Exercising the Authority of Faith

A person's faith is not built in a day or two; it is established little by little in the process of growth. The process of building faith is building faith in the authority God has given you. The prayer I dislike the most is, Lord, please heal my father; Lord, please heal so-and-so. It sounds particularly uncomfortable. On the surface, it looks like humility, but I tell you, such prayer is a disgrace to God. Yet, many people do not know this, thinking such prayer is good, and they continue to pray like that, never seeing healing. Until the person dies, they then ask the Lord, Why didn't you heal?

They have got it all wrong. How can God heal? God has already given you the authority you need. As long as you command the illness and the evil spirit behind it to leave in the name of Jesus Christ, you will receive healing. We have tried this method repeatedly and without fail. Look at cancer, which is painful to the point of death; when we pray, the pain disappears. It is even more effective than painkillers. Why? Because we have authority in our hands. It is truly pathetic if you have authority in your hands but do not use it! So, Moses was pleading there, God, what should I do? God said, Why do you cry out to me? Lift your staff over the sea, and it will be divided. Then the Israelites will cross the Red Sea on dry ground.

The issue of authority, like the issue of sovereignty and territorial integrity, is non-negotiable. When you take up authority in your home, your family will be blessed. When you take up authority in your workplace, your work will be blessed. When you take up authority in your small group ministry, your small group will be blessed, because authority is the issue that God cares about the most. How was the devil formed? Originally, the devil was the most beautiful of all the angels; very powerful and capable. But he overstepped his authority, and that is a deadly problem. So, today we must take up authority, and not allow others to overstep their authority. Not because we are afraid of losing, but because the issue of authority is non-negotiable. If we are strong and courageous that is the key to using authority, if you do not have a heart of strength and courage within you, the power of authority cannot be manifested.

Because you are strong and courageous, the facts will prove that we are truly children of God. When we use this authority, it works. On Tuesday, a cancer patient came to us. Cancer is very torturous; breathing is very difficult. It was suspected that the cancer had spread to the lungs. I asked PL to pray for him, and after praying for a while, he felt better, and the pain subsided. But there will be relapses, and we must continue to pray until complete healing is achieved. No matter what, we must know that we have authority in our hands.

During the Chinese New Year, there is a custom of ancestor worship, but Christians are not allowed to worship ancestors. Because Christians are very honorable. Everyone in the world is honorable, so honorable that there is nothing in the world worthy of our worship. Isn't it ridiculous for such an honorable living person to worship a dead person? Some people cannot even live well when they are alive, so how can they protect you after they die? Christians are very honorable because they have the authority bestowed by the eternal God. This authority can trample on all devils and enemies.

We have a brother in Korea who is struggling with whether or not to go with his family to worship ancestors. If he tells his father that he is a Christian and cannot worship ancestors, his father will definitely be furious. How can he bear that? He is not financially independent yet, and it would be difficult if he falls out with his father. After much thought, he mustered up the courage to tell his father before the New Year that he had become a Christian and could not worship ancestors. As a result, his father not only did not fly into a rage, but also sent him away with his girlfriend early, and nothing happened. So, brothers and sisters, being strong and courageous can solve many problems. Statistics show that 95% of people's worries never happen. Today, you and I have received this authority, so we must learn to use it. Because no matter how difficult the situation, know that God is in control, do not be afraid. When you get through the difficulties, you will find that everything is actually very simple.

Sister HJ, who had cancer, had many ancestral tablets in her home. When I prayed for her, I asked her to throw away the ancestral tablets. Her parents only put them away, and Sister HJ's pain was much relieved. As a result, her brother put the tablets back before the New Year, and things started to deteriorate again. She was in so much pain at night that Sisters WH and YL led her in prayer online. We encouraged HJ's mother to remove the tablets. Her mother mustered up the courage to pick up the tablets and burn them. After burning them, Sister HJ felt completely released. HJ's mother is a rural woman with a very low status in the family. She thought that her son and daughter-in-law would make trouble at home because of burning the tablets, but nothing happened. Thank God.

