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Viewpoint from Edward Hart 07/04/2017
 Edward Hart
also published in the Yarmouth Mercury
What are you depending on?
As a Christian, what are you depending on? Seems like a basic question with an easy answer. As Christians we think we are depending on Christ alone, but rarely is it that simple. Let me say the ideal is to depend on nothing but Christ's atoning work, for healing, blessings, finance etc. But so, so rarely is this the case
We are told "You got to fast for your healing....break-through....blessings" You could fill in anything you like. We are told we got to push and press to receive from God, and if you do it right by much prayer and maybe fasting, like the eternal slot machine He will pay out. But if you don't quite do it right or put enough in, you will miss out. Suddenly what Christ has done is not quite enough
Now nobody will actually say those words, but that is how we are told to play the game. But receiving from God (blessings, healings, etc) is not a game. God cannot be persuaded by your effort. Jesus said in Matthew 6 "When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites for they think they will be heard for their many words". We still think this
God doesn't answer my prayers because I'm more holy or more persistent than you, He answers them because:
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the cross
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He loves me!
If our prayers are answered for any other reason, we could take the credit! Here is Matt 6:7-9 in The Message. “The world is full of so-called prayer warriors who are prayer-ignorant. They're full of formulas and programs and advice, peddling techniques for getting what you want from God. Don't fall for that nonsense”
 When Jesus declared on the cross “It is finished!” (John 19:30) was it a declaration of what was to come, or what He HAD done? The apostle Peter rewrites the Old Testament scripture to declare “By whose stripes you WERE healed” (1Peter 2:24). Peter saw that healing was accomplished on the cross and had already happened
This is true for all who want to receive from God. Peter also said “He has given us all things” (2 Peter 1:3). What more do you need? Nothing! He, in Christ, has given you all things. You are healed, whole and restored in every way. It is finished! Just receive what Christ has already done. Enter into His rest, over all parts of your life! He’s done it all! Hebrews 4:9-10 states “So there is a special rest still waiting for the people of God, for anyone who enters God's rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from His”. Are you still trying to do, if so let us follow God’s example. If the message is not “freedom” and “rest” it is not the gospel!
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