Men Say No, God Says Yes

When I woke up this morning and looked at my phone, a blog that I had written, “Believing is the Ultimate Power”, was staring back at me.

The LORD is speaking to me as I am being told no by men. Or limited.

Whether it is regarding credit applications and other requests. Even those that are computer-generated.

But I feel as if the LORD is showing me that implicit bias is also a factor. As He admonishes me to remain steadfast in faith.

I am reading in the book of Acts. To give some background, Satan was aware of who Peter would become.

Know Who You Are in God

“Simon, Simon (Peter), listen Satan has demanded permission to sift [all of] you like grain; but I have prayed [especially] for you [Peter], that your [faith and confidence in Me] may not fail; and you, once you have turned back again [to Me], strengthen and support your brothers [in the faith]” Luke 22: 31-32, AMP).

Peter’s faith was strong at that moment. He promised that he would go to prison and even die for Him.

Jesus knew all. He knew that when the time came, Peter would deny that he even knew Him.

We have all the faith in the world until the trials and tribulations are actually upon us. But when he did not give up on God, he was able to reach insurmountable heights in power and favor. Please pay attention!

You Will Be Hated

“At the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders (attesting miracles) were continually taking place among the people. And by common consent they all met together [at the temple] in [the covered porch called] Solomon’s portico.

“But none of the rest [of the people, the non-believers] dared to associate with them; however, the people were holding them in high esteem and were speaking highly of them” (Acts 5: 12-13, AMP).

They were being rejected by the world. Who still had to acknowledge that their supernatural occurrences were of God. Yet, they were esteemed and growing in power.

Meditate on these scriptures as I confirm that many want to be healed. But not made whole. Wanting the power of the Holy Ghost without suffering, adversity, and persecution.

Speak And It Shall Be Done

“More and more believers in the Lord, crowds of men and women, were constantly being added to this number, to such an extent that they even carried their sick out into the streets and put them on cots and sleeping pads, so that when Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on one of them [with healing power]” (Acts 5: 14-15, AMP).

I digress for a moment because I believe in the healing power of Jesus. And because of my profession, I must touch people often. But by the wisdom of the Holy Ghost, as I pray in the Spirit, I ask for His restorative authority without having to lay my hands on people. Unless given unction by the Spirit.

Let me confirm this. First pay attention that Peter was healing many without laying hands on them at all. And here is a profound correlation of why the Spirit has led me to pray this way.

Touch Not the Unclean Thing

“And the people from the towns in the vicinity of Jerusalem were coming together, bringing the sick and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were being healed” (Acts 5: 16, AMP).

And again. Remember how Paul cast the unclean spirit out of the woman?

“And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying: The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation.

“And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour” (Acts 16: 16-18, KJV).

As I have said before, the Holy Ghost is the chief of all spirits. And Jesus even warned that some come out only by fasting and prayer. Yet even in the flesh (as a man) all times He commanded them, and they obeyed.

Test the Spirits

The Spirit made me aware in my youth that you don’t just go around laying hands on people or allowing them to lay hands on you. Particularly while praying. Test the spirits.

Let me give you one more precedent as I move on. “God was doing extraordinary and unusual miracles by the hands of Paul, so that even handkerchiefs or face-towels or aprons that had touched his skin were brought to the sick, and their disease left them and the evil spirits came out [of them]. Then some of the traveling Jewish exorcists also attempted to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, I implore you and solemnly command you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches.

“Seven sons of one [named] Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. But the evil spirit retorted, ‘I know and recognize and acknowledge Jesus, and I know about Paul, but as for you, who are you?'” (Acts 19: 11-15, AMP).

Not By Might, Nor by Power

Remember, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” Ephesians 6: 12, AMP).

So, we must aspire to have faith at this level! Knowing these last two testaments of the Word of the LORD.

1) “And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; so he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open” (Isaiah 22: 22, KJV).

And 2) and finally, “I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and has kept My word, and hast not denied My name” (Revelation 3: 8, KJV).

Because when I am weak, he is strong! Always coming from a place of love and in truth.

Originally written on September 24, 2023.