Preaching, Teaching And Healing

by Dag Heward-Mills

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Copyright 2008 Dag Heward-Mills

Published by Dag Heward-Mills on Smashwords.

E mail Dag Heward-Mills

info@daghewardmillsbooks.org

evangelist@daghewardmills.org

Find out more about Dag Heward-Mills at:

http://www.daghewardmills.org

http://www.daghewardmills.org/healingjesuscrusade/

http://www.daghewardmills.org/lci/

Unless otherwise stated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Version of the Bible

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

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Dedication To

Mrs. Olivia Kofi-Opata

Thank you for your pioneering work in my literary ministry.

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Contents

Chapter 1 - Preaching, Teaching and Healing

Chapter 2 - If God Became a Man

Chapter 3 - The Maximum Good

Chapter 4 - Why Preaching Is Powerful

Chapter 5 - Sin Leads All Men to Their Death

Chapter 6 - The Death Sentence

Chapter 7 - Preaching Releases the Power of God

Chapter 8 - Preaching Gives Hope

Chapter 9 - Preaching Saves Lives

Chapter 10 - Why Teaching Is Powerful

Chapter 11 - The Differences between Preaching and Teaching

Chapter 12 - Three Direct Effects of Teaching

Chapter 13 - A Healing Jesus

Chapter 14 - The Sign of a New Kingdom

Chapter 15 - Believing in the Power

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Chapter 1

Preaching, Teaching and Healing

I would like to introduce you to the ministry of preaching, teaching and healing in this book. The Bible says that Jesus went about all the cities and villages teaching in their synagogues, preaching the Gospel of the kingdom and healing every sickness among the people.

And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, TEACHING in their synagogues, and PREACHING the gospel of the kingdom, and HEALING every sickness and every disease among the people.

Matthew 9:35

This Scripture encapsulates the main items of Jesus’ agenda on earth. It simplifies the ministry of Jesus. It teaches us that preaching, teaching and healing must be the key activities of every minister.

I have realized that the problems of man are the same from Columbia to Ghana to South Africa and to the Far East. We are stricken with the same diseases whether we are Korean, English or Ghanaian. I have walked through graveyards in Switzerland, the UK and Ghana, and realized that our problems are the same.

Jesus Christ understood that His Father had chosen these little understood methods to help with the problems of man. Through Jesus’ ministry, millions of lives have been changed in different places in the world.

This is truly the hand of God and you can see that it is God’s method of helping mankind. The use of much money, administrative techniques, handing out of gifts and building of schools and hospitals has never produced the same results that the three and a half years of Jesus’ ministry did in the lives of people. Two thousand years is not enough time to quench the power of three years of preaching, teaching and healing.

As you read the following chapters about preaching, teaching and healing, your duty is to allow God to build faith in you. You must believe in this humble and “foolish” method of helping mankind.

The highest kind of delusion is to think that we can do anything better than Christ did. He said, “It is enough that the servant be as his master.”

It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord…

Matthew 10:25

Chapter 2

If God Became a Man

I have often wondered what God would do if He became a man. There are so many problems in the world and not enough solutions. In general, we know that God would do good and solve people’s problems. Here are some ideas about what God could do if He appeared on this earth for a brief period.

Nine Suggestions for God

1. Perhaps God would set up several large universities.

2. Perhaps God would build the biggest hospital in the world to cater for many sick people.

3. Perhaps God would provide potable water for thousands of villages.

4. Perhaps God would construct the largest hydro-electric dam to provide electricity.

5. Perhaps God would set up relief centres to cater for the refugees and displaced children of the world.

6. If God became a man, perhaps He would build many orphanages.

7. If God became a man, He would probably set up great businesses so that He could finance His work.

8. If God became a man, He would build schools to cater for all children of school-going age. This would reduce illiteracy in the world and greatly improve the lot of many people.

9. If God became a man, He would probably join some political parties in order to gain influence to help the world. Perhaps He would help the world better by being a president.

But God did become a man. God did take on the form of a man for a brief period.

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

Philippians 2:5-7

How do we know that God became a man? What evidence do we have that God actually became a man?

1. If God were to become a man, His entry into this world would be unusual.

And sure enough, Jesus was born of a virgin amidst many unusual circumstances.

Behold, a VIRGIN SHALL BE WITH CHILD, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

Matthew 1:23

Jesus’ coming into this world fulfilled over 109 prophecies.

2. If God were to become a man, He would probably speak the greatest words ever spoken.

His words would probably never be forgotten. This is exactly what has happened. Even though Jesus never wrote a book, or recorded a tape, His words are still echoing through the centuries.

For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

Matthew 7:29

3. If God became a man, He would be sinless and perfect.

Sure enough, Jesus was the perfect man. He did no sin.

