A very beloved man of faith once said, “I can’t understand God by feelings. I can’t understand the Lord Jesus Christ by feelings. I can only understand God and Jesus by what the Word says about them.”   Too many people try to get to know God by their feelings. When they feel good, they think God heard their prayers. When they don’t feel good, they conclude that He has not heard them. Their faith is based on their feelings when it should be based on the Word of God.   This is the problem Thomas had. He was not with the other disciples when Jesus appeared to them the first time. Because he didn’t see Jesus, he refused to believe what all the others told him. Thomas said, “Unless I see Him and touch Him for myself, I will not believe.”   Eight days later, Jesus appeared to them again, and this time Thomas was present. He refused to believe unless he could see with his own eyes and feel Jesus’ wounds with his own hands: Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.” John 20:27 NKJV   Many Christians are like Thomas today. They refuse to believe they are healed because they don’t feel any different after they pray and they don’t see the evidence.  Needing to feel a change or see evidence is not Bible faith. But it’s by faith—not by sight or evidence—that we receive. So if we require a feeling or evidence before we believe, healing won’t manifest in their bodies.   Healing is More Than a Feeling -- The Truth You Need to Know Real faith in God is based upon the Word of God. Real faith says, “If God’s Word says it is true, then it is.   If God’s Word says I’m healed, then I am healed, because His Word cannot lie.” Believing God is believing His Word.   When it comes to the physical realm, we have to walk by sight. But when it comes to spiritual things, we don’t walk by sight, we walk by faith. For we walk by faith, not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7 KJV   God’s healing is spiritual healing. If medical science heals, it heals through the physical. Christian Science heals through the mind. But when God heals, He heals through the spirit. The spirit is the innermost part of man, the part that lives eternally. Although we cannot see into the spirit realm with our natural eyes, it is still very real. That’s where faith comes into play.   Healing is like the New Birth. The New Birth is the rebirth of the human spirit. It does not change the physical in any way, so it is not seen with the natural eyes. However, over time it should become obvious that there has been a change.   In the same way, healing from God begins in the spirit of man. To receive physical healing we must believe with our spirits. Only then will we feel or see the difference. God’s Word is always true, regardless of our feelings or circumstances.   Here is a formula for faith that you can make work for you: 1.     Find one or two healing scriptures that are meaningful and insert your name. 2.     Meditate upon them until you know in your heart you believe them. 3.     Refuse to consider contradictory circumstances or what your physical senses may tell you. Ignore your feelings and senses! 4.     Give praise to God for the answer! If you're in the Aurora/Naperville area and are looking for a church that teaches the uncompromising Word of God, we invite you to visit Abundant Life Family Church . As a Word and Spirit church, we are committed to helping believers grow in faith, experience the power of God, and walk in His promises. Our services are filled with dynamic worship, Bible-based teaching, and an atmosphere where the Holy Spirit moves. Whether you’re searching for a church home or seeking a deeper relationship with God, we welcome you to join us and be part of a thriving community of faith!

Faith always believes we have our answer from God NOW. Faith does not HOPE we will see the answer. The eyes of faith see the answer as having already happened! How is this possible? Through placing our attention on the right things.   Proverbs 4:20-22 says: My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart; For they are life to those who find them, And health to all their flesh.   Notice this passage says to not let God’s Words depart from your eyes. Many people fail because they see themselves as failing; their eyes are on failing, not on God’s Word. If they are sick, they see themselves as dying; their eyes are on death, not on God’s promise of health:   “He Himself took our infirmities And bore our sicknesses.” Matthew 8:17 NKJV   If that Word does not depart from before your eyes, you are bound to see yourself without sickness or disease. You will see yourself well. If, however, you do not imagine yourself as without sickness, then that Word has departed from before your eyes. And even though God wants to make health a reality in your life, He cannot, because you are not keeping His Word in the midst of your heart.   Look again at Proverbs 4:22: “My Words. . .are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh.”   The Hebrew word translated “health” here is also the word for medicine. God’s Words are medicine to all our flesh. Like natural medicine must be taken as prescribed, God’s medicine has to be taken according to His directions. And one of the instructions is to not let them not depart from your eyes. That means to keep looking at what the Word says!   Too many people pray and pray, but they never see themselves with the answer. They just envision everything getting worse. That’s because they keep looking at the symptoms and the doctor’s report. That wrong focus causes them to walk in unbelief, which destroys the effects of prayer.   Instead, get your mind on God’s answer! Picture yourself as having received your healing! Constantly affirm, even in the face of contradictory evidence, that you are already healed, because the Word of God says you are. That’s when you’ll get results.   Why You Must SEE Yourself Healed BEFORE You'll Receive It Faith will always contradict negative circumstances. For example, Hebrews 13:5-6 says, For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we may boldly  say: “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”   Are we boldly saying, “The Lord is my Helper?” That is what we should be declaring. Yet so many say, “I don’t know if I can make it or not.” They are boldly saying, “I’m defeated. I’m bound. I’m sick. I’m hopeless.”   If our eyes are on what the Lord promises, “I will never leave you nor forsake you,” then we can BOLDLY say, “The Lord is my Helper!” Let’s quit saying the wrong things and start saying the right things. You see, wrong seeing, wrong thinking, wrong believing, and wrong talking will defeat you.   Regarding healing, say out loud the Word of God that you now have your eyes focused on: “The Lord is my Healer!” and “The Lord took my infirmities and bore my sicknesses.” Keep talking the right thing. Keep the Word before your eyes so you can believe and say the right thing. Faith always says the answer.   Real faith in God’s Word says that if God says it is so, it is so! If God says, “[B]y His stripes you were healed”, then you ARE healed. As long as we keep His Word in the midst of our heart and declare that Word, we can receive what the Word promises us. We are what the Word says we are. We can do what the Word says we can do. Faith is simply agreeing with God.   Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. Heb 4:14 NKJV   The word “confession” in the Greek means to hold fast to saying the same things. Jesus is explaining, “I died for you. I took your sins. I took your sicknesses.” Now we must agree with Him, keep His Word before our eyes, and release our faith by saying what He says. That’s the way to receive the healing He paid the price for.   The more you say it, the more you see it. The more you see it, the more you have it! See yourself healed today! If you're in the Aurora/Naperville area and are looking for a church that teaches the uncompromising Word of God, we invite you to visit Abundant Life Family Church . As a Word and Spirit church, we are committed to helping believers grow in faith, experience the power of God, and walk in His promises. Our services are filled with dynamic worship, Bible-based teaching, and an atmosphere where the Holy Spirit moves. Whether you’re searching for a church home or seeking a deeper relationship with God, we welcome you to join us and be part of a thriving community of faith!

