THE CHRISTIAN FAMILY GUIDE TO HEALING

Transcription

1 All Scripture quotations are from the Authorized King James Version of the Bible unless otherwise indicated. Underlining is added to emphasize parts of statements or quotations. November 19, 2002 THE CHRISTIAN FAMILY GUIDE TO HEALING Published by: THE WORD PLUS For additional copies of this book write to: THE WORD PLUS P. O. BOX MILWAUKEE, WI Visit our Web sites at: Copyright 1994 by Merle E. Koepke All rights Reserved under International Copyright Law, Contents may not be reproduced in whole or in part, in any form, without the express written consent of the Publisher.

2 GOD WANTS YOU WELL How do we know that God wants people to be well? There are many places in the Scriptures that tell us of God s desire for us to live in health. Let us take a look at just a few. In 1 John 3:8, it says, For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. God s desire is that all the works of the devil be destroyed. Therefore, God sent Jesus to destroy the works of the devil. In Acts 10:38 it says, How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. Jesus was fulfilling the purpose that God sent Him into this world to do. Jesus was healing all that were oppressed of the devil. The Devil is the one who puts sickness and disease upon people. In Job 2:7 it says, So went Satan forth from the presence of the LORD, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown. In Luke 13:16 Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue,...ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day? In Matthew 6:10, Jesus said to pray, Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. There is no sickness or disease in heaven. In heaven our physical bodies are immortal, meaning no death, sickness or disease in them. Our physical bodies, which we have here on earth are mortal, meaning death is resident in them and in the process of dying. Man was not created with sin and death resident within him. Sin and death came when Adam and Eve obeyed the serpent and gave place to the devil in their lives. Romans 5:12 says, Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned. From Adam and Eve on, everyone, including children, were born with sin and death resident in them. Only Jesus was born into this world without sin and death resident in Him. Therefore, Jesus came as a Man in flesh, to destroy the works of the devil. All sickness and disease comes from the devil. God does not put sickness and disease upon anyone. In many of the English translations of the Bible it looks like God puts sickness and disease upon people who do not obey Him. But, careful study of the Hebrew and Greek will reveal that God is not the one who puts sickness and disease upon people. In Exodus 15:26, the King James Version of the Bible says, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee. In the Hebrew, the word brought is translated from the Hebrew word suwm. This same Hebrew word is translated put in many verses in the King James Version of the Bible, such as in Deuteronomy 7:15, which says, And the LORD will take away from thee all sickness, and will put none of the evil diseases of Egypt, which thou knowest, upon thee; but will lay them upon all them that hate thee. Many times this Hebrew word is used

3 figuratively, not literally. The LORD did not always tell the children of Israel that it was the devil that was causing their problems. Mainly, because the LORD was teaching the children of Israel to serve God only, and none other than God. The whole focus of the Old Testament was upon getting to know God and serve Him only. The New Testament is different in this respect. The New Testament is to teach those who are born again how to take authority over the devil and all his demons. How to walk in the likeness and image of Jesus Christ, the Second Adam (1 Cor. 15:49). How to live in the spirit, and not walk after the flesh (Rom. 8:1-4). Therefore, there is a major difference between the Old Testament and the New Testament. That is why Jesus made specific mention of the New Covenant in His blood the night before He was taken and judged by the Jewish high court, Herod, and Pilate. In Luke 22:19,20 it tells us, And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you. Jesus informed His followers that the Old Covenant was about to pass away, and a New Covenant was coming into effect. In the New Covenant, people are born again of the Word and the Spirit (1 Peter 1:23, John 3:6), and given power over all the works of the devil. This was not available to those of the Old Covenant. Those who will live according to the teachings of the New Covenant can be free of all sickness and disease in their bodies. God has provided ways to be free. Even if a person is born with sickness or disease in their bodies, they can be made whole. If we will study the Word of God and believe the Word of God we can be free of sickness and disease in our lives here on earth. When it comes time to leave this earth, we can give up the ghost and go to be with Jesus forever. It is up to each individual, what they will do about healing for their bodies here on earth.

