Author: petebeck3

Pete Beck III ministered as a pastor and Bible teacher in Burlington for over 34 years. He is married to Martha, with whom he has four children, ten beautiful grandchildren, and four amazing great grandchildren. He ministers in his local church as a Bible teacher and counselor. He has published two books - Seeing God's Smile and Promise of the Father - as well as a wide variety of Bible-related articles which he has compiled into books in PDF form.

The New Birth: An Important Key for Understanding the New Covenant

The New Covenant is often misunderstood, even by those of us who call ourselves Christians. It is such a radical departure from the Old Covenant that we sometimes have a hard time accepting it as true. We are conditioned by our fallen human nature, man-made religion, and worldly society to measure and compare ourselves to various norms or standards. Even we Christians often measure our standing with God in terms of our perceived performance in relation to the Law’s or the church’s demands, which is contrary to the New Covenant. It is difficult for us to grasp the enormity and completeness of the shift that is the New Covenant.

We cannot understand the New Covenant without knowing what happens to us when we are born again.

Jesus told us that the new birth is absolutely essential.

Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. 6  Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life. 7  So don’t be surprised when I say, ‘You must be born again.’ 8  The
 wind blows wherever it wants. Just as you can hear the wind but can’t 
tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can’t explain how 
people are born of the Spirit.” John 3:5-8 (NLT)

The new birth is an unseen internal recreation of the spirit that gives us a new identity as God’s children.

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NASB)

The new birth is not always immediately obvious to the observer or its effects easily measurable, but over time it will affect every part of our being.

Jesus also used this illustration: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like the yeast a woman used in making bread. Even though she put only a little yeast in three measures of flour, it permeated every part of the dough.” Matthew 13:33 (NLT)

The Old Covenant failed to make us right with God because we are fundamentally flawed by sin and incapable of keeping it.

If the first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no need for a second covenant to replace it. 8 But when God found fault with the people, he said: “The day is coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and Judah. 9 This covenant will not be like the one I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand and led them out of the land of Egypt. They did not remain faithful to my covenant, so I turned my back on them, says the LORD. Hebrews 8:7–9 (NLT)

The Law is perfect and accurately reflects God’s righteousness and holiness, but we are born into this world marred and corrupted by sin, thanks to what Adam passed down to us. It is impossible for humans to attain or maintain a right relationship with God through keeping the Law. It always points out our failures, placing us under judgment before God.

For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are. Romans 3:20 (NLT)

The best the Law can do is point us toward our desperate need for a Savior.

But the Scriptures declare that we are all prisoners of sin, so we receive God’s promise of freedom only by believing in Jesus Christ. 23 Before the way of faith in Christ was available to us, we were placed under guard by the law. We were kept in protective custody, so to speak, until the way of faith was revealed. 24 Let me put it another way. The law was our guardian until Christ came; it protected us until we could be made right with God through faith. 25 And now that the way of faith has come, we no longer need the law as our guardian. Galatians 3:22–25 (NLT)

God’s solution to the problem of human depravity was to provide the absolutely ingenious new and living way to have a right relationship with him.

But now we have been released from the law, for we died to it and are no longer captive to its power. Now we can serve God, not in the old way of obeying the letter of the law, but in the new way of living in the Spirit. Romans 7:6 (NLT)

Jeremiah gave us some great insight regarding the nature of the New Covenant.

“The day is coming,” says the LORD, “when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and Judah. 32  This covenant will not be like the one I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand and brought them out of the land of Egypt. They broke that covenant, though I loved them as a husband loves his wife,” says the LORD. 33  “But this is the new covenant I will make with the people of Israel on that day,” says the LORD. “I will put my instructions deep within them, and I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. 34  And they will not need to teach their neighbors, nor will they need to teach their relatives, saying, ‘You should know the LORD.’ For everyone, from the least to the greatest, will know me already,” says the LORD. “And I will forgive their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins.” Jeremiah 31:31-34 (NLT)

Later Ezekiel added the following.

And I will give them singleness of heart and put a new spirit within them. I will take away their stony, stubborn heart and give them a tender, responsive heart, 20  so they will obey my decrees and regulations. Then they will truly be my people, and I will be their God. Ezekiel 11:19-20 (NLT)

Both prophets spoke of God’s doing something altogether new and different in his people that would fundamentally alter their behavior by putting a different spirit and heart within them. How could such a thing be done?

When Jesus told Nicodemus about the new birth via the Spirit’s work inside a person, he clarified the mechanism for this radical change.

The new thing is the fusion of our Spirit with the Holy Spirit via the new birth.

When we are born of the Spirit, we are joined to the Holy Spirit in a radical and unprecedented union with God. 

But the person who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with him. 1 Corinthians 6:17 (NLT)

We become sons of God because the Spirit of his Son lives within us! Our identity is a product of the new birth fusion with the Holy Spirit.

But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. 5  God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children. 6  And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.” 7  Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir. Galatians 4:4-7 (NLT)

God’s own life invades the innermost part of our being as a result of the new birth. This is why our hearts now want to do what is right and pleasing to God. Our deepest desires now spring from God himself.

At first this may sound too good to be true, and our experience often seems to contradict it. Those of us who have been born again still battle with sin. How can this be, if our spirits are united with God?

Paul dealt with this issue in Romans Chapter 7. After explaining in Chapter 6 that we are now dead to sin due to being united with Christ in his death and resurrection, he goes on to recognize the ongoing problem we have with sin in the next chapter. The essence of the problem is that, while we have recreated spirits, we also have bodies that are very much a part of the sinful old order of things under Adam. Our physical bodies are condemned to die because of the judgment against Adam’s (and our) sin.

Jesus, who is the Second Adam (1 Corinthians 15:45) and the progenitor of a brand new redeemed version of humanity, will one day resurrect our bodies from the dead and transform them into glorious spiritual bodies that will no longer be subject to sin and death (1 Corinthians 15:44), thus completely ending sin’s reign in our lives.

Until the resurrection of the body, however, we live in the paradox of being dead to sin in the spirit yet still being pulled by sin because of our union with an unresurrected body. Paul called this the war between the flesh and the spirit.

So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. 17  The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. 18  But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses. Galatians 5:16-18 (NLT)

Jesus acknowledged this problem when he told his disciples that the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. (Matthew 26:41)

Paul went a little further in his explanation in Romans Chapter 7.

So the trouble is not with the law, for it is spiritual and good. The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin. 15  I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate. 16  But if I know that what I am doing is wrong, this shows that I agree that the law is good. 17  So I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it. Romans 7:14-17 (NLT)

Even the best-intentioned God-fearing believers, such as Paul, battle with sin. The battle is in our souls (mind, will, and emotions), which is the intersection of spirit and body. (Genesis 2:7) The fusion of a born-again spirit with a mortal sin-corrupted body makes us spiritually bipolar and conflicted.

What Paul means in the above passage is that we now have a decision to make: will we identify with the new creation or with the “flesh”? Paul claimed that his true identity was the new man in Christ, and so should we.

Jesus said much the same thing in John Chapter 8.

Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave of sin. 35  A slave is not a permanent member of the family, but a son is part of the family forever. 36  So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free. John 8:34-36 (NLT)

Jesus often spoke in a mysterious way that requires us to lean on the Holy Spirit to unpack the meaning of his words. Here is what I believe he meant.

  • Slavery to sin results from our being a child of the devil, an enslaved descendant of the first Adam.
  • Slaves are not God’s children, only those who are born of the Father.
  • When we are born again, we are set free from slavery to sin because we become new creations whose inward motivation derives from God himself.
  • Therefore, all born again children of God are no longer slaves to sin.

This agrees with Paul’s teaching in Romans 6-8 and John’s first letter, where he wrote the following.

Those who have been born into God’s family do not make a practice of sinning, because God’s life is in them. So they can’t keep on sinning, because they are children of God. 1 John 3:9 (NLT)

In other words, if we are born again, we cannot continue to sin without suffering internal conflict of a major sort. It goes against our fundamental nature now to continue to sin. Yet, we all struggle in at least some area because we still live in these unresurrected bodies.

Paul tells us that now we must learn to live above the downward pull of sin by “walking in the Spirit.”

Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. Galatians 5:25 (NLT)

The new birth also provides an escape from the enervating power of condemnation. We now understand that sin no longer defines us and the Law cannot control us any longer. We have a new identity in Christ that transcends sin’s power to dominate and control, and we died to the Law so that it can no longer condemn us.

Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another—to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God. Romans 7:4 (NKJV)

We are still responsible for the sins we commit, but we are not defined or condemned by them anymore.

God wants us to acknowledge and renounce them without allowing them to tear us down or make us doubt our true identity in Christ and eternal relationship with the Father. We dare not become careless or flippant about sin, because we have a loving Father who knows how to discipline his wayward children.

The power to rise above the condemning power of the Law is absolutely essential in the process of learning to walk by faith in the Spirit.

