God’s Word Brings Life and Healing

He sent His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.

Psalm 107:20

I have received many healing testimonies where precious individuals were healed as they clung to specific promises in God’s Word for them. Some years ago, I preached on 1 John 4:17, which says, “As He is, so are we in this world.” Our Lord Jesus bore our sins and our diseases in His own body on the cross, and He rose from the grave without them. This means that as Jesus is without any disease, so are we in this world.

The following week a lady in my church received a medical report for a mammogram that showed a lump in her breast. Her doctors told her to come back in so they could conduct a biopsy. Her response was to write on the report, “As Jesus is, so am I in this world. Lord Jesus, do You have lumps in Your breast?” And then she prayed, “Lord, as You are free from lumps, so am I in this world.” That’s all. Just a simple prayer.

At her appointment, the doctors checked her and rechecked her, but could not find the lump or offer any explanation for how the lump could have simply disappeared! We don’t need to know how; we just need to know who. It was our Jesus who healed her. Hallelujah!

I have received testimonies from so many people who were encouraged by this lady’s praise report. They stood on this same scripture and kept confessing it over themselves until they received their breakthroughs. I really believe that reading testimonies is God’s way.

This is why the Bible is filled with so many healing testimonies for our benefit. There is no healing too big or too small for the Lord. Testimonies from Peter’s mother-in-law who was healed of fever (Matt. 8:14–15), to the man with the withered hand (Matt. 12:9–13), to the woman who could not stand up straight for eighteen years (Luke 13:11–13) were all recorded for us. There are praise reports of blind eyes healed (John 9:1–7; Mark 8:22–25; Luke 18:35–43; Matt. 9:27–30), deaf ears opened (Mark 7:32–35), and the mute speaking (Matt. 9:32–33). There are testimonies of those who had died being brought back to life (John 11:1–44; Mark 5:35–42).

Healing accounts are also recorded in the Old Testament. Naaman was healed of leprosy (2 Kings 5:1–14). Hezekiah was told he would not recover from a terminal illness, but God healed him and extended his life by fifteen years (2 Kings 20:1–7). And these are just a few of the many testimonies recorded for us in the Word of God.

Beloved, I want you to know that this can be your story and testimony too. What the Lord did for them, He can and will do for you! Jesus’ healing for you rests on the foundation of His unchanging Word. Today let His healing and wholeness be manifested in your life as you anchor your heart in His promises, His perfect work, and His grace.

This devotional is taken from the book The Healing Power of the Holy Communion—A 90-Day Devotional.

Be Faithful With A Little

'He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.'

Luke 19:12-13

The main purpose of this parable is to show that there would be a long period when Jesus would go away before returning to fulfill the prophecy about a physical kingdom on earth.

The nobleman's servants were called to give an account for what they had done with their lord's money that was delivered unto them. The servants were commanded to 'occupy till I come.' These servants represent the followers of Jesus. However, being a follower of Jesus is more than simply not rejecting Him. It is an active commitment to serve Him. One of the ten servants had served himself and not His master. He did nothing with what his lord had given him. This wicked servant was stripped of what he had and it was given to the servant who had used his lord's money wisely.

This illustrates that the Lord expects us to grow. This is made very clear in the parables of the kingdom which Jesus taught. In nearly every parable, growth or increase is expected. This servant who did nothing with what his lord gave him represents a believer who never grows or brings increase to God's kingdom.

What was it that this wicked servant didn't have that caused his master to take back the money he had given him? It wasn't the tangible money that he received. He had kept that laid up in a napkin and still possessed it. What he was missing and what the other servant had that caused the lord to give this pound to him was faithfulness. Those who are faithful with what God has given them will be given more, and those who are wasteful will have what God has given them taken away and given to another. Use wisely what God has given to you. Andrew Womack

Minister God's Love

'And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.'

Luke 19:8

Zacchaeus was rich but Jesus made no demands for him to give away all his goods to the poor as He did with the rich young ruler. Zacchaeus had already repented and money was no longer his god, as was revealed by his actions. It seems that Zacchaeus was going above and beyond the requirement of restitution as stated in Mosaic law by offering to give half of his goods to the poor and to repay fourfold for his theft.

Publicans were hated by their fellow Jews. They were especially despised by the religious Jews as the epitome of sinners and Jewish religious laws prevented devout Jews from keeping company with any publican. To eat with a publican was unthinkable as the Jews considered this actually partaking of the publican's sins. This is why the people reacted so adversely to Jesus eating with Zacchaeus.

