Enforcing the Victory...
By
November 20, 2009"Who His own self bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes you were healed." (1 Peter 2:24) "But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed." (Isaiah 53:5) Which is easier to say? "By His stripes you WERE healed" (2,000 years AFTER He took those stripes) or "By His stripes we ARE healed" (700 years BEFORE He took those stripes)? Think of how strange it must have sounded in Isaiah's day for a sick person to claim they ARE healed from some sickness because of the severe whipping and ripping of flesh on a Messiah who was not yet come. ÊNo more strange, but equally true for a sick person to claim they WERE healed by way of that same gruesome whipping on that same Messiah who came 2000 years ago. Most of you know that my wife was diagnosed 2 _ weeks ago with the worst kind of cancer in the brain and given zero hope. How has she taken to this news? She is deliriously happy, overwhelmed to the point of tears with the goodness of God and telling me she wouldn't trade places with anyone, even if she could! The work God is doing in her is so precious, as to make the whole ordeal worthwhile. Having said that, we don't believe for a split second that God gave her this disease or that He allowed it to teach her a lesson. Having said that, we also firmly believe God will get glory - not from the presence of the disease, but rather by her deliverance from it!Ê Brenda's faith is unshakeable and it is transformational to be in her presence as His presence exudes from her. She keeps saying "It's done! It's finished!" She knows that Christ paid the price for her healing and she is not about to squander that most generous offer. So, the question has been asked of me, if it's done, why is she so physically impaired at the moment? Ahhh... there's the great question of the day... Would that you could walk this path with us... then you would understand. Allow me to attempt to put in words what we gained not by words, but rather by impartation from God (revelation). Whether you're looking forward 700 years to the price being paid or looking back 2000 years to the price being paid, it makes no difference. It is received by faith.Ê Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. Did you happen to notice the last few months the journey God had us on, relative to healing before we ever knew there was a problem? It was all preparation.Ê Brenda and I had been doing a lot of hearing and faith was rising. Now is the time of testing. ÊWe win because He already won! Maybe this analogy will help you. Suppose you've been out of the country for years. Upon returning home you see that the Super Bowl is on TV and your favorite team is playing. At the half, your team is down by 28 points. Things look grim and victory is very much a long shot for your team. Then you find out that you are actually watching a rerun from last year's Super Bowl and during the half time, the announcer reveals that your team actually wins by a field goal in the last minute of the game. As you watch the second half of the game, wouldn't your expectation be different? It would be pure joy to watch your team defeat the opposing team and you would have no fear about the outcome because you saw the final score and you knew your team won. If someone came into the room to ask you how the game was going, you could easily announce, "It's done! It's finished! We've won this game!"Ê If they didn't know it was a rerun, they would think you nuts or out of touch with reality, but in fact, they are the ones not in touch with reality. So it is with healing.Ê We have seen the replay. We know Christ took the stripes to purchase our healing 2000 years ago. It is not in doubt. We are still going to have to play out the game to enforce the victory, but we know that we know that we have won! It is a done deal! Does that help? It does me... (o-: So while Brenda's symptoms are not good at the moment, they will be. She will recover. The game is won! She is only enforcing the victory God has given her and she is using the game plan God has given her. That game plan, by the way, is so significant that many, many people will be helped and their lives saved as you will see in due time. More on this topic in future blogs. With sincere love and deep appreciation for all your prayers (which avail much), kind words of support and great suggestions along the way. God bless you all! BTW - you can follow Brenda's healing and submit prayers and encouragement directly to her through this website www.BrendaPink.com.
2011 Archive 
2009 Archive
Comments (10) - Post a Comment
Learning to just believe the word of God and running with it sounds to simple yet its quite a challenge.
Martha at 11:15am EST - November 3, 2009
Years ago I wrote a devotional about belief (unpublished). I related to sitting in a room and discovering the roof was about to fall in on someone's head. If I TRULY believe this, there is a responsive action. This is where the proverbial rubber hits the road. If I believe, then there is a response coinciding with this belief! Praise GOD! Blessings MP! k
Kara Harris at 12:54pm EST - November 3, 2009
I believe that when John Wimber started down the road that eventually produced Vineyard Christian Fellowship he started preaching through Luke and doing it. He struggled with taking God at His word and practicing the things that were there. Thank God he labored to believe God. Your post has reminded me that I need to take God at His word without reservation. God bless you
Norman Dowe at 1:48pm EST - November 3, 2009
Amen!! I cannot control the circumstances of my life, or how His work in me plays out, but I choose to believe!!!