Paul said this in 1 Corinthians 13:13: 13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.   In this passage, Paul was not inferring that hope and faith are not important. Each has its place, and one cannot be substituted for another. We cannot substitute love for hope. Neither can we substitute hope for faith. Yet so many people try to receive things from God, including healing, on the basis of hope rather than faith.   What is the difference between hope and faith? Hope always looks to the future. Faith is always NOW. Faith says, “I’ll receive the answer right now. I have it NOW.” It is not hoping that receives from God. It is BELIEVING.   I’ve had many conversations over many decades with people who wanted healing. So often, they will say, “I know that someday I’ll be healed, or I sure hope I will be healed.” That is NOT faith. It is hope, because it is looking to the future.   It is human nature to relegate good things to the future. However, the problem is that when we kick the can down the road, we rarely see it come to pass. If you need healing, you don’t want it in the future. You want it right now!   One modern translation of Hebrews 11:1 says this:      Faith is giving substance… to things hoped for.   Hope always has a “wondering” or “questioning” tone about it. Faith has a “confident” tone about it. Initially, you may wonder if you could really be healed. But as you hear the Word of God on healing, faith will grow, and it will give substance to the hope you initially had.   You see, faith comes by hearing and hearing what the Word of God says. (Romans 10:17.) Faith grows out of the Word of God. You may initially just hope for healing, but faith gives the assurance that you ARE healed already by the stripes of Jesus.    by whose stripes ye were healed. 1 Peter 2:24 KJV   In other words, faith says the same thing the Word of God says! Unbelief is taking sides against the Word of God. There are those who talk unbelief and take sides against the Word of God, and then wonder why God’s Word doesn’t work for them. If we want God’s Word to work for us, we must agree with it!   Nowhere in the Bible does it say that when we pray, we will receive what we HOPE for.   It says: Therefore, I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe  that you receive them, and you will have them. Mark 11:24 NKJV   That verse does not say “hope” you receive; it says “believe” you receive.   Let’s look at the definition of faith again in the NKJV translation:  Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1   Notice the verb “is” is in the present tense. Again, faith is present tense, and hope is future tense. Even though you might say you believe, if you are putting it into the future, you are not believing. You are hoping. This explains why many do not receive their healing. They mean well, but faith is a requirement to receive healing. Some people always are believing that God is going to do something for them, but faith believes that He has done, and is doing.   I heard the story of a woman who was in her 70’s and told she would never walk again. She hadn’t walked in 4 years. Her friends brought her to the altar at the end of the service for prayer. As the evangelist laid hands on her, he said, “Now arise and walk in the Name of Jesus.”   She did her best to get up, but all the while was crying, “O dear Lord Jesus, please heal me. Oh, please, please, please heal me.” Finally, the evangelist quieted her down and said to her, “Did you know that you ARE healed?” She looked up astonished and said, “Oh am I?”   “Yes, you ARE healed, and I’ll prove it to you from the Bible.” He opened his Bible to 1 Peter 2:24 and asked her to read it aloud, and then repeat the last phrase. Then he asked, “Is ‘were’ past tense, future tense, or present tense?” “It is past tense,” she answered. He asked, “If you WERE healed, then you ARE healed now, aren’t you?”   A smile lit up her face, and she began to lift her hands and praise God because she WAS healed, not going to be. Then she jumped off the altar like a 16 year-old, and walked, leaped, ran, and praised God.   All this woman needed was to get her talking in the right tense, because faith is present tense. Hope is a good waiter, but a poor receiver. It takes a positive faith – a now faith – to receive your healing. And you can use your faith and receive your healing NOW! If you're in the Aurora/Naperville area and are looking for a church that teaches the uncompromising Word of God, we invite you to visit Abundant Life Family Church . As a Word and Spirit church, we are committed to helping believers grow in faith, experience the power of God, and walk in His promises. Our services are filled with dynamic worship, Bible-based teaching, and an atmosphere where the Holy Spirit moves. Whether you’re searching for a church home or seeking a deeper relationship with God, we welcome you to join us and be part of a thriving community of faith!