Jesus did not eat at Zacchaeus' house to participate in his sin but to extend mercy and forgiveness to him. This is always the criterion whereby we can judge whether or not we should be involved in a certain situation. We must not participate in other men's sins, but the Lord doesn't want us to retreat to monasteries either. We are the salt of the earth (Mt. 5:13), and to do any good, we have to get out of the 'salt shaker.' If we can be in control and minister the love of God, then we are right to associate with sinners. But when we are being controlled by the ungodliness of sinners, we need to take control or withdraw. Andrew Womack

Please God Not People

'And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, Thou son of David, have mercy on me.'

Mark 10:48

The devil will always have someone available to tell us why we shouldn't expect to get results when petitioning God. Most people would rather stay with the crowd and not do anything to draw attention to themselves even if that means not getting their needs met. They will try to make you conform as well. If this man would have listened to the crowd, he would not have received his healing. 'Ye have not, because ye ask not' (Jas. 4:2).

This blind man is a good example of an active kind of faith. He was not passive in his approach toward healing. He boldly cried out to Jesus for mercy. When the crowd ridiculed him and told him to be quiet, he cried out even louder for mercy.

Many people believe that God can perform the miracle they need but relatively few are willing to actively pursue it until they get results. They are afraid of what others will think of them. This man had his attention focused only on Jesus. Nothing else mattered and that is why he got healed.

An integral part of faith is seeking God only with your whole heart. If we are concerned about what people think so that we can gain their approval, we will never take a stand in faith for anything that we might be criticized for. This one thing has probably stopped as many people from receiving from God as anything else. You cannot be a 'man-pleaser' and please God at the same time. Satan uses persecutions to steal away God's Word and thereby stop our faith. To see faith work, we must say with Paul, 'let God be true, but every man a liar' (Rom. 3:4). Andrew Womack

Jesus Paid The Price

'For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.'

Mark 10:45

Jesus told His disciples many times of His death but this is the first time He indicated the reason for His death. Now it is clear that His death would be a 'ransom', defined in the Greek as a means of loosing by paying a price.

The words 'ransom' and 'redeem' were used interchangeably in scripture.

Not only would Jesus pay the price for sin but also His death would be substitutionary. In 1 Timothy 2:6, the word 'ransom' is taken from the Greek word 'antilutron' which means 'a redemption-price.' The Greek word 'anti' means 'in place of.' In other words, the ransom avails for all who will accept it (Jn. 3:16; Rom. 10:13).

The price paid for our redemption is the life of Jesus, that is, Jesus' blood (Col. 1:14). This redemption, according to Hebrews 9:12, is eternal and is intended to purify us from all iniquity (Ti. 2:14), and bring us to serve the living God (Heb. 9:14).

This can be illustrated by the way we use trading stamps. First, the stamps have to be purchased, then they are redeemed for the desired product. The purchase is essential but so is the redemption. No one really wants the stamps. They want what the stamps can be redeemed for. The purchase for our total salvation has already been made with the blood of Jesus, but our bodies have not been redeemed yet. That is to say that we have not received yet, all the benefits of this transaction in our physical bodies. This will take place at the second coming of the Lord when we receive our new glorified bodies.

Our spirits are the only part of us that have experienced total redemption. Andrew Womack

What about God’s Wrath?

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”

John 1:29

When I was growing up in the Lord, I used to picture God as an elderly, unsmiling man with white hair, white eyebrows, and a white beard. I used to see Him holding a big club, waiting to bash me on the head as soon as I failed or made a mistake. Of course, when I grew in my understanding of God, I started to see Him without that big menacing club, but He was still not smiling and He was still very old.

I still remember how, as a teenager, I was praying one day when I heard God’s voice saying to me, “Son, why do you picture Me like that, as an old man?” I replied confidently, “Well, You are a Father and that’s how fathers look like, right?” He replied, “Son, do you know that growing old is part of the curse that came upon the earth because of Adam’s sin? In heaven, there is no curse. We are forever young.”

When I heard Him say that, all of a sudden, I began to see God as the same God who spoke with Abraham as a friend under the terebinth trees and showed him the stars, the same God who parted the Red Sea and delivered the children of Israel from slavery, the same God whose hand of favor made a young shepherd boy king over all of Israel. That’s how I see my God today. He is forever young, strong, and loving! He is not wielding a club and ready to punish me. His arms are spread wide, ready to embrace me.

My friend, do you see God as an aged judge or a young-looking, loving Father? Do you see an angry God today, or a God who is smiling and ready to embrace you? Because of Jesus’ finished work, I finally came to see that we are no longer under the covenant of law where God is happy with you sometimes and angry with you at other times. Today, He will never be angry with you, but will always accept, love, and favor you because of Jesus Christ.

Years ago, a very disturbed looking guy came running up to me after I had preached a sermon and said, “Pastor, you talked about God’s love, but the Bible also says that God is wrath!” I explained to him that while God has wrath, the Bible never defines God as wrath. Instead, according to the Bible’s definition, God is love (1 John 4:8). He then exclaimed, “But Pastor Prince, sometimes I see God being angry in the Bible!”

