Healing Streams: Miracles

Showing posts with label Miracles. Show all posts

Saturday, January 26, 2019

Leadership is Service

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

Jesus Christ spent three and a half years in ministry. It is interesting to note that apart from preaching, teaching the word of God, working miracles and bringing salvation to the world and eventually dying for the redemption of humanity, Jesus also raised leaders for the early Church. These were the people who succeeded Jesus in building the early Church. Severally and privately, outside of public glare, Jesus taught them great leadership principles. He made them understand that the primary responsibility of a leader is service. Please see Matthew Chapter 20 verses 20 to 28. The Apostles definitely internalized this principle as they also served the Church of God through prayer and the ministry of the word. Please see Acts Chapter 6 verses 1 to 7. They devoted themselves to this aspect of service; raised other leaders for administrative purposes. Quite significant is the fact that some of these leaders also served God and the early Church through prayer and the ministry of the word. No ministry gift or position supersedes the other therefore no one should lord it over other people in the name of special ministry gift or position by intimidating people with threats of curses, God not blessing them if they do not worship him and members of his family so to speak.

Jesus Christ showed the Church the perfect example of leadership. He served, preaching and teaching people, healing people, raising the dead and performing miracles. Jesus did not literally harass people to follow Him or worship Him. Worship belongs to God and not humans; therefore when fellow humans demand worship from other humans who work or partner with them; then there is a problem because a contrary spirit is at work. This is because a person who is filled with the Holy Spirit and is genuinely working with the Holy Spirit will always seek to serve and not to be served. Please see Luke Chapter 22 verses 24 to 27. Beloved, leadership is service.

A leader should therefore be tolerant, accommodating, focused, selfless, forgiving, and intuitive and be humble enough to accept corrections and rebuke. A leader should have a compelling vision of where s/he is headed otherwise; s/he is driven by personal desires and passions that have nothing to do with the global public good.

The Power of His Name

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

May the Lord answer you when you are in distress; may the name of the God of Jacob protect you. May he send you help from the sanctuary and grant you support from Zion. May he remember all your sacrifices and accept your burnt offerings. May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed. May we shout for joy over your victory and lift up our banners in the name of our God. May the Lord grant all your requests. Now this I know: The Lord gives victory to his anointed. He answers him from his heavenly sanctuary with the victorious power of his right hand. Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm. Lord, give victory to the king! Answer us when we call! Psalm 20 verses 1 to 7.

The power of the name of Jesus Christ is great, in point of fact so great that the religious leaders of the day forbade the Apostles from ‘speaking to anyone or teaching anyone in the name of Jesus Christ’. Please see Acts Chapter 4 verse 1 to 31, 5 verses 27 to 42.

The name of the Lord is a strong tower where the righteous can actually run into and be safe. This implies that the name of the Lord is a strong and safe fortress, a refuge and a hiding place from trouble and all the evil darts of the enemy. Please see Proverbs Chapter 18 verse 10 and Psalm 31 verses 1 to 3.

The power of the name of Jesus Christ is great because God gave Him the name which is above every other name so that at the mention of the name of Jesus, every knee bows; whether they are knees in heaven, on earth and those under the earth.

Secondly, every tongue confesses that Jesus Christ is Lord at the mention of the name of Jesus Christ, to the glory of God the Father.

The name of God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit bring healing, deliverance and miracles. Please see Acts Chapter 3 verses 6, 16; Mark Chapter 16 verses 16 to 20. David came up against Goliath in the name of the Lord and loud mouthed Goliath was destroyed alongside the fear he spouted which immobilized the army of God. Please see 1^st Samuel Chapter 17 verses 32 to 54.

The name of the Lord brings salvation. Please see Acts Chapter 4 verse 12, Luke Chapter 24 verses 46 to 47.

God Heals 2

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

The Spirit of the Lord [is] upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. Luke Chapter 4 verses 18 to 19.

The Spirit of the Lord GOD [is] upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to [them that are] bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified. Isaiah Chapter 61 verses 1 to 3.