A man who had a mute son who was often afflicted with epileptic seizures came to Jesus for help.    “And often he has thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” Mark 9:22-24 NKJV   This man was desperate. I’m sure we all have been in situations where we felt desperate. He begged Jesus for help. He didn’t have a full understanding of how healing and deliverance worked. So he said, “IF you can do anything…” Jesus quickly settled this issue of “if.”   He basically responded by saying, “It’s not a question of what I can do. The question is, what can you believe? If you can believe, all things are possible for you. It’s not up to Me, it’s up to you. I don’t decide if your son gets healed, you do! I have the ability, but it’s up to you whether or not My power is released.” (paraphrased)   So often, we cry out, “Oh God, do something!” But God always says, “You believe, then I’ll move!” It’s human nature to want to put all the responsibility on someone else. However, this is not the way God operates. All throughout the scriptures, God put the ball back into the court of the individual who had a need.   Actually, God gave us His Word AND His faith. He will do anything He says in His Word if we will simply BELIEVE Him and take Him at His Word. In order to believe His Word, we must hear His Word. Then, if we will use the faith He gives us through His Word, He will move for us and supply the need. God really gave us the easy part of the covenant: only BELIEVE!   Jesus spent a good deal of His time on earth teaching people the Word and will of God, in order to give them something to believe. After hearing, they had to act on their faith in that Word. According to Jesus’ own words in the gospels, approximately 70% of the people healed under His ministry did so as a result of their own faith.   The Bible says that Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Therefore, by your faith, all things are possible to you today.   When this man came to Jesus for his son’s healing, he didn’t get discouraged by Jesus’ words. He responded by saying, “All right Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief.” What does that mean? He was saying, “I believe in my heart, but my head is giving me trouble.” Doubts were trying to overtake his mind.   Have you ever faced a situation like that? You know in your heart that what God says is true, but your head is giving you every reason why it isn’t working or it can’t work. To deal with our head, we have to become skillful in looking to the Word, not at the problem or the diagnosis.   2 Corinthians 4:18 says: . . . . while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.   We see the problem is there, but we refuse to be troubled by it. We are to look at God’s unseen Word, which produces victory every time!   Here’s another great scripture: For what if some did not believe? Will their unbelief make the faithfulness of God without effect? Certainly not! Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar. Romans 3:3-4:   This means that we have to let God be true in our lives. God is not a dictator. He always gives us a choice.   1 Peter 2:24 says, “By His stripes you were healed.” Many would respond by saying, “I know that’s what the Bible says, but I don’t feel well.” They have chosen to let their symptoms be truth and God a liar. You may know God’s Word is true for all mankind, but Paul said in Romans that you have to choose what is truth in YOUR own LIFE. Are you going to believe symptoms and circumstances, or are you going to believe God’s Word for your very own life?   We must always remember that ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE TO HIM THAT BELIEVES! Let’s choose to believe God today and receive healing! If you're in the Aurora/Naperville area and are looking for a church that teaches the uncompromising Word of God, we invite you to visit Abundant Life Family Church . As a Word and Spirit church, we are committed to helping believers grow in faith, experience the power of God, and walk in His promises. Our services are filled with dynamic worship, Bible-based teaching, and an atmosphere where the Holy Spirit moves. Whether you’re searching for a church home or seeking a deeper relationship with God, we welcome you to join us and be part of a thriving community of faith!

Healing is always the will of God. Healing power is always present everywhere to heal. However, we know that most people do not receive this healing power. Why is this?   There are certain established spiritual laws that cause that power to flow into a person. There are spiritual laws just like there are natural laws. One very important spiritual law that accesses the power of healing is the law of FAITH. Unless someone releases their faith for healing, healing power will not flow.   What exactly is Bible faith? The Biblical definition is found in Hebrews chapter eleven, verse one: Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Moffatt’s translation says: “Now faith means that we are confident of what we hope for, convinced of what we do not see.” Everyone alive has a natural human faith. But this scripture is talking about a supernatural faith. Supernatural faith believes with the heart rather than believing what the physical senses may tell us. Faith will take things that seem unrealistic and brings them into the realm of reality.   This scripture says that faith is the evidence of things NOT seen. You may have sickness or pain in your body, but faith says, “By His stripes I am healed!” Faith will always say about itself everything that the Word of God says. Faith in God is simply faith in His Word.   A dear man of God who greatly impacted my life had a great testimony along these lines. He had been bedfast for sixteen months with an incurable disease as a teenager. He was told he had to die. But he stood on God’s Word and received a miraculous healing.   He was only about ninety pounds when he was first healed, and stood over six feet tall. Within only a few months, he looked for a job. These were depression days, and jobs were hard to find. He was eventually hired to pull up two-year old peach trees from the roots. Each day the number of workers was fewer and fewer, and each day someone would say to him, “I didn’t think you’d make it today.”   His response would always be, “If it weren’t for the Lord I wouldn’t be here. The Lord is the strength of my life.” He said if he would have gone by his feelings, he wouldn’t have gotten out of bed. But he would continually quote, “The Lord is the strength of my life.”   Here is an interesting point – he said he never received any strength until he started pulling up that first tree. But once he began to put his hands to the trunk of the tree, an anointing would flow over him like honey and he would work in that supernatural strength all day long. He also ended up being the last person on that job!!   Many people want to receive and then believe they’ve got their healing. But it doesn’t work that way. You must believe first, and then you will receive. This is called HEART faith, not head faith.   Jesus explained heart faith so well in Mark chapter eleven:  So Jesus answered and said to them, "Have faith in God.  For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.  Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. Mark 11:22-24 NKJV   Here is the difference between heart faith and mentally agreeing with God’s Word: Mental agreement says  – I know God’s Word is true. I know God has promised healing, but for some reason I can’t get it. I can’t understand it. Heart faith says – (real faith in God’s Word) – If God’s Word says it’s so, then it’s so. It is mine. I have it now. I have it even though I can’t see it.   Many people have said, “But the thing I’ve been praying about hasn’t come to pass yet.” If you already had it, you wouldn’t need faith for it anymore. You have to take the step of believing before you will see it come to pass. Notice Mark 11:24 says that the receiving comes after the believing. Jesus simply said, “You’ve got to believe you have it before you can receive it.” (paraphrased)   I never have been able to receive physical healing for myself without first believing I have it. Every symptom in my body cries out, “You don’t have it!” I simply stand firm on what God’s Word says about my healing and continue to claim that I am healed. Results always come after I believe.   If we are going to sit around and groan and complain about our symptoms, waiting until they are gone before we believe we are healed, we will never see healing manifest in our bodies.   Remember that faith is the evidence of things NOT seen! If you're in the Aurora/Naperville area and are looking for a church that teaches the uncompromising Word of God, we invite you to visit Abundant Life Family Church . As a Word and Spirit church, we are committed to helping believers grow in faith, experience the power of God, and walk in His promises. Our services are filled with dynamic worship, Bible-based teaching, and an atmosphere where the Holy Spirit moves. Whether you’re searching for a church home or seeking a deeper relationship with God, we welcome you to join us and be part of a thriving community of faith!

