Healing and the Atonement: Introduction

By Hazel Holland

When the question is asked, "Is healing provided in the atonement?" the answer we are essentially asking is, “Is physical healing guaranteed in this life as a result of God’s saving work for us through Jesus Christ's life, death and resurrection in the same way that spiritual healing is guaranteed?”

We know that Jesus Christ came to save and deliver us from our sins, but does His atonement also deliver us from our sicknesses—now? Is physical healing from disease promised in this life when we pray for people in the same way that spiritual healing is?

What prompted me to begin this study on healing was seeing many friends die from cancer over the past seven or eight years. In spite of the fact that they all received the best medical treatment, along with much healing prayer from many members of the body of Christ, they all went to be with the Lord.

One of the things that troubled me the most as I watched these friends suffer was hearing other brothers and sisters prophesy over them that the Lord was going to heal them, because it was His will that they live and not die. The same “healing” Scriptures were repeatedly quoted to support their prophetic words. They sincerely believed that they just had to speak the healing word and my friends would be healed. They adamantly reasoned that God does not want us to be sick.

For years I agonizingly watched as some of these friends became very discouraged as the healing word they received didn’t stop the spread of cancer in their bodies. Although prayer seemed to encourage them to trust in God’s love and rest in His faithfulness, it didn’t restore their sick bodies back to health as the word of faith proponents promised.

In spite of seeing no physical healing manifest in her body one of my friends continued to believe right up to the very end that she would be healed. She truly believed that “by His wounds she had been healed!” “I’m just waiting for the healing to manifest,” she explained “because physical healing for my cancer has been provided for me in the atonement!

I remember another one of my friends grieving over what she supposed was her inadequate faith to be healed. She kept striving to muster up more faith, or be touched by the “right” anointed person. When physical healing did not happen after many months and then stretched into a couple of years of praying and running to get in various healing lines, she eventually became seriously depressed and wondered why God didn’t answer the many prayers of faith that had been offered up on her behalf.

As she began to question God’s love for her I began to question the biblical soundness of some of the faith-healing teachings. Since God wasn’t answering our prayers of faith in the way we wanted, I began to question if we rightly understood the “healing” Scriptures that we had been encouraged to claim by our word of faith friends.

Although so many of us longed to see physical healing manifest in the here and now, all my friends eventually died. But it certainly wasn’t because of any lack of faith or cherished sin on anyone’s part that prevented God from answering our prayers.

So I had to ask myself some difficult questions as I began this study on healing. Hopefully, as we search for a more biblical understanding of the healing that has been provided for us in the atonement, we will find answers to the questions listed below. I will try to discuss them in the order they are presented.

1. Have we inadvertently been violating one of the primary rules of biblical interpretation by taking “healing” Scriptures out of their context, and in so doing have misinterpreted the type of “healing” being promised?

2. What is the primary difference between sin and sickness?

3. Is faith in Jesus Christ always a condition for our healing, and if so, is there a certain degree of faith required on our part in order for God to heal us?

4. Does God sometimes say, “No” to physical healing?

5. Have we also misunderstood the dual application of some healing passages by believing that physical healing is always guaranteed here and now when in reality it is only guaranteed at the final resurrection of the righteous?

6. What is the Biblical relationship between healing and suffering?

7. Is the “Prosperity Gospel" found in the atonement?

8. Have we misunderstood the “greater works” prophecy of Jesus by thinking He was primarily speaking of miraculous signs and physical healings?

9. Have we failed to understand the primary focus of the Great Commission by majoring on the “signs that will follow those who believe” instead of the preaching of the Good News of salvation?

In order to answer these questions we will look at some familiar “healing” Scriptures in their context in order to see what the Word of God has to say about the subject of healing and the atonement. I believe it is crucial as we begin this study that we recognize that God’s reconciling work for us on the cross is grounded on His unconditional love for us and His sovereign knowledge of our desperate human need.

* To continue this study go to Chapter 1: Healing Scriptures

He Who Does the Will of My Father

By Hazel Holland

As I finished reading the Parable of the Sower in Mark 4:3-9, this familiar phrase of Jesus at the close of the parable caught my attention. “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” I was reminded that the seven letters to the seven churches in Revelation each end with that same familiar phrase. “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” Obviously then what is being taught by Jesus in this parable is important. He desires that we grasp the significance of His parabolic teaching.

Later when Jesus was alone, the disciples came to Him wanting to understand the meaning behind this parable that He had spoken to the large crowds that day. They had ears that wanted to hear. He told them, “The secret of the kingdom has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables so that, ‘they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding…’” (Mark 4:11-12).

Then Jesus asked them, “Don’t you understand this parable? How then will you understand any parable?” (Mark 4:13). He then began to explain to them the meaning of the seed that fell by the wayside, on stony ground, among thorns, and on good ground. He told them that the seed represented the word of God and that the ground represented people’s hearts (Mark 4:14-20).


The Secret of the Kingdom

So what is the “secret of the kingdom” that this parable reveals that was not only given to the disciples, but has also been given to us? What is the parabolic teaching that Jesus wants us to hear and understand? In fact Jesus seems to be saying that without an understanding of this parable we will not be able to rightly discern the hidden meaning behind His other parables.

The point that Jesus is making here in this parable is that there are different types of ground (hearts) upon which the gospel seed falls. But only the good ground (prepared heart) receives the gospel seed and produces a lasting harvest. The soil of the good ground (heart) is called “good” because it has already been plowed up by the work of the Holy Spirit in order to break up any hard ground and make it soft and ready to receive the gospel seed.