4 Contents PART I WHY GOD HEALS PEOPLE INTRODUCTION WHY HEALING FOR THE BODY? WHY WILL GOD HEAL ANYONE? UNDERSTANDING THE COVENANT HOW TO ENTER THE COVENANT HEALING IS A PART OF THE COVENANT HOW TO KNOW OUR COVENANT RIGHTS PART II HEALING IN THE BIBLE JESUS IS THE HEALER JESUS TAUGHT BY WORD and EXAMPLE JESUS HEALED EVERYONE JESUS HEALED THOSE WHO WERE NOT JEWS SIN DID NOT STOP JESUS FROM HEALING JESUS HEALED THE RICH AND THOSE OF HIGH SOCIETY JESUS HEALED PETER'S MOTHER-IN-LAW JESUS HEALED THOSE WHO WERE UNDER A DOCTOR'S CARE COMPARING WHAT JESUS DID TO OTHERS IN THE BIBLE PART III HEALING TODAY BECAUSE OF GOD'S LOVE HEALING AND SALVATION HEALING ON THE CROSS OF CALVARY UNDERSTANDING FAITH FAITH TO RECEIVE YOUR HEALING HEALING BY LAYING ON OF HANDS HEALING BY CHILDLIKE FAITH HOW TO BUILD YOUR FAITH FOR HEALING HEALTH THROUGH PROSPERITY KEYS TO HEALING THROUGH THE BLOOD SPIRIT, SOUL, & BODY THE HOLY SPIRIT, OUR HELPER HEALING IN THE NAME OF JESUS WHEN EVERYTHING ELSE FAILS HEALING BY THE WORD OF GOD THE UNJUST JUDGE

5 PART IV HINDRANCES TO RECEIVING HEALING APPLYING WISDOM TO KNOWLEDGE DOUBT AND UNBELIEF NOT DISCERNING THE LORD'S BODY NOT FORGIVING OTHERS OR JUDGING OTHERS HOW SATAN TRIES TO STOP HEALING FELLOWSHIP WITH UNBELIEVERS FAITH LIKE A MUSTARD SEED FAITH OR FOOLISHNESS TRADITIONS STOP HEALING PRIDE PREVENTS HEALING MURMURING AND COMPLAINING CONTROLLING THOUGHTS NOT ASKING GOD TO HEAL PART V IMPORTANT FACTS HOW TO KEEP YOUR HEALING WHY GOD HEALS SOME NON-CHRISTIANS? TITHING, AN ANSWER TO HEALTH & PROSPERITY UNDERSTAND THE HOLY SPIRIT HAVING A CLEAN HEART HINDRANCES CAUSED BY DEMONS SURELY GOD CANNOT LIE! SCRIPTURE VERSES TO READ OFTEN HEALING SCRIPTURES

6 PART I WHY GOD HEALS PEOPLE INTRODUCTION The Bible tells us that God is Love in 1 John 4:7-8. We can see the love of God throughout the whole Bible. God's love is beyond that of any love that natural man has ever experienced. Most of us know about the love of God, but do we really understand the love of God and His grace? I first started to see the grace and love of God when I was born again at the age of forty-five. All those years before I was a religious person, but never really understood the love of God and His grace. I belonged to a Church denomination and attended church regularly. I even taught Sunday School, was a member of Church councils, etc. Yet I really didn't know the grace and love of God for His children. About two years after I was born again my oldest daughter was in an auto accident. Her left arm was all banged up. A large piece of steel hit the side of her car and her left arm. They called me from the hospital. They told me she was there and wanted me to come down to the hospital. As I was talking to the person who called me, I said "You are there already, the doctors are there, the nurses are there; she is twenty-five years old. If it seems that she will be there over night, call me back and I will come down." I was very busy at the time, working on the first book I wrote, called "THE LORD SAID, TELL THEM I LOVE THEM." I wanted to keep working on that book. I didn't want to stop and do something else. After getting off the phone certain words came from my spirit to my mind, "You better go down there." These words had nothing to do with what I was thinking about. I was concentrating upon the book I was working on. They came without me even giving any thought about going down there. Those words left an impression on my mind that I should go down to see my daughter. I looked at my watch; it was 6:30pm. I didn't go right away. Without thinking, I spoke out loud, "LORD, they will be there for at least an hour before she ever gets checked out. I'll go down there later." About 15 minutes later these words came from my spirit to my mind, "You better go there now!" I said, "Ok LORD," and I prayed with my boys and left. On the way down there these words came from my spirit to my mind, "When you get there she will be coming out and I want to heal her." When I got there her and her boyfriend were just coming out of the hospital. Her arm was in a sling, packed in ice, and she had a lot of medication in her hand. There was no place to park my car so I asked her if she would come over to my house for a while. She said she would and I left for home. When she got to my house her boy-friend was still with her. We talked for a few minutes. Her arm was not broken, but all the muscles and tendons were damaged. The doctor had told her it would be two weeks or more before she could use her left hand 6

7 and arm. She was to go back the next day for a check-up. They had given her a shot for pain, and a lot of pills to get rid of pain later, after the shot wore off. They also put it in a sling and packed it with ice. When my daughter came over, I was in the lower level of my house, working on the book. I talked with her for a few minutes, then I asked her boy-friend to go up-stairs and send down my oldest son, then wait up-stairs until we come up. He did, and my oldest son came down. I didn't want anyone around who did not believe that Jesus would heal her arm right at that very moment when I prayed. I said to her, "the LORD wants to heal you NOW, right here, is that Ok with you?" She said, "Sure." I knew she wasn't living for the LORD at the time so I asked her, "First, would you pray with me and receive Jesus into your life?" She said "sure," so I prayed with her first and she accepted the LORD, as her Savior! Then I laid my hands on her and commanded healing in the name of Jesus. The LORD healed her arm 100% that very moment when I prayed. I knew within myself that she was healed so I asked her, "did you feel anything?" She said, "it feels kinda funny." I said, "take your arm out of the sling and bend it up." She did. Then I said, "now straighten it out," and she did. Then I said, "now bend it all the way to the right," and she did. Then I said, "now bend it all the way to the left" and as she did a smile came on her face and she said, "Dad, it doesn't even hurt." I said, "I know, the LORD just healed it for you!" Her face lit up, she was so happy, we just praised the LORD for healing her. She went back to work the very next day. She never lost a day of work. She was a key-punch operator and needed the use of her left hand. By the love of God, the LORD healed her. The LORD loved my daughter, even though at the time she wasn't living for Him. She was living her own life, doing her own thing. But the love and grace of God is for every one who will accept it. Why would the LORD heal her? It is simple, God loves everyone, and by His grace anyone can be healed through faith. All the faith it took for my daughter to be healed was to accept the fact that the LORD wanted to heal her. When she accepted that truth, that's all it took. When I asked her, "Is that Ok with you?" She said "sure." When I commanded healing in the name of Jesus, the LORD healed her completely at that very moment. She didn't have to wait for her healing, it was done and complete the minute I commanded it in Jesus' name. Very few people know that the LORD wants to heal every person of every sickness and disease in their bodies. It doesn't make any difference if they are born again or not. By the love of God, Jesus paid the price for healing on the cross of Calvary. That price was paid for all human beings, not just for some, not just for Christians; but for everyone. As Christians, we must renew our minds to think the way God thinks, and act the way God acts. When we understand the love and 7

8 grace of God we will understand that the LORD wants to heal everyone, of every sickness and disease (Matt. 4:23, 8:16, 9:35, 15:30, Luke 4:40, 6:17,18, 9:11). There was a day when there were a number of people over at my house for teaching. During the teaching we realized that two people had one arm shorter than the other. One was a woman the other was a man. We did everything we could to be sure that they were different lengths. After being sure one arm was actually shorter than the other, they asked me to pray with them that their arms would come out to the right length. The LORD knows it is not good to go around with one arm shorter than the other because it can cause you to have back and neck problems. Many people often catch colds from one arm being shorter than the other. Getting their arms both the right length usually corrects this problem also. God wants us to be in good physical health, without any physical or mental problems. That's why the LORD told us to lay hands on the sick and they shall recover. Mark 16:17-18 says, And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. That's the LORD's Word, and His Word is truth. He speaks the truth when He speaks. I learned from this experience something all Christians should know; that is, it does not say believe in their minds. We learn from other statements that Jesus made; He is really talking about believing in our heart, (which is not our natural mind). When they asked me to pray with them (in my mind), I felt they were foolish. After all, there was a Pastor there who I was sure could do a better job of praying than I could. I said to them, "what about the Pastor here? Why not let him pray, he knows what to do." But they insisted that I pray for them. In my mind I was saying, you people are foolish. If I pray, nothing will happen. There is no way with me praying that those arms will come out. After all, the Word of God says in Mark 16:17 "...these signs shall follow them that believe." To me, that meant I must believe (in my mind) and be totally convinced that they would actually come out when I prayed in order for them to come out. I was one hundred percent positive (in my mind), that they would not come out when I prayed. I never prayed for physical healing for anyone before this and I was sure this would not work if I did the praying. I didn't tell them I was sure (in my mind) it would not work, after all, I was supposed to be a believer like the rest of them. I knew what it said in Mark 16:17, that we must believe. I knew Jesus would not lie, yet I was afraid to tell them I didn't believe it would work; so I didn't say anything to them about me not believing (in my mind). I put may hands under the woman's hands as she stretched out her arms toward me. I started 8

9 to pray in the Spirit first. After about a minute or so of praying in the Spirit, I was still sure that it would not work. But, I had to continue on. I went that far so I had to keep going. I said, "In the name of Jesus, I command these arms to come out to the same length; in Jesus' name." It wasn't easy to say those words, especially when (in my mind) I knew it wasn't going to work. Oh! what a surprise when I watched the short arm come out to the length of the other arm. In my mind I was saying, this cannot be, it cannot be true. Yet, it came out right in front of me. I was standing there watching it come out. Then, just to be sure, because I still didn't believe it would happen I ask her to check it again the way she did before I prayed. She said, "why, I felt it come out," but she checked it anyway and it was the right length. Praise God! Then the man came to have me pray for him. This time I checked his arms first a little closer, making sure, beyond all doubt that they were not the same length. The one was shorter than the other. Now, I had no choice. I had to pray for his arm because he just saw the woman's arm come out. I was on the spot, I couldn't tell him that it would not work, even though I was sure it would not happen a second time. Maybe once, but never twice! Again I was one hundred percent sure (in my mind) that nothing was going to happen. I would pray and they would stay the same. I was sure of that. Yet I had to pray for him. I was on the spot with no other choice but to pray like I did for the woman. Once again I prayed, holding my hands under his. I prayed in the Spirit first for about a minute, then still not believing (in my mind) that it would work I said, "In the name of Jesus I command these arms to come out to the right length, in Jesus' name." Just like the woman's arm, his also came out to the same length as the other one. Praise the LORD! Today I understand better what the Holy Spirit is trying to tell us in Romans where He says, "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." (Rom. 12:2) If we have our mind conformed to this world we know, beyond all doubt, that arms do not come out just by speaking words to them in the Name of Jesus. But, if we renew our mind on the Word of God, we find that it works just like it says it will work. We must renew our minds to think the way God thinks in His Word. Then we will "prove that which is good and acceptable and perfect will of God." It was the will of God for these arms to be the right length. But, to get them the right length we cannot always operate according to a mind that is operating in conformity to this world. The Word of God works, just like it says it does; if we do what it says we should do. Following that evening, as I was praying to the LORD, He made it known to me that it is not the natural mind that does the believing. We have a new spirit within us once we are born again. We still have our natural mind. But, it is our spirit that does the believing when we pray, not our natural mind. All we have to do is train our natural mind to listen to our spirit. Don't let our natural mind stop us from doing what the Word of God tells us to do. We must not let our mind be conformed to this world and stop the spirit inside from acting 9

10 on the Word of God. The Spirit is willing, if we do not let our mind stop us from doing what the Word of God tells us to do. In other words, don't expect to wait until you are sure in your mind it's going to work. If you keep waiting for that, you may never see the day when the laying on of hands will work for you. The better you know the Word of God, the easier it will be to lay hands on the sick. No matter how well you know the Word of God, your mind is not always going to agree with you when it comes to doing the things of God. The devil will always try to stop us from doing the will of God by blinding our minds (2 Cor. 4:4). We must bring every thought under subjection to the Word of God (2 Cor. 10:5). This is how we overcome the devil and the world. When we overcome the devil by refusing to accept the thoughts he puts in our minds, then God will manifest His Word in our lives. Thank God for His Word. His Word is true! We need to daily renew our mind on His Word and do what His Word tells us to do. The information contained in this book will help you to receive your healing, if you read it carefully, meditate upon the truth from the Word of God, and receive your healing by grace through faith. 10

