I was listening to a pastor the other day and she mentioned that symptoms of an illness are like the temptations of sin. Once you begin to feel an illness coming on, go to the scripture and rebuke those symptoms and receive the protections and healing as promised within God’s Word. I hear people claiming illness and I want to intervene and let them know God’s desire is that we live a life filled with wellbeing and abundance, not sickness and lack. We all know the verse in John that states “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.” However, if you continue reading that verse it goes on to say, “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” Jesus came that we may not only have life but have it abundantly. The definition of abundant is plentifulness and plentifulness means in great quantities. Jesus came that we may have life in plenty with great quantities. Great quantities of His Peace, grace, wholeness, wellbeing, contentment, blessings and favor.
When we reflect upon our walk with the Lord, it is important to keep in mind that the words we speak matter and make a difference. When we were young we have all heard the phrase, “If you do not have something good to say, then do not say anything at all.” What a wise statement with such a spiritual impact, words have such an influence it is better to stay silent than to receive a curse or illness. When temptation or symptoms of an illness come against us, our defense is the spoken Word of God; spoken in faith, meditated upon in prayer and claimed in the name of Jesus Christ. Let’s go back and review the scripture from John 10:10, “The thief comes only to steal…” What does the thief come to steal? What if stolen would alter your life, your family, friends, job, neighborhood…what would have the greatest impact? The removal of the Word of God, the sword of the spirit would have the greatest impact. If you had your tv stolen, how many would it affect…how about your laptop or phone? It would affect you, but if the Blood covering of Jesus Christ and the protections, blessings, favor, healings and wholeness as spoken and meditated upon in prayer were removed, how many would be affected? If satan, through deceptive practices can diminish your faith in the Word of God, then he can alter your life. Not only your life, but those you intercede for and bless through your prayers and daily walk. All through the history of the Bible we can see where men of God, judges, prophets and Christians influenced their surroundings and the people around them through their actions and more importantly their words. The most notable is Eve in the garden. It started with one question, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” One question, one deceptive lie from satan and the entire world from that moment on has been negatively affected by sin. Not only did that one act turn sin loose in the world, but it gave satan the temporary title of god of this world, allowing satan and his fallen angels to run free in their counterfeit authority affecting everyone and everything they can. (2 Corinthians 4:4; 1 Peter 5:1:8).
The influence of satan is all around and his darkness and despair affect many within our environments, but the question really is, “How does satan infiltrate our lives and surroundings?” Does he show up and bust down the front door and barge in? We would like to think so that way we could be on guard and refute him and his advances and fight back! It is much easier to fight something that you see and can confront head on, but that is not the way of the deceiver (Revelation 12:9). Remember from the last blog in Ephesians, our fight is not of this world, but of the unseen world, in the spirit. (Ephesians 6:12) Knowing this, one way to protect ourselves and those around us while standing as a lamp within the darkness, is through the helmet of salvation. When you study this out it starts to make sense because in order to have access to the sword of the spirit, the living Word of God, you must have permission to use the name of Jesus in your battles. This starts with your acceptance of Jesus and the receipt of Him as your Savior and the Lord of your life. Everything in the Bible ties together and has meaning and purpose. To protect yourself and others from the lies, deception and destructive practices of satan and this world, our love for and commitment to Jesus Christ is the first step in receiving the authority granted through God’s Word in defense and victory over the things of this world.
We live in a world that proves daily the effects of a life where God’s Word is questioned and turned away from as the light of this world. What I want to encourage you in today is the unwavering faith to know God’s Word is the source, the reason and the perfection of your faith and in faith, you are an overcomer, blessed, highly favored and filled with His Peace, forgiveness and love. Love is the key to a life filled with God’s goodness and wellbeing. The wellbeing and wholeness that Jesus died on the cross that you may experience and live in on this earth (1 Peter 2:24). When you live in God’s ordained victory, you become a living representative of His magnificent Truth to all those around you. It starts with you and the choices you make. Do you give in and receive what this world pronounces over you or are you willing to stand in God’s Word and live as an overcomer in victory?
I do chuckle a little as some around me over the years have thought I live in denial. Well, I am here to verify, I do! Just because this world claims something over me does not mean I have to receive it and live by it. If this world tries to speak a curse on my health, finances, family or surroundings, I rebuke that curse in the name of Jesus and continue walking in the victory of His blessings and the protections of His Blood. We are here to be an influence, not be influenced and I pray that each one of you take a firm hold of the authority given you in the name of Jesus Christ and be a world changer! Do not allow the darkness of this world to lead you, you send those influences back packing and step forward in victory, overcoming the influences of this world by speaking the promises of God Almighty as granted you in the name of Jesus Christ.
Be blessed and may your days be filled with good health and your heart with Peace as your words are spoken in VICTORY!
Shalom!!
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