The Authority and Power of Jesus Over Demons

by Albert Kang

As Jesus began his public ministry, the Gospels recorded a remarkable encounter that revealed his sovereign authority over the demonic realm. In the synagogue, Jesus confronted a man possessed by an unclean spirit (Luke 4:33-36). When the demon sensed the presence of its mortal enemy, it cried out in protest, “Ha! What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth?” (Luke 4:34). But rather than engaging the demon in debate, Jesus responded with unwavering command, saying, “Be silent and come out of him!” (Luke 4:35).

This incident is deeply instructive, for it demonstrates a fundamental truth about spiritual warfare. Demons may hate God and defiantly resist His will, but they are ultimately powerless against the sovereign authority of the Son of God. As the text states, “the demon had thrown him down in their midst, he came out of him, having done him no harm” (Luke 4:35). The onlookers were left “amazed” at the sheer power of Jesus’ words (Luke 4:36).

What accounts for this remarkable display of dominance over the demonic? The key lies in the distinction between God’s moral will and His sovereign will. The moral will of God is revealed in commandments like the Ten Commandments. These instructions are the ethical precepts that demons will brazenly defy. But there is another aspect of God’s will, His sovereign will, which demons are totally powerless to resist.

When God exercised His sovereign will and said, “Let there be light,” light came into being. When Jesus commanded, “Lazarus, come out,” the dead man could not resist the command of life into his dead body and got up to walk out of the tomb. And when Jesus declared to the unclean spirit, “Be silent and come out of him,” the demon had no choice but to obey. This is the authority and power that left the people in the synagogue utterly astonished.

The implications of this truth are profound. As followers of Christ, we need not cower in fear before the forces of darkness. For we serve a Savior who has been given “all authority in heaven and on earth” (Matthew 28:18). When we stand firm in our faith and invoke the name of Jesus, even the mightiest demons must submit to His sovereign command.

In Luke 9:1-2, we read, “He called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and He sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and heal.” This is a staggering commission. Jesus was not merely sending them out as passive messengers but directly empowering them with His divine authority.

The text specifies that He gave them “power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases.”  This was no small matter. Demons were understood to be powerful spiritual forces that could torment and possess human beings. Yet Jesus was entrusting His followers with the ability to cast out these unclean spirits and bring healing to the afflicted.

But the disciples’ mission was more than just casting out demons and miraculous healings. Jesus also sent them “to proclaim the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:2). In other words, they were to be authoritative heralds of the new reality that Jesus had inaugurated – the breaking in of God’s reign on earth. This is the “two-hand punch” that every believer must apply in their ministry – applying power and authority to minister healing miracles, casting out demons, and sharing the Gospel.

This theme was further developed in Luke 10, where Jesus commissioned 70 or 72 additional disciples and sent them out in pairs. Once again, the emphasis is on the authority and power they have been given. As Jesus instructed them, “Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you” (Luke 10:19).

The implication is clear – those who faithfully represent Jesus as His authorized messengers will be supernaturally empowered to overcome the forces of darkness. They will have the authority to pronounce judgment on demonic powers and declare the triumph of God’s kingdom.

This is a remarkable trust that Jesus placed in His followers. He was not sending them out as mere cheerleaders or bystanders but as authorized agents of His own divine rule. And this authority and power were not for their own aggrandizement but for the advancement of the Gospel and the liberation of the captives.

The same commission stands for Jesus’ disciples today. We too have been entrusted with the authority of the kingdom, empowered by the Holy Spirit to confront the powers of evil, proclaim the good news, and see God’s reign established in the lives of those we reach. What an awesome privilege and responsibility this is!

May we, like the original disciples, faithfully steward this authority and power for the glory of Christ and the expansion of his kingdom. For the battle is the Lord’s, and the victory is assured.

This truth should fill our hearts with boldness and confidence. No matter how daunting the spiritual battle may seem, we can take courage knowing that Jesus has already secured the ultimate victory. With His authority and power behind us, we can advance the kingdom of God and set the captives free, to the glory of his name.

Note: If you are interested in learning how to exercise your faith to do Power Evangelism, here is a free video course for you on YouTube by Rev Albert Kang.
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLe-frSJlCn8oowZ6SSLlH831OZdz-twV7&si=fI_xc-5u3v0J1Otf

How To Strengthen Your Mind’s Defense System Against Spiritual Attacks

During the recent Israel-Hamas conflict, the Hamas militants used various missiles to attack cities and towns in Israel. However, Israel has a defense system called the Iron Dome that was able to stop and destroy many of these missiles. The Iron Dome uses special technology to track enemy missiles and shoot them down before they can cause harm. This helped protect the people of Israel and reduce the damage caused by the attacks.

As Christians, we are under constant spiritual attacks and it’s usually in the mind. Just as the Iron Dome defended Israel against hostile missiles, it’s important to have a spiritual defense system in our minds to combat tempting thoughts from the devil.

The Battle for the Mind
Our minds are often considered the battleground for the devil because they play a crucial role in our thoughts, beliefs, and decision-making processes. The mind is where our attitudes, desires, and intentions originate. It is the place where we process information, form opinions, and make choices. The devil knows that if he can influence our thoughts and beliefs, he can impact our actions and faith. That is why he and his minions are working overtime to weaken our minds with ungodly thoughts, doubts, fears, and sinful desires.

More than one church member shared with me about their backsliding experience. One sister said that even though at that time, she wore a necklace with a cross and attended church occasionally, she was committing fornication with different men. Another brother left the faith because he felt that God did not answer his prayer for a particular job position that he desired. Yet another brother said that he loved the wild parties and nightlife, so much so that he left the faith for almost 20 years. The testimonies of being tempted by the devil are many. Thankfully, all these believers were spiritually revived and today, serving faithfully in the Church.

Since we know that the mind is the battleground of the enemy, how are we going to fortify our minds against the attacks of the enemy?

How can we build a resilient spiritual “Iron Dome” to safeguard our thoughts and protect our spiritual well-being?

Let us explore how Satan tempts our minds, drawing insights from Scripture and stories that reveal his strategies:

The Power of Deception:
First, we have to acknowledge that the devil is the master of deception and a master deceiver, who seeks to distort truth and lead people astray. He has many ways to present temptations that may seem appealing or harmless at first, but ultimately lead to our spiritual harm and separation from God.

Here are some common tactics he uses:

Distorting And Misinterpreting: The devil twists the meaning of Scripture or promotes false ideas to confuse us and make us doubt what the Bible says. The devil distorted God’s words by asking Eve, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” (Genesis 3:1). This question falsely implied that God had forbidden them from eating any fruit in the garden, which was not the case.

Creating Doubt: The devil wants us to question whether we can trust God’s Word. He may make us doubt its accuracy, relevance, or consistency. The devil directly contradicted God’s command by saying to Eve, “You will not surely die” (Genesis 3:4). By denying the consequences of disobedience, the devil cast doubt on the truthfulness of God’s warning

Tempting Us To Disobey: The devil tries to make us ignore or go against what the Bible teaches. He may suggest other ideas or lifestyles that go against God’s Word, appealing to our desires and what seems popular.
The devil appealed to Eve’s desires and presented the forbidden fruit as something desirable and beneficial. He said, “For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil” (Genesis 3:5). This subtle manipulation played on Eve’s curiosity and her longing for wisdom and power. The end result was that she and Adam were tempted to disobey God.