I explained, “When we see God being angry in the Old Testament and in the book of Revelation, His anger is toward those who have rejected Him and Jesus. But for you and me, believers in the new covenant, we will never be punished because we have already received Jesus. As believers, God is not angry with us because all His anger for our sins fell upon Jesus at the cross. Jesus became the Lamb of God who took away all our sins. On the cross, He cried out, ‘My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?’ Why do you think He cried that? He cried that so we would all know specifically that at that point in time, God’s wrath fell upon Him. He became our sin offering and the fire of God’s wrath punished Him completely. He who knew no sin became our sin, so that you and I who are already believers will never experience God’s wrath.”

After I had explained this, this precious brother thanked me. The disturbed look that had creased his face had given way to a smile. I believe that as he walked away, there was a peace and assurance in his heart that God was not angry with him because his sins had already been judged completely on the cross at Calvary. Hallelujah!

It’s time to end the confusion about God’s wrath and to start seeing God for who He really is. God is (present tense) love. Believe Jesus, the Lamb of God, has taken away all your sins and that His grace is shining on you. You are His beloved child, in whom He is well pleased!

This devotional is taken from the book Reign in Life—90 Powerful Inspirations for Extraordinary Breakthroughs.

He Is Willing

When He had come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed Him. And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.

Matthew 8:1–3

If you have entertained doubts about Jesus’ willingness to heal you because of your sins and shortcomings, I want to show you how Jesus healed someone who was disqualified and considered unclean under the Levitical law. Matthew 8 takes place at the Mount of Beatitudes right after Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount, and it opens with the verses above.

One of my favorite places to visit in Israel is the Mount of Beatitudes. A number of years ago, I climbed up to where Jesus could have sat while He preached to the multitudes below, then I walked along a path that I realized led all the way to Capernaum.

I had always imagined Jesus going down the mountain toward the multitude, but I realized that if He had, it wouldn’t say “great multitudes followed Him.” Very likely, He had to be walking down another side of the mountain toward Capernaum for the multitudes to follow Him. Just one verse after Jesus healed the man with leprosy, the Bible tells us He entered Capernaum (Matt. 8:5), so that makes sense to me.

As I walked along that path, I came to a huge pile of rocks on the side and noticed other slabs of stone strewn nearby. All of a sudden, I felt the Lord arrest me, and He began to give me an inner vision. I saw how the man with leprosy could have hidden under those rocks so he could hear Jesus preach without being seen by the multitudes. Had he been seen, being unclean because of his leprosy, people repulsed by his condition might have hurled stones at him to drive him away.

I saw the anguish of the man whose body was covered with leprous sores and raw, exposed flesh, and who had also been forced to isolate himself and be cut off from his loved ones so he would not contaminate or defile them (Lev. 13:45–46). I saw the desperation of the man who threw himself before Jesus, worshiping Him as he said, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” And I saw the beauty and the majesty of our Lord Jesus as He touched the man with leprosy and pronounced, “I am willing; be cleansed.”

In that moment, the Lord didn’t just restore the man’s health, He also restored his humanity.

That Jesus touched a man with leprosy is amazing. Under the law, when the clean touches the unclean, the clean becomes unclean. Our Lord Jesus was showing that under grace, when the clean (Jesus) touches the unclean, the unclean becomes clean! Jesus did not contract defilement by touching the man with leprosy—He banished it. Beloved, He will do the same for you.

This devotional is adapted from the book The Healing Power of the Holy Communion—A 90-Day Devotional.

Confession of Sin

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1 John 1:9

A question I’m often asked about total forgiveness of sins is, What about the confession of sins spoken of in 1 John 1:9? Don’t we have to confess our sins in order to be forgiven and cleansed of all unrighteousness?

I have shared on several occasions about my own past struggle with 1 John 1:9—to the point of obsession with trying to confess every sin and living so sin-conscious that I believed I had lost my salvation. For now, I want to share with you a fresh and powerful revelation that the Lord opened my eyes to at the time of this writing. In my study, He asked me to examine the word “sins” in 1 John 1:9 and to see if it is a noun or verb in the original Greek text. Are you ready for this?

In the two instances where we see the word “sins” in 1 John 1:9, it is the Greek noun hamartia that is used. According to well-known Bible scholar William Vine, hamartia (“a missing of the mark”) indicates “a principle or source of action, or an inward element producing acts . . . a governing principle or power.” In other words, it refers to the sin principle, or our sinful state on account of Adam’s sin. By using the noun form of this word, John was clearly not referring to our committing of individual acts of sin, or he would have used the verb form, hamartano.