11 WHY HEALING FOR THE BODY? Healing for the physical bodies of all mankind was provided for us through Christ's redemptive work on the Cross of Calvary. Yes, Jesus paid the price for our sins with His precious blood; "...not for our sins only, but for the sins of the whole world" (1 John 2:2). How was it done? Jesus, Himself took our sins; "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him" (2 Cor. 5:21). Jesus took our sins upon Himself, and by the sacrifice of His blood on Calvary He paid the price for us. This is the salvation from sin purchased for us by Jesus Christ. It is for the whole world; yet effective only for those who will receive it. This same salvation on the Cross of Calvary included healing for our bodies, not for ours only; but for the whole world by the stripes Jesus bore for us. Healing is for the whole world, yet only effective for those who will receive it. For too long, Satan has blinded the minds of much of the body of Christ to the truth concerning healing for our bodies. Salvation starts with knowledge; information on what God has done for us through His Son, Jesus Christ. Through His Word, the Bible, God has informed us of His will for all people. Speaking of God, it says in 1 Timothy 2:4; "Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth." Salvation is for all men everywhere, "Whosoever will, let him come!" (Rev. 22:17). Salvation is made available to mankind by knowledge of the truth. There is much said throughout the Word of God concerning healing for our bodies. Yet, this attack of Satan against our bodies is still gone unchallenged by many Christians. Among those who have been called into the body of Christ, there is much need for knowledge of the truth when it comes to healing; which God has provided for us in Christ Jesus. Just as much as the church has come against sin within the body of Christ, we need also to come against sickness and disease within the body of Christ. Both are included in the work of redemption. Both are works of the devil that must be destroyed through knowledge of the truth. Throughout the Old and New Testament, healing for the physical body was spoken of as a part of salvation. God is just as much concerned about healing our physical bodies as He is about saving us from sin. God placed them both together on the Cross of Calvary. In as much as God wants us set free of sin through the blood of Jesus Christ, He also wants us set free of sickness and disease by the body of Jesus Christ. There are three major things that God did for man on the Cross of Calvary. 11

12 (1) He bore our curses for us, "for cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree." (Gal. 3:13). (2) He provided forgiveness of sins through the shed blood of the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ. (1 John 1:7). (3) He purchased healing for our bodies, by the stripes He bore; "He took our infirmities, and bore our sicknesses" (Isa. 53:4-5, Matt. 8:17, 1 Peter 2:24). Many of the children of God have been hindered from doing the work of the ministry because of physical sickness or disease in their bodies, not knowing that they could be free by the salvation that Jesus purchased for them. Careful study of this subject will bring forth the knowledge of what God has already provided for us in Christ Jesus. There is no place in the Scriptures where the LORD did not heal any person who came to Him for healing. Every person, throughout the whole Bible that came to the LORD for healing received their healing. This is evidence itself, that it is the will of God to heal all who will come to Him. The major reason most Christians are not healed is because of a lack of knowledge of the truth of the Word of God. In 1 Corinthians 11:29-30, it tells us that many are sickly and many have fallen asleep because of not rightly discerning the LORD'S body. Within the body of Christ there are many members, all are important, that the body may perform that which the LORD so desires. It is important, that those who have knowledge in certain areas, concerning the work of the ministry; that they share it with those who are not as knowledgeable in that area. That is, that all may benefit and the whole body may be strengthened to do the work of the ministry. In 1 Corinthians 12:28, it says, "And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues." There are teachers put into the body to teach healing. There are also gifts of healings put into the body to administer healing. The LORD is very much concerned about our physical health. He paid the price for it. He want's His body, the church, free of sickness and disease. Therefore, let us join together and come against the work of the devil within the physical bodies of those within the body of Christ; that Jesus may be glorified in our bodies also. 12

13 WHY WILL THE LORD HEAL ANYONE? The LORD healed people under the Old Covenant and today we have a much better covenant with God (Hebrews 8:6-13). Therefore, He also heals people today, by His grace through faith. The LORD will heal anyone. Sickness and disease is not from God, they are of this world. The LORD has power over everything in this world, and we can experience that power of God in our lives if we will receive it by grace through faith. Let's look at some of the things the LORD did for man in the Old Testament along the line of healing. In Genesis 20:17, it says, "So Abraham prayed unto God: and God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maidservants; and they bare children." Abraham prayed to God, and God healed this man, his wife, and his maidservants. God answered the prayer of Abraham. Abraham prayed according to the covenant the LORD had made with him. Remember, the LORD made a covenant with Abraham and his seed after him. In Genesis 17:1-2 it says, And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect. And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly. A covenant is an agreement between two or more parties whereby they commit themselves to do something for the other. As long as the two parties do not break the covenant it stands as it is so declared at the time it is made. Here in Chapter 17, the LORD, the Almighty God, the God of all creation, is making a covenant with a man, named Abram. Let's go on and see more of this covenant. In verse seven it says, "And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee." (Gen. 17:7) Here the LORD extended this covenant to the seed of Abraham, for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto all who are included in the covenant. To all who are the seed of Abraham, the LORD will be their God. Notice, this covenant was an everlasting covenant. This covenant was before the covenant of the Law of Moses and the children of Israel (Israel pertains to the children of Jacob). The LORD, the Almighty God, Creator of heaven and earth, would be a God to all the seed of Abraham. Today we are living in a time where the covenant of Abraham is still in effect. It is explained in Galatians 3:16 saying, "Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, 13

14 And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ." Then in Galatians 3:29 it says, "And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." Galatians 3:17 says, "And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect." This means the covenant the LORD made with Abraham was before the Law of Moses, and the Law of Moses could not change the covenant the LORD made with Abraham and his seed. 14

15 UNDERSTANDING THE COVENANT The LORD said to Abraham, This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised. And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you. And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every man child in your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any stranger, which is not of thy seed. He that is born in thy house, and he that is bought with thy money, must needs be circumcised: and my covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant. And the uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken my covenant (Gen. 17:10-14). A covenant is only in effect as long as both parties stay in covenant; do not break the covenant. Remember the covenant of the Law of Moses is no longer in effect because the children of Israel broke that covenant (Jer. 31:32). The covenant of the Law of Moses was for all generations of the children of Israel. Some were still living at the time of Jesus, others had not yet been born into this world. Jesus fulfilled the Law for all of them. In Matthew 5:17,18 it says, Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. The Gentiles were never under that Law. The covenant the children of Israel had with the LORD through Abraham was not made known among all nations during those years. Even though, a few Gentiles did benefit from it by believing God. Rahab, the harlot, believed in God. Rahab and the members of her household were saved (Joshua 3:9-13, 6:25). Naaman, a captain of the Syrian army was healed by believing the words of Elisha under the covenant the LORD made with Abraham (2 Kings 5:9-10,14). The covenant the LORD made with Abraham come upon the New Testament Gentiles through Jesus Christ (Gal. 3:16). Jesus is the seed of Abraham through which the covenant of Abraham come upon the Gentiles. We enter this covenant by faith in Jesus Christ, and the Word of God. Jesus fulfilled the covenant of the Law for the children of Israel that they may also could 15

16 come under the same covenant with the Gentiles through Christ, the seed of Abraham. Galatians 3:26-28 says, For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. Remember, Abraham was a Gentile himself when the LORD made the covenant with him. The covenant of the Law was not made with Abraham, but with the children of Israel over fourhundred years later. Today, there is only one covenant by which all people can be saved, that is the New Covenant, sealed by the blood of Jesus. When Jesus came to John the Baptist to be baptized it says, But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him. And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased (Matt. 4:14-17). The covenant of the Law of Moses was made between the LORD and the children of Israel (between the LORD and man). Therefore, to fulfill the Law it had to be done by the LORD working with man. The LORD doing His part and man doing his part. Therefore, Jesus, the LORD, the Son of God came in the flesh (as the Son of Man), born of a woman, to fulfill the Law for all of the children of Israel. Jesus was a man in the flesh (yet without sin; for He was born of the Holy Spirit and Mary). He was a Jew, of the tribe of Judah, of the Children of Israel. Without God (the Holy Spirit), working with Jesus He could not have fulfilled the covenant for the children of Israel. The promise of the Holy Spirit was made to Abraham, a Gentile. This promise was to come through Jesus Christ. It says in Galatians 3:14, "That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith." The Law of Moses came after the covenant with Abraham, and was only as a schoolmaster until faith came. Galatians 3:23-25 says, But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. Now, being justified by faith, neither Jews or Gentiles are any longer under the Law of 16

17 Moses. For the covenant to be fulfilled it had to be a working agreement between the LORD and man working together as one. Therefore, Jesus, as the Son of man needed the Holy Spirit working with Him to fulfill the righteous requirements of the Law. Jesus received the Holy Spirit, following His baptism by John the Baptist. The evening before Jesus was crucified on the Cross He made reference to the New Covenant that would come into effect following His death and resurrection. In Luke 22:20 it says, "Likewise also (Jesus took) the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you" (Luke 22:20). The New Testament Covenant is sealed by the blood of Jesus Christ. While hanging on the Cross of Calvary the apostle John tells us in John 19:28,30, After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst... When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. Jesus fulfilled the Law of Moses for every Jew in covenant with the LORD under the Law. Therefore the New Covenant, established upon new and better promises (Heb. 8:6-13), came into effect for all of those in Christ, who thereby become the seed of Abraham (Gal. 3:29). We must understand that a covenant must be kept between the two parties for it to be in effect. The covenant between Abraham and his seed must still be kept by both parties. To keep our part of the covenant we must be circumcised (not in the flesh, but in the heart) (Rom. 2:29). Circumcision must be in the heart. For in the spirit there is neither male or female. Yet both males and females must be circumcised are under the same covenant. Man's part of the seal of the covenant is circumcision. God's part of the seal is "the Holy Spirit" and "the blood of Jesus." It says in Galatians 3:27-29, For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. The evidence of "circumcision of the heart" is the keeping of His (Jesus) commandments. Circumcision of the heart means that God must be our God. We must love the LORD our God with all our heart, our soul, our mind, and our might. We must separate ourselves from the world, to be like Jesus, serving God will all our heart. We cannot serve two masters the God of heaven and the god of this world. Jesus said in Matthew 6:24, No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. 17

18 When the things of this world become more important to us then God, the love of the Father is not in us. In 1 John 2:15 it says, "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him." When we love the world more than God, we break the first commandment of our LORD. Jesus said in Mark 12:30, "And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment." There is another major difference between the old covenant and the new covenant; that is, the old covenant of the law was made between the LORD, Who was in the Spirit and natural man in the flesh. The new covenant is between Christ and God s born again children (born of the Spirit, in Christ). Therefore, it is the spirit of man that is to rule the flesh of man. Not the flesh ruling the new created spirit of man. Paul called this new spirit man, "the inner man" in Ephesians 3:16 and "the inward man" in 2 Corinthians 4:16. We enter into this new covenant by receiving a new spirit, born again into the family of God. We became like Jesus, bearing His spiritual image. In 1 Corinthians. 15:49 it says, And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. The covenant the LORD made with Abraham and the children of Israel was made between the LORD and natural men. The new covenant is between the LORD and those in Christ, "born of the Spirit." The living relationship Jesus had with the Father was a spiritual relationship. Jesus was the Son of God in the Spirit, and the Son of man in the flesh. All that Jesus did in fulfilling the will of God; He did from His spirit, in cooperation with the Holy Spirit sent to Him by the Father. Man cannot do the will of God without the help of the Holy Spirit. Therefore the working relationship of the covenant is completed through the Spirit. A child of God working with the Holy Spirit. Jesus came into this world "a living Spirit man," born in the flesh (born of God in the flesh, without sin). Whereas all other children come into this world "born of sinful flesh." Then, when they receive Jesus Christ as LORD and Savior they become born again of the Spirit, by this, they become children of God. The New Covenant we have with the LORD is different than the Old Covenant the LORD had with Israel. In the old covenant the children of Israel operated from their natural mind, and human abilities; while the LORD intervened on their behalf (according to His Word). By this, those who opposed the Children of Israel, and opposed the Law of Moses, were put to death. Armies were destroyed, men, women, and children were put to death. Under the new covenant it is not that way. We do not put people to death because they disobey the laws of God. We pray for them that they be set free of the spiritual powers of darkness (the work of Satan and his demons) that cause them to disobey the laws of God. 18

19 During the teaching of the new covenant by Jesus, His disciples were familiar with the way the LORD dealt with those opposed to His law. When the Samaritans did not receive the preparation for Jesus to enter Jerusalem from Samaria, the apostles, James and John said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did? But he (Jesus) turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them. And they went to another village (Luke 9:54-56). Under the new covenant, the LORD does not use physical force against those who oppose Him or His children. God is Spirit, and His children are "in the spirit of Christ," operating from the spirit, not the flesh (Rom. 8:9). The Apostle Paul said in 2 Corinthians 10:3-4, For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;). There is no recording in the New Testament of any of God's children using physical force against those who oppose the LORD or the children of God. Even though, those opposing the saints used physical force against them. Many saints were put into prison, stoned, put to death, etc. by those opposing them; yet, none of the saints used any physical force against those who opposed them. Why? The use of physical force is not a part of the New Covenant for the children of God (we do not fight with physical means, our weapons are not physical, but mighty through God in the spirit). Our new covenant is far greater, and far better than the old covenant. Being new creatures in Christ, we operate in the spiritual realm, while living also in bodies of flesh. In the new covenant our enemy is the devil and his demons, not people. God loves people, even those who are controlled by the devil. We are here in this world to set them free of the control of the devil and demons. This is the major difference between the New Testament and the Old Testament. The Old Testament was for those who were natural men, the New Testament "is for those" who are born of the Spirit, in the likeness and image of Christ (Acts 17:28,29, 1 Cor. 15:49). Our eyes and attention should be focused upon spiritual things, not natural things. This is why Jesus said, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it (Luke 9:23-24). Denying self means to forsake the things of this world for the things of the "spiritual" kingdom of God. Our desires are not for the things of this world, but "to serve God in the spiritual realm of life." We are to control the world by means of prayer and taking authority in the name of Jesus over those things that oppose the will of God. Casting out demons, healing the sick, giving sight to 19