Use Well the Authority Given by God

None of us who are strong and courageous and use the authority given by God have failed. If you are strong and courageous, God can do wonderful things through you. The authority in our hands can cause God's glory to be manifested through our strength and courage. In the past, God has performed many miracles among us. I hope that the diseases of those who come to the church will be healed. When Sister HJ first came to our church, she asked me, Pastor, are all the people you pray for healed? I said that all were healed. This is a declaration of faith, not a lie; I need to put faith into her. All were healed. These are the words in the 《Bible》. The reason why scriptures are written this way is to give us faith.

If it is said in another way, that some prayers are healed and some are not, she will immediately lose faith and feel that she is the one who has not been healed. Therefore, brothers and sisters, you must know that the words in the 《Bible》 give people faith. People's faith can draw on God's power, and God is faithful. With authority, what is said counts and will be accomplished. Whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you will receive it. It is God’s will to heal the sick; all who seek Him will receive healing.

Through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon’s Colonnade. No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people. Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number. As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by impure spirits, and all of them were healed. (《Acts》 5:12-16)

The background of the scripture is the early church. Many people will ask why these things happened in that generation? Our generation needs these things the most. Today, although there are advanced medical technologies and equipment, more and more people cannot be healed. At the beginning of last year, a classmate's father passed away from a cold. A small cold killed someone. Many people ask me, If praying cures illnesses, what is the point of having hospitals? What I want to say is that even with hospitals, there are still many problems that cannot be solved, so we are needed.

A Church That Can Clearly See God's Presence

The glory of the present church will be greater than the former church, because this later church will directly welcome the return of the Lord Jesus. This is the background of this scripture. Today, we are in the generation when the Lord Jesus is about to return. The glory of the Lord Jesus's return is much greater than the glory of His ascension. When the Lord Jesus returns, He will reign with us on this earth for a thousand years. How wonderful is that. This scripture talks about when this early church was first established, God's omnipotence was constantly manifested in Peter, and everyone in that place was healed. When we trace the time back to the days when Jesus Christ was on earth, the 《Bible》also says that all were healed. This is a characteristic of the early church.

Peter is the founder of the church. Whatever the first generation church he built did, just do it accordingly, and you will see very wonderful things. In the past, I basically did what was said in 《Acts》. Some people do not like to hear about casting out devils, but I hope you become a person who casts out devils, because there is a great demand for casting out devils. Today, when leading prayer, Sister Zhixian said that our church is becoming more and more prosperous, and I hope that everyone can rise up to serve. If it weren't for WH and the others being raised up to serve, how could I have served? Therefore, today everyone must begin to change a concept, that is, we must rise up to cast out devils, why? Because there are too many needs in this generation.

Many people need us to serve, but many brothers and sisters have not exercised their faith, have not exercised their authority, and do not have such ability and intention. How did the early church do it? Today, we do it the same way. The entire book of 《Acts》 is about how to build a glorious church. It gives us a very clear revelation, which is to spread the gospel with signs and wonders. Today, many people want to spread the gospel through preaching, but the effect is not ideal. Many brothers and sisters who come to our church have experienced the power of God. If they have not experienced the power of God, and you simply preach to them, then nothing can be done.

Signs and Wonders Are a Clear Manifestation of God's Presence

If everyone in Singapore knows that those who come to our church are healed, what will happen? The doors of our church will be broken down. We must learn to do what the early church did. You don't need to invent anything. It is good to learn from others. Today, it is enough for us to learn how the early church spread the gospel with signs and wonders. Many people do not learn what is taught in the 《Bible》, and invent a lot of methods themselves. I do not quite agree with that. We must take the 《Bible》 as the foundation, learn from Paul and Peter, and constantly expand our borders. In the days of Jesus in the 《Bible》, Jesus used healing and casting out devils to spread the gospel. I encourage everyone to try it. Casting out devils firsthand is much more effective than listening to sermons. Signs and wonders, healing and deliverance are the ways to spread the gospel revealed in the 《Bible》.

Pastor Zhou's wife said that spreading the gospel should rely on God's omnipotence and power. Because of God's presence, it is difficult for those who come among us not to be blessed. Signs and wonders are the way to spread the gospel revealed in the 《Bible》. Healing and deliverance are very good opportunities to exercise spiritual authority and exercise people's faith, and they are very basic. Believers will be accompanied by signs and wonders: speaking in tongues, laying hands on the sick, and the sick will be healed. How to exercise authority? Healing and deliverance! How to exercise faith? Healing and deliverance! This is our most basic work, not anything profound. If one day we start to have such a reputation in Singapore, our doors will really be broken down, but not yet. God is still holding back, because we do not yet have the ability to do such things.