In the light of this, can you see how 1 John 1:9 is not talking about confessing our sins every time we sin in thought or in deed? John was speaking of the need to acknowledge and confess to God that we are sinners because of Adam’s sin, as well as to receive the total forgiveness for all our sins through Jesus’ finished work.

How often do we need to do this? Only once. That’s why 1 John 1:9 is primarily a salvation verse, one that encourages the sinner to acknowledge and confess his sinful state or “sinnerhood,” get born again by faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, and have his sinful state through Adam replaced with a new righteous state through Christ.

In the first chapter of 1 John, the apostle John was addressing the heretical Gnostic doctrine that did not subscribe to a belief in man’s sinful state. John was encouraging the Gnostics to confess their sinful state and receive the Lord’s complete forgiveness and total cleansing from all their unrighteousness through His finished work at the cross.

Now, what does John say then, about our committing of sins after we’ve become believers? Just two verses later in the second chapter of 1 John, John answers this question as he begins his address to believers: “My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” (1 John 2:1). This time, the words “sin” and “sins” are the Greek verb hamartano. John is now referring to believers’ committing of sins—their sinful thoughts and deeds. What does John say regarding this? He reminds us that when we fail as believers, we have an Advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ.

Because of our Lord Jesus and what He has accomplished at the cross, we have forgiveness and we still stand righteous before God even when we’ve missed it. As the apostle Paul reminded the Corinthian believers who had failed that they were still the temple of the Holy Spirit, John reminds us of who we are in Christ and Who we have representing us at God’s right hand.

Can you see that the Bible’s answer to overcoming sin is always to remind believers of their righteous identity in Christ? This is not to encourage us to sin but to encourage us to look to our Lord Jesus, to see our sins punished at the cross and to live victoriously and gloriously for Him. Remember, that is what true repentance is all about—turning to the cross and returning to His grace!

When you fail today, know that you can talk to God honestly about your failing, but do it with a revelation of the cross of our Lord Jesus. See your sins punished in His body and receive afresh His forgiveness and unmerited favor to reign over your sins.

This devotional is taken from the book Glorious Grace—100 Daily Readings from Grace Revolution.

Exercise Wisdom and Walk in Protection

For He will order his angels to protect you wherever you go. They will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.

Psalm 91:11–12

When it comes to the Lord’s protection, there are some who read Psalm 91:11–12 and see in these promises an invitation to live recklessly. But this scripture is not encouraging you to throw yourself in harm’s way. It is saying that as you go about the course of your daily life, “in all your ways” the Lord will protect you. The Hebrew word for “ways” in verse 11 shows this clearly—it is the word derek, which means path, road, or journey.

As you go about your daily path, there are times when the enemy may have put snares ahead of you that you are unaware of. But God will give His angels charge over you, to go ahead of you to protect you from those snares. It doesn’t mean that you should go and do something foolish and harmful to yourself to test God’s protection! Even as we trust the Lord for His divine protection, let’s exercise wisdom as well.

You may be familiar with Mark 16:18, which says, “If they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them.” Now, if someone challenges you to drink poison and you willfully drink it to show that it will not hurt you, that’s just being foolish. Psalm 91:11 is talking about the paths you take as part of your normal life. Drinking poison intentionally is certainly not part of your normal life. What Mark 16:18 is saying is that should you drink something harmful without realizing it in the course of your day, the Lord will protect you from being harmed!

I have a missionary friend who told me how someone had tried to poison him while he was in the mission field. In the end, the person became a believer in the Lord Jesus because he saw the missionary innocently drinking the entire glass of poison—and suffering no ill effects. That’s how Mark 16:18 applies!

And I hope you realize that God’s protection does not always have to come in the form of spectacular angelic interventions. I believe that every day, His protection over us is so supernaturally natural that many of us don’t even realize that we have been protected. Perhaps as you were stepping off the curb, you felt something hold or pull you back, and right then, a car sped past you. What do you think held or pulled you back? It may well have been an angel, not necessarily spectacularly, but supernaturally protecting you (Heb. 1:14)!

This devotional is adapted from the book The Prayer of Protection Devotional—Daily Strategies for Living Fearlessly in Dangerous Times.

The Whole Armor of God

. . .above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.

Ephesians 6:16–18

Today I would like to share with you how each piece of the armor of God found in Ephesians 6 is actually a weapon of right believing by which we experience His victory over the devil’s mind games.

Let’s look first at the piece of armor the Bible calls the shield of faith with which to defend yourself and stand strong when the enemy comes against you with thoughts of fear, doubt, and confusion.

In apostle Paul’s time, a shield referred to the huge shield that was used by the Romans, which was as big as a door! See your faith as a mighty shield and picture this—as long as your shield of faith is up, you are untouchable. No matter how many fiery darts the devil may pitch at you, ALL of them shall be quenched. Too many Christians are taking up the shield of doubt and quenching the blessings of God instead. Don’t let that be you—face your future with boldness with the mighty shield of faith.

