Do you know this Jesus?

When I speak, I always begin with the Bible, the Word of God. It is the most up-to-date 'smartphone', because it is the only one where you can actually hear God speaking to you. Sometimes I speak from Matthew 8:23 where Jesus entered into a ship and His disciples followed Him. There was such a great storm that the ship was covered with the waves, but Jesus was asleep. The disciples woke Him saying, 'Save us, we're dying!' Jesus responded, 'Why are you so afraid, O you of little faith?!' Then He rebuked the winds and the sea and there was a great calm. But the men marvelled saying, 'What kind of man is this that the winds and the waves obey Him?!' - Isn't it interesting that even after seeing all the miracles that Jesus performed, they still didn't recognise who He was.

I want to introduce people to the real Jesus. In this Bible story the disciples were with Jesus in the boat. A storm came. I know Galilee and how violent these can be. Even these strong fishermen were afraid! There comes a time when there are storms in all our lives and we are afraid, life is not easy. Now they were sinking and Jesus was fast asleep, in the boat! They called out, 'Don't You care?! Help us! Save us!' - How often do we feel the same way? We are screaming, 'Aren't You interested? How can You love me when You allow all these problems?!' With authority, Jesus spoke to the wind, and the sea became calm! Jesus reveals Himself through the miracles when He is in the boat with us.

Jesus changes lives. Every one of us has to go through storms. I've had cancer twice, but both times I've been healed by a miracle. We all need Jesus in the boat with us when we go through these storms, or else we drown under the crashing waves. But when He is by our side we can walk on stormy seas. The great hymn writer put it so profoundly: 'I've had many tears and sorrows, I've had questions for tomorrow, there's been times I didn't know right from wrong. But in every situation, God gave me blessed consolation that my trials only come to make me strong. Through it all, I've learned to trust in Jesus, I've learned to trust in God. Through it all, I've learned to depend upon His Word… I thank God for the mountains, and I thank Him for the valleys, I thank Him for the storms He brought me through. For if I'd never had a problem, I wouldn't know God could solve them, I'd never know what faith in God could do' (Andrae Crouch, Through it All).

Fight for your healing!

If you are sick, I want to help you pray. But first let me just say, I believe that with God prevention is better than cure, and we should not abuse our bodies, which can cause sickness. Often when people ask for prayer I can recognise, without being a doctor, that their problem is due in part to a wrong lifestyle. If you smoke, you are likely to get lung cancer; if you put on excessive weight, you increase the risk of diabetes and heart problems; these are medical facts. We have a responsibility to take proper care of ourselves. Yes, God can heal you, but I recommend that a healthy diet can often mean prevention, and can promote health and healing.

I want to say clearly: sickness is not part of the cross we must carry. Healing is part of our redemption: 'He was wounded for our transgressions… And with His stripes we are healed.' And nor is sickness God's punishment for our sin or the sins of our ancestors: just as God forgives sin, He wants to heal you. When Jesus healed the blind man the religious leaders asked, "Who sinned, this man or his parents?" Jesus said neither! Healing is for God's glory!

Jesus wants you to live in health. In Luke 5:12-13 a man with an advanced case of leprosy came to Him, fell to the ground and said, "Lord, if You want to, You can make me well again." Jesus reached out and touched the man, saying "I want to. Be healed!"

If you want God to touch you, fight for your healing. Stand up and fight! Fight the old devil! Where does sickness come from? If there were no devil, there would be no sickness! The Bible is very clear, 'resist the devil and he must flee!'

If you want healing, put your hand where the sickness is and say this prayer with me:

I know Jesus is alive, I believe the Bible, God cannot lie! Your Word says Jesus took my sickness and healed me - and I take my healing by faith. In Jesus' Name I will fight in prayer and in the Word of God until I am healed! I command you devil, get out of my body! My body is a Temple of the Holy Spirit. Devil, get out of my life, my home, my family! In Jesus' Name I defeat you devil! I will live in victory until Jesus comes! Amen!

The Bible says in Revelation 12:1 'And they overcame the enemy by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony.' Confess healing Scriptures every day; they will bring you health and healing!

Exodus 15:26 He is the Lord my God who heals me.
Psalm 118:17 I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord.
Isaiah 53:5 He was wounded for my transgressions, He was bruised for my iniquities: the chastisement of my peace was upon Him; and by His stripes I am healed.
Matthew 21:22 Whatsoever I ask in prayer, believing, I shall receive.
Luke 17:19 I will arise and go my way, my faith has made me whole.

Call on Him!

In the Bible Jesus says, "Behold I stand at the door and knock. If any man will open the door, I will come in!" (Revelation 3:20.) Jesus is more willing to come to us than we are to receive Him. I try to tell people how simple it is to receive Jesus. All you have to do is be like a drowning man: stop struggling, let go of your tiny piece of flotsam and let Him rescue you. I understand that one problem the rescuer has is that while the drowning person is struggling so much, it is hard for the victim to trust their saviour! The panic and desperation to be saved actually makes being rescued even harder.

Healing, deliverance, forgiveness… stop struggling to rescue yourself, relax and let Him deliver you. That wonderful hymn writer put it so powerfully: 'Just as I am without one plea, but that Thy Blood was shed for me… I come.' We all need the touch of someone who loves us. So many of you reading this have secret problems you cannot share; they are too deep, too personal. Tell everything to Jesus. It's the only way to be healed, delivered, set free. He already knows, He understands and He's waiting for you to come to Him. He lived here on earth like you in order to understand all the problems we face, that's why He does not condemn. Talk to Him. He's listening. Ask Him for help. And receive His peace.