Sheila Kmoch at 2:46pm EST - November 3, 2009
Can you force true belief? I declare, I claim, I voice that I truly believe. I pray in faith believing, yet what I desire does not come. I have been out of work now 4 times in 5 years and needless to say we are in a mess financially and I find faith rising up many times as I pray for God's work for me to do to care for the family He has blessed me with. I know He is with me and I receive His witness by His Spirit and His word in numerous encouragements, however... this area of career seems to elude me regularly! (Having one of those struggling kind of days where I desire for God to open some interviews from all the MANY applications submitted...) But nothing as yet. Any thoughts?
Dave White at 7:23pm EST - November 3, 2009
The Lord has been taking me through just what you are talking about.. as a very task orientated compliance person (my business is compliance).. I have had difficulty letting go so to speak.. awhile back the Lord told me taking scripture and banging the Lord with it amounted to Moses hitting the Rock in the wilderness with his rod .. instead of speaking to it.. no faith was required.. just the facts please.. I looked something up that the Spirit laid on my heart.. the word test.. when Jesus in the wilderness said do not test the Lord.. I looked it up.. and I think it gives me an answer to why I keep returning to the same hills.. and valleys.. Deuteronomy 6:16 "You shall not put the LORD your God to the test, as you tested Him at Massah…what happened at Massah….. the word “WHY” why Lord.. when Lord.. I did this Lord why didn’t it work.. what did I do wrong.. I need to stop asking “why”… trust.. just what Michael said here.. “This is what Jesus told them… “This is the work of God, that you believe on Him whom He has sent.” Did you get that? The one thing Jesus gave them to do was to believe on Him. The same is true today. But we would rather earn our way somehow by Bible reading, prayer, tithing, etc. Those are all good things, but there are no performance based metrics that Jesus is monitoring to see if He will release something you need. Jesus has sat down at the right hand of the Father. He has done His work. He has conquered sickness and lack. There is no shortage of provision. Our work that He has given us is to believe Him, to take Him at His word. He said, all things are possible to Him that believes. I believe Him. Today, I will make that one simple thing, my work for the day… to believe Him. I will as the writer of Hebrews put it, labor to enter His rest” I never would have thought.. testing God was not resting in what He had already done and said.. my oh yes moment.. we live by trust trust in what was… trust in what will be.. ot on our merits.. but His word.. and His word is sitting on His right hand
Lyn Sorensen at 8:50pm EST - November 3, 2009
Michael, I agree with you. Even now at the ending of the day, I need Him and His presence...with me and I state I believe In Him...He is Good all the time..like the Father.
Timothy at 11:09pm EST - November 3, 2009
David White Just like you I have gone through situations speaking claiming and seeing no response.Analysed myself to see what I could possibly be doing wrong because there is no way it can be God. My conclusion i am going to believe me even if unlike shadrech misheck and abednego I burn. I am going to believe and stand on Gods word even if it hurts. See the word of God says hope in God does not disappoint. Therefore each time I do not see a specific answer I will take it as an opportunity to exercise my faith muscles. I am not trying to be like the fly hitting against the glass trying to get out....all I know is what I know which is what the word of God says that If I ask for anything believing I will recieve. So if i did not get something the last time I asked or thought God had not answered I will not faint or give up. God is faithful he is faithful he is faithful . His word is sharper than a two edged sword . I am going to believe and where my believe was non existent before my God will help me because he is the author and finisher of my faith. My God is able. thank you Micheal for reminding me to look into the mirror.....
Martha at 10:17am EST - November 4, 2009
Martha, Thanks for your response and encouragement. I was reminded the other week that we are in a battle and there will be opposition! But, as you reminded me, God is Faithful and He will accomplish the work He started in me. Saw a billboard today... quote by Winston Churchill... Never, Never, Never give up! Let's keep fighting the good fight and pray for each other. I know in my spirit when I am being prayed for. Many times it is like the fog lifts a little and I can get a glimpse of the Majesty of our King! God Bless.
Dave White at 9:03pm EST - November 4, 2009
Awe our God is an awesome God. Just this week I was mediating on how to be a part of the Father's work as Jesus was.....He said I do only what I see my Father doing. And how that is my one desire. Especially as the manifestation of a Pharaoh spirit has risen up in my workplace. Thanks Michael for this reminder and eye opener...... to do the work of Lord is to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. I needed this word. Indeed God is being very precise. Thank you O Lord for your goodness and grace towards us, your children.
Millicent Battick at 3:36pm EST - November 6, 2009