Another area the devil likes to attack in your mind is the area of your salvation. When you come under attack, apart from the shield of faith, be sure to have on the helmet of salvation. The word “salvation” comes from a beautiful Greek word soteria, which definitely includes eternal life, but is an all-encompassing word that means deliverance (from your enemies, diseases, depression, fears, and all evils), preservation, safety, and salvation. So put on the helmet of salvation by meditating on Jesus, and be filled with God’s wholeness, protection, healing, and soundness. Let His soteria insulate your mind against the enemy’s lies.

Lastly, you have also been equipped with the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. Wield the sword of the Spirit by praying in the Spirit and speaking out God’s “now word” into your situation. Declare His promises and the truth of His grace over yourself and your circumstances to guard your heart against thoughts of hopelessness, despair, and fear.

My friend, the whole armor of God has everything to do with what you believe in Christ. When you believe rightly about His grace and His finished work, every evil strategy the enemy has against you will surely fail. So be strong in the Lord’s love for you. Believe that God is for you and not against you. His truth, His righteousness, His faith, His gospel, His salvation, His Word, and His Spirit are all weapons of right believing to overcome all the devil’s attacks.

This devotional is adapted from the book 100 Days of Right Believing—Daily Readings from The Power of Right Believing.

From Dead Works to a Living Relationship

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.

Hebrews 6:1

Ever kept your eye on the clock while you prayed or read your Bible? Ever felt relieved when the clock showed that you could stop (because you have diligently done your part to merit God’s righteousness) and get on with the rest of your day?

My friend, if you pray because you think that praying makes you right with God, that’s a dead work. But if you pray because you are right with God and you know that He loves you, there is power there. Can you see the difference? It is the same activity—prayer—but the bases and motivations for doing it are completely different. One is a dead work while the other is a living work born of grace.

Similarly, if you study the Bible because you think that doing so makes you right with God, you have missed it. That’s a dead work. There will be no revelation because you are not flowing with the Spirit of truth, who bears witness with your spirit that you are already right with God. But if you study the Bible because you know that you are right with God and that the Bible is a love letter from the One who made you right, treasures from His Word will open up to you.

Look again at today’s scripture. Of all the things that make up the foundation of our faith, the Bible exhorts us to “repent from dead works.” Dead works are the so-called “good works” that people do to try to gain righteousness with God. And whether you live your Christian life in dead works or in faith toward God through a revelation of God’s grace can mean the difference between life and death.

Wilson is someone who can testify to this. Writing to me from Australia, he told me how he was handed one of my books by a woman he did not know. She just walked up to him and said she felt led to give it to him. Imagine how that must have sounded to someone who had been burned by legalistic teachings and was trying to get as far away from God as he could for the last two decades. His curiosity piqued, Wilson opened the book . . . and embarked on a precious journey that has brought healing, wholeness, liberty, and a new, loving relationship with God. Here is Wilson’s story of that journey in his own words:

Pastor Prince, what can I say? Your book changed my life! After running from God for the last twenty years, I finally stopped and turned back to God because of the way this book explains who God really is and what Jesus did for us on the cross. I now know (and am still learning daily) who I am in Christ.

Through your book, I have discovered that Christianity is not a religion like I thought it was and experienced before. Now I know that God is alive, He truly loves me, and is for me. This is the best thing that has happened to me!

Furthermore, I have given up smoking by following the ways you mentioned in your book and on some DVDs—to look to Jesus as my righteousness and declare I am righteous in Him even if that is the last thing I feel at that moment. You showed me that no matter what I have done or do, Jesus still loves me, and it’s because of this that I have been able to give up smoking. I couldn’t give it up through my own efforts before, but through resting in Him—His love, His righteousness—I have. Besides the cigarette addiction, I have also been set free from twenty years of drug and alcohol abuse and am now free of paranoid thoughts too.

I have also just enrolled in an online Bible college because now I’m hungry to know Him. I get your teachings on Facebook every day, which help me a great deal. Thank you for being obedient to God’s call on your life. You have helped make the doors to the church even wider for new Christians and also for those who have walked away.

Do you see what an amazing change knowing and believing right about God (and how He deals with us today) can bring? Listen, my friend, God does not want you in dead works—depending on your own efforts to please Him and qualify for His blessings. God wants you having and operating out of a personal and loving relationship with Him, not out of a sense of religious obligation. Dead works will bring you into bondage because it’s all dependent on your own efforts to please God. It will steal the life and joy right out of your Christian walk, like it did for Wilson many years ago.

Today, realize that God’s Word exhorts us to repent (change our minds) from dead works and believe the gospel. How do you do this? See the cross. See how God loves you so much that He sent Jesus, who came down to where you were to bring you up to where He is—something no amount of your self-effort can ever do.