Persecution And Opposition: The devil may encourage others to treat us badly or oppose us when we follow God’s Word. This can include making fun of us, being mean, or even hurting us physically. There is an account in the New Testament of the apostle Paul being mocked for his faith. In Acts 17:16-34, Paul visited the city of Athens and engaged in discussions with various philosophers and intellectuals. When he preached about Jesus and the resurrection, some of the people mocked him, dismissing his teachings as foolishness. Paul, among many disciples who suffered for their faith, had to endure numerous hardships, including beatings, and imprisonments. Eventually, Paul was martyred, traditionally believed to have been beheaded in Rome.

Cultural Influences: The devil uses the ideas and beliefs of the world around us to make us question or reject what the Bible says. He may make popular ideas or ways of thinking seem more important than what God’s Word tells us. In 2 Timothy 4:10, the apostle Paul mentioned that Demas, who was previously a fellow worker had deserted him because he loved the present world. This suggests that Demas had fallen away from his commitment to the faith and was drawn to the cultural temptations of those days.

Equipping Ourselves with God’s Word
To begin strengthening our spiritual defense system, we have to equip ourselves with God’s Word. This is the most powerful and essential way to resist the deception and temptations of the devil. The Bible serves as a guide and a source of truth, providing us with wisdom, knowledge, and discernment. Here are a few reasons why relying on God’s Word is crucial in our spiritual battle:

Truth and Discernment: The Word of God is a reliable and unchanging source of truth. It helps us recognize and discern the lies and deceptions of the devil. By immersing ourselves in Scripture, we develop a solid foundation of truth that enables us to identify and reject false teachings or worldly ideologies.

Spiritual Armor: The apostle Paul describes the Word of God as part of the spiritual armor in Ephesians 6:17. Just as a soldier wears armor for protection, God’s Word provides us with spiritual protection against the schemes of the devil. It strengthens our faith, guards our hearts and minds, and helps us stand firm in times of temptation.

Guidance and Wisdom: The Bible offers guidance and wisdom for every aspect of life. It provides insights into God’s character, His will, and His ways. By studying Scripture, we gain understanding and discernment, enabling us to make wise decisions and navigate the challenges and temptations that come our way.

Jesus’ Example: When Jesus was tempted by the devil in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11), He countered each temptation with the Word of God. Jesus quoted Scripture to resist the devil’s lies and affirm God’s truth. His example shows us the power and effectiveness of using God’s Word as a weapon against deception and temptation.

Let Our Thoughts Be Under The Authority of Christ
Paul encourages us to capture our thoughts and bring them under the authority of Christ: “Our weapons are not physical, but they have divine power to destroy strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:4-5)

By comparing Satan’s lies with God’s truth in the Bible, we can prevent them from taking hold in our minds and becoming strongholds. The truth of God’s Word serves as a powerful weapon to dismantle false arguments and align our thoughts with Christ.

Psalm 119:11 declares, “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” By memorizing and meditating on Scripture, we can combat the enemy’s lies.

Seeking Accountability and Prayer
In the battle against temptation, we should not face it alone. It is crucial to surround ourselves with fellow believers who can hold us accountable and provide support. James 5:16 encourages us to confess our sins to one another and pray for each other, for prayer is a powerful tool in overcoming temptation and guarding our minds.

Summary
1. Understand that we’re in a spiritual battle, and the devil tries to tempt us.

2. Use God’s Word to protect our minds.

3. Ask God for help to understand how the enemy works.

4. Trust God’s wisdom to know what is true and what is not.

5. Equip ourselves with God’s armor. Read and study God’s Word for protection.

6. Through Christ, we gain strength to overcome difficulties.

Understanding Satan’s Tactics: How and When He Attacks Believers

I recently spoke to a church member who was feeling very sad. He told me he wanted to stop coming to church and not worship for a whole year. He had a health problem, and he thought that God had only partly healed him, which made him lose hope. I told him that this decision would be very bad for his soul and that he would be committing spiritual suicide. I explained to him that this idea came from the devil and was meant to make him feel worse.

The devil loves to take advantage of people who feel weak and uses it to make them doubt themselves, feel discouraged, and isolated. The devil wants to separate believers from the spiritual support and hope they find in the church, which helps them get through difficult times.

Let me share with you how the devil tries to harm Christians. It’s not just when you are feeling weak, like the church member I mentioned earlier. The devil plans his attacks carefully and strikes when he thinks he has an advantage. We can learn from examples in the Bible that show us how the devil works. These examples are important lessons for all of us.

After a Profound Spiritual Experience
Following his decisive victory over the prophets of Baal, (1 Kings 18:20-40) Elijah found himself isolated and on the run from Queen Jezebel’s threats. In the wilderness, feelings of loneliness and despair overwhelmed him. Seizing this vulnerable moment, the devil tempted Elijah to doubt God’s presence and question the purpose of his mission (1 Kings 19).

Nevertheless, God, in His unfailing love, provided for Elijah in miraculous ways, sustaining him with food and reassurance of His faithfulness. This serves as a powerful reminder that even in our moments of isolation and despair, God remains steadfast, ready to comfort, restore, and remind us of His unwavering presence in our lives.

At the Onset of a New Spiritual Journey
After Paul’s encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus, the devil tried to hinder Paul’s ministry through persecution, imprisonment, false teachers, divisions, personal afflictions, and challenges. Despite these obstacles, Paul remained faithful and resolute in his mission. He persevered through suffering, confronted false teachings, and relied on God’s strength.

Paul’s unwavering commitment allowed him to fulfill his call, spreading the Gospel and establishing numerous churches. His example teaches us to persevere in the face of opposition and trust in God’s power to overcome the devil’s attempts to hinder our spiritual endeavors. This pattern also suggests that whenever believers embark on new ventures, whether personal or ministerial, they should be prepared for potential spiritual opposition. Satan endeavors to thwart progress and hinder the spread of God’s kingdom.

Exploiting Physical and Emotional Vulnerability
When Jesus predicted His arrest and crucifixion, Peter boldly proclaimed unwavering loyalty, vowing never to deny Him. Yet, during the night of the betrayal, fear overwhelmed Peter, and he denied knowing Jesus three times when confronted. Satan exploited Peter’s emotional vulnerability, testing and momentarily weakening his faith.

This event serves as a reminder of the frailty of human nature and the cunning tactics of the enemy. Satan is keenly aware of our vulnerabilities and exploits them to his advantage. In times of physical or emotional weakness, we must remain vigilant and rely on God’s strength to resist the enemy’s allurements. However, Peter’s story also illustrates God’s redemptive power and forgiveness, as Peter later repented and became a pillar of the early church, demonstrating that even in our weaknesses, God’s grace can restore and strengthen us.

Targeting Believers in Isolation
Demas, originally a trusted companion and co-worker of Paul, ultimately disappointed him by deserting him. In Paul’s later writings, he expressed his sadness, noting that Demas had been lured away by the love of the present world (2 Timothy 4:10). When Demas departed from the fellowship and protection of the Church, he immediately succumbed to the temptations orchestrated by the devil. And that began a downward slide of being enticed by worldly desires. Demas never recovered from the fall.

This highlights the importance of community and accountability among believers. When isolated, we become susceptible to Satan’s cunning schemes. Surrounding ourselves with fellow believers who can provide support and encouragement is crucial in our spiritual warfare.

Unanticipated Sources of Attack
The Devil frequently employs unexpected sources to launch his attacks, catching believers off guard. For instance, in Matthew 16, after Jesus disclosed His forthcoming suffering and death, Peter took it upon himself to rebuke Him, insisting that such things should never happen. Jesus, recognizing the influence of the enemy, responded by saying, “Get behind me, Satan!”