Some ailments are satanically inflicted to torment, humiliate and oppress people; even animal, lands and natural resources in order to place limits on them. Please see Acts Chapter 5 verse 16 where the Bible records that the people who were tormented by unclean spirits received their healing. Please see also Matthew Chapter 9 verses 20 to 22, Luke Chapter 8 verses 43 to 48, Mark Chapter 5 verses 25 to 34, , 1 to 20; the woman with the issue of blood and the Gadarene demoniac, the epileptic boy, Mark Chapter 9 verses 17 to 27, Luke Chapter 13 verses 11 to 16 and the woman who was bent over for eighteen years in Luke Chapter 13 verses 10 to 16. Some of the ways through which God heals include:

Through His spoken word - The Bible records in Psalm 107 verse 20 that He sent His word and healed their diseases. Please see also Exodus Chapter 15 verse 26, Isaiah Chapters 53 verses 4 to 5; 54 verses 14 to 17, Acts Chapter 5 verse 16, Matthew Chapter 8 verse 17 and 1^st Peter Chapter 2 verse 24.

You Can Call the Shots 3

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

O LORD our Lord, how excellent [is] thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens. Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger. When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all [things] under his feet: All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, [and whatsoever] passeth through the paths of the seas. O LORD our Lord, how excellent [is] thy name in all the earth! Psalm 8 verses 1 to 9,

Thou shalt make thy prayer unto him, and he shall hear thee, and thou shalt pay thy vows. Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee: and the light shall shine upon thy ways. Job Chapter 22 verses 27 to 28.

The early Church called the shots severally. They refused to be silenced despite several harassments, threats to life and intimidation by the religious leaders of the day. As they chose to obey God rather than men (Acts Chapter 4 verses 18 to 31); the Church grew, the word of God multiplied and the believers were strengthened and comforted; and God worked many miracles by the hands of the Apostles.

Additionally, the early Church called the shots by rebuking sin, particularly the sin of deception and falsehood. The consequences of the sin of deception and falsehood by Ananias and Sapphira was enough warning and deterrent against sin as the Bible records that great fear came upon the Church and all those who heard the story. Please read Acts Chapter 5 verses 1 to 11 for details.

King Herod dared to stretch out his hand against the early Church. He took the Church unawares and killed James the brother of John. When Herod saw that his evil act against the Church pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to seize Peter. However, the Church successfully called the shots against Herod’s harassment of the Church through constant prayer for the deliverance of the Apostle Peter from the unjust death sentence by King Herod. Though Peter was already sentenced and imprisoned; bound with two chains between two soldiers and surrounded by several other guards, about to be killed; the Church kept praying, praying without ceasing.

God Heals

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

He said, "If you listen carefully to the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, who heals you." Exodus Chapter 15 verse 26 NIV.

But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. Malachi Chapter 4 verse 2 KJV.

Jesus Christ healed the numerous sick people that He came in contact with. He responded to the pain, shame, humiliation and stigma that had come upon them as a result of the ailments they suffered. Please see Luke Chapter 14 verses 1 to 5. Jesus did not consider the spiritual, social and economic standing of the sick people. Rather, He simply addressed what was causing pain, shame and humiliation in their lives. The man with dropsy for instance was not at the synagogue or one of the preaching outposts of Jesus. The man was at the house of one of the rulers of the Pharisees that Jesus had lunch with on a Sabbath day. Jesus addressed the health issue of the man with dropsy and he was healed; outside of the Church.

The dead son of the widow of Nain was not anywhere near the Synagogue or the preaching outposts of Jesus. He was being carried out of the city of Nain in a coffin to be buried. Close to the city gate, Jesus met them; saw the widowed mother of the dead young man and had compassion on her. Subsequently, Jesus raised the young man back to life. There were no offerings, no special miracle or redemption of first born offerings collected. Rather, Jesus presented the young man to his mother. The mother was happy, the people glorified God, acknowledging Jesus Christ as a great prophet who had risen among the people and gladly proclaimed that God had visited His people.

You Can Call the Shots 2

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground." Genesis Chapter 1 verse 28.