In other words, Jesus is teaching in this parable that when the gospel is preached there will be true conversions resulting from hearts that have been prepared by the work of the Holy Spirit, and false conversions that have not been prepared by the work of the Holy Spirit. Evidently, the fruit of a lasting harvest distinguishes the true from the false.

As I thought about this principle of true and false converts being alongside each other in the church, the light began to dawn about what Jesus taught in other parables about the kingdom of God. Parables such as, the wheat and the tares (Matthew 13:24-30), the wise and the foolish virgins (Matthew 25:1-13), the sheep and the goats (Matthew 25:31-46), and the parable of the dragnet (Matthew 13:47-51), all teach that the true and the false remain together until the Day of Judgment.

Apparently false believers have a degree of spirituality about them so that they are not easily recognized for what they truly are. Clearly, none of the disciples suspected Judas would betray Jesus. Instead they suspected themselves! “Lord, is it I?” they each asked.

So it seems to me that the thrust of Jesus’ message in His parables is to challenge us as believers to honestly examine our own hearts in order to make sure we are continuing to walk in the way of the Master. Are we the “good soil” that produces a fruitful harvest? Are we wheat and not tares? Are we the wise and not foolish virgins? Are we sheep and not goats? Does our profession of faith reveal that we not only know Him, but more importantly, does He know us?

Recognized by Our Fruit

Scripture teaches us that God knows us because He recognizes us by our fruit—the fruit of obedience. In the same way we will recognize those who know Him by their fruit. A good tree produces good fruit, but a bad tree produces bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit anymore than a bad tree can bear good fruit (Matthew 7:17-18).

Furthermore, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evil-doers (literally means you who practice lawlessness)!’” (Matthew 7:21-23).

Listen to what Jesus will say to many people on that day. “Although you healed the sick, and you cast out demons, and you did many mighty miracles in My name, I NEVER knew you! Although you professed to know Me, I NEVER knew you because you did not do the will of my Father! Therefore, you cannot enter My kingdom. Depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!”

How tragic! How could this possibly happen? Apparently the list of “good works” that the many people performed is not the good fruit that Christ or the Father are looking for! These people cannot enter the kingdom, because Jesus did not know them because they did not do the will of the Father!

So if I understand this passage of Scripture correctly, it becomes vital that we understand how to do the will of the Father. What obedience is the Father looking for that will give us entrance into His kingdom? Usually I have stopped reading with verse 23, but today I continued to read the next few verses and discovered the answer as to why “many” people will be barred from entering the kingdom of heaven on that day.

I Never Knew You

Notice that the very next word in verse 24 says, “Therefore…” That means we are going to get an answer as to why many people who say, “Lord, we did this… and we did that… in Your name” will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Instead they will be told to depart from Christ because He never knew them.

“Therefore, everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall because it has its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash” (Matthew 7:24-27).

Aren’t these verses telling us that Jesus is the Rock upon which we must build our house of faith? Only if our house of faith has its foundation on the Rock—Jesus Christ…only if we are grounded securely in Him, will we be able to withstand the winds of adversity and the flood of overwhelming deception that is coming upon the earth to deceive those who do not have the Father’s name written on their foreheads. (See Revelation 14:1). The Scriptures tell us that everything that can be shaken will be shaken so that what cannot be shaken may remain (Hebrews 12:26-27). We may and indeed must remain in Him—our Rock!

God wants our faith firmly rooted and grounded in Jesus Christ. For it is Jesus’ finished good work that God is looking at—not our good works. Because the Scriptures tell us that even our good works—even our righteousness is still filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6)! Our confidence and hope must be in Him—not in ourselves!

Hence, it appears to me that the “many” who will say to God on that day, “Lord we did all these wonderful things in your name” have not built their house of faith on the righteousness of the Rock—Jesus Christ, but rather on their own righteous accomplishments (sand). Tragically they proudly believe that their good works (sand) have some merit that will entitle them to an entrance into the kingdom of heaven.

Christ’s Good Work Alone

In essence, the Father will say to the “many” who hold up their good works as a ticket to enter the kingdom of heaven, “No! Only those who do My will have the ticket that entitles them to enter My kingdom. And what is My will? What must you do to do the works I require?

You must believe in the One I sent (John 6:28-29). For My will is that all those who enter My Kingdom will trust only in My Son’s righteousness—not their own. For it is my Son’s perfect obedience—My Son’s good work that fulfills the demands of the Law.”

“Your prophesying, your casting out demons, and your performing of many miracles are not the good works that can ever fulfill the demands of the Law, because the Law demands perfect righteousness. You have not attained what I require. You have falsely believed that your righteousness—your good works have some merit that would gain you an entrance into My kingdom.”

“By your erroneous beliefs you have trodden underfoot the blood of the covenant. You have trodden underfoot My Son—the ONLY righteousness that I freely provided for you in the atonement (Heb.10:28-29). You proudly thought that your good works could be added to My Son’s good work. But your good works that you offer Me are nothing more than filthy rags that are an offense to My nostrils!”

“Sadly you stand naked before Me in your own righteousness instead of My Son’s (Revelation 3:16-17). You failed to obey My will by placing your faith in My One and Only Son—The Rock that cannot be shaken! You are a lawbreaker because your “good” works do not fulfill the demands of the Law. Therefore you are an evil-doer—one who practices lawlessness, and I must cast you away from My presence…”

And the many houses that were built on sand fell with a great crash. And there was much weeping and gnashing of teeth. He, who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit is saying to the church!

The Rock is Forever

"My beloved children, this is the hour when everything that can be shaken will be shaken (Hebrews 12:26-28). I would remind you that these days were prophesied about long ago."

“These are the days of Elijah”, not because you (would-be "Elijah’s") are performing more "signs and wonders" in My name, but rather because these are the days when there is increased lawlessness, not merely in the world, but more importantly in the church."

