By Terry Smith
Someone Stole My Dinner!
Many years ago I was invited to a home Bible study to talk about Jesus and to pray for the small group of persons who were gathered there. As I prayed for one of the women, I remember that I saw in my “mind’s eye” a picture of a dinner plate with a complete meal on it. Then I “saw”, again in my mind, a devil come up to the plate and steal the food right off of it while the dear person just sat there at the dinner table and allowed it to happen! So, I told her about the impression that I felt the Lord had given me for her, and I told her that she was not to allow the devil to steal the things that she needed and that God in his goodness had provided for her. At the time, she gave me very little if any feedback, but after I left she told the others, “God showed that man what I had for dinner tonight!” I had no prior knowledge about what she had just eaten for dinner right before the Bible study, but God did. In his goodness he showed me a picture of it, which he had me describe to her in some detail, so that it would be easier for her to believe the message that went along with the picture.
Who’s The Thief?
This same message is for you. The Father in heaven wants you to know that he is not taking good things from you. He is not taking your health, your children, or your peace of mind. At one point, Jesus was speaking to a group of men, many of whom were fathers, and he had this to say about God:
“If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask them!” Matthew 7:11
God is a good father, better than all the best earthly fathers put together. He loves to give good things to those who ask him and come to him as children. God is not the thief – he is not in the stealing business, he is in the blessing and giving business. Jesus had this to say about the one who is the thief:
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that you might have life, and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” John 10:10,11
We’re down here on earth, we’re not up in heaven. And down here on earth there is a thief, the devil and his demons, who hate God and you. I’m sorry, but that’s just the way it is. If you trust Jesus to forgive all your sins, and you give your life over to his leadership, you will one day go to your home in heaven and you won’t have to deal with the thief anymore. However, in the meanwhile, it is necessary for you to understand and face reality – God is good, but the devil is a thief, a destroyer and a murderer. His motivation is to steal or destroy every good thing in your life, and if possible, to actually kill you. In contrast to that, Jesus gave up his life for you so that you can experience abundant life! If you come right to him and ask for his leadership in your life, he will become your shepherd, and he will protect you and lead you into all the good things the Father has for you.
Where Does Sickness Come From?
Many people think that everything that happens to them is somehow, in some mysterious way, God’s will. But, if they or someone they love is sick or in pain, they will usually do everything they can to find relief and healing. Everyone knows that is the right and good thing to do. Nevertheless, all too often they are not convinced that God is good and that he really loves them, and that he wants to heal them. Listen to what the Apostle Peter preached about the goodness of God:
You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed him with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went about doing good, and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.” Acts 10:38
The Bible teaches that sickness and disease is an oppression of the devil. Of course, there are natural causes and cures for disease. But the originator of sickness is not God. It does not come from him and it is not his will for you to be sick. Also, in some instances there may be a demon present that is either making the condition worse or is actually producing the illness. (I have seen many, many persons healed of serious illnesses when the demonic spirits were commanded to leave in Jesus name.)
God the Father was completely with Jesus. Jesus said, “He who has seen Me has seen the Father.” (John 14:9) Jesus perfectly showed us who the Father really is, and everywhere he went he removed sickness from all who came to him. Now, that’s what God is like. Sickness does not come from him. He hates it and gets rid of it. When he has a channel of faith to work through, he always brings healing.
How to Receive Healing From God
Here are some facts and guidelines that will help you to come to God and receive the healing that he already has for you:
1. Believe that Jesus died on the cross in your place. God’s penalty for sin is death, and Jesus died in your place. His poured out blood, the evidence of his death, is the proof that the penalty for your sins is “Paid in Full”. God is not holding your sins against you – he held them against his own Son Jesus. BELIEVE that, and if you have not already done so, ask God to forgive you. You can pray this prayer:
Father in heaven, I believe that You love me. Thank You for sending Your Son to die in my place. Forgive me of my sins and make me Your child. Jesus, come into my heart, take control of my life and change me. Make Yourself real to me. I believe You are hearing me and answering me right now. Thank you.
2. Believe that Jesus also died to heal you. His blood was shed so that you do not have to die for your own sins, and his body was broken so that yours can be healed. That’s more than a promise, it’s a fact – he already bore your sins and your sicknesses. BELIEVE that. The payment has already been made for your healing. Sincerely come to God with your faith and he will heal you.
3. If you are now a child of God, believe that you are no longer under the authority of darkness. Listen to what God says in his word:
Give thanks to the Father, for he has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light, for He has delivered from the authority of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son. Colossians 1:12,13
God has an abundant inheritance for each one of his children. When you pray in faith and take Jesus as the Lord of your life, God transfers you out from under Satan’s authority and puts you under the authority, blessing and protection of Jesus Christ. As a child of God, you have been freely given the name of Jesus. You must use the authority of that name and command Satan to leave you. Jesus said,
“Behold, I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall injure you.” Luke 10:19
4. Believe that God hears you and releases to you your healing as you are praying. It is a fact that Jesus already purchased healing for you. It is a fact that God’s heart is a fire of love and power, already aimed right at you, waiting to be released by your faith. Jesus said,
“All things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they shall be granted you.” Mark 11:24
Here is a prayer that you can pray to receive healing from God. Say this aloud to him:
Father, I now see that Jesus already bore my sickness and illness. In the act of speaking these words aloud to You, I am using my faith to make contact with You. Father, heal me, in Jesus name. Thank You. I believe that Your healing is working in me now.
Satan, I am under the authority of Jesus Christ. In the name of Jesus I command you and all your demons to leave me. I have authority over your power, and you cannot hurt me. I command the disease, the sickness, and the pain, and every evil spirit connected with it, to leave me now!
How to Keep Your Healing
Put on the full armor of God, that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual forces of wickedness…. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm… in order that no advantage be taken of us by Satan, for we are not ignorant of his schemes. Ephesians 6:11-13 & 2 Corinthians 2:11
Once God has healed you, he does not take it back. Beware of Satan’s schemes to deceive you. He wants to steal your healing back from you. If you discover that the old pain and symptoms are returning, immediately resist the devil. Stand your ground and command that he and his symptoms of sickness leave you immediately.
He may try to tempt and seduce you into fear and unbelief. I recently spoke to a woman whom God had healed of back pain. Some days after her healing she went shopping for a few hours and her pain returned. She thought to herself, “I’ve overdone it.” But then she realized that God really had healed her back, and that this was the work of the thief, who “comes only to steal, kill and destroy.” She immediately stood her ground and began commanding the devil to leave until the pain left her. Since then she has enjoyed a healed back!
Once God has healed you, you must accept it by faith. I have seen persons get out of wheelchairs, pain-free and without limitation of movement, when they were healed by God’s love and power. But some of these same persons immediately walked right back over to their wheelchair, sat down and refused to believe that they were healed. After they experienced their own miracle, I have actually heard them say things such as, “I’ll wait and see how I feel tomorrow”, or “I feel better now, but I’m going to let the doctor take care of this.” If my memory is correct, I believe that most, if not all, of those persons lost their healing.
God can heal you by a supernatural act of grace, but you must not let the devil walk into your life and steal your dinner from you!
Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls about as a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith… the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one. 1 Peter 5:8,9 & 2 Thessalonians 3:3