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
Mid-April 2012 Partner Letter
Dear Partner,
I have been praying for you…
There is so much on my heart to share with you today… We are facing serious challenges in America, Canada, and the other nations of the world… There is a great need in every nation for the power of God to save, heal, deliver, prosper, and bring restoration into people’s lives.
If you and I aren’t careful, we could be overwhelmed by the needs we’re facing… But the truth is, you and I aren’t helpless, because we serve the Lord Jesus Christ—the One who came to rescue us. He paid the price for our sin, and through faith in Him, we have both eternal life and His help in our earthly existence. If you have received Him as Lord and Savior, then He is present with you right now, in the midst of any circumstances that you may be dealing with.
His power to work on your behalf and bring about good for you is limitless! Nothing is impossible for Him. And that is very Good News, because if there has ever been a day when you and I need to see the impossible come to pass, it is today.
In these last days, we seem to be in a spiritual battle like no other. Many demonic forces are coming against us… We’re confronted daily by beliefs that go against our Christian foundation. We’re seeing immorality in our governments and corporations, leading to excess, greed, and economic stress. There is a lack of godliness in every arena of life, and our nations are paying the price!
If we are going to fight this spiritual battle effectively, we must remember where our troubles are coming from. The Bible says, For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places (Ephesians 6:12).
In other words, our true battle as Christians is not against people, governments, corporations, or earthly things… Our true enemy is the devil, whose only plan is still the same as what he did in the Garden of Eden… He is a liar and a thief who tries to steal, kill, and destroy everything that is good and godly in this world, because he hates God!
The spiritual forces of wickedness are working overtime in every nation of the world to steal, kill, and destroy all they can before Jesus comes back to permanently put them under His feet. But you don’t have to give in to fear… For God has not given you a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7).
Think about that for a moment. As a born-again believer in Jesus, you have the love of God inside you—the love that never fails (1 Corinthians 13:8). You have sound thinking and the ability to choose what is godly because you have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16).
And you have access to His unlimited power, because through Christ, you have authority and influence in the spiritual realm (Ephesians 1:19–23)… When you received Him into your life, He gave you the Holy Spirit… And you received power when the Holy Spirit came upon you (Acts 1:8). Through your relationship with Jesus, your faith in His Word, and your obedience to His will for your life, you can make a significant difference in your family, your company, your community, your country, and the world.
No matter what you may face, God’s blessings will come to you as you live out the truth in Matthew 6:31–33, which says… Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’… For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But SEEK FIRST the kingdom of God and His RIGHTEOUSNESS, and all these things shall be ADDED TO YOU.
When you put God’s kingdom and His righteousness first in your life, it opens the way for you to receive the many blessings He has for you. I believe that’s why America has been a blessed nation over the years. We were founded on Christian principles and led by many people who served the Lord. The seeds they sowed into the development of this nation have caused us to prosper in many ways. And I believe this is true for any nation that is willing to follow God’s will… As we submit to Him, He can bless us.
I believe the key to turning our nations around today…the key to bringing deliverance to any nation that is suffering right now…is to turn to Jesus and put Him first, obeying His Word, which reveals His will and His principles for how to live. He is the only One who can truly heal the things that are wrong in our societies, in our governments, in our world, and in our lives. Without Him, we can do nothing. But… Through Him, we can experience healing and wholeness—spirit, soul, and body.
How do you seek God’s kingdom and His righteousness? I believe that first and foremost, you must make Him the Lord of your life. If you haven’t officially given your life to Him, today is the day to do it! Don’t wait… Invite Jesus into your heart right now and confess Him as Lord and Savior, the One who died for your sins and was raised from the dead to sit at God’s right hand… Righteousness and the blessings that come from it begin with a right relationship with God.
Once our relationship with Him is right, then we are called to live as Jesus lived and do the works that He did during His earthly ministry. We are to be His voice, His hands, and His feet to our loved ones, our nations, and our world. As we do this, we’ll be able to share His righteousness with those in need of it.
What works did Jesus do, and how did He live? Jesus declared His mission in Luke 4:18…“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed.”
Partner, Jesus Christ ministered to people whose hearts and lives were broken. He was always at the point of their need. He was on the docks. He was in the marketplaces. He was in people’s homes. Wherever people were hurting, he was there to minister to them in their circumstances of brokenness, frailty, failure, sickness, and poverty.
And there are so many people hurting today… There are so many needs in our families, our nations, and our world. There are so many things that have been broken as a result of sin… We are broken in our ability to live in peace with other nations… We are broken in our governments and among our corporations, where leaders make mistakes, behave immorally, and fail to do what is godly…
We also see brokenness in our relationships with one another… It takes on many forms…racial prejudice, political division, conflict between the so-called haves and have-nots… We see it in the large number of divorces these days… and in the many relationships that have been damaged because of unforgiveness. And many of us are broken in our relationship with God…
There is something broken in every person, because we live in a fallen world. I’ve never met anybody who, if they were being honest, would not admit to having problems and needs. We’re all in that condition. Sin breaks us. The evil that the devil does can crush people’s hearts, minds, relationships, bodies, and finances.
But even in the midst of a fallen world… even in the midst of bad news, sickness, unemployment, and other troubles, there is Good News. There is always Good News, because there is always a good God that you can turn to in your time of need.
The Good News is that no matter how bad things get in your nation, the world, and your individual life, God is for you and not against you. He is your Healer—Jesus came to make you whole in spirit, soul, and body! This is the Good News that you help me to share with the world through the outreaches of this healing ministry—television, magazines, the Internet, School of the Spirit classes, and the Abundant Life Prayer Group.
And it’s a message from God that is sorely needed today. You and I have been called by the Lord to share this message with people around us… Now, I know this divine calling flies in the face of our human nature… The world in which we live often glorifies the pursuit of our own happiness, rather than the pursuit of righteousness—which is God’s way of being and doing.
But as Christians, we are called to put aside our selfish desires in order to do good, be a blessing, and promote peace with God and with others. If we want to see healing in our land and in our world, it’s time to set aside our selfish desires and pursue God’s plan for our lives and for the nations. And we have the privilege and the calling to invite the Lord to change things in our nation and the world through the power of prayer.
James 5:16 says, The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. As a believer in Jesus Christ, your prayers WORK! As you pray in faith according to God’s Word, you open a way for Him to come into your life. Your prayers of faith connect to His unlimited power—and His power then begins to change the situation you are praying about.
We are told in 1 Timothy 2:1–3, Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior. You and I are called specifically to pray for all our leaders, giving thanks for any goodness that comes to us through them, and interceding so that they will make godly decisions.
Now… I believe that as we obey the Lord, God can stretch out His hand to heal America, Canada, and all the nations of the world… He wants to bring His healing power into our prisons, our militaries, our governments, our churches, our families, our marriages, our finances, our bodies, our minds, and our spirits… He wants to heal us completely, as individuals and as nations.
But we have to give Him something to work with… We must give our time to praying for the needs we see around us… We must seek God’s righteousness in our lives and on behalf of our loved ones and our lands… We must do the work of His kingdom by sharing the Good News with others!
And we must act by giving our time, our prayers, and our finances to the work of God in our land and around the world. It is time to sow a financial seed for the salvation and healing of the nations. The Word says that what we sow is what we will reap (Galatians 6:7). If we want to reap righteousness in our nations, we need to sow toward it and reach out to Him in faith for it. That part is up to us!
I believe this healing ministry is good ground for planting seed toward healing in our nations. We are here 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to pray, believe God, preach the Word, and share Jesus with the world. Your seed sown into this ministry helps us broadcast the healing Word of Jesus Christ on the television airwaves, where it can reach people who need to hear it. Remember, faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God (Romans 10:17).
As we speak God’s Word over America, Canada, and all the nations of the world through our prayers and on the airwaves, we are giving people an opportunity to come to faith in the Lord… And their right relationship with Him will help bring about righteousness in our lands. Your financial seeds matter… You are making a difference!
Now, I believe it’s also time for you to get seed in the ground for your own needs too… Some experts are predicting a gallon of gas will cost five dollars in the U.S. before the summer is over… And there are other economic challenges expected to arise around the world…
But as a child of God, YOU don’t have to fear the bad news and the negative predictions… YOU can tap into the unlimited supply of heaven’s resources! So, plant a seed in faith to God for your provision NOW… And expect the abundance, provision, plans, ideas, concepts, and insights into your finances that He has especially for YOU.
Remember, giving connects you to God’s eternal principle of seedtime and harvest! And consistent seed-sowing brings about consistent health and wellness in your finances. Make it your plan to sow seed to the Lord as often as you have the opportunity, so that you can have harvests growing and coming in for you all the time.
As you sow your seed, don’t forget to let me know about your specific prayer needs, so I can pray and agree with you in faith for your needs to be met and for God to work in the lives of your loved ones. Nothing is impossible with the Lord…and He has real answers for the needs you have!
It’s so important for us to stand together in faith, to pray, and to sow seed toward the righteousness of our nation. Let’s join together for a Day of Prayer for the Healing of Our Nations on Thursday, May 31. We’ll gather together through that day’s broadcast of The Place for Miracles, and we will pray over your prayer requests as well as for the healing and restoration of righteousness in our lands.
Remember, your prayers are powerful and effective, even more so when we pray together in agreement for your needs and for the needs of our nations. Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor (Ecclesiastes 4:9). Together, we are accomplishing great things for God’s kingdom and promoting His righteousness in our world…and because of it, you will receive the blessing that comes from God according to Matthew 6:33.
I thank God for you, and for every opportunity we have in partnership to further the work of God’s kingdom through this healing ministry. I look forward to hearing from you soon!
Your partner for miracles,
PS. Be sure to send in your prayer requests, sow your seed, and join me for a Day of Prayer for the Healing of Our Nations on Thursday, May 31. Together, we will stand in faith for your needs and the needs of our nations to be met, and for God’s healing and restoration 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
Living Proof: Toby and Nancy Baugher
Living Proof: Montage #5
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!