"These are the days to stand up and cry out in repentance! All your flesh—all your works must fade away and fall to the ground like the grass and flowers of the field (Isaiah 40:8). This is the time to let go of trusting in your good works. For only the work of the Son of God abides forever. All the sand is washed away, but The Rock is forever!"
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This post can be considered as "Part 2"of the post I wrote earlier...  He Who Has An Ear to Hear...

Also several years ago Yoko (Ramone's wife) had some 'apocalyptic' visions about being weighed on the scales. Specifically, the "rock" vs. "sand" parable in Matthew that I have written about seems to be exactly what she saw! The pictures can be seen here.

Ears that Hear what the Spirit of Truth is Saying to the Church...

By Hazel Holland

It has been a couple of months now since I posted anything on my blogs. Breaking my toe slowed me down tremendously. Adjusting to life with crutches and a wheelchair while trying to take care of my "adopted" mom who has Alzheimer's was quite a challenge. Thankfully the worst is over now, and I'm slowly getting back to writing and painting what I sense is on God's heart...

My mind was restless last night as I tried to grapple with what I have seen and read online over the past couple of weeks regarding the healing revival that is breaking out in Florida. I was equally concerned with the many ministries and well known “prophetic” people (in the charismatic movement) who appear to be giving their total support to the “supernatural” events happening in the Lakeland Revival led by Todd Bentley.

Those of you who know me know that I am not against supernatural manifestations that have their source in the Holy Spirit of God, and I am not against divine healing. But last night I was troubled in my spirit as I watched this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGCTMEoifqQ&feature=related on Youtube. I continued to toss and turn until five o'clock this morning.

To be quite frank and blunt, I received a strong witness in my spirit that there is a mixture of spirits in what I witnessed online here. I have great concern that the Holy Spirit is NOT behind this kind of stuff. I believe this is opening up the door to spiritual deception!

I have had reservations and discomfort about some of Bob Jones' and Patricia King's teachings for awhile now, because I have sensed a lack of biblical support for them. Learning that Todd Bentley is also eager to participate in this “third” heaven teaching, I am very concerned and saddened by what I see--people flocking to get on this bandwagon.

I don’t deny that something “supernatural” is going on in Florida, but I do not believe that everything I am witnessing online regarding these “revival” meetings has the Holy Spirit as the source of that power. I believe there is a mixture of spirits at work… Knowing that people are flocking to these meetings from all over the world to “come and get some” as Todd Bentley has suggested disturbs me greatly!

Since leaving Adventism, I have a very strong desire NOT to repeat the error of falling into cultic teachings that have no foundation in God’s word. So when I hear Todd Bentley talk about an “angel” talking to him and telling him that he’s the healing angel that Bob Jones said was coming to bring a healing revival to Florida, I get concerned because this doesn’t seem to ring true with God’s Word. Immediately I see a red flag! Since when do angels bring healing and revival anyway?

Or if someone whom others consider an “apostle” or “prophet” describes an “experience” they had that seems to go off on a tangent and beyond what God has already revealed in His Word, and does not draw attention to Jesus Christ and His finished work on the cross, then I receive a caution in my spirit to wait and see the fruit of such an “experience”. I am not one to run after everyone who says, “Come and check out this person or this teaching or this supernatural event.

After watching many of my friends over the years run after this “anointed” leader and that “anointed” teaching or word, I realize that we do not have to go anywhere to experience more of God’s presence, love or words than right where we are.

We don’t need to climb up to the "next level" to get God’s attention! We don’t need to follow some religious protocol or ritual in order to get more of God. God is NOT more accessible during one month than another month. He is not in one place more than another place. God has already made Himself accessible to you and me in Jesus Christ. We only need to respond (usually in repentance) and by the obedience of faith to the urging of His Spirit.

I believe that trying to achieve a higher realm of awareness in the Spirit realm by accessing the “third heaven”, as Todd Bentley and others are teaching, is opening doors for satanic delusion. Believing that some victories can only be obtained on certain “watches of the Lord” (Jews divided the night into military watches instead of hours, and each watch represented the period for which sentinels remained on duty), and that certain spiritual dynamics happen in each “watch”, finds people clamoring after “products”, such as various scented candles (Elijah List promotes and sells such things) that are supposed to be “tools” that the Holy Spirit can use to help develop our prayer life in each watch.

Tickling People’s Ears

What I am seeing and hearing lately disturbs me greatly! It appears that many people in the body of Christ are not studying God’s word to see if what is being taught is sound doctrine! For instance, I recently heard Kim Clemente on YouTube (who is revered as a “prophet” by many), say that the difference between an Old Testament prophet and a New Testament prophet is that the New Testament prophet is more fun, because he is now under grace and not the law.

Kim Clemente claims he is in the office of a New Testament prophet, and he says he “does not deal with the sin factor as much”. He says that he is not going to direct a people, but rather “affirms and reveals” what people already know and “releases” what is inside of them so they can move to the next higher level. He says, “Usually all hell breaks loose after that”. He says, “I am not going to join preachers speaking against sin. I am here to draw the treasure out of a person so they can be what they were destined to become…”

Isn’t this kind of “prophet” tickling people’s ears? Isn’t this a people-centered gospel instead of a Christ-centered gospel that is being promoted? Isn’t this kind of theology self-absorbed? Doesn't it encourage people to run after another “high” in the Lord? Doesn't it encourage people to run after excitement and hype instead of the cross of Jesus Christ?

Elijah List Quote

Here’s a quote from the Elijah List this week that troubled me also. “Last year's Growing in the Supernatural conferences gathered together prophets, preachers, and expectant believers from all over the world. As we worshipped, dug into the Word, prayed, and combined our faiths to put a demand on Heaven, something was unlocked in the Spirit, releasing believers to all new levels of supernatural encounters and experience.