This incident portrays Peter, the future leader of the Apostles, unwittingly becoming a vessel through which the devil sought to derail Jesus from His divine mission. It serves as a poignant reminder that even those who have displayed great faith can become unwitting tools in the enemy’s schemes, urging us to remain watchful and resolute in our devotion to God’s will. This scenario demonstrates that Satan can exploit the actions or words of fellow believers to hinder our spiritual journey. It serves as a reminder that we should not underestimate the enemy’s ability to use those within our own circles to discourage or lead us astray.

Persistent Attacks and the Need for Vigilance
Once Satan has targeted a believer and temporarily withdrawn, he will return to wage further assaults. After subjecting Jesus to various tests, the Devil departed but only until another opportune time (Luke 4:13).
This pattern emphasizes the necessity of constant vigilance in our spiritual lives. Even if we experience temporary victories over the Devil, we must remain alert, as he will undoubtedly return to challenge us at a later stage. Spiritual battles are ongoing, and we must be prepared to stand firm in our faith.

Remembering Our Ultimate Victory
Despite Satan’s relentless attacks and his attempts to entice believers into sin, we can take solace in our ultimate victory through Christ. God’s promise assures us of triumph. The Apostle Paul confidently declared, “The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and save me for His heavenly kingdom” (2 Timothy 4:18).

In summary, believers need to grasp the various ways in which Satan operates. He strategically targets vulnerable moments, such as after significant spiritual experiences or at the commencement of new spiritual endeavors. Satan exploits physical and emotional weaknesses, preys on individuals when they are isolated, and often employs unexpected sources to launch attacks. Believers must remain ever watchful, drawing strength from their faith in Christ, as they navigate the spiritual battles that lie ahead.

Here is a message that will help you to overcome temptation as it comes to all of us. What are some practical ways for you to fight off temptation? Once you know the truth, it will set you free. Listen and be blessed.

The Distinction Between Commanding Healing and Praying for the Sick: Why We Do Not Say “Amen”

In our healing ministry, Grace and I used to encounter people who were curious why we did not say “Amen” after we commanded healing for the infirm. In the ministry of healing, there are two types of ministers, and thus exists a distinction between commanding healing and praying for the sick. We who were trained by Pastor William Lau of The Elijah Challenge, practice the “healing command” approach. The other approach practiced by other churches is by praying for the sick. While both practices aim to alleviate suffering and restore health, the approach and intention behind each differ significantly. This article explores why we do not say “Amen” after commanding healing, as opposed to concluding prayers with this customary word.

Understanding the Difference:
In the New Testament, Jesus and His disciples commanded healing for the infirm, they were not engaging in prayer but rather rebuking infirmities or demons. This practice is more biblical because we are engaging in spiritual warfare and through the power and authority of Jesus, we can directly address and cast out ailments or spiritual entities that are causing the illness.

On the other hand, praying for the sick involves seeking God’s intervention and guidance in restoring health, often accompanied by supplication, intercession, and surrendering to His will. It is not wrong to pray for the sick but in our experience, we find it to be less effective. For example, in the previous twenty years of my ministry, I prayed for the sick and only about ten people were healed. However, since 2005, after Grace and I had learned the “healing command” method advocated by The Elijah Challenge, we have more than 10,000 people healed.

The Act of Commanding Healing:
When commanding healing, as recorded in Luke 9:1-2 and also Luke 10:9, we assert our God-given power and authority as believers in Jesus Christ to rebuke diseases or pain. By invoking the mighty name of Jesus, we confront and drive out these afflictions. This act of rebuking is not a form of prayer but rather an authoritative divine power against the infirmities or spiritual forces at work.

Rebuking Infirmities or Demons:
In commanding healing, sometimes, we have to address infirmities or demons associated with sickness. The Holy Spirit gives us spiritual discernment that certain illnesses may have spiritual origins or be influenced by evil forces. By rebuking these infirmities or demons, we aim to release the person from their grip and restore them to health. This practice aligns with biblical teachings that emphasize the power of Jesus’ name in overcoming all evil forces.

The Absence of “Amen”:
The word “Amen” holds significant meaning in the kingdom of God, often used to conclude prayers as a way of expressing agreement, affirmation, or acceptance. However, when commanding healing, the absence of “Amen” is intentional. This omission reflects the distinction between prayer and rebuking. Commanding healing is not a supplication to God but an authoritative act against the infirmities or demons causing illness.

Praying to God:
In contrast to commanding healing, when we pray to God for healing, we always conclude our prayers with “Amen.” This ecclesiastical practice signifies the end of the prayer and expresses trust in God’s will and power. By saying “Amen,” we express our submission to God’s authority and accept His plans for our lives.

Summary: The Distinction Between Commanding And Praying
The distinction between commanding healing and praying for the sick lies in the approach and intention behind each practice. When commanding healing, we rebuke infirmities or demons in the name of Jesus, addressing them directly without engaging in prayer. As a result, the customary word “Amen” is not used. Conversely, when praying to God for any request, we conclude our prayers with “Amen” as an expression of trust and submission to His will.

Understanding Generational Curses – Part 4 (The Basis Of This New Teaching)

Today, the topic of generational curses or generational sins is prevalent if you get involved in the healing and deliverance ministry. (This is not taught in the Elijah Challenge or Healing Encounter Ministry). In the marketplace, there are literally hundreds of books teaching that your present problems are the results of what your ancestors did in the past. Coming from the Pentecostal and Charismatic traditions, I am naturally exposed to such teaching promoted by many popular leaders of our movements. The truth of the matter is that I have never heard of this teaching until the early 1990s. It might have been there earlier but it did not catch on that fast. Now, fast forward to 2022, this teaching is not only popular but has become almost like a “fundamental truth” in the belief system of most Pentecostal and Charismatic believers who have been saved during those last 30 years.

Does The Bible Really Teach This?
Would there be some truths in this new teaching? Do I go along with the teaching even if I discovered discrepancies in its exegesis and hermeneutics? How am I to reconcile with the fact that top Pentecostal / Charismatic leaders are preaching and teaching this topic? Entire series of books has been devoted to teaching you how to repent and renounce all the sins of your ancestors. What about the proper interpretation of Scripture that I have learned from Professor Gordon Fee during my seminary days? I remember one statement that he made very succinctly in class and that was “the Bible will never say what it never did say!” Can I ignore this fact, and embrace this teaching because it is popular? My conscience does not allow me to do so because the Christian faith can only remain true to the teaching of Jesus Christ if we “believe” (faith), and “practice” (faith in action) by the correct interpretation and understanding of Scripture.

During my forty years of ministry, I have observed what Professor Fee has pointed out in his book about people who attempt to outsmart others by coming out with all kinds of unique interpretations, claiming them to be from the Holy Spirit, angels, or even some departed saints. Professor Fee wrote that… “Interpretation that aims at, or thrives on, uniqueness can usually be attributed to pride (an attempt to “outclever” the rest of the world), a false understanding of spirituality (wherein the Bible is full of deeply buried truths waiting to be mined by the spiritually sensitive person with special insight), or vested interests (the need to support a theological bias, especially in dealing with texts that seem to go against that bias).”
Gordon D. Fee, How to Read the Bible for All It’s Worth.

The Basis For This New Generational Curses Teaching
There is not a trace of such teaching in Church history until about 30 years ago. What is the basis for such teaching? We can easily trace to the misinterpretation of God’s Word. The most common scripture verses used by the proponents of the generational curses are from Exodus 20:5-6; 34:6-7; Numbers 14:18; and Deuteronomy 5:9-10. The reason is because of a warning placed by the Lord to the Children of Israel against disobedience and unfaithfulness with words such as “visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children . . . to the third and the fourth generations” (KJV).

