| Newsletter for 2/8/07- Variables to Healing- Part 3 |
Good Morning,
Before we continue the series on "Variables of Healing," I would like to remind you of a couple of things. This
Saturday, 2/10/07 we will be hosting our bi-weekly A.C.T.S. (All Churches Training Service) Ministry Time. This will be
at 6 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall at Rainier Assembly of God. Also, the local pastors have been hosting an early prayer
time from 5 to 6 am everyday at Northlake Baptist for anyone that wants to come. All denominations have been
involved and the goal is for God to move in the Lower Columbia Area. They started with about 80 and have had
nearly 200. Praise the Lord!
Variables of Healing
During the last two weeks, I have shared with you the first two of the Five Variables of Healing. Let's proceed on to
the third variable.
The first variable is God. We discussed the first week that God is in favor of your healing and actually paid for our
healing through His Son, as He died on the cross. The second variable is the pray-ER. The people that pray for
others are necessary for God's power to be released, however we can bring our own baggage into this realm.
Whenever God has manifested His power throughout history, He has always done it through mankind. While I think
that we should be willing to say, "Here am I, Lord pick me!", we also need to prepare ourselves. There is a great deal
of responsibility put upon those that are willing to minister. (For more information on these first two variables, please
see the newsletter archive on our web site- www.kingdompowernow.com.)
The Third Variable of Healing is the person receiving ministry. I want to caution you, before I go on any further. Many
people, including ministers have blamed a lack of success in ministering, on the person being prayed for. A few of the
potential excuses for someone not being healed were put at the feet of the pray-EE. There have been countless
numbers of people blamed for their own sickness, that have left their walk with the Lord. This was unnecessary. I
know that many times, the real problem wasn't with the Pray-EE but with the Pray-ER (see last week's newsletter).
Blaming the Pray-EE is some times based on discernment and revelation, while some of it is based on the unknown.
There are four other variables besides the recipient of the prayer that have the potential to hinder God's work. I am
very reluctant, unless the Lord reveals it clearly, to look to the recipient. This is not to say that the problem can't be
found there and we will discuss this in more detail in a moment. However, I believe that there is more responsibility on
the person praying. I will always look to myself first, to make sure that I am not hindering the work. You may question
my insecurity, but I want to question, do we realize our responsibility?
As someone that is going to take risk in faith, I think that we need to have more responsibility than those that we are
reaching out to. If we have enough faith to believe that God would utilize us, then we also need to recognize that we
need to be prepared. I encourage you to go and minister to those that are in need of ministry, but I encourage you to
do it responsibly by being prepared.
There is also some responsibility on the people that we are praying for. I have found that it is "easier" for someone
that is not saved or been in the church long to receive their healing than for "seasoned Christians." Too many
seasoned Christians have somehow been given the wrong seasoning. I have heard more than a few Christians talk
about their own excuses for why God is not going to touch them today. This is interpreted as you can pray all that you
want, but I am not receiving anything today. Their mind is made up. Listen to these commentaries and then we will
discuss them.
"I have been prayed for, fourteen times for this malady and haven't seen it healed yet!"
"I thought the Lord was going to heal me once, but He never finished the work."
"God gave me this, to change things in my life."
"I don't want to be healed!"
"It's not God's timing."
"I don't believe in Healing."
"I don't even know your God or God doesn't know me."
These phrases are birthed out of not knowing what else to blame it on or the fact that they don't want to be healed.
Hold on, don't get offended. Stay with me. I have scripture to back this up.
John 5:2-9
2 Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, having five
porches. 3 In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the
water. 4 For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever
stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had. 5 Now a certain
man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he
already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, "Do you want to be made well?" 7 The sick
man answered Him, "Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am
coming, another steps down before me." 8 Jesus said to him, "Rise, take up your bed and walk." 9 And
immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked. And that day was the Sabbath.
Notice in verse 6, Jesus asks the man if he wants to be made well. Wow!! Jesus is being kind of cruel here isn't He!?!
How could He ask such a question! It is a legitimate question that we run into often. Let me give you an example.
I was in a car wreck in 2003. I was hit from the side by a lady running a red light. They estimate by how much my truck
was bent in to a banana shape and the fact that my truck actually spun around hitting the back of her car that she
was going approximately 55 mile per hour. After hitting me, she pulled her totaled hulk to the side of the road and ran
to my vehicle where I was still at. She quickly exclaimed, "I am so sorry, I hit the gas instead of the brake! Also, I
canceled my insurance last week!" This immediately made me want to shout "Hosanna!"
After being involved in physical therapy, doctors, chiropractors, MRIs and many other tests for several years, my
accountability team approached me. They asked me if I would like to get healed. "Well duh!!" I thought. But then they
asked me the hard question. "Do you want to get healed if it meant losing your future settlement?" Again, I wanted to
shout "Hosanna!"
