"What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!'"
Luke 15:4-6
November 1, 2017
This past Saturday evening, a large group from our church visited a church in Tulsa to hear David Hogan speak. David and his family have live and ministered in Mexico for many years. During his ministry, God has used him to raise numerous people from the dead, cast out demons, heal the sick, and he has even seen God give people new body parts. He has had people try to kill him many times. He is the real deal and a man of God!
During our worship service on Sunday morning, our pastor asked if anyone would like to testify about what God did for them during the service the previous night. Wow!! It was amazing!!
One of the ladies has had on-going problems with her eyes for quite some time. Her eyes were completely healed and she can see perfectly now without the help of glasses. She also had stomach issues that were healed.
A man had a knee injury, as well as back pain, and both of those things were completely healed!
A couple had been having some major marriage issues and were really struggling. Unless God intervened, it was questionable if their marriage would have survived. Their relationship and marriage was restored.... completely!!
We have a deaf man visiting for a few months from China. He wasn't even sure if he believed in God when he first arrived last month. Since that time, he has become a christian and has been baptized in water. He attended the service on Saturday evening and testified at church the next morning about what he had experienced. It was unlike anything he had ever seen in China. (We are a pentecostal church!) He felt a shaking inside, then the presence of the Lord was so strong that he fell to the floor, and when he got up he felt hot all over. For those of you who don't know or understand, that was the power of the Holy Spirit.
Another man has had ongoing issues with migraines, and although he wasn't immediately healed on Saturday night, he was greatly ministered to; and I truly believe that his healing is coming soon!
A while back I had been contacted by someone who has been needing replacements on both knees for quite some time. This lady didn't want to have this surgery done and had sought alternative treatments. Through a series of messages, I encouraged her to believe God for her healing. In fact, I truly believed that God could give her brand new knees -- I really did! She has been a strong christian for many year, but had become contented in just "being a christian". But through the messages her faith was ignited once again, and she asked her family to believe with her that she would be healed. I also continued praying for her. She messaged me last week that she indeed has been healed! She hadn't been to a theme park in years, but had gone the previous weekend was able to walk the hills, steps, and back and forth to the tram and had absolutely zero pain all day. Then she had gone to her grandson's football game and had to walk about half a mile from parking to the stadium, then climb steep steps for the bleachers, and she was able to do so. Yay God!!
God still performs miracles!! God still answers prayer!! He is the same yesterday, today, and forever and is unchanging!!
Matthew 10:8 says, "Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give."
John 14:12-14, Jesus is speaking and says, "Truly, truly, 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 the Father. Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it."
These promises are not extinct. They were not only for those who were alive during the time of Jesus, but are for us today. We have God-given authority, but we have to choose to use it. Jesus still heals the sick, raises the dead, cleanses the lepers, and casts out demons; and uses us to work through and accomplish His work. But we have to recognize that Jesus is King and speak with faith and authority.
Too often we are too accepting of sickness, disease, aches and pains, hardships, and whatever dire circumstances that life may bring. We say, "This is just a part of life! This is just how it is! This is our cross to bear!" and instead of asking and believing in faith, we say, "God can heal, BUT......" We're content to accept whatever it is that is put upon us or our loved ones.
I am here to say, "Stop it!" You can't expect a miracle if you are praying with doubt and believe that it's just a way of life and it's not going to get any better.
David Hogan said that not everyone he has prayed for to be raised from the dead has come back to life; but that's not going to stop him from asking God and knowing that He can do it. Not everyone he has prayed healing for has been healed, but he keeps believing and asking, because he has seen what God has done in the past and knows what He is able to do.
You keep asking, seeking, and knocking! You never give up; but you pray in faith, believing God for the impossible, and expecting miracles.
You cannot convince me that miracles are obsolete or do not happen, because I've been witness to what God can do. I've seen evidence of His power with my very eyes. The stories I used as examples in this devotional are true testimonies from people that I know and trust. God truly did an amazing work and performed miracles!
What God did for those, He can do for you. Do you believe? If not, then perhaps you need to search your heart and question why and dig out the root of your unbelief. Perhaps you need to ask God, "Help my unbelief."
In Mark 9:16-27 we read a story about a father that brought his son to Jesus to be healed. The boy was possessed with a spirit that made him mute; and whenever that spirit seized him, it slammed him to the ground and he foamed at that mouth, ground his teeth, and stiffened out. They brought the boy to Jesus, and as soon as the boy saw Him, he immediately threw him into a convulsion. Jesus asked how long that had been happening to him, and the father replied, "Since childhood." The father said, "If You can do anything, take pity on us and help us!" Jesus told him, "'If You can?' All things are possible to him who believes." Immediately the boys father recognized his lack of faith and said, "I do believe; help my unbelief." Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit and told it to never enter the boy again. The unclean spirit came out, and the boy became so much like a corpse that most of the people declared that he was dead. But Jesus took him by the hand and raised him up; and the boy got up.
Even after people saw that unclean spirit leave the boy, they immediately assumed that he had died when he lay still. But Jesus reached down and took the boy's hand and lifted him up.
Many times we may be surrounded by nay-sayers and doubters who are constantly looking for negativity or want to cast criticism on those who are whole-heartedly speaking and acting in faith. Many would rather be right and the person not be healed or delivered, looking for and expecting God not to answer and work through that one or that group that is acting and speaking in faith, than for them to be the one who is wrong. You can't have it both ways: faith and doubt; belief and lack of trust; speak healing, while speaking acceptance of your situation. It doesn't work that way.
If you want to experience and see miracles happen, then you have to be bold in your faith and rebuke all doubt and unbelief. God is still God! Nothing is too difficult for Him! Let's expect the impossible to happen!
One of the things that David Hogan said was that to call on miracles, you have to first "know that Jesus is King".
Is He? When the King says, "Jump", his subjects jump. They don't question it, wonder why, make sure they have a good safe landing first, or complain that it sounds too silly. They just obey. So, is Jesus your King? If you won't allow Him to be King, then there's no way you can "know that He is King".
Slow Cooker Cilantro Lime Chicken Tacos
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6 chicken breasts, skinless boneless |
1 jar (16 oz) salsa |
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1 packet taco seasoning |
1/3 cup fresh cilantro, chopped |
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Juice from 1 lime |
Diced jalapeno, if desired (optional) |
Place chicken breasts in the bottom of the crockpot. Sprinkle taco seasoning over the top; cover with salsa, lime juice, and cilantro. Cook on high for 4 hours or on low for 6-7 hours. Remove chicken from crockpot and shred with two forks. Return to crockpot and stir to moisten with the juices. (If there seems to be too much juice, remove some first.)
Serve with soft taco shells or tortilla chips, adding your favorite toppings: shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, diced avocado, shredded cheese, sour cream.....
Remember to set your clocks back an hour Saturday evening before going to bed!! Otherwise you may show up an hour early for church! Maybe that would be a good thing!!
God is always more concerned with what is going on inside of us, rather than outside of us.
He always wants to treat the root of the problem instead of the symptoms. - Christine Caine
We love you!
Loretta & Jon