Who did NO SIN, neither was guile found in his mouth:

1 Peter 2:22

4. If God did become a man, He would overcome the problems that have plagued mankind through the centuries.

He would conquer sickness and disease. That is exactly what Jesus did. All kinds of diseases and sicknesses were banished from the presence of the Lord.

When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and HEALED ALL THAT WERE SICK:

Matthew 8:16

5. If God became a man, He would control the elements that He created.

That is what Jesus did. He exercised power over the wind and the rain. He even walked on the sea that He had created.

And when the disciples saw him WALKING ON THE SEA, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.

Matthew 14:26

6. If God became a man for a brief period, His visit to the earth, no matter how brief, would always be remembered.

It would be referred to as the time God visited us. Surely the visit of Christ has never been forgotten. In fact, the entry and exit of Christ are marked annually by the whole wide world. Two thousand years after the visit of Christ, Easter and Christmas are still international worldwide events.

7. If God became a man, He would overcome man’s greatest enemy - death.

The Lord Jesus calmly predicted that He would die and rise up after three days. He seemed to have no fear of death. He conquered death and the grave and Hell for us, that we might not have to go there.

But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour JESUS CHRIST, WHO HATH ABOLISHED DEATH, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:

2 Timothy 1:10

8. If God became a man we know that He would spend His time doing the maximum good for all mankind.

How God anointed JESUS OF NAZARETH with the Holy Ghost and with power: WHO WENT ABOUT DOING GOOD, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.

Acts 10:38

Chapter 3

The Maximum Good

Dear friend, let us ask ourselves what activities Christ engaged Himself in during His brief stay on earth. Was it the building of schools and hospitals? Was it the building of orphanages and providing of electricity and water? The answer is NO!

We can find out what Jesus did by reading the four Gospels. Again, this Scripture in particular summarizes the activities of Christ on earth. I want you to read it carefully.

And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, TEACHING in their synagogues, and PREACHING the gospel of the kingdom, and HEALING every sickness and every disease among the people.

Matthew 9:35

These three activities must have been the most beneficial to the human race. That is why He engaged Himself in them.

More good was done to this world by the preaching, the teaching and the healing activities of Christ Jesus. If there were anything better or more helpful, He would have done it. Preaching, teaching and healing activities have transformed several lives all over the world and brought hope to many.

We can safely conclude that the most important and highest form of assistance given to any community on this earth must be preaching, teaching and healing. Certainly, I do not think that any of us would purport to be wiser or kinder than God.

I often marvel when people ask me why I have left the medical field for the ministry. I suppose they think that giving out medicine is the highest form of assistance any human being could render to a community. I agree that the practice of medicine is a very noble and benevolent activity; what would we do without doctors? But Jesus has shown us the highest and the best kind of help you could ever give to mankind.

It is sad that pastors in the ministry are often pressurized to leave their role of preaching, teaching and healing. Subtle psychological pressure is exerted on them until they feel that doing something more secular is more beneficial. The highest form of deception is to think that you are wiser than God. The ultimate delusion is to think that you can have a greater impact than Christ did.

It is time to understand that preaching, teaching and healing are what the world needs. The world is waiting for preachers. The world is waiting for teachers. God is raising an army of preachers and teachers who will do His will. The church has done more good to this world than the UN, WHO and the UNHCR put together.

Definitely, the church has done more good to this world than most governments have. All this good is the result of Jesus’ preaching, teaching and healing ministry for three and a half years. I utterly reject the statements of those who say that a church becomes relevant only when it gets involved in social work.

The church becomes relevant when it gets involved in preaching, teaching and healing. That is what God would have done and that is what we should do.

The wisdom of God is foolishness to men. God has chosen that by the foolishness of preaching, man should be saved.

For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

1 Corinthians 1:21

People used to tell me how helpful I would be to the community as a doctor, but I tell you that I am of greater benefit now that I am a preacher. I believe the greatest calling upon anyone is the call to preach. The best way we can help humanity is to preach, to teach and to pray for healing.

That is why you must pray for the power to preach, for the grace to become a teacher and for the grace to heal the sick. When God became a man, He gave himself to preaching.

Chapter 4

Why Preaching Is Powerful

1. Preaching is powerful because it attacks the root of man’s problem.

Sin Is the Root of All Our Woes

The world is full of sinners on their way to Hell. No matter how good you are, your sins are manifest to God. Anyone who thinks he is righteous before God is suffering from one of the highest kinds of deceptions. The only thing that gives us a right standing before God is the blood of Jesus.

Unfortunately, some teachings in the body of Christ have led to the deception that we are semi-perfect beings who have a right to be in Heaven. Let me give you a few examples of people I know you respect. You will notice that as they got to know God they became more humble and even uncertain of their standing with God.