The meaning of these verses has been changed from God’s warning of the repercussion for disobedience to become generational curses. From the correct meaning of bad generational influence to another totally foreign meaning and that is the descendants will acquire the accumulated sins and also punishments on behalf of all their ancestors. If that is true then what about this scripture that “the son shall not suffer for the iniquity of the father, nor the father suffers for the iniquity of the son.” (Ezekiel 18:20, cf. Jeremiah 31:30). Why is this clarifying verse not taken into consideration?
What about the promise of Jesus in John 8:36 – “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” How about what Paul wrote in Galatians 5:1 – “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not be encumbered once more by a yoke of slavery.” Paul was especially concerned not of any ancestral sins or generational curses but our personal sins that will put us back to the “yoke of slavery”.

Satan Added Into The Teaching
The next thing that the proponents of this teaching do is to add Satan into the picture. They say that since God sees you as being guilty, not just for your own sins, but also the sins of your ancestors, then if you did not repent and renounce on their behalf, you would have given the devil the legal rights to attack you. You and your family will suffer misfortune, failed marriages, violence, sicknesses, addictions, impotence, failures, poverty, and all kinds of unimaginable disasters and crises, etc.

Aren’t all these frightening? What about the blood of Jesus that was shed for your sins? Well, the proponents say that the blood is there but you must take an ADDITIONAL STEP to appropriate the blood by removing the curses that you have inherited from your sinful ancestors. Accepting Jesus as your personal Savior by confessing, repenting, and renouncing your sins is not enough. Being born-again is not enough. Even though you are now in a different bloodline is not enough. They say that you still have to break all these generational curses. And so, you run to a so-called expert or minister to help you in a ritual of repenting and renouncing all the sins of your ancestors.

The Rise of A New Breed of Experts
These self-proclaimed experts will see visions for you, listen to God’s advice for you, and reveal all the generational curses that are inundating you. They will lead you in an elaborate ritual of listing the sins of your ancestors all the way back to four generations. You will need to confess the sins of those sinful ancestors, even they are not your own sins. You will be led to renounce all these sins and some ministers will even ask you to cut the shackles of generational curses by using your hands to strike the air with a cutting movement. You are to declare and decree that all these curses have been cut and broken in the name of Jesus. Finally, you are to repeat the prayer led by the minister or recite a recommended prayer. Are all these really biblical? Do we see Jesus or the Apostles doing and teaching these?

Personally, I do not know where all the “experts” get all these from. However, they actually reminded me of the time when my grandmother visited a Chinese temple medium to do certain rituals to get rid of all the calamities in our family. The medium went into a trance and declared the reasons for our misfortune. According to the interpreter for the medium, one of our ancestors had done a very cruel deed in the past and so our family was paying the penalty for it. Then a specific instruction was given about what type of peace-offering we have to give to that offended soul, which corner of the house we have placed certain sacred objects, and what talismans we have to paste on the doorposts, where we should have an extra altar, how many joss-sticks to burn, and what chant to utter when doing so. Very elaborate and very convincing because subsequently peace returned to the family and calamities were circumvented.

The danger that I see is that these so-called experts in handling generational curses would become “personal priests or mediums” to many who are gullible enough to seek their help. This happened before and will happen again. This is the End Times and many people would be deceived into this type of fruitless pursuit.

More New Methods And Rituals
Then as though this type of ritual is not enough, popular “teachers” keep coming out with new methods of breaking the generational curses. The latest approach is to go to the “Courts of Heaven” and get rid of your ancestral sins and generational curses. The proponents of this latest method claim that at the “Courts of Heaven”, you get to assert your “legal rights” in order to get rid of all these curses. When you get a favorable verdict from God then you are free from further harassment of such ancient curses and the attacks of the devil. Once again, we question whether this is a biblical approach and where in the New Testament we have been advised to go to the “Courts of Heaven”?

Talking about new rituals, that reminded me of the 1980s when I was pastoring in Singapore. A couple of self-styled ministers there developed a deliverance ritual such as getting people to stand in positions to form a cross. Then the officiating minister stood in the center of the cross. He apparently had these special eyes to see demons attacking. And so he shouted that he had spotted demons from a particular direction flying at them. He wanted all to be alert and ready to fight the demons. Then he commanded for all to draw out their invisible swords which were earlier placed on their backs. Then they had to say “siang” to mimic the sound of the invisible swords being drawn out. There was actually nothing in their hands but these participants had to cut the air above them with their invisible swords to kill the demons. This method of destroying the demons is not only unbiblical but hilarious. This is the result of an over fertile imagination stimulated by some Hong Kong kungfu movies. If I am not wrong, this method is still being used by some today.

The Tedious Rituals To Get Rid Of The Generational Curses
Let’s assume that the teaching of generational curses is accurate and biblical because there are many testimonies from practitioners to convince you that such a method works. You would read that this person or his family has been set free from generational curses and how happy they are now. However, when you probe deeper, you will discover a DILEMMA – with the lineages from both your parents and then from both sets of grandparents who in turn, inherited generational curses from both their parents (your great-parents) who inherited from both sets of great-great-grandparents, etc, you would have a long list of ancestors with their long lists of sins. Like one of the teachers of generational curses states that you have a “long shadow from the past” like a “long evil arm of curses” that grab hold of you so that you are not blessed but cursed. That is the reason why this generational curses teaching creates more bondages than setting people free. There will always be a doubt that maybe you have not dealt with some missing or hidden ancestral sins.

Why Some Still Believe In Generational Curses?
This is one puzzle that I have been trying to solve. Since believers are now in the spiritual bloodline of the second or last Adam (Jesus) then why are so many still living in the cursed bloodline of the first Adam? Then it dawned on me that people are thinking that their weaknesses are all results of the generational curses instead of the original sin nature given to us by Adam.

For example, I used to have an anger management problem even after accepting Christ. That’s the result of my “Sin” nature and not so much a curse. I had to go through the sanctifying process of the Holy Spirit and learn how to exercise my self-control. My legal rights as a child of God have been acquired at the cross and therefore, I am now free to become the person whom God wants me to be. However, that sanctification is a long process. The earlier I die to myself, the earlier I would become alive to Christ, and the earlier the Holy Spirit can transform me to be like Christ. When I learn to fully surrender to the Lord, the uncontrollable rage no longer exists. No curse was broken except that I have matured in Christ.

What About Past Demons?
For Christians who are still under the influence of those demons that have crept in before they accepted Jesus, the only option is to cast them out with the kingly authority and in the mighty name of Jesus. There is no question that these believers are fully saved because they are justified by the death of Christ on the cross. They have the fullest legal rights as children of God and so these demons cannot harass them anymore. The believers who have been affected, do not need to go through the tedious ritualistic process of repenting for their ancestors and renouncing their sins. All they need to do is to shut the door by repenting of their own sins and not going back to them again. By living a repented life, all believers should never need to be victims of the devil. They, instead, can become kingdom warriors to attack the enemy by applying their kingly authority.

