Pastors Jim and Marie Watt
One. TOTAL HEALING: ANNA THE PROPHETESS.
Genesis 30:12-13 ™: “ When Leah's maid Zilpah had a second son for Jacob, … Leah said, 'A happy day! The women will congratulate me in my happiness.' So she named him Asher (Happy).”
Genesis 49:20 ™: “Asher will become famous for rich foods, candies and sweets fit for kings.”
Deuteronomy 33:24-25 ™: “Asher, best blessed of the sons! May he be the favorite of his brothers, his feet massaged in oil. … Safe behind iron-clad doors and gates, your strength like iron as long as you live.”
Blessed the person whose spouse is an Asher like Anna - for of all the tribes, this is one which is most delightful and easy to get along with.
Anna brought total healing through her long life of Intercession. It is not an easy calling, nor is it always understood. See the life of Rees Howells as an Intercessor to understand the misunderstanding that can come to one of this calling. Family, friends, the church and the ungodly --can all unite in this misunderstanding. When an intercessor refused to march to the drummer of personal choice in the worldly church, and defers completely to the Holy Spirit for His choices --then the total field of observation is rife for misunderstanding!
Would Anna the prophetess move in the realm of misunderstanding? Of course! “What is she doing in the Temple so much of the time? How does she expect to live? Doesn't she care about her family and friends?” Can't you hear the questions thrown around about her? Didn't they ask the same questions about Jesus? And Rees Howells was tremendously misunderstood in all of these same areas. Each individual called to a life of intercession should master the biography of Rees Howells by Norman P. Grubb.
But the Intercessor like Anna the Prophetess has great recompense of reward. She moved in the train of Asher, where first word at his birth connotes one as the source of HAPPINESS! Then note the other blessings that flow from such a life as recorded by Jacob and Moses. Anyone who through prayer and intercession can see individuals come forth with a heart united to fear God's Name (psalm 86:11) - such a one is Blessed indeed, and has the joy of seeing Total Healing come forth for individuals and corporate bodies.
Two. TOTAL HEALING: INTERCESSOR, WATCHMAN AND PROPHET RELATED.
Luke 2:36-38 (NNT): “And there was Anna, a prophetess, daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher (SHE was of great age, having lived with a husband seven years from her virginity, … and SHE a widow even unto eighty-four years), who departed not from the temple, worshipping with fastings and supplications night and day. … And coming up at that very hour she gave thanks to God, and spoke of him to all that were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.”
Many individuals have by the Spirit noted that these three words are synonyms: Intercessor, Watchman and Prophet. Anna exemplifies this. So did Rees Howells. Habakkuk talks about the Watchman of God on his prayer tower, listening for a word from God. A true Intercessor does NOT pray his own prayers. He must out of a state of intimacy with God hear the burden of the Lord - and then assume this burden as his own, until the answer is granted. This requires death to the self-life. Prayer Warriors are not required by God for such a life. They need not pray a prayer through to victory. They can pray prayers in line with their own interests. Such folk are following God - but are not true Intercessors, but Prayer Warriors. There IS a difference.
Again - think of Anna and the testimony of her life. She completely fulfills the condition of Jesus in Mark 8:34!
Three. TOTAL HEALING: TRICHOTOMY - SPIRIT, SOUL AND BODY.
1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 (NNT): “And the God of peace himself sanctify you wholly; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved entire, without blame at the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ. … Faithful he that calls you, who will also do it.”
I love this verse. It is indeed linked with Psalm 86:11, the heart of David, who was a man after God's own heart.
Behavioral Psychology sees man no different from animals - both having only soul and body. This is dichotomy. But the word of God here and in Hebrews 4:12, clearly reveals that man has a spirit over and above what animals have. It is in this realm that God has made man - not animal - but in His own image. For God is SPIRIT, and they who worship Him MUST worship Him in spirit and in truth. Dogs, who are animals, worship their master. But man worships God! This animals cannot do.
And remember 2 Corinthians 7:1 - even the human spirit must be cleansed from all filthiness as well as the flesh. Our conscious mind in the soul must be renewed (Romans 12:2) - but our subconscious mind in the spirit - only the Holy Spirit can purge and cleanse. Our conscious mind is like the tip of the iceberg in Romans 12:2 - but the subconscious mind of the spirit is that 7/8 part of us below the surface. The intercessor can help release the Holy Spirit in us to do that purging and cleansing - so that we can THEN come into true intimacy with God. Then we can understand the Song of Songs which is Solomon's. Then we will rejoice in TOTAL HEALING - body, soul and spirit. Madame Guyon in her Commentary on the Song of Solomon makes this abundantly clear.
Four. TOTAL HEALING: WILLIAM BRANHAM AND EXORCISM.
Mark 16:17-18 (NNT): “And these signs shall follow them that have believed: in my name shall they cast out demons, speak with tongues; … and in their hands they shall take up serpents, and if they drink anything deadly, it shall in no wise hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.”