To call the shots means to be in charge, to exercise dominion at all times regardless of what the situation or circumstance is and who or what is involved. This means that you do not cave in to fear or intimidation or barricades. You simply maneuver the challenges and stay on top of your game. To call the shots, you must stand on the solid ground that never gives way no matter the pressures you are experiencing. That solid ground is God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son, the Holy Spirit and the Word of God. Also, you have to learn the diplomacy and language for always calling the shots.

Prior to becoming King in Israel, David always called the shots by daring to stand up against the wild beasts which came after the family flock he tended. Please see 1^st Samuel Chapter 17 verses 34 to 37 and psalm 78 verses 70 to 72. David ensured that none of the family flock was lost to bears and lions. He went after the animals, killed them and rescued the family flock no matter how young the sheep that was taken. These acts of courage that were based on trust in God and His power to always deliver Him energized David to call the shots against Goliath. David refused to be intimidated by both threats and size of Goliath. He went after Goliath and to the surprise of everyone; including Goliath, David brought Goliath down. Please read the entire chapter, 1^st Samuel 17 for details.

You Can Call the Shots

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

Daniel always called the shots despite being employed by non Jewish Kings in non Jewish kingdoms. For three years, Daniel and his three Jewish friends Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah did not partake of the defiling delicacies of King Nebuchadnezzar’s table. No court trainee was allowed to do that as it would incur great wrath from the King not only to on the trainee but on the stewards assigned to the trainee.

Yet, Daniel and his three friends were able to do this for three years. They successfully sidestepped the laws of the land; called the shots in their favor and to their advantage. Did they achieve this daring feat through outright personal disobedience, civil disobedience such as inciting other trainees to act against the laws of the land; threats, intimidation and blackmail?

Not at all! Daniel was unusually gifted with soft skills. He was a diplomat, divinely endowed with very strong negotiating skills. The Bible records that Daniel went to the chief of the eunuchs assigned to him and his friends and respectfully requested that they should be exempted from the defiling delicacies of the King’s table. Quite instructive and significant is the fact that Daniel did not refer to the King’s delicacies as defiling when he spoke with the chief of the eunuchs. He simply begged to be exempted; requesting that a ten days trial should be given to them after which the chief of eunuchs could decide on what to do with them depending on the outcome of the trial. Daniel was strategic in his choice of words, He referred to himself and his three friends as the servants of the chief eunuch meaning they were subject to his authority. The implication is that they had no intention to be rebellious to his authority or that of the King. The Bible records that the chief of eunuchs consented to Daniel’s plea and thereafter the ten days trail, the steward took away their portion of the King’s delicacies and for three years, Daniel and his friends were not defiled by the King’s delicacies.

Prophetic Declarations and Actions

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

Prophetic declarations and actions are divine activities prompted and directed by the Holy Spirit to achieve divine purposes that bring glory to God. A number of Biblical examples attest to this. Significantly, about every prophetic declaration and action births miracles which bring about deliverance, healing, financial breakthroughs, salvation, expansion, abundance and victory in warfare.

Prophetic declarations as well as prophetic actions are proactive measures, preparatory activities to breakthroughs and miracles. For example, ‘Rise, take up your bed and walk’. They are usually specific, easy to understand instructions and when obeyed often bring about instant results (fill up the water pots with water and the water became very sweet wine; the man who had been ill for thirty eight years who became whole after Jesus made the pronouncement) though in some cases, results are progressive or set to a particular timeline, for instance the birth and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

They may not sound reasonable, logical, and plausible but they usually hold the very much required key to the sometimes urgently desired, awaited, and longed for miracle or blessing. They may not even have a connection to the desired miracle, for instance how do you speak to or make a rock to produce water? How does a cripple or paralytic person rise to take up a bed s/he has always laid on when the ailment is still there? How does the filling up of water pots with water solve the issue of finished wine at a wedding ceremony? How does dipping in a river seven times cleanse leprosy? How does going to show oneself to a priest when one is still leprous translate to cleansing from leprosy? How does borrowing jars and filling them up with a little jar of oil translate to financial freedom?

Prophetic declarations most often do not make sense. Elisha was told that he would receive double portion unction if he saw Elijah being taken up to glory. That was exactly what happened.