Healing

"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.”  7And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength".   Acts 3:6-7   NKJV

Peter and John, on their way to morning prayer, meet a beggar asking for alms. Peter straightway tells the man that he has no money but, he can give him what he knows is better for the man. He then commands the man to be healed and he and John lift the man up who is now able to jump, run and walk. A miracle. The question is, could you or I do this under similar situations. I mean, it can be a daily occurrence when we see people begging in the streets, many disabled. Could we do that? Would we do that, is probably the question?

What is the difference between us and Peter? Was Peter sure that he could offer healing to this man, or did he have doubt in his heart? Peter was 100% sure; would we be that sure? It's very doubtful. Peter used something very different to what we would do. For one thing, he didn't stand and give a lengthy prayer to God asking for healing. He addressed the situation instead. But he didn't use the normal term 'In Jesus' name.' He said, 'In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. The reason he did this was because the name Jesus or Joshua, Yeshua, was widely used in that land and still is today. Peter used the name that carried the authority, the name that that carried the title 'Messiah -The Anointed One'.' 

The difference between Peter and ourselves, is that he lived in a state of expectancy, which is a breeding ground for a miracle and manifestation. He spoke God's word with authority and didn't doubt the outcome one bit. Like Jesus, when Peter spoke, the Holy Spirit went into action. It is the same spirit that we have but, it carries a biblical hope, something we may lack at such times. Not everyone who is prayed for is healed, this is true but this shouldn't prevent us praying for the sick. However, we need that biblical hope; that attitude of assurance that brings the Holy Spirit into action. Could it be that many churches or individuals don't have much success where healing is concerned because of this lacking? It's food for thought.

Notice how Peter and John reacted to the man:

(1)  Get their attention. This is what Peter did when he said, 'Look at me.'

(2)  Give them the name that is greater than their problem

(3). Give them a hand up

Jesus has already given us the authority Mark 16:14-18, so let's get some people healed, saved and given a new life.

If you don't know Jesus or, have fallen away, why not say this prayer right now:

'Lord Jesus, I have sinned and I ask you to forgive me and be my Lord and Saviour. Please come into my heart, fill me with Your Spirit and give me a brand new start today.

In Jesus' Name. Amen'

Copyright 2024 Grahame Howard.                                

dailylifewithjesusbygrahamehoward.blogspot.com  

If you would like to contact me, grahame.howard@hotmail.co.uk

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Don't be a Tell-Tale

"The words of a whisperer (gossip) are like dainty morsels [to be greedily eaten]; 
They go down into the innermost chambers of the body [to be remembered and mused upon]".                                                     Proverbs 18:8.  Amplified

When we have been hurt by someone, we can often have the urge to go and tell someone who will offer a listening ear. And once we have unloaded upon them, we may feel better. However, this may not be the end of it all. Do you trust the person you have spoken with? Let's be honest, many of us are tempted to listen to what people are doing or have done. We may promise that the secret is safe with us but, is it? That's problem number one. Once a secret has been told to somebody, it can be so difficult for them to keep from sharing a little of it to a trusted friend. Then before too long, everyone knows about it. It's not so much about gossiping, but about being unable to keep it a secret because it is so newsworthy. 'These words are like delicious sweets. Although they are fun to eat, they ruin a person's health. Gossip can appear as fun to listen to, but it damages the listener's innermost parts'. (Amplified Commentary).

Problem number two is the fact that we should not be telling anyone about it at all. Unless the problem is a legal one, such as abuse or even worse, where it should be referred to the authorities, we should keep the matter to ourselves. Let me explain. When someone bitterly hurts us, we need to forgive them. Yes, this is a very hard thing to do because we naturally want vengeance on them; we want them to suffer like they have made us suffer. But, we must be aware of God's word that says, 'Vengeance is mine, I will repay' says the Lord"  Romans 12:19. God does not want us to take the matter into our own hands, as hard as it seems, He wants us to forgive them and not spread their deeds around to everyone.

RT Kendall writes, 'The first principle of total forgiveness is that we tell nobody what 'they' did to us.' That is so difficult but, when you think about it, this is what forgiveness is all about. Two wrongs do not make a right. We may have been wronged but for us to go and talk about how we have been wronged, is no different. We are just as bad in God's eyes. It causes gossip and can paint an ugly picture of you and the person who has hurt you. We should have a 'No attack, No defence' attitude about us. People can attack us but instead of retaliating we do not have to defend ourselves.