God wants you to live your life completely healed!! He sent Jesus to pay the price for your sins and your healing, and it is your present possession according to the Word of God. However, it can only be a reality in your life if you use your faith for it.   Hebrews 11:6 says: But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.   The reason it’s impossible to please God without faith is because everything we receive from God requires our faith. And God wants us to receive what He’s provided for us. The Bible teaches us that God is Love. Love gives, and Love wants the gifts to be received!   Now, if God demands that we must please Him when it’s impossible for us to have faith, we have a right to challenge His justice. However, since He’s given us the ability to obtain faith, then the responsibility rests with us whether or not we have faith.   God has told us without faith it’s impossible to please Him. But He has also told us how to obtain faith.    But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.  For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Rom 10:8-11 NKJV   For "whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard ? And how shall they hear without a preacher? Rom 10:13-14 NKJV    So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Rom 10:17 NKJV   We see a very important truth here: People are saved by hearing words. But did you know that people are also HEALED by hearing words?   And they were preaching the gospel  there. And in Lystra a certain man without strength in his feet was sitting, a cripple from his mother's womb, who had never walked. This man heard Paul speaking. Paul, observing him intently and seeing that he had faith to be healed, said with a loud voice, "Stand up straight on your feet!" And he leaped and walked. Acts 14:7-10 NKJV   If you look carefully at this passage, Paul did NOT heal that man. The scriptures say that the man himself had faith to be healed.   Paul did 3 things: 1.     He preached the Gospel. 2.     He perceived that the man had faith to be healed. 3.     He told the man to stand up and walk. (Act on his faith)   The man did 3 things: 1.     He heard Paul preach. 2.     He had faith to be healed. 3.     He leaped and walked.   Where did the man get the faith to be healed? By hearing Paul speak. What did Paul speak? He preached the Gospel. Therefore, Paul must have preached a Gospel that included salvation AND healing!   Paul said this in Romans 1:16: For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.   The Greek and Hebrew words for “salvation” imply the ideas of deliverance, safety, preservation, healing, and soundness. The Gospel is the power of God unto healing and soundness. Paul preached the FULL Gospel, not just part of it!   Here’s another great passage: Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them. And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed. And there was great joy in that city. Acts 8:5-8 NKJV   The great miracles that came about in this passage were the result of Philip’s preaching Christ. The New Testament knows no Christ without Christ the Healer. If there is no Gospel of healing today, then there is no Gospel of salvation.   There will always be so-called religious experts who will tell you that healing has been done away with. But can you ever remember hearing that FAITH has been done away with? No you haven’t and you never will! And as long as faith has not been done away with, you can still receive God’s promises.   It’s too late to tell me healing is not for today. I’ve been receiving healing for myself and my family for over four decades. I’ve been blessed to never have received a serious diagnosis, but I have had minor things come up as I’ve aged.   For example, I once was diagnosed with high cholesterol, and an elevated TSH level. I used my faith to change those levels back to normal. I talked to my body and commanded it to be normal.   How could I confidently do this? Because faith came when I heard God’s Word about healing. And I released my faith by agreeing with God and saying what He says about it.   God is not a respecter of persons, and what He did for me, He will do for you if you will believe and speak the Word only! If you're in the Aurora/Naperville area and are looking for a church that teaches the uncompromising Word of God, we invite you to visit Abundant Life Family Church . As a Word and Spirit church, we are committed to helping believers grow in faith, experience the power of God, and walk in His promises. Our services are filled with dynamic worship, Bible-based teaching, and an atmosphere where the Holy Spirit moves. Whether you’re searching for a church home or seeking a deeper relationship with God, we welcome you to join us and be part of a thriving community of faith!

