Miracles Magazine: May/June/July 2012
Features
- The Freedom that Comes from Forgiveness by Richard Roberts
- Give it to God by Faith by Lindsay Roberts
- The Power of the Resurrection: What It Means to Have Jesus Alive in You!
- How You Can Have God’s Unlimited Power in Your Life a classic message by Oral Roberts
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May 2012 Partner Letter
Dear Partner,
What if I told you that one of the devil’s biggest tools to use against you is something so common…yet so deceptive…that you might be seeing it at work in your life right now…and you might not even know it?
And what if I told you that God has a simple answer to stop this tool of the devil in its tracks? All it takes is three simple things…
I’ve said it many times before, and I’ll say it again. The devil has no new tricks up his sleeve. He’s been doing the same thing to human beings since the Garden of Eden. He is a liar and the father of lies. He sends distractions and obstacles our way to try to hinder us from obeying God. And one of his favorite tools is something so common that we can miss the fact that satan is the author behind it!
I’m talking about STRIFE…also known as DIVISION! This is one of the devil’s favorite tools, and it can be deadly to God’s plans for us as individuals and for our nations unless we stop it in its tracks.
Now, it is not surprising that satan loves to promote strife and division among Christians. The Bible says, For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work (James 3:16). You see, when we fight against one another, we give satan the room to promote all kinds of evil works among us.
No doubt you have seen the negative effects of strife and division… Strife can cause us to be divided by political parties and in our governments, which can hinder us from receiving the healing we so desperately need in our nations!
Quarrels can lead to gossiping, telling lies, and believing the worst about people, even though the Bible tells us to love others and believe the best about them (1 Corinthians 13:7 Amplified). Contentious disagreements can lead to anger and violence. Envy divides people and tempts them to steal, kill, and destroy in order to take what rightfully belongs to someone else.
These behaviors are a part of the sinful nature we all received through the sin of Adam. But the blood of Jesus was shed to set us free from sin. When we accept Jesus as our one true Lord and Savior, He comes into our lives to set us free.
Do you see what this means? You can be free from strife and every evil work that results from it! That’s good news! But to enjoy that freedom fully, you must LIVE IT OUT in your choices, your words, and your actions…
How do we live free from strife as individuals and in our nations? We do it God’s way—through praying for UNITY! Unity is God’s answer to strife. In fact, through Jesus Christ, God the Father has already made all Christians to be ONE BODY under Jesus, who is our Head (1 Corinthians 12:12–14). We are united by Christ!
There’s no question that we are one Body of believers, under Christ who is our Head. The only question is, are we living like one Body? Are you and I speaking and acting like brothers and sisters in the Lord? It’s OUR decision…
Remember, it is up to you to live in the freedom that God has given us through Jesus. The choice is yours! Ephesians 4:1–6 says it like this…
Walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the UNITY of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is ONE body and ONE Spirit, just as you were called in ONE hope of your calling; ONE Lord, ONE faith, ONE baptism; ONE God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
You are called, through Christ, to humbly and gently pursue UNITY and PEACE with others, especially those who are also Christians. Why? Because we are already ONE in the faith. We are ONE in Christ! And when we pursue UNITY and love for one another, the Bible says that we inherit a blessing (1 Peter 3:8–9). I believe part of that blessing is righteousness in our nations, as we come together in unity under the leadership of Jesus Christ.
In fact, the good things that come from unity are so valuable that Romans 12:18 tells us to make every effort to walk in peace with everyone, especially those who belong to the Body of Christ!
Now, that’s the opposite of what we see in the world around us… People may cry out for peace, but the news shows a different story. It’s politician against politician, race versus race, men against women, rich versus poor, nation opposing nation. We see conflict in all walks of life! The devil is having a field day…
But you don’t have to let the devil have his way! Resist him by submitting yourself in faith to what the Lord commands in John 13:34–35, which says, A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.
