Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from the New King James Version of the Bible Copyright © 1979, 1980, 1982, Thomas Nelson, Inc.

A Place Called Completely Whole

Copyright © 2009  by Sharah LaGail Wyatt

First Love Ministries International

P O Box 163974, Ft Worth, TX 76161

United States

www.ps27fr.org

New Edition 2012

All rights reserved under international copyright law. Contents and/ or cover may not be reproduced in whole or in part in any form without prior written consent of the publisher.

CONTENTS:

Living in Wholeness

Knowing the Healer

Letting Peace Rule

Press Toward the REST

CHAPTER ONE

Living in Wholeness

One of the most beautiful words in the English language is the word wholeness.  It is beautiful because when you are walking in wholeness, your life is a beautiful life.  Deep inside every one of us we crave to be completely whole, because God created us to be that way – complete and satisfied in every area of our lives.

One of the greatest keys to experiencing wholeness is the Peace of God.   Peace is more than just experiencing outer circumstances of quietness and tranquility – because most of the time, life is just not that way.  However, you can experience inner – quietness and tranquillity even when circumstances go awry, if you’re connected to the force of God’s peace, and consequently, all will be well with you.  This peace doesn’t just equip you and protect you in the midst of the circumstances and trials you’re encountering now or will face in the future – but it embodies the ability to heal, restore, and make you whole from any and everything you’ve experienced in the past.

The devil often tries to do things to make us feel sick at heart.  One such instance is in Mark 5.25-34, where we see the account of the woman with the issue of blood.  At this point, she was not only sick in body (with no hope of a cure), but was also depleted of all her finances, and was (no doubt) probably very sick at heart.  Yet, in verse 27, “When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched the hem of His garment.”

No matter how hopeless a situation can look, we should never fail to do what this woman did – when she heard about Jesus, she ran to Him.  In any situation, He should be the first we run to – because He is the Answer!

The rest of the story is – she was completely healed and restored. The part I want to focus on is verse 34:  And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you whole. Go in peace….”  Peace in Hebrew is translated as “nothing missing, nothing broken – wholeness.”  So if you plug that definition into the above verse it then reads: “…. Your faith has made you whole, now go in your wholeness.”

When we allow this revelation to penetrate deep within our spirit, our whole perspective on life and the things we are dealing with will change drastically.  That’s what the peace of God will do for any and every one who will take hold of it.  And when wholeness takes hold of your life – even if everything you’re believing for hasn’t manifested in the natural yet – that wholeness will produce in your heart and soul such a reality of absolute completeness that it will seem as if it’s already come to pass.

Every benefit of our covenant with God is for now.  While there is a process for the fulfillment of every one of those benefits – the promises of God are always present tense.  Actually, God’s words are promises to us – but they are prophecies to Him.  Everything He says comes to pass because He believes what He says.  Now we must believe what He says – and it is His peace and His love working in us that will connect us to the fulfillment of His Word in our life.

God doesn’t desire anything other than for you to be completely whole in every area of your life.

I Thessalonians 5.23-24 (Message) says:  “May God Himself, the God Who makes everything holy and whole, make you holy and whole, put you together – spirit, soul, body – and keep you fit for the coming of our Master, Jesus Christ.  The One Who called you is completely dependable.  If He said it, He will do it.”

He wants to put you together. He wants to make you so complete so that you can say as Psalm 55.18 (MSG) declares: “My life is well and whole, secure in the middle of danger….”  A life of wholeness is a life of security, protection, peace of mind and heart, satisfaction, prosperity in spirit, soul, body, financially, relationally.  God wants you whole!

Psalm 119.80:  “And let me live whole and holy, soul and body, so I can always walk with my head held high.”

To live whole and holy, soul and body… What a beautiful illustration.  What is more, that is not just a nice-sounding phrase – those words are God-breathed, straight from His heart for us.  The Word records that Jesus ever lives to make intercession for us.  Well, what do you think He is interceding about?  He is declaring His peace, His wholeness over us day and night without any let up!