Like Wilson, see Jesus’ obedience making you righteous (Rom. 5:19), and praise Him for His marvelous grace! Enjoy His wonderful presence today when you come to Him in prayer or read His Word. Let Him fill your heart, mind, and body with His grace, peace, wholeness, and life.

This devotional is taken from the book Reign in Life—90 Powerful Inspirations for Extraordinary Breakthroughs.

Every Condition in Every Part

“Then they shall eat the flesh on that night; roasted in fire, with unleavened bread and with bitter herbs they shall eat it. Do not eat it raw, nor boiled at all with water, but roasted in fire—its head with its legs and its entrails.”

Exodus 12:8–9

If you’re trusting the Lord for your healing breakthrough today, I want to arm your heart with this simple but critical truth: There are no exclusions and conditions to God’s healing power, because there are no exclusions whatsoever in the finished work of Christ. Its coverage is all-encompassing and perfectly comprehensive, and every condition has been covered!

I want to highlight a powerful truth in the verses above. Why did God specifically mention that the lamb should be roasted in fire with its head, legs, and entrails? I believe He wants you to see that Jesus, your Passover Lamb, bore every condition in every part of your body. There is no disease, injury, or sickness He did not carry in His own body on the cross.

The Israelites had lived under the stressful, cruel oppression of their slave masters and the horror of infanticide. Perhaps some of them suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder or had recurrent panic attacks. Perhaps some had chronic pain and physical disabilities from being brutally treated by their slave masters. But whatever condition they might have suffered from, I believe they were healed as they ate the roasted head, legs, and entrails of the lamb.

Whatever affliction you might have in any part of your body, I want you to know every condition has been borne by Jesus on the cross. While God specifically instructed the children of Israel to eat the Passover lamb’s head with its legs and entrails, the whole lamb was roasted. This means no matter what disease you are battling today, Jesus has taken it on Himself.

Today, I encourage you to receive the holy Communion remembering the perfect love of our Lord Jesus and what His finished work of has accomplished for you.

Your part is to keep partaking of the channel of divine health He has given you until you see the manifestation of your victory. Your part is to lift up your hands to Him and say, “Lord Jesus, I receive Your healing. By the stripes that fell on You, every part of my body—every cell, every organ—is healed and functions at peak efficiency. Thank You, Jesus, for Your healing.”

This devotional is adapted from the book The Healing Power of the Holy Communion—A 90-Day Devotional.

Righteousness Is A Gift

'And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:'

Luke 18:9

People who are self-righteous often despise others. No one can compare himself with God's perfect standard and feel good about himself. To trust in ourselves, we have to constantly compare ourselves with others. This breeds a critical attitude towards others that exalts self by debasing others.

No one can ever be righteous in the sight of God through his own righteousness. Our actions benefit us in relationships with people and prevent Satan from having an opportunity against us, but they cannot make us right (righteous) with God. We must trust in God and receive His gift of righteousness completely on the basis of faith in what Christ did for us. This is the truth that this parable is presenting.

Most people are unaware that there are two kinds of righteousness. Only one type of righteousness is acceptable to God. One form of righteousness is our own righteousness. These are the acts of holiness that we do in an attempt to fulfill the commands of the Old Testament law. This is an imperfect righteousness because human nature is imperfect and incapable of fulfilling the law.

God's righteousness is not something that we do, but something that we receive as a gift through faith in Christ. It's not possible to trust in our own righteousness and in God's righteousness. A person who believes that he must earn God's acceptance by his holy actions must not believe in God's righteousness, which is a gift. It has to be one or the other; we cannot mix the two. Righteousness is not what Jesus has done for us plus some minimum standard of holiness that we have to accomplish. God's righteousness is perfect. Accept this gift He offers to you. Andrew Womack

God Answers Prayer

'And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? '

Luke 18:7 

This is not an exact comparison of God to this unjust judge, teaching us that we should badger God until we weary Him and He grants us our request.

Rather, Jesus is contrasting His willingness to answer our prayers with this unjust judge's unwillingness. The parable is a contrast, not a representation.

Not only do we have God who is a just judge who will avenge His elect speedily, but we also have Jesus as our advocate or attorney who is always making intercession for us. However, we have an adversary (the devil) who is constantly accusing us and misrepresenting God (the judge). This causes men to give up (faint) and not even plead their case with God because they doubt that He will answer them anyway.

Jesus is saying that our Father is not an unjust judge that we have to pressure into doing what is right. Many times we put more faith in people and their willingness to do what is right than we do in God. Satan has deceived us about the willingness of God to answer our prayers and Jesus is countering that deception with this parable. Jesus is encouraging us to pray (petition God) and not doubt His willingness to grant our requests. To teach that we must pester God until He gives in to our pressure is not good theology.