This year, we continue to press in by again gathering together with some of the weightiest prophets in the land and hungriest believers on earth to reach out and receive more of God. More presence! More encounters! More miracles! More signs and wonders! More revelation! More of the fruits! More of the gifts! And more of His heart!

Gather with us to add your faith to the cry for more. Receive revelation, impartation and downloads from the glory realm that will leave you forever changed and fueled to advance the Kingdom in more glorious ways. Come and... grow in the supernatural!”

Here are a few of my comments about this quote… Since when does our faith in Jesus Christ put a “demand on heaven”? God is sovereign! We don’t tell Him what to do and “demand” Him to act. He is a holy, righteous and awesome God. He knows what our needs are before we ever ask Him!

Believing that praying unlocks something in the Spirit that releases “believers to all new levels of supernatural encounters and experience” suggests that we don’t believe what Paul teaches us in Ephesians--that we already have the fullness of the godhead bodily dwelling in us by faith.

How can we go to higher levels when we have the fullness of the Spirit in us already?Perhaps it is our lack of faith in that reality because we do not feel that we do. Perhaps we are waiting to have a spiritual experience that will confirm the truth rather than accept by faith what Jesus has already revealed to us in His Word. Scripture must be the final test, not my experience. My experience must line up with Scripture.

Finally, to be encouraged to come to a conference and “grow in the supernatural” instead of to come and “grow in the Lord” is another huge red flag for me! I’m sorry, but something is just OFF here that it makes me want to run in the opposite direction!

Protection from Deception

I read the first chapter from Derek Prince’s book, “Protection from Deception” this week and found some very helpful reminders that can help us navigate through the minefield of supernatural signs and wonders. I was reminded that signs and wonders in and of themselves do not determine truth. Truth is already determined and established—it is the Word of God that point to Jesus as Truth. Here are some thoughts that I gleaned from my reading…

Remember the first thing Jesus said about the events leading up to His return in Matthew 24? "Take heed that no one deceives you." In these verses I discovered that Jesus actually warns us four times against deception. Therefore, we can conclude that the greatest single danger in these end times is not sickness, or poverty, or persecution, but deception!

Paul tells us in 2 Thessalonians 2 that there are lying signs and wonders. Scripture here make is very clear that Satan is fully capable of supernatural signs and wonders. True signs attest the truth. Lying signs attest lies.

Sadly I find that many in the Charismatic movement today have the attitude that if something is supernatural, it must be from God. But there is absolutely no scriptural basis for that kind of assumption. Satan will produce signs and wonders to confirm his lies, and the reason people will be deceived is because they did not receive the love of the truth.

The Scripture says that God will send strong delusion on those who do not receive the love of truth. I think that is one of the most severe judgments of God recorded in Scripture! People will receive a delusion and be condemned, because they did not believe the truth.

There is only one sure way to know the truth that makes us free, and that is to, not only know the Word of God and apply the truth of God’s Word to our hearts, but to know the heart of the Father who gave us His Son. The Father’s will is that we be found in His Son, because the Son is the only One whom the Father is looking at! It’s His righteousness alone that gives us access 24/7 to God’s throne. With all the talk of the “glory cloud” coming down and feeling the “glory” in Todd Bentley’s meetings, I am reminded that the Scriptures talk about the “glory” that is found in the face of Jesus Christ!

My heart is heavy as I realize that this recent explosion of signs and wonders appears to me to be a mixture of the biblical and the bizarre. To me there seems to be a mixture of spirits, both the Holy Spirit and unholy spirits. Truth and error are mixed together, and it is something which the Scripture warns us against.

This mixed message brings confusion because part is true and part is false. People respond in one of two ways. Some will see the good and focus on it, and therefore also accept the bad. Others will focus on the bad, and therefore reject the good. In either case, it does not accomplish God's purposes, and confusion is the result!

Some of the unusual manifestations that accompanied the ministry of John Wesley, George Whitefield, Jonathan Edwards and Charles Finney, etc. were always preceded by the strong preaching of God's Word, and they always made a strong call for repentance. That was their primary demand on the people to whom they ministered.

Some people call what we are seeing in this revival today "a refreshing”, but in Acts 3:19 Peter says that refreshing must be preceded by repentance. Any refreshing that bypasses repentance is not scriptural.

Also in the ministry of the above mentioned men there is no record as far as I know that any of them laid hands on people. Although it is scriptural to lay hands on people, is there perhaps a danger that a mixture of spirits could be transmitted by way of a “vessel” which is not always pure.

Since Todd Bentley is laying hands on everyone every night during this revival in order to impart the healing anointing, it seems that the important question to ask then is, “Are Todd Bentley’s hands pure channels through which only the Holy Spirit can flow? Since this “anointing” seems to be very contagious and easily imparted to others, I am seriously concerned about what is being imparted.

Listen to the following comment by a British Bible teacher: “Some Christians take the text "God is love" and turn it around to mean "Love is God." In other words, nothing can be wrong if it is rooted in love. However, any love that comes between us and God is an illegitimate love… Likewise any love that diverts us from obedience to God's Word is illegitimate.

Distinguishing the Holy Spirit from other spirits

So how do we recognize the Holy Spirit? How do we distinguish the Holy Spirit from other spirits? I believe witchcraft is the attempt to control people and get them to do what we want by the use of any spirit that is not the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is God, and no one uses God.

It is important to see that there is a difference between the Holy Spirit as a Person, and the gifts of the Holy Spirit. In Romans 11:29, Paul tells us that the gifts of God are irrevocable. In other words, once God has given us a gift, He never takes it back. That means the opportunity exists for the gift to be used to bless others, but also it can be misused.

