"Gospel Priorities - Preach The Gospel And Heal The Sick"; Luke 9:1-2, Mark 3:13-15, Matthew 10:5-8
ZADOK PUBLICATIONS - Dr. C. R. OLIVER
July 1, 2018

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ZADOK PUBLICATIONS MONTHLY NEWSLETTER

July 1, 2018

"Gospel Priorities - Preach The Gospel And Heal The Sick"
Luke 9:1-2, Mark 3:13-15, Matthew 10:5-8

Luke 9:1-2
1. Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases. 2 He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.
NKJV

Mark 3:13-15
13 And He went up on the mountain and called to Him those He Himself wanted. And they came to Him. 14 Then He appointed twelve, that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach, 15 and to have power to heal sicknesses and to cast out demons:
NKJV

Matt 10:5-8
5 These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: "Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans. 6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 And as you go, preach, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.' 8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.
NKJV

Introduction:

In this study, our focus turns to two settings: the early commissioning of the twelve and the latter commission of the eleven. There are distinct differences in these two settings. Although the opening passages are about the same event from three differing viewpoints, there remains one central message, "Preach the kingdom of heaven is at hand" and "heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons."

I. Reviewing the first passage, one finds the "empowering" of the twelve to do what Jesus commanded. He did not expect them to succeed without the "anointing." This anointing was never withdrawn from those twelve and was continued in those who followed their preaching and healing ministries (and it is alive today). Power and authority intensified in the second commissioning, but it was so great among these twelve, they returned astonished by what they saw. Great healings open the door for the preaching of the kingdom. Luke capsulizes this action in verse two.

Jesus sent them to preach and heal. (Today there is much preaching, but little healing in the average congregation, and in some-none of either.) One is dead without the other! Most believers don't acknowledge that they are commissioned to do both - not just clergy. The mandate of Luke and Jesus has never changed or been rescinded.

Look now at the Mark account of this event. He expands the view of what took place. Jesus had many followers present at the base of that mountain, and from them he called twelve He wanted to empower. One ingredient is added to the list: casting out demons. After the cross and resurrection, this commission was further expanded and not to a special few, but to all believers (Mark 16).

Matthew's account goes even further, for Jesus limited the territory of their anointing. They were to preach, heal and cast out only among the "lost sheep of the house of Israel." They were not to go to the remnant of Israel in Samaria or to the Gentiles. The "all nations" commissioning needed the cross, resurrection and baptism of the Holy Spirit.

The lost sheep were the temple goers, those who worshipped, read the Torah, offered sacrifices and participated in the yearly feasts. They were the "good church" folk. Those were the ones who were demon possessed, sick and ignorant of the "kingdom of heaven." (O church, have we not come to the place where we stand in the same need they stood in? The multitudes who are active and participating and are "good church" folk are ignorant of the kingdom, and many are sick and demon possessed. The remedy is to really Preach the "kingdom is at hand" and heal their diseases and cast out their oppressors! Start doing that, and a revival will break out.)

One little phrase erased their "Donate button:" "Freely you have received, freely give." Their preaching and healing must flow from their overflowing hearts and be offered in compassion and love. "Freely" has no boundaries of demand or interaction. "Come Freely to the throne of Grace" is the Divine Mark which culminates in Revelation's, "Come drink of the water of life freely." No wonder the Disciples were astonished-not so much about the miracles, as for their own hearts poured out in sacrifice of time and place. Hallelujah!

Going two by two, thy entered the fray of evangelism. They did what Jesus said to do and used His impartation to carry out their task. Listen to their report:

Mark 6:12-13:
12 So they went out and preached that people should repent. 13 And they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick, and healed them.
NKJV

Luke 9:6:
6 So they departed and went through the towns, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere.
NKJV

What is so difficult about this model? Yet, thousands of congregations do not believe the healing ministry is for today-they deny the power of God and their disobedience to the message of Jesus is now flagrant. Many of those who say they believe and practice laying on of hands actually relegate these occasions to prayer lines, special services, or some behind the scenes activities or some ritualized form. It is time to recognize the commissioning of Mark 16 when it says, basically, ALL believers should receive this endowment of power and practice preaching and healing, just as the eleven. It is high time to realize the consequences of this dereliction. Those needing help assemble before pastors with regularity-possessed of demons and many suffering illnesses alone. They come in pain and leave the same.