This widow's actions were commendable. She knew what was rightfully hers and she refused to take 'no' for an answer. If we can be that confident and determined when dealing with unjust men, how much more should we persist, despite the devil's delays, when dealing with our faithful Father. You can trust Him to always come through for you. Andrew Womack

Like A Thief In The Night

'For as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one part under heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in his day.'

 Luke 17:24

This scripture and the parallel scripture in Matthew 24:27 make it very clear that the second return of Jesus will be no secret to anyone. In Matthew's account, it is especially clear that this statement about the lightning was made so that we wouldn't be deceived by false Christs. Just as lightning is visible to everyone, so the second return of Jesus will be witnessed by the whole world. That's the reason we don't have to be fearful about missing His second coming and anxiously follow every report that Christ has come.

These verses completely destroy the claims of the Bahai religion and others who claim that Jesus has secretly come back the second time.

Just as Jesus had warned His disciples not to be deceived by false Christs because His second coming would be visible to everyone, He also explains that until the very day of His coming, the world will continue on its present course. People will not discern the signs of His coming just as the people during Noah's day didn't realize their impending judgment. This corresponds exactly with Jesus' prophecies about His coming being like the appearance of a thief in the night. Jesus is emphasizing that the unbelievers will not recognize that He is coming until it is too late. He is stressing that His coming will take the world by surprise.

The Lord is pointing out the urgent need to be ready for His return. In the same way that a thief comes when people are the least prepared, so our Lord will return in a time when people are not looking for Him. There will be a condition of apathy in the latter days that will tend to lull even the faithful to sleep if they don't take heed to His words. He urges us to be watchful so we will be prepared. Andrew Womack

Give Thanks Daily

'There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.'

Luke 17:18

Relatively few people who receive the goodness of the Lord return to give Him thanks for what He has done. That does not keep the Lord from doing what is right for us. He healed all ten of these lepers according to their request - not just the one who was thankful. However, there was only one out of the ten that was made 'whole.'

The Lord desires that we prosper in spirit, soul, and body. He wants us to be whole - not just healed. Part of the reason God meets our physical needs is to prove to us His willingness and ability to meet our emotional and spiritual needs. The Lord is concerned about our temporal needs (Mt. 6:30), but He is even more concerned about our eternal needs. All of these lepers needed physical healing and the Lord was moved with compassion and met their need.

He was also desiring to meet their spiritual needs, but only one out of the ten came back for that.

Being unthankful is always a sign that self is exalting itself above God. A selfless person can be content with very little. A self-centered person cannot be satisfied. Thankfulness is a sign of humility and cultivating a life of thankfulness will help keep 'self' in its proper place.

Thankfulness to the Lord for what He is and what He has done is a very important part of the Christian life. One of the many benefits of thanksgiving and praise is that they keep us from being 'self' oriented.

Giving thanks is a totally unselfish action and is a key to relationship with the Father that makes us 'whole' and not just 'healed.' Andrew Womack

The Righteous Remain Evergreen

The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree, he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon… They shall still bear fruit in old age; they shall be fresh and flourishing.

Psalm 92:12, 14

Have you ever wondered if your best days are behind you?

Perhaps you’ve gone through disappointments, losses, or simply the passing of years, and you’ve caught yourself thinking, I don’t have the strength I used to have. Maybe my best years are behind me.

Yet the psalmist paints a very different picture of the righteous. He says, “They shall still bear fruit in old age; they shall be fresh and flourishing.”

I love that little word “still.” It means that even after many years, many battles, and many seasons, the righteous are not drying up. They are not fading away. They are still bearing fruit. They are still fresh. They are still flourishing.

The world expects decline with age. It tells us to lower our expectations, slow down, and accept weakness as inevitable. But our heavenly Father says, “As your days, so shall your strength be.” He doesn’t give us strength in advance for ten years from now. He gives us strength for today. And tomorrow, there will be fresh strength again.

As the righteousness of God in Christ, you have the divine life of Jesus in you that keeps renewing, refreshing, and strengthening you through every season.

So don’t accept the world’s picture of aging, decline, and diminishing strength. Keep seeing yourself the way the Lord sees you—fresh and flourishing, fruitful and full of life. Declare, “I am the righteousness of God in Christ. As my days, so shall my strength be. I will remain fresh and flourishing, bearing fruit even in old age. My best days are not behind me, for the Lord will keep me fruitful and display His goodness in every season of life.”

Beloved, your best days are not behind you. The One who made you righteous delights to see you flourishing, bearing fruit, and displaying His goodness all the days of your life. Joseph Prince

I Will Possess Every Blessing That Is Mine in Christ

The righteous possess the land, and they dwell for ever on it.