John 16.33: “These things I have spoken to you, that in ME you may have PEACE.  In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer – I have overcome the world.”

Philippians 4.7 reveals that the Peace of God – a peace which rises far above human thought, reason, and imagination – will stand at the entrance of our heart and mind to guard and filter everything that attempts to access our heart, mind, and emotions.

Let the peace of God dwell in you richly!  Meditate on His peace, His wholeness until it becomes a full reality in your heart and in your life.  Allow that peace to make you whole and holy, soul and body – by giving your attention entirely to it.  You have believed the Word, you have stood on the Word – Now let peace do its work….

Your faith has made you whole – Now go in your wholeness.  If you will let it, the peace of God which transcends all human understanding, will establish you in every good and desirable thing of which you could ever ask or dream.  And most of all, it will bring you to the place called Completely Whole.

CHAPTER TWO

Knowing the Healer

There is Someone who never thinks a bad thought about you, Someone who never desires to punish you with evil circumstances or destruction of any kind – His Name is Almighty God.  No matter who you are or where you have come from, you will never find Him desiring anything except for you to be blessed and whole in every area of your life.

Your well-being in life is so important to Him that He gave His most precious possession – His only Son – to suffer every evil thing and to die in your place, so that you could be redeemed from all destruction.  Your wholeness in life means everything to Him.

From the dawn of Creation until this present moment, the desire of Almighty God for His people is for every moment of their existence to pulsate with His Life, Goodness, and Blessing.

One major part of God’s Blessing for His people is Divine Health.  From Deuteronomy 28.58-61, we understand that every sickness and every disease is under the curse.  Jesus Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the Law by being made a curse for us; for it is written that cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree (Galatians 3.13).

Sickness does not glorify God.  Sickness and disease are not God’s desire for His people.  His desire is for us to live healed, whole, and in perfect health at all times.  He has made the way for us to experience this Divine Health through the promises of His Word.

Throughout the Scriptures, we can see that God has many names – each one proclaiming a specific facet of His nature – Who He is and what He does.  Genesis 22.13-14 reveals His Name, YHVH Yireh: “the Lord Who Provides.”  From Genesis to Revelation He is known as, El Shaddai: “The Almighty.”  This name speaks of the fullness and riches of God’s grace, reminding us that from God comes every good and perfect gift.  El sets forth the might of God and the title Shaddai points to the inexhaustible stores of His bounty.

He is also YHVH Rohi: “The Lord our Shepherd”, YHVH Tsidkenu:  “The Lord our Righteousness, YHVH Sabaoth: “Lord of Armies”, YHVH Shalom: “The Lord is Peace”, El Olam: “God of Eternity”…. and the list continues.

Every Name of God discloses not only Who He is (in an abstract perspective), but His Names also reveal Who He is to us (as a personal reality and experience).

The Lord is rich in lovingkindness, goodness, and blessing for you and me.  In order for us to receive His goodness and blessing in any area of our life, we must come to know Him and know His nature in that area.  For this study, we will turn our attention onto another Name of God – YHVH Raphah: “the Lord Who Heals”.

When the Lord brought the Children of Israel out of Egypt, He began to teach and demonstrate to them the Covenant which He made with their ancestors – Abraham, Isaac, and Israel (Jacob).

In Exodus 15.26, the Lord said – “If you will listen carefully to the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in His sight, obeying His commandments, then you will not suffer the diseases I sent on the Egyptians; For I AM The LORD WHO HEALS YOU.”

The Lord is our Healer!  He is the God Who saves, Who heals, Who prospers, and Who delivers.  He never brings sickness nor disease nor poverty nor trouble of any kind upon anyone – those things are the work of satan, for the Scriptures say: “The thief does not come but for to steal, to kill, and to destroy; I (Jesus) have come that they may have life and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10.10).