So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. 2  And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death. Romans 8:1-2 (NLT)

So the next time we fall for the same old lie and commit some besetting sin, let us not beat ourselves up or start doubting if we are even saved. If we know that we have put our faith and allegiance in Christ, we can acknowledge our sin, ask forgiveness, renounce it, and move on, trusting that the Spirit will help us live out of our new identity as God’s children. Let us claim our New Covenant God-given freedom from sin by faith. The Bible says that sin will not rule over us. (Romans 6:14) We can learn to walk in the freedom and power of the Spirit. Then we will begin to more fully experience all that Christ died to give us, for if the Son sets us free, we are free indeed. (John 8:36)

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Healing Part 6 – Understanding, Embracing, and Exercising Delegated Authority

Healing is directly related to understanding and operating in the delegated authority we receive from Christ.

Today many people are quite uncomfortable with having or exercising authority over others. It is commonplace for adults to ask small children to call them by their first names, choosing to be on familiar terms with the very young instead of teaching them to respect their elders. My opinion is this aversion to being in authority is directly related to a refusal to be under proper authority. We seldom wish to be what we despise.

As Christ’s modern day representatives, we have the privilege of continuing Christ’s ministry on the earth. This will be hindered unless we come to terms with exercising our delegated authority in Christ.

The Roman Centurion, who asked Jesus to heal his servant, grasped the nature of the authority Jesus had.

When Jesus returned to Capernaum, a Roman officer came and pleaded with him, 6  “Lord, my young servant lies in bed, paralyzed and in terrible pain.” 7  Jesus said, “I will come and heal him.” 8  But the officer said, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come into my home. Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed. 9  I know this because I am under the authority of my superior officers, and I have authority over my soldiers. I only need to say, ‘Go,’ and they go, or ‘Come,’ and they come. And if I say to my slaves, ‘Do this,’ they do it.” 10  When Jesus heard this, he was amazed. Turning to those who were following him, he said, “I tell you the truth, I haven’t seen faith like this in all Israel! Matthew 8:5-10 (NLT)

Authority and faith are linked. Faith is able to receive and exercise God’s authority; therefore, understanding the nature and extent of delegated authority is crucial.

The centurion understood that Jesus was on mission from God, and, as his representative, had been given the authority to get the job done. The one having delegated authority is not always required to back up that authority personally. It takes power to enforce authority. The Holy Spirit is God’s enforcer. When Jesus spoke in God’s name, the Holy Spirit made what he said happen. The same is true for us today.

The Spirit of the LORD is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, Luke 4:18 (NLT)

Jesus was the official ambassador of God’s kingdom. He exercised the authority of that kingdom and was backed up by the Enforcer, the Holy Spirit. That role has now been assigned to his church.

The Holy Spirit is the One who made Jesus’ words and commands effective when it came to proclaiming the gospel, healing, casting out evil spirits, and raising the dead.

But if I am casting out demons by the Spirit of God, then the Kingdom of God has arrived among you. Matthew 12:28 (NLT)

We would never ask or beg an evil spirit to leave a person and to cease to oppress him or her, just as a police officer does not beg an offender to please give up. A peace officer must be comfortable using the authority given to him or her in order to be effective, and so must we.

Jesus gave his disciples specific authority, and by extension that includes us and all the disciples who would follow him through the centuries.

Look, I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them. Nothing will injure you. 20  But don’t rejoice because evil spirits obey you; rejoice because your names are registered in heaven.” Luke 10:19-20 (NLT)

Satan stole the authority God delegated to Adam by deceiving him into submitting to him instead of God. Satan still gives some measure of evil authority to those who serve him, but God’s authority always overrules Satan’s. The evil power released by the exercise of satanic authority is no match for the power of the one true God. (1 John 4:4)

It is our responsibility to release God’s power through exercising the authority we have in Christ.

When Jesus died on the cross and subsequently rose from the dead, he completely defeated Satan and his minions.

In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross. Colossians 2:15 (NLT)

After Jesus’ resurrection, all authority in heaven and on earth was given to him. (Matthew 28:18) Our Lord now sits in heaven on God’s throne waiting until all his enemies have been effectively subjugated by his people who operate in his authority, backed up by the Holy Spirit’s power.

God raised Jesus from the dead, and we are all witnesses of this. 33  Now he is exalted to the place of highest honor in heaven, at God’s right hand. And the Father, as he had promised, gave him the Holy Spirit to pour out upon us, just as you see and hear today. 34  For David himself never ascended into heaven, yet he said, ‘The LORD said to my Lord, “Sit in the place of honor at my right hand 35  until I humble your enemies, making them a footstool under your feet.”’ 36  “So let everyone in Israel know for certain that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, to be both Lord and Messiah!” Acts 2:32-36 (NLT) 

The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. May the grace of our Lord Jesus be with you. Romans 16:20 (NLT)

Satan has been defeated and cannot exercise dominion over the church. Nevertheless, God left him in place in this fallen world so that the church can learn to exercise Christ’s authority as representatives of the kingdom of God. We are being prepared to rule and reign with Christ for eternity.

Much of our ministry here on earth is an exercise of Christ’s authority. The gospel is an announcement that all who put their faith and allegiance in the Lord will be made right with God. Why do we have the right to say such things? God has given us authority to speak in his name. When we cast out evil spirits, we do so in the name or authority of our Lord. The Holy Spirit will enforce our words. Deliverance is never a power struggle between Christ’s followers and evil spirits. It is an authority issue. We have to know where we stand; otherwise, demons will try to bluff their way into continuing to oppress their hosts.

The same is true when it comes to healing. I do not recall our Lord ever begging his Father to heal someone. Instead he usually commanded people to be healed or simply announced that God had healed them, using the authority he had from God. I will leave you the joy of searching out the scriptures to see if this is so. Christ is our example. His ministry is our pattern.

The early disciples exercised their authority to heal, in obedience to our Lord’s command.

Jesus sent out the twelve apostles with these instructions... 7  Go and announce to them that the Kingdom of Heaven is near. 8  Heal the sick, raise the dead, cure those with leprosy, and cast out demons. Give as freely as you have received! Matthew 10:5-8 (NLT)

Jesus did not instruct them to “ask me to heal the sick.” He told them to heal and otherwise exercise his authority, which had been given to them.

If we are uncomfortable exercising our God given authority, we will be hindered in representing Christ properly in the healing ministry.

It is a little strange when we first start using our authority, just as I imagine it is somewhat uncomfortable for newly graduated police officers to command offenders to submit to their commands. I remember when I first assumed responsibility as the pastor of the church plant in Burlington. I had never before had people honor me as the pastor by calling me by that title. I had to get used to my new role. Likewise, we must become acclimated to exercising Christ’s authority.

Practically speaking, we must move from merely asking God to heal people to commanding them to be healed.

Does that seem like a stretch? If so, it is because we have not yet understood and embraced the authority we have as Christ’s ambassadors. Why not give it a try? We might be surprised at the results. Let’s be willing to take the risk. Let the Spirit be our guide. Learn from experience. Don’t be afraid of making a mistake. Don’t worry about looking foolish. Get out on a limb where God is able to demonstrate how remarkably powerful he is. If we do these things, we will be able to share some amazing testimonies in days to come of how God used us to bless others and glorify himself.

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Healing Part 5 – What can we do to see more healings?

 

If our Lord provided physical healing in the atonement and he wants to heal people today, is there anything we can do to see more healing? Here are some practical suggestions.

Overcoming Ignorance

One big reason people do not receive more from God is because we do not even know what God has given to us.

The Holy Spirit desires to open our spiritual eyes.

And we have received God’s Spirit (not the world’s spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us. 1 Corinthians 2:12 (NLT)

Ignorance can be overcome by diligently studying and meditating on what the Bible teaches on the subject, while leaning on God’s Spirit to be our teacher.

Defeat Apathy

Apathy toward God’s marvelous gifts is sinful.

Another word for apathy is “lukewarmness.” Jesus hates apathy.

I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Revelation 3:15–16 (NKJV)

God would rather we resist truth than not care.

Sometimes we dress up our apathy in religious garb by saying, “Well, if God wants to heal, I guess he will.” If I held up a hundred dollar bill and said it is yours, would you just look at me and say, “Well, if God wants me to have the $100, I guess it will come to me?” I hope not. I would expect you to act as if you want it, that would walk up to me to take it from my hand. God expects us to want to be healed or to want him to heal others and to do something about it, not remain passive.

If we want to be healed, we should ask God to do it or, even better, proclaim that he has done it! The Bible says that we “were” healed (1 Peter 2:24).

Healing is a finished work that God calls us to experience in the here and now by proclaiming and receiving it by faith.

The woman with internal bleeding was healed by touching Jesus’ garment, without his even consciously willing it. When our faith connects with God’s provision, healing flows. Jesus already paid for our healing on the cross. Certainly he wants us to have it!