Psalm 37:29 YLT

Have you ever stopped praying about something because you no longer expected it to change?

Perhaps it’s a health issue you’ve learned to manage, a family situation that has remained unresolved, or anxious thoughts that keep returning no matter how often you bring them to the Lord. After a while, it’s easy to lower your expectations and simply learn to live with it.

Yet God’s Word says, “The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell in it forever.” The righteous don’t merely inherit the land. They dwell in it. They enjoy it. They possess what has been given to them.

That’s what Joshua learned firsthand. After all the victories he had seen, the Lord still told him, “There remains very much land to be possessed.” God had already given His people the land, yet there were still portions they had not stepped into and enjoyed.

Perhaps there are areas of our lives that are like that. Maybe you’ve stopped expecting peace in your mind, healing in your body, or a breakthrough in a situation you’ve brought to the Lord for years. At some point, it’s easy to conclude, This is probably as good as it gets.

But our Lord Jesus did not pay such a great price for us to simply settle for less. And He is certainly not asking us to fight for what He has already purchased. He simply wants us to keep looking to Him, keep expecting His goodness, and keep walking by faith until we begin enjoying what is already ours.

So if there is an area where you’ve lowered your expectations, bring it before the Lord once again. Declare, “I am the righteousness of God in Christ. I refuse to settle for less than what Jesus died to give me. I will possess every blessing that is mine in Christ.”

Don’t give up ground, beloved. Keep trusting. Keep expecting. Keep speaking in line with His finished work. The One who made you righteous delights to see you enjoying every blessing He has freely given you. Joseph Prince

I Am Forever Accepted in Christ

For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.

Romans 5:19

Have you ever noticed how a moment of failure can affect the way you approach the Lord?

Perhaps you lost your temper, entertained anxious thoughts, or gave in to a habit you’ve been trying to overcome. Suddenly, you don’t feel like praying anymore. You hesitate to ask the Lord for help. You wonder if you’ve somehow disqualified yourself from receiving His blessings.

But beloved, if your right standing with the Lord could disappear every time you stumbled, it was never everlasting righteousness to begin with. Our Lord Jesus did not give you a righteousness that comes and goes depending on how you’ve performed.

The Bible tells us that by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous. Your righteousness today rests entirely on Jesus’ obedience, not your own. What you received by faith was never based on your performance, and your failures cannot undo it.

That doesn’t mean we take sin lightly. But it does mean we don’t judge our standing by our state. Our emotions fluctuate. Our thoughts are not always consistent. Even our behavior may disappoint us at times. But our standing before the Lord remains secure because it rests entirely on Jesus’ finished work at the cross.

Beloved, what you did not earn, you can never lose. Because Jesus has made you righteous forever in Christ, you never have to run from Him when you stumble. You can come boldly to Him today, knowing that you are completely forgiven, fully accepted, and forever His beloved.

So the next time guilt, condemnation, or the memory of a failure tells you that you’ve fallen out of favor with God, remind yourself that your righteousness in Christ is everlasting. The same obedience that made you righteous is what keeps you righteous today. No failure can take away the righteousness Jesus has freely given you. Joseph Prince

The Lord Is My Strength and My Help

“Fear not, for I am with you . . . I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”

Isaiah 41:10

Have you ever reached a point where you simply didn’t know what to do?

Perhaps you’re facing an impossible challenge. You’ve done all you know to do, yet nothing seems to change. The more you think about it, the more overwhelmed you become. Questions fill your mind, yet answers seem nowhere in sight. And deep down, you know you don’t have the strength to carry it all alone.

David knew what that felt like. Returning to Ziklag, he found the city burned to the ground and everyone taken captive. His men wept until they had no more strength to weep, and in their bitterness they spoke of stoning him. David was grieving the loss of his own family, yet six hundred devastated men were looking to him for answers.

In that dark moment, David discovered a precious truth. He strengthened himself in the LORD his God. He turned to the One who had never failed him, sought His direction, and recovered everything that had been lost.

Beloved, perhaps today your body feels weak, and you’re trusting the Lord for healing. Perhaps there seems to be more month than money, there is strife in your home, your challenges with your child are weighing heavily on your heart, or you’ve been fighting a battle for so long that you’re simply tired.

Notice what the Lord says in Isaiah 41. He doesn’t tell you to become stronger, strive harder, or hold on a little longer. He simply says, “Fear not, for I am with you . . . I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you.” And because Jesus has made you righteous, you can receive these words as His promise to you today.

So if you’ve been carrying a burden that seems too heavy to bear, bring it to the Lord today and simply say, “Lord, You are my strength and my help.” The same Lord who strengthened David and restored all that he had lost has not changed. He will faithfully sustain you, help you, and lead you through whatever lies ahead.