Paul

The Apostle Paul graduated downward in his opinion of himself. He moved from being the highest of the Apostles to the worst of sinners. This is real growth in humility.

a. First, he saw himself as not being inferior to any of the Apostles.

…for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles…

2 Corinthians 12:11

b. He later considered himself as the least of these same Apostles.

For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

1 Corinthians 15:9

c. After a while, he stopped comparing himself with the Apostles and likened himself to the least of the saints.

Unto me, who am less than THE LEAST OF ALL SAINTS, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;

Ephesians 3:8

d. Finally, at the end of his life and in one of his last letters, he did not bother to compare himself to an apostle or a saint. He had concluded that he was the chief of sinners.

This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save SINNERS; OF WHOM I AM CHIEF.

1 Timothy 1:15

Job

Job was described by God as an upright and perfect man who eschewed evil. However, when Job came into contact with the Lord he realized that he was actually a very evil person. He said, “I abhor myself.”

I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee. Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not. Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me. I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee. WHEREFORE I ABHOR MYSELF, and repent in dust and ashes.

Job 42:2-6

Peter

The Apostle Peter was fishing one day when the Lord showed up. When he realized that the one standing by him was Jesus, he was filled with a sense of sinfulness and he said, “I am a sinful man.” The presence of God always reveals our deepest corruption.

When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I AM A SINFUL MAN, O Lord.

Luke 5:8

Daniel

Daniel was a holy prophet greatly loved by the Lord. However, when he came into the presence of the Lord, he said, “...my comeliness was turned in me into corruption...” Once again you see a holy man of God who realizes his sinfulness when he is in the presence of God.

And I Daniel alone saw the vision: for the men that were with me saw not the vision; but a great quaking fell upon them, so that they fled to hide themselves. Therefore I was left alone, and saw this great vision, and there remained no strength in me: for my comeliness was turned in me into corruption, and I retained no strength. Yet heard I the voice of his words: and when I heard the voice of his words, then was I in a deep sleep on my face, and my face toward the ground. And, behold, an hand touched me, which set me upon my knees and upon the palms of my hands. And he said unto me, O Daniel, a man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak unto thee, and stand upright: for unto thee am I now sent. And when he had spoken this word unto me, I stood trembling.

Daniel 10:7-11

All these go to prove that there is none righteous, no not one.

As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

Romans 3:10

It is the presence of this pervading sin that is destroying the whole world. Sin is the reason for all the problems in the world; it is the root cause of all our woes. Hence, preaching is the most important remedy for the problems of mankind. Preaching attacks man’s problem at its very root.

Chapter 5

Sin Leads All Men to Their Death

Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.

Romans 5:12-15

Death has passed unto all men because of sin. The sin in our lives leads to death. The Bible also says when sin is finished, it brings forth death.

Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

James 1:15

Death is the inescapable end for all human beings. The very fact that we die indicates the presence of sin. Every time you see someone dying, remember that sin has completed its work. Death is the only natural consequence of sin.

Sin Is behind All the Causes of Death

The presence of sin opens the door to all the known causes of death including the cancers, HIV, incurable diseases, sickness, accidents and old age. The diseases of this world can all be attributed to our sinfulness.

As you will notice, none of the human attempts at helping mankind have eradicated the presence of sin and death. So preaching is the only solution that offers life to a human race sentenced to death.

In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

John 1:4

No hospital can promise you life. No medical cure can offer you life. The UN cannot solve your problem of death. There is a death sentence on all of us and only Jesus can give us new life. Jesus said, “I came that you might have life.”

Chapter 6

The Death Sentence

I remember watching a documentary of a young man who had been sentenced to death in America. It was a sad and moving true story of this black man who was alleged to have killed a policeman. He denied ever killing the policeman and many people believed that he was truly innocent.

For six long years, legal battles raged, as lawyers, family and friends tried to get him off death row. Finally, his options ran out and there were no further appeals that he could make. It was an amazing documentary and they filmed this man up until a few minutes before his execution.

His family and friends were invited for a last dinner. They all gathered round and had dinner with him.

Finally, it was time for them to go and they hugged him one by one till no one was left. He was then escorted to a private room where he had the opportunity to talk to his pastor and then to his lawyer. Within an hour, the execution had been carried out. After the execution his lawyer and his pastor were interviewed. I remember in particular the question his pastor was asked. “What was the last thing you said to him?” someone asked.

The pastor answered, “I told him that all of us were under a death sentence, the only difference is that most of us do not know the day of our execution.”

As I pondered over those words, I thought to myself how true they were. We are indeed under a death sentence. All of us will have to die whether we like it or not. It is just a matter of time and the sentence will catch up with us. It is only Jesus who can deliver us from this death sentence and give us new life.

