Jesus was tempted by the devil on every aspect. The cross is a symbol of  the sin of mankind. Jesus didn't sin, his accusation was as a result of being the redeemer or savior of the world. 

Suicide is not only about physically taking your own life, but also praying for God to take your life.  The prophet Jonah did that. Also the great prophet Elijah did same too when he was faced with persecution from Jezebel. Samson prayed himself to death. God hates suicide even though he granted the wish of  Samson.

 Judas Iscariot who represented the devil wished Jesus to commit suicide either physically or spiritually (praying for God to take his life). At the end he was humiliated: Judas committed suicide. 

Sometimes when we get frustrated with life we resort into praying God to take our life as a way to have peace. There is light at the end of the tunnel. The devil knows that if you persist you would prevail, so he sows the seed of death in your mind.

The bible in Proverbs 18:21 says, "Life and death are in the power of the tongue."  No matter how frustrated you are, your tongue should be guided properly. Satan is after the Word and your word. 

How Satan Tried To Make Jesus Commit Suicide

1. Betrayal.

Betrayal is working against someone you suppose to work for. The betrayal Judas heart was poisoned with filthy lucre. He helped the enemies against his master. 

Being betrayed can make one to hate life, and to take his life.  

2. Denial.

Peter denied Jesus thrice. Denial suggests not identifying or allowing a person because of fear, trust or shame. Denial can weigh one down in life. It looks as if you are worthless when you're being denied. this can lead to suicidal thoughts. A lot of people have being denied their right and then some resort to suicide as a solution to their pain.  

3. Suffering.

Suffering can make one to conclude on ending his life. If one lacks endurance, he might give up on himself and resort to suicide as solution to his suffering. There are bad times and there are good times in life. Jesus endured the humiliating period. 

How Jesus Overcome Suicide

1. Predictions. 

Jesus always know the outcome of things and circumstances surrounding him. He knew all his disciples, and detected Judas as a devil incarnate. He also predicted Peter's denial which was as a result of Peter's fear. 

2. He Watched and Prayed.

Jesus watched and prayed in order to guard himself against the device of the devil in manipulating the wisdom or word of God. Satan can manipulate the wisdom of God and confuse us about the will of God. He said to Jesus according to Matthew 4:6  "  'If you are the Son of God,' he said, 'throw yourself down. For it is written: He will command his angels concerning you and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone' ".

3. He Believed in Himself.

Job said there is hope for tree as far it still has root (Job 14:7). Jesus believed in himself and refused to give up.

According to Luke chapter 18 verse 1, Jesus said: "to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint" (Luke 18:1). Prayer is a task given to man by Christ for the salvation of our soul. When you pray, you're not only communicating to God, but also destroying the works of darkness in and around you. But sometimes we feel so heavy to pray (we faint). 

We ought to pray. 'Men' as used by Jesus represent also women. 'Men' here speaks of strength and power irrespective of gender. There are difficulties in prayers which I'm going to show you why and how to overcome such difficulties.

 Why Do I Find It Difficult To Pray

1. You Pray Alone. 

Praying alone only can weaken ones strength of prayer. Even Solomon in the book of Ecclesiastes said that two are better than one. When one is weak, the other is strengthens him or her. 

Jesus himself sometimes took three of his disciple to join him in his secret place of prayer. Even the apostles according to the book of Acts usually gather to pray. 

Paul and Silas prayed in the prison, but alone was Peter sleeping in the prison. Praying together is a combination of spiritual power to the pulling down of stronghold of darkness. 

The temptation against prayers is strong when you are alone. But when you have someone who has the spirit of prayer, your prayer life would be energized.  

2. You Know Not Scripture Or the Power of God (Matthew 22:29).

Not knowing the scripture can make you stranded in the place of prayer. Prayer is inspired by the scripture or the power of God. The scripture here is the revelation of God's message in the book called bible, while the power of God represents prophetic utterance by the Spirit. Or being guided by the Spirit. The Spirit is the power of God, the will of God. If we study the scripture we would be filled with knowledge of God. 

3. You Indulge In Sexual Sin.

Sexual sin drains every spiritual strength in you. According to Paul in 1 Corinthians 6:18 stated that sexual sin is a sin against the body. That means, it's a sin that dispossess you of every spiritual power, and you become weak in prayer.

