THE IMPORTANCE
OF PREVAILING PRAYERS
by: Pastor Max Solbrekken, D.D.   

Jesus said: "When ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do; for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking." (Matthew 6:7)

"I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go" - Abraham Lincoln

THE IMPORTANCE OF PREVAILING PRAYERS

"Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit is indeed willing, but the flesh is weak." (Matthew 26:41);

"Ask and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:  For everyone that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened." (Matthew 7:7-8)  "Pray without ceasing." (1 Thessalonians 5:17))

People have many questions regarding prayer, and many find it hard to pray, not knowing what to say, and feeling unsure if their prayers are being heard, or even matter!  You may be someone with questions about prayer.  In the following article I will try to answer these questions by turning to the Bible scriptures for answers.

DOES PRAYER REALLY WORK - OR IS IT ONLY AN ESCAPE FROM STRESS OR FEAR ?

Could prayer just be the consoling of a wounded spirit or a guilty conscience?

You may ask, "Does prayer really work, or is it only an escape from stress, fear or inner turmoil"? Or perhaps you may feel that prayer is only a safety valve from anxiety and danger? 

WHAT EXACTLY IS PRAYER?

You may ask, What exactly is prayer?  Is prayer just a formality, a tradition, a memorized group of words that we automatically repeat when praying?

 Is prayer actually the communication between the supplicant and Almighty God?  Or is prayer only an inner quieting of the human spirit, a tonic of the soul?

DO YOU HAVE TO SPEND TIME IN PRAYER TO BE A CHRISTIAN?

Is prayer a prerequisite to healthy Christian living or is it just a ploy of entrapment by Ministers of the Gospel or Roman priests, in order to gain and keep church members in line?

IS PRAYER A WASTE OF TIME ?

You may say that you have prayed and prayed and God didn't answer your prayers, so you gave up praying.

Is prayer just a waste of time, like some think or say,  or is prayer a valuable tool in the Christian’s arsenal against sin, fear, sickness and the devil?

IS PRAYER ONLY A RITUAL THAT WE DO BY TRADITION OR HABIT ?

Many people pray as a ritual or habit, but are they just saying the words they are taught and memorized, or are they actually praying and communing with the LORD.  When you pray, are you meeting with God, our Heavenly Father through Jesus Christ our Lord?

In this treatise, I will endeavor to shatter all the humanistic assumptions of modernist theologians as well as atheists and cultists! I will share a number of concrete evidences from personal experience, as well as from the Holy Scriptures, to prove that "God is a Spirit and those who worship Him must do so in Spirit and in truth." (John 4:23-4)

I will also prove to you, through the Holy Scriptures of the Bible that God is a loving Heavenly Father, Who desires to fellowship with us and wants to have communion with His children.

IF YOU OPEN YOUR HEART TO THE WORD OF GOD - YOU'LL DISCOVER GOD 
HEARS AND ANSWERS PRAYERS

My friend, if you will open your heart to accept the Word of God as the absolute and final truth, you will experience the reality of His presence and power at work in your life! And you will know of a truth that God hears and answers prayer.

MARTIN LUTHER WAS A MAN OF PRAYER

At his trial at the Diet in Worms, Germany, on April 18, 1521, Martin Luther - the Great Reformer - was asked: "Will you recant of your writings?"

He answered so eloquently: "Since Your Majesty and your lordships desire a simple reply, I will answer without horns and without teeth.  Unless I am convinced by Scripture and plain reason, I do not accept the authority of popes and councils, for they have contradicted each other - my conscience is captive to the Word of God.  I cannot and I will not recant anything, for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe.  Here I stand, I cannot do otherwise.  God help me.  Amen."

As Martin Luther presented his case before the Emperor and the highest authorities of papist Rome , I hereby present my case for the reality of God, the need for prayer and the overwhelming evidence that the Almighty does hear and answer our petitions and supplications, when we call upon Him in sincerity and faith.

The Church of Scotland's Westminster Confession states: "Prayer is an offering up of our desires unto God for things agreeable to His will, in the name of Christ, with confession of our sins and thankful acknowledgment of His mercies."

GOD'S WORD SAYS "...before they call, I Will answer..."

God's Word says, "And it shall come to pass that, before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear." (Isaiah 65:24). 