Conclusion: watch the temptation to be a Tell-Tale

If you don't know Jesus or, have fallen away, why not say this prayer right now:

'Lord Jesus, I have sinned and I ask you to forgive me and be my Lord and Saviour. Please come into my heart, fill me with Your Spirit and give me a brand new start today.

In Jesus' Name. Amen'

Copyright 2024 Grahame Howard.                                

dailylifewithjesusbygrahamehoward.blogspot.com  

If you would like to contact me, grahame.howard@hotmail.co.uk

Member of the National Association of Christian Ministers

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Newsflash

"Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world."   John 1:29  NKJV

Imagine if you will, a Newsflash on TV with the Headline, 'Hairy man points to someone who can save the world.' The report continues with, 'This man claims that he has seen someone who he calls "The Lamb of God" and he says this man, known as Jesus of Nazareth, can take away our sins. He further claims that this man came down from heaven - in the flesh, as a man - and He is God who is saying, The time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe in the gospel"  (Mark 1:15).

Think about this for a moment; this hairy man, otherwise known as John the Baptist, was one of a few who believed who Jesus was. Others did not receive or recognise Him. (Read the 1st Chapter of John for the full story). The Jews had been waiting for a Messiah, a very long time and when He turned up, they refused to recognise Him. They were expecting some glorious King-like figure who would be their warrior and who would fight many battles for them. They didn't expect what John told them.

Fast forward to this present day, if this were to happen to us, would we accept Him. Probably not, because something like this happened in the 80's. A man, claiming to be Jesus, advertised this fact in the national broad sheets (Very expensive), advising the readers that He was Jesus and was coming on a certain day. Of course, on the day nothing happened. Some believed it but not many. There was also a sports commentator on live TV who claimed to be Jesus Christ and the program had to be cut. He wasn't Jesus at all. Jesus does not need to advertise His coming. He doesn't need to have anyone today to say, 'Look, there's Jesus'. Not at all, when Jesus comes we will know about it. We will be whisked away instantly by His angels in what is called The Rapture, and then, when we have left, the Tribulation will happen. Now, there is some confusion on whether we will have to go through the Tribulation, the Anti-Christ and the False Prophet. Some believe we will have to. Others feel we will only go through half of it (the full tribulation will be 7 years). Still others, and I'm one of them, believe that we will be taken out of this instantly by the Rapture. No one is absolutely certain of course, but the good news is, we will get there whatever will happen. 

The pattern of unbelief is still the same today as it was in Jesus' time. People get saved but many others just refuse to accept Jesus because of all the evil that is happening in the world. Many blame God for the pain and death that is around and, to a degree it is hard to understand it ourselves. However, we need to remember that there is a devil and all this evil is proof that he is working flat out to hurt as many people as he can. Why doesn't God stop it? He will, one day soon. But some things are beyond our understanding. We just need to hang on to the fact that, Jesus is Alive and He wants as many people to arrive in heaven. So let's get busy.

If you don't know Jesus or, have fallen away, why not say this prayer right now:

'Lord Jesus, I have sinned and I ask you to forgive me and be my Lord and Saviour. Please come into my heart, fill me with Your Spirit and give me a brand new start today.

In Jesus' Name. Amen'

Copyright 2024 Grahame Howard.                                

dailylifewithjesusbygrahamehoward.blogspot.com  

If you would like to contact me, grahame.howard@hotmail.co.uk

Member of the National Association of Christian Ministers

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Praise Him and Praise Him more. Part 2

"19speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,  20giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ"   Ephesians 5:19-20   NKJV

Sadly the days that we live in are evil. Riots, racial discrimination, terrorism, murders, rapes and much more. As end times get closer, we can expect much worse, so we need to stand and keep on standing in our faith. There is a need to build each other up and this includes ourselves. This can be through the singing of Psalms and Spiritual songs. The early church were a:

Singing church  They met together on a regular basis and sang hymns and sacred songs from their heart. Their instruments were limited but no doubt it was a sweet symphony to God

Thankful church. They gave thanks to God for all things and in all places, at all times. And they gave respect and honour to each other and to people they met out and about. They didn't have an awful amount of material fortune like the church today has, but they were grateful for what they did have.

No matter what the circumstances are, God is still worthy of our praise and the thanksgiving we give Him. He sees the sacrifices some people make, especially in countries where it is illegal to follow Jesus or even speak about Him. Under great threat of their lives, they still meet and praise God the best that they can. God sees all. He knows the struggles in a family where one member is a Christian and the others aren't. He sees the problems that this causes and He is grateful for their sacrifice and praise.