You Are Not Under Any Curse
As long as you do not choose rebellion against God, nothing of your ancestors is going to cling to you and make you pay. Listen to what Jeremiah says in Jeremiah 31:29-30
In those days people will no longer say, “The parents have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge.” Instead, everyone will die for their own sin; whoever eats sour grapes—their own teeth will be set on edge.”
Jesus has taken all the curses away from you at Calvary cross. When you accepted Him as your Savior, you are born again into His bloodline. You do not need to repent and renounce the sins of your ancestors to be a part of this bloodline. Jesus did it for you and His Blood is powerful enough to redeem you from any curse. The Bible is clear that everyone is to be responsible for his own sins and you are not responsible for the sins of your ancestors. You are definitely not under any curse.

If you have missed out on the previous articles about Generational Curses, please check out the following:
Understanding Generational Curses – Part 1 (Adamic Curse Versus Generational Curse)

Understanding Generational Curses – Part 1 (Adamic Curse Versus Generational Curse)

Understanding Generational Curses – Part 2 (Does God Punish Sons for the Sins of Their Fathers?)

Understanding Generational Curses – Part 2 (Does God Punish Sons for the Sins of Their Fathers?)

Understanding Generational Curses – Part 3 (The Danger of Witch Hunt)

Understanding Generational Curses – Part 3 (The Danger of Witch Hunt)

Understanding Generational Curses – Part 2 (Does God Punish Sons for the Sins of Their Fathers?)

Does God visit the sins of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generations? (Exodus 20:5-6). As part of the Ten Commandments, God seems to say that He would do exactly that. In Exodus 34:7, God revealed Himself to Moses, and gave the same warning that He would visit “the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation”. When one cross-examines Leviticus 26:39, the sins of the fathers would definitely affect future generations – “Because of their iniquity, and also because of the iniquities of their fathers they shall rot away like them.”

Then we read other prophets who recorded that “the son shall not suffer for the iniquity of the father, nor the father suffer for the iniquity of the son.” (Ezekiel 18:20, cf. Jeremiah 31:30). How are we to reconcile these two opposing ideas? The coherence of these biblical texts would help us in our understanding of the character of God – Is God really a loving Father or just a tyrannical despot? This information will also help us to counsel people who are loaded with guilt not only from their own sins but the sins of their ancestors.

DO WE REALLY HAVE TO PAY FOR OUR ANCESTORS’ SINS?
The proponents of “generational curses” argue that verses such as Exodus 20:5-6; 34:7; and Leviticus 26:39 are clear pieces of evidence of the generational curses, being placed by God upon a family, up to the third and the fourth generation. So, according to these proponents, if you were born into a family with such generational curses, then it’s just as what the world would say, “tough luck!”

You will be responsible for the sins of your ancestors whether you like it or not. You may scream that it is unfair and unjustified for you to bear the consequences of your ancestors’ sins but you still have to pay the price. The only way that you can stop the “generational curses’ is by “going back” to identify every sin of your ancestors and renounce each sin. If you have no idea what those sins might be, then you have to ask the Holy Spirit to reveal them to you.

Can this be true? Do we really have to do that? Does God require us to renounce the sins of our ancestors? Nowhere else in the New Testament requires us to seek out every sin of the ancestors. Jesus never taught that and neither did the Apostles. Where did this idea come from?

THOSE WHO HATE THE LORD
Let’s see if the Lord requires all believers to do the ritual of renouncing the individual sins of their forefathers? Returning to those scriptures again – “I the Lord…visit the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.” (Exodus 20:5; cf. Numbers 14:18) and compare with the verse in Ezekiel 18:20 – “the son shall not suffer for the iniquity of the father, nor the father suffer for the iniquity of the son.”

With careful evaluation, we can safely conclude that the descendants who are being judged are those who have been influenced by the sins of their forefathers. As the Bible is clear that temptation alone is not sin, therefore the descendants would be judged solely for their sinful actions. These descendants would be like their forefathers, they hate God and so they are rightfully being judged or cursed.

In short, those who hate God will be judged and they will pay the price. Thus the sins of the forefathers would have indeed visited the descendants – sinful generation after sinful generation because those sins are being expressed and manifested in the lives of the descendants. Ultimately, the ungodly children will be judged according to their own sins and not the sins of their forefathers as mentioned by Prophet Jeremiah – “Instead, everyone will die for their own sin; whoever eats sour grapes—their own teeth will be set on edge.” (Jeremiah 31:30).

THOSE WHO LOVE THE LORD
How about those who love the Lord? Since the descendants are being judged for their own sins, that means that we would be judged based upon our own sins or faith. If the price of sins has been paid by Jesus at Calvary cross, then we should be living in the zone of victory and blessings.

In Exodus 20:5, God said in the second half of the verse that He would show “steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.” Wow. Isn’t that wonderful!

In Deuteronomy 7:9, we read the confirmation of God’s promise to those who love God and walk in His way – “Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; He is the faithful God, keeping His covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love Him and keep His commandments.” So, even in the Old Testament, people did get the promise of a thousand generations, if they were to honor God and keep His commandments. What about the believers in the New Testament?

A THOUSAND GENERATIONS
King David says that God will always stand by his covenant – “the commitment He made to a thousand generations”. (Psalm 105:8). For the true followers of Christ, this promise or covenant of love (Exodus 20:5) for a thousand generations has been given to us in the form of a New Covenant because of the obedience of Christ.

Paul declares. “He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” (Philippians 2:8). In Romans 5:18, we read, “Yes, Adam’s one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ’s one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone.” (NLT). Our blessings will not just be a thousand generations of God-fearing descendants but a life of worship in eternity.

ARE BORN-AGAIN BELIEVERS STILL UNDER THE CURSE?
Therefore, how can we who have been Born Again still be under the judgement or curses similar to those who are living in godless disobedience?

Shouldn’t we be exempted since we are not “those who hate the Lord”? Why is there teaching about believers still being chained to the sins of their past and sinful forefathers? Why must we be asked to dig up all our past sins and those of our forefathers and renounce them one by one when Jesus has already paid for all our sins? Why is the Blood of Jesus not able to break all these yokes and we need a “second grace” of special prayer to break them?

Do we really need to renounce every specific sin of our past and also that of our ancestors? What happens if we were to miss one or two? Wouldn’t that make this whole exercise a failure and we would still be in bondage? Wouldn’t this approach undermine the cleansing of sin through the blood of Jesus in the general repentance of sin during salvation? Having to have another set of rituals to target specific sins in the past and also those of the ancestors only points to the fact that the blood of Christ alone is not powerful enough to free the believer from the power of Satan. That is of course a ridiculous notion.

ARE WE STILL IN THE ADAMIC BLOODLINE?
Most of the teachings about believers still under some kinds of generational curses comes from the idea that we are still stuck with the bloodline of first Adam. This Adamic bloodline of Original Sin is more of a corporate problem than an individual one. We have to understand that the Original Sin is not primarily about the sinful actions of individuals but rather the nature or condition of sin in every one of us.

That is to say, everyone is born with a fallen nature or sin nature. David acknowledges his frailty, “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.” (Psalm 51:5). Paul exclaims in Romans 3:23 “…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” and explains further in Romans 5:12 – “Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned….”

A DIFFERENT BLOODLINE
In John chapter 1, we read, “Yet to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God – children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.”

To be born of God is to be Born Again. Jesus explained to Nicodemus in John 3 – “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again’. (John 3:5-7).

That is the good news: As the citizens of the kingdom of God, we now have a different bloodline and are a part of the eternal family of God, through the bloodline of the second or last Adam – Jesus Christ.