4. You Love Money.

The love of money is the root of evil (1 Timothy 6:10). When you love money, you hate God. Jesus said you can't love God and Mammon, it's either you love and hate the other (Matthew 6:24).

 Mammon becomes your master, and you're his slave. You find prayer difficult because you  believe in money. You  now live for money, therefore prayer looks like a waste of time.

5. You Are Too Busy With Work.

Too much work can make you weak in prayer and probably give room to the devil for attack against you. This can have a long term effect on your prayer life. 

You hear some employers say that their business cannot sleep: meaning workers need to work 7 days a week, no resting day- coming early to work and closing late. 

It is the devil's snare for you to depend on such slavery instead on God. Create time for yourself to pray and rest. 

Life is all about fulfilling the law and the prophets. Life is not about what to eat or what to drink. Jesus said he didn't come to destroy the law, which means he didn't come to break God's law or to be lawless. 

Of course the Anti-Christ is the lawless one who will come. When he comes he will change times and laws (destroy the law and the prophets with his lies and rebellion) until the very end of man's kingdom on earth.  "And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time." (Daniel 7:25).  

Jesus didn't come to change times and law; he came to fulfil times and laws. And the fulfilment of the law concerning him is to be the sacrificial lamb. For the law demanded a better sacrifice that would take away sin from the world (Hebrew chapter 9). The book of John 1:29 says: "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world".  

While fulfilling the prophets is to become a better high priest who would offer that sacrifice ones and for all. 

The human high priest were full of filt or guilt, so they weren't perfect to represent the people at the holies of holies. Even in the book of  Zachariah chapter 3, you could see Joshua the high priest puting on a filthy garment in the vision prophet Zachariah saw: 

And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him.
And the Lord said unto Satan, The Lord rebuke thee, O Satan; even the Lord that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?
Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel. (Zachariah 3: 1-3).

And also, in those days the priest were always at war with the prophets due to the fact that the prophets sought for a better and perfect high priest who is without guilt or sin. 

Two Things You Should Not Destroy In Your Life

1. The law. 

The law is the commandment of God. When you break God's law you attract punishments, guilt and curses. 

When you destroy the law you attract punishment, guilt or curses into your life. Those who are living a lawless life are destroying their life. 

Everything in life is bound by laws. Laws are like fence protecting you from threats, danger or intrusion. When you break the law, you expose your life to threats or dangers. There are physical threats. There are spiritual threats. 

The physical threats are physical dangers, like if you play with an high tension electric cable you might get electrocuted. If you smoke, you get cancer. If you steal you might get arrested by the cops. 

All these are physical threats. 

The spiritual threats are spiritual dangers, or they are curses. Like if you fornicates you invite demons into your body, since your body (your temple) is defiled. If you worship idol you will be under God's wrath and there would be disaster, dryness in every season of your life. 

If you kill, you would be killed too, for they that live by the sword shall die by the sword (Matthew 26:52). 

You can't evade the law. You can't run away from it, for eyes of the lord are everywhere to reward and to give justice to the law. One can escape from wrath of the law of the land, due to human corruption. 

Corruption is whereby justice is sold and bought, so the power of law becomes corrupt. But God is not corrupt. No amount of money can give you freedom from God's wrath. Know this!

2. The Prophets.

Every prophet God sends to you is to guide into the way of peace (Luke 1:79). But due to arrogance and pride so many people has despises the prophet God send to them to deliver them. 

Prophets are agent of deliverance. Hosea 12:13  says:  "And by a prophet the LORD brought Israel out of Egypt, and by a prophet was he preserved." 

So many people have lost out of God's blessing because they refuse to welcome the prohet God has sent to them. Jesus said in Matthew 10:41, 

 He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward.

The bible showed us how king Ahab threw prophet Micaiah into prison because he told him God's plan against him (1 Kings 22). Also King Zedekiah threw prophet Jeremiah into the dungeon because he told him to surrender to king Nechadnezzar according to the word of the lord (Jeremiah 38:6). 

When you hate God's prophet you hate God. When you fight against God's prophet you fight against God. 

Also do not despise prophecies from God concerning your life: they are vital for your life in the end. Prophecy is an intergral part of our life. 

Fulfilling The Law And The Prophets

To fulfil the law and the prophets we need to:

1. Be a follower of Jesus and not Pastors. 

When we follow the footsteps of Jesus we fulfil the law andthe prophets through him. His personalities would be found in us. We would be walking in that liberty or freedom, not guilt or being under the curse of the law.