He said, “I am the way, the truth and the life.” This is why preaching is so important. This is what differentiates preaching from all other kinds of human assistance. Preaching ministers life to condemned people!

Jesus said “...the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life...” (John 6:63).

Chapter 7

Preaching Releases the Power of God

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

Romans 1:16

He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.

Psalm 107:20

I once had a visiting preacher from Switzerland who made a remark about my church. He said, “Your church is like a giant youth group.” He continued, “There are so many young people in your church.”

Up until then, I had not really noticed that our church was full of young people. Initially, I thought it was not a compliment for someone to say that my church was full of young people. However, as time went by, I realized that it takes the power of God to get young people into church.

You see, young people are full of energy and youthful lusts. There are certain desires that are found more in young people. When the church is full of young people, it is a sign that the power of God is present.

The police cannot change young people. Moral codes cannot restrict wild young men. The fear of going to prison does not even seem to inhibit people today. However, I know something that has the power to convert the most hardened sinner. Is it not amazing that people who would not listen to anyone, whether parents, teachers or advisors, are “arrested” by the Word of God and are changed forever? Truly, the preaching of the cross is the power of God.

From a very early age I have served the Lord. I have followed Him with all my heart. What could make a young man like me give up his profession and become a preacher? This is the power of God at work.

Preaching always releases power and that power has the ability to change people. That is why you must be a preacher. It is because preaching has the ability to release power.

Chapter 8

Preaching Gives Hope

For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

Romans 15:4

Many people come to church with hopeless and discouraging situations hanging over their heads. As the Word of God comes to them, discouragement and hopelessness are driven away. Like chaff before a strong wind, discouragement and desperation are forced to fly away. The preaching of the Word of hope keeps men alive.

The Mouse Survived Because of Hope

I once read about an experiment in which a mouse was put into a deep bucket of water in a dark room. There was absolutely no light in this room. After about three minutes, the mouse drowned in the bucket.

A similar mouse of similar weight and size was put in the same bucket of water and in the same dark room. This time, a little glimmer of light was allowed to seep through. This second mouse kept swimming for about three days before it finally drowned. What was the difference between the two mice? The thin ray of light, which the second mouse saw, gave it so much hope. The hope for survival kept the mouse swimming. This is a wonderful story that illustrates how hope can keep a man alive until his miracle comes.

We hardly talk about hope, but without hope there can be no faith. Faith is the assurance of the things you are hoping for. As people receive hope through preaching, faith is built up.

Chapter 9

Preaching Saves Lives

For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

1 Corinthians 1:21

God has chosen that by the foolishness of preaching, people should be saved. Preaching saves lives.

The Anointing of Jonah

In the last days, the anointing of Jonah the preacher will be released on men. The anointing of Jonah was sufficient to convert hardened sinners to the ways of God. Nineveh was a city of wicked people and Jonah was initially afraid of preaching there. The entire city was eventually converted when Jonah preached.

Jonah did not perform any miracles. He did not “slay” anyone in the Spirit nor did he have strange manifestations of the Spirit. However, he had a strong preaching anointing that was strong enough to change an entire city.

I see that preaching anointing coming upon your life! You shall preach to thousands! Men’s hearts will change when they hear you preaching. People will be saved when they come under your preaching ministry.

The book of Genesis shows us that people lived much longer than they do today.

And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years...And all the days of Methuselah were nine hundred sixty and nine years: and he died...And all the days of Lamech were seven hundred seventy and seven years: and he died.

Genesis 5:23, 27, 31

As sin increased, life became shorter. The Bible is very specific about how God shortened life from hundreds of years to one hundred and twenty years.

And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.

Genesis 6:3

It seems life was shortened even further from one hundred and twenty years to seventy years.

The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.

Psalm 90:10

The earlier generations were having four hundredth year birthday parties. They had children when they were one hundred and fifty years old. Today, we are overjoyed if someone gets to the age of eighty. By the time someone is forty, he seems to be an elderly person. Why has the body begun to give up so early?

And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them, That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose. And the Lord said,

My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.

Genesis 6:1-3

900 years was reduced to 120 years because of fornication with the sons of God! Fornication shortened the lives of the people by 800 years.

90% of their lives were taken away because of fornication. The Bible declares, “...when sin is finished it brings forth death” (James 1:15).

Think about that. Do you see how sin shortened our lives?

As you can see, the problem is spiritual and not physical. That is why physical remedies cannot be the solution for mankind.

The problem is a sin problem. And the solution is the preaching of Christ Jesus and Him crucified.

When “sin is finished” the agents of death i.e. heart disease, lung disease, cancer, sickle cell disease, skin diseases, HIV, tumors, accidents, fights and kidney failure begin to make arrangements to kill us – whether by making the kidney stop, or by causing a car accident. Everyone has a different method by which the death sentence is carried out.