If one takes the second commissioning of Matthew 28 into consideration-what those eleven did was follow the command of their Master. In Matthew's "Great Commission, there is a phrase: "…teaching them to observe My commandments," and that includes "healing the sick."

II. These next set of Scriptures cover the empowerment to preach and heal after the redemptive work of Jesus is completed and as He pinions "their going forth on their waiting for the Baptism of the Spirit."

Matthew 28:16-20:
16 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. 17 When they saw Him, they worshiped Him, but some doubted.

18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.
NKJV

Much of what He commanded involved healing. Preaching can be distant from public involvement, but healing is upfront and personal. The prayer of faith, the laying on of hands and the application of oil requires entering into one's private space and requires receiving on their part. For example: the four-foot rule of one's space doesn't apply to confronting demon oppression. Doctors assume the privilege, but there are venues which medical science cannot cure; however, God's power can. At the conclusion of this newsletter will be an incorporation of the healing Scriptures Dodie Osteen used (along with her comments) in her healing from cancer. It would be wise to memorize many of them and keep them active everyday in one's life. She is living proof of the Word being sent and healing taking place.

Yes, in the book of James the person needing healing has the responsibility to seek out the elders and have them pray and anoint with oil, but what if there are no readily available elders? An old farmer in Sweden in the 1800's prayed for his neighbor citing Scriptures. There was no local physician in that rural community and no elder. His neighbor was healed. When I visited his residence, near Karlstadt, what I found was an upper room in that simple farm house with a chair rail completely around the circumference of the room. Every inch of the railing held a cane or brace or crutches or glass eyes or wooden legs and arms. It was a sight to behold, for the community soon came to him for healing (and his fame increased until the nation knew of him-even the King of Sweden). No wonder there was a placard near the front door which read, "You ask if I am Lutheran? No, I am free." "You ask if I am Presbyterian? No, I am free." "You ask if I am Ana-Baptist? No, I am free." "You ask if I am Catholic? No, I am free." "In Christ Jesus, I Am Free!"

The demonstration of the power of God to heal is liberating, both for the recipient and the obedient servant. If someone could ask John Lake if this is true, he might cite 100,000 in Johannesburg who were saved from Bubonic Plague or the 10,000 healed in Spokane, Washington his first year living there. Yet, in a service where I asked the audience to stand and minister in the Holy Ghost to those around them, encouraging them to lay hands on the sick and enter into the problems of their fellow church members or visitors, a handful responded. One would have thought I had thrown a dead cat into the cathedral. Some looked bewildered, so I explained that healing is not a clergy privilege; it is a believer's duty. A significant number in that congregation exited, and this in a charismatic, supposedly Spirit-filled church. God's people must experience Mark 16.

Mark 16:14-18
14 Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen. 15 And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover."
NKJV

It is time "the greater works" are manifested in every child of God! Philip was a deacon who preached and healed. Paul came on the scene both preaching, healing and casting out Demons. These works are not clergy or elder works; these are available signs that must follow the believer. Jesus promised it.

John 14:12-14
12 "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. 13 And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask anything in My name, I will do it."
NKJV

Testimonies of miraculous deliverances and healings should grace every meeting of the body. Worship should see the healed dancing and glorifying God when church convenes. That's the real church.

III. Healing Scriptures:

The following passages are offered for the reader's convenience to copy and use. Hopefully, each person will be blessed to have them all in one sitting.

     Healing Scriptures - Healed of Cancer, by Doty Osteen

1. Proverbs 4:20-21: The Word of God will save your life.
     "My son, give attention to my words; incline your ear to my saying. Do not let them depart from your eyes; keep them in the midst of your heart; For they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh."
     The reason the Word of God is so important when you're fighting a battle for your health is because in many cases it's the only hope you have. That was so in my case.
     Give God's Word first place in your heart because it is life and health to your body.

2. Joshua 21:45: God's Word will not fail.
     "Not a word failed of any good thing which the Lord had spoken…All came to pass."
     This scripture helped me so much! It stayed on my mind day and night. I knew God's Word would come to pass. Not one word would fail.

3. Philippians 2:13: God's will--healing--is working in you.
     "For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure."
     This verse has sustained me in many dark hours. It is one of the verses I quote the most. When I'm driving my car or out for a walk, it just rolls out, over and over. I say, "God, You said that You are working in me. You are working in my body both to will and to do for Your good pleasure. Father, You are working in my mind, renewing it. My health is Your good pleasure."