The Psalmist prayed: "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my Strength and my Redeemer.  Thou hast heard the desire of the humble.” 
(Psalms 19:14 :10:17 )

JESUS SAID, "WHEN YOU PRAY, USE NOT VAIN REPETITIONS, AS THE HEATHEN DO"

Jesus said: "When ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do; for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking." (Matthew 6:7)

PRAYER IS AN ACT OF WORSHIP

Martin Luther's Small Catechism states: "Prayer is an act of worship wherein we bring our petitions before God with our hearts and lips and offer up praise and thanksgiving to Him."

PRAYER IS A LIFTING UP OF THE SOUL TO ALMIGHTY GOD

King David referred to true prayer as the "lifting up" of the soul to Almighty God: "Unto Thee Lord, do I lift up my soul."  (Psalms 25:1) That speaks of an intense desire to fellowship with our Heavenly Father, similar to the flower turning its face toward the sun to receive warmth and sustenance.

PRAYER IS MORE THAN JUST ASKING GOD FOR BLESSINGS

Prayer is much more than just asking the Almighty LORD for His blessings or for intervention during trying, dangerous or impossible situations.  

Prayer is a holy conversation with God, a divine meeting and a time of intimacy with the One who is Lord over life and death, time and eternity! It is a loving relationship and communion with our Heavenly Father, wherein we can bathe in His presence and extol and worship our precious Lord and Saviour.

PRAYER INVOLVES TIME OF WORSHIP AND PRAISE 
AS WELL AS THANKSGIVING TO GOD

Genuine prayer involves a time of thanksgiving, worship and praise to the LORD, as well as definite supplications or calling upon the Lord for His mercy, grace and blessing! Prayer is essentially, entering the Holy of Holies in the very presence of God and worshipping Him in Spirit and in truth.

SATAN TREMBLES WHEN WE PRAY

It has been said: "Satan laughs at our toiling, mocks at our wisdom, but trembles when we pray!"  The book 'The Kneeling Christian' gives this poignant and powerful assessment of the importance of prayer.

THERE IS NOTHING THE DEVIL DREADS AS MUCH AS PRAYER

"Fellow Christians, let us awake!  The devil is blinding our eyes.  He is endeavoring to prevent us from facing this question of prayer.  Do we realize that there is nothing the devil dreads so much as prayer?  His great concern is to keep us from praying.  He loves to see us 'up to our eyes" in work - provided we do not pray.  He does not fear because we are eager and earnest Bible students - provided we are little in prayer."

'THE KNEELING CHRISTIAN'

When my sister Astrid passed away in 1987, the above mentioned book fell into my hands. She had purchased it from the Hull Publishing Company in Winnipeg many years earlier, and knowing what a consistent and ardent Christian she had been since 'Day One' in her life, I greatly treasured it. It wasn't until I read 'The Kneeling Christian’' in the Norwegian language, however, that I began to fully understood its great spiritual worth.

Written many years ago by a Minister of the Gospel in Great Britain ,  the author refused to reveal his identity, using the pseudonym 'An unknown Christian', this book has a powerful appeal to those who love Jesus Christ and are sold-out to His cause. Here is another excerpt from his writing:

WE CAN ACCOMPLISH FAR MORE BY OUR PRAYERS THAN BY OUR WORK

"Let us never forget that the greatest thing we can do for God or for man is to pray.  For, we can accomplish far more by our prayers than by our work.  Prayer is omnipotent; it can do anything that God can do!  When we pray, God works.  All fruitfulness in service is the outcome of prayer - of the worker's prayers, or of those who are holding up holy hands on his knees on his behalf.  We all know how to pray, but perhaps many of us need to cry as the disciples did of old:  "LORD, teach us to pray."

LORD, TEACH US TO PRAY

MARTIN LUTHER declared: 'If I don’t spend at least three hours in prayer daily, I would never get my work done.  If I should neglect prayer but a single day, I should lose a great deal of the fire of faith."

A.J. GORDON stated: "You can do more than pray, after you have prayed, but you can never do more than pray until you have prayed."

RICHARD BAXTER was a mighty 'man of prayer'. He stated:  "I seek to preach as a dying man to dying men."  He delivered every message "as though it were the last message" he would ever preach.

