church community.

Still, I find it a confusing and sometimes painful subject. I was out of work for years despite much prayer of faith, this was just after I had excelled in the best work of my career! I have been bothered by an increasing number of illnesses for decades - more vast amounts of faith filled prayer, desperate prayer, exhausted prayer.

In our family we have definitely seen miracles of faith, and we've seen miracles which can only be described as grace because they were a surprise. But we have believed our wonderful God for stuff which just didn't happen. There are many with a similar testimony.

Praise the Lord that He helps us persevere.

Christians are in the New Covenant. Jesus dwells in us in love, compassion and power. He speaks through His Bible. He also speaks into our hearts with His "now" Word, which is always confirmed by witnesses and by Scripture.

So what's missing in my understanding? Could it simply be timing? Could it be that Jesus wants us to reach a level of spiritual maturity before He releases particular parts of His plan for our lives?

God's Man For That Hour
Think about Moses. It must have been so scary for Israel with all Pharaoh’s chariots and army coming down on them with murder in their hearts (Exodus 14). The Israelite people were stuck on the sea shore, exposed and vulnerable. The Lord was on Israel's side; God was with them in the pillar of cloud and the pillar of fire to guide and protect them. God spoke to Moses so that he would know what to expect and what to do, God told him that Israel would see deliverance.

Faith in Prophetic Action
Pharaoh’s army drew closer and the people thought that their faith in the Lord was surely mistaken. Then the Lord told Moses of the prophetic act which would activate God's mighty power and release that which the He already had planned. Moses stretched out his hand over the sea which parted in an unprecedented and amazingly creative miracle.

The world still talks about this mighty deliverance of a whole nation. Under the Old Covenant the Lord protected and richly blessed His Covenant people.

Jesus' Friends at Bethany
Do you identify with Lazarus' sisters, Martha and Mary? They were very close friends with Jesus, yet He did not come and act to prevent their brother's death (John 11). They were grieving when Jesus finally arrived. They knew that Jesus could have healed Lazarus and prevented his death. Yet, because they fully recognised Jesus' authority and His relationship with His Father, they accepted the death. They were so grief stricken that Jesus Himself burst into tears.

Beyond Their Faith
It was only then, when everyone was completely beyond hope (John 11:42), that Jesus proclaimed His closeness to Father God: "I know that you always listen to me . . " and commanded: "Lazarus, come out!"

We see here another unprecedented and amazingly creative miracle. Even though this was still in Old Covenant time, Jesus showed the nature of the New Covenant where the presence and power of Christ in the believer releases the Lord's extravagant glory.

Prophetic?
I do not think my faith is greater today than it was, say, a year ago. Yet today I am not taking medication and not seeing doctors. I believe that my lovely Lord Jesus led me into this.

So is this my Holy Spirit led prophetic act? Not taking medication in the same way healthy people do not? Not seeing doctors in the same way healthy people do not? Getting about and exercising as though I have full mobility and healthy cartilages?

Yes, I believe so. Thank you Jesus.

Favourite Scriptures:

(Exodus 23:20) "Behold, I send an angel before you, to keep you by the way, and to bring you into the place which I have prepared".

Yes.

(Jeremiah 32:17) "Ah Almighty God! Behold, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm; there is nothing too hard for you".

Yes.

(Ephesians 3:20 NIV) "Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen".

Yes.

Praise Jesus.
Amen.

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Blessings.

In Jesus' Hands Day 10

30 Days In Jesus' Hands - My Testimony

Today is the tenth day of this project. When I began writing these daily posts I thought I would be reporting about my health and rejoicing over all the positive changes as they happen.

Apart from telling about my "miracle knee", and its disappointing loss of credibility as an object of testimony, I've not really spoken of my health.

It has become clear to me that this whole project has little to do with my health. It has everything to do with Jesus.

We are told that Jesus is everything for us: (NIV verses rendered by me):

•  God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 1:3)
•  Father God chose us in Jesus to be holy and blameless in His sight (Ephesians 1:4)
•  Father God predestined us to be adopted as His children through Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:5)
•  Father God has freely given us His glorious grace in [Jesus], the One He loves (Ephesians 1:6)
•  In Jesus we have redemption and forgiveness of sins through Jesus' blood (Ephesians 1:7)
•  Redemption continually flows to us in the riches of God's abundant grace (Ephesians 1:8)
•  Father God has made known to us the mystery of his will, which he purposed in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:9)
•  Father God will effect His Will when the times have come, to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Jesus (Ephesians 1:10).

•  Jesus is the image of the invisible God (Colossians 1:15)
•  By Jesus, and for him, all things were created (Colossians 1:16)
•  In Jesus all things hold together (Colossians 1:17)
•  Jesus is the head of the body, the church, and has the supremacy in everything (Colossians 1:18)
• God is pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Jesus (Colossians 1:19)
•  Jesus reconciles all things to himself, by making peace through His blood, shed on the cross (Colossians 1:20).

Our Father's great plan even has Jesus as our bridegroom to be. He is willing, even excited at this prospect. His suffering and death was for us so that these things could come to pass.

This bridegroom thing is very important to me. I know something of being both bridegroom and husband. Trish and I have been married for thirty years. This has not all been plain sailing, but over all it has been beautiful, productive, and packed with joy. We have overcome troubles by linking up with Jesus, into a three strand cord which can not easily be broken (Ecclesiastes 4:12). Jesus has bonded us ever closer and stronger.

