A teaching by Rev. Barbara Williams, President of the Ministry of the Watchman International
Week of December 2-6, 2024
MONDAY
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.
Hebrews 11:6
In approaching God, we must first believe that He is…what? That He is God, alive with all the attributes and capabilities of God. Often we come to this realization little by little. It is impossible to have living faith for all the qualities of God, for we are not aware of what they are. We begin to know God by hearing the word. When the word mixes with our faith, then we can exercise that faith toward God. We must hear, first. Once we have heard, then we must mix the word with our faith. That being done, we then act out our faith, expecting God to honor it by blessing us with the request we have made.
If you are in need of healing, there is good news! Proverbs 4:20-22 SAYS:
My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.
So there is life and health in God’s word. Since God’s word is medicine, we must take it like we would a prescription. I suggest three times a day, like you would your food. Remember, healing is the children’s bread. Consider this your “dose” for today. Remember, read, and meditate three times a day the following:
Rx: Isaiah 53:5 ~ 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.
“Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
2 Timothy 2:15
If you’ve never studied the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, we invite you to join us as we read through the Bible in a year. Read and meditate on these chapters this week:
December 2: 2 Chronicles 1, 1 John 1, Micah 7, Luke 16
December 3: 2 Chronicles 1, 1 John 1, Nahum 1, Luke 17
December 4: 2 Chronicles 2, 1 John 2, Nahum 2, Luke 18
December 5: 2 Chronicles 3-4, 1 John 3, Nahum 3, Luke 19
December 6: 2 Chronicles 5-6:11, 1 John 4, Habakkuk 1, Luke 20
December 7: 2 Chronicles 6:12-42, 1 John 5, Habakkuk 2, Luke 21
December 8: 2 Chronicles 7, 2 John 1, Habakkuk 3, Luke 22
TUESDAY
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.
Hebrews 11:6
In order to expect the request to be honored, we must believe God is able to do what we ask. “Oh, I believe God can do anything!” Really? Well, He cannot lie, nor steal. There are many things that a holy and righteous God cannot do. So how do we know these things? Again, we must know them by faith. Those who came to Jesus to be healed had to believe what He said about Himself in Luke 4:18. He said He was anointed that day to heal the sick through the preaching of the gospel. This defined His ability. He also said He was anointed to set captives free and preach the acceptable year of the Lord. Anybody who came to Him for anything must first have to believe that He was anointed to do these things.
WEDNESDAY
And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.”
Matthew 8:2
The leper said, “Lord you are able.” His faith qualifies him for further consideration from the Lord. Further consideration entails a case study from the Lord. Once the leper had Jesus’ attention, the Lord “studied his case.” The man wanted to know if Jesus were willing. Once this man ascertains that God is able, He finds that He is also willing. This is true about God. When He announces that He is able (anointed) it automatically follows that He is willing. Why is it that the people were unsure about His willingness to heal?
THURSDAY
And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.”
Matthew 8:2
People are not sure God is willing many times due to sin consciousness. When we live in the knowledge of our own unrighteousness, it makes God appear unrighteous, also. To him who is pure all things are pure, but to him who is perverse, all things appear that way also. As we think in our hearts, so are we. We have the ability to project these attributes onto others, as well. Often we are plagued with guilt, fear and unworthiness. This keeps us believing that God is not willing to help us or give us what we want. We may dare to believe that God will bless us, but in a diminished fashion.
FRIDAY
And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.”
Matthew 8:2
But God wants to give us exactly what we want. He created man with full dominion (that is, power and authority) to do all that was in his heart and on his mind to do. Man was not limited in any way. God still desires that for us. He wants our lives to be full of blessing, glory and honor. He wants us to receive exceeding and abundantly beyond all that we ask or think. Believing in His ability must be coupled with believing in His willingness. Only then do we have a true picture of God. Only then does our faith qualify.