Gary L. Ellis

I’d like to start by saying that a person who is against prosperity is against biblical salvation.  Kind of an incendiary statement, eh?  Well, let me explain…

If you look into the words salvation, save, or saved in the New Testament, you’ll discover those all come from the Greek word, “sozo.”   You’ll also find that the word prosper is one of the primary defining words.  That’s why I can start off today’s post with such a radical statement.  But, there’s more…

First of all, I am definitely pro prosperity.  There’s just too much scriptural evidence that it’s a quality of the Kingdom of God.  But now…here’s the rub…and a question.

Is Kingdom of God prosperity a mirror image of the so called American Dream?  To be clear, I’m speaking of God’s government or rule in the Earth today…not an after the last heartbeat afterlife.

Truth be told, we are heavily influenced by the conscious and subconscious message or indoctrination of our culture.  More often than not it is easiest and most logical to define the word prosperity with what our culture has told us it looks like.  What that often means for a Christian (or Christ follower) is a “churched-up” version of the same.

Challenging our own thinking.  Probing our own priorities.  Those are good and healthy things to be engaged in.  That’s what I’ve been doing to myself again of late.  That’s also what I’m proposing in this brief article.

Prosperity is a core value of God’s Kingdom.  What does it look like for you?  The best Kingdom answer and action will bring the greatest good and satisfaction in life.

Gary

Do you think of yourself as a “black sheep?”  Do you see others as “black sheep?”

Did you know that Jesus is the Great Shepherd of not only the white, but also the black sheep?

What does that mean for you?

Gary

I was heading down the road for a breakfast appointment and thinking how good it felt to feel good, once again, after six weeks of feeling more like crapola.

Many people struggle through seasons of sickness and pains of various sorts.  Some much longer and more painful than what I’d just experienced.  However, the serious struggle of a severe gout attack was no walk in the park.  As a matter of fact, I was often not able to walk at all.

Now, six weeks after powerful prayers, medicines, doctor visits, cycles of improvement and then backwards again, and a trip to the emergency room just two days ago..suddenly…

It felt like it was all leaving as fast as it started.  Why?  Whom or what gets the credit?

God gets the credit!  Regardless of multiple channels of relief and mending, God is the author and fountain of it all.

Then the thought came into my mind as sure and “loud” as if it had been spoken out loud.  I heard, “I will always do good for those I love regardless of whom or what gets the credit.“

“Regardless of whom or what gets the credit.”

There are many spokes on a bicycle wheel.  Which one (or ones) causes the wheel to perform as designed?  None of them.

If it weren’t for the hub, the spokes would be useless.  The spokes are supporting extensions of the hub.

Whether the subject is healing, or anything else in life…God is the source of good outcomes.  Always give Him credit.  But, even if you don’t…well…He’s behind it anways!

The flesh of mankind craves credit.  In fact, it withholds or picks up an offense if something or someone else gets credit for what we did or do.  It’s the ugly side of fleshiness.  However, not so with our Heavenly Father.  And, yuh wanna know what else?  Not so with our redeemed spirit man.  The true you craves to be like Daddy.

Godly humility breeds Godly honor which breeds miracles beyond what one can even ask or think.

Gary

In my humble opinion, the whole subject of healing has become too much of a “subject.”  Something so practical has become a doctrinal bias or prejudice good people divide themselves over.

Instead, I believe God’s will to heal is not a theory for debate.  It’s a very practical logical issue.  I also believe that one has to look no deeper than the functionality of the human body (the way God made it) to answer the fine – and broad – points of the question once and for all.  So, let’s keep it simple silly.

The human body is designed in such a way that it is always working to defend itself and restore itself from sickness.  God made it that way.  Therefore…

Healing is always God’s will!  His “methodology” is normally multi-faceted (not just one path).  Let’s cooperate with all of them, but never be confused by the question, again.  (Next silly debate).

Oh, one more quick thought.  If a quick manifestation (miracle) takes place then…wow, cool God!  That’s fabulous.  But, when more time and more “channels” are part of His process, don’t say (or tell someone else)…Well, it’s apparently not God’s timing.  But, healing is God’s will…so keep the faith.  He’ll do it, yet.

