The Deaf & Dumb Spirit

Faith Is Key

Hebrews 11:39 say, "And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised."

Many have allowed their circumstance to wound their faith. The kind of faith that God wants to give us is Hebrews chapter 11 faith. Perseverance means to never quit, and to refuse discouragement and disappointment and to believe God. We need to base our whole life on the word of God, though there are so many circumstances we have and will walk through that seem to oppose and contradict the word of God. His word is prosperous and successful and will not return to Him void (Isaiah 55:11).

God is God. He is not a liar. He is not slack concerning His promise, regardless of what I have or have not seen; regardless of how successful I have or have not been in the healing ministry. If I pray for a thousand and they are not healed, I will pray for another thousand. Faith and perseverance work together. Many died not yet receiving the promise. Some of us need to purpose in our heart if we are going to commit ourselves to the spirit of faith.

God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6). Commit regardless of success or failure to be a "word man" until I die, whether I see God do what I think He's going to do or not, or what I believe He promised was going to do. I am not going to be moved by what I feel or think. I am going to believe the Bible.

How long am I going to believe the Bible? How many times am I going to get prayed for when I am sick? I'm not healed yet, so I am going to keep on asking, keep on seeking, keep on knocking until the door is opened (Matthew 7:7-8). How long? Until I am healed. Regardless of how many people I have seen die of sickness, my successes or my failures, I am not going to let that be the basis of my theology. Persevere.

Let past failures be used as strength to push you into the ministry of Jesus Christ, and strengthen you to war against the author of sin, sickness, disease and death (John 10:10). Satan is the god of this world.

The devil is the source of our pain, torment and anger. Let's let our disappointment, discouragement, and failure be fueled to the fire to take it out on him -- not our God. Believe God, regardless of what you walk through. God is true. 1 John 3:8 says, "The Son of God appeared for this purpose, that he might destroy the works of the devil." Acts 10:38 says, "...Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil; for God was with Him."

The Stronghold Of Unbelief In North America

There was a revival in a city in the gospels, called Capernaum. Capernaum was the international headquarters for the ministry of Jesus Christ, a hub for signs and wonders. If you read what God did in the gospels in Capernaum, you will find more miracles, healings, signs and wonders than just about anywhere else. In fact, great multitudes came to hear the word and be healed. He cast out devils with the word and healed all who were sick. He raised Jairus' dead daughter, healed woman with the issue of the blood, and healed the paralytic in Mark 2. Matthew 8:16. All these miracles took place in Capernaum.

Immediately we are taken from this city of revival to Nazareth, and the Bible declares "and He could do no mighty miracles because of their unbelief" (Matthew 13:58).

What happened in this city? It did not have anything to do with Jesus or His anointing. It had nothing to do with the will of God or the faith of Jesus. Nothing changed concerning Jesus. He wanted to do in Nazareth what He did in Capernaum. He wanted to heal all the sick. His message, will, power and anointing never changed.

There was an open heaven in Capernaum, and in Nazareth it says "He could do no miracles!" It was not that He did not want to, but He could do no mighty miracles. Something was limiting the manifestation of the power of God, and it was corporate unbelief -- corporate unbelief in the hearts of leaders and those who were in the city hindered habitation. He came in and laid His hands on a few sick and healed them. I believe that there were more people who wanted to be healed. I do not believe that everyone was in unbelief. But, because there was so much unbelief in the city, He could do no mighty miracles.

I believe corporate unbelief in North America and the Westernized nations hinders God's manifestation of miracle healing power. We need the change of a spiritual climate. It was not more faith, fasting, power, better preaching, praying for the sick longer, more healing teams, or extended meetings that God wanted to do in Nazareth. The key was overcoming the stronghold that ruled over a city. It can rule over a life, a church, a city, a region, and a nation.

I have been to one church and had open miracles, signs and wonders and went down the road to another church and the heavens were closed there. No one would get healed except maybe one or two people. The heavens can be opened or closed according to corporate faith or unbelief. Ultimately, we want to see an open heaven over America and the Westernized Church. The only way we are going to see it happen is by combating and warring against the stronghold that is ruling in the air over a city or nation. In America, that stronghold is what we see in Nazareth and it is called unbelief. God wants to make us a Capernaum. We need to overcome the stronghold of unbelief, which works with a deaf and dumb spirit.