Note here that exorcism precedes healing. Is exorcism always a necessity? Of course not. When we utilize the gift of “discernings of spirits” we can swiftly know what the situation requires. In a similar situation Jesus' disciples asked him if the sickness of a man was because of sin on his part or his parents. Jesus told them that it was neither - but that the situation allowed for the glory of God to be manifested!
Christoph Blumhardt (1805-1880) became a pastor of a rural community in Southern Germany. He came face to face with the depths of demonic powers. In the victorious struggle of which he was instrumental in leading a spiritual awakening, it reminded one of a return of the world of the New Testament. It took a number of years for him to become adept at this ministry - but once he broke through, healings automatically followed once the demonic powers were ejected. Dr. Kurt Koch, also of Germany, saw remarkable success in this twin attack. William Branham also recognized that all illness was not demonic based - but when he discerned that it was, he swiftly and effectively moved to right the wrong. Pastor Ern Baxter watched him successfully diagnose and heal 1000's of diseases and illnesses. Out of over 5000 cases in a period of 6 years, he averred that he had not seen Brother Branham miss once! It was William Branham's visit to Saskatoon, Saskatchewan in the late 40's that had such a profound effect upon the men who in 1948 would become the leaders of that Visitation.
This is one of the 12 great embryonic truths of the 1948 Visitation. If exorcism is indicated as necessary prior to healing - then following the departure of demonic evil spirits - healing is almost automatic. In the regenerate believer, satan is no longer in the human spirit. But he can oppress the believer in body and soul - and on Jesus' days on earth he went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed of the devil (Acts 10:38).
My wife Marie and I attended some 50 of the Branham meetings. We went primarily to hear the teaching and preaching of Ern Baxter. William Branham asked Baxter to serve as his business-manager and teacher/preacher for some 6 years. But as a spin-off, we saw extraordinary Signs and Wonders through the life of God's servant Branham. Whenever he discerned the presence of evil spirits in disease, he invariably used exorcism to remove them, and then the healing followed. See the order of these two Signs in the Scripture reading above.
Mrs. Maria Woodworth-Etter moved under a similar anointing. Demons fled. People - both saved and unsaved - fell into trances. Visions of heaven and hell convinced them of the reality of both sides of the unseen world. Invariably sinners came out of the trance with a 2 Corinthians 5:17 BRIGHT conversion. Old things, because of visions, had passed away - all things had become new!
I personally witnessed this in Chicago about 1956 through the Kostner Avenue Baptist Church, where I served as pastor. The wife of one of our parishioners had an unbelieving husband. She kept on my case until we prayed through for his salvation. Then he came down with glomerulo nephritis (Bright's Disease) and fell into a coma or trance. When he came to, he told his wife that he had seen visions of heaven and hell, and had made up his mind to serve God in the higher place! He died 5 days later, but in a state of SOUND CONVERSION. Dr. E. Stanley Jones says this is one of God's methods of healing. I believe he is right.
The ministry and example of William Branham had a profound effect upon the men God was soon to use in launching the 1948 visitation. It was a challenge for Total Healing: Body, Soul and Spirit! George Hawtin had healing success as a young evangelist in prior years. It was God's preparation for him. But the demonstration of healing and exorcism by Branham powerfully prepared him for the 1948 Visitation.
Five. TOTAL HEALING: ASHER - THE TRIBE OF CONTENTMENT.
Philippians 4:10-14 (NNT): “But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at length you have revived your thought for me; in which you did indeed take thought, but you lacked opportunity. … Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatever state I am, to be CONTENT. … I know how to be abased, and I know also how to abound: in everything and in all things have I learned the secret both to be filled and to be hungry, both to abound and to be in want. … I can do all things in him that strengthens me. … Howbeit you did well that you had fellowship with my affliction.”
What would healing be, apart from a life of contentment? Jesus healed the unbeliever right along with believers - but He invariably warned the former, “Go and sin no more - lest a WORSE befall you!”
Many have seen that Asher; -- “blessed or happy” - is a mark of this tribe. Believers who have received Total Healing, and entered into a life of intimacy with God in the Holy of Holies - have learned to experience the same and true CONTENTMENT experienced by the apostle Paul. Note - he had to LEARN how to appropriate this state. Madame Guyon, Fenelon and Michael Molinos - all three - give us insights that will enable any sincere, earnest, searching believer to come to this same state.
When we reach that state of CONTENTMENT for any stage of life in which we find ourselves - good or bad - then we are approximating the life of Jesus - or rather, through yieldedness we are letting Jesus live out HIS LIFE through us (Galatians 2:20).
I often think of an old advertisement when I was a boy - “Borden's Contented Cow!” The Borden Milk Company encouraged their farmers to do right by their milking cows. They fed them well, handled them well and looked after all their needs - and produced CONTENTED cows who gave much good milk.
God would so look after us through His ministries - that we too would feel as well looked after as Borden's cows. Then CONTENTMENT as experienced by the apostle Paul would be our portion also! TOTAL HEALING then invariably follows.