Healing and deliverance are tools for us to exercise our faith; we must improve in this area. God wants to continually work among us, constantly adding and manifesting His great glory. Do not be afraid when ministering; be strong and courageous, and become someone who casts out demons. Many Christians do not have authority in their hands, nor faith in their hearts, and there is no power in their faith. They are the same as the world; what the world encounters, they also encounter. But among us, what we encounter is blessed, and it is miraculous. Brother HF told me, Pastor, I am very grateful. One of his classmates graduated at the same time with almost a perfect GPA, but today is living a life that is neither human nor ghostly, and has no savings after several years of graduation. But HF is somewhat wealthy; he has a university degree and a lot of savings. This is grace.

Therefore, brothers and sisters, be demon-casting Christians. Then you will have many stories to tell when you go out to preach the Gospel. Congenital heart disease is healed with one prayer, and cancer is also healed through prayer. These are all real things we are talking about. The Bible speaks of real things, not just great principles, but very practical things. Healing and deliverance are the way to spread the Gospel.

Healing, Deliverance, Signs and Wonders are Signs of God's Presence

Many despairing people have been transformed among us: the mentally ill are healed, the cancerous are healed, the paralyzed are healed, those seeking jobs are blessed, those with troubled hearts are released, families with problems are restored. These are all good things that happen, allowing people to clearly see God's presence. Our God will magnify our name, and in this world, if your name is great, you will lack nothing. Signs and wonders, healing and deliverance are signs of God's presence and victory in spiritual warfare. A missionary went to Africa to preach the Gospel, but he only preached doctrines. He barely managed to get one person to believe, but that person fell ill. In our view, dealing with sickness is easy; just pray for them. But the missionary was helpless and could only give a few vitamins. Later, the sick person went to the tribal witch doctor and was healed there. A powerless gospel is not convincing. I encourage everyone to use signs and wonders, healing and deliverance to manifest God's presence.

Healing, Deliverance, Signs and Wonders are Key to Disciples' Blessings

Brother HF cast out the demons that were stealing his blessings, so he was blessed. If you lack blessings in your life, then the most important thing you need to do is to minister in casting out demons. The more selfish you are, the more you value your little things, the more God will take away from you. Because God wants to expand your borders, God wants you to become a greater blessing. Those among us who actively participate in healing and deliverance are blessed. Healing and deliverance are key to a Christian's blessing. I hope that every brother and sister among us will become mighty warriors of healing and deliverance, manifesting God's power. There is no better blessing to give to people than this.

Signs and wonders, healing and deliverance are the door to church revival and the key to serving this generation. If you want to be a blessing to this generation, you must learn healing and deliverance, which is the most basic blessing. If a person does not have health and lives in pain, even if they have a lot of money, it is useless. Jesus preached the Gospel through healing and deliverance, as did the disciples Paul and Peter. This is to fulfill the words of the prophet Isaiah, He took up our infirmities and bore our diseases (cf. Matthew 8:17). Healing and deliverance restore health and are the first step in restoring a beautiful life. Brothers and sisters, you must emulate Jesus, give generously, give freely. It does not matter if the world is healed but does not come to follow you, God has already blessed them, and perhaps one day they will come back to follow the Lord. We must take the path of healing and deliverance in preaching the Gospel, which is the key to serving this generation. The most critical issue in this generation is healthcare. Bringing Jesus into our lives can solve the problem.

The Bible records that not all who were healed became disciples. You do not need to be stingy for God; God wants to bless this generation very much, whether you are the vessel is critical. Even if these people do not become disciples later, those who performed miracles to heal them have been greatly edified because their faith has been greatly enhanced. Back in Jesus' time, When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick (Matthew 8:16).

This is a very puzzling passage, because many people are not healed today. I hope we have faith in our hearts; God is a faithful God, and His promises are also faithful. He took all our sorrows, and by His wounds we are healed. I give you a suggestion: in the entire healing and deliverance process, faith is a very critical concept. When I pray for the sick with full confidence, they are healed. If you come to me with sickness, I will definitely minister to you with all my strength and ensure that you are healed.