Where’s the gross flaw in that logic?  The human body (the way God designed it) already started working at restoration before you even asked.   There are questions along the way that challenge us.  You or I may never have an accurate answer.  So, the best bet – regarding answers that are always clear – is to give up our “right” to be like God and understand all things.    Heal.  It’s His will!

Gary

“Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.” That sounds true.  But, are those words really true for the person who is in Christ and Christ is in them?

If we are talking about the Flesh’s “comfort zone,” then the statement is true.  However, how many of you reading this blog post are wanting to make your goal in life to satisfy the desires, whims, and comforts of the Flesh?  Zero, right?

There’s another way to look at this thing.  And, that’s what I want you to consider today.  The truth is this:

The zone most comfortable to my born again spirit is the place I want to be.  It’s the place that’s most comfortable, peaceful, loving, and enjoyable.  Why?  Because I was re-born to love life in my spirit and be very uncomfortable with the desires of the Flesh.

The “Zone” Jesus most enjoys in me is in harmony with the way I’ve been created…and re-created. 

Therefore, I don’t worry about leaving my comfort zone.  My comfort zone is the place I most want to be.  On the contrary, I am zealous to leave the comfort zone of the Flesh in me.  That zone is a dead zone, and I don’t like it.

The “comfort zone” of the Flesh is limiting, cramps my Jesus Style, and makes me sick, depressed, and stressed out.  The comfort zone of my spirit is expanding, and running over with abundant life.

Worth considering, eh?

Gary

“I’m not a good faster. My friends have visions of God, I have visions of hamburgers. The only time I watch the Food Channel is when I’m fasting. It’s pitiful. We did a 40 day fast. I bought 29 cookbooks. I don’t cook, but the pictures! I bought a deep-fryer and we don’t eat deep-fried food!”
- Bill Johnson at “Manifest Presence 2011 Conference”

I love this guy.  He’s so down-to-earth….transparent…open…vulnerable.

Of course, FASTING, is just one facet of the whole life and food issue.  Healthy eating is another.  People I highly respect for their practical spiritual insights come down in very different places on what our diets should consist of.  In fact, recent discussions with one of them sent me on the investigation trail regarding the healthy vs. not healthy investigation.  My friend eats as raw food as possible and her slogan is, “If it has a face or a mother” it shouldn’t be consumed…or at least as little as possible.

My wife, Karen, and I were talking about this today, and I believe she had a good piece of wisdom…as she very often does.  She said, “I don’t think God is as concerned about what we consume as He is about what consumes us.”

We don’t believe that a “Que Sera Sera” (what will be will be) attitude on the subject is healthy.  Taking care of the bodies we’ve been given is an important endeavor.  However, (and you have to be the judge for yourself), if anything consumes your attention to a “tipping point” it’s become an idol.

The “tipping point” in this issue would be where you are consumed with “right eating” to the point that you fear getting sick unless you are obeying the 10 Commandments of Proper Nutrition.  One more quick story that illustrates this:

When my wife was diagnosed with colon cancer (from which she triumphed) we did some significant changes in diet.  We began consuming as little refined sugar as possible.  We ate a lot more fruits and vegetables.  We took supplements (I keep saying “we” because it was also good for me).  And, we began drinking PH based ionized water.  But, we also came to what I called a “tipping point.” 

We found ourselves, at times, out of the good water.  We were going to have to drink “normal” water for 3 days because we couldn’t get the PH water.  A quiver of fear arose within us.  That reaction alerted us to the fact that we’d gone beyond a choice based on health and were slipping into a realm based on fear.  Fear and faith cannot occupy the same space.

My conclusion:  Do your best to learn about and eat as healthy as possible.  I couple that with Karen’s wisdom:  God is less concerned about what we consume as He is about what consumes us.

Gary

If these articles bless you, you may want to safely subscribe.  It’s free.

“If what you say is true – that by the stripes of Jesus I was healed (and therefore am), then why am I still sick?”

That’s a great question!  I believe the Lord showed me a brilliant answer.  The answer is brilliant because it’s God’s wisdom.  My answer would have been my best guess.  And the thing is….we’ve often counseled as “truth” too many of our best guesses….and guess what?  The questions remain.

