An  Invitation into a Relationship 

The most important issue you will ever face in your life pertains to where you will spend eternity. You may wonder how to get to heaven, have your sins forgiven and receive everlasting life. You may have been raised in the church, are a good person and believe in God. You may assume that acceptance by God is based on your own works and effort. What does the Bible say?

– God loves us and does not want any to perish.

“For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life.” Jn 3:16

– Because of sin; we are separated from God. 

“But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear.” Isaiah 59:2

“…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Rom 3:23

– God wants us to be brought back into a right relationship with Him. For this reason, Jesus paid the penalty for our sin when He died upon the Cross.

“But God shows and clearly proves His [own] love for us by the fact that while we were still sinners, Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One) died for us. Therefore, since we are now justified (acquitted, made righteous, and brought into right   relationship with God) by Christ’s blood, how much more [certain is it that] we shall be saved by Him from the indignation and wrath of God.” (Rom 5:8-9)

– Heaven is a free gift, you cannot earn or deserve it. 

 “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Rom 6:23

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the  gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Eph 2:8-9

– We receive God’s gift of eternal life by accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. 

“Because if you acknowledge and confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and in your heart believe (adhere to, trust in, and rely on the truth) that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart a person believes (adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Christ) and so is justified (declared righteous, acceptable to God), and with the mouth he confesses (declares openly and speaks out freely his faith) and confirms [his] salvation.”  Rom 10:9-10

YOU CAN RECEIVE GOD’S FREE GIFT OF ETERNAL LIFE RIGHT NOW.  I encourage you to agree with God’s Word and express your faith toward God by praying the following prayer: “Dear God, I come to You and acknowledge that I am a sinner. I need Your mercy and forgiveness. I turn to You now, and I repent of my sins. I believe that Your Son, Jesus, came to this earth and died on the Cross for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead so that I could receive forgiveness and the gift of eternal life. I accept you, Jesus, as my Savior, and I confess You now as my Lord. Thank you for taking away my sins, for making me Your child, and for placing me in right standing with you. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.” 

Now that you have received Jesus into your life as Lord and Savior, get a Bible and start to read about Him. The Bible is God’s love letter to you. I would suggest starting first by reading the Gospel of John. Next, ask the Holy Spirit to lead you to a place where you can worship and grow in God’s love and His Word with other believers. 

“This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God,

  that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”

Luke 22:32 But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.

1 John 5:3-5 This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. vs4 This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world?  Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

Matthew 9:29 Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you. 

Matthew 8:13 Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you.” And his servant was healed that same hour.

Matthew 15:28 Then Jesus answered and said to her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.

Mark 9:23 Jesus said to him, “If you can believe,  all things are possible to him who believes.” John 6:29 Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.”Gal 2:20-21 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain. 

Gal 3:1-7 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth,before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified?  This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?  Have you suffered so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain?  Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?—  just as Abraham “believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.”  Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham.

Phil 3:9-14 …and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

1 Peter 1:7  So that [the genuineness] of your faith may be tested, [your faith] which is infinitely more precious than the perishable gold which is tested and purified by fire. [This proving of your faith is intended] to redound to [your] praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One) is revealed.

Isaiah 41:10
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Isaiah 53:4-5
Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.

Jeremiah 29:11-13 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.  

Psalm 118:17
I will not die but live, and will proclaim what the LORD has done.

Proverbs 4:20-23
My son, pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to a man’s whole body.

Proverbs 18:14 The spirit of a man will sustain him in sickness,  But who can bear a broken spirit?

Psalm 27:13  I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD In the land of the living.

Psalm 142:5  I cried out to You, O LORD:I said, “You are my refuge, My portion in the land of the living.

Romans 8:11
And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.

Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

Philippians 4:6-7
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

II Timothy 1:7
For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.

Hebrews 10:23
Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.

Hebrews 10:35
So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.

I John 3:21-22
Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from him anything we ask, because we obey his commands and do what pleases him.

III John 2
Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.  

Revelation 12:11
They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.

 1 NOW FAITH is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we] hope for,  being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses].  2For by [faith–trust and holy fervor born of faith] the men of old had divine testimony borne to them and obtained a good report .                                                                                                                                                                                                  

6 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…

32 And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: 33 who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. 35 Women received their dead raised to life again. Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. 36 Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented— 38 of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth. 39 And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, 40 God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.                                                                                                                         

vs.13 For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. 14 For if those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise made of no effect, 15 because the law brings about wrath; for where there is no law there is no transgression.vs 16 Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all 17 (as it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations”  18) in the presence of Him whom he believed—God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did; 18 who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, “So shall your descendants be.” 19 And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. 20 He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, 21 and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. 22 And therefore “it was accounted to him for righteousness.”23 Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him, 24 but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead.  Chap 5:1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” Ps 23:4

In 1983 in my early 20’s, my good friend Paul and I moved from San Diego, California to Tacoma, Washington to start a new Health Bar in a local gym. This is where I met my future wife, Glennis. Both of us were very physically active and would frequently run and exercise together. We soon fell in love, and were married in 1984. Glennis already had a son and we were soon to have a daughter. By 1991, our family was complete with 4 very active kids. In 1986, we started a Mobile Upholstery Company, which we still own and operate today. We were both believers in Christ, Glennis making a profession of salvation in 1982, and myself in 1977 in my home state of Wisconsin.

After attending a few different churches, we were led in 1988 to the one we still attend. We became very involved, participating and growing in our knowledge of Christ and a love of His Word and the lost. Life was in full swing with an active family, church and business. In late 1995, I noticed my index finger starting to twitch, and I couldn’t write as well as I use to. I began to lose strength in my right arm and couldn’t play sports as I knew I could. I attributed this weakness to needing more strength training, but by the summer of 1997 I could no longer ignore going to the doctor. After seeing my General Practitioner that summer, she said I could have anything from a pinched nerve to Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, and we would need to do further tests; I began to worry. My condition didn’t improve, so I thought the worse. We researched what ALS was; it is a disease of progressive muscle wasting that leads to a quick death in 2-5 years, with no cure and no hope. I buried this information away in my brain, until November 1997. This is when Glennis and I had our second meeting with a neurologist, who concluded after only 2 tests and a physical examination, that I had ALS. I refused to believe him, and would not listen when he said I was in denial. I knew God could heal me, but my faith would surely be tested.

As we left the office, a dark cloud hovered over our heads. I could envision Satan standing above me as I was clinging unto the sides of a dark pit. He was gleefully laughing at me in my despair saying to me in a mocking tone, “where is your God now Mr. Faith?” My wife and I wept and prayed together in the parking lot, and decided I should see our Pastor for prayer. He met with me and wept with me. Then gave me a verse, Rm 4:18 “Against all hope Abraham believed in hope” He then said he would have the whole church pray for me and my family that evening at church service. The congregation believed God for my healing that night and countless other times, but physical healing had yet to come, in fact I got worse. I saw several more neurologists who all confirmed the same diagnosis and the same clinical callousness. Leaving me hopeless and discouraging me from believing I would ever be healed. One of the neurologists said that people like me live in a fantasy-land to believe that the motor neurons that controlled my muscles could regenerate. I told him God could heal me and that I believed that I would raise my arms again, he mockingly told me that I could believe whatever I wanted. I left that appointment totally without hope for anything the neurologists could do for me. I continued to listen to messages on faith, encourage myself in Gods Word constantly. Because of the muscle wasting and the intense battle in my mind, projections of death and depression were always lingering, every time I looked into a mirror, more and more of my body would disappear.