JOHN WESLEY - founder of the Methodist Church - stated: "Give me one hundred preachers who fear nothing but sin, and desire nothing but God, and I care not a straw whether they be clergymen or laymen; such alone will shake the gates of hell and set up the Kingdom of Heaven on earth.  God does not but in answer to prayer."

Interestingly, history credits John Wesley and the Methodist Revival that swept Great Britain , for saving England from the similar fate of the French Revolution.

GEORGE WHITEFIELD, a contemporary of Wesley's wrote: "Whole days and weeks have I spent prostrate on the ground in silent and vocal prayer."

DR. A.J GORDON wrote concerning David Brainerd: "In the depths of those forests alone, he was unable to speak the language of the Indians, but he spent whole days literally in prayer…that the power of the Holy Ghost would come upon him so unmistakably that these people should not be able to stand before him…Once he preached through a drunken interpreter, a man so intoxicated that he could hardly stand up…Yet scores were converted through that sermon."

DAVID BRAINARD wrote:  "I cared not where or how I lived or the hardships I went through, so that I could but gain souls for Christ.  When I was asleep I dreamed of these things.  When I was awake, the first thing I thought of was this great work.  All my desire was for the conversion of the heathen and all my hope was in God."

Toward the end of his life, John Wesley wrote a letter to all his pastors and workers urging them all to read the 'Life of David Brainerd.'

DR. A.C. DIXON  wrote: "William Carey read 'Life of David Brainerd', and he was so moved that he went to India.  Henry Martyn read 'Life of David Brainerd', and by its impulse, he went to India.  Payson read it, as a young man of 20 years, and he said he had never been so impressed by anything in his life as by that story.  Murray McCheney read it and was powerfully impressed by it.

It was Robert Murray McCheney who stated: "A holy Minister is an awful weapon in the hands of God."

WHY IS PRAYER NECESSARY ?
 WE HAVE AN INNATE DESIRE TO COMMUNE WITH GOD

1.  Because we are spiritual beings with an innate desire to communicate with our Heavenly Father and Creator.  We were created in the image of God and there is therefore a natural pull heavenward! Although Adam’s fall greatly marred this process, through Jesus Christ’s death on the cross for us all, believers are reinstated and again bear the image of our Father and God!

WE HAVE A DEEP NEED OF DAILY CLEANSING FROM SIN

2.  Because of the deep need of daily cleansing from sin, having been reconciled to our Heavenly Father through the shed blood of Jesus Christ our LORD.

And the blessed assurance that this relationship will continue throughout our lives and into eternity! Prayer keeps our relationship current, so that doubts and fears do not enter our hearts.

3.  Because of the many and varied problems, crises, tragedies and human needs that we cannot personally solve, which involve ourselves, our families and society in general

DURING PRAYER WE CALL UPON THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN HELP US AND GUIDE US

Prayer calls upon the only ONE who can make the necessary modifications to solve those problems and give us proper directions and guidance.

4.  Because of God's generous offer to us - through the vicarious death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ - of full salvation which includes divine healing, the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and eternity with Him forevermore.  

Through prayer, we take advantage of His bountiful provisions for us, thereby allowing the Holy Spirit to pray through us "with groanings that cannot be uttered." (Romans 8:28)

PRAYER FULFILLS OUR SPIRITUAL HUNGER THROUGH PRAISE & WORSHIP

5.  Because of a spiritual hunger and longing to be in His presence - through worship, praise and thanksgiving - we are drawn by the Holy Spirit into the very Holy of Holies, the very presence of our Heavenly Father through the Blood of Jesus Christ that was shed for us on Calvary's cross.

'Dear Heavenly Father, bless all who read these lines.  In Jesus'' precious name, I pray, Amen.'

HEALING FOR THE SICK 
Through Faith In Jesus Christ

"...man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward." (Job 5:7)

"Many are the afflictions of the righteous; but the Lord delivereth him out of them all." (Psalms. 34:19)

"Is any sick among you? 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 shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him." (James 5:14-15)

“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.” (Matthew  7:7-8)

THERE IS HOPE FOR YOU - THERE IS HEALING FOR YOU - GOD WILL ANSWER YOUR PRAYERS

Multitudes today are suffering from a disease or infirmity with no relief in sight. They have frequented doctors, clinics and hospitals with little or no help - and are discouraged, angry and bitter!