There is a need for each of us to be filled with the Spirit of God on a regular basis and we can do this on a regular basis by speaking and singing scripture to ourselves. We claim a scripture that fits our situation and personalise it either speaking it out to ourselves or, singing a new song containing these words. For example,  Psalm 96:1-2 says 'Oh sing to the LORD a new song! Sing to the LORD all the earth. 2 Sing to the LORD, bless His name, proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day.' Notice that this Psalm tells us all (not just some writers) to sing to all the earth. That 'all' includes you. God's not worried if a song or the singing of it is out of tune. To Him it blesses His heart.

You can do this whenever. Find a piece of scripture that speaks to you and try taking a walk or a drive - alone, and speaking it out to God. As you say it over and over, there will be a necessity within your heart to sing, so sing these words to Him. As I have said, personalise the words to fit your needs. As you do this on a regular basis, you will feel much different and glad you did this.

If you don't know Jesus or, have fallen away, why not say this prayer right now:

'Lord Jesus, I have sinned and I ask you to forgive me and be my Lord and Saviour. Please come into my heart, fill me with Your Spirit and give me a brand new start today.

In Jesus' Name. Amen'

Copyright 2024 Grahame Howard.                                

dailylifewithjesusbygrahamehoward.blogspot.com  

If you would like to contact me, grahame.howard@hotmail.co.uk

Member of the National Association of Christian Ministers

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Praise Him and Praise Him more.

"Let everything that has breath, praise the LORD"   Psalm 150:6. NKJV

Heaven may not be the quietest of places to be. Just a read through Psalm 150 confirms this. It is full of praise and this is good because, praise takes us right into the place where we find God. Throughout the bible, whenever there has been praise, there has been victory. Therefore, it's something that we need to carry on doing because it brings God right into the centre of where you are at this moment. Check out these words below from Keith and Melody Green's song

'When I hear the praise start: (Final verse and chorus)

My precious bride, the day is nearing

When I'll take you in My arms and hold you

I know there are so many things that you've been hearing

But you just hold on to what I have told you

For when I hear the praises start

I want to rain upon you

Blessings that will fill your heart

I see no stain upon you

Because you are my child and you know me

To Me you're only holy

Nothing that you've done remains

                                           Only what you do for Me.    Keith Gordon Green / Melody Green

It doesn't matter what has been happening to you just lately, as you praise God, they seem to be lost in the atmosphere of your adoration to the King, who loves and saved you. You may have heard slanderous things said about you. But don't let it bother you, just hold on to what God has been saying to you. People may be whispering behind your back but, don't forget they're behind you for a reason; you just walk on. 

Things may be coming against you like one thing after another. Keep standing; your friend Jesus will brush them away. Nothing is more important than He is. Whatever people may say about you, God sees no stain upon you because you are His child; to Him you're holy. Nothing that has happened in the past, remains. You have been found Not Guilty because Jesus paid the price. 

So get your praise music on; start singing along with it and make a joyful noise to the Lord. He loves you. Today, God says you are special. Your mistakes may be great but My faithfulness is greater. Change the way you think and change your self-talk from negative to positive. This will take you from depression to hope (Romans 12:2). The KJV says in Psalm 98:4 :Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, ALL THE EARTH: make a loud noise and rejoice and sing praise.'

SO DO IT!

If you don't know Jesus or, have fallen away, why not say this prayer right now:

'Lord Jesus, I have sinned and I ask you to forgive me and be my Lord and Saviour. Please come into my heart, fill me with Your Spirit and give me a brand new start today.

In Jesus' Name. Amen'

Copyright 2024 Grahame Howard.                                

dailylifewithjesusbygrahamehoward.blogspot.com  

If you would like to contact me, grahame.howard@hotmail.co.uk

Member of the National Association of Christian Ministers

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Forgive yourself

"There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit".     Romans 8:1   NKJV 

If you are a believer in Jesus, it doesn't matter what your heart says, it is what God says that counts. One day you will stand before Him with no condemnation. Just stop and think about this for a moment. Of late, you may have let God down very badly and you feel awful about it. No matter how much you keep asking God to forgive, you still feel condemned. Why is this?

You feel like this because you need to forgive yourself. Isn't it about time you stopped carrying this burden round with you? Your mind is the problem! It remembers and constantly reveals this to you. There is a need to refuse to allow the old memories to negotiate a deal within you. Bury them instead, today!

1 John 1:9  says 'If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.'  God forgives, but our mind doesn't know this; make sure it does by forgiving yourself. From there you need to forgive yourself as the need arises.