The Lord is glorified when we are living in wholeness in every area of our life, because that is how He created us to be.  It is for this reason that Jesus suffered on the Cross:  He bore the penalty of our sin and fallen state so that we could be saved.  He became poor so that we, through His poverty, could be rich, and He took upon Himself our sickness and our diseases so that by the stripes that wounded Him we could be healed. (II Corinthians 8.9 / I Peter 2.24)

In Acts 10.38 it is recorded that – “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, Who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed of the devil; for God was with Him.” Through Jesus and His Anointing, the power of death has been destroyed.  Sickness and disease are manifestations of the spirit of death, and according to Hosea 13.14, we have been redeemed from death.  It is satan, not God, who instigates sickness, disease, and destruction of every kind.  I John 3.8 reveals that “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil”.

Through Christ’s redemptive work which He accomplished on the Cross, we have received full access to the healing power of God.  His power is far greater than any sickness, any disease, any pain that satan could try to put on anyone.  As we tap into the Healing Anointing of Jesus Christ and remain in it, we can walk in Divine Health continually.  That is His desire for us, and it has been provided for us to partake of  Divine Health while we are here on earth.

Psalm 103.3 declares that the Lord “heals all [our] diseases and redeems [our] life from destruction….”   This is one of His benefits, which we are urged not to forget.  The Lord said:  “I will restore health to you and heal you of your wounds” (Jeremiah 30.17).

The Lord wants you well. Your healing, your wholeness is highly important to Him.  The Lord gave His Son for our salvation in every area of life – not only to redeem us from hell, but to save us from everything that is contrary to the life and goodness that comes from God.

“Surely He [Jesus] has borne our sickness and carried our pains; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God and afflicted.  But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement needful to obtain peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53.45 AMP).

In order for us to walk in the will of God, we must first know Him and know His will.  It has been said that faith begins where the Will of God is known.  We cannot believe God for something until we know what His Will is regarding the matter.   This is why Malachi 4.2 declares: “To you who fear My Name, the Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His Wings.”

To “fear His Name” not only means to reverently and worshipfully honour the Lord, it also means to know Him and to know His Will very intimately through continual abiding and communion in His Word.  God’s Word is His Will, and as we seek Him through His Word, we will know and understand His Will.

Healing is always God’s Will.  We do not ever have to question if it is God’s Will for us, or for anyone else, to be healed.  It is always His Will for us to be healed and in perfect health all the days of our life.  It has been settled in His Word.  All that is required is for us to receive the healing He has already provided for us.

When Jesus was fulfilling His assignment on earth, He went about the regions of Galilee, Judea, Jerusalem, and the Jordan, “teaching in their synagogues, preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people”  (Matthew 4.23).

Throughout the Gospels it is recorded that wherever Jesus went, He “healed all who were sick” (Matthew 8.17).  Anyone who desired to be made whole received their healing from Him.  He left no one out!  The anointing of healing was available to all who were willing to receive.

Jesus continued healing all who were sick, right up to the time of His departure – but the power to heal didn’t end there.

Jesus said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in ME, the work that I do will he do also; and GREATER WORKS than these he will do, because I go to MY FATHER.  And whatever you ask in My Name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.  If you ask anything in My Name (according to My Will), I will do it” (John 14.12-14).

We who BELIEVE IN HIS NAME  have been granted the same power and anointing to heal and deliver all who are oppressed of the devil, and to do even Greater Works than Jesus did.   We are now the representatives of Christ’s anointing in the earth and we have been endowed with His power to Heal.

“Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom, and HEALING EVERY SICKNESS and EVERY DISEASE among the people” (Matthew 9.35).

This was the work Jesus did.  According to His own words, this is the work that we will do also as we BELIEVE IN HIM.

Knowing the Healer brings us, first of all, into the reality of walking continually in Divine Health in our own bodies.  The more you and I press into God’s promises concerning healing and get to know Him as our Healer, the greater the degree of His Divine Health and Healing we will experience.

