any people say, "When I ask God for help and believe, I don't see results, why? Should I give up? Should I press in harder to God? What should I do next? I hope to answer these questions for you by building your faith in the Word of God. Healing is for you, pray for God's guidance as you read this article.

Ephesians 3:20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us (NIV)

Never, Ever Give Up

Luke 11:5-10 And He (Jesus) said to them, "Which of you shall have a friend, and go to him at midnight and say to him, 'Friend, lend me three loaves; For a friend of mine has come to me on his journey, and I have nothing to set before him'; And he will answer from within and say, 'Do not trouble me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give to you'? I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs. "So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. (NKJV)

When a person is born again (saved) through repentance and the cleansing of their sin through the blood of Jesus they are forgiven; this moves them into friendship with Jesus. That qualifies them for all the blessings God has to offer. However, even though the man in the story was a friend he had to show perseverance and determination. In return he received as much as he wanted. There is no limit to the blessings of God when we meet His criteria.

Notice the words asks, seeks, and knocks are continuous, on-going acts of faith that God has no choice but to answer because he is bound by his covenant or contract with us through his word, His Holy Bible. These three actions (asking, seeking, and knocking) are not just for salvation and our growth for the wisdom and knowledge of God, but also for great increase in every area of our lives, including healing. Perseverance always pays. I never look at my situation and determine there are "no results". I always find something that seems better. If I can't find something, then I confess something about my situation that will be better because I know that God is working from the inside out and behind the scene. Most times the total result will be the last thing I actually see.

God starts on your situation the moment you pray and believe. If you don't waiver he continues arranging deliverance. Doubt, self-pity and tears only slow the process down or will stop it altogether. Replace self-pity and tears with scriptures, praise and thanksgiving, that will build your faith for your situation. Continuous faith pleases God and produces faster results, be patient, God's timing is not always our timing, so never ever give up till every aspect of the situation is completely resolved.

Mark 11:12-14The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. Then he said to the tree, "May no one ever eat fruit from you again." And his disciples heard him say it.

Mark 11:20-21 In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots. Peter remembered and said to Jesus, "Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!"

Jesus went on to Jerusalem, took care of business and never mentioned the tree again. It was settled for him the tree would die. It withered from the root taking considerable time to be seen above ground. Most of our miracles and healings are brought about in the same way. If the root of a problem is taken care of then the problem can be resolved permanently forever. Sometimes that root involves circumstances in our lives, attitudes, wrong teaching and even other people. Not every healing, miracle or deliverance can be resolved with out foundational work being done first. God is perfect in everything he does and our persistence along with patience allows him to do things the right way.

Jesus Is The Same Today - Imitate Him And Those Like Him

Hebrews 13:7-8 remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. (NIV)

Jesus and his power have never changed. His desire is for you to use his word and his faith to bring blessings and healings into your life and the lives of those around you, just as the disciples did.

3 John 1:11 Beloved, do not imitate evil, but imitate good. He who does good is of God; he who does evil has not seen (discerned or experienced) God... (AMP)

As a child we start by imitating the things our parents do. As we grow we see people that we admire maybe an athlete or an actor and imitate them. Eventually we choose a career and using imitation at times will help us achieve our goals. Imitation is a big part of life and using it to achieve a righteous life is the easiest form of imitation because when you do so, God comes along side you in the form of the Holy Spirit and gives you help and strength to be righteous.

Hebrews 6:9-12 Even though we speak like this, dear friends, we are confident of better things in your case--things that accompany salvation. God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure. We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised. (NIV)

All three of these scriptures are very important because sometimes we feel we don't have enough continuous faith for something. Since we are to walk like Jesus, in love and faith, when a moment of defeat or pain washes over us we are given the right to imitate in thought, actions or speech, any of the faith people in the Bible. This is one way of increasing our faith with actions to please the Lord. Then he will produce what is needed for our deliverance. (For examples of faith people to imitate read in your Bible: Hebrews 11:8-12:3)

Your Healing Was Paid For

1 Peter 2:23-24 When He was reviled and insulted, He did not revile or offer insult in return; [when] He was abused and suffered, He made no threats [of vengeance]; but he trusted [Himself and everything] to Him Who judges fairly (God). He personally bore our sins in His [own] body on the tree [as on an altar and offered Himself on it], that we might die (cease to exist) to sin and live to righteousness. By His wounds you have been healed. (AMP)

Jesus was flogged. The Romans used a whip made of several strips of leather. They embedded, near the ends, pieces of bone and lead. Jewish law limited the number of stripes to a maximum of forty; however, they gave thirty nine in case of a miscount, but no such limitation was recognized by the Romans. Victims of Roman floggings often died. It was the flogging of our Lord that paid for God's promise of healing for our bodies. That's why we must draw close to Jesus and to God's precious word to release the promise of health into our lives. By standing strong in our faith that wonderful promise can work so miraculously for us that even a cold can't take us over. Praise Jesus for what He has done for us.

Healing Is Provided Through The Name Of Jesus

Acts 4:8-10 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders, if we this day are examined concerning a good deed done to an impotent (crippled) man, by what means this man is made whole; be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even in him doth this man stand here before you whole. (ASV)

Jesus has great compassion and love for us. If we worship Him and fall in love with Him, how could he not have mercy on us for the things we need.

Growing In Faith To Believe For Your Miracle

Faith is power to reach God. It is produced in us by the knowledge of the Bible. Through prayer and worship the presence of the Holy Spirit will interpret God's word in our hearts. It will bring to life in us everything we need to increase our lives.

By the power of the Holy Spirit, Jesus was born, lived a holy life and was resurrected after death. Everything he did was so we could have fellowship with God. It was that same Holy Spirit that inspired men to write God's word so we would have standards for that fellowship. Taking Jesus at his word means that you have a dedicated mind, set to knowing that all of God's word is the truth and should be made alive in you. His word has answers and instructions for every situation in life. Therefore, pray that you will receive the knowledge of the Spirit of the Word as you read the Bible and learn God's ways.

2 Corinthians 3:4-6 Such confidence as this is ours through Christ before God. Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant--not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. (NIV)

Knowledge of the Word, with prayer and worship to Jesus Christ for all he has done, releases the Spirit of the Word into our hearts. This process produces acts of obedience, love for others and righteous motives to better our own lives and minister to others. Then everyone's life will result in increase in all areas and bring glory to the Father.

Hebrews 11:6 ...without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. (NIV)

Romans 10: 17 ...faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ. (NIV)

Just as we eat food to build strong bodies everyday, putting God's word into our minds should be done everyday. It builds strong faith. When the word drops into our hearts it becomes part of our spirit, allowing us to express ourselves with the righteousness that Jesus had and that God wants for everyone to have. That faith (which is belief in the promises of the word) releases God's miracle power into our daily lives. It's the best bargain in life. The more you keep your mind and heart filled with the things of God, the more he takes responsibility for your needs and desires. It's great to have someone who can look into the future and bless you with the things that will benefit and please you. God is so good.

If you're in need of a miracle or healing and you lack faith; or you find something in the Bible that you don't understand or quite believe, don't be afraid, God is not upset with you. He wants you to know his ways; His desire is for you to have great working faith. He is so willing to help you. There are two scriptures I always run to when this happens.

James 1:2-5 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. (NIV)

It is most unfortunate that people learn things the hard way, through trials. But perseverance will create maturity in us. Maturity is knowledge and patience developed over continuous growth cycles. It's is good practice to ask God for help in all of our daily situations; then he will always be there to teach us the right things to do.

The other scripture I go to when I need help to believe is the story of a man whose faith was limited; the words of Jesus gave him determination and he received deliverance for his demon possessed son. (See reference #1 - Mark 9:17-29) The boy's father was an honest hearted doubter. He did believe or he would not have brought the boy to Jesus when the disciples failed to deliver him. He didn't hide his disappointment over the situation but was determined to do everything he knew to do. When he said, "If you can do anything" the word "if" expressed the weakness of his faith, but he grabbed the words Jesus "Everything is possible for him who believes" and confessed "I do believe". Then going a step further to boost his faith he asked for more "help me overcome my unbelief!" He had determination and an honest heart. Those two things will always get you through to God.

Take Jesus At His Word

John 4:46-52 He (Jesus) came therefore again unto Cana of Galilee, where he made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman, whose son was sick at Capernaum. When he heard that Jesus was come out of Judea into Galilee, he went unto him, and besought him that he would come down, and heal his son; for he was at the point of death. ...The nobleman saith unto him, Sir, come down ere my child die. Jesus saith unto him, Go thy way; thy son liveth. The man believed the word that Jesus spake unto him, and he went his way. And as he was now going down, his servants met him, saying, that his son lived. So he inquired of them the hour when he began to amend. They said therefore unto him, yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him. (ASV)

Hebrews 6:18 ...it is impossible for God to lie. (ASV)

God speaks to us through his word. Whatever the Bible says, take it as though God is talking with you face to face. The Bible is solid truth, facts from heaven. Sickness and disease is a tool that Satan uses to steal and cheat us of the very life God created us to have. Do what is needed to care for yourself but don't focus on the problem. Focus on what Jesus is going to do for you. Although it's hard to do, especially when you are sick or hurting, it is vital to your deliverance. In the story of the Israelites that were bitten by snakes, they only lived if they focused on the pole with the snake on it that God told Moses to make.

Numbers 21:6-9 Then the Lord sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died. The people came to Moses and said, "We sinned when we spoke against the Lord and against you. Pray that the Lord will take the snakes away from us." So Moses prayed for the people. The Lord said to Moses, "Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live." So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, he lived. (NIV)

Jesus Heals Every Disease

Matthew 4:23-24 And Jesus went about in all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of disease and all manner of sickness among the people. And the report of him went forth into all Syria: and they brought unto him all that were sick, holden with divers diseases and torments, possessed with demons, and epileptic, and palsied; and he healed them. (ASV)

Matthew 14:34-36 And when they had crossed over, they came to the land, unto Gennesaret. And when the men of that place knew him, they sent into all that region round about, and brought unto him all that were sick, and they besought him that they might only touch the border of his garment: and as many as touched were made whole. (ASV)

Don't set it in your mind how Jesus will heal you, just know that he will. He will heal everyone who will just reach out with love for him. So ask for what you need then begin to thank him and honor him for his greatness and what he is doing for you.

Phillipians 4:6 In nothing be anxious; but in everything by prayer and supplication (petition) with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. (ASV)

Now watch for every little thing that says he is moving for you and praise him for it. Some healings come quickly and others take place over a short period of time. So be aware of each little thing that is happening to you. If you feel pain that is your reminder to thank God for what he is doing in you.

Continue to Part 2...