I was thinking about that question yesterday, and suddenly this “visual” appeared on the screen of my mind:

“A landscaper lived next door to a person without anything special in the design of their yard.  Because the landscaper really liked the next door neighbor, he took it upon himself to “do his thing” and plant a beautiful garden in his neighbor’s yard.  He then told his neighbor, “I’ve just given you the gift of a beautiful garden.  Everything is there.  The seeds are there.  The proper fertilizer is there for the flowers I’ve planed for you.  You now have a beautiful garden.  One of the best I’ve ever designed. 

As the time passed, nothing seemed to be happening.  Eventually the neighbor asked the landscaper friend, “I thought you said I have a beautiful garden?  One of the best you’ve ever designed.  I have nothing but a patch of bare ground.  To that the landscaper replied, “Are you watering it?”

We often do the same thing with God.  He’s designed, planted, paid for and given us the grace of health and healing.  But we assume that if it’s ours now – if God has given it to us….if we have it…then there’s nothing more for us to do.  Why do we have to water the seed?

The answer – from God’s creation – is self apparent.  We have the seed that contains the complete beautiful garden.  It’s ours.  It’s already ours.  However, we have to activate the seed by watering it.  I might add…we also need to pull the weeds (of doubt and fear) when they appear.

Gary

Too many people (unfortunately and especially Christians) are afraid to question.  Question themselves, things they think they believe…even God, Himself.

In my opinion, the only question that isn’t legitimate is a judgment that’s been put in the form of a question…thus not a real inquiry at all.

The truth is (again in my humble opinion) valid questions are a necessary part of the human mind.  They have the power to bring us to a land of increasing freedom. 

God likes questioning.  It was one of the primary ways that Jesus, Himself, ministered to people.

Sincere questions are not doubts.  They may feel like it at first.  But, they aren’t necessarily doubts.  In fact, from the sincere heart that’s pondering life and liberty in Christ…that’s probing for better answers to important questions, an inquiry is the engine in the pursuit of wisdom.

Let your questions take their stand on this ultimate personal value…trust.  Trust that there are answers that you may never completely discover.  Trust that God is the source of all true wisdom, and that the Lord of Life is not afraid or put off by the sincere questioner.

Seek and you will find is what Jesus says.  So, what is seeking? 

Probing life, the Word of God, and the soul with the kind of questions that aren’t easy to answer.  But, as Jesus says (as it’s translated in the Greek language), “Ask, (keep on asking), Knock (keep on knocking), Seek (keep on seeking)….and YOU WILL FIND.

<What’s the scripture reference for those words, you say?>  If you want to know bad enough…you’ll seek for it.

Another thing.  When others are questioning you…questioning what you believe….listen.  Don’t listen so that you can defend yourself, but listen so that you can hear what he or she is saying.  Almost always, their questions are legitimate and reflect a heart trying to discover truth.  Don’t blow it.  Ask them to explain what they are feeling or wondering.  And….stop worrying about having to have all the answers….because you don’t.  Usually, they are looking for someone who will respect them enough to hear what they are saying.

There’s a wealth of wisdom to be found out there.  All we have to do is question, seek, knock, ask, pursue…

Happy Hunting!

Gary

I clearly believe that the culture of heaven includes physical healings.  I have personally experienced large numbers of healings, personally and through my prayers and those of my church, The Sanctuary, in Davenport, IA. 

I don’t believe I’m alone in that belief and experience.  However, it’s my opinion that there are legitimate questions being asked regarding, “Is it God’s will that physical healing be experienced by everyone?”

<A single blog post is far too limited in space to do justice to this important subject.>

First, I believe Christianity went through a few decades where little attention was given to the subject.  Healing, for the Western church, became a subject that was primarily to be addressed by medical science.  It was supposed that God gave us doctors as His “gift” to answer that issue.  I will be the first to say that doctors (as a general category) have usually been a great blessing.  I would also say that I believe the medical field is more about being a gift of God’s mercy rather than THE answer to His chosen “modern” methodology.

Finally, I also believe there have been an abundance of charlatan faith healers and an overly simplistic approach to the subject among many healing believers.

Having said that, it is interesting to me that physical healing seems to flourish – in sometimes extravagant proportions – where there’s an atmosphere of faith being encouraged, taught, and ministered.  Where the teaching and atmosphere doesn’t exist, or where the assumed belief is in medical science as God’s contemporary answer) spiritually initiated healings fall behind.

