Matthew 28:18 & John 15:3, NIV
`Then, Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples . . . ” and “You are already clean because of the word (teaching) I have spoken to you.”
Because Jesus loves us we are drawn to Him. But when we come to Him, He loves us too much to want to leave us in the same condition! The problem is, however, that all too often we want to remain rooted in the things that are familiar to us and we resist change! Most of us are not too keen on having our world shaken up too much. We are delighted that because of Jesus we can look forward to eternity in Heaven when we die, but we can so easily resist the idea of Heaven coming down to Earth and stirring the pot of our lives!
In recent years I`ve become more and more conscious that many of the people who ask me to pray for their healing have been wanting God`s healing, but have resisted God`s ways and God`s authority in their lives. Of course, we have been given free will and God doesn`t force us to change, but when we choose not to we can ensure that the healing we long for remains like the elusive crock of gold at the end of our own personal rainbow – an illusion which we never find.
I believe it`s because of these issues that God gave me the vision for Ellel 365, as a means of helping people to become the disciples which Jesus instructed us to make (Matthew 28:18). I passionately believe that when we choose to let God have His way in every area of our lives, that we put ourselves in the way of God`s healing. This week I received the following message from someone who is doing Ellel 365 in India. Their testimony powerfully illustrates the dynamic relationship between discipleship and healing.
“I am into the 8th month of Ellel 365, and I must say that it`s been a wonderful experience thus far . . . I had deep rooted issues of rejection, unforgiveness, hurts, generational iniquities etc. and the Lord, very gently, area by area, has been unearthing, cleansing & setting me free as I went through the teachings. To mention a few areas, like fears, timidity, and uncontrolled outbursts and rage – these are some of the areas in which I have experienced great healing. The realization and acceptance of the sinfulness, has been a humbling & painful process, nevertheless, the Lord`s enabling power to identify the roots, and relieve me from the hold of sin, was wonderful, worth every pain and all the tears that I have shed.
Though I was a believer for many years, God was somebody who seemed far away. But today I know He is close to me and that he loves me dearly. I present myself boldly, expecting to receive my healing & restoration. Yes, now I know I have a FATHER in heaven. The lie of the enemy has been broken. Alleluia!”
Then, a few weeks ago, I was teaching on forgiveness and healing when a lady who had recently been diagnosed with breast cancer, which had spread into other areas of her body, realised she had never forgiven someone who had damaged her greatly when she was young. The doctors are now trying to explain why it is that she no longer has the cancer!
I see these principles of discipleship and healing at work in every area of life. We desperately need to allow God to show us His word so that we, like the disciples, may be able to apply His truth into our lives and be made clean.
Prayer: Help me, Lord, to seek to understand how to apply the truth of your Word into my life, so that I may grow, as a believer in Jesus, into being a true disciple and know His cleansing in my life. In Jesus` Name, Amen.
Why not try ELLEL 365? CLICK HERE to see Video Clip
Click here to LISTEN to a testimony from an Ellel 365 Student