Many people that have not received their healing are harboring their malady because it provides them with
something. It could be finances, pity, attention, etc. The sickness or malady provides a product for them that they
don't feel that they can get any other way. The Lord is not their provider but their sickness is. This is obviously not a
Godly mind set.
So going back to our scripture, Jesus is asking this man if he wants a job!! This man has a clique of friends that are
on the porches with him. They have become friends and they can identify with each other's issues. They are like
minded. Have you ever wondered why Jesus didn't just clear off the porches by healing everyone there? Maybe they
didn't want it.
The Lord will not force healing on you. He will not override your free will. Just like salvation, if you don't want it, you
don't have to take it. We have to be receptive. Let me show you another scripture.
Mark 6
1 Then He went out from there and came to His own country, and His disciples followed Him. 2 And when the
Sabbath had come, He began to teach in the synagogue. And many hearing Him were astonished, saying,
"Where did this Man get these things? And what wisdom is this which is given to Him, that such mighty works
are performed by His hands! 3 Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas,
and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us?" And they were offended at Him. 4 But Jesus said to them,
"A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, among his own relatives, and in his own house." 5
Now He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. 6
And He marveled because of their unbelief. Then He went about the villages in a circuit, teaching.
Jesus marveled at their unbelief. When you have Jesus marveling, that's something! He laid His hands on the people
that were receptive and they were healed but the others were unbelieving. They couldn't believe that this "Man" that
they had seen grow up in their neighborhood was healing people. They were unreceptive to His ministry.
Many times this happens in churches. We have never seen God do anything like that before, so we know He can't do
it today. He will do what He wants when He wants! He is God!! He doesn't need our vote to be God!! However, He still
will not make us take healing anymore than He will make us take salvation! If we don't want to be saved, we will not be.
Now let me talk to you personally. If you have a condition and you have been prayed for, don't give up! I am not
saying that it is all your fault. But I would say to you, to ask the Lord to show you what is the cause of this. He says
that He will give you what you ask for and wisdom is way up on His list.
If you have been praying for people and not getting the breakthrough, please begin to seek the Lord more. It wasn't
the enemy that put a burden in your heart for people to be whole! Talk to the Lord and LISTEN! To many Christians
pray but don't listen. We need to hear from the Lord. He cares about us and loves us!! Let's go for it!
Working while it is still day,
Pastor Jeff McCracken and the Kingdom Power Now Team
www.kingdompowernow.com
Before we continue the series on "Variables of Healing," I would like to remind you of a couple of things. This
Saturday, 2/10/07 we will be hosting our bi-weekly A.C.T.S. (All Churches Training Service) Ministry Time. This will be
at 6 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall at Rainier Assembly of God. Also, the local pastors have been hosting an early prayer
time from 5 to 6 am everyday at Northlake Baptist for anyone that wants to come. All denominations have been
involved and the goal is for God to move in the Lower Columbia Area. They started with about 80 and have had
nearly 200. Praise the Lord!
Variables of Healing
During the last two weeks, I have shared with you the first two of the Five Variables of Healing. Let's proceed on to
the third variable.
The first variable is God. We discussed the first week that God is in favor of your healing and actually paid for our
healing through His Son, as He died on the cross. The second variable is the pray-ER. The people that pray for
others are necessary for God's power to be released, however we can bring our own baggage into this realm.
Whenever God has manifested His power throughout history, He has always done it through mankind. While I think
that we should be willing to say, "Here am I, Lord pick me!", we also need to prepare ourselves. There is a great deal
of responsibility put upon those that are willing to minister. (For more information on these first two variables, please
see the newsletter archive on our web site- www.kingdompowernow.com.)
The Third Variable of Healing is the person receiving ministry. I want to caution you, before I go on any further. Many
people, including ministers have blamed a lack of success in ministering, on the person being prayed for. A few of the
potential excuses for someone not being healed were put at the feet of the pray-EE. There have been countless
numbers of people blamed for their own sickness, that have left their walk with the Lord. This was unnecessary. I
know that many times, the real problem wasn't with the Pray-EE but with the Pray-ER (see last week's newsletter).
Blaming the Pray-EE is some times based on discernment and revelation, while some of it is based on the unknown.
There are four other variables besides the recipient of the prayer that have the potential to hinder God's work. I am
very reluctant, unless the Lord reveals it clearly, to look to the recipient. This is not to say that the problem can't be
found there and we will discuss this in more detail in a moment. However, I believe that there is more responsibility on
the person praying. I will always look to myself first, to make sure that I am not hindering the work. You may question
my insecurity, but I want to question, do we realize our responsibility?
As someone that is going to take risk in faith, I think that we need to have more responsibility than those that we are
reaching out to. If we have enough faith to believe that God would utilize us, then we also need to recognize that we
need to be prepared. I encourage you to go and minister to those that are in need of ministry, but I encourage you to
do it responsibly by being prepared.
