This is such a big cause of demonic bondage, and it's one of the most common things to address in being set free. I had one highly experienced deliverance minister tell me that spirits of rejection are among some of the most common demons that he has encountered throughout his ministry. It seems that almost everybody is affected by rejection to some degree. It's vital to understand how it works, and how to apply the cure.

Why does rejection wound us so deeply?

Because it attacks the very person that we are. It destroys our self-esteem, and attacks who we are and our purpose in life. This is why it is one of the most common tools the devil will use to destroy a person's life. God never wanted us to feel rejected or abandon. He desires for you to know who you really are, and realize how deeply God loves, accepts, and appreciates you, so that you can live out the fullness of what all God has ordained you to be. God's Word tells us that without being rooted and grounded in the love (and acceptance) of God, we cannot experience the fullness of God in our lives:

And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

Ephesians 3:19

Rejection has a way of destroying a person's life in a way that few other things can. The sad fact is that the number of people who are affected by rejection is staggering. If we want to be all that God has created us to be, then overcoming rejection and it's affects is vital and absolutely essential.

The fruit of rejection

Many people who have faced rejection and abuse as a child, grow up with unresolved emotional wounds. Rejection causes emotional wounds, which if not cleansed and released, will grow and fester into spiritual wounds (such as unforgiveness, envy, blaming God, jealousy, etc.). Those spiritual wounds open us upto evil spirits which love to take advantage of this opportunity to invade us. The goal of the enemy is to get us built up with emotional baggage inside and negative feelings in our hearts against one another, ourselves, and God.

Rejection has a lot of fruit which can widely vary from one person to another. Some of the common symptoms of rejection include:

• Rebellion in both children and adults
• Fabricated personalities (being somebody you aren't, in order to be accepted)
• The tendency to reject others, so that you aren't the first one to be rejected
• A tendency to always wonder if a person rejects or accepts you
• The need to fit in or be accepted by others and be a part of everything
• Self-pity where a person feels bad for themselves being all alone
• Inability to be corrected or receive constructive criticism
• Rejection creates an environment where you are starved for love or just don't fit in
• A tendency to blame God ("Why did He give me this big nose? Why did God make me so short?")
• A sense of pride that says, "How dare they reject me!"
• Opinionated personality and the need to be right about things
• Feelings of worthlessness, insecurity, or hopelessness
• Seeking a parent's approval is a sign that your basing your identity upon what they think of you
• Envy, jealousy, and even hate can be rooted in rejection
• Fear of confrontation (because your identity is based upon what they think of you)

A person who has a hard time admitting they are wrong, or receiving constructive criticism has an underlying problem with rejection. How do we know that? Because they are basing their identity, who they are, upon their ability to be right about everything. Stubbornness can also be rooted in rejection as well for this same reason. They have to be right, or else they feel worthless... that's because "who they are" (their identity) is based upon them being right. This also ties in with opinionated personalities, who are always there to tell you all about something, even if they have little or no real understanding to speak from.

Then we have performance orientation and drivenness, certain variances of OCD, etc. where a person is basing their identity and who they are upon how well they perform at something in life. Whenever we base who we are upon our performance, or our being correct about something, then we fail, it is a blow to our identity.

Those who struggle with rejection can also become what we call fixers; a fixer is a person who is eager to tell everybody else how they need to be doing things, but many times have little understanding or experience in such matters. Such a person attempts to be the Holy Spirit in other people's lives, where they have no authority or right to step in. They find their identity in fixing other people's problems, and they love it when people come to them for help or advise.

The truth is that we were created to be loved, accepted, and appreciated. Rejection is an anti-Christ spirit because it opposes the very nature that God created in us. Rejection starves a person from love and acceptance that they were designed to receive. The problem is that when we turn to others or even ourselves for that love and acceptance, we are setting ourselves up for failure and the damage of rejection. Only God can be trusted as the source of our identity.

Self-rejection is another piece to this puzzle. Self-rejection is where a person rejects them self. They do not like who they are. This can often lead to self-hate, self-resentment, etc. It is often tied in with self-unforgiveness, if the person has made mistakes in their life which they deeply regret. Just as it hurts when others reject us, it can do just as much damage when we reject ourselves.

Then there's perceived rejection, where a person receives something as rejection when it really isn't. For example, "Why is that person not coming over here to talk to me?" When the person may not be trying to reject you, but just feel shy at the time in stepping out and meeting you (or anybody else for that matter). People who have spirits of rejection can have a tenancy to receive perceived rejection, because the purpose of a spirit of rejection is to make us feel rejected.

A person who feels like God is always angry at them usually has issues of rejection. Perceived rejection can also make a person feel as if God has rejected them. This is a very common scene that we encounter in the deliverance ministry.

A good example of rejection, which caused feelings of envy, jealousy, and even hate to surface in King Saul can be found in 1 Samuel:

And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands. And Saul was very wroth, and the saying displeased him; and he said, They have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands: and what can he have more but the kingdom? And Saul eyed [literally meaning that he looked with jealousy upon] David from that day and forward. And it came to pass on the morrow [the next day], that the evil spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of the house: and David played with his hand, as at other times: and there was a javelin in Saul's hand. And Saul cast the javelin; for he said, I will smite David even to the wall with it. And David avoided out of his presence twice.

1 Samuel 18:7-11

I was reading my Bible one day, when this passage really stood out to me. First, we see the women praising David for slaying his ten thousands, but Saul for slaying his thousands. This rejection made Saul angry with David, and jealous of him. The very next day, an evil spirit came upon Saul and caused him to become exceedingly angry, to the point of attempting to murder David! Now there's some ugly fruit that all started with rejection. It wasn't rejection that opened Saul up to the evil spirit, but rather his reaction to his rejection.

The same is true when a person becomes stubborn or rebellious, or any other ungodly reaction to rejection. The rejection isn't the sin, but their reaction can be a serious sin. This can open the person up to unclean spirits, and lead them down the path of destruction. God's Word puts stubbornness and rebellion, for example, in the same category as witchcraft and idol worship!

For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.

