Are your in no man's land?

 Are you in no man's land?

Do you need healing? You have prayed and believed. You are making progress, but you are not well yet.

Hold on to God's promises!

Before the last world war, penicillin had not been invented. An English preacher had tuberculosis and prayed for healing.

He didn't get an instant cure, but he asked God for guidance. God gave him to understand that he should pray two hours every day, and he would recover.
 
He was obedient and he made a complete recovery.

Many sick Christians pray for healing, but they are disappointed. When Jesus healed before the cross, he never failed. He healed everyone who prayed for healing without exception.

What can we learn from Jesus? He had different methods. For example, he often healed by laying his hand on someone.

Jesus also gave instructions to his disciples.

These miraculous signs will accompany those who believe: They will cast out demons in my name, and they will speak in new languages.

They will be able to handle snakes with safety, and if they drink anything poisonous, it won’t hurt them. They will be able to place their hands on the sick, and they will be healed.” Mark 16:17–18 NLT

It is curious that Jesus first emphasises deliverance from demons. When Jesus healed the sick before the cross, he often cast out demons, because sickness is often associated with demonic activity.

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

Jesus was the Anointed One par excellence. He was always full of the Holy Spirit and ministered with unlimited power, but we need more help from the Holy Spirit.

One important and very powerful resource is the gift of tongues.

Some think this gift was only for the first Christians, but in Mark 16:17-18 Jesus speaks of the signs that are to follow those who believe. There is no indication in the text, that this promise is only for a limited time. 

To release God's miraculous power, we need to cultivate a deep relationship with God through the Holy Spirit.

And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. Romans 8:26 NLT 

How can we enter into this deep realm? Paul gives us an important clue as to how he cultivated his close relationship with God.

I thank God that I speak in tongues more than any of you. 1 Corinthians 14:18 NLT

Paul explained that he did not want to speak in languages in meetings because he rather wanted to help people through prophecy or Bible teaching.

So when did Paul speak so much in languages? In his personal prayers.

As we cultivate our relationship with God through the Holy Spirit, we learn to perceive the leading of the Holy Spirit.

We can learn to follow God's specific instructions, like this English preacher who was to pray two hours every day to receive God's healing.

God’s leading is different for each person. Please don’t think you have to pray for two hours a day. That was God’s will for that pastor. You need to ask God to show you what to do yourself.

For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. Romans 8:14 ESV

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. James 1:5 ESV