If you are suffering from sickness and disease, do you think God is willing to heal someone like you? Let me help you with the answer: EMPHATICALLY yes!! How can you be sure that He will heal you every time you need it? You have His Word on it!! Do you believe it is God’s will to keep His promise? Here are a few promises of God regarding healing:   For I am the Lord who heals you. Ex 15:26 NKJV   He Himself took our infirmities And bore our sicknesses. Matt 8:17 NKJV   [Who] Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness — by whose stripes you were healed. 1 Peter 2:24 NKJV   All these promises are for YOU! They are not for a select few individuals. And since God said it in His Word, you can take it to the bank and cash it!   Even though healing is for all, it must be received by FAITH, or we could say by TRUST. Therefore, before anyone can have steadfast faith for healing, they must be rid of all uncertainty about God’s will to heal. God’s promises are each a revelation of what God is eager to do for us. Until we know these promises, there is nothing on which to base our faith.   The Bible teaches us that faith comes by hearing, and hearing what the Word of God promises. And faith is expecting God to do what we know He has said in His word that He will do. Faith is believing that God speaks the truth.   God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good? Num 23:19 NKJV   If someone you trusted promised to give you $1000 tomorrow, and they were in the habit of keeping their word, you would believe and act like it was true. Shouldn’t we trust our Heavenly Father more than we trust the word of any man?   Regarding healing, there are only 2 platforms on which to stand: Belief or unbelief. Either the word of God is true, or it is not. God is either reliable, or He is not. Will we believe the Word of God is truthful, or not?   Genuine faith in God and in His Word will step out on what He has said, regardless of what we see, feel, or sense in the natural realm. Faith is a decisive act and depends only upon God’s Word. Faith ignores every natural symptom or evidence which is contrary to what God’s Word says.   One of my favorite definitions of faith is found in Hebrews.   NOW FAITH is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses]. Heb 11:1 AMPC   Genuine faith will count healing as a real fact, even if your body says you are not healed. As Christians, one of the most important lessons we must learn is to not be moved by circumstances that contradict the Word of God. We must also learn to be patient, and not get discouraged if things don’t change immediately.   The devil doesn’t let anybody have a free pass – he will endeavor to deceive you so you will give up before you see the manifestation. But if you will not be moved by what you feel and see, and stand firm on what God says, you will win the battle every time!   I heard the story of a lady from New York, who many years ago was on her deathbed being ravaged by the effects of tuberculosis. She was a wonderful Christian, but had never heard about Divine healing. One afternoon she was reading the Bible and came across 1 Peter 2:24, “[Who] Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness…”   As she read this verse, she began to weep with gratitude for the salvation Jesus had provided for her. She knew when this disease had run its course, she would be ready to die and go to Heaven. Then she decided to read further. “… by whose stripes you were healed.”   She looked back and noticed that Jesus had already bore her sins. It was in the past. It was real to her and nobody could make her doubt it. But what about the rest of the verse? Could it be true? Did it mean what it said? She concluded that it must be true.   She cried out, “Mother, did you know that God has said in His Word that I was healed? I never saw this before. It’s already done. I am healed. Get my clothes and bring them here!”   Her mother tried to calm her down, but she reminded her that she always taught her children to believe every word of the Bible. She arose from bed, put on her clothes, and shouted throughout the house.  She was completely healed!!   What happened here? She treated the Word of God as if it was actually TRUE! So we see that real faith is taking God at His Word and stepping out upon His promises with all confidence and sincerity, without a doubt or fear!   You can exercise your faith in the same way today and receive your healing! If you're in the Aurora/Naperville area and are looking for a church that teaches the uncompromising Word of God, we invite you to visit Abundant Life Family Church . As a Word and Spirit church, we are committed to helping believers grow in faith, experience the power of God, and walk in His promises. Our services are filled with dynamic worship, Bible-based teaching, and an atmosphere where the Holy Spirit moves. Whether you’re searching for a church home or seeking a deeper relationship with God, we welcome you to join us and be part of a thriving community of faith!

When it comes to divine healing, it is so important to understand that it is always received by FAITH. Healing always manifests because of the faith of someone – whether it’s the preacher, the one who is sick, or a loved one standing in the gap. I have always preferred to use my own faith, because then I can be assured that someone is believing!   If you have need of faith, the Bible teaches you how to get it. “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God” (Romans 10:17), We see an interesting fact here - You cannot separate HEARING from RECEIVING.   When the Bible talks about hearing in reference to faith, it is always referring to hearing with your spiritual ears, not just your physical ears. Many people throughout history have heard the sayings of Jesus with their physical ears, yet have not understood and received them. In order to benefit from the sayings of Jesus, you must hear them with your spiritual ears and understand them with your spirit. Jesus frequently told His listeners, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” He was obviously referring to the spiritual ears of the listeners.   We also see this from several passages, including Luke chapter 5, verses 15-16:  “[A]nd great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by Him of their infirmities.”   I think that many people have this idea that Jesus just went everywhere healing everybody He came in contact with. But if you read the gospels carefully, you find that this is simply not true. Jesus knew that if the people did not hear His sayings with their spiritual understanding, they could not receive healing. Therefore, He went places and taught the Word of God first and foremost.   The words “teach” or “taught” are mentioned more than “preach” or “heal” in connection with Jesus’ ministry. We see all three in Matthew chapter 9, verse 35, “ Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.”   We see that Jesus placed teaching first, preaching second, and healing last. Of course, many people want to reverse the order. They would prefer to run to a meeting and have someone heal them without spending any quality time hearing. Jesus once appeared to my spiritual father and told him that “those who would not hear Me during My earthly ministry did not receive healing.” Again, this is referring to hearing with your spiritual ears, because in Nazareth the people certainly heard with their physical ears. However, very few people were healed there.     Here is the account in Mark chapter 6: And when the Sabbath had come, He began to teach in the synagogue. And many hearing Him were astonished, saying, "Where did this Man get these things? And what wisdom is this which is given to Him, that such mighty works are performed by His hands! Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us?" So they were offended at Him. But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, among his own relatives, and in his own house." Now He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. And He marveled because of their unbelief. Then He went about the villages in a circuit, teaching.     Teaching is always the solution for unbelief. Jesus knew that if He kept teaching the Word of God, eventually some would hear it with their spiritual ears. Even though Jesus was the Son of God, and divine blood flowed through His veins, He still could not heal people that were full of unbelief. God does not override our unbelief! Faith is required, and if a person refuses to believe, they will have to live without their healing.   One of the reasons the people in Nazareth refused to believe was because of familiarity. The more familiar we are with someone, the harder it can be to receive from them. We simply see them as a regular person, instead of someone anointed by the Holy Spirit to help us.   Now let’s see what the people who came to Jesus actually heard: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach  the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal  the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty  those who are oppressed; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord." Luke 4:18-19 NKJV   Remember that in Luke chapter 5 it says the people came to hear and to be healed. They heard Jesus say He came to heal, to give recovery of sight to the blind, and to set at liberty those who were oppressed. Was this effective? Emphatically YES! The woman with the issue of blood was healed because of what she heard.   Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years, and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse. When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment.  For she said, "If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well." Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction. Mark 5:25-29 NKJV   This woman heard truth with both her natural and her spiritual ears. Then, having heard and received the truth, she acted upon it. Today, you have had the opportunity to hear truth. Now I encourage you to continue hearing with your spiritual ears until your faith is ready to receive healing. If you're in the Aurora/Naperville area and are looking for a church that teaches the uncompromising Word of God, we invite you to visit Abundant Life Family Church . As a Word and Spirit church, we are committed to helping believers grow in faith, experience the power of God, and walk in His promises. Our services are filled with dynamic worship, Bible-based teaching, and an atmosphere where the Holy Spirit moves. Whether you’re searching for a church home or seeking a deeper relationship with God, we welcome you to join us and be part of a thriving community of faith!