4. Romans 8:11: The Spirit of Life is making your body alive.
      "He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you."
     This verse is so good! The same Spirit that dwelt in Jesus and caused Him to be raised from the dead dwells in me and in you. He is quickening your mortal body--making it alive and vibrant with health. Glory be to the Father!

5. II Corinthians 1:20: God is for you.
     "For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us."
     If you do not know the Word of God, you need to learn it. Many people suffer and die needlessly because they do not know what the Word of God says about healing.
     If you're a baby Christian, God will honor that. Don't condemn yourself if you don't know the Word. Just get in the Bible and seek the Lord, and He will show himself strong on your behalf. If you are in a church where you are not getting good teaching, I would suggest that you go someplace where you can hear the Word of God taught. It may someday keep you alive, as it did in my case.

6. Matthew 8:2,3: It is God's will for you to be healed.
     This scripture says "that when the leper came to Jesus, he said, 'Lord, if you are willing, You can make me clean.' And Jesus said these simple words, 'I am willing; be cleansed.'"
     It is God's will for you to be well. If you do not believe that, you need to change your thinking. It is not God who has made you sick, it's the devil.
     If you have been angry with God, or bitter, say, "Father, I've been wrong because I didn't know it was the devil who made me sick. I've been blaming You, and I'm sorry for it. I release this bitterness to You, Jesus. Forgive me."
     It is essential to free your heart of anger and bitterness toward God and anyone else so that your prayers will not be hindered.

7. Exodus 15:26: Obey God's Word and be healed.
     "If you diligently heed the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians [in the permissive sense]. For I am the Lord who heals you."
     Are you doing what is right in God's sight? Are you giving attention to His commandments and keeping them?
     God's promises are conditional, and there are some things we must do. Hebrews 11:6 says that God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. If you are not diligently seeking the Lord, I encourage you to start today. Read and listen to God's Word. Seek Him with all your heart. Keep His commandments, and a difference will take place in your life.

8. Exodus 23:25: Serve the Lord and healing will be yours.
     "So you shall serve the Lord your God, and He will bless your bread and your water. And I will take sickness away from the midst of you."
     This is another wonderful promise to those who serve the Lord. He'll bless your food and your water. When I pray over my food at the table, I never finish without saying, "Father, I thank you that You have promised to bless our bread and our water and to take sickness away from our midst."

9. Deuteronomy 7:15: God takes all sickness away from you.
     "And the Lord will take away from you all sickness." [Notice, it doesn't say, "I will take away from you part of the sickness or certain kinds of sickness," but "I will take away from you ALL sickness."] and will afflict you with none of the terrible diseases of Egypt which you have known, but will lay them on all those who hate you."
     This is a wonderful scripture to lean on when the devil tells you your sickness is too difficult for God to heal. No disease is outside God's healing power.
     Jesus specializes in hard cases, and He is no respecter of person's He didn't heal me because I was John Osteen's wife. He healed me because He loves me and I am His child. He will heal you because He loves you, too.

10. Malachi 3:10: Obey all God's commandments and receive all his blessings.
     "Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and prove Me now in this," says the Lord of hosts, "If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it."
     One of the reasons many people do not get what they want from God is because of their disobedience to His Word to tithe--to give the first tenth of their income to the Lord. In order to diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God, you must follow all of His commandments. And one of them is the commandment to tithe.

11. Psalm 103:1-5: One of God's benefits is healing.
     "Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits…"
     And what are God's benefits?
     "Who forgives all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from destruction, who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagles".

12. Psalm 107:20: God's Word is healing.
     "He sent His word and healed them and delivered them from their destructions."
     Again, how important it is to know the Word and to use it for your health and healing. If it had not been for the Word of God--knowing that God's Word works, that God would never lie, and that He keeps His promises--I would not be alive today you can see.

13. Psalm 118:27: God wants you to live.
     "I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord."
     This is another scripture that I quote often. When the doctor said I had only a few weeks to live, I made up my mind that I was going to live and not die.

14. Deuteronomy 30:19: Choose to live. Be a fighter!
     "I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live."
     It's so important that you choose to live. You must decide that you want to live. Make up your mind and say, "Devil, take your hands off me. I will not let you destroy me. I will not let you kill me. I will not die an early death, but I will live and declare the works of the Lord."
     As you fight, you will begin to feel better and better and better.

15. Psalm 91:16: You will live a long life.
     "With long life I will satisfy him and show him My salvation."
     This entire chapter is beautiful, but I particularly love to read the sixteenth verse.
     There are two cemeteries beside the freeway on our way to Lakewood Church. One is small--only about ten graves. John and I go to the church almost every day, and when we pass those cemeteries, we personalize this verse and say, "With long life He satisfies me and shows me His salvation."