As the truth of His promises take root in our heart and become a living and working reality within us, we will then be able to release His Healing anointing into the lives of people around us.

There should not be anyone sick in our midst.  Psalm 105.37 says the Lord brought the Children of Israel out from Egypt with silver and gold, AND THERE WERE NOT ANY WHO WERE SICK (or FEEBLE) AMONG THEIR TRIBES.  They went out with wealth and perfect health.  It should be the same with us!

Since we carry within us the same healing anointing that was upon Jesus, just as “He healed them all”, so we should also Heal them all in His Name.  To those who fear the Name of the Lord, the Sun of Righteousness has risen with Healing in His Wings.

As we believe Him, you and I will know and experience the fullness of God’s Healing Power in our own life and be able to bring it to the lives of others…

It all begins and continues through Knowing the HEALER.

CHAPTER THREE

Letting Peace Rule

Do you ever feel a little overwhelmed by all that you have to do?  Does it ever seem like there is not enough hours in the day to accomplish all that needs to be done?

There is good news – life does not have to be that way.  More than that, as Believers, our life should not be that way.  “But how in the world can it ever be different?”– you may ask.  The answer: Let Peace Rule.

In times past, it seems that Christmas was the only time that some people got a little frazzled over all the extra “holiday” things that had to be done.  Now, it appears that the majority of people find themselves running from one holiday event to another, one special occasion, or business meeting, or special event to another – all year long.  Their “to do” list is virtually endless, and often times, so also is their frustration and anxiety.

This was never God’s intent for the life of the Believer.  His intent was and is for us to live a life of peace and tranquility – a life free from stress, anxiety, worry, and frustration.  The question is: How can we really live a life of peace when there is so much to do?

God has revealed the answer in Proverbs 16.9: “A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.”

We may plan the way we want to live, but only God makes us able to live it (Proverbs 16.9 MSG).  The demands of life we face every day may be loudly crying for our attention, but that does not necessarily mean that we have to answer them all. When we look at all we have before us to do, it may at first seem like there is nothing that can be eliminated – all of it appears absolutely necessary.

Proverbs 16.3 instructs us: “Commit your works to the Lord, and your thoughts will be established.”

When we commit our activities, demands, and responsibilities to the Lord, our thoughts will be established.  If we will take the time to go over our schedule and “to do” list with the Lord, He will establish our thoughts and show us the things that are really of most importance for us to pursue and the things that we should eliminate.  We can make plans, but the Lord is the One we should continually depend upon to direct our steps.

Letting Peace Rule

“And let the PEACE (soul harmony which comes) from Christ RULE (act as an umpire continually) in your heart [deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your mind, in that peaceful state] to which as [members of Christ’s] one body you were called [to live].  And be thankful (appreciative) [giving praise to God always].”  Colossians 3.15 AMP

Colossians 3.15 urges us to Let the Peace of God RULE, acting as an umpire continually in our heart, deciding and settling with finality ALL QUESTIONS that arise in our mind.  When we allow the peace of God to rule in our life, that peace within us will let us know what is the will of God for the particular time and situation we are facing and what is not His will.  We are to let His peace act as an umpire (one chosen to render a decision, arbiter) continually in our heart.  When we do this, His peace will decide and settle with finality all questions or decisions that arise in our mind.

Anytime we make plans, we should check our heart and let the peace of God do its work in us.  If we will pay attention to God’s peace in our heart, it will let us know what is right and warn us of the things that are not right.  When we obey the peace within our heart, we will have peace in what we do.

Proverbs 19.21 tells us that there are many plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that will stand.  At the end of each day, the thing of most value is not that you checked off everything on your list, but that you fulfilled the Will of God for that day.

We can have many plans and do many things, but fulfilling the will of God everyday is what will stand.  When we commit everything to the Lord and let His peace rule in our life, nothing of importance will go undone.  Even if we didn’t accomplish everything on our lists, we can rest assured that God’s List was fulfilled in full if we were letting His peace rule in our life.

There will always be people and circumstances around us calling for our attention.  It was that way in the life of Jesus, and it is the same way for us.  However, it was never the voices of people or circumstances that motivated Jesus into action.  He was motivated only by the will of the Father.  “I assure you…  The Son is able to do nothing of Himself (of His own accord); but He is able to do only what He sees the Father doing, for whatever the Father does is what the Son does in the same way…” ( John 5.19 AMP).

Jesus said, “I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.  My food (My sustenance) is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to finish His work.”  (John 5.30, 4.34)  His food was to do the Father’s will.  When you and I become hungry for the will of God, and permit His will to be our only motivation, His peace will lead us in the right direction and accomplish everything that needs to be done.

In order to be motivated by the will of God, we must be filled with the knowledge of His will.  Whenever we are uncertain of the Father’s will in any area, we can ask Him for wisdom and understanding concerning His will:

“Father, fill me with the knowledge of Your will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that I may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing You, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to Your glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy, giving thanks to You, Father, Who has qualified me to be a partaker of the inheritance of the saints in the light”(Colossians 1.9-12).

This passage from Colossians 1.9-12 is a very good prayer to pray every day before beginning the tasks awaiting us.  As we begin each day looking to the Lord for direction for that day, it clears our mind to view each task or situation in light of His will.  From this perspective, some things we once saw as urgent or top priority will begin to fade into less importance in relation to God’s plans and purpose.

Keeping our focus on the Lord’s will brings peace and clarity to our life.  When we let His will lead us in every situation, unseen obstacles and trouble will be avoided.

We should plan, schedule, and live each day with purpose – but we should do so with God’s involvement, and remain yielded and keenly sensitive to Him whenever He directs us to do something that differs from our schedule.

God is not the author of confusion.  He is the Author of PEACE (I Corinthians 14.33). When we Let Peace Rule in our life, we are acknowledging Him as the Author and Prince of PEACE that He is.

As you face the holidays and tasks before you in the days ahead, let the peace of God lead you in everything you do. He will fill you with the knowledge of His will and bring you into His very best for your life, if you will keep your focus on Him.

Every thought that arises in your mind and every decision before you will be decided and settled with finality…  All because you Let the Peace of God RULE.

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God; and the PEACE OF GOD, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” ( Philippians 4.6-7).

CHAPTER FOUR

Press Toward the REST

Rest.  The Lord has revealed in His Word the importance of “Resting in Him” in the life of every believer.  The Scriptures tell us that “rest” is one of the resulting fruits of walking in faith:  “For we who have BELIEVED do enter that rest…” (Romans 4.3).  We know that faith is essential to walking as a believer: we must believe, and consequently, we must also enter His rest.

Resting can often be one of the most difficult spiritual principles for us to learn to practice.  Often in the midst of a faith struggle we may hear His comforting voice say to us, “Relax. Just lay that struggle aside and Rest in Me”.   Then we must take a deep breath and allow our self to quiet down on the inside, because whenever there is un-rest on the inside, faith is unable to operate.

Real Rest is unnatural to the flesh – but it is first nature to the spirit.  Romans 15.13 says that there is joy and peace in believing (Peace being a preceding factor to rest).  Rest is such a vital element to our spiritual existence that failing to reach it is regarded as disobedience!

“Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it….Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest any one fall according to the same example of disobedience” (Hebrews 4.1, 11).

In the text surrounding these particular verses, the writer of Hebrews is recounting the event when God originally introduced the promise of “entering His Rest”.   This covenant promise was made to the Israelites during their time in the wilderness after the exodus from Egypt.  He had laid before them the wonderful pledge to bring them into their Promised Land.  For forty years, they saw His signs and wonders, and His miraculous works in the wilderness.  Yet verse 9 of Hebrews 3 says that the Lord was provoked with that generation because they continually went astray and did not recognize His ways.  Verse 19 sums it up by saying that “they were unable to enter (the promised land) because of unbelief”.

This group was called hard-hearted, and rightly so.  To have seen the miracles of God that these people saw and still not believe, they most certainly must have been hard-hearted.  Yet, Hebrews 4.1 warns us that “while the promise of entering His rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it”.

What sobering words.  The word “fear” in this passage is the Greek word phobeo, which can mean to “be alarmed, and show reverential fear”.  This definition really clarifies what this verse is saying to all of us: we are to be alarmed by these instructions, enough to evaluate our present pursuits and see if we are falling short of what God has for us….enough to show respect, reverential fear, to the Lord by not walking in the same pattern of disobedience as those in the wilderness.  These are strong warnings the Lord has issued to us in these verses and we would do well to heed them.

Resting is not doing “nothing”.  Resting is an action word!  Resting takes effort – otherwise God would probably not be having to teach us about it.

To truly rest, takes making an on purpose decision to do so.  It takes quieting down what is going on, on the inside, laying aside what’s happening on the outside, and choosing to yield only to the peace and presence of the Lord.

Rest can only be entered by faith.  Faith must be released in order to lay hold of rest.  Resting is both physical as well as spiritual.  Both aspects of resting are equally necessary and important.  Failing to do either can allow you to become weak and vulnerable to attacks from the enemy.

Proper rest for both the spirit and the body is actually one of the most powerful weapons against fatal attacks you could possess – because it is in the process of resting spiritually and physically that the work of the Holy Spirit is at its strongest, due to the fact that in resting in Him we are in a state of complete submission and yielded-ness.

Spiritual Rest allows you to remain in perfect contact and communion with the Spirit of God at all times.  So there is nothing taking place that you would need to know about for which you would not have God’s knowledge, as well as His wisdom, to do what needs to be done.

Physical rest contributes greatly to the health and stability of your emotions, which largely effects the health of your body.  By submitting yourself to physical rest in conjunction with spiritual rest, your emotions will stay constant, balanced, and influenced by faith and peace, rather than by fear and un-easiness.

Often a lack of physical rest during a trial or time of devastation, even when spiritual rest is being maintained, can allow the emotions to spin out of control to the degree that despair takes over the situation.  When that takes place, an inner atmosphere is created which makes the circumstances seem hopelessly impossible to overcome.  But when both spiritual and physical rest are maintained, even though the situation may be difficult, there will be a strong awareness of hope and joy that this situation can last but for a season and there is a “sunrise” just on the other side.  This difficulty, this sadness, can’t last forever.

Learning to really rest in the Lord is one of the greatest tools we can use in the process of stilling our mind and its anxieties.  It is an act of our will to make our body still and take rest.  And in doing that, our mind will also become still, because the mind, the will, and the emotions are all linked together.

Notice the emphasis is Rest and not merely sleep.  There is a difference.  Rest is much more than sleep.  As mentioned earlier, rest must be entered by faith.  It is a spiritual exercise and spiritual promise to your whole life and being.  Just like the Israelites’ Promise Land was linked to their obedience to enter the Lord’s Rest – so our Promised Land is linked to us entering His Rest.

Actually, we press toward the Rest of what God has for each of us by Rest.  Once you have set your faith for something, rest in Him and let His Word do the work.  Hebrews 4.10 says “For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His.”

The Promise Land is there, but we have to receive it by Rest:

Resting on the fact that He is Faithful.

Resting on the fact that all He said is being fulfilled.

Resting because every thing we could ever need or desire is a finished work.

Resting because He is taking care of it all as we believe on Him.

Be encouraged to keep Pressing toward the REST.  As you rest in Him, the Lord will restore your soul, bring peace to every area of your life, and fill you with His goodness.  He has prepared a place just for you…  It is this Place Called Completely Whole.

Prayer to Receive Salvation

and the Holy Spirit

Having a close, intimate relationship with God begins by making Jesus the Lord of your life. God desires to be a close and dear friend to you and to enjoy fellowship with you. Because He is a gentleman and respects your right to choose, He won’t just force His friendship on you. You have to let Him know that you want Him in your life. He is just waiting to get to know you personally. So if you’ve never asked Jesus to be the Lord of your life, pray this prayer now:

Lord, I want You in my life. I want to get to know You intimately. Lord Jesus, come into my heart, be my Lord. I believe that you died for my sins on the Cross, that You bore my punishment in hell, and that God raised You from the dead, to be seated at His right hand as my Advocate. I repent of the wrong things I’ve done, I renounce the past, the devil and everything he stands for. Jesus, I receive You as my Saviour and my Friend. I will love You and serve You all the days of my life. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit. Take my life and help me to be just like You. Amen.

Once you have given your life to God, you are now born-again. You are now a part of God’s family. As you receive Jesus Christ as Lord of your life, spiritual death is taken from you and you become a new creature in Christ—you are born again. It is the Holy Spirit that makes your new birth possible. The Holy Spirit comes to live within you when you receive Jesus into your life.

In Salvation (receiving Jesus as Saviour), the Holy Spirit baptizes us into Jesus. Then Jesus baptizes us into the Holy Spirit. Jesus said “You will receive POWER after that the Holy Spirit has come upon you” (Acts 1.8). Jesus baptizes us into God’s very own power and holiness so that we can live a life full of the greater works He has called us to do as His Anointed Body. Baptism with the Holy Spirit and Fire are received synonymously. The FIRE spoken of here is referencing the Power and Holiness of God. In order to obtain from heaven the Holy Spirit, it is first necessary that you know that your sins are blotted out, that the Blood of Jesus Christ has cleansed your heart and cleansed you from the sinful nature, the inherent nature of sin. When you have repented of a life apart from God and believe Christ’s sacrifice on the cross for your sin, you are transferred (baptized) into the body of Christ, and become a member of His body.

After you become a new creation, God’s desire and plan is that you receive the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. The Baptism in the Holy Spirit is received by faith in God. Jesus said: “If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” (Luke 11.13).

When you ask the Heavenly Father for the gift of the Holy Spirit, He will fill you with the Holy Spirit to overflowing and you will speak in tongues as the Holy Spirit gives you the utterance.

Speaking in tongues is simply speaking in a language that only God understands (even you will not understand it). This happens as the Holy Spirit prays through you about things you may not know or that you may not know how to pray about (Romans 8.26).

The Holy Spirit was given by Jesus to be our Helper. When you pray in tongues, the Holy Spirit searches your heart and prays through you the perfect will of God (Romans 8.26-27). You actually utter secret truths and hidden things which are not obvious to the understanding of your mind (I Corinthians 14.2).

To pray in tongues, you need to realize that speaking with an unknown tongue is the voice of your heart. Speaking in a tongue or language you know is the voice of your human mind (unless one of the nine vocal gifts of the Spirit of God is in operation through you as God may move upon you). The Holy Spirit of God will give you utterance to speak in tongues, the same as your mind gives you thoughts to speak (Acts 2.4).

To speak in tongues, you must cooperate with the Holy Spirit and trust Him. The Apostle Paul said in I Corinthians 14.14, “If I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit [by the Holy Spirit within me] prays, but my mind is unproductive…” Notice that it was Paul who did the speaking and the Holy Spirit supplied the words.

Ask the Holy Spirit to take charge of your tongue; then yield your tongue to His use. You cannot speak in your own language and in the gift of speaking in tongues at the same time, just as you cannot speak in English and French at the same time. When your voice and tongue begin forming syllables around the expressions that your heart desires to release, you will also speak in tongues. It will be your tongue, your breath, your vocal cords and you will be actively forming words. You will supply the sounds, but the Holy Spirit will supply the words – words that are unknown to you. Continue to speak the words that the Holy Spirit gives to you. Like a child learning to speak, you will grow and develop in the new language that the Holy Spirit is giving to you.