Repent for Unbelief

The Gospel of Matthew reveals that unbelief is a hindrance to our receiving anything from God.

And they were deeply offended and refused to believe in him. Then Jesus told them, “A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his own family.” 58  And so he did only a few miracles there because of their unbelief. Matthew 13:57-58 (NLT)

Jesus often said, “Be it done unto you according to your faith.” In Nazareth the people limited their ability to receive from Jesus because of their unbelief.

Unbelief and pride show that our hearts are hard, which shuts down our ability to understand, believe, and receive (Mark 6:52). Conversely, repentance and humility open our hearts to God and produce fertile soil for faith.

Jesus taught that all things are possible to the person who believes (Mark 9:23).

Overcoming unbelief requires us to confront our doubt regarding God’s promises.

I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart. 24  I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours. Mark 11:23-24 (NLT)

James, the Lord’s brother and the leader of the church in Jerusalem, wrote that a “double-minded man,” who wavers between faith and unbelief or doubt, will not receive anything from God (James 1:6-8).

One way to overcome unbelief is to act as if we believe.

I am not suggesting that we become hypocrites, but obedience to God is more about what we do than anything else. Sometimes we must act the part before our feelings catch up.

If anyone chooses to do God's will, he will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own. John 7:17 (NIV)

I remember once the Lord spoke to my heart when I was feeling down about something. He asked me, “Why don’t you just act as if everything is going to be alright?” Instantly my attitude completely flipped because I thought, “Of course! Because it is going to be alright.”

We must act as if we have faith in order to help our thinking change and line up with God’s Word. Actions often speak louder than words. Faith is as faith does.

The same principle applies to worship. At times we do not feel like worshiping, but if we choose to do so anyway, our feelings will often follow the lead of our actions. Worship is always the right thing to do, if when we do not feel like it.

We also know from Scripture that the Lord sometimes overrules our unbelief as we haltingly approach him for help, as he did in the case of the desperate father who pleaded with Jesus to heal his son. The father approached Jesus, saying…

The spirit often throws him into the fire or into water, trying to kill him. Have mercy on us and help us, if you can.” 23  “What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.” 24  The father instantly cried out, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!” Mark 9:22-24 (NLT)

We must remember that when we come to God for help, we are engaging a person who deeply loves us, not a heavenly slot machine that requires a special coin of the realm to get results. God is not looking for magic formulas, incantations, or confessions to wring a healing out of him.

The Lord responds to those who come to him as spiritual paupers, expecting him to hear their cry for help (Matthew 5:3).

When we get our eyes off of ourselves and on to him, real faith automatically engages with an honesty that is refreshing. The man who pleaded with Jesus in Mark chapter nine had true faith, or else he would not have persisted in his pursuit of Jesus.

Abraham’s wife Sarah conceived a miracle son in her old age after laughing in unbelief when God first announced his plan. When the Lord confronted her about it, she added lying to her unbelief by saying she did not laugh. Nevertheless, her fear and unbelief did not block God’s plan for her and ultimately the entire world. Neither did Gideon’s initial timidity block God from using him to miraculously deliver Israel. Other examples can be given of how God was able to work in and through people who were very much works in progress regarding faith.

The good news is that when God chooses to heal someone, he is not ultimately limited by our faith level; even though faith is extremely important in the process.

Be Courageous

Lack of courage is a big reason we do not see more healing today.

Many of us are more concerned about looking good in front of people than we are about God’s glory.

We are afraid to pray for healing because we are worried about the possibility that nothing will happen? We are fearful of looking foolish? That is a risk we must take if we are going to be effective representatives of God’s kingdom. It is a good thing to climb out on a limb of faith, so to speak, where, unless God comes through, we will look foolish. When we put ourselves into a position of publicly believing for God to heal someone, we risk looking bad in front of people, but we also risk seeing a miracle.

I have never experienced a person becoming angry with me for praying for their healing, even when healing did not appear to take place. Almost always they show gratitude that someone cared enough to pray for them. I have also witnessed amazing healings occur when I publicly prayed for people.

If we care too much about our reputation, we will not be effective for God.

Ironically, those who risk losing their reputations for God’s glory may gain respect in the process. As Jesus said,

If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it. Matthew 10:39 (NLT)

God honors faith. He will back up the confidence we have in him.

Once we are sure it is God’s will to heal people, nothing should hold us back from aggressively praying for people.

Follow the Leading of the Holy Spirit

Listening to God’s voice and following the promptings of the Holy Spirit are essential to seeing God do more healing through his people.

This is a cultivated skill that develops when we do what he tells us. Hearing God speak to us in our hearts can be quite scary, especially when he tells us to do something outside of our comfort zones.

The Holy Spirit is God’s administrator here on earth. He is a liberator and healer of people and is looking for those who will let him operate through them. (Isaiah 61:1, Luke 4:18, and Acts 10:38)

Jesus taught that his “sheep”, those of us who are born again, have the ability to hear his voice. (John 10:27) It takes faith to step out in obedience to the Spirit’s often quite gentle promptings. It often depends on our having courage and being willing to fail occasionally in order to succeed in the long run.

If we are not yet very accomplished at following the Spirit’s promptings, we can ask someone who is further along to help us in this area. This is called being a disciple.

Let us not forget that healing people is God’s idea, not ours. He is far more interested in setting people free than we are. We need to get in step with him.

Listening to God’s voice connects us to what some people call the “rhema” word of God. The “logos” word might be considered to be the eternal promises of God, as written in the Bible.

The “rhema” word of God is when the Spirit speaks directly to our hearts.

Of course, the two must agree, but often the “rhema” word is more specific to our need. We always have the “logos” Word of Scripture to rely upon. When the Spirit speaks directly to us, it ignites faith at a whole new level that God intends to do what he says.

Embrace the Mystery that Not Everyone Seems to Get Healed When We Pray

Books have been written on possible reasons for not receiving healing, the premise being that, if we remove every hindrance, healing will be sure to follow in every case. But is this correct? The Bible teaches us that there is a time to be born and a time to die. (Ecclesiastes 3:2) Elijah the prophet, a man through whom God worked many astounding miracles, eventually got sick and died. (2 Kings 13:14) My own father was a man of faith who believed God for healing, but eventually he got sick and died at the age of 93. Our pre-resurrection bodies will not live forever.

Paul, a man through whom the Spirit did many miracles and healing and who wrote some of our most important Bible verses about faith, once left behind a friend who was sick. (2 Timothy 4:20) Jesus did not heal every sick person he met either. Of all those sick and crippled people gathered at the pool of Bethesda, he singled out one man to heal (John 5:2-9). It is true, however, that Jesus healed everyone who asked. (James 4:2)

It is important for us to realize that there is a certain mystery surrounding healing and all other operations of the Spirit, who distributes spiritual gifts according to his will, not ours. (Hebrews 2:4)

The scriptures provide us with what some call the “revealed will” of God. Others call this “logos” truth, that is, what we can count on as being doctrinally true. But there is also what some call the “rhema” will or word of God, which is his specific revealed or “spoken” will for us in a given situation. God has given us his logos truth in the Bible, which is always true. We are to make our stand upon that eternal Word.

How and when God fulfills the promises in his Word are up to him. Some might call this his “secret” will.

The LORD our God has secrets known to no one. We are not accountable for them, but we and our children are accountable forever for all that he has revealed to us... Deuteronomy 29:29 (NLT)

To put this is plain English, while it is true that Jesus’ suffering purchased our healing, God reserves to himself how he distributes that benefit in specific situations. Our reference point is the revealed will of God found in the Bible (“through his wounds we are healed”).

When we find ourselves confronted by the need for a miraculous healing, we should “stand” upon his written promises and also ask the Holy Spirit for insight into his specific will for that particular situation.

Let me give a practical example. Usually when I pray for a very old person who seemingly has a terminal illness, I ask for healing according to the revealed will of God in the Bible. However, I am also aware that all of us have been assigned a God-given time to die. Therefore, I listen to the voice of the Spirit in my heart for specific directions as to how to pray. I once had a dear friend who was dying of cancer. When I sought the Lord regarding her situation, I believe I clearly heard him say that she was going to die, that her long period of suffering was coming to an end. This was a person whom God had previously healed miraculously more than once. It was someone for whom I had joined my faith with hers and her husband’s for one of those big miracles. It was not as if we were lacking faith, but this time was different. As her pastor, my ministry toward her changed after hearing from God that this was her time to go be with him. Instead of holding out a false hope of experiencing physical healing once again, I did my best to prepare her to die well in faith as an example to those of us who observed how she handled things. I am happy to say that she died in faith just as she had previously lived and been healed by faith. As a side note, she and her husband both said that God gave them no specific “rhema” word for healing in the last case, as he had previously done for them. We all knew in our hearts that it was time for her to transition into heaven. Being open to the Spirit keeps us from being what I call “mechanical” in our application of faith. God is not a Grand Vending Machine in the heavens from whom we can ring up a healing at will by saying all the right things.