Paul tells us that when the gift of tongues is misused it is an empty clanging noise. Of course it is possible to misuse other spiritual gifts also, such as a word of knowledge or a gift of healing in order to promote a person, or a movement, or for personal gain.

Jesus gives us a glimpse of the Holy Spirit's ministry and activity when He says, "However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth: for He will not speak on His own authority (literally: from Himself) but whatever He hears He will speak: and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you" (John 16:13-14).

The Holy Spirit does not speak from Himself—He only reports to us what He is hearing from the Father and the Son. His aim is NOT to glorify Himself, NOT to attract attention to Himself, but ALWAYS to glorify and focus His attention on Jesus Christ. Therefore, any spirit that focuses on the Holy Spirit and glorifies the Holy Spirit is not the Holy Spirit. His purpose is ALWAYS to glorify the One who sent Him.

Father, You say in your Word that love is expressed by the obedience of faith. Any kind of love that we express to You that does not result in that kind of obedience is NOT scriptural love. It is a counterfeit—a substitute for the real thing.

God, You say in Your Word, “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent" (Revelation 3:19). If we are disobedient, Your love is expressed in rebuking us and correcting us in order to bring us to repentance. Lord, once again You know that we have this problem of trying to get what You have promised us, but bypassing repentance. You call that deception.

Oh God, break our hearts with the Truth of who You are and what You have already given us in Your Son! We do not want to be in that group of professed believers who receive a spiritual delusion because we will not repent and receive a love of the Truth! In Jesus Holy name I pray that You give us ears to hear what the Spirit of Truth is saying to the church. Amen.

The Lion of Judah has Triumphed!

By Hazel Holland

"Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed." Revelation 5:5

I was compelled to paint this picture of Jesus Christ’s triumph over death after discovering that He wasn’t in soul sleep while He was dead in the grave... After a lifetime of believing error, I was overwhelmed with joy and many tears as I discovered the length and depth that Jesus Christ went to for you and me. He literally left no stone unturned! His powerful words from the cross reverberated throughout His creation causing even the rocks to be torn apart when He cried out, “It is finished!”

Unfortunately, the KJV translates both the words Sheol and Hades as grave, death and hell, but this can be shown to be incorrect as it does not accurately represent their meaning. Prior to Jesus Christ’s ascension to Heaven biblical writers tell us that both believers and unbelievers alike entered Sheol (Hebrew) or Hades (Greek)—the destination of the spirit and soul at death.

Apparently Sheol was divided into two separate sections, an upper part and a lower part, denoting the differences of where the righteous and wicked dwelt. In the Talmud the wicked were in torment, while the righteous were in bliss. This is probably what Christ was referring to when he told the story of the rich man and Lazarus…

So while Christ’s body was laid in the tomb, His spirit/soul went to Hades (the lower parts of the earth), because he died under the conditions of those living prior to the resurrection. That is why the Scriptures make several references to Christ’s entry into Hades that are distinct from being in the tomb.

“Foreseeing this, David spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, saying, ‘He was not abandoned to Hades (where souls are in the lowest parts of the Earth), nor did His flesh experience corruption (in the grave)’” (Acts 2:31; NRSV; See also Psalm 16:10). Since Christ was not abandoned in Hades, this can only mean that He was actually there, but not left there! "I will ransom them from the power of Sheol; I will redeem them from death: O death, where are thy plagues? O Sheol, where is thy destruction?" (Hosea 13:14; ASV).

There’s an interesting Scripture in 1 Peter 3:18-22 where it seems that Jesus went into Hades while His body was resting in the tomb in order to announce the completion of His atonement. “For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that he might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit; in which also He went and made proclamation to the spirits now in prison…” (1 Peter 3:18-19; NASB).

In the next chapter Peter says, “For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they may be judged according to men in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit” (1 Peter 4:6; NIV). It seems to suggest that after all things were accomplished by Christ, He went to Hades to reveal the rest of the story of salvation and to announce to them that “It is finished!” “And having disarmed the powers and authorities, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross (Colossians 2:15).

After the resurrection we see in Ephesians 4:8-9, “Therefore it says, ‘When He ascended on high. He led captive a host of captives, and gave gifts to men’ (Now this expression, ‘He ascended,’ what does it mean except that He also had descended into the lower parts of the earth (Hades)?" This could not be referring to His grave because His tomb was above ground as were the other graves of that day.

Now that Christ has ascended to heaven and taken a train of captives with Him we know that it is clear that believers now go directly to be with Christ in heaven when they die. Paul says, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain… But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better…” (Phil. 1:21-22; NASB). Paul continues, “Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord—for we walk by faith, not by sight—we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:6-8; NASB).

The author of Hebrews clearly states where the spirits of righteous men made perfect in Christ go after they die when he says, “You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire…But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God… You have come to God, the judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant…” (Hebrews 12:18-24; NIV).

Now the Scriptures that used to be so confusing make perfect sense… Speaking of the Second Coming of Christ, Paul says, “Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him” (1 Thessalonians 4:13-14).

Paul is saying that when Jesus comes back the second time He will bring back the spirits of the righteous (those who have died in Christ) to be united with their new glorified bodies, and we who are alive will also be changed and receive glorified bodies, and be caught up with them to meet the Lord in the air (See 1 Thessalonians 3:15-18).

Surely, the Lion of the tribe of Judah has triumphed! (Revelation 5:5). By faith we enter into His triumph!
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Go here to read further details about the painting.
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(I want to give credit to Dr. Cherry Brandstater for many of the thoughts I have expressed in this post. I also want to publicly thank her for her labor of love in making the "Shadow or Substance?"-- State of the Dead Studies under Spirit available for those eager to know truth. My life has been changed forever by His Truth!)