When you ask your Heavenly Father for one of His promises – such as the Baptism of the Holy Spirit – you can be confident that the gift given is from God. If you want to receive your baptism in the Holy Spirit, ask Him now:

Heavenly Father, I am a believer. I am Your child and You are my Father. Jesus is my Lord. I believe with all my heart that Your Word is true. Your Word says that if I will ask, I will receive the Holy Spirit. So in the Name of Jesus Christ my Lord, I am asking You to fill me to overflowing with Your precious Holy Spirit. Jesus, baptize me in the Holy Spirit. Because of Your Word, I believe that I now receive this gift and I thank You for it. Holy Spirit, rise up within me as I give praise to God. I fully expect to speak with other tongues as You give me the utterance.

Now begin giving sound to the expressions in you heart. Speak and hear the Holy Spirit speaking through you. Rejoice in Him because you have just been endued with God’s very own power. And His power is in you to help you to live a life that is free from sin and fully pleasing to Him.

About the Author

Sharah LaGail Wyatt is Founder and President of First Love Ministries International aka FERVOUR™, with an extensive background in the fine and performing arts and in ministry. She is a member of the International Convention of Faith Ministries (ICFM), and is a contributing author and affiliate minister of the online ministry of CFaith.com. As a gifted teacher, writer/author, graphic artist, musician and composer, Sharah desires to lead people of all ages into the presence of God and into developing a lifestyle of faith, worship and intimacy with Him.

Sharah began the journey as a writer in her early childhood. Her young repertoire grew to include original short stories, poetry, adaptations, theatrical scripts, and musical compositions. She began writing Biblical teaching articles at the age of fifteen, and has continued consistently in this field through to the present.

She has authored numerous articles on topics including prayer, holiness/purity, wisdom, faith, love, worship, healing/restoration and living in Christ. She is also the author of several books including: In Christ You Stand, The Lost Virtue of Dignity, Redeemed from Fear, A Place Called Completely Whole, In His Presence: the meaning of true worship. Her monthly ministry publication, first published in 2005, is currently distributed in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, East Africa, Argentina, Pakistan, India, Singapore, and the Philippines.   Her young adult publication,  FERVOUR™, is distributed quarterly.

Further information about First Love Ministries International can be found on the following page.

First Love Ministries International

A Christian Ministry organization, serving more than 50 nations on six continents with the teaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ: Encourages pastors, leaders and general public with monthly ministry letters that are distributed to individual households and churches in nine nations: Provides financial aid for academic education to children and orphans in economically depressed regions through the Marion Education Fund™.

The vision of First Love Ministries International is to help believers worldwide to come to the fullness of knowing Jesus the Anointed as their first love, to help them to grow in faith and in intimacy with God, and to equip them through the teaching of the Word to be all that He has called them to be and to experience fullness of life and heaven on earth in every area of their life. It is not enough to just know about God or about what His Word says— the mission of First Love Ministries International is to help believers live it.

The official Website of First Love Ministries International, www.ps27fr.org, features a full Study Centre exhibiting numerous Online Articles written by Sharah LaGail Wyatt, along with a topical Question & Answer section also compiled by the author. The site also includes a sub-site for FERVOUR™—the Young Adult ministry of FLMI. The website continues to receive recurrent visits from more than 60 nations on six continents.

First Love Ministries International

PO Box 163974, Fort Worth, TX 76161

United States

www.ps27fr.org

Table of Contents

Copyright

CHAPTER ONE Living in Wholeness

CHAPTER TWO Knowing the Healer

CHAPTER THREE Letting Peace Rule

CHAPTER FOUR Press Toward the REST

About the Author