“Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He sent forth his Word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave.”

Psalm 107:19-20

The people of God were sick, discouraged, and lay in ruin. They had fought with all of their strength to overcome such a pitiful situation but they were unable to get results. Then, they cried to God. They did not do it by saying a quick prayer, rather, they pleaded from the depths of their hearts and the Lord heard them. Once He heard them, He sent His Word to heal them.

Dr. David Cho said, “I dare not think that I have achieved anything in life. Therefore, I have no reason to be proud. I do not speak English very well, and this has been a result of my studies. It is the power of the Holy Spirit that has guided me. God has been merciful towards me and He has anointed my messages with the indescribable grace of His Spirit. The innumerable adversities of life have molded my character until I have become a humble person. The only possible way for me, was to depend on the Holy Spirit. And this was what motivated God to begin working with greatness.”

While being in human form on this Earth, Jesus, the living Word of God, used the body to destroy every curse and in turn to make every blessing known to all mankind. Satan showed no mercy with Jesus. He thought that in destroying Him, he would stop Jesus’ work. However, killing Jesus not only eradicated disease and death, but it also destroyed all the arguments brought against humanity, when He died on the Cross at Calvary. Jesus knew it, whereas Satan did not. For this reason, while on that Cross, just before dying, Jesus said, “Father, it is finished.” The death of Jesus turned out to be the greatest blessing for all humanity. The Word of God, who is Jesus, gave us the victory while hanging on the Cross.

In the midst of tribulations there are no words that bring comfort; neither the voice of a friend, nor the words of those who love us; neither can the voices of the angels change the impact of pain on our lives. When a wound is opened, there is only one word that is like medicine for us; the Word of God. His loving and powerful Word will get to the depths of our being to restore what is affected. It will remove what is hindering, and it will heal even the most profound and secret wounds.

“Conscience is a prisoner under the power of God. He holds it, the shackles come into the very soul. He accomplishes it with His Word, and truly He is the only one who can lock it up or set it free. Not even the whole world is capable of opening the iron door, removing the shackles and setting the poor prisoner free, until God says the word” (George Swinnock).

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT
Tears ran down the face of an elderly man while he tried to loosen the knot of a cord around his neck, from which hung a small sack. The knot was filthy and full of dirt. The elderly man had his head bowed down as if a great weight was over his back, his body trembled and the fear of the unknown was reflected in his eyes. This man was Sampashe, an African tribal chief. ‘You shouldn’t trust in Pagan gods,’ they had told him. But the conflict of years in darkness and fear had taken possession of him. What calamities would come over him if he removed his talisman? Couldn’t he save just this one? ‘No,’ they told him. ‘If you truly believe in the love and the power of Jesus, you should put your trust only in Him’.

Next to the elderly man, silent yet understanding and smiling to give him courage and confidence was the missionary. Sampashe lifted his hands, but the old knot could not be undone, for it had been tied on him for so many years that it was completely sealed. Terror overcame his heart. He looked at the missionary and said the first prayer of his life, which was a scream for help, mercy and love. The knot loosened, and came undone; he also felt that the heavy weight had falling from his heart. Lifting his face full of tears, Sampashe smiled in triumph and took the hand of the missionary in a sign of Christian friendship.

TODAY’S DECLARATION
“Since my Father God imparted His authority to me, I can believe in myself once again.”

Today’s post is an excerpt from Pastor Cesar Castellanos’ book, Declarations of Power for 365 Days of the Year: Volume Four.

TODAY’S BIBLE READING

• Old Testament: Jeremiah 52; Song of Songs 5
• New Testament: John 6:41-59; 1 Peter 3:13-22