<I’m going to quickly add that mishandled “healing faith” has produced unfortunate confusion, guilt, and depression in too many>

I believe that healing and health are core values of heaven for at least four reasons:

1. It’s the way that God designed the human body; to heal itself. And, it is always attempting to do so.
2. “Gifts of healings” are included in God’s divine tool kit.
3. It was exampled, overwhelmingly, in the earthly ministry of Jesus.
4. Believers are commissioned to “heal the sick.”

I also believe it is short sighted to leave the impression that an individual has to experience rapid healing to truly experience and/or represent the ministry of the Kingdom of God.  Instead, I believe that we need to exercise faith in our praying with and for individuals that they will be touched by the character and quality of the Kingdom of God…not just an immediate healing manifestation.  At the same time having an expectation that physical healing could likely be a result.  

Side note:  I believe it is a bit “short faithed” to pray the kind of healing prayers that off load the responsibility onto God.  He is the Healer, but we are the channels.

I have personally been involved in so many situations where there wasn’t a healing manifestation, but the individual clearly felt the embrace of God.  Sometimes that resulted later on in a physical healing being manifest…sometimes not.  As I said to begin with, I’ve personally witnessed a multitude of quick healing manifestations.  I believe God cares about a physical healing touch in a person’s body far more than many give Him credit.  I’ve seen the Lord use physical healings as a vehicle to open a person’s heart….many, many times.  I also believe we do those same people a disservice if we then leave it at that.   

Is it God’s will that all be healed? 

It would seem to some like a very simple question.  I don’t think it is.  I don’t think it is as simple as some sincere folks make it.  I also believe that healing and health (on many levels) is a core value of God’s heart.  <For reasons I listed above….and there are more>

For one, I will teach (in a teachable way) that healing and health is a product of God’s nature.  And, I for one – in wisdom and love – will minister healing and health as important to God.  I will also continue to make it one of my core values, and leave my heart and mind open to be taught increasingly better, more loving, and more powerful ways to do so.

Gary

The hot story of the week is about the Cassie Anthony trial verdict.  Everybody has a passionate reaction.  That includes what I believe the Lord reverberated in my heart.

On Tuesday afternoon, July 5, I was stunned.  Frankly, I thought the results would be much different than they were.  In fact, I personally believe she is guilty of something much worse than her jury’s decided verdict.  Truthfully, I believe a majority of our citizens believe that.

While thinking about this I asked, “Jesus, please talk to me about this!”  The response that echoed over and over in my heart was, “Where was the Light?” 

That question struck me with a weight that was beyond an application to Cassie Anthony alone.  Although it applied to her as an individual and this specific tragedy, it was a reverberating question that had symbolic implications.

The impact of His question was weighty but was not laced with the heavy tone of accusation that so often happens when people feel guilty about failure.

No one can do much, if anything, about the victims of this specific catastrophe.  But, what about the rest of us right here right now…at least beginning on a heart level?

Where was the light?  That’s a fair and probing question.  Where were those who had truth, light, and life at their disposal that has transforming power?

In part, they were cloistered in Light Communities imprisoned by a system of misunderstandings of what it means to be ambassadors for Christ.  Don’t get me wrong.  Many churches have the best intentions and organize events that, by-in-large, attempt to draw “the world” into their arena to expose them to the Truth.  I’m not bashing those sincere attempted works.

What I am saying is that too many members of good churches see the ministry as a program of their churches to which they may “help out.”  However, they don’t have a personal core value that they, themselves as individuals, are 24/7 ambassadors/ministers.  Secondly, my call is for churches to “get out of the box.” 

In fact I believe we have to get out of the traditional boxes of what “evangelism” looks like and how it functions.  We have to have an expanded vision of “methodology.”

Focused group efforts are good and a necessary part of the equation, but light belongs in darkness.  We must get naturally supernatural and creative in how we do our “fishing.”

In my opinion, Cassie Anthony could have been redeemed from the life that resulted in the loss of her God intended destiny on earth, and the death of a young girl who also had a destiny in God if the Light had gone to the darkness instead of expecting the darkness to come to it.

The solution is not the mire of guilt.  May these words strike a match…a restless tremor in hearts.  May this “troubling of our waters” cause us to pursue Jesus and learn, from Him, how to be “Fishers of Men” and “Light to the World.”  May it even keep some of us awake at night with a passion to pursue the paths less traveled.

Gary