YOU ARE NOT UNDER ANY GENERATIONAL CURSE
Many people got stuck here when they were told that they need to renounce all the sins of their ancestors so as to be set free from their generational curses. However, most of them have no idea what their ancestors had done. And that put that false guilt and condemnation upon them. Maybe they are still under the generational curses. Those who have been adopted have been told that they are at a disadvantage. Why? Because many do not even know who their ancestors were. All these add guilt trip and fear into the life of the believer. Instead of being free in Christ, they experience additional bondage.
Today, we want to affirm that all these are absolutely false. We are now of a different bloodline – the blood of Jesus. We are all free from any generational curses. Remember – “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” (John 8:36).

Is Unforgiveness Blocking Your Healing?

Since 2005, I have ministered healing successfully to more than 10,000 people and I praise God that they have been gloriously healed. However, I notice another large group of people, even though they have great faith to be healed but still do not receive their healing miracles.

There may be various reasons why they are not healed but after having counseled and checked many cases, I traced the discrepancy to one huge, ugly obstacle and that it is unforgiveness. This confirmed what I have learned from the Bible and also from my mentor, Pastor William Lau, the founder of The Elijah Challenge. The unconfessed sins of bitterness, hatred, and unresolved anger are actually hindering God’s blessings and healing miracles.

In a few of the deliverance encounters, demons left upon my command but returned quickly to the victims. I call this the “Swinging-Door Syndrome“. Unforgiveness somehow gives the demons the legal ground to enter the victim again. (Matthew 12:43-45).

Our Lord Jesus knew the danger of unforgiveness and how it would hurt us – and so He gave this admonition, “if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive the wrongs you have done.” (Matthews 6:15).

In Matthew 9, we read the narrative of a paralyzed man lowered from the roof so that Jesus could heal him. Before Jesus healed him, He first forgave the sins of the paralyzed man. The paralysis was obviously caused by the man’s sins and therefore that needed to be dealt with.

In the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus taught His disciples to pray, “Forgive us the wrongs we have done, as we forgive the wrongs that others have done to us.” (Matthews 6:12)

Peter was trying to place a limit to forgiveness when he asked, “Lord, if my brother keeps on sinning against me, how many times do I have to forgive him? Seven times?” ‘No, not seven times,’ answered Jesus, ‘but seventy times seven” (Matthew 18:21-22). In short, Jesus was teaching that in the kingdom of God, we should always forgive each other. There is no limit to forgiveness.

Paul emphasized, “You must forgive one another just as the Lord has forgiven you.” (Colossians 3:13).

A forgiven person should be the first to recognize the need to forgive others. The chances why it is difficult for most believers to forgive is because they have forgotten that they are forgiven people. When believers fail to accept the truth of their own forgiveness, they continue to live with a sense of guilt and self-condemnation. The hurts caused by the offenses that have been taken away by the Lord at the cross, continue to be upon them. This perpetually generates unlimited guilt and shame upon their lives.

There is no freedom of Christ for those who have allowed themselves to be shackled and imprisoned by their own harsh judgmental attitude. People who are under judgment will always judge others. When you shackle yourself to the notion of “justice” and that you must get even with those people who hurt you or despitefully use you, you lose your freedom within your spirit. You no longer can be gracious or operate from the zone of grace.

The truth of the kingdom is that the people who recognize themselves to be under grace, find the source of strength to always be gracious to others. Once you realize that you are no longer under judgment but have been fully forgiven by the grace of God, you are liberated and become free. Suddenly, you’ll notice that the door of your self-imposed prison of judgment has never been locked. The grace of God has smashed every lock of judgement and condemnation. You do not need to remain in this dreadful dungeon anymore but step out into the sunshine of grace and forgiveness. Now you will have the grace and freedom to forgive others seventy times seven times.

Here are some declarations that you present before the Lord and be set free from the shackle of unforgiveness:

In the mighty name of Jesus, I nullify the power of these past offenses that have been keeping me in mental anguish, emotional shackles and spiritual bondage.

I surrender to the Lord any right to judge so-and-so for saying bad things about me or doing harm to me.

I write off any responsibility, debt, liability, or obligation that the person owes me because of past offenses.

By the power of the Holy Spirit, I forgive all who have offended me and release them unto the Lord.

I humbly submit to the Lord and ask Him for courage, grace and strength to relate with the person without regard to past offenses.

I am asking and will continue to ask God’s blessings to be upon their well-beings.

Here is a video on Radical Forgiveness! Trust that it will help you. God bless!

Part 5 – Why Some Are Healed And Others Are Not? [The Belief That Miracles Have Ceased]

A Lutheran missionary to Cambodia visited me in Phnom Penh to ask for some advice about casting out demons. He did not know what to do with a demon-possessed person in his congregation at Siem Reap. He said he was never taught how to cast out demons during his missionary training. After showing him how to use his God-given authority and power to cast out evil spirits, he went back to do so by faith. After a week or so, he returned and happily informed me that he had successfully cast out the evil spirits from the afflicted person. My question to this missionary was why did his organization send him to Cambodia without teaching him how to engage the enemy. Did they really think that there would be no demonic activities in the mission field? No wonder, we read about “defeated” missionaries returning home totally discouraged and disillusioned.

Do we really have a correct understanding of what ministry and mission is all about? Have we been hoodwinked into thinking that we can just hide in a little corner and do our little ministry peacefully while the whole world is powerless in the face of an evil onslaught? So, can we can cast out demons or not? Can we heal the sick in the mighty name of Jesus or not? Can we do what Jesus did or not? Is the Church empowered to confront the enemy or not?

CAN WE HEAL THE SICK?
A pastor from the Philippines warned me not to say that we, the disciples of Christ, can heal the sick in the name of Jesus. His belief was that only Jesus can heal and that we are all powerless except by praying to Jesus to do the work. Now, this pastor has changed his approach and is healing the infirm in the mighty name of Jesus. Why? Because right at the airport, I ministered healing to his injured legs and he walked without pain. Then I showed him Luke 9:1-2.

 When Jesus had called the Twelve together, He gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, ² and He sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.

That was the convincing factor for him – the Lord had given power and authority to His disciples so that they could do what He did. And that applies to all modern disciples too. The Filipino pastor believed and applied the kingly authority accordingly. Now his ministry is not only with powerful preaching of God’s Word but is confirmed with signs and wonders. This is in accordance with what Jesus said in John 14:12

Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these because I am going to the Father. 

By simply believing what Jesus has promised, my life and ministry have been thoroughly transformed too. From the early years of my ministry as a Pastor, I prayed to Jesus and asked Him to heal the sick, if I remember correctly only 10 people were healed. Since, learning from Pastor William Lau of The Elijah Challenge in 2005, of not asking Jesus to be the servant and do the work of healing, instead, I became the servant and dId the healing in the mighty name of Jesus, more than 10,000 people have been healed.

HAVE MIRACLES CEASED?
Today, some churches believe that miracles have ceased in spite of much evidence and testimonies of unexplained instant healing cases reported not only from the churches but in news portals and various social media channels. The anti-miracles Christians explain all these away as false miracles and call them “lying wonders.” They based their understanding on 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12. This portion says that Satan will deceive people who do not love the truth by using signs and lying wonders. They also refer to Revelation 13:13 that describes the false prophet as having the ability to cause supernatural fire to come down from heaven.

Then they invoke the serious warning from Jesus found in Matthew 7:21-22, misquoting this portion to mean the Lord is against all so-called prophets. However, a closer examination of the scriptural context reveals that the Lord had already identified the false prophets in Matthew 7:15-20. And He had indicated that the way to recognize true or false prophets is by identifying their fruits. So, this portion can hardly be used as biblical proof that miracles have ceased and that anyone ministering in signs and wonders is a false prophet.

DID MIRACLES CEASE AFTER THE WRITING OF THE NEW TESTAMENT?
Another reason that some churches give as to why God performed healing miracles only in the past is that those incidents were primarily for the purpose of writing the New Testament. Since that task has already been completed, miracles should cease by now. For the same reason, not only miracles have ceased but the spiritual gifts, particularly speaking in tongues and prophesying, have also ceased. Their favorite supporting verses are found in 1 Corinthians 13:8-10.

Let us read verse 10: “But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.” (NKJV) or in the NIV translation: “But when completeness comes, what is in part disappears.”

They have taken the Greek word, “tevleio” which means “completion” to refer to the “Completion of the Bible” as written words of God rather than the “Completion of the Age.” Did Paul actually write about the completion of the Bible or was he referring to something else?

The context of this scriptural portion has no indication that Paul even had the “Completion of the Bible” in mind when he wrote to the Corinthian Christians. In fact, Paul did not even realize that God would use his epistles to become an integral part of the New Testament. How could he write something that he had no idea at all? How could he add an idea that was outside the context of his explanation?

WHAT IS THE CORRECT BIBLICAL INTERPRETATION?
A good basic rule that governs biblical interpretation is that the Bible should never be interpreted to say what it never did say. Why then is this traditional argument that depicts the “Completion of the Bible” as the reason for the cessation of healing miracles accepted by most Evangelical believers? Could it be due to the lack of miracles in their churches that have forced them to find an excuse?

It seems that once a certain theory is repeated long enough, it is then believed to become synonymous with Biblical Truth.

Today, most believers are aware of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. The time for obedience is even more critical because there is still much work to be done. Jesus is very concerned about our obedience: “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” (Luke 6:46).

Doing what Jesus instructed is crucial not only to our spiritual growth but to the fulfillment of the Great Commission. We cannot choose to obey only portions of His instruction and be effective. There must be a reason why the Commander-in-chief has instructed us in such a way and also given us the Kingly Authority to encounter the evil one. Soldiers must submit to the Commander-in-chief and do what He desires. To obey only when it is convenient is not the correct attitude of a faithful kingdom warrior. Let’s respond to the Commander-in-chief and march according to the order of the heavenly herald. To victory in the mighty name of Jesus.

Here is my recent video message on YouTube of why some people are healed and some are not:

Part 4 – Why Some Are Healed And Others Are Not? [The Difference Between Faith and Presumption]

In the previous articles, I have pointed out that healing miracles may be blocked by the lack of faith – whether it is in the patient or the minister of healing. Therefore, having “mountain-moving faith” is of key importance in receiving healing miracles. I must also clarify that on many occasions, the lack of faith may not be the only reason why a patient is not miraculously healed.

Guilt Through Presumption
Many patients have carried the terrible burden of guilt because of the accusation by well-meaning healing ministers that these sick people lacked the faith to receive their healing miracles. For example, a 16-year old teenager who had both his legs amputated because of bone cancer was devastated by immense guilt. An elderly brother from our church visited him and told this young believer that God would grow his legs back if he had enough faith. The teenager was desperate because he could not muster enough faith to grow back his legs. His guilt was intensified by the presumption of our church member.

The question is asked, “Can God grow back those legs?” I believe that our Creator God can perform any miracles if He wanted to. Growing limbs would be a simple feat as compared with the resurrection of Lazarus by Jesus. Imagine, Jesus had to restore the dead brain cells, non-functioning organs, and all the decaying flesh of Lazarus who had died and was buried for four days. (John 11:17-44). And in this case, Jesus raised Lazarus back to life without even requiring Lazarus to activate his faith. The poor fellow was dead, remember? He had no faith at all and 100% of faith was from Jesus.

Difference Between Faith And Presumption
God is sovereign and He knows what is best. When King Herod chopped off the head of John the Baptist (Mark 6:27), Jesus did not perform a miracle to place John’s head back and bring him back to life. Could Jesus raise the dead? Of course! Jesus raised the dead son of a widow of Nain (Luke 7:11–17) and also Jairus’s daughter (Luke 8:54-55). You may question that wouldn’t it be better to raise John the Baptist as he would be of great benefit to the kingdom of God? You may have your reason and presumption but once again, God is sovereign and He knows best.

In the early church, the disciples were doing great miracles but when James was killed, they did not raise him back to life. (Acts 12:2). In the same chapter, we read about Peter being rescued from prison by an angel (Acts 12:7-10). Why didn’t God save James in the same manner? Wasn’t James a member of Christ’s inner circle of three, along with Peter and John? How about Stephen? Did the early church raise him from the dead after he was being stoned to death? (Acts 7:59). Could they raise the dead? Of course! Peter raised Dorcas from the dead in Acts 9 and Paul raised Eutychus who fell to his death after falling asleep by the window (Acts 20).

Three Basic Guiding Posts
Jesus said that “all things are possible” for those who have faith. James confirmed that without faith, no one would receive anything from God (James 1:7). However, so often, because of presumptuous faith, we move with unwarranted authority, thinking that we are the ultimate determiners of all miracles. That is an erroneous idea and an absolutely misplaced assumption. God has a bigger plan that goes far beyond our little crises, aches, and pains. He may want us to do certain things and not do certain things so as to fulfill His ultimate purpose. We just have to be more attentive and listen to His guidance.

Here are the three basic guiding posts that you would need to follow so as to avoid presumptuous faith and activate real mountain-moving faith. We have to ask whether we have…
1. Precedents, principles, or examples in the Bible that we can apply.
2. Specific instruction by God that clearly delineates our healing ministry.
3. A word of knowledge or the gift of discernment that directs us to do otherwise

Healing A Deaf-Mute
On a mission trip to Solo city, Indonesia, our mission team and I were faced with the request to heal a man who was born deaf and dumb. So, we ministered according to the above guiding posts:

1. Precedents, principles, OR examples in the Bible that we can apply.
In Mark 7:31-37, we learn that Jesus healed a man who was deaf and mute. The Gospel has identified no fewer than 26 healing miracles during the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. The apostles followed after the footsteps of Jesus and they performed many miracles (Acts 2:43). Peter and John healed a lame man at the gates of the Temple (Acts 3:7-11). Signs and wonders were a part of the ministry of the apostles (Acts 5:12). Peter healed many from various cities (Acts 5:12-16). Stephen, who was not an apostle, performed great wonders and signs (Acts 6:8). In Samaria, Evangelist Philip who was one of the deacons did great miracles and signs (Acts 8:6,7,13). Ananias healed Saul of his blindness (Acts 9:17-18). Peter healed Aeneas (Acts 9:32-35). In Joppa, Peter raised Dorcus from the dead (Acts 9:39-42). Paul performed healing miracles in Iconium (Acts 14:3,4). At Lystra, Paul healed a crippled man in the mighty name of Jesus (Acts 14:8-18). Paul delivered a woman who was possessed by an evil spirit (Acts 16:18). Paul performed many miracles in Ephesus (Acts 19:11,12). In Troas, Paul raised Eutychus from the dead (Acts 20:8-12). Paul healed the islanders of Malta who were diseased (Acts 28:8-9). So, we have ample examples and precedents for us to proceed with healing this deaf-mute.

2. Specific instruction by God that clearly delineates our healing ministry.
The instruction from Jesus is “Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these because I am going to the Father.” (John 14:12). What did Jesus do? He preached the Gospel of the kingdom. He healed the sick and cast out demons, and He made disciples. So, that means that we can do what Jesus did. Moreover, the Gospel recorded that Jesus had given power and authority to His disciples to heal the sick, cast out demons, and preach the Gospel of the kingdom. (Luke 9 & 10), What more do we need? The Lord has spoken!

THE HEALING MIRACLE BEGUN
It was in Gereja Gideon Gumunggung, that we ministered to this man who was born deaf and dumb. In our first few commands, the man’s ears were opened and he could hear. However, since he could not talk, he gestured to that fact. And so I laid my hand upon his mouth and commanded the spirit of dumbness to leave him. And to test him, I indicated for him to repeat after me by saying “Puji Tuhan” (Praise God) and “Hallelujah!” As he repeated those words, the congregation was cheering. Some were in tears. Later, after the service, the sister of this man confirmed that this man who was already in his 50s, was born deaf and dumb and now he had received his healing miracle from the Lord. Praise the Lord.

3. A word of knowledge or the Spirit of discernment that directs us to do otherwise
In general, we do not need a word of knowledge to minister healing. When an infirm asks for healing, we would normally just go ahead and command for the infirmity to go in the mighty name of Jesus. We expect the person to be healed and that he or she should give glory to God after the miracle
However, if we were to discern within our spirit, that we should not proceed with ministering of healing at that particular instance, we should stop. As we listen to the Holy Spirit, He will reveal certain deeper spiritual issues in the patient. We usually cease all healing ministry and address the spiritual issues first. In summary, we do not need a word of knowledge or a Rhema word to minister healing but we do need to obey the prompting of the Holy Spirit if He were to give us a word to stop ministering healing.

What have we learned from today’s lesson?
We have to be careful not to give the infirm guilt trip or false accusation that they do not have enough faith to be healed. Wisdom is needed in how to encourage the faith of those who are seeking divine healing. It may very well be the minister of healing who lacks that mountain-moving faith. On the other hand, God may have His reason to delay healing. Just like in my case – I had to wait in God’s waiting room for two years after Pastor William Lau had commanded healing for me. There are many reasons that we may not know until later in the future. Meanwhile, let’s be faithful and continue to minister healing and cast out demons in the mighty name of Jesus.

Here is a video on healing that might be helpful to you.

Part 2 -Why Some Are Healed and Some Are Not?

By Albert Kang
“Why are some people healed after we commanded healing and why are some not healed?”

This is a question that is not easy to answer as there is a wide variety of reasons behind it. In the previous article, I identified unforgiveness and bitterness, on the part of the patient, as the primary hindrance to healing. In this article, you will learn that the responsibility for the lack of healing miracles rests upon the shoulders of the healing ministers.

On one occasion, Jesus rebuked his disciples for not being able to heal the demonized boy (Matthew 17:14-22). He was quite upset and reprimanded, “You unbelieving and perverse generation, how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you?” Why did Jesus expect His disciples to cast out the demon and heal the boy? The reason is quite obvious – because they were empowered to do so. These disciples were trained and empowered to do as Jesus did. The Gospel’s record is clear about this appointment and empowerment:

When Jesus had called the Twelve together, He gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, and He sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. (Luke 9:1-2 NIV).

As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give. (Matthew 10:7-8 NIV).

Then why were those disciples not able to drive out the demon and heal the boy? The disciples themselves were puzzled. They asked Jesus privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” The reply of Jesus was “Because you have so little faith.” That tells us that even though we have been given the power and authority to heal the sick and cast out demons, we still need to exercise our faith.

WHAT IS FAITH?
Faith is simply the ability to trust. Jesus taught His disciples further about faith in Matthew 17:20 (NLT). “I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible”. Didn’t Jesus just chide them for having little faith? Then why did He say that even if their faith was to be as small as a mustard seed, it would still be powerful enough to move mountains?

Faith is not a dead pebble but a living seed. It can grow. And it is not just any seed but a mustard seed that Jesus described as the “least of all seeds” (Matthew 13:32). The difference between a mustard seed and the other seeds is the amount of energy stored in the seedpod. A large seed has more energy and so it can last longer in order to seek nutrients, water, and sunlight. A mustard seed is too tiny to have extra storage of energy. This means that it is completely vulnerable to the environment, and has only one chance to make it right. Without resources to survive, it has to completely rely on God for its survival. In short, mustard seed has no other option except to have “faith” and “trust” in God for its growth.

Faith alone is futile if there is no object of faith. Faith without God is meaningless. You cannot have faith in faith or trust in trust. The power does not reside in your faith or your trust alone but in the Person whom you put your faith and trust in. Paul the Apostle talked about his trust in the Lord in 2 Timothy 1:12 (NIV) – ” …I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.”

Now, apart from trusting in God, your faith also requires a promise from God. Has God promised you certain things and if so, can you trust Him to perform them? Is there a promise of God you can heal the sick and cast out demons in the mighty name of Jesus? Do you trust that you have been given the power and authority from Jesus? (Luke 9:1-2, 10:17-19). Do you believe in what Jesus said about you having the ability to do what He did while He was here on earth and in fact be able to do far greater work than He did? (John 14:12).

WHOSE FAITH TO DEPEND ON?
In the narrative of the demonized boy, you will notice that even the father of the victim had no faith. Wouldn’t it be fair to say that the responsibility for the lack of miracle, in this case, should fall upon that unbelieving father? Didn’t the father say to Jesus, “Help me, my unbelief”? (Mark 9:24). Jesus, Himself, did not do many miracles in His hometown because of the lack of faith among His town folks. Very few were healed there. (Matthew 13:58). However, when we look at it carefully, there is a difference between the demonized boy’s event and that of Jesus at His hometown. In this instance, the father was seeking healing for his son but lacked the faith to believe for his son’s miracle, while in Jesus’ hometown, the people were unwilling to seek healing because they did not believe in Him and His ability at all.

A PRINCIPLE LEARNED
From this event of the demonised boy, we observe a principle – the faith of the minister is more important than that of the patient. As long as the patient is willing to be ministered to, even he has no faith, we as healing ministers should have faith to heal the person.

Grace and I were ministering in an Orang Asli village. Some of the believers there brought us to a hut to minister to a young man who could not walk. He had a motorcycle accident a couple of days ago. We talked to the man about the healing power of Jesus but he was very shy to the point of avoidance. He just shook his head and said that he was alright. To help him relax, we asked him whether he still had pain and what kind of treatment he was getting. Gradually, he opened up as the rest of the Orang Asli believers encouraged him. We realized that at that point, the healing miracle would have to depend solely upon our faith.

As I laid a hand upon his injured leg, Grace began commanding in the Malay language. (My knowledge of Malay is very limited). At that point, Grace and I were applying the KINGLY AUTHORITY of the Lord Jesus and with determined faith, we commanded all the tissues, nerves, fibers, ligaments, tendons and bones to be healed in the mighty name of Jesus. By faith, I helped the man to stand up and said to him, “Jalan!” That means “walk” in Malay. The poor man was hesitant but looking at our determined gaze, he took the first step. Then the second, third, and subsequently walked to the doorway and back. He was amazed that there was only a “shadow” of pain that was left.

We did not like that little lingering pain to remain and so Grace commanded again. That tiny bit of pain left and the man walked without pain. Everybody in that hut rejoiced. We then shared the Gospel with this healed young man and subsequently assigned him to a local believer to do the follow-up with him. Once again, the two-hand punch of “healing the infirm” and “sharing the Gospel” was applied effectively. And this would not be appropriated without our faith in Jesus Christ and His promise of power and authority to minister.

Here is a video message that will encourage your faith: