Let's Talk

Last night I was invited by an old friend I'd reconnected with, to attend her Sunday School class dinner. I'm not naturally inclined to go to dinner with a bunch of people I'd never met. But this time, it sounded like fun -- it's good to meet new people, especially when you're new to an area. And they were a lovely group, very welcoming, warm, sincere. I enjoyed the company of every person I met there.

Are you waiting for the 'but'? Yes, there's a 'but,' or what would be the point of blogging about it?

Let me first reiterate that I had a lovely time and genuinely liked the people, so this is not derogatory toward them in any way. They are simply the vehicle God used to illustrate how deeply a problematic mindset is embedded in the church. It is something I struggle with, you struggle with, we all struggle with. I've been blessed by being taught to fight against this inclination, but many Christians have not.

That is the reason for this post.

At dinner last night, 85-90% of the conversation I listened to (but did NOT participate in) was about sickness and disease.

Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. (Matt 12:34) So this problem runs deeper than just our words, it is our hearts, our mindsets and our lack of correct teaching from the five-fold ministry. Our words are simply the evidence of this insidious trickery from the enemy. Humans love talking about their problems -- finances, the weather forecast, relationships, but particularly health-related issues -- their own or that of friends and family.

Here's an extreme example, and let me say I saw/heard zero evidence of this in those I met last night. Some Christians talk about their own or other people's health misfortunes couched in sharing what needs to be prayed for, but their heart motive is one-upping the others in the conversation with the juiciest tidbit. We need to guard our hearts against falling into this prideful way. I've been there. If this is a struggle for you, ask Jesus to work in that area of your soul.

Another aspect of discussing prayer requests is, how many of us are really going to pray? I know in the past I've told somebody I would pray for them and the minute I walked away, I completely forgot about their problem. (Now I try to pray immediately, with them.) And how many of those who do pray are going to pray the prayer of faith that heals? How many even know how?

We are supposed to be little Jesuses fixing the problems we cross paths with in our everyday lives. We're supposed to do what He did, say what He would say, and do even greater things. But most of the church isn't even aware that God's will is for us to be healthy, and supplied, able to give generously to every good work. The Bible, to much of the church, is just pretty prose and our general attitude is, "That would be nice. Now, let's be practical."

Reality check: Biblical living is the most practical way for us to live, because God designed us to function best in the way He tells us to live. We have been so deeply deceived that we think God's way is upside down, out-dated and impractical, when the opposite is true.

Let's get back to last night's dinner conversation.

We were joined by the church's retired pastor and his wife, and astonishingly, the conversation became even more centered on death. Not the act of dying, but every subject is either life-centered or death-centered, God-honoring or satan-honoring. There's no middle ground -- there are only two teams to play on, so choose Team Life!

When it is necessary to speak about a person's health problems, do so in a positive way -- praise God for the fact that His will is always to heal. He always chooses life. If it were not so, He would tell us, and He wouldn't admonish us in Deuteronomy 30:19 to choose life.

Speak only life-affirming, faith-filled words. Choose to believe the report of the Lord, not the doctor, not the lab, not the specialist -- they only know facts, and facts have to bow their knee to Truth. The truth you know will set you free from the bondage of death & disease.

BOILING IT DOWN TO PRACTICAL STEPS THAT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE

Put away from thee a froward mouth, And perverse lips put far from thee (Prov 4:24).

The simple definition (Oxford Dictionary) of 'froward' is 'contrary'. So...contrary to what? Contrary to God's word. God's word says that by Jesus' stripes you were healed (Is 53:5, Matt 8:17, 1 Pet 2:24, etc...). If you WERE healed, you ARE healed, so stop stating otherwise.

For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. (Mark 11:23 )

Note that Jesus didn't even say "Christians" - He said "whosoever." So, like other God-principles and spiritual laws, this applies to everyone. If it works for the world, you better believe it works for a Christian! Also, notice that Jesus uses the word 'says' FOUR TIMES in this one verse, proving the importance and power of what we speak. You will have what you say, so speak the outcome you want.

Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered. (Mark 11:21)

“calling those things that be not as though they are” (Romans 4:17)

Our words are powerful. They are creative. God created all things with His words, and we are made in His image. The words you speak today are building your future, and if we actually believed the words that come out of our mouths, we'd probably all be dead already...example: "My feet are killing me!"

Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. (Colossians 3:2)

For ten days I paced the floor in terrible pain from an abcessed tooth, quoting scriptures, reminding God of His words, doing everything I'd been taught to do. Since I was in the middle of writing a book on healing, there was no way I was going to the dentist. Late on the tenth day, I said, "Lord, I don't even care about the pain anymore. It hasn't killed me and I'm kind of used to it now. What I want is to know what I'm missing. What do you need to tell me? I know it's for everyone that will read the book, not just me. I know it's something unique -- a word directly from you to my readers. I just want to understand what you're saying." Miraculously, I slept. I sat straight up in bed the next morning and He started downloading to me. You can read it all in Disarming Deadly Doctrines, but my point for this post is that I took my focus off the pain and put it on Jesus, who was and is the Answer. God instantly, and in a very dramatic way, healed me that morning.

...whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things (Phil 4:8).

It's hard to speak contrary to God's word when you're focused on good things.

Set a guard over my mouth, O LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips. Let not my heart be drawn to what is evil, to take part in wicked deeds with men who are evildoers; let me not eat of their delicacies. their rulers will be thrown down from the cliffs, and the wicked will learn that my words were well spoken. (Ps 141:3-6)

I love that -- the wicked will learn that my words were well spoken. Let's aim for that.

- Kemala