Faith’s goal is to bring glory to God, not just to get what we want.

There is a profound mystery to healing. Some receive a miracle. Others do not, at least not in this short life, and we should not automatically blame unbelief. Telling people they do not have enough faith places an intolerable burden on our shoulders to more or less earn our own healing by exercising the required level of faith. God’s often unknowable reasons and purposes are not ours to command.

There is a dynamic tension between surrender to God’s mysterious will and holding on to God’s revealed promises with unbreakable trust.

Perhaps the greatest biblical example of this attitude in action is found in the case of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These three brave worshipers of the true God in Daniel’s day were faced with the choice of bowing down before Nebuchadnezzar’s idol or being thrown into a roaring furnace. Here is their famous reply to the king.

If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. 18  But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.” Daniel 3:17-18 (NLT)

These men demonstrated great faith through their loyalty to God.

Faithfulness or loyalty to God is what trust in God produces.

The way we can apply this to our own lives with regard to healing is by coming to God with a prayer such as this.

God, I thank you that Jesus paid the price for my healing. I am absolutely convinced that it is your will to heal me and you have the power to set me free from this illness. However, I also realize that sometimes you have secret purposes of which I am unaware. I surrender myself to your loving care and will. I ask you to glorify yourself through me in this situation, either by healing me or giving me the faith and courage to joyfully endure. I am yours to command. I trust you completely.

The author of Hebrews talks about faith that continues to resolutely trust God regardless of whether it gets its wish.

All these people died still believing what God had promised them. They did not receive what was promised, but they saw it all from a distance and welcomed it. They agreed that they were foreigners and nomads here on earth. Hebrews 11:13 (NLT)

I have discovered that when we entrust ourselves to God’s loving will, we put ourselves in the best possible position to receive a miracle.

God is not stingy. He is not weak. He is not wishy-washy about fulfilling his promises. Rather, he paid a tremendous price to procure our healing and is predisposed to bless us beyond our wildest dreams. He delights in those who fully trust in him. When we surrender ourselves to God, our ability to hear what the Holy Spirit whispers in our ears is greatly enhanced. When we discern his “rhema” will in a given situation, we will have strong confidence.

So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. Romans 10:17 (ESV)

I remember years ago when I was facing surgery for cancer, I did exactly what I laid out above. I told the Lord that whether I lived or died, I belonged to him. (Philippians 1:20-23) I asked him to glorify himself through me. After praying that, I clearly heard God speak to me as I read the Bible that he was going to heal me. I had no difficulty believing without doubt that this was his revealed will from then on, and that is exactly what happened. At the time of this writing I have been cancer free for 17 years. Thank you, Lord!

When the “rhema” spoken word matches the “logos” written word, our faith will be unbreakable. Faith is open to hear whatever God may speak to us, because we are not afraid of him or what he may tell us.

Conclusion

We can experience physical healing in a greater way when we overcome ignorance, apathy, unbelief, and timidity. The more we listen to the Spirit and surrender to God’s glorious purposes for our lives, the greater will be our confidence in God’s power to heal. All that remains for us to do is put what we believe into practice.

Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?” John 11:40 (ESV)

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Healing Part 4 – Can We Expect God to Heal People Today?

If we believe that Jesus paid for our physical healing in the atonement and that God desires to heal us, is it right to expect him to do so?

In my first article in this series, I concluded that the rejection of present day healing is a form of eisegesis in which we seek to conform the Word of God to our own experience and biases, rather than allowing it to conform us to it. Those who deny that healing is for today either reject miracles in principle, have little or no faith in God’s will or ability to perform them, or embrace a position called cessationism, which holds that the nine spiritual gifts in 1 Corinthians 12:7-11 are no longer needed or available since the completion of the New Testament. This way of thinking holds that we no longer need to rely upon the power of the Spirit to work alongside the verbal proclamation of the gospel message.

Cessationism is a culturally Greek way of thinking that understands faith as being mostly a mental exercise rather than a holistic (spirit, soul, and body) response to the most dynamic and wonderful proclamation ever made – Jesus is Lord! Cessationists are comfortable with limiting the meaning of God’s Word to what most of us in the West have experienced, which is an absence of the miraculous. Whenever we limit the Bible to what we have personally experienced, it is a form of humanism. Man is not the measure of all things. God is, and his Word measures us. A better approach is to ask God to bring our experience in line with what the Bible teaches. We rob ourselves if we settle for anything less.

It is foolish to discount our need for the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

Jesus announced in Luke 4:18 that he was in partnership with the Holy Spirit during his earthly ministry. It is impossible to imagine how he could have carried out his mission without the Spirit’s power and the spiritual gifts.

If Jesus depended completely on the Spirit to fulfill his ministry, how much more must we!

The disciple is not above his master. (Matthew 10:24)

Jesus later instructed his disciples to wait until they received the baptism in the Spirit before embarking on fulfilling the Great Commission. (Acts 1:8) Paul wrote to the church in Thessalonica that the gospel had come to them in word and the power of the Spirit. (1 Thessalonians 1:5) The first disciples had the written scriptures from the Old Testament; yet, they needed the power of the Spirit working alongside their gospel presentations to convince people of the truth of their message. Today followers of Christ, who have the written scriptures of the New Testament and Old Covenants, still need the gifts and power of the Holy Spirit, perhaps more than ever.

The deception that is upon the world has not decreased. People in general are not persuaded by a mere intellectual argument. We need God’s power to work together with the verbal presentation of the gospel!

Jesus is the same today as yesterday. (Hebrews 13:8) The Holy Spirit has not changed either, nor has our need for him diminished. The gifts of the Spirit, including healing, are very much needed today and are still available to us in Christ.

To each person the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the benefit of all. 8  For one person is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, and another the message of knowledge according to the same Spirit, 9  to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10  to another performance of miracles, to another prophecy, and to another discernment of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. 11  It is one and the same Spirit, distributing as he decides to each person, who produces all these things. 1 Corinthians 12:7-11 (NET1)

Rather than deny what we have not experienced personally, we should ask God to let his gifts flow through us to other people. That is the purpose of the gifts.

Healing is a demonstration of God’s compassion and power. Jesus showed how much God cares about suffering people by healing and delivering them from demonic oppression.

And you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. Acts 10:38 (NLT)

Jesus promised that his followers would do even greater works than he. (John 14:12) The Bible does not teach us to limit our expectations. Quite the contrary!

The early church expected the Spirit to heal people as part of the gospel proclamation. Jesus did not put an expiration date on his miracle power, and neither should we.

Heal the sick, raise the dead, cure those with leprosy, and cast out demons. Give as freely as you have received! Matthew 10:8 (NLT)

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Healing Part 3 – Why Does God Heal People?

Understanding why God heals people will help us participate in this excellent ministry. If you read Part 1 and Part 2 of this series of articles, hopefully you are convinced that it is God’s will to heal people today. After all, Jesus is the same today (Hebrews 13:8) as he was when he walked the earth, healing all who were oppressed by the devil (Acts 10:38). This article examines what the Bible says about God’s motivation for healing people.

If we want to join our Lord in the ministry of healing, it is important for us to think as he does.

The more our hearts align with his, the better will be our understanding of his ways, and the easier it will be for us to walk in agreement with him.

Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him. 1 John 5:14–15 (NKJV)
It Is God’s Nature to Heal People

The first reason why God heals people is that it is part of his essential nature to heal and restore those he loves.

One of the Old Testament compound names of God was Jehovah-Rapha, the Lord who heals you. All the compound names of God reveal who God is at his core.

He said, “If you will listen carefully to the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in his sight, obeying his commands and keeping all his decrees, then I will not make you suffer any of the diseases I sent on the Egyptians; for I am the LORD who heals you [Jehovah-rapha].” Exodus 15:26 (NLT)

God healed those who were faithful to him in the Old Testament. Under the New Covenant, blessings come to us based on the faithfulness of Christ. He is the One who earned this blessing for us, having paid for it dearly.

But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. Isaiah 53:5 (NLT)

My first article in this series goes into great detail regarding the proper interpretation of this verse.

Once a bill has been paid, nothing more is owed. We do not have to earn our healing in any way because Jesus completely paid for it!

It is a gift from a very gracious God whose nature is to heal and restore those he loves, and now he has the legitimate basis for doing so.

God’s Compassion Motivates Him

Compassion for those who are suffering was and is a primary motivation for Jesus to heal people.

Once when Jesus was tired from ministry to the crowds who thronged him, he tried to get away for some rest and recuperation. Instead, he found large numbers of people waiting for him when his boat reached the shore. Rather than being disappointed or irritable, this is what the Bible says about our Lord’s attitude.

Jesus saw the huge crowd as he stepped from the boat, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick. Matthew 14:14 (NLT)

Sickness and disease are part of the aftermath of Adam’s first sin. Death entered the world, with sickness being an ever present threat to diminish or end our physical lives.

