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#0401012 Ignite A Healing Explosion by Gail King
Ignite A Healing Explosion Jeremiah 29:13, NKJV And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. As we mature, many of us find ourselves battling both physical illness and emotional pain. Millions die premature deaths precipitated by stress related diseases and addictive behaviors. In search of relief, we’ve tried relationships; doctors, medicine, sex, cigarettes, herbs, illegal drugs and more. However, none of our bandages have healed us where we hurt. In fact, the side effects of these counterfeit forms of relief have devastated us and made us worse. What do we do? This week, the Holy Spirit turned my eyes to the healing of Hannah in the book of 1st Samuel. Physical Infirmity & Heartbreak Often Exist Together Hannah faced two challenges. She had a physical infirmity in that she was barren – unable to have children. Secondly, Hannah had an emotional problem. She was depressed; her heart was crushed. She was experiencing low self-esteem and embarrassment. Her husband’s other wife Pininnah, was successful in child-bearing which she flaunted to humiliate Hannah. The Word of the Lord says, “Whenever the day came for Elkanah to sacrifice, he would give portions of the meat to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters. But to Hannah he gave a double portion because he loved her, and the LORD had closed her womb. Because the LORD had closed Hannah’s womb, her rival kept provoking her in order to irritate her. This went on year after year. Whenever Hannah went up to the house of the LORD, her rival provoked her till she wept and would not eat. Her husband Elkanah would say to her, “Hannah, why are you weeping? Why don’t you eat? Why are you downhearted? Don’t I mean more to you than ten sons”(1 Samuel 1:4-8, NIV)? No Human Being Can Heal Us When we are sick and broken-hearted, relationships distract us and sometimes afford mild comfort, but they don’t heal us. As a young woman, I tried relationships; overeating, overworking, smoking and drinking. Placebos simply don’t work, in fact they make things worse. Ungodly relationships wound us Gail King Ministries Thank you for your generous contributions. P.O. Box 146766, Chicago, IL 60614, PromisesChurch.com 800-764-1026,
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#0401012 Ignite A Healing Explosion by Gail King further and substances are often addictive. While doctors can provide temporary relief, they admit they are simply practicing medicine. Medicines mask symptoms and often allow the underlying condition to worsen. Although Hannah was childless (which was an enormous disgrace in her culture), her husband Elkanah adored her. One would assume that he could heal her broken heart. However, the Word of God tells us that Elkanah’s love did not heal her infertility or erase Hannah’s heartbreak. Hannah’s husband went out of his way to comfort her, but it wasn’t enough to heal her heart. In our society, millions of people rush to dating websites seeking someone to relieve an old heartache. Often the new person is worse than the last. Even when we do meet a better individual, the relationship is weighed down with paranoia and sick behaviors from past unresolved emotional baggage. When God is 1st in our lives, we no longer rely on humans for our healing. God will often send someone to comfort us, but He will remain at the center of every healthy relationship. The Word calls God’s Holy Spirit our Comforter, but few know Him or mindfully receive His spiritual gifts. Exodus 15:26, NKJV …For I am the LORD who heals you.” Hannah’s Secret To Physical & Emotional Healing There is a wealth of revelation in the brief verses concerning Hannah. Finally, Hannah turns to God and she receives both physical and emotional healing. It appears that Hannah suffered for many years before she turned to God with her whole heart and soul. 1 Samuel 1:10-11;19-20 NIV In her deep anguish Hannah prayed to the LORD, weeping bitterly. And she made a vow, saying, “LORD Almighty, if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the LORD for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head.” Early the next morning they arose and worshiped before the LORD and then went back to their home at Ramah. Elkanah made love to his wife Hannah, and the LORD remembered her. So in the course of time Hannah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, “Because I asked the LORD for him.” Gail King Ministries Thank you for your generous contributions. P.O. Box 146766, Chicago, IL 60614, PromisesChurch.com 800-764-1026,
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#0401012 Ignite A Healing Explosion by Gail King Hannah took practical steps to be healed. 1) She Turned To God: Hannah stopped relying on her flesh, her husband or any human force. She turned all her attention to God. She placed 100% of her trust in the Lord. When questioned, Hannah told the priest Eli, “I was pouring out my heart to the Lord.” 2) She Fasted & Humbled Herself Before The Lord: In Hannah’s anguish, she refused to eat and was completely humble as she went before God. 3) She Prayed: Hannah’s prayer was a heart-to-heart talk with God. She laid herself bare before God in fervent prayer asking for His healing and His blessing. 4) She Made A Vow To God: Apparently, Hannah had given this premeditated thought because she made a solemn promise to God for His help. 5) She Promised A Huge Sacrifice To God: Hannah was so committed that she promised to give her son back to God for life. This was an enormous pledge. 6) She Exalted & Worshipped God: In her prayer, she humbled herself, exalting God, praising Him and placing her trust in Him. In the Old Testament, believers were accustomed to making huge sacrifices along with their prayer requests. It was often required at that time but unfortunately; it also gave many Old Testament believers a works mentality. In pride, they erroneously thought they moved the hand of God (and found righteousness) through their works. They didn’t understand that God’s love and mercy was sustaining them. Their faith was diminished by their ill-intentioned sacrifices. Today we understand that we are never bartering with God, and we must be prepared to keep every pledge we make to Him. Following the death of Christ, we are under a New Covenant. God wants us to approach Him in faith, trusting in Jesus Christ, who became our perfect sacrifice. Today, we come boldly to the throne of God, fully expecting to be heard and have our prayers answered because we belong to Christ. God has promised to hear and answer everyone who belongs to Christ. 1 John 5:15, NLT And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for. God is still greatly honored by prayer, fasting and giving. However, He is primarily concerned with our faith in Jesus and the condition of our hearts. He looks at our heart more than He looks at our hand. Gail King Ministries Thank you for your generous contributions. P.O. Box 146766, Chicago, IL 60614, PromisesChurch.com 800-764-1026,
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#0401012 Ignite A Healing Explosion by Gail King Two years ago, I sought God for His help. I felt stuck in an area of my life. While I was out walking and meditating, the Holy Spirit told me to fast and give God an offering. I went on a fast and donated my time to a worthy cause. Most likely, I gave a monetary offering as well. My attitude and heart changed and I was able to receive a breakthrough in the area where I was struggling. What I learned from that experience was that God didn’t trade His help for my work. He was after faith and commitment to Him, which was evidenced by my willingness to fast and give. My work (and sacrifices) didn’t change God’s heart toward me. They changed my heart toward God. God didn’t need to be moved, I did. When the Holy Spirit told me what to do for my breakthrough, He was encouraging me to make a firm commitment to God, trusting in Him for my delivery. Our Father God is full of loving-kindness and mercy. He wants to help us more than we want to be helped. Our good deeds and gifts are evidence of faith and humility before God. Our faith is very precious to God. Hebrews 11:6, NKJV But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Hannah’s approach to God was excellent in many ways. Hannah made up her mind to put 100% of her faith in God. Her request was not dependant on any human comforting her or circumstances. Hannah created true intimacy between herself and God. She tapped into “relationship with God” and His infinite love. The entire healing deliverance originated between Hannah and God! God answered Hannah’s prayer and she was given joy, peace, healing, glory, fulfillment and security. In fact, God gave Hannah much more than she asked for. And the Lord was gracious to Hannah; she conceived and gave birth to three sons and two daughters…(I Samuel 2:21, NIV). Ephesians 3:20, NKJV Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,… Ignite A Healing Explosion To summarize, how was Hannah’s physical infirmity and heartbreak healed? She received her healing when her hunger for God transformed her heart and released great faith in His honor and loving-kindness.
Gail King Ministries Thank you for your generous contributions. P.O. Box 146766, Chicago, IL 60614, PromisesChurch.com 800-764-1026,
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#0401012 Ignite A Healing Explosion by Gail King
1) Hannah turned from human effort to faith in God. 2) Hannah solidly committed the matter to God. 3) Hannah released great faith as evidenced by her solemn pledge and the fact that her grief was immediately transformed to joy in the Lord. Yes, God used Hannah’s husband Elkanah to impregnate her just as He may allow a doctor, minister or significant other to assist in our healing. However, they do not do the healing, God does! Hannah’s healing explosion erupted when she turned her heart (completely) to her Savior and began to exalt Him for her deliverance. The Holy Spirit may not move us to do everything Hannah did, but He longs for our immovable faith in the love and finished work of Jesus Christ. After Hannah committed the matter to God the Word confirms, “…So the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad (1 Samuel 1:18, NKJV). Note that her depression left immediately once she turned her heart to God. Hannah received an immediate emotional healing. Her joy (in the Lord) became a MEDICINE to her body! Proverbs 17:22, AMP A happy heart is good medicine and a cheerful mind works healing, but a broken spirit dries up the bones. In the healing of heartbreak and physical illness, our ongoing fear, doubt, worry and anxiety worsens the condition. However, we enter into a healing explosion when we steadfastly commit the matter to Jesus Christ and stand on our faith in His love and healing Word. Matthew 11:28, NKJV Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Matthew 21:22, NKJV And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive. Luke 1:37, NLT For nothing is impossible with God.
Gail King Ministries Thank you for your generous contributions. P.O. Box 146766, Chicago, IL 60614, PromisesChurch.com 800-764-1026,
[email protected]
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#0401012 Ignite A Healing Explosion by Gail King Prayer For Healing “Father God, I thank you for sending Jesus Christ to save me and heal me. Your Holy Spirit is my Comforter! As I encounter life’s challenges, please remind me to turn to you with my whole heart, soul and mind. I repent of relying on my flesh and on others. I lay all my burdens at your alter. Cover my mind and body in the blood of Jesus. As a believer, in the Name of Jesus, I take my authority and I command the spirits of heaviness and infirmity to leave me – now! Father, I receive the healing and restoration that I’ve been given through my faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. To God be the glory! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.” Bible Study Questions for Reflection 1) How do we break the habit of relying on the world’s way of doing things? 2) How can we know that our faith is in God alone? Suggestions For Powerful Christian Living 1) Keep a prayer journal. Write down your prayer requests and how God has handled them. 2) Keep a miracle journal. Make entries each time you know God supernaturally helped you. Re-read your miracle journal for encouragement. By Gail M. King, PromisesChurch.com Copyright Acknowledgements New Living Translation (NLT) Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. New King James Version (NKJV) Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Amplified Bible (AMP) Scripture quotations taken from the Amplified® Bible, Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation Used by permission." (www.Lockman.org) New International Version (NIV) THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Gail King Ministries Thank you for your generous contributions. P.O. Box 146766, Chicago, IL 60614, PromisesChurch.com 800-764-1026,
[email protected]