When Christ came to this earth, He knew He was dealing with a complex problem. That is why He did not just heal everyone. He knew that the problem was deeper. He knew why certain ailments had fastened themselves onto certain people. It was not just an issue of being ill. He knew that there was more to it than that! When the Lord looked at our situation, He thought of the best way to help us; the best way to lengthen our lives. God planned the best way to save us from the things to which we were bound legally. That is why He came around preaching, teaching and healing. It pleased God that by the foolishness of preaching, He would save people.

Preaching and teaching solves your problems. First of all, your spirit is redeemed. You do not have to go to Hell anymore. Thank God that by the power of preaching, your soul will be saved from eternal damnation. When preaching has powerfully saved your soul, other areas of your life begin to be affected as well. After the soul has prospered, your health will be affected by this salvation. Your financial life is also affected after the salvation of your soul. God’s Word begins to heal and solve all problems from within.

Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.

3 John 2

Thinking naturally, you realize that if a person decides to do away with fornication, he reduces his exposure to the HIV infection and therefore death. When you hear the Word of God, and decide to marry instead of running around with different people, you reduce your exposure to many diseases. Preaching and teaching saves our lives in many ways we cannot even imagine.

Because of the Word of God, we decide to stop smoking and drinking alcohol. This extends our lives automatically by many years. You are at far less risk from cancer, heart disease, HIV, gonorrhoea and depression when you live in line with the Word of God. A preaching tape can save your life. I believe in listening to preaching tapes. You will discover that the Word you get from the tape is “life to all who find it and health to all their flesh”.

My son, attend to my words…For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.

Proverbs 4:20-22

Expose yourself to preaching and you will be exposing yourself to many blessings. Jesus came preaching and teaching. His Word will bring you healing.

He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.

Psalm 107:20

The healings were just signs. When people came just for signs He told them they were evil. He taught us that loving signs and wonders withoutloving His preaching is an evil thing.

But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:

Matthew 12:39

Preaching is what brings about ministries and churches! God wants more preachers! God wants you to preach! Preaching and teaching will heal your marriage. It will reduce the tendency to fight; it will bring peace. Preaching will prevent divorce. Preaching changes lives!

Chapter 10

Why Teaching Is Powerful

One day, Jesus was teaching in the temple and a demon shouted, “Leave us alone.” The Word is powerful: it attacks demons directly.

And they went into Capernaum; and straightway on the sabbath day he entered into the synagogue, and taught. And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes. And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out, Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God.

Mark 1:21-24

Exposing yourself to the teaching of the Word brings healing to your life. Jesus did not just start by healing people. The people came to hear Him and after that, to be healed of their diseases. Jesus always taught the Word of God before ministering healing. After teaching the Word, He would heal the sick. He did this because the Word of God attacks the source of your sickness. God reaches to the root cause of your poverty. As people are exposed to the Word, healing always comes.

But so much the more went there a fame abroad of him: and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by him of their infirmities.

Luke 5:15

And he came down with them, and stood in the plain, and the company of his disciples, and a great multitude of people out of all Judaea and Jerusalem, and from the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, which came to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases;

Luke 6:17

My son, attend to MY WORDS;…FOR THEY ARE LIFE UNTO THOSE THAT FIND THEM, AND HEALTH to all their flesh.

Proverbs 4:20,22

There are many accounts in the Gospels where people came to hear Him teach. The reason God is going to raise you up as a powerful teacher is so that you can affect people’s lives. God is going to raise you up as a powerful preacher and teacher.

Jesus said, “...the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life...” (John 6:63). Life comes into you as you hear the Word. Thank God that through the teaching of His Word, your spirit comes alive. It is important to continue to expose yourself to the teaching of the Word!

Chapter 11

The Differences between Preaching and Teaching

We have seen that the Word of God heals and saves us whether it comes through preaching or teaching; but what is the difference between preaching and teaching?

When the Word of God comes by preaching it is through our souls and our feelings. When it comes by teaching, it comes through our minds.

Eight Differences between Preaching and Teaching

a. When the Word comes to us by preaching, our souls are ministered to.

b. When the Word comes by teaching, our minds are largely involved in receiving.

c. Teaching has a more lasting effect than preaching does.

d. Teaching is sometimes more difficult to assimilate. Preaching enters quickly but fades quickly.

e. Preaching is moving and stirring.

f. Preaching is more outwardly impressive than teaching.

g. Teaching is not as popular as preaching. If I were to put a preacher on the left and a teacher on the right, most people would prefer the preacher.

h. Most people would think that a preacher is a very powerful man of God compared to the teacher. If the masses were asked to vote, they would probably choose the preacher because he would be more impressive.