It’s important for us to love our fellow Christians, because it is a witness to the world that Jesus is the risen Son of God and that He makes a difference in the lives of those who follow Him! It helps to show the world that His Word is true. And as people come to the Lord in faith and receive salvation, it increases the number of people who can stand in faith for God’s healing in our nations!
How do we show love for one another? We do what the Apostle Paul said in Ephesians 4:1–6. We stay in UNITY with one another with the help of the Holy Spirit. Let me share with you some practical ways of doing that.
Partner, you pursue unity and peace through focusing on the ONE who has brought us together in the first place… The Lord Jesus Christ. Think about the last time you had an argument with someone. Who did you focus on during that argument? What did you talk about?
Chances are, your attention was on yourself and the person you were arguing with, and you were focused on whatever it was that upset you. Jesus was probably not the center of your focus while you were arguing. I don’t say that to condemn you, but merely to make you aware of how the devil uses strife against us. You see, most arguments are centered around our earthly circumstances in some way.
But you can shift your focus… When strife arises, you can choose to turn your attention to Jesus instead of the situation that has caused the strife. He has answers that can help you and our nation’s leaders resolve whatever is going on at that moment, and you can ask for His help, even in the middle of a crisis!
More importantly, AFTER you step away from the situation, keep yourself from dwelling on any anger or hurt that may have arisen by focusing on Jesus and asking Him to turn things around for good. Pray and put your focus not on your temporary circumstances but on God and His eternal Word… This helps you avoid the trap of strife.
Here’s another way to prevent strife… Avoid the kinds of behaviors and words that provoke others to become offended. Galatians 5:22–23 tells us the spiritual attitudes we ought to display… But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control… That gives you a good picture of what to do and what not to do.
We are NOT to pick fights, play favorites, or be selfish… We are NOT to be arrogant, mean-spirited, impatient, or unforgiving… We are NOT to lose our temper or be dishonest… And we are certainly NOT to bring division and strife into the places we live and work. Instead, we are to say and do things that are loving, peaceable, patient, and kind. We are to do good and maintain control over ourselves. And we are to pray for peace in our nation and in our world.
A simple way to check yourself and see if you’re pursuing UNITY is to ask yourself questions like these: “Am I saying something that is going to produce peace or an argument? If I choose to do this, will it hurt someone else? Will they feel attacked, or will they feel loved and respected?”
If your actions or words don’t reflect the spiritual attitudes listed in Galatians 5:22–23, then change what you do and say! A change of direction can help you promote peace instead of strife. Remember, this isn’t something that happens automatically… It comes from a mind that is renewed by God’s Word (Romans 12:1–2). It’s something you have to choose to do daily.
Believe me, the devil works hard to separate Christians. He creates opportunities for us to be divided in our relationships, families, churches, politics, and other areas of life. When we don’t stand together, we are easier to defeat. Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand (Matthew 12:25). That’s the devil’s plan for the Body of Christ and for your nation…to make us fall apart and be completely ineffective!
But look at God’s plan for the Body of Christ… Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion… Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken (Ecclesiastes 4:9–12).
In those verses, God gives us the three simple things that lead us to victory over strife and cause us to INHERIT THE BLESSING that comes from unity, according to 1 Peter 3:8–9. The three simple parts of the picture are YOU, ME, and the LORD! That’s what it takes to defeat the enemy’s attempts to divide us and cause evil works among us. We must stand together as brothers and sisters under the leadership of our Lord Jesus Christ!
Now, I’m sure you know that a vital part of this healing ministry is the Abundant Life Prayer Group. Our prayer partners make a major impact on people around the world 24 hours a day because they pray according to God’s Word in agreement with the people who call in for prayer.
The power of agreement…which is another word for UNITY…is found in Matthew 18:19–20. There, the words of Jesus are recorded, saying, If two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.
