Paul said this in 1 Corinthians 13:13: And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.   When Paul wrote this, he 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.   The difference between hope and faith is that hope looks to the future, but faith is always in the present. Faith says, “I’ll receive the answer right now. I have it NOW.” Hoping is not what receives from God. Believing receives from God.   I’ve had many conversations over the years 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.” They will be waiting for a long time because there is no faith in those statements.   Looking to the future is hope. It is human nature to relegate good things to the future. 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!   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.   One modern translation of Hebrews 11:1 says this:      Faith is giving substance… to things hoped for.   You may initially just hope for healing, but faith gives the assurance that you ARE healed already by the stripes of Jesus. For 1 Peter 2:24 says, “[ By] whose stripes ye were healed.” In other words, faith says the same thing the Word of God says!   Another important point is that nowhere in the Bible does it say that when we pray, we will receive what we HOPE for. Mark 11:24 says,   “Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe  that you receive them, and you will have them.” This tells us we receive what we believe, not what we hope for.   Let’s look at the definition of faith again in the New King James translation. Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” 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 are believing that God is going to do something for them, but faith believes that He has done, and is doing something.   I heard the story of a woman who was in her 70’s and was 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?” He responded, “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 believing 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. Change your hoping into believing, and you can receive your healing 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!

Many have said, “If only I see a miracle, I will believe God can heal me!” This is actually not scriptural. The world operates by the slogan, “Seeing is Believing.” However, according to the Word of God, it’s just the opposite. The Bible teaches that “Believing is Seeing.”   You can actually see a miracle, and still choose not to believe. It happens all the time. The religious leaders of Jesus’ day saw great signs and wonders and still refused to believe. According to the Bible, faith does not come by seeing a miracle. Romans 10:17 tells us, “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” When words of faith are spoken, faith always comes. However, after faith comes, each person must still choose whether or not they will believe.   Believing is actually a choice. We see examples of this repeatedly in the gospels.   Let’s look at one place in particular: Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?” Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me.” Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!”  And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with grave clothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Loose him, and let him go.” Then many of the Jews who had come to Mary, and had seen the things Jesus did, believed in Him . But some of them went away to the Pharisees and told them the things Jesus did. Then the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered a council and said, "What shall we do? For this Man works many signs. John 11:40-48 NKJV   This was perhaps one of the greatest miracles recorded in Jesus’ ministry. After Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, this passage tells us that many Jews believed. They heard Jesus speak words, and they witnessed a miracle. But there were also those who heard and saw, yet went away to the Pharisees to have Jesus judged. Even after one was raised from the dead, they refused to believe. I can’t even imagine witnessing such a tremendous miracle, and still being indifferent toward it.   Do you remember the story of another man named Lazarus and the rich man? Luke chapter sixteen records this account. Both the rich man and Lazarus died. The rich man was in hell, and Lazarus was in Abraham’s bosom. The rich man begged Abraham to let Lazarus dip his finger in the water and cool his tongue to bring a small amount of relief. Abraham responded by saying there was no way to pass from where they were to where he was.   Then the rich man went on to say in verse 27 of Luke 16: “Then he said, ‘I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father's house, for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.’ Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’ And he said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ But he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.’”   Jesus made it clear that even a great miracle like being raised from the dead would not convince everyone. We could call this hardness of heart, or refusing to believe! In contrast, the woman with the issue of blood believed what she heard before ever seeing a miracle.   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 5:27-29 NKJV   Some of you may be thinking, “I really want to believe. I just need more faith!” You are not the first ones to think or make such a statement.   In Luke 17:5-6, it says: And the apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.” So the Lord said, “If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.”   A lot of people think that all they need is more faith. But the real issue is that they need to start using the faith they already have! Once a person hears what the Word of God says about healing, faith comes. Then a choice must be made to use the faith that has come.   How is this done? BY SAYING!! We release our faith by saying what God says! A mustard seed is the one of the smallest of all seeds. Jesus is saying that even if you have a very small amount of faith, you would say something. This is what the woman with the issue of blood did.   There are several places in the Gospels where it tells us that many of the Jews believed, but would not confess Jesus openly for fear. Their lack of open confession, or saying something, became their demise. Faith always has to be in two places in order to produce results, the heart and the mouth. (Romans 10:9-10) We choose to believe by saying what the Word of God says.   One great place to start saying what God says is 1 Peter 2:24: by whose stripes you were healed.   Like the woman with the issue of blood, if you will make the decision today to consistently say what God says, choose to believe, and refuse to doubt, you will see your miracle too! 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!