In March 1998, while visiting Arizona, one night, Jesus appeared to me in a vision or dream, I could not tell. He told me that my healing had already begun and asked me three separate times where I would like to serve Him; hesitantly I said Phoenix, Arizona. This vision greatly encouraged me, and I set out immediately, in my own strength, to fulfill how I was to share the Gospel in Arizona with a healthy body. For the next 7 years I would seek out any alternative healing that was promising which I could find. After all, God had assured me I would be healed and serving Him in Arizona. My wife and I spent thousands of dollars and traveled to Mexico 3 times, Canada, California, Nevada, and Arizona. We were determined that it was God’s mind for me to get better and we weren’t sure which method God would choose to bless, we prayed that God would go before us, give us wisdom and direction but my body continued to worsen. We were reminded that “the trying of our faith works patience” (Ja 1:3) “… and in tribulations there is a work of patience; and in patience there becomes experience; and through experience we have hope. and hope makes me not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit which is given unto us.” Rom 5:3 -5 My faith grew stronger and stronger as I believed God to do the work

In 2005, my body became so weak, that I could barely eat food without choking, breathing was difficult, my speech became gargled, and my neck and arm muscles were basically gone. I looked a pathetic, and was down to 120lbs. I needed intervention or I would die. I continued to believe God would heal me, the only words I heard in my spirit were “choose life”. After much prayer and soul searching, I decided to get a feeding tube, bi-pap machine, custom neck brace, and to use a wheelchair. My wife had already been urging me to go forward with these tools. God used these provisions to strengthen my body, and my weight climbed back up to 150lbs, and I became less dependent on a wheelchair since being a little stronger through better nutrition and the use of my custom neck brace.

In 2006, God began taking me to deeper places of inner spiritual healing rather than physical. He revealed to me how selfish I was and how I could never fulfill his promise to me through my human effort. I gave up trying to sustain my own life and said to God that I was ready to die. He reminded me how valuable my life was, and if I would choose to live He would use me to reach thousands and thousands of souls. He simply wanted me to trust in Him alone as the object of my faith… I had to learn that trust was the avenue God would use to reveal His love for me. My body was not my own, it was for the Lord’s use and He would have the ultimately responsibility to keep me alive. Healing has never been an issue with God, he has assured me numerous times that my healing has already begun and will physically manifest in His time not mine where He will get all the Glory. I no longer need to be occupied with healing; I need to be occupied with my Savior, the lover of my soul. The daily struggles remain, but as I grow in my love towards Christ, I rejoice that He allows me to go through them with Him.

In 2007, God impressed upon my heart to start a web page to encourage anyone that maybe facing hardship, trials or a hopeless situation. DEATH VALLEY PROMISES* are assurances that God gives to anyone seeking him in the midst of adversity. They begin when we let go of our sorrow or pain, giving them to God and allowing Him to love us through our adversity. Letting go of our human understanding is not always so easy, in fact it’s impossible without the Holy Spirit. When we chose to allow God to be in control of our lives, we are saying, “God you’re the only answer I have, you’re the only option I have, I give up!” He is always there for us, waiting for us to let go of our ways and give them to Him. When we give Him all of our pain and sorrow, he does something wonderful; he floods us with waves of love. He reassures us that in His love we are secure, and His promises are true. We exchange our damaged, battered and broken lives for his perfect plan for our life. Our attachment to the priorities and the things of this world dissipate as we get to know His great love toward us…this is where true healing begins. Your journey may take months or years, but once you find His peace in the valley, death no longer has power over you, and time no longer controls you. As you begin to experience the comfort of His love in your valley, you will find your healing and purpose. Others will see God at work in you, as you become conformed to His image and His plan begins to unfold. God will give anyone that is seeking, unique promises to encourage their faith and trust in Him.

In March 1998 Glennis and I flew to Phoenix, Arizona for a few days to enjoy some quality time together and to see many of the State’s attractions. Our last night was spent at a bed and breakfast in Sedona after enjoying the day at Grand Canyon, we were exhausted and ready for some much needed sleep. Glennis immediately fell asleep; I remained awake although I was just as exhausted. As I lay awake on our bed I began to see dark hooded silhouette figures all around the room. I tried to get a clearer view of them, but as soon as I attempted to focus on their faces, they would disappear, as if into another dimension. This alarmed me enough to wake my wife for prayer. After a short prayer I soon fell asleep only to be awakened around 2 am by a loud evil noise coming from where I thought was behind the bed. I turned the nightlight on and looked at Glennis wondering if she also heard the noise. The light woke her from sound sleep and with a groggy voice she asked me if everything was OK?  I said, “Yes”, not wanting to startle her, and then I said lets pray. After another short prayer Glennis was fast asleep, so I turned the light off.

As I lay still in bed the noise came back even louder and more intense. I knew I was under a spiritual attack  Eph 6:12 “For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the despotism’s, against the powers, against [the master spirits who are] the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere”  I began to sing praise songs and quote scriptures out loud, Eph 5:19 “Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord..”  One verse I remember, “they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony and loved not their lives unto death” Rev. 12:11. Every time I said “Blood” a loud evil shrieking hiss would sound.

This intense spiritual warfare continued for what seemed like a long time. Then, suddenly Jesus appeared right next to me on my bed. I knew Him to be Jesus because I was instantly overcome by His love. I felt accepted not judged or condemned.  1Jn 4:18 “There is no fear in love [dread does not exist], but full-grown (complete, perfect) love ^[g]turns fear out of doors and expels every trace of terror! For fear ^[h]brings with it the thought of punishment, and [so] he who is afraid has not reached the full maturity of love [is not yet grown into love’s complete perfection].”  His love was beyond words to describe, all I knew was I didn’t want Him to leave. At this point I wasn’t sure if I was in my body or not, I only cared about being in His presence. Then Jesus, with eyes of indescribable tender compassion, asked me, by thought not words, “What is it that you want?” Before I answered, I knew He knew my answer, but wanted me to speak it. I answered, “I want to be healed”. He responded in thought, “Your healing has already begun” His response was so quick and with such authority, that it took away all my fears away concerning my symptoms of a nerve disorder that the neurologists had diagnosed me with a few months earlier in 1997. These doctors said I had a progressive muscle wasting disease called A.L.S. which there was no hope of a cure for and I would die in 2-5 years. I never believed them and said that God can heal me.

As I was trying to grasp how this could happen, He asked another question by thought not words, “Is there anything else?” I responded, “I just want to serve you Jesus.” He said,” Where?” I thought wherever you want me to Lord, you already know. He again said, “Where”? I thought wherever I can reach the most souls. He again said, “Where?” Because the Lord had to ask me the same question three times, my spirit grieved within me. I knew I could not continue to repeat myself with the same type of general statements I had made before. Then suddenly my spirit understood that Jesus was referring to a physical location. As soon as I had this revelation in my spirit then Phoenix, Arizona came into my thoughts and I answered His question. I do not know why I said Phoenix, Arizona, but He seemed happy with my answer and gave an expression of agreement. I was perplexed with His answer and thought (why was He so persistent with my answer to a location for serving Him, rather then on my first request for healing? If He was only talking about spiritual healing then there would be no point in asking me about a physical location 1800 miles from my home.) I thought that somehow Arizona would be part of my physical healing or future service in some way. I just didn’t understand when or how.

These thoughts were being processed as quickly as the Lords questions to me. He again asked if I had other requests. My Savior was giving me His full attention; my sense of time was lost in the moment. I was in fellowship and communion with the God of the Universe. I then asked for family members and others to be saved and healed, His expression to me was that of agreement. I later began to consider how precious our time together was and how He had allowed me to sit with Him on my bed. This exchange between us had continued all night. When morning came I found myself eager to tell Glennis all about my visit with Jesus.

This interaction that I had with my Lord has made a lasting impression on my soul. It has continued to inspire me with a future hope and purpose for my life. Countless times I have been brought back to the personalness and love that washed over me during a very difficult time. Although, many loving and dear friends wanted to comfort and believe for me, there was a timidity of not knowing how things could possibly work out given the power of the pronounced diagnosis. At times especially early on, it seemed like no one believed that God personally visited me and that I could be healed, but God would always reassure me that my healing had already begun and to not walk by sight but by faith.

Jesus is empathic with our needs and identifies with our sorrow and pain. Just as He met me in a desperate hour of my life, He wants to meet you in your hour of need and give you a promise in His Word that no one can take away.