Did you catch what Jesus said? It’s important for your VICTORY and for the healing of our nations… He said, Where two or three are gathered TOGETHER in My name, I AM THERE…
The One who holds the solutions for whatever you’re facing in life is JESUS! He is the Source of all you need and the Source of healing for our nations. Everything good comes from Him! So, when He says, “Here’s what it takes for me to be WITH YOU,” you listen and do what He says, right? That’s just common sense…
I believe this is why God cares so much that His children live in UNITY with one another… When we are in agreement in His name, then He can be there with us to do great and mighty things on our behalf!
Every day, I get praise reports from people who called the Abundant Life Prayer Group, agreed in prayer according to God’s Word, and received the help they needed from the Lord. AGREEMENT is a powerful spiritual force that brings God’s unlimited power into the situations we face.
I want to come into agreement with you right now… That’s why I have included with this letter three pieces of cord for you to use as a point of contact to pray for unity among the Body of Christ in your community and your nation. I have prayed over these cords and asked the Lord to bring about the inheritance of blessings (1Peter 3:8-9) that come from unity in Him.
Take hold of these cords in your hand right now… The three cords in it represent YOU, ME, and the LORD… As you pray, tie these cords together and ask Him to help you walk in unity with other people. I’m believing for good things to come to you as you obey the Lord and walk in peace with them, avoiding the devil’s trap of strife.
When you respond, return the cords and let me know your specific prayer requests too, so I can come into agreement with you for your needs to be met in God’s perfect way and timing…knowing that Jesus is in our midst as we pray!
Let me give you one final way to avoid the trap of strife and division… Don’t allow the devil to divide you from God and the Body of Christ in the area of your giving! That’s one area where he loves to tempt us to disobey the Lord…
But you can resist him by planting your seed to the Lord in faith. Take your seed and declare through your words and your sowing that you are NOT giving place to the devil in your finances… Declare right now that the Lord is your Source in all things! Say it aloud in faith…
And then ACT in faith by sowing your seed today. This ministry is good ground. We’ve received over 135,000 testimonies so far of answered prayer just through The Place for Miracles… We’ve sent more than 5 million meals to hungry children and their families worldwide… We’ve seen countless thousands and thousands of people saved, healed, and delivered in our overseas crusades…
So, as you plant your seed-faith gift this month into the Oral Roberts Ministries, do it in faith expecting a harvest from the Lord! And know that Lindsay and I, and everyone here, are standing in AGREEMENT with you for your needs to be met. And that means the Lord is here too, in our midst, making His power available to meet your needs according to His riches in glory (Philippians 4:19).
May you be richly blessed as you walk in unity with your fellow Christians all year long! I can’t wait to hear from you just as soon as you can send your response to me!
Your partner for miracles,
PS. Be sure to send in your three pieces of cord with your prayer requests, sow your seed, and join me by tuning in to The Place for Miracles on Thursday, May 31, for a Day of Prayer for the Healing of Our Nations. Together, we will stand in faith for your needs and the needs of our nations to be met, and for God’s healing and restoring power to flow into every area where it is so greatly needed. I’m expecting God to move in our lives in response to our obedience and faith in Him!
Download your copy of the "Prayers for Healing and Restoration of the Nations" pamphlet
Healing
Oral Roberts has said, “During my ministry, I have personally laid hands on over a million people in prayer, thousands of whom had been given up because there was no known medical cure. And I am convinced that no disease is hopeless—none is incurable—for God can heal all sickness. His power has no limits or barriers when we center our faith in Him.”
Does sickness come from God or the devil? Does God sometimes send sickness to punish us for some sin or wrongdoing?
Sickness is not placed in your body by a loving and good God. Jesus never told anyone that sickness was God’s punishment or God’s will. God wants to heal your body, not afflict it, a truth backed up by many Scriptures. (See the list of healing Scriptures.) The author of both sickness and sin is the devil, and Jesus rebuked both sickness and sin whenever he confronted them. The Apostle Peter made this plain when he preached the Gospel to Cornelius and his household. He said, “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him” (Acts 10:38 NKJV). God does not send sin or oppression. He delivers. He does not send sickness or disease. He heals.
Should we exhaust all other resources before going to the Lord for healing? Is it okay to use doctors and medicines?
There is nothing in the Bible that indicates a Christian can’t use doctors and medicine in order to be healed. James 1:17 NKJV says, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights.” All healing power is of God. The ability of doctors and medicines to help us is a God-given ability, and much healing is brought about through medical skill. God’s power doesn’t diminish when we use medical science. His ability to do miracles doesn’t negate the power He has given to doctors and medicine. But God is always the final authority for anything in our lives. We always have the privilege of going to God first, last, and always. The important thing is the right use of our faith. Whether we receive healing through medical science or through a miracle, we should give the glory to God, who is our Healer.
What is the best way to pray for my own healing or someone else’s healing?
The effectiveness of our prayers does not depend on the words we use or how often we repeat them, but rather on meeting God and the conditions set out for us in the Scriptures. To receive healing, we must have faith in God’s power and in His desire to heal us. Once we are ready to release our faith to God, we can pray for healing according to the Word of God. John 14:14 NKJV says, “If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.” When we release our faith for healing and pray in Jesus’ name, we know that God has heard us, and we know we have the answer. At this point, we can stop asking God and begin thanking Him for the answer.
Do I need to go to a special healing service or have someone lay hands on me and pray for me in order to be healed?
No, you do not have to go to any special place or have anyone lay hands on you for you to be healed. It is Christ who heals, and Christ is everywhere present at the same time. It is not important whether you are first in the prayer line at a healing crusade or last in line. It doesn’t matter whether you are sitting at church, driving your car, or resting at home. To receive healing, the important thing is to make contact with your Healer, Jesus Christ, who is everywhere. Healing comes when you have faith for healing and when you reach out to God with that faith. You can believe God and receive healing right where you are.
What is the significance of anointing a person with oil or using a prayer cloth?
The anointing oil is used as a point of contact to help a person release his or her faith. This is taught in James 5:14–15 NKJV: “Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up.” Use of the oil is symbolic of our dependence on God. The important thing when you are anointed with oil is to release your faith to God for your healing.
Like anointing oil, a prayer cloth can be used as a point of contact to release faith for healing. The Apostle Paul sometimes made use of prayer cloths. This is described in Acts 19:12 NKJV: “Even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them.” The thing that counts is not the prayer cloth itself, but rather our faith in Jesus Christ. Anointing oil and prayer cloths simply help some people to release their faith for healing.
What do I do if my healing seems slow in coming?
Many times, healing is a gradual process. It doesn’t always come instantly. When healing seems slow in coming, you may be tempted to get discouraged or to think you don’t have the faith for healing. Perhaps it is simply taking time for your body to heal. Or perhaps there’s still something you must do before God’s healing power can be fully released to work in your life. If your healing seems slow in coming, these suggestions may help you to receive your healing.
- Let the Word of God become real to you. Sometimes, we hear the Word and know it’s true in our heads, but it hasn’t become real in our hearts yet. If that is your struggle, you can build faith in your heart by reading, listening to, and meditating on God’s Word about healing. Faith comes by hearing and receiving the truth in God’s Word. You may need to spend more time with God’s Word than you usually do. You can also be encouraged in your faith by reading and listening to stories of people who have been healed.
- Don’t become discouraged when you don’t see immediate results to your prayers. It doesn’t mean there is anything wrong with your faith if an answer doesn’t come instantly. Continue to pray, continue to thank God, and ask others to pray and agree with you.
- Ask yourself if there is a spiritual or emotional issue that could be affecting your physical health. It’s important to open up every area of your life to God so He can heal your entire being. Ask God if there is something blocking your healing. If He reveals an issue to you, deal with it through repentance and whatever else you need to do to make it right.
- Continue to resist the devil. He is the source of sickness, not God. And he will try to deceive you into doubting God’s healing power. So put the devil in his place. Refuse to accept negative thoughts or doubts, and replace them with God’s Word.
- Let God direct you about how to receive your healing. Many times, when we are sick, we get it in our minds that God will heal us in a certain way, and we get disappointed when it does not happen as we thought it would. Often, we block God’s healing power simply because we are not open to the many means God uses for healing. Your healing may come to you by prayer, by medicine, or by both. Be open to all of God’s healing methods.
- You may need to see a physician. It is not wrong for a Christian to seek medical care. Medicine is a gift God has given us. Doctors are a means through which God can bring you your healing, so be open to it and visit a doctor if you haven’t already done so.
- You may need to simply receive. Many Christians have not learned how to receive from God through simple faith. If you believe this is an area where you are struggling, ask God to help you learn how to receive from Him.
What should I do when I’m tempted to doubt my healing? How do I keep my healing?
The devil comes to all of us to try to steal whatever blessings we receive from God. He attempts to introduce doubts into our minds. If we are experiencing doubts about a healing we have received, we must recognize that the source of the doubt is the devil. It’s also important to realize that healing is something we receive and keep by faith. You can combat doubts by reminding yourself of the moment you released faith for healing. Surround yourself with people who believe in the power of God. Read the Bible and encourage yourself with God’s promises of healing. Pray daily to stay close to God, and keep your mind fixed on Jesus. All these things can help you push doubt out of your life so that you can hold on to your healing.
Why isn’t everyone healed?
Romans 12:3 says, “God has dealt to every man the measure of faith.” According to this Scripture, everyone has faith. The capacity to believe is under the control of each individual. But not everyone directs his or her believing toward God. For instance, one person may put his faith in himself and his own ability. Another person may direct her faith toward money and what it will get her. Many people who need healing believe that their sickness is more than a match for them and that they are going to suffer defeat. This is fear—a belief that God’s power is not enough to beat sickness. If a person believes in the power of sickness more than the power of God, it will be hard for that person to receive God’s healing.
What is Seed Faith?
Everything in life starts with a seed—including the things we receive by faith. In Genesis 8:22, God says, “While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest . . . shall not cease.” The eternal law of seedtime and harvest, planting and reaping, giving and receiving will not change as long as the earth remains. Jesus compared faith to a seed being planted to get a result: “If you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you” (Matthew 17:20).
When we put our faith in God’s hands like a seed we plant, we are giving God something to work with, and He will send the miracle we need. No matter how small our faith seems to be, it will meet needs and solve problems that appear as impossible to move as mountains. This is because each act of faith is a seed planted and will be multiplied many times.
The Seed-Faith principle that we find in the Bible contains three keys:
- Recognize that God is our Source.
Philippians 4:19 says, “My God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” God will supply all our needs according to His riches, His love for us, His power to help us, and His wisdom to guide us. He may use many different instruments—a job, gifts, doctors, friends, family—to meet our need. But He alone is the Source, and He alone cannot fail. - Give first, so that it may be given unto us.
Luke 6:38 says, “Give, and it shall be given unto you.” We must first plant a seed of faith so that God can multiply it back to meet our need. Jesus is talking about giving in the deepest sense of the word—the giving of ourselves to God. This includes anything we can give—love, time, patience, forgiveness, finances, prayer, whatever we have. Our giving reflects our trust in God and our thankfulness. It links us to God’s inexhaustible resources for our every need. There is no way we can give to God without receiving something back from Him, multiplied! - Expect a miracle.
Mark 11:24 says, “Whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.” The moment we ask God for something—the moment we do our part and plant our seed of faith—we should believe God that the answer is on its way. It is important to expect our miracle so we can recognize it and reach forth to take it when it comes. And it’s also important to remember that God controls the time and method He will use to give back to us. We must keep trusting God and expecting our miracle, no matter how long it takes to reach us.
So, give God something to work with. No matter how little you think you have, sow it in joy and faith, knowing in your heart that you are sowing seed so you may reap miracles. Then start expecting all kinds of miracles! Remember, God always sends the right answer at the right time, in the right way. His timing and methods are always exactly right for our lives!