There is something far more powerful than any disease, pain, or trial, and that is the name of Jesus! The name of Jesus belongs to every Christian, and if you’re a believer, you have a right to use that name! However, you must understand the power and the authority that are in Jesus’ name, and learn to exercise that authority.   Jesus said: “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.” (John 14:12-14 NKJV)   This particular translation leads most people to believe this passage is talking about prayer. However, according to Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance, the meaning of the Greek word “ask” implies a demand of something due.   What Jesus really told His disciples was, “Whatever you demand in My name, I will do it!” He was talking about using His name as a basis for authority. We see from reading the book of Acts that the early church used the name of Jesus to heal and restore people.   Here is an example in Acts 3:2-8: “And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple; who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms. And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, “Look at us.” So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk .” And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them — walking, leaping, and praising God.”   Peter did not demand anything from God. God is not the One who made that man crippled – Satan did. Peter used the name of Jesus to set the crippled man free from the bondage of Satan. Notice that he did not pray and ask God to heal the man. He demanded that the man arise and walk in the name of Jesus!   Later in Acts 3:16, Peter said: “And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.”   You see, it is the name of Jesus that guarantees the answer.   Paul said this about the name of Jesus: “Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”  (Philippians 2:9-11 NKJV)   Some translations use the word “beings” instead of “those”. It is translated this way: “Beings in heaven, and of beings on the earth, and of beings under the earth.” That would include angels and demons!   Angels and demons are subject to the name of Jesus! They must surrender to that Name because it is superior to every name that can be named.   Now as I said at the start, the Name of Jesus belongs to every Christian. However, that Name often doesn’t mean as much to believers as it should because their thinking has been wrong. We’ve got to have faith in the Name of Jesus before that Name will produce results for us. When our faith in the Name of Jesus increases, then the results will increase.   Some Christians think of the Name of Jesus in the same way they think of a good luck charm. They have about as much faith in it as they do a rabbit’s foot. They think, “Maybe it will work, or I hope something good will come out of it.” But as long as they’re just trying to use the Name of Jesus, nothing will likely happen.   The purpose of today’s blog is to build faith in you that the Name of Jesus will work for you! The name of Jesus is to be used for demanding that situations change, or for dominating things pertaining to your own life. When sickness or disease try to attack you, you can command them to leave your body. Instead of accepting sickness or talking about it, say, “In the Name of Jesus, leave my body!” And it MUST go!   My spiritual father had the testimony of living for 70 years without ever having had a headache! He said he passed up some marvelous opportunities to have headaches. Every time the symptoms would come, he would command them to leave in the Name of Jesus! In the same way, we are to dominate circumstances instead of being dominated by them.   The best way to get results from using the Name of Jesus is to first spend quality time meditating upon scriptures that tell us who we are in Christ, and what authority we have as believers.   Meditate upon scriptures about the Name of Jesus, like Mark 16:17-18: “And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”   God still wants to do signs and wonders through the Name of Jesus. Develop your faith in that Name. Speak that Name over negative circumstances, and you will find that it is more powerful than any trial you may face.. 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’s will is that everyone, everywhere, be healed every time! Just like He doesn’t want anyone to perish spiritually, He does not want anyone to live with sickness, disease, or pain. However, we all know people who have suffered from sickness and disease that did not receive their healing.   As a result, many doctrines and explanations have been formulated in an attempt to explain why some are not healed. Unfortunately, too many of them are not founded in the scriptures. Do yourself a favor, and do not just accept a teaching or doctrine without having substantial scriptural evidence that it is true.   For example, many years ago a woman was telling me why she didn’t think her prayer was answered. She said to me, “You know that God answers with yes, no, or wait.” The problem with that statement is that you can’t find a scripture for it anywhere in the Bible. And yet multiplied thousands of believers have been told this and simply believe it without any Biblical basis.   Because we receive comments and questions on why some are not healed, I would like to address some of the most common misunderstandings. We are going to look at four common roadblocks to divine healing.   1.     My healing may not be God’s will.   When some people pray for healing, they pray, “If it be Thy will.” This prayer is unnecessary, because God has plainly told us in His Word that it is His will to heal us. A sinner would never pray, “Lord save me, if it be Thy will.” We know that is ridiculous because the scriptures make it clear that it is God’s will.   2 Peter 3:9 says: “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”   The Bible also tells us that Jesus already paid the price for our healing.   When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: "He Himself took our infirmities And bore our sicknesses." (Matthew 8:16-17) You and I are included in that word “our”. This verse cannot apply to the past, because it was written after Jesus rose from the dead, and it says “our”, not “their” infirmities. This verse cannot apply to the future because there will be no need for healing in the Millennium.   Some have asked, “Didn’t Jesus teach us to pray, Father, Thy will be done?” This is a half-truth. Let’s look at the full reference.   In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. (Matthew 6:9-10)   There is no sickness in heaven, so it is not God’s will that there be sickness on earth. I challenge people who don’t believe Jesus will heal everyone to search the gospels thoroughly. There is not one place where He told someone, “I’m sorry, it’s not My will to heal you today.”   2.     Paul had a thorn in the flesh.   Let’s look closely at this passage.   And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore, most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.  (2 Corinthians 12:7-9)   There is a widely held belief that Paul had sickness that God refused to heal. This has led many to believe that it must be God’s will for some to stay sick. But this passage does not say that the thorn in the flesh was sickness. This passage makes it very clear what the thorn in the flesh was.   It was a messenger of Satan to buffet him. In other words, it was persecution that arose against him everywhere he went to try to stop him! It’s true that God allowed it, but He did not send it.   Satan tried to stop Paul because he preached revelation that transformed people’s lives. And if we ever get to preaching and delivering people everywhere we go, we will experience a lot of persecution as well. Thank God, His grace gives us power to rise above the buffetings of Satan.   3.     I’m suffering for the glory of God.   People who support this belief usually point to John chapter nine, when Jesus passed by a man who had been born blind. The disciples asked him who had sinned and caused this blindness.   Jesus answered, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him.”  (John 9:3)   Some people have reasoned that this man was born blind so that God could get glory from it. But the works of God that Jesus was referring to was healing, not the man’s blindness, or any possible good that could come out of it.   Jesus said in verse four of John chapter nine: “I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work.”   And then Jesus healed the man!   God is glorified through healing and deliverance, not through sickness.   4.     Sickness is God’s chastening.   Hebrews 12:6 says: “For whom the Lord loves He chastens,”   It does not say, “Whom the Lord loves He makes sick.” It is always a mistake to take a small portion of scripture and try to prove something doctrinally. There is no mention of sickness in this text. And there is no implication of sickness or disease in the word “chasten” in the original Greek.   W.E. Vine states that “chasten” literally means to child train, educate, or teach. Any normal parent would not choose disease to teach their children, and God is no different. We are capable of learning any lessons God has for us through His Word. He does not need to teach us through sickness.   These are just a few roadblocks that have kept people from receiving their healing. I hope you received some answers today that refute false teaching about God’s will for healing. And I pray that you would now release your faith to receive the healing that Jesus has already provided for you. 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!