God promises that in the new heaven and earth that is coming, there will be no sickness, death, suffering, pain, or even sorrow! (Revelation 21:4) As we wait for that glorious day, when God will permanently remove the horrible consequences of sin, our Lord is not content to leave us without remedy. Today he compassionately provides relief through gifts of healing. (1 Corinthians 12:9) What a privilege it is for us to be part of this ministry!

Jesus demonstrated God’s heart in this matter very clearly during his short earthly ministry. (Acts 10:38) He instructed his disciples to operate in the same way.

Go and announce to them that the Kingdom of Heaven is near. 8  Heal the sick, raise the dead, cure those with leprosy, and cast out demons. Give as freely as you have received! Matthew 10:7-8 (NLT)

After Jesus’ resurrection and ascension into heaven, the early church continued to demonstrate God’s love to people through preaching the gospel of reconciliation and performing compassionate healings. A reading of the Book of Acts confirms this. The disciples understood that Jesus’ mission of demonstrating God’s love to people is ongoing.

Healing Confirms the Truth of the Gospel

This leads us to another powerful reason God continues to heal today.

Our Lord uses healing and other miracles and signs to confirm the truth of his Word.

Jesus urged his hearers to pay attention to the miracles and healings he performed, because these things testified to his identity as the Messiah.

Just believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Or at least believe because of the work you have seen me do. 12  “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. 13  You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. 14  Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it! John 14:11-14 (NLT)

Knowing how strong our propensity toward unbelief is, Jesus graciously performed signs and wonders to release people from their spiritual blindness. It still works today for many.

Those who teach and preach God’s Word should be unafraid to ask God to confirm the truth of the Bible by healing their listeners.

Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages of that area, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness. Matthew 9:35 (NLT)

Jesus said that certain signs, including healing, attest to the reality of the Kingdom of God in our midst.

Heal the sick, and tell them, ‘The Kingdom of God is near you now.’ Luke 10:9 (NLT)

I believe that God does not expect people to believe solely because of our words, as important as they are.

The gospel was designed to come to people through preaching and the demonstration of the power of the kingdom of God.

For when we brought you the Good News, it was not only with words but also with power, for the Holy Spirit gave you full assurance that what we said was true. And you know of our concern for you from the way we lived when we were with you. 1 Thessalonians 1:5 (NLT)

I believe it is disingenuous to claim that these signs and wonders only continued until the publication of the text of the New Testament. The early disciples also had the Scriptures, although limited to the Old Testament. Nevertheless, the gospel can be fully preached out of the Old Testament scriptures, as shown in the book of Acts. God backed up those infallible words of Scripture with tangible demonstrations of the Spirit’s power in the physical realm. He does the same today. His strategy has not changed.

What has changed is the way people interpret God’s Word. Instead of taking it at face value, as the early church did, many try to limit the meaning of the Scriptures to what they have personally experienced or can conceive to be true. This is simply another form of humanism, in which we seek to make ourselves the measure of all things. We must allow God’s word to measure and change us: not the other way around.

Jesus warned that we must know both the Word of God and the power of God in order to avoid error.

Jesus replied, “Your mistake is that you don’t know the Scriptures, and you don’t know the power of God. Mark 12:24 (NLT)

I hope that we will repent of the sin of diluting God’s Word to conform to our biases and get back to a God-centered interpretation of the Bible that includes the power of God being released through his people by means of the Holy Spirit. You and I can be part of this if we are willing.

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Healing Part 2 – New Testament Confirmation

 

The New Testament confirms the truth that Jesus provided physical healing for us through his suffering and death, as is clearly revealed in Isaiah 53.

The New Testament explains the Old Testament in light of who Jesus is and what he accomplished.

Jesus spent considerable time explaining to his disciples how he fulfilled Old Covenant scriptures.

Then Jesus took them through the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining from all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. Luke 24:27 (NLT)

Jesus is the focus of the entire Bible. If we fail to see him in the Old Covenant, we will miss its meaning and purpose completely. To miss Jesus is to miss life itself.

He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” John 3:36 (NKJV)

It is clear that Matthew understood the implications of Isaiah 53 regarding physical healing.

He clearly stated that Jesus fulfilled Isaiah 53:4 when he healed people.

Now when Jesus entered Peter’s house, he saw his mother-in-law lying down, sick with a fever. 15  He touched her hand, and the fever left her. Then she got up and began to serve them. 16  When it was evening, many demon-possessed people were brought to him. He drove out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick. 17  In this way what was spoken by Isaiah the prophet was fulfilled: “He took our weaknesses and carried our diseases.” Matthew 8:14-17 (NET1)

It is always instructive to see how the Bible interprets itself, as it does here.

Matthew leaves absolutely no room to doubt that Isaiah 53 addresses physical healing, no matter how later translators may skew the meaning because of their biases.

Let’s return to the New English translation to see how it honestly renders the passage from Isaiah.

But he lifted up our illnesses, he carried our pain; even though we thought he was being punished, attacked by God, and afflicted for something he had done. 5  He was wounded because of our rebellious deeds, crushed because of our sins; he endured punishment that made us well; because of his wounds we have been healed. Isaiah 53:4-5 (NET1)

Their notes reveal the following insight into their struggle to properly translate this passage.

17 sn Continuing to utilize the imagery of physical illness, the group acknowledges that the servant's willingness to carry their illnesses (v. 4) resulted in their being healed. Healing is a metaphor for forgiveness here.

Even these honest translators feel compelled to weaken the power of physical healing contained in these verses, but Matthew rescues us from this error. These verses cover all forms of healing, to be sure, including forgiveness, but we cannot afford to pretend it does not cover the physical aspect.

Peter also cites Isaiah 53 in his first letter.

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we may cease from sinning and live for righteousness. By his wounds you were healed. 1 Peter 2:24 (NET1)

Those who do not agree that physical healing is for today argue that Peter is here referencing a healing of the soul from the effects of sin and not physical healing.

Healing certainly applies to psychological and spiritual wounds, but it is not limited to them.

God did many signs and wonders through Peter, including remarkable healings. I am sure he understood that this power derived from what Christ suffered during his passion and death, just as did Matthew. They were students of the same teacher and were filled with the same Holy Spirit. God used them both to pen portions of our New Testament.

The Book of Acts reveals what the apostles believed through what they did. Actions speak louder than words. They believed that physical healing is available in Christ. So should we.

In conclusion, we owe a debt of gratitude to Matthew for clearing up this controversy of whether or not Isaiah 53 provides us with a doctrinal foundation for physical healing. Once we know where we stand, it should increase our faith that God still heals today.

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Healing Part 1 – The Inescapable Logic of Isaiah 53

What does the Bible have to say about physical healing? Jesus healed many during his earthly ministry; as did the first apostles. I have personally witnessed people receive healing from God through prayer, including myself. I know evangelists who preach the gospel to huge crowds in other countries where the Holy Spirit often heals and sets people free as a testimony to the truth of their message. Why is it that some churches teach that physical healing is available in Christ; while others insist that, since the completion of the New Testament scriptures, the gifts of the Spirit, including healing, are no longer active? Is God still healing people today, or has he backed off from the way he began the church age? In this series I will examine whether or not Jesus purchased healing for his people through his death and resurrection, whether healing is for today, why we don’t  see more current examples of this gift in operation, and the difference between true faith and what I call “magical thinking”.

Sadly, we Christians sometimes dilute the Word of God to match our own experience or presuppositions. We like to make excuses.

This is called eisegesis, the process whereby we read into the Bible what we want it to say instead of pulling out its true meaning (exegesis) and conforming our thinking to that. God’s Word should set our standard for thinking, behavior, and experience, not the other way around. It may be very difficult for us to admit that we are not experiencing all that God has provided to his people, because we are afraid to think about what that says about us. It is also easy to fall prey to the influence of worldly thinking and dead church tradition.

In the short run, it may seem easier to deny that healing is for today than to struggle with why we are not experiencing it. But in the long run, we want to know what the Bible really teaches and ask the Lord to make that our experience.

Four Important Hebrew Words

Isaiah 53 is the foundation for our understanding of physical healing.

Let us begin by looking at two verses from that chapter. But first, let’s be honest in admitting we all bring to the Bible a few or maybe a lot of preconceptions and biases. This is also true for those who translate the scriptures from the original languages. Those translators who do not believe that physical healing is for today will likely reflect that belief in the words they choose to convey the meaning of the Hebrew and Greek words. Regrettably, that has been especially true of this chapter in which some key words usually are not translated according to their most natural meaning. Below I quote from the New English Translation because it is very literal and seems to have less translators’ bias than some other versions. I put the Hebrew words inside parentheses.

But he lifted (nasa) up our illnesses (choli), he carried (sabal) our pain (makob); even though we thought he was being punished, attacked by God, and afflicted for something he had done. 5  He was wounded because of our rebellious deeds, crushed because of our sins; he endured punishment that made us well; because of his wounds we have been healed. Isaiah 53:4-5 (NET1)

For us to properly understand how Jesus provided healing for us through what he suffered, we need to pay close attention to the above four highlighted Hebrew words.