Midnight Call to Intercession

By Hazel Holland

About a year after God miraculously healed me from painful childhood memories, He spoke very clearly to me one weekend while I was attending a Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) Women's Retreat in Flagstaff, Arizona. Not only was this experience another turning point in my spiritual journey, but it also demonstrates for us how God determines the gifts we will receive. Through this spiritual encounter, the Spirit began to place within the womb of my heart the passionate love of the Father's heart for His children, especially those within the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

In May of 1995 I was part of a team of people from Celebration Center (CC) who presented “A Wedding Drama” at the Arizona Seventh-day Adventist Women's Conference. After the Saturday evening program some of us were relaxing in the hotel Jacuzzi, sharing our thoughts about God's presence in the events of the evening. In the course of conversation I learned that Myrna, the fourth lady in our room who had not been with us Friday night, would be joining us shortly. Quietly I excused myself and hurried up to my room ahead of the others, hoping to be asleep before they arrived. I had heard that Myrna snored loudly, and because I sleep lightly, it seemed in my best interest to fall asleep first.

As much as I tried, sleep would not come. Although I was tired from the intense evening schedule, my mind insisted on recounting each scene in the wedding drama we had just put on. I wondered how many of the people watching it had been touched by the Spirit’s presence as I had been.

All too soon the women returned from the Jacuzzi. Seeing I was already in bed and appeared to be asleep, they moved about in hushed tones. Soon the lights were out, and everyone was quiet. But not for long. My snoring sister was in good form. As her snoring began, I pulled the covers over my head. When that didn't muffle the sound, I tried the pillow. Feeling exhausted and helpless, I began complaining to God. Immediately, I heard a very clear internal command. "PRAY!" Perhaps that would take my mind off my own selfish desire for sleep. As I began to pray, I received another strong urging; this time it was to lift up my hands as I prayed. I obeyed.

Never before had I lain in bed with my hands raised up in prayer to God. And now God was compelling me to do this in a hotel room with three others to witness my strange behavior. To my amazement the snoring stopped. I continued praying, thanking the Lord for a few minutes, before slowly lowering my hands. As I turned over on my side, planning to quickly fall asleep, the snoring resumed with greater intensity than before. Quickly, I raised my hands again in prayer, and the snoring ceased.

"Lord, what is going on?" I complained. “It's midnight! I can't keep my hands up all night. I'm tired. I need to get some sleep. You know I’ve got a long drive tomorrow.”

As I lay there facing the wall opposite from the snoring, I felt Debbie (my bedmate), who was nearer to Myrna than I, reach across to the other bed and gently give her a little shake. Immediately the snoring stopped—for a minute. Then it started up again.

This scenario was repeated several times. As soon as I lowered my arms, the snoring would return. Then Debbie would reach over and shake Myrna, and the snoring would cease for a time. As it started up again, I would lift up my hands in prayer and the snoring would stop. To make matters worse, a gnawing pain in my right leg began to bother me, the late result of a pinched nerve in my thigh that I had received months earlier. Knowing I had some pain pills in the bathroom, I climbed out of bed, hoping I could at least do something to alleviate that problem.

On my way back from the bathroom I had to walk by the foot of Myrna's bed. Again came the strong urge to lift up my hands and pray. I obeyed. Again the snoring stopped.

“Lord, I know you're trying to teach me something.” I was getting nervous. “But please don't let Myrna wake up, or anyone else for that matter, and see me standing like this at the foot of the bed. I'll scare them to death!”

I hurried back to my bed, hoping to fall asleep while everything was quiet. But after a couple of minutes the snoring resumed again. Debbie sprang into action. She gave Myrna one last bold shake that shook both of our beds. Instantly Myrna stopped snoring and quietly slipped out of bed. I heard a door close. Now is my chance, I thought. "Lord, please let her stay long enough in the bathroom for Debbie and me to get some sleep!"

Some time later in the early morning I woke up. Everything was quiet. Then I heard God's voice speak clearly in my mind. "You asked Me earlier what is going on. Let Me explain... Myrna is My child. She represents the church—the SDA church that is asleep. She not only must be shaken awake, but hands must be lifted up in continual intercession1on her behalf."

I lay there in bed with tears streaming down my face as I pondered those weighty words, and felt the deep, deep love of the Father's heart for the SDA church. I don’t know for how long I wept and prayed. But I do know that God’s heart of love is so deep and so wide and so high that it encompasses the whole world, and yet He has room in His heart for you and me. He has room in His heart for the leadership of the SDA church who has so misrepresented and distorted the new covenant gospel of Jesus Christ. (Even though I was still an SDA at this time I was beginning to realize that the church's teachings didn't line up with the new covenant gospel that was becoming more and more precious to me).

Several hours later I woke up again as I heard the bedroom door creak open. Myrna crept apologetically into the room. It was then I realized that she had not gone to the bathroom earlier as I had supposed, but had gone to another room to sleep.

"Don't apologize!" I insisted as I held up my hand. "God used you last night in a powerful way!"

"What? He did? How?" she challenged.

Excitedly, I recounted to her and the other women the "events" of the night, and what the Lord had revealed to me. Debbie was surprised to hear of my strange behavior because she never saw a thing.

Soon the women were up and about, hurrying to get bathed and dressed so they would be on time for breakfast. Hoping to catch a few more minutes’ rest, I decided to skip the meal, and volunteered to be last in the bathroom. When the room was quiet, I reluctantly got out of bed, hoping I still had enough time to make it to the last morning session.

Audible Voice of the Lord

I was in the bathroom drying my hair. Suddenly, above the din of the hair dryer, I heard a clear, audible voice from above me say, "I want to give you a double portion of My Spirit!" Unlike the earlier inner message that had been spoken to my heart by the Holy Spirit in the early morning hours, this voice was unmistakably real, audible, and outside of me. It also was the voice of God!

I spun around. No one was there. Immediately the story of Elisha flashed through my mind. I remembered how he had asked Elijah for a double portion of His Spirit before he was taken to heaven in a fiery chariot. It was years since I had read or even thought about that story. I was awed by the possibility that God wanted to give me a blessing like that. To my mind at that time, such giftings were reserved for rare, special people—like prophets in the Old Testament—not for single, divorced women like me.

As soon as I shared my incredible experience with my friend Margo, she understood the word she had received from the Lord earlier that weekend. Together, she and another friend, Donna, obediently laid hands on me and prayed for me to receive whatever gifts the Holy Spirit wanted to give me.

My request from the Lord at that time was to receive more of His unconditional love so I would have a greater capacity to love His children—particularly the learning-handicapped students that I taught in public elementary school at that time. As my Adventist friends laid hands on me and prayed I felt a certain amount of discomfort because Margo’s hands began to shake uncontrollably as she poured out her heart to God on my behalf. This was something I wasn’t used to and hadn’t witnessed before, so I felt a little cautious and amazed.

However, since that May morning over eleven years ago now, my life in the Lord has not been the same. I have become consumed with an insatiable hunger to know Him intimately. As I have chosen to spend more time lingering in His presence He has faithfully made Himself known to me through His Spirit and His Word. Intimate communication with the Father throughout the day has become my greatest joy and source of delight. To know Jesus is to love Him passionately. I desire to obey His voice more than the clamoring of my own heart. He has become my life.

Receiving a Double Portion

As I began to review how God called various people throughout history to do a specific work, I realized that I had also been called and set apart for God’s purposes. Since I had responded with a “Yes, Lord!” when God had told me He wanted to give me a double portion of His Spirit, I had received that blessing by faith. Although no precious oil had been poured over my head like Aaron and other biblical characters had experienced, I was lovingly anointed2 by God and inducted into His service. I knew by faith that I had received a double portion of God’s Spirit even though I had no special feeling or physical evidence of it at the time. Like Elisha who grabbed hold of Elijah’s mantle as it fell from the heavens, I grabbed hold of God’s promise and held it close to my heart, knowing that He would reveal what His purposes were for me in His time.

Ever since that day when hands were laid upon me and friends prayed that I might receive whatever gifts the Holy Spirit wanted to give me, I have been experiencing a growing and deepening awareness of the passionate love in the Father’s heart for His children. I didn’t realize until many months later that during my midnight encounter with the Lord, He had planted a seed in me. As the months and years have gone by I am able to look back to that time in my life and trace that experience to the birthing of God’s heart in me for prophetic intercession. This was the beginning of the call upon my life to “stand in the gap” and cry out to God for those who did not know the Father’s love.

God didn’t have to speak to me in an audible voice in order to get my attention. He already had my attention. I had already committed my life to loving and serving Him. But from that moment to this He has had my undivided attention.

Undivided Attention

God has a plan to get your undivided attention also. I am reminded of a story I read recently that illustrates how God sometimes has to get our attention by using unconventional methods. In this story it was a brick. What will He use to get your attention?

A young executive was driving his brand new Jaguar in an area where there were usually several children playing in the street. He thought he saw something darting out from between parked cars and slowed down.

As his car passed, no children appeared. Instead, a brick smashed into the Jag's passenger door! He slammed on the brakes and spun the Jag back to the spot from where the brick had been thrown. He jumped out of the car, grabbed some kid and pushed him up against a parked car, shouting, "What was that all about and who are you? Just what the heck are you doing?" Building up a head of steam he went on. "That's a new car and that brick you threw is going to cost a lot of money. Why did you do it?"

"Please, mister, please. I'm sorry, I didn't know what else to do!" pleaded the youngster. "I threw the brick because no one else would stop..." tears were dripping down the boy’s chin as he pointed around the parked car. "It's my brother," he said. "He rolled off the curb and fell out of his wheelchair and I can't lift him up."

Sobbing, the boy asked the executive, "Would you please help me get him back into his wheelchair? He's hurt and he's too heavy for me."

Moved beyond words, the driver tried to swallow the rapidly swelling lump in his throat. He lifted the young man back into the wheelchair and took out his handkerchief and wiped the scrapes and cuts, checking to see that everything was going to be okay.

"Thank you and God bless you," the grateful child said to him.

The man then watched the little boy push his brother down the sidewalk toward their home. It was a long walk back to his Jaguar—a long, slow walk. He never did repair the passenger door. He kept the dent to remind him not to go through life so fast that someone had to throw a brick at him in order to get his attention.

God whispers in our ears and speaks to our hearts through His Spirit all the time. But sometimes when we don't take the time to listen, He has to throw a "brick" at us. It's our choice. Will we listen for the whisper of His voice—or wait for the brick?

As you read some of the words that I have received from the Lord, and posted on my blogs, you may recognize that God has thrown a “brick” at you in order to get your attention. Others of you will perhaps see that the Adventist church is like the crippled little boy in this story who fell out of his wheelchair. Others may see that the Adventist church is more like the executive driving the brand new Jaguar, and that fixing the dent in the passenger door is going to cost the church a lot of money. Still others may see that the dent in the “door” should be left alone. Perhaps some will say that God can use it for His glory if the corporate leadership of the SDA church publicly repents of covering up its unbiblical teachings, confesses its deceptive practices, and changes its foundational beliefs to be in line with the new covenant gospel.