Some have prayed earnestly regarding their healing, had special prayer in their church by the pastor and elders or by an evangelist whom God uses to bring healing to the sick through faith in Jesus Christ - and still are not healed!  Many become discouraged thinking that God is not listening to their prayers or that they are not important enough for him to give them answers to their prayers.

Possibly someone reading this booklet fits one of these categories. After your hospital visit or prayer service, you are “not better”. You may even be getting worse! Your faith is at a low ebb and you’re tired of being tired, sick and defeated. You are tired of hoping and believing without any answers to your prayers.

You feel like throwing up your hands in despair since nothing helps, and accept weakness, pain, sickness and distress as your lot in life!

MY DEAR FRIEND, THERE IS STILL HOPE FOR YOU.  It is not too late. It may seem hopeless, but it is not. It may seem useless to think of deliverance, but it is not. So long as you are alive and there is a God in Heaven, there is hope!

The Bible says, “With men this is impossible, but not with God, for with God all things are possible”. (Mark 10:27) It may seem impossible to you but with God NOTHING is impossible.

Man’s extremity becomes God’s opportunity. And when man fails, that’s when God can take over, for He never fails. When man “gives up on you”, God is ready, willing and able to step in and bring to pass a miracle in your life, because nothing is impossible with Him!

GOD CAN & WILL ANSWER YOUR PRAYER!  When God could bring the world into being by His spoken Word, hang the universe on nothing, fling the sun, moon and stars into the far most corner of the night to rotate in perfect harmony, HE CAN ANSWER YOUR PRAYER.  You must be patient and continue to pray and seek God, as he will answer your prayers when he feels the time is right.

"By the Word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of His mouth." (Psalm  33:6).  Since He has the ability to create millions of moons, galaxies of stars and heavenly bodies by a few words from Hs lips, most assuredly He is able to destroy the cancer, heart disease, diabetes or arthritis which is stealing your health.

WHEN AT THE TOUCH OF HIS HAND, GOD CREATED A PERFECT HUMAN BEING IN HIS OWN IMAGE AND BREATHED INTO MAN’S NOSTRILS THE BREATH OF LIFE MAKING HIM A LIVING SOUL, SURELY HE CAN HEAL YOUR SICK SPIRIT, SOUL (MIND) AND BODY.  HE HAS PROMISED HEALING, GOD HAS PROMISED ANSWERS TO YOUR PRAYERS.

The Great God Who brought back to life the Lord Jesus Christ, can certainly quicken your mortal body. When you think of how great and mighty our God is, certainly nothing could be impossible to Him!

St. Paul declares: "But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken - make life in - your mortal (temporal, dying) bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you". (Romans  8:11)

Is God able to heal our weak, aging, temporal bodies? Yes, He is able to and He does!  Is God able to answer your prayers.  Yes - He is willing to answer your prayers.  The Bible says, “All things are possible to him that believeth”. (Mark 9:23)  Since He (the Holy Spirit) brought Jesus Christ back from the dead, He can most certainly heal our diseased and dying bodies, says St. Paul.

In verse 26, the great apostle continues, "Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities (lit. greek - takes a hold of against our sicknesses): for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself (Himself) maketh intercession for us (lit. greek - and together with us) with groanings (Holy Spirit prayer - praying in tongues) which cannot be uttered".

The same Blessed Holy Spirit Who raised Jesus Christ from the dead dwells within us and "takes a hold of against our sickness" and “together with us” prays to our Heavenly Father for our healing and deliverance!

"ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE TO HIM THAT BELIEVETH"

The Bible says, “All things are possible to him that believeth”. (Mark 9:23) The first truth we have established is that your case is not too difficult for God and there is a good possibility of your healing to take place  We have also established that God is able and willing to heal you - to answer your prayers!

THE BIBLE STATES THAT JESUS CAME TO BRING LIFE!

“The thief cometh not but for to steal and to kill and destroy, but I am come that they might have life and have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10)

Jesus stated that the devil came for only three reasons; to steal, kill and destroy! But Jesus came to bring life! The devil is a thief and a murderer (John 8:44) and came only to do evil (steal, kill and destroy).  He came to rob you of your happiness, joy, peace, health and blessing. He came to harm you and finally destroy you in a hospital, insane asylum or prison.

The devil is cruel, perverted, evil, wicked and ungodly. He can only do evil. He has no capability to do good. The devil is the death giver!

JESUS IS 100% GOOD! He came to bring life. He came to bring blessings to all who would believe. HE CAME TO BRING ABUNDANT LIFE BECAUSE HE IS THE LIFE GIVER! Some people have given the devil the credit for healing sick people - this is blasphemous and utterly false. It is contrary to God’s Word and accuses Jesus of telling an untruth.

We know that Jesus is the truth, the life and the way (John 14:6). The Word of God is pure, divine and infallible!

JESUS SAID THAT YOU CANNOT GET GOOD FRUIT FROM A CORRUPT TREE OR CORRUPT FRUIT FROM A GOOD TREE. By their fruits we shall know them! Jesus said a corrupt tree “bringeth not forth good fruit”. (Matthew 7:18) It is against the law of a thorn tree to bring forth figs - you can’t get sweet water out of a fountain that is bitter.

HOW COULD THE DEVIL, WHO IS COMPLETELY EVIL, BRING FORTH SOMETHING THAT IS GOOD?

Jesus called the devil a thief who came only to steal, kill and destroy. He came to this earth for no other purpose! Jesus came to bring life! Healing and health is life! Sickness and disease brings death! The Bible classifies 'healing' as 'doing good'!

“How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power, Who went about doing good, healing all who were oppressed of the devil.” (Acts 10:38)

The message is plain and simple: The devil made people sick but Jesus made them well. Sickness comes from satanic sources and divine healing has its origin in God!  The literal Greek states that Jesus Christ healed all those who "were under the dominion, authority or lordship of Satan". That is God's Word - Believe it and be healed;

IT MAY APPEAR THAT WITCH DOCTORS AND OCCULTS MAY HEAL OR CURE BUT BE NOT DECEIVED

Oh I know there are times that it appears witch doctors and other occultists may have affected cures by their incantations.  Do not be deceived.  Satan is a deceiver and manipulator.  In the end, his involvement always brings enslavement, torment & death.

The magicians (witch doctors and soothsayers) of Egypt could duplicate many of the miracles performed by Moses in the sight of Pharaoh (king) of Egypt. There were two things they could not do, however.

#1 - They could not get rid of the plagues even though they could duplicate Moses in bringing forth the flies and frogs. Moses had to be called to get rid of the plagues: eg. darkness, flies, frogs, lice, locusts. Interpretation: Satan can bring the cancer but he has no power to heal the person from the death-dealing work of the disease which he has brought. God is the only healer and restorer!

#2 - When it comes to creating life, the magicians could not create lice out of dust as Moses did in the Name of the Lord.

The magicians said to Pharaoh, “This is the finger of God”. (Exodus 8:19) Here is the interpretation: Satan is a deceiver and trickster but he has no power to do good, heal, save or create life! All he can do is deceive, lie, steal and kill!  Only God can heal and create life and sustain it!

There are some things you must do if you are to be healed. Study the accounts of sick folk - in the Bible - who were healed, and if you do what they did, you will certainly receive healing, because Jesus Christ is no respecter of persons!

No. 1 - WORSHIP JESUS CHRIST!

There is only ONE HEALER, Jesus Christ. He alone is the Great Physician. Seek Him and worship Him, and turn from every known sin. Seek the Healer and not the healing!

Focus your attention on Jesus. Worship, praise and magnify His Name and His love, forgiveness and healing will automatically flow into you!

“And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped Him, saying, Lord, if Thou wilt, Thou canst make me clean. And Jesus put forth His hand, and touched him, saying, I will, be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed”. (Matthew  8:2-3)

PEOPLE WHO SEEK ONLY A HEALING OR MIRACLE OR ANSWERS TO PRAYER  WITHOUT WORSHIPPING GOD - WILL BE GREATLY DISAPPOINTED

By seeking God through Jesus Christ, you will establish a vital contact with the Great Physician and receive your miracle and answers to your prayers.  People who seek only a healing or a miracle or answers to prayers without worshipping God, will be greatly disappointed.

ALWAYS REMEMBER, KNOWING GOD THROUGH JESUS CHRIST AND THE BLESSED HOLY SPIRIT - WITHOUT BEING HEALED PHYSICALLY - IS FAR MORE ADVANTAGEOUS THAN GETTING ONLY A PHYSICAL MIRACLE WITHOUT RECEIVING JESUS CHRIST AS SAVIOUR AND LORD!

Jarius was in a desperate situation. His daughter was at the point of death when he decided to seek out the Master. Here is the Bible account.

While He spake these things unto them, behold, there came a certain ruler, and worshipped Him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay Thy hand upon her, and she shall live. And Jesus arose, and followed him, and so did His disciples.

“And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind Him, and touched the hem of His garment: For she said within herself, If I may but touch His garment, I shall be whole. But Jesus turned Him about, and when He saw her, He said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.

“And when Jesus came into the ruler’s house, and saw the minstrels and the people making a noise, He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed Him to scorn. But when the people were put forth, He went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose.” (Matt. 9:18-25)

CANAANITE WOMAN WORSHIPS JESUS!

“And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto Him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. But He answered her not a word. And His disciples came and besought Him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us. But He answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. “Then came she and worshipped Him, saying, Lord, help me.

“But He answered and said, It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to dogs. And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table. Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.” (Matt. 15:22-28)

The Bible states, “And as they went to tell His disciples. behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped Him”. (Matthew  28:9)

GOD HEARS THE PRAYERS AND ANSWERS THE PRAYERS OF THOSE WHO WORSHIP HIM

Without doubt, God hears your prayers and God answers the prayers of those who worship Him. And all who are saved and healed by God’s power WILL desire to worship Him!

The blind man whom Jesus healed is a good example of that fact: “Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when He had found him, He said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God? He answered and said, Who is He, Lord, that I might believe on Him? And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen Him, and it is He that talketh with thee.

“And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped Him”. (John 9:35-38)

To the Samaritan woman, Jesus said, “But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth”. (John 4:23-24)

No. 2 - HUMBLE YOURSELF!

Pride is a gigantic hindrance to receiving divine healing! “But He answered and said it is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to dogs.

“And she said, truth, Lord, yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their master’s table. Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith, be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.” (Matthew  15:26-28)

Here is the account of a Canaanite woman humbling herself in the sight of God. When she did, Jesus granted her request! Her daughter was healed!

ANOTHER GOOD EXAMPLE OF HOW GOD REWARDS HUMILITY IS FOUND IN THE HEALING ACCOUNT OF NAAMAN

“So Naaman came with his horses and with his chariot, and stood at the door of the house of Elisha. And Elisha sent a messenger unto him, saying, Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean.

“But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the Lord his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper. Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? may I not wash in them, and be clean? So he turned and went away in a rage.

“And his servants came near, and spake unto him, and said, My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? how much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean?

"Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.” (2 Kings 5:9-14)

Many people believe that they will receive something from God because of WHO THEY ARE OR THINK THEY ARE! We do not receive healing because we are worthy, but because we are needy. And Jesus Christ met that need nearly 2000 years ago on the cross!

WE RECEIVE HEALING FROM GOD BECAUSE OF HIS GRACE AND MERCY AND BECAUSE OF HIS WORD - NOT BECAUSE WE DESERVE IT - HEALING IS A GIFT

It is only because of His great liberality to us by sending His Son Jesus Christ, to die in our place and purchase our salvation, that we receive forgiveness and divine healing from His gracious and loving land!

We must never forget that forgiveness, divine healing, the gifts and graces of God which He bestows upon us are simply that - gifts of God’s mercy to us!

No. 3 - BELIEVE IN GOD’S INTEGRITY, ABILITY AND WILLINGNESS 
TO KEEP HIS PROMISES TO US

Believe that God’s Word is absolutely true and that it will never pass away! The Heavens and the Earth will pass away, but God’s Word will stand forever. (Matthew  24:35) God’s Word is as pure and divine as God Himself (John 1:1-4).

THE HOLY SCRIPTURES ARE GOD’S WORD!

The Lord God Almighty is “back of” His Word, and it will never fail (1 Kings 8:56). God has placed “His Word” above “His Name” (Psalm 138:2). His Word has gone out of His mouth in righteousness and will not return void.

“So shall My word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:11)

God will perform every Word He has spoken. “Then said the Lord unto me, Thou hast well seen: for I will hasten My word to perform it.” (Jeremiah  1:12) “So shall My word be that goeth forth out of My mouth: it shall not return unto Me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:11) Believe that God’s Word is the final authority and that IT IS GOOD TODAY!  Then, appropriate His Word to yourself, for your own individual need!

Jesus said, “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 4:18-20)

The Bible says, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.” (Romans 10:17)  Jesus asked two blind men, “Believest thou that I am able to do this (heal them)?” They answered, “Yea, Lord.

Then Jesus touched their eyes saying, “According to your faith be it unto you”, and they were instantly healed!

Jesus said, “If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth”. (Mark 9:23)

“Believe Me that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me: or else believe Me for the very works’ sake. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto My Father.

And whatsoever ye shall ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in My name, I will do it.” (John 14:11-14)

No. 4 - TAKE GOD AT HIS WORD!

The Bible says, “...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.” (Exodus 15:26)

Jesus promised: “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.” (Matthew 7:7-8)

“When the even was come, they brought unto Him many that were possessed with devils: and He cast out the spirits with His word, and HEALED ALL THAT WERE SICK: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.” (Matthew  8:16-17)

Seven hundred years before His birth in Bethlehem, the Holy Spirit promised divine healing through the Coming Messiah!

“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 53:5)

Here is the beginning of the fulfillment of that prophecy: “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.” (1 Peter 2:24)

There are three very important spiritual laws which Jesus Christ gave His Church:

The Law of Binding & Loosing
The Law of Agreement
The Law of God’s Presence

These three laws, when acted upon in faith, bring divine healing and total deliverance to those who call upon the Lord in sincerity and trust!

“Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of My Father which is in heaven.

“For where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them.” (Matthew  18:18-20)

The Law of Binding & Loosing is found in Matthew 18:18
The Law of Agreement is contained in Matthew18:19.
The Law of God’s Presence is written in Matthew 18:20.

For a full treatment of this subject, write for booklet on ‘The Laws of God & Divine Healing’!

No. 5 - RECEIVE JESUS CHRIST AS YOUR HEALER

Confess to the Lord that you Believe His Word and that you Know He is your Healer!

Concur with the Scriptures. Agree with Jesus Christ, that you Accept His promises as true and infallible! Confess to Him that you Believe that “By His Stripes you are Healed”.

Then, Thank Him for healing you and for answering your prayers.   Trust the Lord for complete deliverance. Relax and get well for according to His Word, He has healed you.

The Bible says, “Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in Him; and He shall bring it to pass”. (Psalm 37:5)

Jesus said, "Therefore I say unto you, what things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them". (Mark 11:24)  Jesus Christ promises that he will hear and answer your prayers.

YOU MAY RECEIVE AN IMMEDIATE ANSWER TO YOUR PRAYERS.  YOU MAY BE HEALED SUDDENLY OR YOU MAY BEGIN TO AMEND AS ALSO HAPPENED IN THE MINISTRY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST!

“Then enquired he of them the hour when he began to amend. And they said unto him, Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him. So the father knew that it was at the same hour, in the which Jesus said unto him, Thy son liveth: and himself believed, and his whole house.” (John 4:52-53)

READ WITH JOY THESE WORDS OF LIFE: “Is any sick among you? 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 shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.

“Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much”. (James 5:14-16)

You may receive divine healing in one of various ways - through the laying on of hands, anointing with oil, prayer of agreement or praying alone to our Heavenly Father in Jesus’ dear Name, in your home!

IT DOESN’T MATTER WHICH WAY GOD HEALS YOU, SO LONG AS YOU ARE HEALED

Give God all the glory. Share with others what God has done so that you may rejoice together and glorify the Name of Jesus. Remember, Jesus said in Mark 9:23 - “ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE TO HIM THAT BELIEVETH”.

Allow me now to offer a prayer to God on your behalf.

“Kind Heavenly Father, I pray in Jesus’ Name that you will extend Your hand of mercy, forgiveness and divine healing right now to each and everyone who is reading this booklet.

“Upon the authority of God’s Word, by the blood of the everlasting covenant, through the eternal Spirit of God and in Jesus’ all powerful Name, I command Satan to take his hands off each one reading this booklet now!

“Every evil spirit of torment, infirmity and unrighteousness must leave NOW, in Jesus’ Name.

“Heavenly Father, please lay your healing hand on the sick, infirm and sinful right now and save, heal and deliver them all.”

THANK YOU LORD. I BELIEVE IT IS DONE AND I PRAISE YOU IN JESUS' HOLY & PRECIOUS NAME."   Amen.