  • nasa – This verb means to bear or carry.
  • sabal – This verb means to carry a heavy load.
  • choli – This noun fundamentally means sickness.
  • makob – This noun translates best as pain.

Isaiah 53:4 says that he (Jesus) lifted up or bore (nasa) our sicknesses or illnesses (choli). The same verse also says that Jesus carried (sabal) our pain (makob). The NET translates this in a most natural manner. In other words, it says it as the Hebrew says it. (You may wish to read other translations to see how they use the same words.)

Next, let’s look at how these same two Hebrew verbs are used with reference to sin. The core of the gospel hinges upon Jesus’ being a sin offering as the Lamb of God (John 1:29), which completely satisfied the wrath of God and provided forgiveness and reconciliation to those who trust in him. If he did not carry our sin on the cross, we are still lost and under God’s judgment. Isaiah 53:11-12 makes it clear that he did.

Having suffered, he will reflect on his work, he will be satisfied when he understands what he has done. “My servant will acquit many, for he carried (sabal) their sins. 12  So I will assign him a portion with the multitudes, he will divide the spoils of victory with the powerful, because he willingly submitted to death and was numbered with the rebels, when he lifted up (nasa) the sin of many and intervened on behalf of the rebels. Isaiah 53:11-12 (NET1)

Here we see above that the Hebrew verbs sabal and nasa, which are used to describe what Jesus did with our pains and sicknesses, are also used to show us what he did with our sins.

The logic is inescapable. If we are forgiven by his carrying our sins; then, we are healed by his carrying our sicknesses and pains.

If he did not carry our sicknesses and pains, he did not carry our sins. All Bible believing Christians unequivocally adhere to the latter; therefore, all should also believe in the former, whether or not we have personally experienced physical healing.

To prove that this is proper interpretation of the Hebrew, the Holy Spirit provided us with a confirmation in the gospel of Matthew.

That evening many demon-possessed people were brought to Jesus. He cast out the evil spirits with a simple command, and he healed all the sick. 17  This fulfilled the word of the Lord through the prophet Isaiah, who said, “He took our sicknesses and removed our diseases.” Matthew 8:16-17 (NLT)

The reason many find it easier to believe in forgiveness than in physical healing is because forgiveness is for us a largely subjective experience, the reality of which will be confirmed experientially when we each stand before God in judgment. At that point, we will know beyond a shadow of a doubt whether or not the gospel is true and we were completely forgiven for our sins by what Christ did for us. Healing, on the other hand, requires us to experience it in the present, which tests our faith immediately, instead of putting it off until the indefinite future. We should not back away from the trial of faith that physical healing presents. Both forgiveness and healing are part of the atonement. Both are real. Both can be our experience.

In fact, healing confirms the truth of forgiveness, according to Jesus.

Is it easier to say ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up and walk’? 6  So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!” 7  And the man jumped up and went home! 8  Fear swept through the crowd as they saw this happen. And they praised God for sending a man with such great authority. Matthew 9:5-8 (NLT)

Isn’t it time for us to abandon our unbelief and embrace the truth of physical healing through the atonement? Isn’t it time for our experience to rise to the level of biblical truth instead of lowering the bar to match our experience? Yes, it is.

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How Can We Regain a Childlike Heart?

 

Jesus said that it is necessary to have a childlike heart to enter the kingdom of God.

I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.” Luke 18:17 (NLT)

Many of us tend to idealize childhood because of its lack of adult responsibilities or worries. Although it is not true for all, children have few shadows of sadness, disappointment, and shame. No big sins, failures, dashed hopes, or betrayals should cloud their hearts. Ideally, hopefulness, happiness, carefree innocence, contentment, and joy should be the experience of children. Does this describe your memories of childhood? I hope so.

Sadly, for many others, childhood was marred by the too soon awareness of how wicked the world is and the too early exposure to adult sins, temptations, and responsibilities. Abuse, neglect, shame, fear, loneliness, abandonment, and betrayal mark the childhood memories of some. These recollections and experiences may still echo in their minds and reverberate in our souls, resulting in a kind of PTCD – post traumatic childhood disorder. When something or someone churns up these old memories, powerful negative emotions may erupt.

Not surprisingly, the way we experience childhood can powerfully impact who we are as adults. What are we supposed to take with us from childhood into a mature and healthy adulthood? What are we supposed to leave behind? Paul clues us in on this.

Dear brothers and sisters, don’t be childish in your understanding of these things. Be innocent as babies when it comes to evil, but be mature in understanding matters of this kind. 1 Corinthians 14:20 (NLT)

God never intended for us to become familiar with evil. That was Satan’s idea, but now that the “cat is out of the bag,” our Lord does want us to develop in us a proper ability to discern between good and evil and to progress to an adult understanding of what is good.

But, what if we experienced a terrible childhood? Can the evil done to us be undone? Can we recover what was taken from us and get beyond the scars? Is their any way for us to receive what we should have received and missed out on as young children? As adults, is it possible to enjoy life as one who was properly loved and nurtured during childhood, even if we were not? Can childhood somehow be regained?

Sadly, many of us who were happy children in healthy families may have somewhere along the line lost our “childlikeness” because of sin and our responses to life’s pain and disappointments. We may have become cynical and find it difficult to fully trust God. We analyze first and believe secondly, if at all. Is there hope for us, too? I believe so.

Children and the Kingdom of God

Jesus loved little children and said something quite profound about them. Once when some parents were bringing infants and small children to him to receive his blessing, the disciples tried to push them away, apparently wishing to protect their master from this distraction and preserve his dignity as a teacher. Jesus became indignant and responded:

...“Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children.  Luke 18:16 (NLT)

Rather than drive away the children because they were “not worth his time,” or “incapable of receiving what he had to offer,” Jesus opened the door wide for those little ones to come to him. What did Jesus mean when he said that the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like children? What did he intend for us to grasp when he declared that no one will even enter God’s kingdom, unless we receive it like a child? Were these merely poetic words or an invitation?

The New Covenant and Childhood Regained

No matter how old a person may be, we are always children to God.

Jesus frequently tenderly addressed his listeners as children.

Dear children, I will be with you only a little longer... John 13:33 (NLT)

When Jesus rose from the dead, far more was affected than we now comprehend. Not only were sins forgiven, but the first raindrops of a coming flood of restoration of the entire creation was set in motion by what the Bible calls the New Covenant.

Central to what Jesus accomplished was to make us God’s own children.

Instead of leaving us as hopeless orphans, Jesus made us a part of God’s family.

For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are. 20  Against its will, all creation was subjected to God’s curse. But with eager hope, 21  the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay. 22  For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23  And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children, including the new bodies he has promised us. Romans 8:19-23 (NLT)

If we only understand that the New Covenant produces forgiveness for sinners, we miss so much. Sins were indeed erased by the shedding of Christ’s blood on the cross, and we who believe are declared “not guilty” by our Creator through his resurrection, which is called justification. Those who put their faith and allegiance in Our Lord Jesus, the Messiah King of Israel, are set free from everything that enslaved them, even though we may not immediately experience it. This includes sin, death, disease, demons, addictions, religious legalism, and everything else that the devil uses to hold people captive. This is the meaning of redemption.

But perhaps the greatest gift of all is our reconciliation to Father God and being brought into his family through the new birth.

God forgives, justifies, sets free, and restores us to his heavenly family as fully loved and accepted blood-bought born-again children, in whom dwells God’s own Spirit, the Spirit of sonship.

We are sons (and daughters) because the Spirit of God’s Son lives inside us.

We experience Jesus’ relationship with Abba as a result.

So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” 16  For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. Romans 8:15-16 (NLT) 

But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. 5  God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children. 6  And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.” 7  Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir. Galatians 4:4-7 (NLT)

The passages above speak of our being given full rights as adopted children. This will be fulfilled at the resurrection of the dead when we will be glorified and will manifest completely all that Jesus died to give us. This will be an expression of something that has its origin in eternity – the relationship of the Father with the Son. We who believe and receive the gospel enter into that relationship through the new birth and the indwelling Spirit.

All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. 4  Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. 5  God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. 6  So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son. Ephesians 1:3-6 (NLT)
Jesus and His Abba

The eternal Son, the Logos, the Second Person of the Trinity, is “eternally begotten.” (John 3:16, John 17:5) This means his relationship with the Father has always been and will always be. When he became a human being through his miraculous virgin birth, he experienced human sonship in the family of Joseph and Mary, but his primary relationship was and is with his heavenly Abba Father. We are not sure what kind of parents Joseph and Mary were, but we assume they were good ones by human standards, providing Jesus with a safe and secure loving and nurturing environment in which to grow up. However, we actually know more about his relationship with Abba.