2. Read Scripture. 

Jesus never played with scripture, he read  the scripture witten about him (Luke 4 from verse 1). The scripture shows you who you are. 

According to James in James chapter 1, the scripture is like a mirror. Always read the bible, when you do that you will be able to fullfil Gods law and prophecies concerning your life.

3. Preach the Gospel. 

Jesus in Luke chapter 4 preached to the people the scripture written concerning him. He preached to everyone about God too. Doing this fulfills the law and the prophets.

4. Pray. 

When you pray you get your spirit empowered to do God's will. There are forces that try to stop you from fulfilling God's law and prohecies concerning you. Pray against stronghold against your life.

Thank you for reading, I'm Jeremiah.  

Prophecy is about proclaiming the unknown things as revealed or guided by a spirit. Prophets in the bible were mouthpiece of God. Prophets are to guide the nation to the way of peace (Luke 1:79). The gift of prophecy is one of the gift Jesus bestowed on the churches according to Ephesians Chapter 4. 

Prophecy is a spiritual gift. What I mean is, it's a calling from God and cannot be carried out by man's knowledge, intellect or understanding. A man chosen by God to be a prophet has the gift or instinct to see vision, understand mysteries and interpret signs from God. 

A prophet might see or hear things unknown that may have happened in the past,or is happening, or that may happen (as in, an earthly event). A prophet can also see an heavenly event too. 

The Three Levels Of Prophecy

1. Divination. 

Divination is actually the first level of prophecy. This is the state of seeing or hearing things spiritually that reveals an event that had happened, or is happening, or that wil happen on earth. Take note: it is about seeing an earthly event. 

In 2 Kings 5: 22-27, Elisha said his spirit followed  Gehazi while he accompanied the Syrian captain and collected gifts from him. That describes a physical event he saw while Gehazi followed the Syrian. 

When a prophet starts telling you about your history and things that is about to happen in your life that is divination. 

There is also the spirit of divination, which is not from God, but of satan. It is being used by witches and wizard to check one's life. This spirit is a monitoring spirit. If you always dream of someone pursuing you, then it can be a sign of a monitoring spirit assigned by witches or wizards to track your life. In Acts of the Apostles chapter 16, there was a girl that had the spirit of divination, of which she used it to prophesy to people and made gains for her master through futune telling by this spirit.

2. Unction. 

Unction is simply the anionting. "But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things."(1 John 2:20).

It is sensing the presense of God's power. It is also whereby one is filled with the power of the Spirit to function. He or she is being moved to say unknown things without he or she hearing or seeing any vision. It is the moving of the Spirit, that is unction. Ones mouth is filled with what to say about the unknown future or past. Ones heart is moved to speak about the unknown future or past.

Jesus manifested this unction while he talked with the woman at the well in Samaria (John chapter 4). In 2 Chronicle 20, the power of God was upon Jahaziel and he prophesied to the people and king  Jehosaphat. Also Paul the Apostle by the unction cursed Bar-jesus at the island of Paphos while he met Serguis Paulius the governor of the land.

3. Revelation.

Revelation is about hearing or seeing events happening in the heavenly realm. It is the highest level of prophecy. Prophet Micaiah who was one of the four disciples of Elijah was summoned before the kings of Israel and Judah to advise them on their battle plans according to 1 kings chapter 22. He  revealed to them an heavenly vision. This vision was an heavenly event, and that's what revelation is all about- An heavenly event. 

A prophet can see what is happening in the spiritual world or heavenly realm, like things in the covens, or seeing a demon, an angel of God etc. All these are revelation since they describe an heavenly event.  

Paul in Galatians 2:2 said that  he went up by revelation. Jesus in Luke chapter 10 verse 18 said he saw Satan fall like lightning, of which it was an heavenly event. Also in Revelation chapter 12, Apostle John saw a vision that reveals a dragon being cast down from Heaven by Arch Angel Michael. All these are revelation, since they reveals an heavenly event.

Conclusion

God has his way of delivering his message to His prophets. A prophet can be called a seer like Samuel. A voice in the wilderness like John the baptist. Or a fire like prophet Jeremiah.

Thank you for reading, I'm Jeremiah. 

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 

For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

(1 John 2:15-16).

 Apostle John was admonishing us to shun the lustful attraction of sin that draws one to perdition. "Love not the world" implies that followers of Christ should deviate from worldly lust or enticement.