Throughout history, people have been seeking the “fountain of youth” or an unconventional method for curing their ailments. I can’t blame people for searching and trying various methods to get well. People do not want to live with sickness or pain.   I have heard of countless methods that people swear by to attain better health. Some swear by green algae, some by royal bee’s honey, and others by some special vitamin brand. Some people have put themselves through strenuous regiments to attain better health. And many have been disappointed by the outcome of these remedies.   However, there is one cure for every sickness of the body or mind that is guaranteed to work every time. It is the most expensive cure ever known, but its price was paid by another. 1 Peter 1:18-19 says, “It was not purchased with corruptible things such as silver and gold, but it was purchased with the precious blood of Jesus.”   This remedy will not cost you any money. But it will cost you FAITH. This remedy is called The Praise Cure! This phrase was coined by a medical doctor who later devoted her life to the ministry of divine healing. Her name was Lilian B. Yeomans. She shared testimonies of remarkable healings as the result of simply praising God for extended periods of time. She said, “You can sing and shout yourself into and through things that you can’t get into or through any other way.”   For example, there was a missionary named Carrie Judd Montgomery who nursed another missionary who had smallpox. She had not been vaccinated and stood on God’s promise that no plague would come near her dwelling. Then a very bad case of smallpox came on her.   She didn’t know what to do, so she asked the Lord what to do. He told her to sing and praise Him for His faithfulness to His word. So, she sang and sang and praised and praised. The doctor tried to keep her quiet, thinking she was delirious, but she kept singing and praising.   He finally asked her why she praised so much? She answered, “Because I have so many pox on me. God shows me I must praise Him for each one separately.” The Lord had shown her 2 baskets, one containing her praising which was half full, and the other with the test, which was full.   He told her that the praise basket must be filled so that it outbalances the other, so she kept at it. Eventually, the Lord showed her the praise basket was full and overflowing, outweighing the test basket. And seemingly in a moment, every symptom vanished, leaving no trace of a single scar.   In another instance, a man approached Dr. Yeomans requesting prayer for his wife who had an outbreak of smallpox. They immediately applied the praise cure, and his wife was healed without a single trace of smallpox.   Praising God not only heals bodies, but it also removes anxiety and depression. When we make the decision to praise God, the Holy Spirit comes upon us in a powerful way.   Isa 61:3 tells us: To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified."   You may not initially feel like praising God when you don’t feel well, and your mind may tell you it’s foolish and will not help. However, if you will push past your feelings and what you see in the natural and praise God long enough, you will be delivered from anything the devil brings against you.   Praising God when your circumstances are negative is an act of faith. Praise creates an environment for God’s manifested presence to come. Psalm 22:3 says that God inhabits the praises of His people. When we praise and worship the Lord with our whole heart, He begins to manifest His glory. Then when the anointing comes, it destroys the yoke of sickness or mental affliction.   Paul and Silas experienced this power in a deplorable prison. Rather than sinking into despair about their circumstances, they chose to pray and sing praises to God. When their praises went up, God’s tangible glory came down, completely delivering them from their bondage.   Acts 16:26 tells us, “ And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed.”   I have used the praise cure repeatedly throughout my life, and it has worked every time. It is impossible to think about the problem and to praise God at the same time! As we praise God, we put our focus on Him and His goodness. We put our focus on the Healer, not on our symptoms. Praise causes our faith to take hold of what already belongs to us.   Ps 34:1 tells us how often we should praise God: “I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.”   If you have been struggling with symptoms of sickness in your mind or body, I challenge you today to take the Praise Cure. As His praise continually fills your mouth, you will find that all your symptoms will disappear. 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!