Favourite Scriptures:
Song of Solomon shows, in tender beauty, how we, Jesus' Christian people, are the beloved of Christ:
(Song of Solomon 2:3-6 NIV)
Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest
is my lover among the young men.
I delight to sit in his shade,
and his fruit is sweet to my taste.
He has taken me to the banquet hall,
and his banner over me is love.
Strengthen me with raisins, refresh me with apples,
for I am faint with love.
His left arm is under my head,
and his right arm embraces me.

I am faint with love. He is with me, close, loving.

Who God Is
So now, on this tenth day, I realise that what is at stake here is not my health issues, but who God is.

I believe that the only faith I can have must be based entirely on what I know to be true.

Faith
All today’s Scriptures show me God as He is. I can depend on them.

So, I can depend on Him!

To me this is very clear. God is who He says He is! Today and into the future.

(Hebrews 11:1) Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

Yes.

Praise Jesus.
Amen.

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Bless us all.

In Jesus' Hands: Day 9

30 Days In Jesus' Hands

Confidence grows. Scripture tells us that Jesus is always with us, but, being human, we often do not feel that He is near. Well, my awareness of His loving presence is escalating. It is this grateful awareness which brings the confidence. It is like seeing baby chicks around their mother hen. They know that their mum is watching every second, is always ready with a loving beak or a gentle brrrrk, brrrrk, to bring them back into safety. This is how I am. This is beyond feeling.

A couple of nights ago I finished my daily report and posted it to PsalmsOfJohn.com. After considerable tidying up and fussing to get just the right words I figured it was as good as I could get it without reviewing it over several days. Each post is committed to its own day.

I slept well and woke with Jesus in my heart and the knowledge that I'm still alive; (there is probably a distinct possibility that I could wake up dead, seeing as I just stopped my medications, am doing no tests on myself, and seeing no medical people).

My very next thought was the sentence I had wanted but could not find the previous night. In my mind's eye I could clearly see every word, even the full stop. Immediately I went and updated the posting. The Lord Jesus Christ is with me! Yes? Yes. That was so exciting. I've never before tried to write or diary daily, and am sure that it would not be do-able without Jesus.

Then, this morning, I woke knowing that Jesus is Lord, and straight away I spoke "I feel well". This is the most significant thing I can feel right now. Here we are, day 9 of this project. Not suffering withdrawal symptoms from the drugs I'm not taking. Not feeling giddy or in pain of faint from crazy blood sugar levels or wild heart failure. "I feel well". So today, again, I have this certain hope that God is present with me in Christ, my Mother hen, my Abba Dad.

Favourite Scriptures:

(Psalm 121 NIV)
I lift up my eyes to the hills -
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot slip -
he who watches over you will not slumber;
indeed, he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord watches over you -
the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
the sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.
The Lord will keep you from all harm -
he will watch over your life;
the Lord will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore.

(Jeremiah 29:11-13 NIV)
For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

Praise Jesus
Amen

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Bless us all.

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.

In Jesus' Hands: Day 7

30 Days In Jesus' Hands

Today we went to the zoo. Breanna, our granddaughter, turned five and this was Trish and my gift to her. She loves every kind of animal. Talk about excited! Bree took over the zoo map and ticked off each kind of creature once we'd visited that enclosure. Elephants are her favourite.

God Loves Us So Very Much
It was such a delight to see Trish and Breanna together, there is this bond, this grandmother/granddaughter relationship. I was very aware that that is how my heavenly Abba Father is towards me, towards every single one of us: (Luke 13:34 NIV) . . as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings . .

The Creation
Zoos remind us that the creation is unendingly amazing. The synergy between all the creatures, the landscapes, and the various climates, even the migrations. Everything is so finely balanced and yet God sustains it, day by day, and by season, and by year.

Too Much?
Does this mean that I'm asking too much when I put myself into Jesus' hands? I asked that in 30 days 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 have stopped taking my medications.

God is so busy with His creation. Yet when things don't fit, or begin to fail, they die. Should I be content with the wonderful healings and other blessings I have already received? My emotions, relationships and addictions were bad. Jesus healed them and delivered me. Compared with so many I have a great life, people even say that I am young for my age.

Pondering
Is my stopping all my medications a work? Is it a challenge to God? Am I testing Him? (Matthew 4:7) Jesus said to Satan, "It is written, 'You shall not test the Lord, your God.'"

I've been pondering this and asking Jesus to speak clearly. Am I testing you Lord? Is mine an acceptable request?

Favourite Scripture:
(Colossians 1:15-20 NIV) He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

Is Jesus the answer? Yes. Is He my answer here? I truly do not know, we'll come back to this . .

Praise Jesus
Amen

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Bless us all.

In Jesus' Hands: Day 6

My Testimony - 30 Days In Jesus' Hands

A beautiful spring day. Prayer time in bed: (John 15:5) "I am the vine. You are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, the same bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing". 

Exactly Lord, thank you that you speak into our need, always speaking from love. You assure me that you are here with me and will never leave (Matthew 28:20).

Then church. We call this first Sunday of the month "Celebration"! We sang: "When I rise in the morning, give me Jesus . . " Yes, exactly Jesus, you alone offer life and hope. Thank you that you bought and paid for me (1 Corinthians 6:19), you are in me, and I in you.

Favourite Scripture:
(John 17:23-26) "I in them, and you in me, that they may be perfected into one; that the world may know that you sent me, and loved them, even as you loved me. Father, I desire that they also whom you have given me be with me where I am, that they may see my glory, which you have given me, for you loved me before the foundation of the world. Righteous Father, the world hasn't known you, but I knew you; and these knew that you sent me. I made known to them your name, and will make it known; that the love with which you loved me may be in them, and I in them".

Praise Jesus
Amen

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Bless us all.