Six. TOTAL HEALING: OSWALD CHAMBERS.
SONG OF SONGS ™: The Song is a convincing witness that men and women were created physically, emotionally, and spiritually to live in love. At the outset of Scripture we read, “It is not good for man to live alone.” The Song of Songs elaborates on the Genesis story by celebrating the union of two diverse personalities in love. …
Christians read the Song on many levels: as the intimacy of marital love between man and woman, God's deep love for his people, Christ's Bridegroom love for his church, THE CHRISTIAN'S LOVE FOR HIS OR HER LORD. It is a prism in which all the love of God in all the world, and all the responses of those who love and whom God loves, gather and then separates into individual colors.” (See “The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language” by Eugene H. Peterson.)
“Personal, passionate, devotion to Jesus!” These are the recurring words of Oswald Chambers in his “My Utmost for His Highest.” He knew intimately the spiritual significance of the Song of Solomon. J. Hudson Taylor, famous for founding the China Inland Mission and praying out over 900 missionaries at one time - this man read the Song of Songs which is Solomon's every Monday morning. Madame Jeanne Guyon has written a Commentary on this Song, and it would do every Christian believer good to read this remarkable book.
God has used his servant Chambers to help countless individuals find meaningful vertical relationship with the Living God! They learn to know and love the Father through the revelation Jesus gives of Him through Himself. They learn to know of Jesus intimately through the revelation of the indwelling Spirit.
Few servants of God have been more successful in bringing so many to the healing of the Total Man than Oswald Chambers. Over 37 of the books that bear his name were written posthumously by his wife. She used her secretarial notes from series of his lectures that she had taken while he was living. Of the three published before his home going at the age of 43, “Biblical Psychology” was his favorite. He said, “If I had only a week to preach in a place, and neither God nor the leaders requested a theme - I would invariably teach on this book.” Here believers would understand how body, soul and spirit of man blend together in a unity. As God is ONE (eCHAD, Hebrew), Father, Son and Holy Spirit - so man made in His image is ONE - SPIRIT, SOUL AND BODY. The body is the Temple of the Holy Spirit. Jesus saves the soul. The Father indwells our Holy of Holies, the spirit. When we allow the spirit to take over the soul and self-life and renew the mind, then we have a UNITED HEART. Then the prayer of David in Psalm 86:11 is fulfilled. Then when we allow the Holy Spirit to fulfill 2 Corinthians 7:1 completely in us - how pleased and happy God will be. And remember - God is not at our disposal to make us happy - we are at HIS disposal for HIS PLEASURE (Revelation 4:11).
Oswald Chambers thoroughly understood these truths - and though he died in 1917, he being dead - yet speaks - especially in his book, “My Utmost for His Highest.”
Seven. TOTAL HEALING: LATIN AMERICA AND BOLDNESS.
Acts 4:13-14 (NNT). “Now when they beheld the BOLDNESS of Peter and John, and had apprehended that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. … And seeing the man that was healed standing with them, they had nothing to speak against. … 29-31. And now, Lord, look upon their threatenings: and grant unto your bondmen to speak your word with all BOLDNESS, … while you stretch forth your hand to heal; and that signs and wonders be done through the name of your holy servant Jesus. … And when they had prayed, the place was shaken in which they were gathered; and all were filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God with BOLDNESS.”
The torch is moving from the United States to other nations. There is still a part for us, but our sins - national, individual, denominational and pagan - have angered our great God - and judgment hangs heavy over our land. The San Francisco earthquake of 1906 was an indication of this. The 9/11/01 Terrorist attacks on the New York Twin Towers and the Pentagon - another.
We have had Americans and Canadians visit Argentina to witness extraordinary healing and deliverance revival in Buenos Aires. Believers of other nations have said this about us: “Our greatest prayer for revival is America! They have angered God with abortions, homosexuality, extreme “Women's Liberation Ideas.” They have exported pornography, worldly music, movies leading to sex, the flesh and violence. Yes - America and Canada DESPERATELY need revival. Even Islamic countries don't appreciate their youth receiving what we export.
So in these other nations, God is raising up ministries with “signs following.” The dead are raised. The sick are healed. The oppressed are delivered. Salvation is freely and effectively offered in a purity apart from Hollywood's glitz and glamour.
We need a DEEP and thorough house cleaning from our worldliness. These barnacles are entrenched on the good ship of grace - both the church and the home church movement.
As we see God use ministries from other nations - may it serve to motivate us to seek God with prayer and fasting in the spirit of 2 Chronicles 7:14 - until God in grace and mercy revisits us as He did in the days of Hezekiah and Josiah. It will not stave off completely the judgment coming - but as in Josiah's day - it can stave it off until many more are revived and saved. Thank God for Jim Goll lining us up to prayer Psalm 91 over our land and that of Israel for the next 91 days. May a hedge of protection preserve us from the Terrorists both in America and Israel!