The world represents the astronomical earth or the spiritual foundation of man. 

The astronomical earth reflects the earth and its system. That is, it describes the earth in relationship with the planet,  stars and satellites around the earth in our solar system. 

While the spiritual foundation of man is man's heart. 

I believe that the apostle was referring to man's heart or nature when he used term 'world'. While love points to the affection from man's heart. Our heart is an evaluation point of life, where we give value, calculate value and miscalculate value (deceived). 

The heart works in value hence John was trying to let us know the lust or deceit of the flesh, the lust or deceit if the eyes, and the pride of life is vainglorious and delusional. 

Love is true, but lust...(Whenever I see the word 'lust', I mark it as deceit. Lust means to be deceived by the desire of your flesh or your eyes.)

How Our Flesh Can Deceive Us

When your body start reacting you might have the urge to do certain things or may feel it's right to do certain things due to your feelings, biological programming or signals in your body.

How Our Eyes Can Deceive Us

When we see something our brain starts linking it up with our feelings, or other past experiences we might have had which can be very strong and tempting. We can make decision based in that.

How Can One Cease From Lust and Pride 

1. Don't be lead by your feelings.

Emotional people are easy to fool. As a Christian you need the senses of the Spirit of God, not you relying on emotion. Romans 8:14 says "As many that are lead by the Spirit of God they are the sons of God."

2. Always pray.

A lifestyle of prayer is a lifestyle of the Spirit of God. When you're active in prayer your emotion is not in control, but God's Spirit.

3. Read the word of God. 

The Bible is a book of God's knowledge. Reading the Bible opens your spiritual eyes. When your spiritual eyes are open, you will not be subject to the lust of the eyes. Psalm 119:18 says, "Open thou my eyes that I may behold the wonderous things out if they law."

4. You can go on a little fast. 

Fasting can make you live a devoted life to God. But you shouldn't overstretch your capacity. You can do it from morning till noon and break your fast with prayers offered to God. Please don't overdo it.

5. Be obedient. 

Obedience according to 1 Samuel 15:22 is better than sacrifice. No amount of what you do as a christian can replace obedience. Fasting, prayers, offerings, going to church can't. So obey the commandment of God, with that you will be disobedient to the dictate of the flesh.

Have a nice day!

Online evangelism is the latest and easiest way to win souls for Christ. Soul winning is all about reaching out and filling the hungry souls who need God's word. There are people who need God, and there are people who don't need God: evangelism is actually for those who are in need of God.

 An intergral part of christianity is Evangelism. Jesus commanded us to go out into all nations to preach the gospel of peace. Now, with technology we can reach out to nearly all nations online. Gone are the days when we need to go from house to house preaching. Now we can reach out to more people from the comfort of our home with our smart devices. We can maintain a vibrant relationship or fellowship with the souls converted online.  

What's Evangelism?

I define evangelism as the preaching of  the coming of the kingdom of God. Jesus said in Matthew 24:14 that the gospel of the kingdom must be preached for a witness and then shall the end be. 

Therefore evangelism is the spreading of the kingdom of God unto all parts of the earth. Jesus also said in Mark 16 that we should go into the world and preach the gospel- that's evangelism.

Now What's Online Evangelism?

Online Evangelism from my perspective is preaching the kingdom of God in online platforms like social media, blogs, websites and other internet programs or apps. 

Online evangelism is about sharing kingdom contents, reaching out to people's needs online. Evangelism is not all about preaching, it also entails helping people who are in need. It can be, identifying people's spiritual need, like Jesus identifying the spiritual need of the woman of Samaria at the well. 

8 Online Evangelism Ideas

1. Be part of the community. 

Join groups in any social  platforms like facebook, whatsapp group, quora space etc.  In Jesus' days there weren't any social media or internet yet Jesus didn't stay in one place. He move from place to place in other to be part of the community. He went to were the fishermen were and called some of them into the kingdom. You can join a group where they share ideas or help one another like in interpreting dreams, providing solution to problems related to your experience or skill. By showing these good works online you're becoming a light to guide them into the kingdom of God. Good works speaks more. Jesus said in Matthew 5:16 that men would give glory to your father when they see your good works.

2. Be open for chats or comments.

Be ready to communicate. The gospel can't thrive when the messengers avoid communicating with people. Don't shut yourself out of one-on-one interaction with buddies online. Personal conversation has more weight to convert a soul than public discussion. Here you're actually focusing on one person.

3. Write Inspiring Blog Post.  

If you can write long article or even short or medium length post, then do it timely. Let your writing be soul uplifting,  encouraging and less condenming. When you write blog post frequently you're actually keeping them in habit of the Word. The word of God is a spiritual diet (Matthew 4:4). You keeping writing posts means, you keep on feeding their soul with God's word.

 4. Share Christian Blog Posts. 

Good things needs to be shared. Try to share inspiring post you might have written or come across with. Share them on facebook, whatsApp, twitter and others etc. 

5. Create Targeted Ad campaign. 

You can use this to target specific people or location. You can do this on facebook or use google adsense, youtube adsense or adword for your website. Targeted ad campaign saturates the online space with the gospel presence. If you have the means take advantage of this too.

6. Post Videos On Youtube. 

Video contents are powerful since not everything can be expressed properly in letters or graphics. You can do a video message. People might be encouraged by seeing you speak God's word. But it's great if you do it regularly. 

7. Share Or Do A Podcast on Audio Sites Or In Your Blog.  

You can do a voice recording of youself teaching the gospel.  Someone might bump into this and listen to it. Create account on Soundcloud or audiomack etc, make your podcast and post it there. If you have a blog you can also post it there too.

8. Do a Live Video. 

Sometimes you need to go live. Being live suggests being alive with your message (you are for real). Now it's very easy to go live on social media like Facebook, Youtube, Zoom, Instagram, Twitter etc. Choose whichever suits you. 

Dedicating Yourself To Online Evangelism

Evangelism is a long term affair, and one should keep up the fire. Online evangelism needs dedication and patience in propagating the gospel presence online. 

I believe what I have written has gone a long way to helping your online evangelism journey. Thank you for reading and God blesses you. 

For dogs have surrounded Me;
The congregation of the wicked has enclosed Me.
They pierced My hands and My feet;

(Psalm 22: 16).

Dogs are revengeful enemies in our life. They might be enemies that have died but their demon is haunting your soul. Paul was afflicted by the dogs in 2 Corinthians 12:7-8. They were Paul's greatest enemies, hence he warned in Philipians 3:2 that we Christians should beware of dogs. The power of dogs is their teeth.

The teeth is what dogs use to inflict damage on their victims: It depicts the power to crush and cause pain in the life of their victims. The teeth describes the strength to hold their prey or victims from escaping. They lay a grip on every vital parts of your life.

The dogs are one of the greatest enemies Christians are bound to face. They are everywhere around us, and we need to beware of them as Paul the apostle stated. They are lustful and seducing like Deliliah. (If we are not careful we can fall for their fake love). They weaken and afflict their victims. They listen for your secret and uses it for your destruction. The bible describes dogs as evil workers, hypocrites in Philipians chapter 2, and messenger of Satan according to Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:7-8,

 A thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me.  

(2 Corinthians 12:7-8).

Enemy that is a thorn in your flesh is a dog. What does that mean? Someone that backbites, troubles you and attacks you spiritually is an enemy against your soul, and we have to pray against them. 

Note: it's not every enemy we pray for. There are enemies we need to pray against, and those are enemies armed with spiritual powers. Just like a soldier, a Christian is not suppose to pray against civilian enemies but enemies armed spiritually (given power to by Satan). 

How To Be Free From The Power Of The Dogs 

1. Pray against them.

Pray against those dog friends or leaders in your life whose vision is to attack your soul. THEY WILL ALWAYS SEEK YOUR SOUL, SO SEEK THEIR SOUL IN PRAYERS TOO. This kind of prayer is called warfare prayers. 

2. Beware of them.

Dogs appear to be your good friend, but they're dangerous enemies. They are messengers of Satan. Paul said beware of dogs, because he knows what dogs are capable of.

 The divine mandate is the mandate of Christ ministry on earth. Christ was sent by God to fulfil the law and the prophet. So the divine mandate is the law and the prophets (Matthew 5:17). Mandate is a word that describes power to reign.

What is Divine Mandate?

According to Luke chapter 4 verse 17 to 21, divine mandate can be defined as a set of prophecies written or given concerning someone to fulfill. Or, a set of prophecies prescribed by God for someone to fulfill. The word divine connotes God’s vision- the declaration or fulfilment of God’s wisdom or will for a man.

The resurrection power is the power that raises the dead. Jesus manifested this power on earth when he called lazarus from the dead. Lazarus died for four days and was laid in the tomb. Jesus requested them to roll the stone away from the tomb, that he is the resurrection and the life (John 11: 25).  He then called Lazarus out of the tomb. Before that miracle, Jesus said something about the resurrection power. He said, 

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live."(John 5:25).

Now there are 3 dimensions of this resurrection power. This same power was what Paul the Apostle craved for in Phillipians chapter 3. It's the great power of Christ.

 3 Dimensions Of The Resurrection  Power

1. The Power of Voice.

The resurrection power is the power of voice. Jesus said in John 5 that the time would come when the dead will hear his voice and they shall come back to life. The dead are able to hear the voice of Jesus. There is great power in Jesus' voice. The Apostles preached the gospel with this voice according to Acts 4:33. In Matthew 27:50-54  Jesus gave a loud cry on the cross and the saints that were dead resurrected in Jerusalem. The bible tells us according to Paul the apostle in 1 Thessalonians 4:16 that the angel of the Lord would at the last day gave a loud cry and then the dead in Christ would rise. You can have Jesus' voice by being an addicted follower of Him. Be a follower of Jesus and not pastors. Paul craved for this power by being an addicted follower of Jesus (Phillipians 3:9-10).

2. The Keys. 

Revelation 1: says,

 “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last, the Living One. I was dead, and behold, now I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of Death and of Hades." (Revelation 1:17-18).

Jesus has the keys of hell and of death. When he died he went to hell to take the keys from the devil. These keys signify powers to loose the dead from the power of death. Death is likened to as a prison according to 1 Peter 3:19-20. Jesus was preaching to spirits in prison of death.  Satan used this key to keep  men in bondage. It's a key of knowledge.

3. The Power of Angels.

 The angels are also responsible for the resurrection of Jesus. The angels were present at the tomb to ensure that Jesus is being resurrected. Jesus was brought back to life by this invisible servants of God. Just as demons love to work in the graveyard, so do angels work in the dead aspect of the life of the saint. 

Conclusion

Jesus on the first day gave a loud cry (the power of voice) on the cross. On the second day went to hell to take the keys. While on the third day, he was set free from the grave by the angels.

The Balm in Gilead 

Jeremiah 8:22,

Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then is there no healing for the wound of my people?

Gilead at a time seems to be a medicinal hub in Israel where people can be cured from different ailment. Jeremiah 46 verse 11 says, “Go up to Gilead and get balm, Virgin Daughter Egypt. But you try many medicines in vain; there is no healing for you."

But God in Jeremiah 8 verse 22 is saying that physical balm is is not enough for healing. Not all sickness can be cured by drugs and doctors. It's high time we have faith in God and stop trusting in medicine and doctors. Of course medicine and doctors are important for our physical health, but they don't hold the cure to all sicknesses. 

Because of this balm the children of Israel bound themselves to idols and hated the Lord. This Idols caused them hurts that physical balms can't  cure. 

Idols are satanic spirits or human worshipped through symbolic objects, orgies, lust or sacrifices. An idol is a false God- something that you cannot resist its desire is your God.   

Healing By His Wound

Isaiah 53:5,

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

Sickness can originate from 3 angles. One, curses which is as a result of sin. Two, spiritual attack: an attack from hell.  And three is physical attack or ailment. 

Christ wound is a symbol of forgiveness, because sin comes with a consequences against our soul. 

He bares our sin on his body on the cross. By his wound we are healed. We are forgiven!

Forgiveness of sin brings healing to our heart and soul. When we confess our sins and accept Jesus as  master believing in him with all we have, then his forgiveness would bring healing to our soul, spirit and body. 

Satan can no more afflict you because of sin. Jesus has taken your wound and by his stripes you are healed.

You get sick in heart and soul when you don't forgive. Forgiveness holds a paramount place in healing. When you're  forgiven don't go back to a sinful lifestyle again. John 5:14 'Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, “See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.”'

Healing By His Name

Acts 3: 1-10,

One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. 2 Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. 4 Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” 5 So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.

6 Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” 7 Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. 8 He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. 9 When all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10 they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

Peter healed a lame man through faith in the name, Jesus. The name of Jesus brings down principalities and power. When you are a true follower of Jesus not pastors, you are given this right to use the name of the master. Jesus is the master that has the key to every problem. Even the wind obeyed him (Mark 4:41). 

Jesus gives you power when you are an addicted follower of him. Peter was an addicted follower of Jesus, so he commanded the man that was lame, "silver and gold I have none but such that I have I give to you, in the name of Jesus rise up and walk". Be a follower of Jesus and you'll have this right! 

In  Matthew 10 Jesus sent his disciples (his followers) to heal the sick, cast out devil and even raise the dead. This should be done with the right to use the name. 

Healing By Vision

This is called the gift of healing. This is a spiritual gift. Every spiritual gift is based on spiritual sensitivity-  hearing, seeing or feeling the power of God. Jesus is the great physician because he had the gift of healing. He could sense the power of healing. In Luke 5:17, while Jesus was teaching he sensed the power of healing present. Sometimes while you are praying, teaching the word or worshipping God or anytime the power to heal might be present. If you have this gift you would know and walk in it. The power opens your eyes, hears or even feel the power of God to heal. When the woman with the issue of blood in Luke 8:43-48.. touched the hem of Jesus' garment in the crowd. Jesus could feel the power to heal. That's the gift of healing. Desire this spiritual gift. 

Prayers 

1. Pray for his mercies upon your life. Ask for mercy. Lamentation 3:22 says, "It's of the Lord's mercy that you are not consume."  God's mercies is his ability and will to help us when we are in need. The worst thing in life is not to trust in God's mercy. Pray.

2. Pray for the spirit of love upon your life, that anger and bitterness or not being able to forgive others should be taken away by God. 1 John 4:8 says that God is love and dwell in love. One thing I've noticed about those under affliction is the spirit of anger. Satan uses this anger to keep them in bondage. Pray for God to release from that spirit of anger in Jesus name.

3. Pray that God should open your eyes to see the hindrance or root of your affliction. 

Photo credit billygraham.org

Sin and iniquity are two things that God hates. While sin directly deals with the law, iniquity deals with the truth, the gospel. Man is cursed today because of  sin and iniquity. from here I would be defining Sin and Iniquity and showing the differences between both.

What Does Sin Means in the Bible?

Sin according to 1 John 3:4 is the transgression of the law. In other words, sin is the breaking of God's commandment. God gave the Israelites ten commandments to keep or abide in, if they disobey what is written in the commandment it is referred to as sin- a transgression of the law.  Transgression in the sense that you don't believe in God or deliberately testing God's patience. 

Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.(1 John 3:4).

What Does Iniquity Means in the Bible?

Iniquity is the act of observing lying vanity (Jonah 2:8): in other words, using lies to prosper. Jesus would say to those false prophet on that day of judgment that I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity (Matthew 7:23).

List of Iniquities

1. Giving out fake prophecies is iniquity.

2. Teaching a false doctrine is iniquity. 

3. Making a vow that you know you will not fulfil is iniquity. 

4. Accepting bribe or giving out bribe is iniquity. 

5. Making false allegation against someone is iniquity. 

6. Being a false witness is iniquity. 

7. Passing out a false judgment is iniquity, and so on.

Types of Iniquity

1. Perversion- An act of lawlessness.

2. Betrayal- An act of Selfishness.

What's the Difference Between Sin and Iniquity?

1. Sin breaks God's law; iniquity contradicts the truth or God's word.

2. Sin is a result of the lack of knowledge, while iniquity is a result of lack of the power of God (2 Timothy 3:5).

3. Sin is Satan's will to rule man (Genesis 4:7); iniquity is man's will to rule the world.

4. The wages of sin is death, but the end of iniquity is perdition.

5. Sin is a fall from grace, while iniquity is a perversion of God's grace (Acts 13:10). 

6. Sin empowers lust (fleshly desires); iniquity empowers lying.

7. Sin is an enemy of forgiveness; iniquity is an enemy of the truth.

In the end iniquity is the mastermind of sin, because it is what the devil uses to lure men into sin.

 
There are three levels of faith in God. But firstly we need to know what faith is all about.
 

Faith according to Hebrew chapter 11 is the substance of things hope for and evidence of things not seen. That means, faith is a spiritual truth or scriptural truth. What the Spirit of God says and what the scripture says is faith.

The Three Levels of Faith

1. Trying to Believe. 

This is the case of the father of the boy that was epileptic according to Mark 9:14-29. He said to Jesus that he believed but Jesus should help his unbelief, that means he's trying to believe.

In this level of faith, one is only convinced by signs and wonders and when there's none, he or she frowns away. The faith of those trying to believe is not based on spiritual or scriptural truth but on signs and wonders. According to James in James 1:6, such kind of faith waves as the waves of the sea. It's a doubting faith. 

 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. (James 1: 6)

As children of God we need to outgrow this manner of faith since it's not centered on spirituality but on materiality.       


2. Believe. 

This is an Abrahamic faith. Having this kind of faith makes you spiritually strong (Romans 4: 20). 

Abraham believed in God, it isn't base on materiality, but spirituality. His spiritual eyes where enlightened. That's why David cried to the Lord in Psalms 119: 18 to open his eyes to behold the wonderous things out of the law. When you believe you see the wonderous things out of the law of God. When you believe you are obedient to God's law. The children of Israel in the wilderness tempted God through unbelief. They want to see signs and wonders instead of understanding the law.

Because of their unbelief they were bittered towards God. 

Abraham is the father of those who believe in God, not only to the Jews. A father is a founder. Abraham searched in spirit and in truth and found the power of God.
 

3. Winning the Prize of Life. This is the prize of faith in Christ. Paul said, "Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers,

"I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize of God’s heavenly calling in Christ Jesus. " (Philipians 3: 12-14) .

This level of faith is obtaining the price of victory, which on earth no one has obtained.

Why People Don't Believe

To believe is to be convinced or persuaded about the validity of something. One is certain to believe what he or she sees or experience. One can also believe through the mouth of a witness.  However, many still find it difficult to believe the word of God.
 

The followings are reasons why people don't believe in the word of God:

1. No anionted preacher.

How then can they call on the One in whom they have not believed? And how can they believe in the One of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone to preach? 

And how can they preach unless they are sent? (Romans 10:14-15).

How can they believe without a preacher. Not everyone preaching the word are sent. Preaching is proclaiming the truth with power, signs and wonders. Jesus told his disciples to wait in order for them to be endued with power from on high (Acts chapter 1). Jesus knew that his disciples can't convince or persuade anyone without the power of God. In fact, Paul the Apostle said in Romans 1:16, that the gospel is the power of God unto salvation.  Without the power of God no man would be converted to the gospel.
 

2. Traditions of the Elders. 

The elders or leaders can be a stumbling block to people in believing the gospel. The elders or leaders can be in the family setting, religion or the society. The elders being in power can set laws or give orders against the gospel. Like in countries where Islamic or sharia laws are practiced the gospel is forbidden by their laws.  

Also, if you're born into a family were Christianity is not practiced, but other religion, then it's certain that you are not going to believe. Except you see signs and wonders or facts to doubt that religion before you can be converted from it. That's why we need to pray that God should turn our leaders to the truth, or to destroy rebellious leaders (power of darkness) standing against the gospel.
 

3.  Self Worship. 

A church goer because of  materialism pretends to believe in God. Such are hypocrites or dogs. Paul spoke concerning them in Phillipians 3: 17 -19,

   For as I have often told you before, and now say again even with tears: Many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and their glory is in their shame. Their minds are set on earthly things.

4. Temptation. 

Satan can turn one away from God, or make one to see God as liar. When such a person suffers he or she usually blames God, but never see his or her fault in his problem or suffering.  Such persons believe that God exist but he is unfair, unjust as far they are concern. They pass judgement on God whenever things go wrong. That makes them to doubt the word of God.

How Can We Have Faith in God

I believe everyone have faith, but the problem is where we put our faith.  Our faith (receiving faith) is where we put our hope in. Turning to the wrong channel breaks our connection from Jesus.
Jesus said "Take care how you listen " (Luke 18: 8).

When you're addicted to Jesus you receive from His life. You can be addicted to Jesus by being a follower of the word and not Pastors. Follow the truth preached and written in the scripture not personalities. I do listen to teachings from different pastors but  I compare it with the truth that Jesus has shown in the scripture. If such teaching falls short then it should be trashed.  
 
   
      

"In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. "

How to Receive Healing

" While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.

For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses.

But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness?

And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not?

So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief."

Attack From Hell

Does Faith Healing Works?  

Mystery

Virtue

Conclusion

"Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise, take up your bed and walk’? 

But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,) 'I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.' 

And immediately the man got up, picked up his mat, and walked out in front of them all. As a result, they were all astounded and glorified God, saying, 'We have never seen anything like this!' ". (Mark 2:9-12).