16. Isaiah 53:5: Jesus bore your sins AND your sicknesses.
     "He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed."
     Did you know that Jesus took not only your sins on the cross but also your sicknesses? He bore in His body anything that causes you heartache--poverty, oppression, depression, pain, suffering. Jesus took it all.
     Matthew 8:17 refers to Isaiah's prophecy about Jesus, saying, "He Himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses." If Jesus took your sickness, then there is no need for you to bear it. Give it to Him and say, "Jesus, I give this care and heartache to You. It's too much for me. I give this sickness to You, Lord. And I thank You that by Your stripes I am healed!"

17. Jeremiah 30:17: God will restore your health.
     "For I will restore health to you and heal you of your wounds."
     When I was sick, I would look at two pictures of me in radiant health--one in my wedding dress and one riding a horse on a ranch. They bolstered my faith and helped me keep a positive attitude--especially when I was feeling so sick.
     I kept looking at those pictures and saying, "Thank You, Father, that You will restore health to me and heal me of my wounds. I thank You that I'll feel like I did when I married at 21. I'll feel like I did when I was 25 riding that horse. I thank You that You will restore health to me, Father."
     When I started feeling good again, I said, "Father, I thank You that You have restored health to me." I repeat this often--even now.

18. Matthew 18:18: You can take authority over the sickness in your body.
     "Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."
     You can personalize that verse and read it this way: "Whatever I stop on earth will be stopped in heaven, and whatever I permit and allow on earth will be permitted and allowed in heaven."
     If you are having symptoms, you can bind those symptoms here on earth and they will be bound in heaven. Rest assured God will keep His Word.

19. Matthew 18:19: Agree with someone for your healing.
     "Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven."
     This is such an important scripture! If you are married, have your husband or wife agree with you for the healing of your body. Don't let negative thoughts come between you. Jesus said, when you agree in prayer, it will be done for you by your Father in heaven.
     After you have agreed and you've asked God to heal you, look up to heaven and say, "Father, we've done what You've told us to do on earth. Now You take over and perform it in heaven."

20. Mark 11:22,23: What you say will make a difference.
     "Have faith in God. For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will come to pass, he will have whatever he says."
     Do you have a mountain of sickness in your body? Do you have a mountain of financial pressures, marital discord, or emotional hurts? Whatever it is, say to it, "Be removed and be case into the sea," and it will be done.
     You can see how important it is to say positive statements. The Bible says we are snared by the words of our mouth (see Proverbs 6:2). So watch what you say. Confess, "I believe I am healed," and you will be.

21. Mark 11:24: Believe, and you will receive.
     "Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them."
     The day after I came home from the hospital, my husband, John, and I prayed the prayer of agreement and put my case in the hands of the Lord. As far as I'm concerned, that day--December 11, 1981--my healing began. My body didn't feel healed. In fact, I felt terrible and I looked terrible. But I knew if I gave in to the way I felt, I wouldn't live. I felt like I was going to die so many times! But I fought and I stood firm, and I kept reminding God of His promises in His Word. And I was healed!

22. Isaiah 43:25,26: Plead your case to God.
     "I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; and I will not remember your sins. Put Me in remembrance; let us contend together; state your case, that you may be acquitted."
     Verse 26 in the King James Version says, "Put me in remembrance: let us plead together: declare thou, that thou mayest be justified."
     I brought my case to God. I prayed, "Father, I plead my case to You, and I ask You to show me things that have been wrong in my life that I can correct."
     I pled guilty to a lot of things, and I changed some things.
     Then I reminded Jesus of the prayer of agreement that John and I prayed.
     "Jesus I want to thank You that on December 11, 1981, in our bedroom, John and I believed that I received my healing--I have it. I rejoice, Jesus, that I'm healed, that all pain and all soreness will be out of my body. It's gone, in Jesus' Name."
     "Did it leave?" you ask.
     No, it didn't leave all at once. I had a spiritual battle to fight. It was as if I were in a dark tunnel. I could see no light for months and months and months. Even so, I never gave up confessing the Word of God, because I had an unshakable confidence in God's Word. I knew Jesus would not lie to me, and I knew that if I kept on believing, I would receive. And I did!