In this world, even one in a million abilities is better than having no ability. I believe that the Holy Spirit in me and in you will continue to grow, and in the future, you can also cast out demons with a word. In practice, we must believe that all who seek will be healed. This sentence must deeply enter your heart and remove the doubts within you. A person was looking for a job, and I led him in Bible study. I said, You are about to find a job. He said, Pastor, you have said this many times, but I still haven't found one. After a while, he still did not find a job because he did not believe. Learn to believe; believing is a very simple thing. I think there must have been people in that generation who were not healed, but why does the Bible record that all were healed? Those who had no faith did not receive it, and that has nothing to do with God. The Bible writes this to give everyone faith.

God's Promises are All Faithful

God's promises are all faithful. If you carefully observe and follow God's words, blessings will come upon you. For many years in the past, I often regretted that I had not been taught that God's promises are faithful and often relied on my own methods. When I first experienced the church, I did not know that God was important; I thought food was important and cooked pot after pot. But I will not do that anymore; we are feeding spiritual food. Jesus said something important: why was it that only Naaman the Syrian was healed in the time of Elisha? Jesus threw this question to that generation and also to us: why are you not healed? Because of people's unbelief. Even if you have blind faith, it is better than not believing. Jesus never criticized blind faith, only criticized unbelief and little faith. We must begin to raise our faith and walk the path of Jesus, and God will surely manifest His omnipotence through you.

The early church was much more backward than our current church. The Bible had not yet appeared, Paul had not yet appeared, and Peter was still a fisherman. He preached powerfully, but a system of teaching had not yet been established. We must learn how to avoid the problems encountered in that era. The first is the issue of teaching and training. If that generation had good teaching and training, I believe the glory that God would have manifested would have been even greater. The Bible they read was not the New Testament Bible that we read; there was no Book of Acts. Now that God has prepared a very good teaching system and training system for us, we must develop more courseware, teach and train at the same time, mold ourselves into elite soldiers of Jesus Christ, and then we can serve more people.

Sister ZX's statement that I will be busier will not come true. I will not be busy, I will become less and less busy, because there will be more and more people serving. That era lacked a teaching system, but we do not lack it today. We have Paul's epistles to teach us and the New Testament Bible to read. God wants to prepare a teaching team among us for systematic teaching. We must build on the foundation that Paul established. Pastor Zhou of Taipei Lingliang Church hopes that their ceiling is our floor.

All the resources of Lingliang Church are open to us. As long as we depart from worldly ways of serving and enter into God's omnipotent service, we will surely do better. We must create a group of elite soldiers of prayer and spiritual warfare among us, which is why I constantly encourage all brothers and sisters to participate in service. I hope that all our brothers and sisters will enter into God and become children of God, rather than consumers of the church. Even if we do not preach here, you can still build a glorious church because we are a serving people. We must all be trained to be healers and demon-casters.

Conclusion: I want that through you and me, all who come to the church will be healed. Authority needs to be used, authority needs to be exercised, and the anointing of healing and deliverance also needs to grow in the practice of healing and deliverance. Everyone must be raised up, even those who are sick must be raised up to serve this generation and manifest God's glory. I believe that our church can change the history of this generation, change people's destinies, and we can become vessels that manifest God's glory. Lay your hands on the sick and they will be healed; this is God's promise.

Do you dare to reach out your hand and not leave until the patient is healed? It seems a little difficult. Do not be afraid; as long as you set your mind on it, the sickness and the evil spirit behind it will surely leave. I thank God that the promises God has given us are so faithful. We must begin to declare that all who come among us will be healed. Not only will they be healed, but they will also become elite soldiers of God's kingdom through our training system. Serve this generation with us, transform this generation, meet people's needs, bless this generation, and let the people of this generation see God's glory because of our service, Amen!

Prayer:

Lord, You want to manifest Your omnipotence and Your grace through the glorious church You have built. Grant this grace of healing to us as well, and do what You did in the time of the Book of Acts also in our time. Lord, let our generation also receive Your glory, let this generation see Your glory because of our service, turn to Your kingdom, and give glory to Your holy name. Lord, there is no other name given under heaven than the name of Jesus Christ by which we can be saved and by which we can be healed. Grant people a heart to seek You, let us manifest Your glory in this generation, let everyone who seeks You be healed. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen!