Laying hands

Laying hands not only help us to transfer gifts to the people, they also help us to know what they are. It helps us to know where they are in their spiritual journey. When Ribca inspired Jacob to deceive his dad Isaac, then Jacob said "my father will know me if he touches me." It's because Jacob did not have haired skin like his brother Esau. Yet Jacob managed and Isaac was deceived because he was very old and that he could not see. Knowing this Jacob developed that he would be able to know without actually seeing someone.

Later in Egypt when Joseph brought  his sons, Jacob cunningly put his right hand on Ephraim who stood at his left hand -to bless him. Though he could not see physically it's difficult to deceive him. He knew who is standing where.

Some say that they don't want to know about laying hands. After all laying hands is a help and not a bad thing. We have a thousand rupee bill here in India. It has some touch features. If you don't want to learn those features you may end up with a counterfeit bill. We are struggling with them recently. God's ways never harm us.

It also helps to heal people both physically and emotionally. It's like a balm. Sometimes God likes to touch people through our hands. Let him use your hands. Will you give your hands to him for a right cause?

Sufferings and Solution

Sufferings come from three areas

1. From human beings.
Solution: Show another cheek and pray for them. (Matt. 5:39)

2. From devil
Solution: Resist him and pray (James 4:7)

3. From God
Solution: Repent and pray (2 Chr. 7:14)

A medicine for leg pain will not help cold.  Do not use first suffering's solution to the second type suffering. Same thing with the third one. For example resisting is the solution for the sufferings from devil and it cannot be used for the sufferings that comes from human beings. Matthew 5:39 NIV "But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also."

You cannot resist the evil person but you can actually ask why he is doing this to you. When Jesus was beaten he asked them why they are doing this when he didn't speak wrong. John 18:22-23 NIV "When Jesus said this, one of the officials nearby slapped him in the face. “Is this the way you answer the high priest?” he demanded.  “If I said something wrong,” Jesus replied, “testify as to what is wrong. But if I spoke the truth, why did you strike me?” Injustice can be confronted. Its not wrong. 

In three types of sufferings, prayer is common and a must.

James 5:13 NIV
"Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray..."

With all your heart and with all your time

A man had two sons. When he was about to die, he called them and made them promise him that they would pray daily one hour. He died. From that day each son would go into the church and pray one hour.

Few days later older brother found that his younger brother was praying only 20 minutes and yet getting quick results than he does. So he decided to go and ask and find out the secret. One morning he went to his younger brother's house. Asked him the question. Then the younger brother answered, "when you pray, you are praying one hour but you are conscious of time. You  are not putting your heart there. When I pray, though I pray twenty minutes, I pray with all my heart. That is the secret."

The older brother was happy. He went back home. He started following his younger brother's secret.

Few days later the younger brother found that his older brother is receiving quick answers to his prayers than himself. One day he went to his older brother's house. He asked older brother, "you are following my secret. If you were praying same way I do, how come you are receiving answers more quicker than I do?"

Then the older brother answered, "yes I have been following your secret. I am praying the same way you were praying like putting all your heart while praying. The only difference is that you  pray twenty minutes but I continued one hour. That's it"

Mk. 4:36-5:19 -Pray

Trouble maker and Troubled

Jesus was with the disciples in the boat. There are other boats that traveled along with his boat. Bible says that Jesus' boat was attacked. Disciples might have tried their best. May be they threw out the things to lighten up the boat. May be they also threw out some fishes and the loaves, even the portion of the Lord. When our family was in poverty in 1995 my family spent out even the things that belongs to the Lord. Actually, it made the boat weighed more. When the disciples went to Jesus, not for a help, but to ask him "dont you worry," Jesus first did rebuke the wind and then he told the sea to calm down. The following tells how he removed troubles.

1. Rebuked the wind which was the trouble maker Mark 4:39

2. Told the waters which was troubled Mark 4:39

Sick Faith
People with faith do not worry but they also pray. People with "sick faith" they do not worry, so they also dont pray. 

Jesus did not rebuke the wind until someone come and  meet him. He was quite until they chose to ask the Lord. Even demons asked God to allow them to go into pigs and he allowed them. Are you any bad than a demon? God will surely answer your prayers.

Faith and Two things
Once Paul used two words with Philippians (Phil. 4:6):

1. Anything, 2. Everything

About first one (anything) he said, DO NOT WORRY about anything. 

About second one (everything) he said, PRAY about everything.

If you are doing the first thing and avoiding the second thing you have faith that is called sick faith. A rebuke will heal the sick faith.  ...rebuke them sharply that they may be healthy in the faith. Tit. 1:13. That is why Jesus also rebuked disciples after saving them from the trouble.

Bible did not say "do not worry because God is nearby or available." Bible actually said, "​​​​​​​Seek the LORD while he makes himself available; ​​​​​​call to him while he is nearby!" Isa. 55:6

Blessing of Alpha and Omega

God is first and the last. When he blesses, he blesses your work when you start it and when you finish it. It's like a seal. I would like to have his seal for every work I do. When a calamity comes my work will never be destroyed. When he opens a door no one can shut it and when he closes it no one can open. Rev. 3:7

1. When you come in and when you go out. Deut. 28:6. Go with confidence and come with assurance, because your work starts with a blessing and ends with a blessing.

2. He came in the evening and made him speak in the morning. Eze. 33:22

3. His glory comes down before the prayer and after the prayer of Solomon. 2 Chr.  5:14 and 7:1

I know this name. But i want this name to be expressed through out the work of my hand. I would like to see all that i have is labelled Alpha and Omega. Then it can withstand any encounter.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, we must get rid of every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and run with endurance the race set out for us, keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy set out for him he endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God. (Heb. 12:1-2)

For I am sure of this very thing, that the one who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. (Phil. 1:6)

Walls

We need walls. Every human being need walls around him. They give us a secure feeling. That is where we sleep with no fear.

1. Walls are built by praises. Ps. 8:2
2. Walls are rebuilt by prayer. Nehemiah 1:4
3. Walls' gaps are filled by intercession. Ezekiel 22:30

God told Moses to make an altar of incense. Ex. 30:1. When Zechariah was giving incense people were praying outside.  Incense is symbolic for prayer. Luke 1:9-10. Incense is like a cloud. It was the cloud that stood like a wall between Egyptians and the Israelites when they were coming through the waters. 

Punishment and result

Father said to son, "son, do not go this way. On this road I saw a big pit. This is a dangerous road. I will beat you if you take this road"

Feared to the punishment son replied, "ok, dad I will not go this way."

Yet, son's heart wanted to see the pit there. He wanted to find a chance to go on that road. There came a day that his dad is not around. So the son took his bicycle and went on this dangerous road. Suddenly he fell down into the pit. He broke his leg.

Then he heard a voice, "my son." Son lifted up his head and saw his dad. His father had tears in his eyes. Son said, "sorry dad." His dad came down and saved his son.

Lying on the hospital bed son asked,"are you not going to punish me dad?"

Father replied, "my son, I am not going to punish you. I forgive you. Nevertheless, I want you to know that the punishment for your disobedience has stopped but the result of your disobedience was not stopped. It broke your leg."