3 John 2 NKJV Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.   God wants us to have a good life, a life that prospers in every arena. We all know that a sick life does not fulfill the description of a prosperous life. God has provided healing for every one of us, but it will show up in our lives according to the measure that our soul prospers. When do our souls prosper? When we embrace God’s thoughts! So, the more we embrace His thoughts, the more prosperous our souls will be. And as our souls prosper, so does our healing and health.   One thing that will rob your soul of being prosperous is worry. Why? Because when we worry, we can’t embrace God’s thoughts. Worry can very quickly sabotage your healing. Most Christians would agree that stealing, lying, and murder are sins. However, many Christians do not realize that worry is a sin. Worry is a sin because worry is unbelief.   Worry is the opposite of faith. Worry is believing the worst instead of the best, which is God’s thoughts. Worry is FEAR.   Worrying about your health is a great big invitation to the devil to put sickness and disease on you. This is one of the problems Job had. He had a worry problem.   Job 3:25 KJV For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me.   Job’s fear left a wide open door to the devil to attack him, and not just in health but in almost every arena of his life.   Jesus actually taught us not to worry: “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life. . . . Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?” Matt 6:25 and 27 NKJV   If you can’t add one inch to your height or one hair to your head by worrying, then you absolutely cannot change more serious situations in your life by worrying. Medical science tells us that smoking and drinking are habits that can ruin your health and send you to an early grave. But did you know that worry will destroy your health and kill you even faster than smoking and drinking? Jesus was so serious about us not worrying that He commanded us not to do it. If we ignore His commandments, that is a form of sin because it is unbelief. Most Christians would agree that stealing, lying, and murder are sins but they don’t realize that worry—because it is unbelief—is also a sin.  I think we all know it’s not good to worry. But most people are highly developed in their worry skills and don’t even realize how much they worry to begin with. To worry is to meditate in the negative direction. The mind is not built to conduct worry, so those who worry will eventually have a breakdown of the mind and then the body. Worry cannot receive healing, it can only receive sickness.   So how can we stop this deadly worry habit and enjoy good health? By     …casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7 NKJV   The Amplified Classic version says it this way: Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully. [Ps 55:22.]   You are to give your worries to Jesus and leave them there. As long as you are worrying about something, all the prayer in the world won’t change it! By casting the care completely over on the Lord, you are demonstrating a trust in Him that you believe He is bringing the answer to your prayer to pass.   When we really trust that He will do what He says in His Word, then there will be no room left for worry and fear. Trust means FAITH. Faith is how we obtain promises, not by worry.   Here is a glimpse of what faith will do: Who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again. Hebrews 11:33-35 NKJV   But worry has the opposite effect. No promises will be obtained if you remain in a state of worry. Worry is a poor receiver. And that is why as long as you are worrying, you will have difficultly receiving healing or anything else from the Lord.   There is a story in the Bible of a woman who had an issue of blood for twelve long years. After she was healed by Jesus, Jesus said to her to go in peace.    And He said to her, Daughter, your faith (your trust and confidence in Me, springing from faith in God) has restored you to health. Go in (into) peace and be continually healed and freed from your [distressing bodily] disease.  Mark 5:34 AMPC   Jesus understood that in order for this woman to keep her healing, she had to stay in peace and not worry. The same is true for you and me today. We are to cast all our cares upon the Lord and trust Him to do exactly what He said He would do in His word.   Here is another scriptural admonition not to worry.   Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God. And God's peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7 AMPC   The next time you catch yourself starting to worry about something, confess that you refuse to worry. Pray and ask the Lord for the answer you need. And then give Him thanksgiving and praise because the answer is on the way. This is how a prosperous soul looks! If you're in the Aurora/Naperville area and are looking for a church that teaches the uncompromising Word of God, we invite you to visit Abundant Life Family Church . As a Word and Spirit church, we are committed to helping believers grow in faith, experience the power of God, and walk in His promises. Our services are filled with dynamic worship, Bible-based teaching, and an atmosphere where the Holy Spirit moves. Whether you’re searching for a church home or seeking a deeper relationship with God, we welcome you to join us and be part of a thriving community of faith!