There is also some responsibility on the people that we are praying for. I have found that it is "easier" for someone
that is not saved or been in the church long to receive their healing than for "seasoned Christians." Too many
seasoned Christians have somehow been given the wrong seasoning. I have heard more than a few Christians talk
about their own excuses for why God is not going to touch them today. This is interpreted as you can pray all that you
want, but I am not receiving anything today. Their mind is made up. Listen to these commentaries and then we will
discuss them.
"I have been prayed for, fourteen times for this malady and haven't seen it healed yet!"
"I thought the Lord was going to heal me once, but He never finished the work."
"God gave me this, to change things in my life."
"I don't want to be healed!"
"It's not God's timing."
"I don't believe in Healing."
"I don't even know your God or God doesn't know me."
These phrases are birthed out of not knowing what else to blame it on or the fact that they don't want to be healed.
Hold on, don't get offended. Stay with me. I have scripture to back this up.
John 5:2-9
2 Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, having five
porches. 3 In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the
water. 4 For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever
stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had. 5 Now a certain
man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he
already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, "Do you want to be made well?" 7 The sick
man answered Him, "Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am
coming, another steps down before me." 8 Jesus said to him, "Rise, take up your bed and walk." 9 And
immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked. And that day was the Sabbath.
Notice in verse 6, Jesus asks the man if he wants to be made well. Wow!! Jesus is being kind of cruel here isn't He!?!
How could He ask such a question! It is a legitimate question that we run into often. Let me give you an example.
I was in a car wreck in 2003. I was hit from the side by a lady running a red light. They estimate by how much my truck
was bent in to a banana shape and the fact that my truck actually spun around hitting the back of her car that she
was going approximately 55 mile per hour. After hitting me, she pulled her totaled hulk to the side of the road and ran
to my vehicle where I was still at. She quickly exclaimed, "I am so sorry, I hit the gas instead of the brake! Also, I
canceled my insurance last week!" This immediately made me want to shout "Hosanna!"
After being involved in physical therapy, doctors, chiropractors, MRIs and many other tests for several years, my
accountability team approached me. They asked me if I would like to get healed. "Well duh!!" I thought. But then they
asked me the hard question. "Do you want to get healed if it meant losing your future settlement?" Again, I wanted to
shout "Hosanna!"
Many people that have not received their healing are harboring their malady because it provides them with
something. It could be finances, pity, attention, etc. The sickness or malady provides a product for them that they
don't feel that they can get any other way. The Lord is not their provider but their sickness is. This is obviously not a
Godly mind set.
So going back to our scripture, Jesus is asking this man if he wants a job!! This man has a clique of friends that are
on the porches with him. They have become friends and they can identify with each other's issues. They are like
minded. Have you ever wondered why Jesus didn't just clear off the porches by healing everyone there? Maybe they
didn't want it.
The Lord will not force healing on you. He will not override your free will. Just like salvation, if you don't want it, you
don't have to take it. We have to be receptive. Let me show you another scripture.
Mark 6
1 Then He went out from there and came to His own country, and His disciples followed Him. 2 And when the
Sabbath had come, He began to teach in the synagogue. And many hearing Him were astonished, saying,
"Where did this Man get these things? And what wisdom is this which is given to Him, that such mighty works
are performed by His hands! 3 Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas,
and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us?" And they were offended at Him. 4 But Jesus said to them,
"A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, among his own relatives, and in his own house." 5
Now He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. 6
And He marveled because of their unbelief. Then He went about the villages in a circuit, teaching.
Jesus marveled at their unbelief. When you have Jesus marveling, that's something! He laid His hands on the people
that were receptive and they were healed but the others were unbelieving. They couldn't believe that this "Man" that
they had seen grow up in their neighborhood was healing people. They were unreceptive to His ministry.
Many times this happens in churches. We have never seen God do anything like that before, so we know He can't do
it today. He will do what He wants when He wants! He is God!! He doesn't need our vote to be God!! However, He still
will not make us take healing anymore than He will make us take salvation! If we don't want to be saved, we will not be.
Now let me talk to you personally. If you have a condition and you have been prayed for, don't give up! I am not
saying that it is all your fault. But I would say to you, to ask the Lord to show you what is the cause of this. He says
that He will give you what you ask for and wisdom is way up on His list.
If you have been praying for people and not getting the breakthrough, please begin to seek the Lord more. It wasn't
the enemy that put a burden in your heart for people to be whole! Talk to the Lord and LISTEN! To many Christians
pray but don't listen. We need to hear from the Lord. He cares about us and loves us!! Let's go for it!
Working while it is still day,
Pastor Jeff McCracken and the Kingdom Power Now Team
www.kingdompowernow.com