Many have written us and said, “I prayed and used my faith for my loved one to live, and they died.” First of all, I understand how terribly sad and disheartening this can be. I, too, have had this experience with loved ones.   Our spirits in us know that it is not the perfect will of God when someone dies from disease, and it grieves us when it happens. However, there is a good and scriptural explanation for why we are not always able to rescue our loved ones from tragedy, disease, or premature death.   I want to share three potential causes why we can’t always help our loved ones recover.   1.     No person can override the will of another person.   No matter how much you want your loved one to recover and live, you still cannot override what they actually want. God has a will for all of us, but not even His will can override another person’s will.   For example, 2 Peter 3:9 tells us: The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.   We all know that even though God doesn’t want anyone to perish spiritually, many have not willed to accept the free gift of salvation. God has given every person the gift of a free will. We may really want someone we know to receive salvation, but we cannot make them receive Jesus against their will. This works the same way in any arena. If we cannot force someone to receive salvation, we certainly cannot force someone to receive healing.   Even Jesus had a free will. He struggled greatly with the temptation to not go to the cross or hell for us. Thank God, in the end, Jesus submitted His will to the will of the Father.   Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. (Luke 22:42 KJV)   You may be thinking, “I understand all of this, but I personally heard my loved one confess that they believed they were healed and that they wanted to recover and live.” This leads us to the second potential cause for a loved one not recovering and dying prematurely.   2.     People often have weak faith.   Weak faith doesn’t make someone a bad person. The Bible teaches that there are different measures of faith people have. There is weak faith, strong faith, ever increasing faith, and little faith, according to the scriptures.   A person could be diagnosed with a terminal illness that doesn’t give them much time to live. They may desire to be healed and live. But if they start out in a state of weak or little faith, they may not have enough time to develop their faith to the level needed to receive healing. If the battle is difficult, they will likely faint if they are not strong spiritually.   Proverbs 24:10 says, If you faint in the day of adversity, Your strength is small.   Our spirits must be strong to surrender to the will of God instead of the will of the flesh. Jesus rebuked Peter, James and John for falling asleep during prayer. During His greatest hour of need, they could not stand with Him for one hour.   Here is the reason why they were unable to stand: Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. (Matthew 26:41 KJV)   People are often willing to be healed, but if they suffer long enough, and they don’t spend enough time in prayer and study of the Word, their flesh will talk them into going to Heaven instead of fighting the good fight of faith. And there is absolutely no condemnation here, for to depart and be with Jesus is far better.   Many have asked, “Shouldn’t my faith have made up the difference?” The prayer of faith in Mark 11:24 is meant to work for you personally. We can add our agreement to that of our loved one, but we cannot ultimately do the work of believing for them.   3.     Your loved one may not have wanted to disappoint you.   Many have been convinced that their loved one was in faith, but they still died anyway. This type of thinking will only lead to being angry at God. Always remember that God is never the problem. If someone fails to receive, they missed it somewhere on their end because God does not miss it.   When your loved one knows that you are standing and praying for them, they will often not let you know when they give up. Many years ago, I was believing intently for someone I loved very dearly. They were dying of cancer.   After months of visiting almost daily, praying, and going over healing scriptures with them, they said to me, “I don’t want to live anymore.” I was devastated. They died shortly after that. Looking back, I could see that I wanted them to live more than they wanted to live. This will not get the job done.   They never spent any time in the Word of God and prayer when I was not with them. Instead, they watched secular television. But they did not want to disappoint me, so they kept quiet about it until the very end.   Here is a final thing that’s important for us to know: I have attempted to give you a few causes for why a loved one you were standing in faith for died. We all seek to understand these things to help us better navigate our own life, and help the ones we love. However, we also learn an important truth from Deuteronomy chapter 29.   "The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.  (Deut. 29:29 NKJV)   This verse tells us that some things are simply none of our business. If the Lord wants us to know why someone died prematurely, He can let us know. But many times, it is between the Lord and that individual, and we have to be alright with not knowing.   Just because someone fails to receive doesn’t mean that God’s Word doesn’t always work, or that you never know what God will do. False doctrine has been created over the years to justify people when they fail to receive. It is always best to choose God’s Word over personal experiences.   For our own personal lives, if we will diligently seek the Lord, He will reveal the way out of every sickness and disease. So take courage today. God is still good, He loves you, and He wants you well! 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!

Sickness and disease are works of the devil and you don’t have to put up with the works of the devil another day of your life!   Jesus contrasted the works of the devil with His works. He said: 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)   Disease does not fit the description of the abundant life Jesus gives. Disease steals, kills, and destroys. The following short journey to the garden of Eden gives us a description of abundant life.   In the beginning, God created Adam and Eve and placed them in a beautiful garden, a paradise. They enjoyed daily fellowship with God, and a life that was sorrow free. There was no sickness or disease, no pain, no mental anguish, and no lack of any kind. This was the perfect will of God for mankind.   One day Adam and Eve rebelled against the command of God and ate from the forbidden tree. Once they did, sin entered our world. Sin brought spiritual death, and then sickness and disease came on the wings of spiritual death.   When Jesus came to earth, He came to take care of the sin problem.   Once the sin problem was resolved, the sickness problem was resolved. We could say that He came to restore us to the abundant life that Adam and Eve once enjoyed.   1 John 3:8 tells us: For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.   The following three accounts in the Bible clearly contrast the works of the devil and the works of Jesus.   1.     THE WOMAN WHO WAS BENT OVER. Now He was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. And behold, there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bent over and could in no way raise herself up. But when Jesus saw her, He called her to Him and said to her, "Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity." And He laid His hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God. But the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath; and he said to the crowd, "There are   six days on which men ought to work; therefore, come and be healed on them, and not on the Sabbath day." The Lord then answered him and said, "Hypocrite! Does not each one of you on the Sabbath loose his ox or donkey from the stall, and lead it away to water it? So ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound  — think of it — for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath?" (Luke 13:10-16 NKJV)   Notice that Satan had bound this woman, but the Lord set her free! Jesus destroyed the works of the devil in her life.   2.    