God is a good God and He wants you to live your life HEALED! However, in order for us to live a life of health, we must know and act upon the Word of God. The Bible teaches us that all believers are redeemed from the curse of sickness and disease by the precious blood of Jesus. But believers often still deal with symptoms of disease in their bodies. Why?   One answer lies in a very important truth to understand: anything God blesses us with, the devil will try to steal.   The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. John 10:10 NKJV   You can love the Lord and serve Him faithfully and still struggle with sickness and pain. We have an enemy that does not want us to enjoy our benefit of healing. He will try everything to keep us from walking in health and victory. No matter how much he tries, though, we have a greater weapon, and that is the Word of God. Therefore, we must be committed to staying full of the Word of God and holding fast to it in times of trouble.   Perhaps you have received healing for your body in the past, but then that sickness came back on you. Why? Because the devil will always try to gain entrance again in the place he once occupied.   Here is how the Lord Jesus explained it: "When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none. Then he says, 'I will return to my house from which I came.' And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order. Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first. So shall it also be with this wicked generation." Matthew 12:43-45 NKJV   This passage shows us the devil’s persistence. If the devil returns with symptoms of sickness or disease, we do not want him to find us empty. That means we don’t want him to find a weak spirit that we have not been putting the Word of God into continually.   We all know that it can be a challenge to keep our hearts full of God’s Word – everyone must contend with the busyness of life. Not only that, our enemy the devil will put extra pressure on us to keep us from spending time in the Word of God, because he knows that is where our answers lie. You see, when you spend time meditating upon God’s Word, faith comes. It takes faith to receive your healing and it takes faith to keep your healing.   The Bible tells us to “fight the good fight of faith” (1 Timothy 6:12). Because the victory has already been won by Jesus, our fight is to receive and keep that victory. Faith always has a fight with it because we live in Satan’s territory. However, the good fight of faith always WINS! How to Maintain Divine Healing with Your Faith Some may have thought, “If God really healed me, then I would always stay healed.” Yes, God really heals, but we still have to maintain our healing by our FAITH. Jesus said, “But hold fast what you have till I come.” (Revelation 2:25) If we are told to hold fast to what we have, this means it’s possible to let go of it—and lose it. In order to hold fast, we must continually exercise our faith for healing. Continually exercising our faith means that daily we are meditating upon healing scriptures and daily we are releasing our faith by our words. That’s how we live healed.   Paul instructs us that we must live in resistance mode against the devil. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith. 1 Peter 5:8-9 NKJV   It’s good to know that our answer is to resist the devil. But how exactly do we do that?   1.     We make a decision that we will not be moved by what we see or feel.   NOW FAITH is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses]. Hebrews 11:1 AMPC   There are times when you will have to stand on what God says, believing it regardless of how you feel or of the doctor’s report.   2.     We must continue to say only what God says about it, and not continue to repeat a negative report.   Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised.). Hebrews 10:23 KJV   There have been times when I go to walk my dog, and my knee will try to hurt and stop me. My trained reaction is always, “Oh no you don’t! I refuse to have knee pain. My youth is renewed like the eagles and I am completed healed by the stripes of Jesus!” I continue to walk as an act of faith, and the pain disappears. If I were to say, “Oh no, I guess I can’t walk now. I thought I was healed,” I would not be holding fast to my healing.   We have been given authority over all the power the devil. I encourage you to exercise that authority by holding fast to your healing and by resisting the devil’s sickness, disease, and pain every day of your life.   If you're in the Aurora/Naperville area and are looking for a church that teaches the uncompromising Word of God, we invite you to visit Abundant Life Family Church . As a Word and Spirit church, we are committed to helping believers grow in faith, experience the power of God, and walk in His promises. Our services are filled with dynamic worship, Bible-based teaching, and an atmosphere where the Holy Spirit moves. Whether you’re searching for a church home or seeking a deeper relationship with God, we welcome you to join us and be part of a thriving community of faith!

In past blogs, we began talking about the truth that Christians are redeemed from the curse of sickness and disease, but that they can still open a door to the devil that allows sickness to come upon them. There are reasons why believers suffer sickness, and we saw a key scriptural passage that brings out this truth.   Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. 1 Corinthians 11:27-30 NKJV   We see from this passage that the way we receive communion will affect our health. Not properly discerning the Lord’s body is the reason many are weak and sick, and many die prematurely. We saw that part of discerning the Lord’s body is discerning His spiritual body, the body of Christ.   The way we treat other people has everything to do with whether or not we can receive healing. It is so important to treat others the way we would treat Jesus. If we’re going to live in divine health, we will have to walk in God’s love.   If your faith is going to work and be effective, you will have to put the God kind of love to work. God’s love is the only thing that’s going to win out in the end because it NEVER FAILS. Galatians 5:6 says, For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.   It takes faith to receive God’s healing. Since faith works by love, we also need to let the love of God rule our words and actions. In order to let love rule, we need to know exactly what the love of God is?   Many think love is a feeling. We will certainly have feelings throughout our lives. One of the reasons the divorce rate is so high is because many have thought they lost the feeling of love. If we would live by God’s definition of love, we would never fail in our marriages. And we would also never fail to receive our healing.   Let’s take a look at the description of the God kind of love.   Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily. It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God's love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong]. It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail. Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening]. Love never fails [never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end]. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 AMPC   This is a Major Key to Experiencing Divine Healing Believers need to understand how much ill will and animosity will harm them. It can affect your spiritual growth, can cause your prayers to be hindered, and can make you sick. It can even shorten your life.   Why? Every step out of love is a step into sin. And sin destroys.   If you realize you have gotten away from walking in love, get back to it just as fast as you can. Then you can live under God’s abundant provision and promises and enjoy His great blessings in your life.   Did you know that love is not a suggestion?  It is a commandment. God wouldn’t command us to do something we weren’t able to. He has given us His love to use and we are ABLE to do it.   1 John 4:20-21 says: If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.   I would venture to say that if I asked any of you today, “Do you love God?” that your answer would be overwhelmingly, “YES.” But the more important question is, “Do you love your husband?” or “Do you love your wife?” or “Do you love your children?” or “Do you love your brother or sister in Christ?”   Husbands, when was the last time you woke up early on your day off and made breakfast for your wife and children? When was the last time you asked your wife if there was something you could do to help her, instead of taking off and doing what YOU wanted to do with your time off work?   Wives, when was the last time you did something nice for your husband or children without complaining and letting them know it was a sacrifice? Husbands and wives, when was the last time you said, “I love you” to one another in a kind and tender way?   Love is an attitude and an action, not a feeling. Just like faith is expressed through actions, love must be expressed through actions. Just as faith is expressed by your words, LOVE is expressed by words.   We express our love by saying, “I love you” and by acting lovely toward others. The more you say “I love you” and other endearing words to one another, and the more you practice actions of love, the more you will develop that love and the easier it will become.   Every Christian must decide for himself what he would like more:             -    Health or sickness?              -    Joy or sorrow?             -    Provision or poverty?   If you want to receive healing, live in divine health and fulfill the number of your days, you will have to choose to walk in love. Today is a great day to forgive anyone who has offended you and receive your healing! If you're in the Aurora/Naperville area and are looking for a church that teaches the uncompromising Word of God, we invite you to visit Abundant Life Family Church . As a Word and Spirit church, we are committed to helping believers grow in faith, experience the power of God, and walk in His promises. Our services are filled with dynamic worship, Bible-based teaching, and an atmosphere where the Holy Spirit moves. Whether you’re searching for a church home or seeking a deeper relationship with God, we welcome you to join us and be part of a thriving community of faith!

Although Christians are redeemed from the curse of sickness and disease, they can still open a door to the devil that allows sickness to come upon them. There are reasons why believers suffer sickness, and we see a key scriptural passage that brings out this truth.   Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. 1 Corinthians 11:27-30 NKJV   The way we receive communion will affect our health. Not properly discerning the Lord’s body is the reason many are weak and sick, and many die prematurely. There are two applications of discerning the Lord’s body that are important to know: Discerning Jesus’ physical body. Discerning Jesus’ spiritual body.   We are taught that before we receive communion, we are supposed to examine ourselves. If I was suffering with sickness and disease that was stubbornly hanging on, the first place I would examine is my love walk . How am I treating other people?  We have to realize that what we do has an effect on those around us, positive or negative.   “…from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies,  according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.” Ephesians 4:16 NKJV   When we become a member of the body of Christ, and particularly of a local church, the Bible says we become joined and knit together. What we are joined to will be affected by what we do. We should always be asking ourselves, “How is this action I’m about to take going to affect those around me?” If it will cause injury, then we shouldn’t do it.   Speed Up Your Healing by Changing How You Treat Others One of the greatest areas to guard is our mouth. How is what I am about to say going to affect the other person? Is what I’m about to say going to bring edification or destruction?   Sometimes we get to talking about something another person has said or done, and they could have already repented of it. If the Lord has forgiven them, He has forgotten it. If we bring it up again, we violate the law of love.   Did you know that walking in love is a ROYAL LAW? If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself," you do well; James 2:8 NKJV   Loving your neighbor as yourself is the Royal Law of love. Would you want someone to talk about you the way you are talking about them? Would you want someone to treat you the way you are treating them?   Let’s take this a step further: Would you say it or do it to Jesus?   If we are His body, then when we mistreat a member of the body, we are mistreating Jesus. Jesus made this clear when speaking to Saul of Tarsus:   Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?" And he said, "Who are You, Lord?" Then the Lord said, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. Acts 9:4-5 NKJV   Saul was arresting and killing Christians. But Jesus said Saul was persecuting Him. So we can see that how we treat the body is part of discerning the Lord’s body. If I love my fellow church members, I will be careful to share the load in serving at church so that another is not overburdened. If I love my fellow church members, I will be careful about what I say about them. If I love my fellow church members, I will be mindful about my giving so that the whole church can accomplish its mission. We must discern that we are not an island, and selfishness has no place in the church of the Lord Jesus Christ.   One of the reasons we see more sickness in the church today than in the past is that more people are slandering and hurting others than in the past. They have been influenced by the spirit of the world.   Bitterness and unforgiveness have a high price tag. We must ask ourselves if we can afford to have strife, bitterness, and unforgiveness in our lives? The answer is, “Not if we want to live healed!”   One of Jesus’ greatest teachings on faith and prayer reveals the importance of forgiveness.    Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. "And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses." Mark 11:24-26 NKJV   You cannot receive answered prayer if you have unforgiveness toward anybody for any reason! Answered prayer includes healing of sickness and disease.   Jesus also taught us to pray, “Forgive us our trespasses, as  we forgive those who trespass against us. If we are quick to forgive others when they mistreat us, we will be quick to receive healing. Let’s practice the law of love, and live the healed life that Jesus paid for us to have! If you're in the Aurora/Naperville area and are looking for a church that teaches the uncompromising Word of God, we invite you to visit Abundant Life Family Church . As a Word and Spirit church, we are committed to helping believers grow in faith, experience the power of God, and walk in His promises. Our services are filled with dynamic worship, Bible-based teaching, and an atmosphere where the Holy Spirit moves. Whether you’re searching for a church home or seeking a deeper relationship with God, we welcome you to join us and be part of a thriving community of faith!