Jesus acknowledged his devotion to his Abba when he was very young. When he remained behind at the Temple, engaged in discussion with religious leaders, and was finally located by his distraught parents, he said the following when they remonstrated him for staying behind.

“But why did you need to search?” he asked. “Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?” Luke 2:49 (NLT)

From a very early age, his primary allegiance was always to Abba, and he also understood Abba’s love and commitment to him.

I wonder how this made Joseph feel? Jesus knew he was adopted. He loved his adoptive father, Joseph, but his first allegiance was to his eternal Father. Jesus received from Joseph and Mary human love, discipline, education, and social and career skills – things every good parent supplies as best he or she can.

From his Abba Jesus received everything that he needed to be a fearlessly secure and loving human being.

The Bible privileges us to glimpse a beautiful impartation from Abba to his Son, when Jesus was gloriously transfigured on the mountain in front of three of his disciples. Abba said in front of those three who were there:

...“This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy. Listen to him.” Matthew 17:5 (NLT)

What son would not want to hear his father speak these loving, affirming, and empowering words?

  • “dearly loved Son” – These words firmly set Jesus’ identity as a dearly loved son. That is our core identity. If we are not rooted in this, we will struggle mightily. It is not enough to be a son. Every one of us needs to be loved. God made us to be loved, and we need to hear it spoken.
  • “who brings me great joy” – This affirmed that Jesus was fully accepted and very much liked by his father. It is one thing to be loved and another to be liked. Being liked is perhaps an even greater affirmation than being loved, and being told that we bring joy to someone is the epitome of affirmation. If we are merely tolerated because we are family, it scars our souls. We long for deep unconditional acceptance, which is only found in God. Our acceptance by Abba is based on Christ’s total acceptance by his Father, which he was born into and subsequently earned. We all know that we fall far short of measuring up to God’s standards and wonder how God can accept us at all. The beauty of the gospel is that we get to “ride on the back” of Jesus’ relationship with Abba. He earned for us unconditional acceptance. Praise the Lord!
  • “Listen to him” – These words empowered and commissioned Jesus with the knowledge that his Abba Father gave him an important job to do. Jesus knew that he was a person to be heeded, followed, and respected. Abba gave him significance, which is one of the deepest desires of the human soul. True significance only comes from God. If we are significant to him, that should be enough. Little children are significant to God, and he calls all of us to a very great work – to be ambassadors of reconciliation who take the glorious good news to others. (2 Corinthians 5:20)

Unfortunately, many fathers and mothers are unable or unwilling to properly love, rejoice in, and validate their children, which can leave them insecure, afraid, angry, and searching for these three things from others. Looking for love in the wrong places only leads to more heartache. Where is the best place for us to get what we may have missed out on from our earthly parents?

Jesus, the Doorway to Abba’s Heart

Jesus came to demonstrate a proper relationship with Abba. He died and rose again to restore us and introduce us to his Abba and explain or reveal him to us.

He did this by living and speaking as Abba would. Jesus revealed Abba continually though his lifestyle and words. The Bible says this about Jesus.

No one has ever seen God. The One and Only Son— the One who is at the Father’s side— He has revealed Him. John 1:18 (HCSB)

But there is a revelational aspect to this demonstration as well. Our hearts need to be enlightened by the Holy Spirit. Nothing pleases Jesus more than to introduce us to his Abba and open our hearts to understand more about him and just how much he loves us; so that we can believe, receive, and enjoy that relationship with the help of God’s Spirit.

At that time Jesus prayed this prayer: “O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike. 26  Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way! 27  “My Father has entrusted everything to me. No one truly knows the Son except the Father, and no one truly knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” Matthew 11:25-27 (NLT)

If we ask Jesus to reveal more about his Abba to us, he will!

But only the childlike will be able to receive this revelation, since they are the only ones who desire to know Abba in a greater way. Only the humble can enter the kingdom.

About that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?” 2  Jesus called a little child to him and put the child among them. 3  Then he said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. 4  So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. Matthew 18:1-4 (NLT)

Unless we become humble and repentant like little children, we cannot enter the kingdom and receive its blessings. How can we do this?

Steps to Regaining a Childlike Heart

Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. (John 14:6) He is the doorway through which we enter into all of God’s blessings. He is the Wonderful Counselor and Great Shepherd of the Sheep. The only way to regain a humble childlike heart is to come humbly to Jesus and ask him to do this in us.

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29  Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30  For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 (NLT)

Humility will prompt us to let go of (repent from) our sins and receive healing for any wounds, those things that are robbing us of God’s blessings. (If you wish to read more about how God heals and sets us free, click here.) This is a very personal thing. The Spirit will show us whatever may have destroyed and still be destroying our childlike wonder and awe of God, our ability to receive and show tenderness, our ability to trust from the heart, our ability to freely express our emotions, our ability to be excited, to be angry as appropriate, to feel joy, to worship, to forgive… You get the idea.

Repentance needs to be rather ruthless. We cannot afford to coddle anything that hinders knowing, loving, and serving Abba better.

Only the Holy Spirit can do this for us and in us. He indwells us and is our Helper. He uses the Bible to direct our steps in this process. His goal is to fully transform us into the likeness of the only begotten Son, which means becoming humble and gentle in heart, like a child, like Jesus.

This is a lifelong process that will be suddenly and completely culminated at the Second Coming. John put it this way:

See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know him. 2  Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is. 1 John 3:1-2 (NLT)

Since those of us who have declared faith and allegiance to Christ are already children of God, we have the privilege of boldly drawing near to our Abba through the wide open door that Jesus provided for us. The Holy Spirit accompanies us right into God’s throne room.

We, like Jesus, can confidently approach our Abba, knowing that he loves us beyond comprehension, that he is joyfully pleased with us, and that he has commissioned us with the infinitely important work of representing him to a world of spiritual orphans.

We should ask Abba to love on us and heal our wounded hearts. Let us come to him as little children, humbly and expectantly. Let us ask Jesus to reveal Abba’s love to us in an ever greater way. We will not regret it. God’s love is the most powerfully transforming force that exists.

Prayer

Jesus, thank you for opening the door into Abba’s loving heart. I ask you to open my understanding to comprehend his love in a greater way. Restore to me childlike humility and faith. Holy Spirit, I trust you to carry out this transformation and restoration. Show me where I need to repent and help me to ruthlessly turn away from sinful thinking and actions that are based on rebellion, hurts, and lies. I want to start thinking and behaving more like who I really am, Abba’s child. Amen.

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Living in Divine Tension

 

Walking in the spirit requires us to navigate the tension between that which already is and that which is to come in God’s kingdom and our lives.

Standing in What Christ Did in the Past

The nature of our salvation requires us to live in the present while simultaneously looking backward to the past and forward to the future. We remember the once-for-all finished work of Christ (Hebrews 10:10) by which he actually completed our salvation. When he said, “It is finished,” (John 19:30) our Lord meant it. Nothing can be added to or subtracted from what Jesus accomplished. It simply must be believed and received by faith, a faith that includes our faithful allegiance to him as Lord. This is the basis of our ability to rest in God’s grace.

But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:4–10 (NKJV)

The immediate beneficiary of Christ’s perfect finished work is the innermost part of us – the Spirit, where we are born again, declared “not guilty,” and given a right standing with God. This is where God dwells inside us. We are united to God’s Spirit through the miracle of justification.
 

But our High Priest offered himself to God as a single sacrifice for sins, good for all time. Then he sat down in the place of honor at God’s right hand. 13  There he waits until his enemies are humbled and made a footstool under his feet. 14  For by that one offering he forever made perfect those who are being made holy. Hebrews 10:12-14 (NLT)
 
Looking forward to What Christ Will Do in the Future
We are also looking to the future when we will receive the last installment of our great salvation – the resurrection of the body. The spirit was saved over 2000 years ago at Calvary, but the body still waits in eager anticipation of the glorious day when Christ will return to raise his people from the dead.
 
For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. Galatians 5:5 (NKJV)
Through justification we have already been made righteous (Romans 5 :1), but that righteousness is not yet as complete as it will be when our bodies are raised from the dead. At that point, we will be fully glorified and delivered from the power of death.
 
Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. 51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” 1 Corinthians 15:50–54 (NKJV)
 
At that point, we will be completely and finally saved. Nothing will remain to be done. The final link to Adam’s transgression, the body, will be transformed forever. The battle with what the Bible calls the “flesh” will be over.
 
However, in the meantime, we live in the present in a divine tension between the past and future aspects of our salvation. The present requires that we experience a daily experience of God’s grace. Our past salvation was accomplished without our participation. Christ did it for us. Our future resurrection is not something we can pull off either. God must do it.
 
The present process of our transformation or sanctification, however, is a partnership between God’s Spirit and us. As we trust and obey the Spirit of God, he applies the benefit of Christ’s finished work to our lives. Our eager anticipation of what is yet to come motivates us to live for our Lord and his kingdom.
Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is. 3  And all who have this eager expectation will keep themselves pure, just as he is pure. 1 John 3:2-3 (NLT)
 
The look to the past assures us that God already has done the “heavy lifting” that guarantees the final outcome.
 
In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory. Ephesians 1:13–14 (NKJV)
The “redemption of the purchased possession” is the resurrection of the body. Until that happens, we are sealed with God’s Spirit, meaning that we belong to him.
 
The look forward comforts us with the confident expectation that we will not struggle forever with the “flesh” and sin. This motivates us to live each day by faith, drawing upon the Spirit’s life and power within. Looking backward teaches us that sin, death, disease, oppression, slavery, and the devil have already been conquered, despite any contrary outward appearances. Looking forward to the resurrection and final judgment, which include the rewards Christ will dispense to those who faithfully serve him, inspires us to make the commitment and sacrifice to serve him with our whole heart. We live in a divine tension between the past, present, and future. Those who are already made perfect in spirit are being made holy in the soul while awaiting the glorious resurrection of the body. This is a tension between the already done merging with that which is still in process and waiting completion.

The daily work of the Spirit in transformation and the future glorious promise of the resurrection are firmly rooted in the already finished work of Christ. God is working out in time what has been settled for eternity.

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Walking in the Spirit Is as Easy as Swinging

We can gain understanding of our union with God’s Spirit by considering the analogy of the pendulum action of a swing. We can apply our union in the Spirit of Christ to everyday life.

Walking in the Spirit describes our experience of the Holy Spirit’s living Christ’s life through us, enabling us to be effective and joyful representatives of him and his kingdom.

The Mechanics of a Swing

We have a tire swing in our front yard hanging from an enormous limb on a huge river birch. Over the years it has been a popular spot for our grand kids, church kids, and neighborhood children. The way a swing works is simple. The rope is attached to a stable base that serves as a fulcrum. The swing (tire) oscillates back and forth. It’s range is limited by the length of the rope. On our swing, we can push the kids back and forth or in a circular motion. We can give them a gentle ride or push really hard to get a wider and higher oscillation. We can learn a lot about walking in the Spirit from this.

The Anchor Point: God

The most important factor in making a great swing is finding the perfect anchor point. It must be high enough, strong enough, and well located. It needs to be able to support whatever weight is put on it without breaking. There needs to be plenty of room for the swing path arc. Our anchor point in the Spirit is God.

When a person is born again by placing his or her faith and allegiance in Jesus the Lord, he or she is anchored to the Lord in the Spirit.

In the same way God, desiring even more to show to the heirs of the promise the unchangeableness of His purpose, interposed with an oath, 18  so that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope set before us. 19  This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil, 20  where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek. Hebrews 6:17-20 (NASB)

God is our Rock, our immovable fortress, our sure and steadfast hope. We can trust that he will never leave us or grow weary of his commitment to us.

Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24  Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass. 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 (NASB)  

For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6 (NASB)
The Connection: The Spirit

No matter what kind of anchor we have, if the connection is not adequate, the swing will fail. On our tire swing, a strong nylon rope and some chains connect the swing seat to the tree. The connection has a couple of great knots, some bolts, and some quick links. All the components are strong enough to withstand weight well beyond what might be put on it.

We all believe that God will never fail, but what can secure our connection to him so that we will never be separated from Him? The answer is simple: God uses himself to connect us to himself.

The doctrine of the Trinity means that there is one God who eternally exists as three distinct Persons — the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This is a mystery revealed in the Bible and clearly above our mental limits.Thankfully, truth is not dependent on my ability to figure it out. Truth is whatever God says it is, no matter what so-called experts may say. The moment we limit the meaning of the Bible to what we can comprehend is when we make ourselves out to be God.

At that time Jesus prayed this prayer: “O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike. 26 Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way! Matthew 11:25–26 (NLT)

These doctrine of the Trinity contains three important points: (1) the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are distinct Persons, (2) each Person is fully God, (3) there is only one God. (From Desiring God website)

The Holy Spirit becomes one with our spirit when we are born again.

But the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him. 1 Corinthians 6:17 (NASB)

"I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; 17  that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you. John 14:16-17 (NASB)

that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me. John 17:21 (NASB)

Relating to the connection of the swing to the tree, we who believe in Christ are securely connected to God because God now lives in union with us.

The New Covenant is between Jesus and the Father.

I am the LORD; I have called you [Jesus] in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations, 7  to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness. Isaiah 42:6-7 (ESV)

Jesus lived the perfect life, died a sacrificial death to atone for our covenant violations, and made it possible for us to benefit from it all. When he died in our place on the cross, God included us in that death.

knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; 7  for he who has died is freed from sin. Romans 6:6-7 (NASB)

When he rose again in perfect righteousness, power, and glory, God included us in his resurrection.

Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, 9  knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, is never to die again; death no longer is master over Him. 10  For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. 11  Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Romans 6:8-11 (NASB)

At the new birth, our spirits are joined to the Holy Spirit, allowing Christ’s resurrection life to flow through us.

I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. Galatians 2:20 (NASB)

As long as God remains faithful to himself, we have a secure connection to the anchor.

I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus, 5  that in everything you were enriched in Him, in all speech and all knowledge, 6  even as the testimony concerning Christ was confirmed in you, 7  so that you are not lacking in any gift, awaiting eagerly the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, 8  who will also confirm you to the end, blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9  God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.  1 Corinthians 1:4-9 (NASB)
 
The Seat: The Soul

Here is where we get to the most personal part of our analogy. The swing seat is the fun part of the swing. It would be no fun to sit on the anchor point because it doesn’t move. The wider and higher the arc path taken by the swing seat, the more fun we have, unless we are afraid to swing high. Little children are sometimes very timid and don’t want to go high, but the more secure they become and the more confident they are that the swing will hold, the more likely they will want to go higher. The photo on the right hilariously depicts the difference in our ride experience depending on our faith level.

Unlike with our spirits, where we are in constant peace and communion with God, our souls are prone to “swings” of emotion and varying degrees of confidence.

If we learn to depend on the state of our souls to inform us of our spiritual condition, we will be up and down in our assessment, shifting between elation and discouragement. Some days we may feel great about who we are in Christ. On “down” days, we may start to doubt if we were ever saved at all.

God gave us our souls (minds, wills, and emotions). The soul is a good thing, but it was never meant to be our guide in life. God retains that for himself.

When Adam sinned, his spirit became disconnected from God (“died”) and he became a “soulical” person.

But a natural [soulical - Greek: psychichos) man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. 1 Corinthians 2:14 (NASB)

After the Fall, Adam, Eve, and their descendants ceased being led by God’s Spirit. We learned to rely on our own souls to guide us in life. We learn to live this way from birth onward.

It is only when we are born again that we can begin to learn how to depend on the Spirit of God instead of ourselves.

The Relationship between the Spirit and Our Souls

As we learn to depend on God’s Spirit for life, direction, and strength, we learn to look at what is going on in our souls from the proper perspective. We don’t have to be afraid of, despise, or try to quench our souls. We just need to realize that this part of our being is often a very unreliable indicator of truth and reality. For example, I may feel afraid because of something looming on the horizon over which I have no control. God wants us to learn how to somewhat disregard this fear. Instead of caving to it, we can instead focus on God and his promises, which provide the proper perspective and peace.

And here is a big key: if we want to have peace in this life, we must learn to go to that quiet place where we are anchored to God in the Spirit.

We can go there anytime we like. Jesus opened the door for us into God’s presence, and our heavenly Father is always delighted to commune with us. When we spend time in God’s presence, listening to the Spirit, we are strengthened and quieted. We gain the right perspective on our situation and we are enabled to walk in the Spirit by faith, regardless of how our soul may feel about it.

Walking in the Spirit requires us to live by faith.

Faith does not get its bearings from outward things. Its focus is on Jesus and his Word, just as when Peter walked on the water.

So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, 7  for we walk by faith, not by sight. 8  Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9  So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. 10  For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. 2 Corinthians 5:6-10 (ESV)

In the above passage, Paul wrote of his determination to walk in the union of his Spirit to God, rather than allow his fears to rule his life. His fear of the Lord outweighed his fear of the unknown and death.

Paul’s security in the Lord was stronger than the insecurities he felt in his soul. This is how God wants us to live, too.

For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. 9  Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. 10  He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again. 2 Corinthians 1:8-10 (ESV)

In fact, according to Paul, we should give thanks for the stresses and tests that come upon our souls because they force us into a tighter reliance upon the Spirit of God who indwells us.

Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4  and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5  and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. Romans 5:3-5 (ESV)
 
Conclusion

The swing analogy tells us that our souls may experience swings of mood and varying degrees of feeling secure in God, but we can and should always drop back to our anchor point in God.

If we understand that our anchor point and connection are secure in God, we can live fearlessly.

Since we actually are one with God in the Spirit, let’s act like it.

If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Galatians 5:25 (NASB)

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