20 the blind, hearing to the deaf, etc. But, most of all, helping natural people receive the new birth in Christ Jesus, helping new born children of God receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit. These things are more important than the things of this world. These are the things you will find the apostles doing in the book of Acts, as well as teaching and instructing new Christians how to live in the kingdom of God under the New Covenant. The main emphasis of the New Testament is, be born of the Spirit (John 3:6,7), and live in the spirit (Rom. 8:9). Covenant relationship with God obligates God to answer our prayers when prayed in faith according to the New Covenant. Every prayer prayed in faith to God by a Christian will be answered. God is not a respecter of persons. God cannot lie, He will answer the prayer of anyone in covenant with Him, who prays according to His will (1 John 5:14-15). No matter what our circumstance may be, God is obligated to answer our prayer as long as we are walking in covenant with Him. This is one of the greatest "benefits" we have on earth by being in covenant with God. 20

21 HOW TO ENTER THE NEW COVENANT How does anyone become Christ's (Gal. 3:29), to enter into the covenant of Abraham? We enter by becoming born again into the family of God. By receiving Jesus Christ as LORD. Just as the serpent deceived Eve in the garden of Eden; by telling her there is another way to be as God, so have many been deceived into believing there is another way to enter into the New Covenant. The serpent told Eve she could become as God by eating of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Whereas the LORD told man he could eat of the tree of life. Adam was told not to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, for it would produce death, not life. In Genesis 2:16,17 it says, And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. Among many who call themselves Christians today, they believe they can be born again by water baptism, or infant baptism. Then, once a person is infant baptized, or water baptized they are told they are Christians. This deception leads many into eternal damnation in hell, for they never received Jesus Christ as their LORD and Savior. Some believe that their god-mother or god-father did it for them. Some believe that because some priest of pastor prayed over them when they were baptized as an infant that they are children of God. This is not true, and it will cause many to die and go to hell, because they did not receive Jesus Christ as LORD and Savior themselves. The Bible tells us in John 1:10-13, He (Jesus, Who is the LORD) was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons (children) of God, to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. The serpent told Eve there is another way (which was a lie), for there is only One Way to enter into the family of God, that way is to receive Jesus Christ into your life personally, as your LORD and Savior: Each person must receive Jesus themselves (personally) to become born again of the Spirit. The is no other way. Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6). No one comes to the Father except by Jesus (John 14:6). The covenant of Abraham was not between God the Father and Abraham, it was between the LORD and Abraham. All throughout the Old Testament Jesus was "the LORD." Acts 2:36 tells us, "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, 21

22 whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ." God the Father made Jesus both LORD and Christ. All things were created by Jesus. John 1:3 says, "All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made." Colossians 1:16 says, "For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him." John 1:10 says, "He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not." The Holy Spirit worked with Jesus and through Jesus in the creation of all things. It was by the power of the Spirit of God that all things manifest in the natural. The Holy Spirit is the power of God, that brings the Word of God to pass. When a person believes the Word of God (not the serpent that Eve believed, nor the religious people of today), and receives Jesus Christ as LORD and Savior, the Holy Spirit makes them a new creature in Christ Jesus. John 1:13 says, "Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, BUT OF GOD!" God, the Holy Spirit gives us the new birth. John 3:6 explains this by saying, "That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." Our first birth into this world is of the flesh, but our new birth (born again spirit), is of the Spirit of God. In the new birth, the Holy Spirit and the Word of God work together to bring us into the family of God. In 1 Peter 1:23, it says, "Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever." Therefore, we are born again of the Word of God and the Spirit of God, making us children of God. We must receive the Word of God before the Spirit of God can make us a new creature in Christ. Jesus is the Word of God that manifests in our flesh. John 1:1,2 tells us, In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. This is speaking of Jesus, Who was the with God, and was God with the Father and the Holy Spirit right from the beginning. This same Jesus, Who was with the Father from the beginning became flesh. John 1:14 tells us, "And the Word (Jesus) was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth." The Holy Spirit caused Mary to become pregnant with Jesus, and He was born into this world as the Son of Man and the Son of God. Just as Jesus was born of the Holy Spirit and Mary, we are born of the Word of God and the Spirit of God into the family of God. It is by the power of the Holy Spirit that those who receive Jesus Christ as LORD and Savior are born again into the family of God. Jesus is called "Christ" (the Anointed One). Those who are in "the Anointed One" are members of His body, which is also called "the body of Christ." If we are members of His body then we are Abraham's, seed and heirs according to the promise. Galatians 3:29 says, And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the 22