THE BOY WITH EPILEPSY. Then one of the crowd answered and said, "Teacher, I brought You my son, who has a mute spirit. And wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid. So I spoke to Your disciples, that they should cast it out, but they could not." He answered him and said, "O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him to Me." Then they brought him to Him. And when he saw Him, immediately the spirit convulsed him, and he fell on the ground and wallowed, foaming at the mouth.  (Mark 9:17-20 NKJV)    When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, "Deaf and dumb spirit, I command you, come out of him and enter him no more!" (Mark 9:25 NKJV)   A demon spirit had bound this boy, but the Lord set him free! Jesus destroyed the works of the devil in his life!   3.    JOB'S BOILS. So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord, and struck Job with painful boils from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head. (Job 2:7 NKJV)   Satan put these painful boils on Job. But the Lord restored him completely, thereby destroying the works of the devil.   And the Lord restored Job's losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before. Now the Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning (Job 42:10, 12 NKJV)   Job has been the subject of much controversy in different sects of the church. Many have used Job to validate false teaching that God makes people sick simply because the Lord allowed Satan to put the boils on Job. But we have the answer to why Satan was allowed to do this.   For the thing I greatly feared has come upon me, And what I dreaded has happened to me.  (Job 3:25 NKJV)   Fear is always an open door to the devil. Fear is a spirit from Satan, not from God, and it is the opposite of faith. Fear receives the works of the devil, but faith receives the works of God.   For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.  (2 Tim 1:7 NKJV)   When we understand that Jesus destroyed all the works of the devil, we really have nothing left to fear.   Now I’m aware that many believers have lives that do not reflect this abundant life. That’s because although Jesus legally destroyed the works of the devil, we still have to enforce his defeat on a daily basis. Satan roams about as a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. So we are instructed to resist him.   Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. (James 4:7 NKJV)   Satan is a renegade that tries to illegally put bad things on believers. However, when we know the truth that Jesus destroyed his works, we can boldly stand up and resist him. We must tell the devil, “No you don’t! You can’t put sickness and disease on me, in Jesus’ name!”   One of the reasons we’ve been given the armor of God is to stand firm against the devil’s works.   Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. (Ephesians 6:10-11 NKJV)   Many have said, “I’ve done all I know to do and I’m still no better.”   Ephesians 6:13 from the Amplified Classic instructs us: Therefore put on God's complete armor, that you may be able to resist and stand your ground on the evil day [of danger], and, having done all [the crisis demands], to stand [firmly in your place].   Once we have taken our stand of faith, we must stay in resistance mode until the disease leaves our bodies. Continually confess that Jesus has destroyed the works of the devil in your life, and never give up!   You don’t have to put up with sickness and disease anymore! 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!

Most of you are aware that the medical system in America is represented by a symbol of a serpent on a pole. Why would an entire medical empire use a serpent on a pole as a logo?   The answer is the original founders of the United States of America were God-fearing, Jesus-believing Christians. They understood that although there was a place for medical science, without the help of God, there would be no healing. The story of the serpent on the pole is actually taken from the Bible. We are going to look into this story today and learn some important truths that will help us receive our healing.   Then they journeyed from Mount Hor by the Way of the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom; and the soul of the people became very discouraged on the way. And the people spoke against God and against Moses: “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and our soul loathes this worthless bread.” So the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and many of the people of Israel died. Numbers 21:4-6 NKJV   Every one of us has to guard against discouragement on our journey of serving the Lord. If we allow ourselves to stay discontented, it will ultimately lead to complaining. The Lord is never pleased with complaining. Complaining is doubt and unbelief. Faith is what pleases God. If we really believed what the Bible said, we would be full of joy, knowing that our condition was changing. Sometimes symptoms of disease and pain linger, and when they do, we must guard our attitude even more. The result of the Israelites complaining was that fiery serpents began to bite the people, and many died.   Something worth noting is that Isaac Leeser’s translation says, “The Lord let loose fiery serpents.” There’s a big difference between “sending” and “letting loose.”   The Israelites were in a wilderness full of snakes. The miracle was not that the snakes started biting them, but that three million people were living there not having been bitten until then. God had supernaturally protected them until their doubt and unbelief opened this door to the devil to attack them.   Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, “We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord and against you; pray to the Lord that He take away the serpents from us.” So Moses prayed for the people. Then the Lord said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a pole; and it shall be that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, shall live.” So Moses made a bronze serpent, and put it on a pole; and so it was, if a serpent had bitten anyone, when he looked at the bronze serpent, he lived. Numbers 21:7-9 NKJV   You may be wondering how on earth could a person be healed and live by looking at a serpent on a pole? The answer is that the serpent is a type of Jesus, and the brass is a type of sin. Hanging on a pole is a type of Jesus hanging on the cross as our substitute for sin. When the children of Israel looked ahead to what Jesus would do, they were forgiven and healed. God did not turn anyone away. Everyone was given the same opportunity, but it was conditional: 1.     Stop looking at the serpents. 2.     Start looking at the serpent on the pole.   We could say that God offered them life and health for a look! God didn’t tell them to take a quick glance and head for home.   According to the Amplified Classic translation, Numbers 21:9 says: And Moses made a serpent of bronze and put it on a pole, and if a serpent had bitten any man, when he looked to the serpent of bronze [attentively, expectantly, with a steady and absorbing gaze],  he lived.    In the same way, we have been given the answer for sin, sickness, and disease. Our answer is we must keep our eyes on Jesus, and we do that by keeping our attention on His Word.   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.   God’s Word is medicine to all our flesh, but it must be taken according to directions.   Here are those directions: 1.     Stop looking at the symptoms (the serpents). 2.     Start looking at the Word of God (the serpent on the pole) attentively, expectantly, and with a steady and absorbing gaze.   We can see that because this method works, our enemy, Satan, will try to distract our gaze any way he can. He wants to get our attention away from the Word of God so that we fail. He may cause the symptoms to get worse before they get better to distract your attention. He may try to get you angry at someone or into unforgiveness to distract you from receiving.     Where our attention goes is where our faith goes. If our attention is on our symptoms, we will have more faith in our symptoms than in the Word of God. We must keep our gaze upon Jesus—upon His Word—so that His Word penetrates our spirits and produces life and health for us.   Hebrews 12:2 from the Amplified Classic translation says, Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith [giving the first incentive for our belief] and is also its Finisher [bringing it to maturity and perfection].   As we keep our eyes on Jesus, every symptom of sickness will disappear! 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!