1 Samuel 15:23

The root of rejection

The root of rejection is actually incredibly simple: damage from rejection is the result of a misplaced identity. Whenever we base our identity on somebody or something other than what God's Word has to say about us, we make ourselves vulnerable to the damage of rejection. Many of us will base our identity on what our parents, teachers, or friends think of us. This sets a lot of children up for Performance Orientation bondages later in life, because their parents give them conditional love based on their grades or performance.

What or who defines who you are? Is it your job? Is it what your parents thought or think of you? Is it what your friends think of you? Is it how well you perform in the workplace? How much money you have? Is it how good of grades you get? Is it what you think of yourself? Is it how physically strong, fit, or tall you are? When you die, will those things continue to define who you are?

Rejection and rising above rejection is all about identity and what you base your identity upon. The key to overcoming rejection, is to solve the identity problems.

Let's say that you are basing your identity on what your mother and father think of you. Now the moment that any hint of disapproval comes from them concerning you, that is going to hurt because they are the source of your identity. Anytime we base our identity on what we think of ourselves, or what others think of us, we are virtually trusting that person with our identity. Not even ourselves are capable of truly determining who we are; only God is qualified for that job. That is why it is absolutely vital for us to understand the person that God has made in us, and who we are as new creations in Christ Jesus. We were never made to live apart from God or base our identity on things of this world.

When we base our identity upon what the Word of God has to say about us, we will become virtually rejection-proof. We can become immune from the wounds of rejection as long as we are not basing our identity upon what that person thinks of us.

Some dynamics of rejection

The closer a person is to you, the deeper their rejection can wound you. Authority figures are also able to deeply wound you, because you look upto them and rely upon them. Parents often pass rejection on to their children when they say things such as, "I'll love you when you get good grades." Conditional love causes feelings of rejection and bondages such as performance orientation and drivenness.

Whether you love or hate a person doesn't immune anybody from rejection. You can literally want to kill somebody, but still be affected by their rejection. The question is, are you looking to them for approval? Are you basing your identity upon what they think of you? Does their approval of you give your life meaning and purpose?

A person's age also has a lot to do with their vulnerability to rejection. Children are especially vulnerable to the damage of rejection, because they are still developing their identity and learning about who they are. A lot of damage is done by peers in school. Either your too short, too tall, too fat, too skinny, you have brown eyes when you should have blue eyes... you name it, and kids will pick on it! Insecure children can be very cruel and damage other children through rejection. Why? Because their own identity is not based on the right things. They do not know who they really are, or who they are called to be, so they go around putting other kids down to make themselves feel better. If they knew who they were in Christ, it would be an entirely different story! They would seek to edify other kids, and help them find their identity and calling as well.

Is it possible to receive rejection from a child or even grandchild? Yes! Nobody is immune, providing that they are basing their identity on what that other person thinks of them. You can be 100 years old, and be damaged by the rejection of a caretaker.

Get your identity from God's Word!

As I mentioned earlier, it is vital that we base our identity, who we are, upon what God's Word says about us. When we do, we become virtually immune from the devastating and hurtful effects of rejection. God promises never to leave or forsake us, so when our identity is based upon what He says of us, we can be assured that we're not going to face rejection coming from Him.

Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

Hebrews 13:5

So what exactly does God's Word tell us about who we are in Christ?

• Because of God's great love for us, we are adopted into His family [1 John 3:1], and made joint heirs with Christ [Romans 8:17]
• We are made to sit in heavenly places (of authority over all demons, sickness, etc.) with Christ [Ephesians 2:6]
• We are blessed with all spiritual blessings in Christ [Ephesians 1:3]
• We are the righteousness of Christ through faith, thus being made right before God [Romans 3:22]
• We are entitled to a clean conscience before God because of the Blood and can have full assurance of faith when we go before Him [Hebrews 10:22]
• Our sins have been removed from us as far as the east is from the west [Psalms 103:12], and God Himself has chosen not to remember our failures [Hebrews 8:12]
• We are loved with the same love that the Father has for Jesus Himself! [John 17:23]

I could go on and on, because the Word of God is so rich and powerful in helping us define who we are in Christ. One of my favorite books to recommend when it comes to this subject is Victory over Darkness by Neil T. Anderson. His book on this subject is an incredible tool to change the way we see ourselves through the eyes of God's Word.

There's one verse in Psalms that really puts the light on how we can be freed from the devastating effects of rejection:

When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up.

Psalms 27:10

Overcoming religious strongholds is necessary to overcome the effects of rejection. You're not going to settle rejection issues fully until you get it down into your spirit that you are accepted, loved, and appreciated by God. Dealing with religious strongholds is vital to this process, as religion paints God as distant, cold, and impersonal. Bringing your relationship with God into proper perspective is a vital step in the process of overcoming the strongholds of rejection.

Tearing down the strongholds of rejection is as simple as merely receiving, with childlike faith, what God's Word has to say about your identity, who you are as a new creature in Christ, who is called to life, purpose, and meaning in Christ.

Other factors for healing

Intensional rejection is basically emotional abuse in it's most simple form. It wounds a person's spirit, sometimes slightly, other times those wounds can be deep and very painful. Those wounds must be healed, and there are some articles on this site which address the subject of inner healing which can be very helpful in this healing process:

• Pillars of Inner Healing
• Defense Mechanisms
• Inner Healing 101
• Is God upset with me?
• Steps to inner healing

The one thing that you absolutely cannot overlook is correcting your identity. You need to start seeing yourself for who you are in Christ, and the person that God has really formed within you. Your identity must come from Him and what His Word says about you. Printing out lists of Bible verses which speak of who you are in Christ are incredible tools to help renew your mind and tear down these strongholds. In the healing process of rejection, many times strongholds need to be torn down. Some helpful pages on this site include:

• Who we REALLY are
• It's vital to love yourself!
• What's on your mind?
• The power of your thoughts
• Anti-stronghold Bible verses (print these out and speak them aloud daily!)
• How God sees us
• A Thankful Heart
• A Love Relationship w/Jesus
• Blessing Confessions (print these out and speak them aloud daily!)
• Forgiven sinner or saint?

The Holy Spirit has shown me that whenever we feel the hurt and pain from rejection, it's because we our identity depends upon what that person thinks of us. If our identity didn't depend on what others think of us, we would be virtually immune from the damage of rejection. That is why our identity must be based upon the Word of God, and what God has to say about us. That is the unshakable rock to which we need to build our house upon.

The wounds of rejection can open a person up to spirits such as abandonment, rejection, worthlessness, etc. Those who have ongoing struggles with rejection should go through the deliverance process to have those spirits removed. There are often other bondages that result from rejection, such as performance orientation, drivenness, rebellion, etc. Rejection is an open door to a wide variety of bondages. Lack of love as a child, for example, can cause that child to turn to pornography and lust to fulfill their need to be loved, and now we have unloving spirits, lust, pornography, etc. to deal with. As with abuse, it's not so much the rejection that opens us up to unclean spirits, but rather our reaction to the rejection. As a said, true rejection is just an emotional form of abuse.

God spoke to me one time and said, "How is your heart towards that person who's rejected you? Do you love them as I have commanded you?" Forgiving that person who has rejected us is a vital step in this process. If we want God's help in this healing process, then forgiveness is not an option. Sometimes we even have to forgive God in cases of rejection, such as "Why did God give me this big nose? Or this short body?" I've even struggled with unforgiveness against God because I thought He was just too hard to please, as a result of a religious bondage. Religion, as with so many other things, can also tie in with rejection bondages.

• Sick believers don't need to remain sick!

James 5:14 Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him...

James was writing to Christian believers (2:1). He asked them if any of them were sick. It is a “given” of life in our fallen condition that our bodies on occasion tend to sickness, and eventually they die. However, as the verse directly below points out, it is also a “given” for the believer that God is Jehovah-Rapha, “the Lord who heals you.”

Exodus 15:26 [God] said, “If you listen carefully to the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the LORD, who heals you.”

God identified Himself to Israel in a variety of names and ways. Here He revealed Himself to His people as “Jehovah-Rapha” — “the Lord who heals you.”

Healing is not just something that God “does.” No, more than that, healing is part of God’s very nature — “I AM the Lord who heals you.” Remember always that you serve a healing God who has declared that His intent towards you is “not [to] bring on you any diseases ... [but to be] the Lord who heals you.”

• God is FOR us, not against us, in the matter of healing.

God’s heart towards His people is health and healing. See, for example, the following Scripture portions:

• Exodus 23:25-26 Worship the LORD your God, and his blessing will be on your food and water. I will take away sickness from among you, and none will miscarry or be barren in your land. I will give you a full life span.

• Deuteronomy 7:11-12, 15 Therefore, take care to follow the commands, decrees and laws I give you today. If you pay attention to these laws and are careful to follow them, then the LORD your God will keep his covenant of love with you, as he swore to your forefathers.... [15] The LORD will keep you free from every disease. He will not inflict on you the horrible diseases you knew in Egypt, but he will inflict them on all who hate you.

• Acts 10:38 ...how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.

• God's spiritual healing power extends to ALL our diseases and infirmities.

Psalms 103:2-3 Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits — who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases.

The greatest of the Lord’s “benefits” is that He forgives all our sins! But the Psalmist here charges us not to forget another of the Lord’s benefits — that is, He “heals all our diseases.”

ALL our diseases! None are too hard for Him. No illnesses are excluded from this great “benefit.” Whatever disease you or a loved one may have, it falls under God’s promise to “heal all your diseases.”

• Jesus died for both our sins and our sicknesses.

Isaiah 53:5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.

1 Peter 2:24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.

It was Jesus’ willing offering of Himself on the Cross that bore our sins. But the very same tormented body of Jesus, in His scourging and crucifixion, purchased for us the blessing of divine healing — “by His wounds you have been healed.”

And notice the differences in the verb tenses used by Isaiah and Peter. Isaiah, prophetically seeing this seven centuries before Christ, said, “By His wounds we are healed.” The apostle Peter, looking back to Christ’s historical death and resurrection, declared, “By His wounds you have been healed.” Jesus cried out from the Cross, “It is finished!” Sin has been overcome. Sickness has been overcome. The Cross of Jesus Christ has conquered both sin and sickness. Dr. Roger Sapp, whose CDs and DVDs on healing I have greatly enjoyed, strongly emphasizes that healing is ours because of what Jesus accomplished at the Cross.

The following are some of the numerous instances of divine, spiritual healing in the Bible. Let’s see what insights we can learn from them.

• God responds to prayer for healing.

Genesis 20:17-18 Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, his wife and his slave girls so they could have children again, for the LORD had closed up every womb in Abimelech’s household because of Abraham’s wife Sarah.

Numbers 12:13 So Moses cried out to the LORD, “O God, please heal her!”

The principle here is simple — faithful Abraham prayed, and God healed. Moses prayed for leprous Miriam, and God healed her.

King David understood the power of prayer for healing the sick — “O LORD my God, I called to you for help and you healed me” (Psalm 30:2).

The ongoing principle seen here and elsewhere in the Bible, is the power of a believer’s prayer. Abraham, Moses, and David believed in God’s healing power and His willingness to heal, and they prayed for it. Jesus taught on this same power of a believer’s faith-filled prayer:

Matthew 21:22 “If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”

• And it's OK with God if our prayers for healing are deeply emotional!

2 Kings 20:1-5 (King James Version) In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz came to him, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live. Then he turned his face to the wall, and prayed unto the LORD, saying, I beseech thee, O LORD, remember now how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore. And it came to pass, afore Isaiah was gone out into the middle court, that the word of the LORD came to him, saying, Turn again, and tell Hezekiah the captain of my people, Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee: on the third day thou shalt go up unto the house of the LORD.

Serious illnesses can be emotionally devastating. King Hezekiah was “sick unto death.” To make matters worse, the prophet Isaiah brought him the Lord’s message that this illness would be fatal. Hezekiah’s reaction is very illuminating for us.

The Bible reveals to us that, having learned that his illness was terminal, Hezekiah “wept bitterly” (NIV) as he “prayed unto the Lord.” Note that God regarded both Hezekiah’s prayer and his emotions — “I have heard thy prayer; I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee.” It’s OK with God if we are quite emotional in approaching Him with our healing needs.

Now let’s look at some examples of Jesus healing the sick, the infirm, the diseased, those in pain, etc.

• Jesus healed a broad range of illnesses — in fact, He healed "every disease and sickness."

