When I was sent the invitation to this year’s Women’s Aglow Retreat, the hair stood up on my arms. Dr. Sandra Kennedy had a testimony of how she was healed from a freak accident and since then healing has “followed” her.
Years ago she and her dog collided. Her dog didn’t mean to do it, but he ripped off half of her upper lip.
The doctors said she would never smile again. They said she would need at least 6 surgeries (I hope I have that number correct) and EVEN THEN would never look normal. Her doctor TRIED to make her look at a book full of people with cleft pallets and other defects, BUT SHE WOULDN’T DO IT. She told the doctor, “I WILL NOT HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL SURGERY! MY GOD WILL FIX THIS!” It was medically impossible for the skin on the upper lip to heal itself and form a lip again …
Sandra Kennedy posted pictures of herself all over her house. Pictures of herself from BEFORE the accident, SMILING — completely whole.
Now this is not a surprise to some of my friends of FAITH out here in blogland. You totally “get” what she was doing. For others, this may stretch you and even make you feel uncomfortable.
Sandra was NOT going to let the doctors words OR the pictures of “a bad report” settle in her mind.
How many people hear a doctor’s report or feel a certain pain in their bodies and IMMEDIATELY come into agreement? Does God use doctors? Yes, but we are responsible for what we do with our thoughts and our “resolve” about the matter.
Many of you have heard that our MIND is the battlefield. It certainly is with everything I have experienced in my life. A thought is planted — do we let it take root and water it (producing bad fruit) or do we dig it up and cast away the seed?
Ok, let me ask you this question. How are you saved?
You may answer, “By FAITH.”
Great! But what if you sin? Are you still saved?
YES! You are!
But how do you know this?
Because the Word of God says so. You believe this by FAITH. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God (Romans 10:17).
But what if you do something really bad! Are you still saved? YES.
Isaiah 53:4-6
Surely He has borne our griefs
And carried our sorrows;
Yet we esteemed Him stricken,
Smitten by God, and afflicted.
But He was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities;
The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
And by His stripes we are healed.
All we like sheep have gone astray;
We have turned, every one, to his own way;
And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.
Does the Word of God say WE ARE HEALED? Yes!
If you believe what the Word says for salvation, then you must believe what it says for healing.
This made sense to me because I have “spoken” to my body for years — commanding it to come into alignment with the Word of God. That is our part. We must come into agreement, but with God’s Word — not the symptoms OR the report.
Dr. Kennedy gave this illustration. She pulled up 3 volunteers from the audience. Imagine 3 people standing in front of you — all facing right. Get the visual. Person #1 is looking at the back of person #2’s head. Person #2 is looking at the back of person #3.
Person #1 is our SPIRIT. This is where the Holy Spirit comes to dwell when we are saved.
Person #2 is our SOUL (our mind, our will, and our emotions).
Person #3 is our BODY (our tent, our house, our flesh suit).
Our soul acts as a filter between our SPIRIT and our BODY. Our body tells us one thing, the spirit understands something different BECAUSE of the Holy Spirit and then there is our soul — the clogged up filter in the middle. The TRUTH from the Spirit of God is hindered because of that clogged up filter and it isn’t passing through to the body. Does that make sense to you?
What is our SOUL? Our MIND, our WILL, and our EMOTIONS.
What is our body? FLESH. Our flesh isn’t “saved” — it is paid for, purchased – but it will return to the dust of the earth! It is our “suit” that will fall to the ground. Dr. Kennedy asked, “Why do we listen to a flesh that isn’t even saved? Why do we believe IT to tell us what is truth?”
Matthew 26:41
Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”Romans 8:5
For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.Galatians 5:17
For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.
There is a war between the SPIRIT and the FLESH! Our SOUL (mind, will, and emotions) is stuck in the middle. Do we listen to the SPIRIT or do we listen to the FLESH?
I have heard this type of truth for years. In the late 80’s, I learned this from Kenneth and Gloria Copeland. The confession of our mouth is POWERFUL. Our thought life is POWERFUL. We must come into agreement with the Word of God.
Back to Sandra Kennedy. She gave the example of her lip. She would look herself in the mirror and point saying, “LIP. YOU WILL GROW BACK IN JESUS’ NAME! YOU WILL COME INTO ALIGNMENT IN THE MIGHTY NAME OF JESUS!” She continually had the visual of herself HEALTHY AND WHOLE in front of her. She wasn’t focusing on the deformity. If you want to see her lovely smile now, click HERE.
To some of you, this may be new teaching — but trust me — for those who have been involved in prayer ministries, you totally get this (you’ve been doing it yourself).
The flesh LIES. God’s Word is TRUTH. Whose report will you believe?
Jesus did EVERYTHING He needed to do when He was on the cross. It is FINISHED. What else can He do? He gave His life for us.
Just take this before the Lord and let Him share whatever He wants to share with your heart.
God bless you all! Walk in FREEDOM today! God loves you!
(Photo taken by me.)
Wonderful absolute truth from
His Word, Beth! Thanks for sharing
and helping me start my day in a
super encouraging way! So how
beautiful does her lip look today?
Blessings,
Sandy
When I went to Joyce Meyer's Conference in Feb, I happen to strike up a conversation with the gal next to me who had this kind of faith and believed like me in these teachings. She prayed for me on the spot and 2 hours later, my migraine was gone and I had a wonderful lunch with the girls. I love your faith, Beth. And I love to share prayer requests with you.
Right on time…again for me to digest…I love that our spirit does not have "heartburn" like our stomach! Going to work in a few hours sister after a month off and I've been dreading it so I think that's why my tummy is fretting. Not because I'm afraid but because I am just tired of those people in power who abuse their power…I'm glad you reminded me of "who we are in Christ!" Praise be to our good Lord! And if you don't mind, will you please pray for me, for the Lord's protection, guidance and discernment. Thank you and God bless.
I loved that you shared this! I have to admit I do this for others, but when I am sick, I don't do it for myself. I am learning to realize even if I have a headache, God wants and can heal that. I love when we claim the truth of His Word over our bodies and they come into alignment with their Creator!
Thanks Beth for telling Sandra’s story I had heard it before on Sid Roth’s. I am trusting the Lord for two healings.One for my health and one for stage fight.I have opportunities to speak and I do one on one ministry at prisons. But I am limited because of fear of public speaking. It has held me back long enought so I am stepping out more.In November I will be the minister at an important wedding.I first thought I better say no but I said yes trusting the Lord. So I am deliberately putting myself in uncomforable positions to speak to be ready. Please pray that I will be a help in the work of the Kingdom of God where ever He wants me. I am so glad you and Sandra are encouraging God’s people to receive the healings Jesus paid for. I pray many blessing for you both, your ministries are greatly needed. I am in prison helping the prisoners Mondays – Thurdays weekly as a voniteer chaplain please pray for my safety and for my ministry. God Bless!Sharon Lawsen Story Times Ministries.