17th of September, 2023
| THEME: | UNDERSTANDING FAITH: Harnessing the power of Faith in the name of Jesus Christ for Our victory over demons and devils! |
| LESSON: | Four |
| TEXT: | Proverbs 4:20-22, Luke 5:15,6:17-19 compare Mathew 4:22-25 |
MEMORY TRACK
We learnt last week that faith for healing, deliverance from evil spirit, finance etc. comes via hearing the word of God. The word of God should be believed with the heart and not with the mind. We also learnt that faith is based on what God did in Christ Jesus and not on our ability to believe. We believe God based on what the scriptures says, and it is so.
HEAR AND BE HEALED
There is no way we can receive anything through faith without hearing the word (Romans 10:17). Many believers want healing, deliverance etc. without hearing. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. We should develop the attitude of hearing the word before healing. Those who were taught were able to easily connect to the healing virtue of Jesus and they were healed. You cannot get permanent healing without hearing the word. Notice in Mathew 9:35 that Jesus taught, preached, and healed. That is the pattern of how to receive anything from God.
HEAR WITH EXPECTATION (Mark 5:23-27, Act 14:7-19)
Another attitude that must be developed in our quest to receive from the Lord is to hear with high expectations and attitude of adamant faith in the word we hear. Many miracles happen when we eagerly yearn for what the word promises. The woman with the issue of blood received her healing because she heard and was full of expectation and she was healed.
TAKING THE WORD OF GOD AS MEDICINE (Proverbs 4:20-22)
The Lord has provisions for all our needs. This has been bought and sorted out by his death and resurrection. How can we ascertain exactly what was secured for us? There’s only one way. By a constant, careful, diligent, reverent, prayerful study of God’s Word. Many of us have information not faith for what has been purchased for us. This is because we have learnt many things that are anti-faith which we have to unlearn. This can only be possible by the word of God.
HOW TO GET FAITH FROM THE WORD OF GOD (Proverbs 4:20-22)
- Attend to the word: God’s word does not work because we have it as a memory verse or beside our bed or on our phone. To attend to the word is to give the word undivided attention. Give the word the first place in your heart not minding the physical fact and evidence.
- Incline your heart to His saying: Out of the word flows the saying of the Lord and this saying is the revelation of God’s word that flows from attending to His word. The word ‘incline’ means, to bend over and hear because those revelation can be very silent. To incline is to shut your heart and mind from any other voice and concentrate on the word. We have to listen to what God says in His Word to enjoy the blessings of His Word. We have to listen to what God says along any line to enjoy the blessing God has for us. Incline thine ear... Listen to what God has to say!
- Let them not depart from your heart: Make sure you consistently put the word of God before you. Look into the word and let it fill your imagination. Let it fill your heart and see yourself healed, receiving provision etc. This means you must fill your heart with scriptures that addresses your need and keep reading it until you receive the answer.
- Keep them in the midst of thine heart: That means in the very core of your being. In your spirit. In your inner man. The Psalmist said, “Thy Word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee” (Psalm 119:11). Thank God, God’s word produces results! What are the results of following these directions? The Results: For they are life unto those that find them (my words), and health to all their flesh.
- Mediate on the Word (Joshua 1:8): The noisy life has made it difficult for us to mediate on God’s word. God instructed Joshua to make the book of the law a priority. He shouldn’t allow the book to depart out of his mouth and he should meditate on it. Meditation is like eating the word carefully for proper assimilation into the heart. Meditate on the word until the spirit behind and within the word jumps into your heart.
- Learn to enquire of the Lord: We can obey all of the above principles and not getting results. The next thing is to stay in prayer to know what the mind of the Lord is.
- Depend on the Holy Spirit (John 16:13): The Holy Spirit is in us to teach us the word. Faith is spiritual and the Holy Ghost is the spirit of faith. He gives revelation of the word and show us great things we can never imagine.
Scriptures For Meditation
Isaiah 53:4-5:
Surely, He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed.
Isaiah 8:16-17:
Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples. And I will wait upon the Lord, that hideth His face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him.
1Peter 2:24:
Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by Whose stripes ye were healed.
Exodus 15:26:
And said, if thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, and wilt do that which is right in His sight, and wilt give ear to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the Lord that healeth thee.
Psalms 91:10:
There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.
Psalms 91:16:
With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him My salvation.
Philippians 4:19:
But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.