Matthew 4:23-24 Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and HEALING EVERY disease and sickness among the people. News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed, and he healed them. (caps mine)

Christians serve a healing Savior, Jesus Christ. His heart, as here, is for “the people.” The Gospel records abound with illustrations of Jesus healing the masses, the men and women on the street. He preached and taught, yes. But He also “healed every disease and sickness among the people.”

“Every disease and sickness” — Christ’s healing power is without limit. His healing touch is available to everyone. There is no illness beyond His ability to cure. He healed them all, including:

• those “ill with various diseases”

• those who were “suffering severe pain”

• the “demon-possessed”

• those “having seizures”

• those who were “paralyzed”

So don’t hesitate to bring any healing need to Jesus, because He demonstrated His ability and His willingness to heal “every disease and sickness among the people.”

• Jesus' healing power was prophesied in the Old Testament.

Matthew 8:16-17 (King James Version) When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.

God had this in mind all along. The prophet Isaiah spoke of it seven centuries before the New Testament era:

• Jesus would take up our infirmities.

• Jesus would bear our diseases.

• Jesus would “heal all that were sick” to fulfill the prophecy of Isaiah.

• Be encouraged to reach out to Jesus for your healing.

Matthew 14:35-36 (KJV) And when the men of that place had knowledge of [Jesus], they sent out into all that country round about, and brought unto him all that were diseased; and besought him that they might only touch the hem of his garment: and as many as touched were made perfectly whole.

Verse 36, NIV: “...all who touched him were healed.”

Our part is to reach out and touch Jesus for healing. Bring your sick ones to Jesus. Encourage them by faith to reach out and touch Him, because then, as now, all who touched Him were healed.

• Don't pray the leper's prayer; pray Jesus' answer!

Mark 1:40-41 A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.” Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!”

Do not establish your healing doctrine on the leper’s cry, “If you are willing.” No, but rather build your faith for healing on Jesus’ confidence-building reply, “I AM willing!” Fix this thought firmly in your soul — Jesus IS WILLING to heal those who come to Him in faith.

• BELIEVE the Lord for divine healing. Have FAITH in His power and willingness to heal you.

Matthew 9:20-22, 27-30a (KJV) And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment: For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole. But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.... [27] And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying, and saying, Thou Son of David, have mercy on us. And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord. Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you. And their eyes were opened.

A principle of great importance is seen in these verses — that is, “thy faith hath made thee whole ... according to your faith be it unto you.” Hebrews 11:6 tells us that “without faith it is impossible to please God.” But conversely, we are told, “If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer” (Matthew 21:22). God expects us, in asking for healing as well as in other prayers, to believe Him, to believe His word, to “have faith in God” (Mark 11:22). Divine healing is quite appropriately called "faith healing"!

• God may ask us to demonstrate our faith for spiritual healing.

Matthew 12:10, 13 And a man with a shriveled hand was there. Looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, they asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?” ... [13] Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” So he stretched it out and it was completely restored, just as sound as the other.

There may be times when the Lord will ask you to show your faith, to give observable evidence of your faith, as in the case of the man whom He told to stretch out his withered hand. I wrote earlier how my wife Mickey, sincerely believing God for the healing of her infertility, felt faith to buy a roomful of nursery furniture. Not many months later, after six years of infertility, she found herself pregnant with the first of our four children. I can only conclude that God saw the sincerity of Mickey's faith (edit 2010: see Tribute to a Life Lived Well).

• Healing comes through faith in Jesus, not faith in faith.

Acts 3:16 By faith in the name of JESUS, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is JESUS’ name and the faith that comes through HIM that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see.

Healing comes “by faith in” someone — JESUS! Over the years I have heard sincere Christians misdirect their faith. Some have fallen into the error of having “faith in faith.” No! Our faith is in a Person, Jesus, who heals. Others have properly searched the Scriptures concerning healing, but have unfortunately been content to use them merely as a “formula” for healing, rather than as a revelation of the Healer Himself. "Faith healing" is not primarily believing the doctrine of healing (true as that doctrine is), but believing in the Healer, the Person — that is, in Jesus Christ.

Peter understood the proper object of our faith — Jesus! He told his listeners how the lame man had been healed:

• “...by faith in the name of Jesus”

• “It is Jesus’ name...”

• “It is...the faith that comes through Him...”

• Sometimes we may need to "walk" for a while in faith, then the healing comes.

Luke 17:12 (KJV) And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off: And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.

This is a very reassuring verse. Notice that the lepers were not healed the moment they prayed. No, but rather they were healed “as they went” to show themselves to the priests in obedience to Jesus.

There may be times when we need to “walk” for a while in faith, and then the healing comes. Although many healings in the Bible were instantaneous, some were not immediate. Be willing to maintain steadfast faith as you pray for divine healing, and don’t be discouraged if your healing does not immediately occur.

• Don't pray, then doubt!

In his epistle James reveals a valuable principle for the person asking something of God — “When he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord” (James 1:6-7). When you ask God for healing, don’t doubt! Don’t waver! Believe God. Believe the healing promises of His word. Reject doubt, choosing rather to say, “God is true ... His word is true ... so my doubts must go!”

• Now let us look now at HOW healing is ministered to people.

1. By prayer, as we have already seen.

2. By a spoken word.

John 4:49-51 (KJV) The nobleman saith unto him, Sir, come down ere my child die. Jesus saith unto him, Go thy way; thy son liveth. And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way. And as he was now going down, his servants met him, and told him, saying, Thy son liveth.

Even at a distance from the nobleman’s home, Jesus spoke the word: “Thy son liveth.” And the man “believed the word that Jesus had spoken” and returned home to find his son alive. There is healing power in the spoken word of faith.

Acts 9:33-34 There he found a man named Aeneas, a paralytic who had been bedridden for eight years. “Aeneas,” Peter said to him, “Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and take care of your mat.” Immediately Aeneas got up.

Again, we see the power of the spoken word of faith. Peter simply declared the truth: “Jesus Christ heals you.” Tell the sick, “Jesus Christ heals you.” Make no apologies for that statement. Don’t doubt it. Don’t try to water it down. As the old saying goes, truer words were never spoken!

Acts 14:8-10, KJV And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother’s womb, who never had walked: The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed, said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked.

Once more we see the healing power of the spoken word of faith. The preaching of the word of God inspired an atmosphere of faith. Paul “perceived that [the lame man] had faith to be healed.”

How did the lame man come to this place of having faith to be healed? The answer is that he heard the word of God spoken by Paul. This is a vitally important principle for all churches and all Christians. Preach the word. Teach the word. God’s word will inspire faith in the hearers. And we will begin to see dramatic healings in response to the spoken word of faith — “Stand upright on thy feet!”

3. By the laying on of hands.

Acts 9:10-11, 17-18, KJV And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus.... [17] And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.

First notice that it doesn’t require an apostle to heal the sick. It doesn't require someone with a special healing ministry to heal the sick. Verse 10 identifies Ananias simply as a “disciple.” Mark 16:17-18 records Jesus’ promise to all believers — “And these signs will accompany those who believe.... they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”

Led by Jesus in a vision, the faithful “disciple” Ananias found Saul and announced that Jesus had sent him to heal Saul’s blindness. It is important for those who are sick to understand that Jesus is able and willing to heal them.

Then Ananias laid his hands on him, and Saul’s eyes immediately received sight again.

4. By filling the needy person’s heart with the faith-building, life-giving word of God.

Proverbs 4:20-22 My son, pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to a man’s whole body.

The words of the Lord, as recorded in the Bible, are life-giving — “they are life.” Jesus said that His words “are spirit and they are life.”

But the Proverb reveals another dramatic benefit of keeping the Lord’s words “within your heart,” and that benefit is health — “My words ...[are] health to a man’s whole body.” The secular world speaks of "alternative health". But the best source of alternative health — or any aspect of health! — is the sure promises of God in His word, the bible.

5. Through what have been called “prayer cloths.”

Acts 19:11-12 God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them.

Many churches continue to pray this way for sick family members and friends who live at a distance. I endorse this practice wholeheartedly.

Generally, during the post-service altar ministry someone will hold a handkerchief over which believers will come and pray for healing for the person in need. Then the handkerchief is mailed to the sick person, along with some faith-building scriptures on healing (usually including Acts 19:11-12) and an explanation that believers in the church had prayed for them for their healing. Testimonies abound of people being physically healed in this way.

Many years ago in a church in Anchorage, I was touched to see a medical doctor holding a prayer cloth on behalf of a sick person of his acquaintance. As I joined with the others in prayer, I thought to myself, “Here is this Christian doctor, with all his scientific knowledge, humbly asking the Great Physician to do something better than medical science can do it.” My faith was encouraged.

6. A merry heart contributes to our receiving spiritual healing.

Proverbs 17:22 A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

(King James Version) A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.

The margin of the New American Standard Bible says that a joyful heart “literally, ‘causes good healing.’ ”

Think of that — the state of our “heart” — referring here to the emotions, not the bodily organ — can substantially affect our good health or lack thereof. This has long been common knowledge in the medical field. Sometimes illnesses are diagnosed as “psychosomatic” in origin. Interestingly, the word psychosomatic comes from the same Greek words that the Bible uses for “soul” and “body.” So medical science agrees with the Bible that the state of our inner man or woman can substantially affect our physical health, for good or for bad.

The word of God says that a merry heart “literally causes good healing”! There is a direct, cause-and-effect result: merry heart —> good healing. Conversely, a broken or crushed spirit has a negative effect on our health (it “dries up the bones”).

One of the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22) is joy. Those who allow the presence of the Lord in their lives to bring a daily, inward joy will also reap the wonderful promise of their “merry heart doing good like a medicine.”

7. There is healing in “the Lord’s Supper,” the Communion.

1 Corinthians 11:29-30 For anyone who eats and drinks [the Lord’s supper, vs. 20] without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself. That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep.

“That is why many...are weak and sick.” Why? They take Communion “without recognizing the body of the Lord.” They forget 1 Peter 2:24 — “By his wounds you have been healed.” They participate in the communion service, perhaps needing a physical healing, and remain oblivious to the fact that Jesus’ body bore both our sins and our sicknesses.

I would encourage every reader to ponder these things the next time you take communion. Remember what Jesus’ broken body has done for you. Receive the benefits of that by faith. And expect divine healing to come to your body, even during the very communion service.

8. By calling the elders of the church to lay on hands, anoint with oil, and pray for you.

James 5:14-15 Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up.

An important doctrinal point on a related topic — it’s important for each church to have elders. Otherwise, there are no “elders of the church” for the sick to call for prayer and anointing with oil. Can you identify the elders of your church?

In my years as a Christian, I have been an elder in three local churches. I have always considered it a privilege to respond to calls from the sick. The process is simple and will generally be something like this:

1. The sick person, or someone on their behalf, calls an elder to come and pray.

2. That elder contacts another elder to accompany him.

3. Those elders anoint the sick person with oil and pray the “prayer of faith” (KJV).

4. That being done, God’s promise is: “The Lord will raise him up.”

9. In some instances, divine healing comes as demons are driven out. [NOTE: The Bible does not indicate that demons can inhabit Christians.]

Matthew 17:15, 18 “Lord, have mercy on my son,” he said. “He has seizures and is suffering greatly. He often falls into the fire or into the water.” ... [18] Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed from that moment.

It is important to remind ourselves that this healing was before the Cross of Christ, so the boy was not a born-again person, indwelt by the Holy Spirit. I find no Bible evidence that a born-again Christian can be possessed by a demon.

Here the boy was clearly possessed and had a demon within (verse 18 — “it came out”). The demon’s presence was manifested by the boy having seizures. When Jesus cast out the demon, the boy was immediately healed.

You too may encounter some instances of afflictions suffered by unsaved people that are caused by demonic power. As in the case of Jesus curing the epileptic boy, healing may come as you drive the demon(s) away in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Luke 13:10-13 On a Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues, and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all. When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, “Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.” Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God.

This is a similar instance to the healing of the epileptic boy. The woman had been literally “crippled by a spirit” for 18 years. Jesus acknowledged (verse 16) that Satan had bound her and that she needed to be “set free.” He ministered that deliverance to her, and she was immediately healed from her crippling condition.

10. Sometimes healing comes from what would seem to us to be rather unusual, even remarkable, methods.

John 9:6-7 Having said this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the [blind] man’s eyes. “Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means Sent). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.

Acts 5:15-16, KJV Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them. There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.

Jesus spit, made mud, and put it on a blind man’s eyes. And when the man washed his eyes, he could see! Sick people were laid in the streets, and when Peter’s shadow passed over them, they were healed.

These and other extraordinary healings were not written to give us a “pattern” of how to minister to the sick. In fact, neither of these instances was repeated in the New Testament. These are simply manifestations of the multifaceted power of God to heal. As we have seen in items 1-10 above, God heals in a variety of ways. The common denominator in all is this: God does heal!

WHO may be used to bring divine healing to those in need?

1. Ultimately, spiritual healing in all instances proceeds from God.

2. The early apostles healed.

Matthew 10:1, 8 He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.... [8] Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.

Acts 3:6-7 Then [the apostle] Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong.

3. A larger group of seventy-two disciples was sent by Jesus to heal the sick.

Luke 10:1, 8-9 After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go.... [8] “When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is set before you. Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God is near you.’

4. In the Great Commission, Jesus encouraged all believers to heal the sick.

Mark 16:15-18, KJV And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

The Great Commission is for all believers to share the Good News of Jesus “in all the world.” And God will confirm the Gospel with supernatural signs, including healings. And the Gospel that He will confirm is not spoken just by apostles and other ordained ministers, but also by “them that believe” (17). Every believer can share the Good News and can minister divine healing to the sick. Jesus’ encouragement to every believer is (18): “Lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.”

5. There are some Christians (not all) who are especially empowered by the Holy Spirit with “gifts of healing.”

1 Corinthians 12:7-11, KJV But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; to another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

This list is commonly called the nine spiritual gifts or gifts of the Holy Spirit. These are supernatural gifts with which the Holy Spirit endows individual Christians to minister to others.

One of these nine is “gifts of healing.” It is given to some, not all — notice: “to one is given ... to another ... to another ... to another the gifts of healing ...”

1 Corinthians 12:28-30a And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all have gifts of healing?

This is a similar list of spiritual gifts and ministries, indicating that to some God distributes the specific “gifts of healing.”

Let me add a side thought before our summary. It is this: Faith does not preclude our using wisdom and taking normal antiseptic, antibacterial precautions. For example:

2 Kings 20:7 Then Isaiah [the prophet] said, “Prepare a poultice of figs.” They did so and applied it to the boil, and he recovered.

Luke 10:34 “He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine.” [The wine, containing alcohol, would have an antibacterial effect.]

1 Timothy 5:23 “Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses.” [Apparently, in context, for the alcohol’s antiseptic properties when poured into contaminated water. It seems that germ-laden water was giving Timothy recurring stomach problems.]

SUMMARY: God’s heart is for healing. It is a “benefit,” as is the forgiveness of sins, that Jesus secured with His death, burial, and resurrection (Psalm 103:2-3). It is a historical "ancient landmark" of both the Old and New Testaments.

Jesus healed again and again while He walked the earth. And He remains “the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). Jesus heals today!

Biblical healing methods vary, and they include healing prayer, the laying on of hands, the spoken word, and anointing with oil by praying elders, among others.

Jesus has entrusted the healing ministry to His Church. The first apostles healed the sick. So did a large group of disciples. In the Great Commission, Jesus encouraged all believers to lay hands on the sick for healing. And there will be some in the churches whom the Holy Spirit will endow with specific “gifts of healing.”

Exodus 15:26 I am the Lord, who heals you.

Psalms 103:1-3 Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits — who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases.

 

 

Scripture Study:
"How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him." [Acts:10:38]

"But the anointing which you have received of him abides in you" [1Jn:2:27]

Understanding the Anointing,
The first thing we have to recognize is that God anoints His people - for a purpose!
He anointed Jesus, and he anoints His children.

Why? 
Look closely at the scripture found in acts 10:38: "How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power....who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.""

Notice first of all that the Scripture doesn't say: "How God anointed Jesus the Son of God with the Holy Ghost...."

No! What is says is that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth (the man). You see, what so many Christians don't understand is that even though Jesus was the only begotten Son of God - He left all of His power and glory in Heaven and came to earth in the same form as every other man. 

"And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." [Phil:2:8]

"Wherefore in all things it pleased Him (Jesus) to be made like unto his brethren,.." [Heb:2:17]

• He was born a man
• He lived on earth as a man
• As a man He had no more power than you or I
• He hungered and thirsted as a man
• He suffered as a man
• He died as a man

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The Anointing Brings Power:
It is extremely important to notice in the Gospels that Jesus never did even one miracle 
until He was anointed by the Holy Ghost. It was only after the Spirit of God (the Holy Ghost) descended upon Him that he began His ministry. [Mt:3:16].

Regardless of what many think - There is no Biblical evidence that Jesus ever performed any miracles, nor did he enter into ministry until after He received the Holy Spirit - and the power that comes with the infilling (anointing) of the Holy Ghost.

It is also important to note that Jesus also told the disciples not to go anywhere, or do anything, (not even to witness) until they had received the anointing (baptism) of the Holy Ghost).

• "And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but wait in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high." [Lk:24:49]

• "But you shall receive power, after the Holy Ghost is come upon you ... " [Acts:1:8]

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Anointed By God:
There are indeed many different kinds anointing, none of which are without importance. Yet, the most important thing for us to realize is that every born-again child of God has received the Spirit of God - and thereby an anointing of the Spirit.

Every born-again child of God has received the indwelling of the Holy Ghost. This is not to be confused with the infilling or the baptism of the Holy Spirit which is a completely separate experience - but every born-again believer has received the Spirit of God.

• "Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; ...." [1Cor:2:12]

• ".... but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father." [Rom:8:15]

• "...In whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise," [Eph:1:13]

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About The Anointing!
As mentioned, there are many different kinds of individual anointing.

• The 5-Fold Ministry (Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor, Teacher: Eph:4:11)

• Special Anointings in the Gifts of the Spirit [1Cor:12:7-11 • 1Cor:12:28]

• Special Anointings in the Area of Helps, Administrations, etc [1Cor:12:28]

The 5-Fold Ministry:
When God calls someone into the 5-fold ministry (Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor, Teacher) He anoints them with supernatural power and ability to carry out the functions of that office. When we understand this it becomes easy to recognize those who are called and anointed by God for the office they stand in because they seem to have a supernatural endowment to carry out the functions of that office with ease and excellence.

It also becomes easy to recognize when someone is not called and anointed to an office because they are not able to perform the duties of that office in a manner consistent with the excellence required by the Lord for that office. Everything is a struggle for them, and the enemy seems to constantly be able to overcome them and their goals.

It is important to mention here that no one should ever attempt to stand in a ministry office without the call of God and the anointing that comes with the office. Not only is it dangerous for the individual personally to attempt to stand in one of the 5-fold ministry offices if they have not been called and anointed to that office - but it can also bring great harm to the body of Christ. [Read what happened to Aaron and Miriam when they tried to stand in an office that they were not called to by God: Numbers 12:1-10]

Special Anointings:
Every born-again person has the Spirit in them - and thereby is enabled by the Spirit to be used in ALL of the gifts of the Spirit [1Cor:12:7-11] whenever the Spirit wills and to the level that they are willing to be used by Him.

However, the Lord does grant special anointings to certain individuals who seem to be able to operate in a higher degree of various gifts. I have seen, and known individuals who operate in a higher degree of the gifts of healing than most other people, and still others where the Word of knowledge is in manifestation to a greater degree than in others. These special anointings are granted by the Lord for whatever reason He chooses and they are not something that someone can just simply call upon at their own discretion. it is as the Spirit wills [1Cor:12:11]

Additionally, every born-again person is anointed to some degree to be a help [1Cor:12:28] to the body of Christ and to assist in the many different needs of the ministry as they are needed and called upon by the Pastor and other Leaders of the Church.

Yet, I have seen and known individuals that seem to operate in certain areas with a greater anointing than others in the area of helps, administration, etc. Again, this is something that the Lord anoints them to do for a specific reason and it is not something that we, on our own can just scoop up at will.

Brothers and Sisters, this message is so important that I have made the complete teaching absolutely FREE. Details on how to receive your FREE CD are provided at the end of this study.

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The Individual Anointing:
For the purpose of this study I want to focus specifically on the basic individual anointing: 

• "But you have an unction (anointing) from the Holy One..." [1 Jn 2:20]
   

• "... the anointing which you have received of Him abides (lives, remains, dwells) in you..." [1 Jn 2:27]
   

• "Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world." [1 Jn 4:4]

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Notice three things:

1. You have an anointing

2. The Anointing abides (lives) in you

3. The Anointing is there for a purpose (to over-come the world)

There is no doubt that we have an anointing because the Word of God says so: " But you have an unction (anointing) from the Holy One..."

And, we see from the Scripture that this anointing or unction is not just a passive thing that is simply placed in us for some future unknown reason or just to simply seal us - but rather the anointing abides in us.

The Greek Word used here that is translated as abides is 'meno': It literally means to dwell - take up residence - remain - live.

This anointing is a living and tangible thing that lives in us - takes up residence in us - dwells in us - and best of all - it remains in us (it never leaves us!). The reason for this is because we are talking about the Holy Spirit Himself - whom God has promised will come to live in us and will never leave or forsake us.

• "... as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people." [2Cor:6:16]

• "And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever" [John 14:16]

• "... for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." [Heb:13:5]

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For A Purpose:
Finally, the anointing that we have received of Him is for a purpose!

• "But you shall receive power, after the Holy Ghost is come upon you ...and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. " [Acts:1:8]

• "Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world." [1 Jn 4:4]

According to the Scriptures the purpose of the anointing is two-fold:

1. To be a witness to the saving power and goodness of Christ.

2. To overcome the World (and the things that are in it)

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Power to Witness:
The disciples received specific instructions from the Lord Jesus himself that they were to wait in Jerusalem until they had been endued with power from on high. They were told not to go anywhere - nor were they to do anything until they received this power or anointing of the Holy Ghost.

Power to Overcome:
The anointing that abides in us is there to help us to overcome those things that come against us and the plan of God for our life: Sickness, poverty, lack, weakness, doubt, anxiety, stress, confusion, depression, oppression, etc - all of which are (according to Acts 10:38) tools if the devil.

And, the level to which we receive and lean on the anointing, is the level of the power we have to exercise when endeavoring to overcome these things when they come against us.

This is why it is so important to not only be sealed with the Holy Spirit - but to be baptized by Him and filled with Him continually. (it doesn't take a genius to realize that being FULL of power is better than being almost empty!)

"And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;" [Eph:5:18]

A careful study of the above scripture will show that the literal translation of the original Greek is as follows: "And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be being continually filled with the Spirit;"

Did you notice that we are to be continually filled? This would indicate that just being filled once is not enough! Apparently the possibility exists that (like a battery) as we use the power or anointing - as it flows out of us [Jn:7:38] we are literally drained to some degree and so we need to refill it - continually so that we stay filled! Otherwise why would we need to be continually filled. If this wasn't the case then all we would need to do is to be filled once and that would be enough - right?

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A Greater Anointing:
There is an individual anointing - and it has a purpose. And, apparently that anointing has power - and is given to us in order for us to use it in witnessing - and to overcome those things that come against us.

Scripture Study:

• "It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the LORD;  So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of God." [2 Chronicles 5:13-14]
   

• "And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." [Acts:2:1-4]
   

• "...they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is: And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness" [Acts 4:23-31]

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Understanding the Anointing,
In part 1 of this series we learned that the first thing we have to recognize is that God anoints His people - for a purpose! He anointed Jesus, and he anoints His children. If you have not yet read part 1 I strongly encourage you to do so before you continue with this portion of the study.

We also learned that there are many different kinds of anointing, but that there is both an individual anointing and there is what is commonly called a corporate anointing.

The Corporate Anointing: 
In the simplest terms, a corporate anointing is what happens when more than one believer is in the same place and there is a singleness of purpose between them.

The Scriptures seem to indicate that not only is this somewhat different from the individual anointing in the sense that it affects more that one person - but also that the corporate seems to be one of greater power.

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Perfect Unity:
"It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the LORD;  So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of God." [2 Chronicles 5:13-14]

Notice in the above passage, that the first key we see is that all of the priests (120 of them according to verse 12) were in the same place - and just as important - they were acting as one - and making one sound. There were in unison and in perfect agreement as to there purpose and intent.

There weren't some who were praying or singing about one thing while others were praying and singing about something else, nor were some off in another place while others were gathered together here. They were all in one place - and they were all doing the same thing - with the same purpose - acting as one.

Now notice the similarity in the passages in Acts:

• "And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." [Acts:2:1-4]
   

• "...they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is: And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness" [Acts 4:23-31]

Did you notice that just as in the account given to us in Chronicles, in both of these instances the people were all in one place - and they were acting in one accord (with one purpose and intent)

And, although many more examples could be listed here as well, notice that in each of these instances, when there was a gathering of believers together acting corporately (as one) - that great power was released.

• The Temple of God as filled with the Glory of God so much so that the priests couldn't even stand up to minister [2 Chronicles 5:14]

• There was a sound like a might rushing wind and the fire of God appeared and those present were all filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak in tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. [Acts:2:1-4]

• The place was shaken (the whole building shook) because of the power that was released! [Acts 4:31]

Even a small gathering of believers who are together in one place and acting together with singleness of purpose can generate a release of this power!

"And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed." 
[Acts 16:25-26]

Here we have only two believers - assembled together in one place and singing and praising God together as one - and the result was that there was such a release of the power of God that it caused an earthquake that shook the very foundations of the prison!

And even more notable is the fact that not only were Paul and Silas freed - but ALL of the prisoners had their  shackles thrown off! ("and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing." Isa:10:27]

The corporate anointing is so powerful that it can affect not only you, but everyone in the vicinity!

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Assembling Together:
Can you see now why it is so important that we as believers come together regularly as the Word of God instructs us to? You see, there are things that can only be accomplished when the people of God assemble together as one.

"Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching." [Heb:10:25]

I have personally seen manifestations of incredible power and miracles when believers are assembled together in one place. And, the power released and miracles performed far outweigh anything I have ever seen accomplished in any other setting.

Nowhere in the Word of God are we told to forsake being a part of a local body - no matter what the justification is. Christians are instructed by the Lord to be part of a local body and to come together regularly and often in one place to pray, to worship God, and to be taught the Word of God.

Christian television is great - online ministries such as this one are a great source for fellowship and growth - books, tapes and CD's are awesome tools of learning. But none of these produce the results that can be manifested when believers assemble together in one place (as instructed) and come into agreement with one purpose - even if it is simply singing and praying together (as in the case of Paul and Silas).

I have seen people healed miraculously and instantaneously just by being in a gathering of believers who were singing and praising God! No hands were laid on them - no prayers were offered - it was just the release of power that comes when there is a corporate anointing - and the Word of God shows us example after example of how the corporate anointing is far greater than that of the individual anointing.

Brothers and Sisters, this message is so important that I have made the complete teaching absolutely FREE. Details on how to receive your FREE CD are provided at the end of this study.

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The Temple of God:
"It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the LORD;  So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of God." [2 Chronicles 5:13-14]

Notice here that there is another result that occurs when there is a corporate anointing: The temple (house of God) is filled with the Glory of God.

Keep in mind that under the Old Covenant (Old Testament) God dwelt in the Holiest of Holies located in the Temple of the Israelites. And even under the Old Covenant the Temple was filled with the Glory of God when there was a gathering of believers in one place and acting in one accord!

But God no longer dwells in temples made of stone and wood! So where does God dwell now? Where is His temple on Earth?

• "Know ye not that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?" [1 Cor:3:16]

• "Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?" [1 Cor:6:19]

• "In whom you also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit." [Eph:2:22]

• "But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house we are..." [Heb:3:6]

• "You also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ." [1Pt:2:5]

In this New Testament day where we have a better covenant built on better promises (Heb:8:6) - God no longer dwells in houses made of wood and stone - He dwells in Us! 

We are the temple of God through the Holy Ghost.
Now then, if God filled the temple made of wood and stone under the old covenant - and we have a new covenant based on better promises - how much more should we expect to be filled with His Glory seeing as we are His temple, His dwelling place on Earth, His holy habitation!

Even Jesus Himself told God the Father that he was giving to us the SAME glory that He had! 
"And the glory which you gave me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:" [Jn:17:22]

And, just as in the Old Testament, when the people gathered together in one place - in one accord - and the glory of God filled the temple made of wood and stone - that same glory becomes more and more tangible, it becomes more and more present, it manifests itself to a greater degree when we come together as one - in one accord - in one place - with one purpose! 

It's the corporate anointing that manifests only when there is a gathering of believers in one place and in one accord!

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The Power of Unity: [Genesis 11:1-6]
"And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech. And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there.

And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.

And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do."

Notice in this account of our ancestors that at one time the whole earth spoke one language. And according to the Word of God, there came a time when the whole earth traveled together to one place and dwelt there together.

Furthermore, not only were they all gathered together in one place- but they decided to stay together - and to work together with one purpose and with one intent: to build a city and a tower.

And look what God himself said about this: "now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do."

Brothers and Sisters, it is important to realize that this account is not some fairy tale or allegorical picture. It is a factual account of what happened on earth during this period, and it is important to note that God Himself recognized what can happen when people come together in one place and with singleness of purpose - even if it doesn't include Him!

"now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do."

There is so much power in unity that had God not done something about it there would be nothing that they would not been able to accomplish! Nothing! 

Did you get that? 
God Himself stated that man, even by himself (and without God) has the power to accomplish the impossible when there is unity and singleness of purpose.

Now imagine what we can do when God is involved - and He anoints us with HIS power! And that power is far greater in a corporate setting then as individuals. The power, and the glory of God is available in a much greater degree when the people of God come together in one place and with one accord (singleness of purpose).

And that is why it is so important for us as believers to "forsake not the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching." [Heb:10:25]

There is an individual anointing -and there is great power available to the individual because of it. But there is a greater anointing, and that anointing is only available when we as believers come together as instructed and do so with one accord - and with one purpose.