“Like FATHER, like Son” as the saying goes. But let’s take it to its completion- “Like FATHER, like Son, thus like all Sons”. It is time we fully embrace what being a mature son (as well as daughter) truly means. We should expect to take on FATHER’S characteristics in all areas. Jesus had no problem in proclaiming this Truth when He said in John chapter 14:
9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?
10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority;but the Father who dwells in Me does the works.
11 Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves.
We have no problem in believing that Jesus had the power and authority to heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, and cast out demons yet very few are walking in this manner today. Instead the healthcare industry has become the first resort for those in need. Isn’t it time to wake up and seek FATHER about this very issue? Millions of people are suffering and having their meager life savings stripped from them in an effort to stay healthy. Where is the Love in all this?
FATHER said in Exodus 15:
25 So Moses cried out to the LORD, and the LORD showed him a tree. When he cast it into the waters, the waters were made sweet.
There He made a statute and an ordinance for them, and there He tested them, 26 and said, “If you diligently heed the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the LORD who heals you.”
FATHER is still in the healing and deliverance business for HE is the Great I AM, not I was or I will be. Jesus is still in the healing business just as He spoke the following words in Luke 4:
18 “The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me,
Because He has anointed Me
To preach the gospel to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set at liberty those who are oppressed;
19 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD.”
20 Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him. 21 And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”
I would suggest that all of us agree that FATHER and our elder brother Jesus are ready and willing to heal and deliver. Can we see ourselves with the same power and authority? If not, why? Do you believe that you are being raised up as one of the Sons of FATHER to establish the Kingdom on earth as it is in Heaven? Before the Day of Pentecost, Jesus gave the disciples power and authority similar to His own. In Matthew chapter 10 Jesus spoke the following words:
6 “But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
7 And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’
8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.”
The problem is not that FATHER is withholding HIS power and authority, the problem lies with our willingness to walk in HIS fullness. I am convinced that as we align ourselves with FATHER’S Plan, Will, and Purpose, we will begin to walk in the same anointing, power, and authority that Jesus walked in, the twelve disciples walked in, and the “seventy” walked in.
Luke 10:17 Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.”
What are we waiting for? The Feast of Tabernacles in some appointed year? The twelve disciples (including Judas) had sufficient power and authority before the Day of Pentecost had fully come. What is the point of walking in this power and authority? It is not to gain notoriety. As my friend Kemper describes it, it is about “horizontal” ministry. It is actually to walk out the new commandment Jesus proclaimed in John chapter 13:
34 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.
35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Do you really want to be a fully mature disciple, a son who is willing to wholly serve? When Love has fully enveloped our lives and we come into the fullness of this new commandment committed to Love one another and be our brother’s keeper, we will be empowered to heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, and cast out demons. We must renew our focus toward being one with FATHER. The issue is not HIM giving, the issue is us receiving.