My wife and I were compelled to fly to Phoenix for three days; trusting God by faith to receive the promise of healing given to me almost 10 years ago in Arizona. We were to meet friends there and had some ideas for the weekend but no agenda of what we were going to do apart from walking by faith the direction the Spirit would lead us. Many things happened before we left and while we were there that brought a sense of great purpose to our trip. We were stepping out in active faith taking to go, despite not having traveled on an airplane for over 4 years. We undertook the risk, stress and hard work to take this journey, not knowing how my stamina would hold up. God had something, we hadn’t been able to shake this thought of going to a physical location with expectation to receive by faith whatever God wanted to impress and work in our lives. It sounded crazy, but still having life after these years with this disease I didn’t care anymore about being peculiar, I’m not afraid to dream with God. While we were there we met up with friends and were invited to two church services. I was prayed over for healing, which by faith I continue to receive. After I returned from the trip the devil whispered in my ear the very next morning, “You’re not healed, look at the mirror!” The Holy Spirit challenged me in my spirit saying, “Scott this is your true test, will you believe my Word that says I am actively healing you or believe the god of this world who operates by sight evidence?” Right then, in that moment, I had to again make the choice to either believe God and His people that were filled with faith or to believe what I would see in a mirror. I determined by God’s grace not to believe the lying discouraging spirit but instead to believe God. Proverbs 18:14 the spirit of a man will sustain him in sickness, But who can bear a broken spirit? Every day now, my wife takes off my brace and I walk short distances while she confesses Gods promises of life to me.

“who gives life to the dead and speaks of the nonexistent things that [He has foretold and promised] as if they [already] existed“Rm 4:17b. 

 We know there will be challenges ahead but our God has overcome every one of them through His complete Finished Work on the Cross. I choose to believe, embrace His promises to me, confess their authority over my situation and act on His leading; so that by faith my healing will be transferred from heaven into existence.

God gave me a dream just a few days after we returned. In the dream I was given an object that looked something like a butterfly and I was told to write Mark 2:4 on one of it’s wings which appeared transparent to me, and Mark 2:4-17 on its other wing. After I woke, these scriptures stayed with me until Glennis could get me up from my recliner bed and over to my computer so I could look them up on my computer. To my great delight it was the scripture on the paralytic man’s healing after being lowered through the roof of Peter’s house by his friends so he could be near Jesus. Jesus seeing their faith said, “Thy sins are forgiven thee… take up your bed and walk.”

This sick paralytic man could not have gotten to the place of healing unless someone else carried him on his bed there. I am sure that these friends not only carried his bed and raised the roof for him but also were praying and fasting for him to be healed. When Jesus saw their faith, which was an active confidence in God believing He could and would heal, He forgave the man and healed him by commanding the man to rise up from the place of sickness and to take up his sleeping pad and go home. I’m thankful for dear friends who likewise carried my sleeping pad, fasted, washed my feet, and never doubted God, stating that they would raise the roof for me. They stood shoulder to shoulder with me in faith. I’m reminded of how Jesus told the man sick with the palsy to take up his bed and return home a healed man and how similarly I flew home Monday night with Glennis, with my sleeping pad; also a healed man.

“For whatever is born of God is victorious over the world; and this is the victory that conquers the world, even our faith” 1 Jn 5:4. 

The victory that conquers the world is our faith. Faith is believing God for something future, that cannot be experienced by our five senses now. Faith is the only thing that pleases God. It is simple trust and confidence in God. Being fully satisfied and assured that God is mighty and able to keep His Word and do what He promises. Faith empowers us to grow strong as we give Him praise and glory for His promises.

Unbelief and distrust cause us to waver, doubt, and question God which will result in the weakening of our faith and will eventually lead to death. Satan wants to sift and wear out our faith so we will have no victory or testimony in the world. He accomplishes this by arguing or contending with our spirit in the courtroom of our soul. If he can convince us through sight evidence that the promises of God are not true because of the lack of any visible proof, then we willingly forfeit any victory that God had planned for us.