23. Mark 16:17,18: Have someone lay hands on you for healing.
     "And these signs shall follow those who believe…they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover."
     This is a very effective method Jesus gave for receiving your healing. Have a minister, or another Christian who believes in healing, lay hands on you and pray for your healing. Then believe that you will recover from that time forth.

24. John 9:31: Worship God.
     "If anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears him."
     It is important to worship God. Maybe you've not been used to worshiping God in your church. If not, you can worship Him right now. Just raise your hands and say, "O Jesus, I love You and I worship You. I come before You today, thanking You that Your Word hasn't changed." Worship will make you feel good.
     After I read John 9:31, I go to John 10:10.

25. John 10:10: The devil wants to kill you; God wants to heal you.
     "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that [you] may have life, and that [you] may have it more abundantly."
     This is s scripture I quote daily. I read the others, and I don't let them depart from my eyes. But John 10:10 is one that I read aloud every day. I combine John 9:31 and John 10:10, and say, "Devil, you are not going to steal my health. You have not stolen my health, and you will not steal it. You will not kill me, and you will never destroy me, because I am a worshiper of God. I do His will, and He hears me. Jesus has come that I may have life, and have it more abundantly."

26. Galatians 3:13,14: You are redeemed from the curse.
     "Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree"), that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus."
     What was the curse of the law? It was sin, sickness, and poverty. Jesus came into the world and gave himself willingly to die in your place on the cross, redeeming you from the curse. He took the curse of sin, sickness, and poverty upon himself so you wouldn't have to bear it. Thus, He made it possible for you to have the blessings of Abraham--forgiveness, divine health, and provisions for your material needs. Praise the Lord.

27. Hebrews 10:23: You will not waver in your faith.
     "Let us hold fast the confession of our hope [faith], without wavering, for He who promised is faithful."
     This verse has been so important to me! As I mentioned before, I wavered many times. Of course, it was in my mind, my thoughts--not in my heart! Those accusations that come against you in your mind are from the evil one. The devil is the one who is the accuser of the brethren (see Revelation 12:10). When he tells you anything, believe just the opposite, and you'll have the truth.
     I learned not to condemn myself any more. I would say, "I thank You, Father, that I am holding fast to my confession without wavering. I don't waver in my spirit man because I know Your Word works."
     This will help you, also, If you feel like you are wavering, remember, you can have doubt in your head but still have faith in your heart.

28. Hebrews 10:35: You can have confidence in God and His Word.
     "Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward."
     Put your confidence in the Lord Jesus Christ and His Word no matter what happens. He is your hope. God will surely reward your trust in Him!

29. Joel 3:10: You can find strength in God and in His Word.
     "Let the weak say, 'I am strong.'"
     When you feel weak, repeat this verse, and it will strengthen you. Regardless of how you feel, say, "I'm strong."
     Isaiah 27:5 says, "Let him take hold of My strength."
     Just reach up and take hold of the Lord's strength. I've done that so many times! I've reached up and said these three little words, "Jesus, help me," And He has never failed to help me. He'll never fail to help you either.

30. Hebrews 13:8: Jesus Christ has never changed. What He did in the Bible, He will do for you today.
     "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever."
     My husband and I knew so little about healing when our daughter Lisa was born with cerebral palsy and brain damage. John was pasturing a denominational church, and we hadn't been taught about healing.
     John and I began to read the four Gospels--Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John--where it tells about the miraculous healings Jesus did and the wonderful things He said.
     Then we got over into Hebrew where it said Jesus didn't change. So we prayed, in just the simplest way we knew how, "Jesus, Your word says You haven't changed. Here we are faced with a little child that has cerebral palsy and brain damage. Father, if You don't change, then You are still the same now. You can touch our little girl and make her whole. Would you touch her and heal her?"
     You know, Jesus did just that. Lisa is a perfectly normal adult now--a beautiful young lady. She is strong in the Lord and the power of His might. And she has been such a blessing to us. Jesus hasn't changed. His desire for you is that you be well.

31. III John 2: God's highest wish is for you to be well.
      "Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth." (KJV)
     Do you know how your soul will prosper? By putting the Word of God in it. Then you will know how to stay in good health. The Lord wants you to walk in divine health. And you can do that by getting the Word of God into your heart. Then when sickness tries to come upon you, you'll be prepared to stand against it.

32. James 5:141,15: Be anointed with oil by a Christian who believes in healing.
     "Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, will be forgiven."
     I encourage you to call the elders of the church and have them anoint you with oil and pray for you in the name of the Lord. God says the prayer of faith will save the sick.
     If you don't have elders who know how to pray the prayer of faith, then find someone who does know how and have them anoint you with oil. Then believe that God will keep His Word, and the Lord will raise you up.

33. I Peter 2:24: Jesus has already paid the price for your healing.
     "Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness--by whose stripes you were healed." Isaiah said, "By His stripes we are healed." Peter, by revelation of the Holy Spirit, looked back to Isaiah 53:5, and said, "By whose stripes you were healed."
     Your healing has already been bought and paid for by Jesus Himself!

34. I John 5:14,15: Be confident in your prayers.
     "Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him."
     How can you pray and ask God for healing in confidence if you don't know that it is His will for you to be healed? You can't! You've learned in the world that if you get sick, you must suffer. And, if you're lucky, you might get well. Now you must renew your mind with healing scriptures.
     Whatever your need is, find the promise you need in the Word of God, then ask according to His will. God's will is His Word. When you find a promise for your need, and pray that promise, you will have the confidence that He will hear and answer your prayer.

35. I John 3:21,22: God answers the prayers of those who keep His commandments.
     "Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God. And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight."
     If you are not receiving what you need from God, examine yourself. See if you are keeping His commandments and doing those things that are pleasing in His sight.

36. II Timothy 1:7: Fear is not of God. Rebuke it!
     "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind."
     I had never been a fearful person. But when cancer tried to attach itself to my body, I had to fight fear.
     Now you may think that seems strange, coming from a pastor's wife, and from a Holy Spirit-filled Christian. I don't try to justify it or reason it out. I'm just telling you how it was with me so it might help you.
     I'm a human being, and the same things come against me that come against anybody else. So I had to fight fear. And I did it with verses like II Timothy 1:7.
     I would say, "Father, you haven't given me the spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. This fear is not of You, God. It's of the devil. So I'm commanding it to leave now, in Jesus' Name."
     I set a date--September 6--as the day I believed I would be free of the torment of fear. I said, "From this day, I shall have no more fear. It's gone, in Jesus' Name."
     If fear is coming against you, rebuke it. Say, "On this day--the day I am reading these words--I'm getting rid of fear. Fear, release me in Jesus' Name. You have no right to torment a child of God. I am full of His peace and love. Now, I cast all of my care upon You, Father, because I know You care for me. And I thank You that I am free from fear."

37. II Corinthians 10:4,5: Cast down those thoughts and imaginations that don't line up with the Word of God.
     "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ." KJV
     When I was sick, I had to cast down my imaginations concerning symptoms, and you will, too. Make your thoughts obey you. Bring them into captivity to the obedience of Christ.
     Say, "Thoughts, line up with the Word of God that says the by stripes of Jesus I am healed. Thoughts, line up with God's Word that says whatever I ask I receive of Him because I keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. Thoughts, line up with God's Word, in Jesus' Name." And, praise God, it will come to pass!

38. Ephesians 6:10-13: Be strong in the Lord's power. Put on His armor to fight for your healing.
     "Finally my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take you the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand."
     Verses 14-17 continue:
     "Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."
     You must have on the whole armor of God every day. Resist the devil each day by saying, "Devil, take your hands off me and off my body in Jesus' Name." Then remind your body to line up with the Word of God. It will work!

39. Revelation 12:11: Give testimony of your healing.
     "And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony."
     When God heals you and you recover and are able to testify, do it. The Lord wants you to give glory to Him for what He has done for you.
     If you haven't lived for God in the past, He has had mercy on you. Because of His love for you, He touched and healed you. Now, don't go back into the world, but commit yourself completely to Jesus. Serve Him one hundred percent all of your days.
     God doesn't heal you to go back into the world. He heals you to set you apart. You're His chosen vessel for Him to live in and to use.

40. Nahum 1:9: Your sickness will leave and not come back again.
      "Affliction will not rise up a second time."
     This scripture has been so meaningful to me since I've been healed, because I intend to stay well!
     But, know this: the devil is a tormentor, and he will continue to come against you. In the case of cancer, doctors say if you live five years, you're well. But the devil will try to torment you with doubt and fear. If you have a pain, he'll say, "There it is. Cancer is coming back on you." You have to fight these lying imaginations. Cast them down and make every thought line up with the Word.
     This is when you can remind the devil of Nahum 1:9. Say, "Devil, this affliction will not rise up the second time. It will never come on my body again!" And it won't!

Until Next month,

Dr. Cosby R. Oliver, PhD.

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