The health of your body is strongly connected to the health of your mind! People who need healing often want to dismiss teaching on the mind as unnecessary. However, studies have revealed that approximately 80% of all illnesses can be traced to the health of the mind. So we can see why it’s important to understand what the Bible teaches about the mind of man.   Every person on this planet has experienced feelings of fear, anxiety, and depression. They can also be described as dread, worry, or sadness. For some, these emotions are very temporary. For others, it has become a way of life. Sometimes these emotions go unrecognized. This is not the will of God for His children. God’s plan for each of us is to have a SOUND MIND.   2 Timothy 1:7 says,  For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.   God has given us the gift of a sound mind to effectively fight against fear in all its forms.   The Amplified Classic of 2 Tim 1:7 says this: For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control.   This translation reveals there are four components of a sound mind, which is the topic of today’s blog.   1.     A sound mind is calm. Synonyms for the word “calm” are tranquil, peaceful, quiet, and unruffled. One of the primary definitions of calm is “without hurried movement.”   Jesus is our great example of a person who lived in a state of calmness. There is not one place in the gospels where He is portrayed as being worried, hurried, or in a rush. Even at the news of Lazarus’ death, He didn’t respond with panic or despair. He actually waited two more days to go to Bethany.   If you find yourself always feeling rushed in life, it’s a spirit of fear driving you! Keep in mind that fear is a spirit that can be felt. God does not promise that we will never FEEL anxious or fearful. What He promises is a calm mind in the midst of fearful feelings. Don’t ever let the pressure of fear drive you to rush in life and make faulty decisions.     Isaiah 28:16 says,  He that believeth shall not make haste. He who believes or trusts in the Lord will not rush or become panicky about situations.   2.     A sound mind is well balanced. No one can be well balanced apart from the Word of God. As we take in God’s thoughts by reading, studying, and meditating on Scripture, our minds become more well balanced.   A quality life begins when we acknowledge that God is smarter than we are!   The reason that the angel Lucifer became Satan is he began to think his thoughts were higher than God’s thoughts. And did you know that every time we choose our thoughts over God’s thoughts, we are doing the same thing Lucifer did? If we choose to embrace thoughts that contradict the Word of God, things will not end well for us either.   1 Peter 5:8 AMPC says, Be well balanced (temperate, sober of mind), be vigilant and cautious at all times; for that enemy of yours, the devil, roams around like a lion roaring [in fierce hunger], seeking someone to seize upon and devour.   The more we allow the Word of God to permeate our minds and hearts, the more well balanced we will be, and the more we will enjoy God’s peace.   3.     A sound mind is disciplined. True freedom comes from discipline. Without disciplining the mind, bondage to wrong thinking, speaking, and behavior is inevitable. Discipline seems to have become a dirty word in our day. Many people have cast off restraint and want to be applauded for it.   Discipline can be defined as “the practice of training to obey a code of behavior.” It is developed by instructing, educating, and informing the mind in correct principles and habits. We can actually develop our minds to respond to negative situations with what the Word of God says instead of yielding to fear.   In the first few years after I was set free from panic attacks, feelings of anxiety would frequently try to come back. But by disciplining my mind not to react to fear, I ended up having authority over fear instead.   Without discipline, there is no success in life!   There’s no doubt that discipline requires effort. But the reward of disciplining our thoughts and words is PEACE.   4.     A sound mind is self-controlled. Self-control is one of the nine fruits of the Spirit listed in Galatians chapter five. If you are a child of God, you have the power to exercise self-control. You can stop giving in to feelings of fear, worry, anxiety, and depression.   Galatians 5:24 says,  And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.   Crucify means to put to death, and utterly destroy. Crucifying the flesh does not just include extinguishing desires, which are forbidden longings in the Greek. It includes crucifying passions, which are afflictions or pain of the mind or emotions. According to this verse, we are supposed to crucify wrong thoughts or emotions that try to take control of us.   Anxiety and depression are spiritual influences that seek to gain access. By the power of the Holy Spirit, we can crucify or take charge of wrong thoughts and emotions. The Holy Spirit will never lead us into anxiety or depression. He will always remind us of what God’s Word says. He will prompt us to use our spiritual authority over them.   At the first sign of fear or sadness, do these two things: - Speak to it! Say, “Fear and sadness, I resist you in the name of Jesus! God has not given me a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind. I command you to leave now!” - Worship Jesus. He is the wonderful Healer and Deliverer! As you worship Him, the influence of fear and sadness will leave.   The more we practice standing against wrong thoughts and emotions, the more skillful we will become, and the more peaceful we will be. And the more we walk in God’s peace, the healthier our bodies will be! (This teaching is an excerpt out of Christine Miller's book, UNTROUBLED: Conquering Anxiety, Fear and Depression . We encourage you to get the book, not only if you struggle with anxiety and depression, but also if you’re desiring healing in your body.) Click here to purchase on Amazon:   https://amzn.to/3DDse08 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!