The devil is very crafty and will try and trick you into believing that you have blown it, there is nothing you can do now to make this better. Don't believe this. It is a lie from the pit. Remind yourself that, we will never be condemned by God for our sins, because Jesus has paid the price once and for all. When we confess our sins each day, we can be confident of the fact that He will forgive us. If Jesus forgives us, we need to forgive ourselves. Remind your mind of this fact.

Yes you will continue to sin - daily, but God is faithful to forgive you when you ask for His forgiveness. However, in addition to this, there will be the times when you feel that terrible feeling of guilt. This is the Holy Spirit urging you to bring this before God. As you do, forgiveness follows but, you must remember that when you receive God's forgiveness, He is declaring you Not Guilty. So therefore, you are in error if you refuse to forgive yourself.

Right now at this moment, some of you are feeling, 'This is me'. Therefore, ask God to help you forgive yourself too, if you don't, it will plague you constantly. If you do, it will do the came, but in your defence, you can declare, 'I'm Not Guilty, because I have no condemnation within me. Jesus took it all. I'm Not Guilty.'

If you don't know Jesus or, have fallen away, why not say this prayer right now:

'Lord Jesus, I have sinned and I ask you to forgive me and be my Lord and Saviour. Please come into my heart, fill me with Your Spirit and give me a brand new start today.

In Jesus' Name. Amen'

Copyright 2024 Grahame Howard.                                

dailylifewithjesusbygrahamehoward.blogspot.com  

If you would like to contact me, grahame.howard@hotmail.co.uk

Member of the National Association of Christian Ministers

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The Three A's = Growth

"as new born babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby."  

                                                                             1 Peter 2:2  NKJV 

Peter was not only speaking to new converts here, but also to more mature ones - one's that constantly required regular nurture. I think we may all fall into that category don't you feel? All believers need to have a desire for continual growth, like that of a new born.A believer can't just go to church on a Sunday and then expect to be spiritually-filled for the rest of the week. If this happens, they will be spiritually malnourished. One doesn't find a baby being given a 7 day supply of milk on a Sunday, to keep it going for the whole week. The baby obviously requires feeding on a regular basis, and so do we as believers of Jesus Christ.

To reach spiritual growth we must have certain things that spur us on to reach this level. Here are 3 essential ones: Attitude, Appetite and Aim - the Three A's. Let us check these out:

ATTITUDE  Skip back to verse one 'Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy and evil speaking.' Possessing these in our life does not actually draw people to you - agreed? Our attitude must be like Jesus' was, pure and peaceful, loving and kind. But the pressures of everyday life, throw so many frustrations our way, that it is difficult to live in such a way. However, it can be done. Just take one of the things listed above - hypocrisy. If we act like Jesus outside of the home but then like the world in your house, something needs changing. But it takes discipline to master this. This is why we need the pure milk of the word. We need to cultivate our growth. And we receive this by spending special time with Jesus Himself. 

APPETITE  We need to cultivate our growth. A farmer doesn't go into a field that he hasn't worked for ages and expect it to have an abundant harvest. No, he must work hard to produce this. It's the same with us. We too, need to put some time in with Jesus so that, we can draw out a healthy reward. The more we put in, the more we draw out. In other words, we need to invest all we have with Jesus. The more times we do this, we receive an appetite to keep on.

AIM  We need to focus our eyes on the finishing line; this is our objective. However, we are not there yet but at least we know that this is our aim. When we know where we are going, we can do everything that will help us achieve this aim. Check out the Olympic athletes at this time. They didn't just turn up and start their particular skill. It has taken them years of training and dedication, beating their bodies into submission; giving up social activities so that they can reach their aim - a gold medal. We receive nothing if we are not prepared to put something in first. Our aim is to reach the finishing line - heaven. However, until then, we need to train, by finding out more and more about Jesus, so that we too, can receive our gold medal - heaven itself. So commit yourself to live for Him. Remember the Three A's = Growth.

If you don't know Jesus or, have fallen away, why not say this prayer right now:

'Lord Jesus, I have sinned and I ask you to forgive me and be my Lord and Saviour. Please come into my heart, fill me with Your Spirit and give me a brand new start today.

In Jesus' Name. Amen'

Copyright 2024 Grahame Howard.                                

dailylifewithjesusbygrahamehoward.blogspot.com  

If you would like to contact me, grahame.howard@hotmail.co.uk

Member of the National Association of Christian Ministers

Why not order my Daily Commentary from Amazon - Paperback or Kindle 

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