Teachers usually have churches that grow steadily. This is because the truth is taught line upon line; and precept upon precept. It is just like when you are building a house, the blocks are laid systematically until you get an orderly and lasting structure.

Chapter 12

Three Direct Effects of Teaching

The Teaching of the Word Brings Light

Demons live and thrive in darkness. Demons of frustration, early death and poverty abide in darkness. Pride is a type of darkness. That is why where there is pride, there are evil spirits. Thank God, His Word is light.

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

Psalm 119:105

When the Word is taught, light comes on in our hearts. Demons, which dwell in darkness, are forced to run away. As the Word is taught, spiritual illumination takes place.

That is why people can be healed while teaching goes on. As the Word is taught, your life is transformed. The devil knows this and that is why he does not like you to listen to teaching. That is why he does not want you to have a tape. A tape can change your life forever. One tape can take you to Heaven. One tape can turn you into a pastor! One tape can change you from being a divorcee into a happily married person. A tape can give you stability. It can turn you from madness to sanity and give you health. The devil does not like teaching because of the light it brings.

Years ago, when I was a house officer at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, the largest hospital in Ghana, I lived in one of the hostel rooms. There was a time that my room was plagued with rats and mice.

Every night when I got to my room, I would put on the lights and suddenly, these rats would race all over the room and toward a particular hole in the ceiling. It would send shivers down my spine because I hate rats (and these were big ones). These rats were having a field day while I was out and when the lights were off. But as soon as I turned on the lights, they felt exposed and fled.

So it is with us when the light of the Word of God comes on in our lives. Demons are exposed and they are forced to flee. This is exactly how the Word of God operates. The Word throws light on the demons that dwell and flourish in the darkness of our lives!

When the light of the Word of God is off in your life (when you do not go to church, or when there is no Word in your life) demons are free to invade you.

Demons look for darkness within human beings. The darkness of unforgiveness, bitterness, hatred, lust, lying, pride, disobedience, sin or anger is what demons exploit. That is why the Bible enjoins us not to give any place to the devil. The presence of these dark areas opens the door for demonic manoeuvers and operations.

Neither give place to the devil.

Ephesians 4:27

You shall be free from satanic oppression when you put on the light of the Word.

The Teaching of the Word Is the Sword in Action

…and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

Ephesians 6:17

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword…

Hebrews 4:12

Teaching is powerful. It drives away demons, mental diseases, blindness, uncleanness, pride, stupidity, lust, spiritual problems and poverty. The sword pricks the demons and drives them away.

Since the demons do not want to be hurt by the sword of the Word they do all they can to stop you from taking in the teaching. That is why sometimes demons make you sleep in church, lest you hear the teaching. Hearing comes before healing!

…which came to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases;

Luke 6:17

The Teaching of the Word Is the Planting of the Seed

The sower soweth the word.

Mark 4:14

A seed is planted when you hear the Word. If the preacher says, “you shall be blessed and prosperous,” a seed is planted in your life. The words of a teacher are seeds, which grow and become mighty trees.

The reason why many people in my church want to be pastors is because of the seeds I have planted in them for ministry. What you plant is what you reap. Even in ordinary life the things we say about our children come to pass as they grow. As you continue to call your child an angel, he grows up to have a sweet spirit and vice versa.

As you tell your congregation that it shall be well with them and that the Lord is their keeper and the shade upon their right hand, these promises come to pass.

The Lord is your helper, you shall live and not die, and it shall be well with you. You shall have the baby you thought you would not have!

Chapter 13

A Healing Jesus

At the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, He announced that, the Spirit of the Lord was upon Him to heal the broken-hearted. This proved that He was a healing Jesus.

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; HE HATH SENT ME TO HEAL THE BROKENHEARTED, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

Luke 4:18-19

Jesus did not only preach and teach. Healing was a major part of His activities here on earth.

How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power :who went about doing good, AND HEALING ALL THAT WERE OPPRESSED OF THE DEVIL; for God was with him.

Acts 10:38

The preaching of the kingdom of God must always be accompanied by healing. Healing is the evidence that a new kingdom has come. When people asked Jesus about the kingdom, He said that healing was the evidence that God’s kingdom had come.

But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, NO DOUBT THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS COME upon you.

Luke 11:20

The Bible says Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.

Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and for ever.

Hebrews 13:8

Being the same comes from doing the same things over and over again. If Jesus is the same today, then He cares for women with gynaecological problems today as He cared for them then.

If He was sorry about people dying before their time and was moved with compassion to raise a woman’s son from the dead, He still has that compassion for such situations today. Today, He is still moved with compassion to raise up every dead thing in your life. God brings you healing through the preaching and teaching of His Word.

He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.

Psalm 107:20

Chapter 14

The Sign of a New Kingdom

There is more that influences our lives than meets the eye. We do not know our ancestors and what they might have done. We carry the genes of people we never knew. There are reasons why we go through what we go through. God punished Adam and Eve for their betrayal. They surrendered this world to Satan by their sin. From that time many curses of sickness, suffering and death came on the human race.

Christ did not come to bind the demons that ravage the human race. There is an appointed time for that. That is why the demons shouted, “Are you come to torment us before the time?” (Matthew 8:29). In the book of Revelation, the angel Michael bound the devil in chains for 1,000 years. It is only then that we see the devil being bound. Until then he is loose.

And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years

Revelation 20:2

When Christ healed the sick, He was only trying to show us that a New Kingdom had come. The fullest manifestation of that kingdom will happen when we go into eternity. On this earth we only see glimpses of that new kingdom.

Healing Is a Sign that the New Kingdom Has Come

When Jesus was about to begin His ministry, He went to the wilderness to fast and pray. After that, the devil tempted Him and He overcame the devil by the Word of God.

When Jesus came out of the wilderness, He announced that the kingdom of Heaven was at hand (available, around).

From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Matthew 4:17

The devil is the father of the kingdom of darkness. With Jesus’ announcement about the kingdom of God, the Lord was saying that, the times when demons controlled you, killed you, and destroyed your life are over.

Jesus had announced a new regime! It was a new regime of healing! This meant that everything associated with the old regime had been dismantled.

The things of the old kingdom; the diseases, the cancers that kill, the blindness of the eyes, the deafness of the ears, the broken hearts, the despair and the hopeless situations had ceased. The evidence of this new kingdom began to be seen as people were healed and delivered. The healing ministry is a “sign” ministry. A sign indicates or shows the presence of something. This explains why Jesus did not heal everybody. He healed some to demonstrate His power over sickness and disease. Healing is the sign that the kingdom of Heaven has come.

And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues...they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

Mark 16:17,18

Once, Jesus met with a woman who had suffered from prolonged bleeding. She had been seeing doctors for twelve years. The woman touched Jesus and straightaway she was healed because a new kingdom had come!

And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years, And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse, When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment. For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole. And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; AND SHE FELT IN HER BODY THAT SHE WAS HEALED OF THAT PLAGUE.

Mark 5:25-29

I remember when we had a certain government for many years in my country. There were certain faces we used to see on television all the time. We used to see the former president, his ministers and various activities of that regime paraded on television.

Soon there were elections and with that came a change of government. When the new kingdom (the new government) was inaugurated, we started to see new faces and hear new things. Tribunals that used to exist were disbanded. The activities of the old political group were no more shown on television. A completely new group of people were presented to the populace. A new kingdom had arrived.

Similarly, Jesus demonstrated that every negative thing of the old regime was gone and with the new regime, new things would be seen! He dealt with everything of the old regime. He dealt with demons, epilepsy and incurable diseases. He raised the dead three times to demonstrate that the old regime was gone and a new one had come!

Raising the Dead – a Sign of the Kingdom

One day, Jesus was called to heal Jairus’ daughter who was dying. When Jesus arrived at their home, He found that the young girl was dead already. But He had come with a New Kingdom. Jesus looked at the child and said, “Talitha cumi”which meant, “Damsel I say unto you arise.”

And, behold, there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and when he saw him, he fell at his feet, And besought him greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live. And he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise. And straightway the damsel arose, and walked; for she was of the age of twelve years. And they were astonished with a great astonishment.

Mark 5:22-23, 41-42

Jesus performed three miracles of the Kingdom of God.

i. He used the gift of faith to command the spirit of Jairus’ daughter to come back from the dead.

God can take you from irreversible circumstances and bring you back to a place of blessing. The things people said would never work will work in your life in Jesus’ name!

ii. He used the gift of the working of miracles.

When you die, your body begins to decompose, but every decomposed tissue was miraculously re-composed in this miracle. What a marvelous kingdom we belong to.

iii. He used the gift of healing.

Her heart started to work again. Her blood, which was clotting, started to flow normally; her brain cells were revived and she was cured of whatever disease had killed her!

All these three miracles are available for you today if you believe in the Lord Jesus. Jesus demonstrated on many occasions that all the things of the old kingdom could not stay around anymore. A new regime had come! A new kingdom has come – the enemy has no right to keep you under bondage anymore! Your life will never be the same again, because a new regime has come!

Chapter 15

Believing in the Power

And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying, and saying, Thou Son of David, have mercy on us.

And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord. Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.

And their eyes were opened; and Jesus straitly charged them, saying, See that no man know it.

Matthew 9:27-30

These two blind men were people who followed Jesus. This means they were in His presence for a long time, but even though they were with Him they were not healed or affected by the power of God.

Why was this so? How can you be in the presence of great supernatural power and not be affected? It is the same way that you can live next to a nuclear plant, and not be affected by it.

I remember standing under an electric pylon. There was a notice, which read: 11,300 volts. Would you believe that I stood under that pylon for more than an hour but it had no effect on me?

I remember that I could hear the sound of electricity sizzling through the cables. You could feel that it was very, very dangerous. I was next to this electric pylon going about my business. For about an hour, I was near this pylon; not more than 1 metre from it. And yet, the electricity that was in the cables had no effect on me! It did not affect me because I neither touched it nor tapped into it.

These two blind men followed Jesus carefully and diligently, but they were not healed. Though they came to the house in which Jesus was, they were not healed until Jesus asked the question,

“Do you believe that I am able to heal?”

This goes to explain that if you are in the presence of a mighty power and you do not believe in it, it will not have any effect on you. If you sit near the anointing and you do not have faith in it, it will have no effect on you. However, there are people in church whose lives and ministries are affected so much by the anointing.

The way to get connected to God’s immense power is by believing in the vessel God has chosen.

These two blind men are very good examples of people who were near power and in the presence of power, yet unable to connect to the power. The miracle took place after Jesus had asked them, “Do you believe that I am able?”

In my church, there are people who believe that I am able and there are others who do not believe that I am able. There are people who believe that I am anointed and that God has called me, but there are others who do not believe in such things! Those who believe connect and those who do not believe keep watching. You may be near and in the presence of power, but never connect to it.

Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.

Matthew 9: 29

Jesus was not trying to impress anyone! Neither was He trying to gather crowds. Whether you think He has done a miracle or not is not important to Him. That is why He asked them not to tell anybody about it. He did not want to have the problem of not being able to come into town. “Keep it to yourself. You were blind. Now you can see. Go home. Tell your wife and be happy.” End of story!

And their eyes were opened; and Jesus straitly charged them, saying, See that no man know it.

Matthew 9: 30

Today, pastors want to demonstrate that they have power. Many of us ministers want people to see us as powerful.

Jesus’ ministry to the general public reduced as time went on. In fact, very few people stayed with Christ from a certain point onward. His ministry shifted towards His disciples.

Unfortunately the Pharisees saw the miracles that Jesus did as originating from the prince of devils.

As they went out, behold, they brought to him a dumb man possessed with a devil. And when the devil was cast out, the dumb spake: and the multitudes marvelled, saying, It was never so seen in Israel. But the Pharisees said, He casteth out devils through the prince of the devils.

Matthew 9:32-34

Some people have a re-description of everything that takes place. But you must know that there are always people who have another opinion. God bless their hearts!

Why Do We Need Healing?

I like to pray for healing for the sick for one reason. The Bible talks not only about preaching and teaching, but also about healing. Jesus’ first sermon when He came out of the desert was about the anointing for healing and deliverance.

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; HE HATH SENT ME TO HEAL THE BROKENHEARTED, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

Luke 4:18-19

How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, AND HEALING ALL THAT WERE OPPRESSED OF THE DEVIL; for God was with him.

Acts 10:38

The anointing was first of all to preach but according to the passage, it was also for the purpose of healing. The most important aspect of healing is the healing of the broken-hearted.

I wish it had said, “He has anointed me to heal cancer” or “…He has anointed me to heal incurable diseases.”

The most important part of us that needs healing is the heart. Our bodies may need healing, but our hearts need healing even more. The healing of our bodies is the manifestation of God’s mercy and God’s grace.

May you experience God’s healing! May you experience the power of preaching, teaching and healing in your ministry!

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Other Best-Selling Books by Dag Heward-Mills:

Loyalty and Disloyalty

Leaders and Loyalty

Transform Your Pastoral Ministry

The Art of Leadership

Model Marriage

Church Planting

The Mega Church

Lay People and the Ministry

These titles are also available in Spanish and/or French. Information about other foreign translations of some of the titles above may be obtained by writing to our email address.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Preaching, Teaching and Healing

Chapter 2

If God Became a Man

Chapter 3

The Maximum Good

Chapter 4

Why Preaching Is Powerful

Chapter 5

Sin Leads All Men to Their Death

Chapter 6

The Death Sentence

Chapter 7

Preaching Releases the Power of God

Chapter 8

Preaching Gives Hope

Chapter 9

Preaching Saves Lives

Chapter 10

Why Teaching Is Powerful

Chapter 11

The Differences between Preaching and Teaching

Chapter 12

Three Direct Effects of Teaching

Chapter 13

A Healing Jesus

Chapter 14

The Sign of a New Kingdom

Chapter 15

Believing in the Power