"Today I stop volunteering for Self-inflicted Limitations"

by

Dr. John Holland

 

I remember a drug-addicted hippie giving his testimony after his miraculous deliverance from dependency on drugs. He had been fighting the demon of drugs for years. When he confessed Jesus Christ as his Savior and through prayer he was delivered. 

 

He gave this testimony one Sunday night in our church, “I am like my Swedish grandfather, I am so ‘appy for Jeesus,’ I could ‘yump’ for yoy.’” It was a remarkable deliverance from his bondage and his mental dependence upon drugs. 

 

I have been talking about the story in Acts chapter three of the remarkable healing of a man who was crippled from birth. The first recorded act of ministry by the church following the day of Pentecost.

 

God was emphasizing something important that he wanted all generations to remember.  

 

The man in Acts took took the hand of Peter but he was really taking the nail scared hand of ministry, and was set free from the horrible bondage of his past life. The man asked for his felt need, alms for food.

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We start at the point of felt need, but the real need was not money, but healing. 

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I have often thought that God looked down and said, “You don’t need alms man, you need legs! If you had alms, you would still be helpless, but if you had legs, you could have a new beginning. So, I am not giving you silver and gold, but legs.” 

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Alms would feed his body, but not heal it. Alms would feed his appetite, but not free his body. 

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Most human problems are confronted with this terse, straightforward command, “Look on us!” Focus right here where the need exists, not on the situation, but on the obvious need, “Rise up and walk.” 

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It confirms that in our need we have the capacity, with the help of anointed ministry to do something about our limitation. 

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Here is the hope faith brings. Peter said, "Look on us and rise up and walk in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth." 

 

Whatever you could not do before, faith in His name makes possible. With God all things are possible.

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Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders of Israel; If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he as been made well, let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands before you whole” (Acts 4:8-10).

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Jude encouraged us to contend for the faith once delivered to the saints.

 

James said, “Is any sick among you?

 

Let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:  And the prayer of faith shall save (sozo, in the Greek language) the sick and the Lord shall raise him up and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him" (James 5:14-15). 
 

The Greek word, "Sozo" is variously translated to save, deliver, protect, (literally or figuratively) preserve, save (self) do well, be (made) whole. 

 

We understand that God’s ministry to us to includes salvation, healing, deliverance and restoration. 

 

"Sozo" is used in Roman 10:9-10, “If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” 

 

The English word "saved" is translated from the same Greek word "Sozo".  Salvation and healing are experienced by the same redemptive act of our Lord Jesus and are received as ministry from the same Holy Spirit. 

 

It has been called the double cure throughout the church age, salvation for the soul and healing for the body. 

 

When Jesus Christ God’s Son and our Savior was beaten, we understand, “by his stripes we were healed.” Through His death and resurrection, we are redeemed giving the foundation for faith in the restoration of body, soul and spirit.
 

Where help is available from a professional, we are to use it. Every medicine comes from the earth God created. Every healing through natural or supernatural means comes from the creative hand of a loving heavenly Father.

 

In the Bible account we have a condition which is beyond human intervention.

 

This infirmity goes far beyond therapy or the medical profession. What could a professional have done for him? Call for the neurologist, the orthopedic surgeon, the respiratory therapist, the internist, or the neurosurgeon and let them test, scan, do blood workups, take x-rays’ and physical examinations. 
 

Have them diagnoses, make prognosis and develop treatment plans if they are able to do so, but this physical issue is beyond their disciplines or their professions. There is no hope for human treatment because there is something wrong with the brain or the nerves or the muscle. He has been like this for his entire life. In fact, it may have occurred prenatal as the fetus was developing. It could have resulted from an early childhood disease. Whatever the origin, the results are all the same. 

 

This little one was never able to pull himself up and walk, his muscles did not develop as others and the neural pathways were not developed. All of us have seen those who have been invalided for a long period of time. The undeveloped muscles atrophied because of a lack of use.

 

Nonetheless, when the hand of ministry is given, a decision must be made. Will I lay here with my limitations or will I get up and walk. 

 

Some have been living with their limitations so long that it is frightening for them to think of giving up their way of life, to take the hand of ministry and be healed. 
 

Remember, focus, take the hand of ministry and rise up and walk in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth!

 

Make this confession by saying it with loud bold speech. 

 

Today I stop volunteering for self-inflicted limitations. I serve notice on myself the world and the devil. I am taking the hand of ministry now being offered to me. I will step through my pain in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. I will rise up and walk. The steps I now take from the inside out will lift me above the dirt, the shame, the anger, the limitations, the lameness, and the bondage of my life. 

 

Today, I step into the destiny Jesus came to make possible. Satan, and all who work with you in the kingdom of darkness, you are subject to the name of Jesus Christ. I speak to you in the name of Jesus Christ, God’s son, and my Savior. 

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I am free. I am free from the prison of my past, from the sickness of body, soul and spirit. I step into deliverance and freedom in the Name of Jesus! Amen. 

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Return to Monday Morning November 29

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