One thing becomes very clear to me in the above analogy. We can’t lift our handicapped “brother” back into his wheelchair. We need a Good Samaritan to come along who will pour healing oil into the scrapes and cuts and bandage up his wounds. Only in Christ is there healing from this kind of a fall!

I am reminded of how God set a bush on fire out in the middle of the desert, because He wanted to get Moses undivided attention? When the Lord saw that He had caught Moses’ attention (Exodus 3:4), He began to share with Moses His plan to use him to free a nation crying out to God because of the oppressor. Moses was being called to be their deliverer after dwelling in the desert for forty years. Gone was the proud and independent spirit of the former prince of Egypt. As a broken and repentant man, he humbled himself before the Lord and felt totally inadequate for the job God was calling him to do. It was in this place of weakness, brokenness and submission that God could now use him. It will be the same with us. It will be the same for the corporate leadership of the Adventist church. Repentance is the key that opens the door for God to rebuild upon our ruins.

Why did God choose to get Moses undivided attention through a burning bush? Perhaps because one of God’s attributes is that He is a consuming fire. Although He is a consuming fire, the bush was not consumed. Although He is a consuming fire, we are not consumed. The refining fire of His presence consumes only the dross in our lives, but the gold remains. If we submit to His loving discipline the remaining gold will be polished until we become transparent vessels, able to reflect His glory—the glory of His finished work.

If the Lord has now got your undivided attention, remember—He is the Relentless Pursuer! He will do whatever it takes to capture your heart so that you have only eyes for Him!

Notes:
1 Definition of “intercession” [Webster’s Dictionary]: to come or go between, mediation between conflicting parties with a view to reconciliation, prayer or pleading on behalf of another or others.
2 “anoint” means to rub or smear with oil

A Spirit of Lawlessness

By Hazel Holland

I painted this watercolor this afternoon to illustrate something I saw in the Spirit about twelve years ago. It was something that I didn't really begin to understand until today.

The Vision

In this vision I saw someone dressed up like Robin Hood, holding his bow and arrow, getting ready to take aim. All of a sudden he pulled back on the bow string, and an arrow went flying through the air beyond my line of vision.

Immediately, a large group of "spectators"who had been watching this "sports" event off to the right began to loudly cheer with seditious laughter as "Robin Hood" hit his target. Having successfully "hit" his intended victim, the marksman reached around to get another arrow out of his bag.

Just as he was about to release the second arrow, I heard the Spirit say, "Lift up the shield of faith!" Again the crowd of "spectators" applauded their "hero" as his second arrow hit its mark again.

I knew by the sound of the ugly laughter that this crowd of "spectators" was not human, but rather a gathering from the hordes of hell. I shuddered as I saw that they were unable to contain their demonic glee and their foul appreciation of seeing another human being fall prey to their trickery and lies.

But I was stumped as to why God was using "Robin Hood" as the archer, and his "merry men" as the hordes from hell in this vision. Although I'm well acquainted with the story of this character in English history, I will briefly share the gist of it in case some readers are not. That way you will get a better grasp of what the Lord may be saying through this word.

Robin Hood

Robin Hood was a man who lived in Nottinghamshire, England. He was discouraged that the forests near the king no longer belonged to the people. King Richard was away at the Crusades and his brother, Prince John, forbid hunting on his land and taxed the poor heavily. Land was stolen from rightful owners. Murders were committed, including Robin's own father.

So he fled to Sherwood Forest, and he and his band of "merry men" vowed to help the less fortunate who were Prince John's and the Sheriff of Nottingham's victims. To survive in the woods they would "relieve" rich travelers of their valuables, and they made suits to blend in with the forest.1

In a nutshell, Robin Hood, stole from the rich to give to the poor. He took the law of the land into his own hands in order to try and right the wrongs of a government with unjust laws.

Misuse of Law

I read an article to day that emphasized the facts that throughout history tyrants have used an extensive legal system to control their people. It has been through the instrumentality of the law that these rulers gained inordinate control over the lives and "loyalty" of their people. They held them in subjection and bondage through threats of punishment or death, and used the law to establish their dictatorship, event to the point of passing additional laws that outlawed opposition parties.

In essence, dictators demand a godlike obedience that not even God requires of his subjects. The irony is that tyrants use the laws of the land to justify their lawless behaviors. In other words, the law, or the power of law, is misused by tyrants to cloak evil behaviors. It is this misuse of the law, to make what is evil appear to be good, that is at the very heart of lawlessness.2

In a similar way the old covenant law, as well as the power of that law to condemn people, has been misused by the church down through the centuries. It is this abuse of the law, to make what is evil appear to be good, that is at the very heart of lawlessness. Since Paul says, "...the secret power of lawlessness is already at work..." doesn't that make legalism a trademark of a lawless spirit?

(To be continued...)
Notes:
1. http://www.robinhood.ltd.uk/society/members/Jessica%20Dodson%20and%20Richard%20Baker.html.
2. http://www.scholarscorner.com/eschaton/manlaws.html

*  You can scroll down to the bottom of this page to see a larger copy of this painting.

Prisoners of the Law

By Hazel Holland

"...Only in Christ is it (the veil of the old covenant) taken away" ( 2 Corinthians 3:14).

I painted this watercolor painting several days ago to illustrate a scene I had seen in a vision several months ago. Why is this "army" on all fours? Why are they not able to get up, stand, walk and fight?

To find the answers to these questions, read about the vision and its interpretation at the following links:

Vision: An Army in Disarray (Vision).
Interpretation: An Army in Disarray (Interpretation to Vision).

* Scroll down to the bottom of the page to see a larger copy of this painting, "Prisoners of the Law".