After four decades of working both as a nurse and in the ministry, I’ve discovered that most issues people face have the potential to cause either fear or depression.  Even if you are never clinically diagnosed with anxiety or depression, you will face those emotions at some time in your life. For instance, you may receive a bad diagnosis or suffer the loss of a loved one.   During the hard situations of life, we need to know that we can get on the other side without being fearful or depressed. God’s plan for each of us is to have a sound mind. In fact, a sound mind is our inheritance as a believer!   A sound mind is a peaceful mind. The devil doesn’t want any Christian to live in peace because a sound, peaceful mind is a receiving mind. When you are anxious, worried, or fearful, an invisible barrier blocks you from receiving from God.   Have you ever noticed that when your thoughts are racing, you can’t pay attention to a sermon or to the page you’re reading in a book? If you can’t pay attention, you will not hear with your spiritual ears, faith will not come, and you will not receive your answer.   So how do we combat a state of mind like that? We must remind ourselves that anxiety, fear, and depression are never from God.   2 Timothy 1:7 says, For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.   The Amplified Classic translation says it this way: For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control.   According to this passage, fear is a spirit from Satan. This spirit will cause a person to be timid and cowardly. For example, fear will keep people from pursuing their dreams or from going places or doing things.   During COVID, we saw the spirit of fear in full force. Reasonable people began to fear even leaving their homes because they thought they might get COVID and die. If you just logically think about it, the quality of life became so poor that it wasn’t even worth the isolation.   I personally witnessed many people suffer from the isolation. I even lost two distant family members, not from COVID, but from complications that hospitals refused to treat because of fear of COVID. Fear caused people to behave IRRATIONALLY. Fear always does this! Since fear is from Satan, and we never want anything from Satan, we must resist it immediately.   Let’s continue looking at the rest of that verse and see what God has actually given us.   God has given us a spirit of power. The Greek word for power here is dunamis , which is explosive, supernatural ability, power, and strength. This is where we get our word “dynamite” from. The fact that this word dunamis  is used means we have supernatural ability and strength through the Holy Spirit to overcome any fear or depression that comes against us.   Jesus also told us in Luke 10:19, Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.   Fear is a power of the enemy. We must always remind ourselves that Jesus gave us authority over ALL the power of the enemy, and that includes fear and depression.   God has given us a spirit of love. The word “love” is translated from the Greek word agape , which is an unconditional, sacrificial God kind of love. This kind of love is so powerful that it can NEVER fail, according to 1 Corinthians 13. It’s also important to note that this kind of love casts out fear.   There is no fear in love [dread does not exist], but full-grown (complete, perfect) love turns fear out of doors and expels every trace of terror! For fear brings with it the thought of punishment, and [so] he who is afraid has not reached the full maturity of love [is not yet grown into love’s complete perfection]. 1 John 4:18 AMPC   The deeper we understand the love of God, the less we will fear in life. Fear is an enemy of faith. It comes from not being fully assured that God will deliver us.   God has given us a sound mind. A sound mind is calm, well-balanced, disciplined, and self-controlled. A sound mind is a peaceful mind. There’s only one way to obtain a truly sound mind—from the Word of God.   Until we take on God’s thoughts, our thinking will be squirrely. This means that like a squirrel, our minds will run all over the place in various directions and be confused. We may take pride in how educated we are and how much we think we know about life. But the more we meditate in God’s Word and begin to think like God, the more it will reveal how unsound we actually were.   This is what happened in my life. I lived with anxiety for 30 years and thought I was normal. I didn’t even recognize I was an anxious person until I had an unexpected panic attack one night. But I have spent decades renewing my mind to think right and control my thoughts, and I rarely even feel the presence of anxiety anymore. This is what God wants for all of us!   If Satan tries to bring feelings of fear or sadness to you, always resist him by speaking what the Word says. Say, “Fear or depression, I refuse to have you in my life. I resist you, in Jesus’ Name! God has given me the spirit of power, love, and a sound mind.” Then begin to worship the Lord because He has given you His peace, and He is your Deliverer. Before very long, those feelings of fear or sadness will completely leave! (This teaching is an excerpt out of Christine Miller's book, UNTROUBLED: Conquering Anxiety, Fear and Depression . We encourage you to get the book, not only if you struggle with anxiety and depression, but also if you’re desiring healing in your body.) Click here to purchase on Amazon:   https://amzn.to/3DDse08 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!

Divine healing is always the will of God for every person, everywhere. However, in order to receive it, we must understand something of importance. Healing doesn’t just randomly drop out of the sky.   There is a system of divine order with which we receive from God. If we’re going to receive healing, it is essential to know how this system works. As I was praying one day, these four words came to me repeatedly. I believe these four words are critical for anyone who desires to receive divine healing.   The words I heard were, FAITH FIRST, HEALING SECOND.   You might be wondering, “What exactly does that mean?” FAITH FIRST is the starting point for everything that happens in God’s kingdom. Faith toward God is actually a foundational doctrine of the Church.   Hebrews 6:1 says, Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God.   It’s amazing how few churches teach on the subject of faith, especially considering how important it is to have faith. Hebrews 11:6 tells us, “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.”   When we look at some of the healings in Jesus’ ministry, we see that Jesus made it clear that it was the faith of the individual that caused them to receive healing.   Now when Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, pleading with Him, saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented.” And Jesus said to him, “I will come and heal him.” The centurion answered and said, “Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed. For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, “Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith , not even in Israel!”  Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go your way; and as you have   believed , so let it be done for you.” And his servant was healed that same hour. Matthew 8:5-11, 13 NKJV   We see from this account that the centurion had faith. We also see God’s order: FAITH FIRST, HEALING SECOND! We also see that Jesus marveled at the centurion’s great faith. There are only two things the Bible says Jesus marveled at: faith and unbelief. We want to be sure He is marveling at our faith as well!   Let’s look at another account in Mark chapter two. Four men showed up to one of Jesus’ meetings carrying a paralytic. Because of the crowd, they couldn’t get near Jesus. So, they went up on the roof, made a hole, and lowered the paralytic down before Him.   When Jesus saw their faith , He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.” And some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, “Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” But immediately, when Jesus perceived in His spirit that they reasoned thus within themselves, He said to them, “Why do you reason about these things in your hearts?  Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise, take up your bed and walk’?  But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins” — He said to the paralytic, “I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” Immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went out in the presence of them all, so   that all were amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!” Mark 2:5-12 NKJV   Verse five tells us that Jesus saw their faith. How can faith be seen? Faith is always accompanied by action. James 2:20 tells us that faith without corresponding actions is dead.   Again we see God’s order in this story: FAITH FIRST, HEALING SECOND!   Mark chapter five tells the account of the woman with an issue of blood. In verse 34, Jesus told her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace and be healed of your affliction.”   Many have heard the story of blind Bartimaeus. He heard that Jesus was walking nearby and began to cry out to Him, asking Him to have mercy on him.   So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be brought to Him. And when he had come near, He asked him, saying, “What do you want Me to do for you?” He said, “Lord, that I may receive my sight.” Then Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he received his sight, and followed Him, glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God. Luke 18:40-43 NKJV   Jesus told both of these individuals that their faith made them well. And again we see God’s order: FAITH FIRST, HEALING SECOND!   Since faith is absolutely vital for us to receive our healing, we must know what biblical faith is. The following is my favorite version:   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   Faith perceives as real fact what is not revealed to the senses. That means faith believes before it sees. In every account we looked at, the individual believed first, before he received healing. God’s system of order has not changed. We, too, must believe we receive our healing first, and then we will have it. This is exactly what Jesus taught us in Mark chapter eleven.   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   FAITH FIRST, HEALING SECOND is God’s order and there are no shortcuts. The next time you find yourself waiting to believe until after you feel better, remember this scriptural truth. We receive from God after we show Him we believe His Word! 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 people pray for healing, they tend to look up and expect answers and power to come from the third Heaven, the place where God dwells. However, healing power does not actually come down from Heaven. God’s healing power is found in every believer right now!   In preparing His disciples for His departure from earth, Jesus shared some important truths with them.   “And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.” John 14:16-18 NKJV   The Holy Spirit was not able to live inside of people until after Jesus rose from the dead. But now, if anyone accepts Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior, the Holy Spirit comes to live inside of their re-created spirit.   Under the Old Covenant, the Spirit of God only dwelt in the Holy of Holies of the Tabernacle. Once a year, one man—the High Priest—was able to enter that place and experience His presence. The instructions for entering in were so explicit, that if that High Priest didn’t follow them exactly, he was in danger of dropping dead. This is because he did not have a born-again spirit. He still had a sin nature, and sin does not mix with God’s holiness.   When a person’s spirit is born again, the sin nature completely passes away. The Bible says, “all things have become new.” Therefore, under the New Covenant, the Holy Spirit is able to live inside the spirits of believers.   Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 1 Corinthians 3:16 NKJV   We who believe have become the Holy of Holies for the Spirit of God.   Colossians 1:27 says it like this: To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you , the hope of glory.   Not only can the Holy Spirit live in you if you are born again, but you can also be completely immersed in Him. There is a separate experience subsequent to salvation called the baptism with the Holy Spirit. Jesus thought it was so imperative to have this experience that He commanded His disciples not to preach until they received it.   “Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.” Luke 24:49 NKJV   The word “power” is translated from the Greek word “dunamis,” which means miraculous power! THE HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD IS THE HEALING POWER OF GOD! If we have the Holy Spirit, we have the healing power of God.   And here is what the Holy Spirit in you is capable of:   And if the Spirit of Him Who raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in you, [then] He Who raised up Christ Jesus from the dead will also restore to life your mortal (short-lived, perishable) bodies through His Spirit Who dwells in you. Romans 8:11 AMPC   This is saying that your mortal body—not your spirit—can be restored with the life and vitality of God by the Holy Spirit who lives in you. There is no greater power in all the world than the power of the Holy Spirit. And He lives in you if you are a child of God!   Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. 1 John 4:4 KJV   His power in us is greater than any sickness or pain. His power in us is greater than any problem we face. Now, the big question is, “How do we activate that power?” And the answer is THROUGH FAITH!   Faith believes and speaks. Faith comes by hearing the Word of God. But faith is released by speaking the Word of God.   I routinely confess that the Holy Spirit in me is annihilating every trace of disease and pain in my body! I would suggest you do the same thing. We must stop focusing on our insufficiencies and start meditating on the truth that the Greater One lives in us. He is there to put us over in life!   Not only does the Holy Spirit heal our bodies. He also renews our strength and our youth.   Psalm 103:5 says, Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.   I’ve noticed that people who follow Jesus closely rarely ever look their age! We are preserved by the power of God in us.   Here is another great scripture for meditation: But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31 NKJV   The next time you need healing, don’t look in the distance for it. Healing power is in you and upon you right now. Simply believe it, speak it, and receive it! 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!