Vol. 3, No. 1 2010
“The kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
2010 Now Is the Time! Dear friends, In Matthew 10:7, Jesus sent out His disciples to proclaim the message, “The kingdom of heaven is at hand.” In other words, you can enter into it right now through faith in Jesus Christ. In my heart, I believe very strongly that God is speaking the same word this year: “Now is the time!” Now is the time to enter into all God has for you in His kingdom. Now is the time to step out in faith and tap into God’s favor, healing, deliverance, salvation, and abundance like never before. I encourage you to read my article on page 4 to learn more about stepping out NOW into God’s plans for your life. Turn to the article on page 13, as it is designed to help you build your faith right now to receive the healing power of God. Don’t miss Lindsay’s article on page 10 about the Holy Spirit and His ability to empower you to live victoriously over every circumstance.
P.S. As you may know, my dad Oral Roberts, went home to be with the Lord on December 15, 2009. As a tribute to the greatest man of God I have ever known—my own dad—we have added a special section starting on page 23, where you can read a classic message by my dad, about the Fourth Man… the One who is always present with you and who is working on your behalf right now. I believe you’ll enjoy reading it, and I pray that you and your loved ones will experience God’s blessings in every area of your life.
Oral Roberts tent meeting Tampa, 1951
FEATURES 4
The Time to Step into His Plans Is Right Now by Richard Roberts
We can let 2010 be an important year to walk in God’s plan for our lives.
10
Turn the Power On
13
Why I Believe God Wants to Heal You
by Lindsay Roberts
The Holy Spirit resides in every believer. But it’s up to us to turn His power on in our lives.
by Richard Roberts
Richard shares from God’s Word how he has learned that God wants to heal us and make us whole in every area.
20
Every Call Is a Miracle Contact
23
The Fourth Man
For more than 50 years, Abundant Life Prayer Group prayer partners have been putting every caller into the hands of God… and expecting miracles as they do.
A Classic Message by Oral Roberts
In his most loved and requested sermon from the tent crusade days, Oral shares how Jesus—revealed in every book of the Bible—will stand by you in the fiery furnaces of life.
Vol.3, No.1 Jan • Feb • Mar 2010. Copyright © 2010 by Oral Roberts Evangelistic Association. No part may be reproduced in any form without written permission of the publisher. All rights reserved. Your copy of MIRACLES© is made possible by Seed-Faith offerings to Oral Roberts Ministries. No subscription price. MIRACLES© is published quarterly by Oral Roberts Evangelistic Association, P.O. Box 2187, Tulsa, OK 74102-2187. POSTMASTER: SEND ADDRESS CHANGES TO: MIRACLES, P.O. BOX 2187, TULSA, OK 74102-2187. For more information, call (918) 495-7777, or contact us on the Internet at www.oralroberts.com. Canada Publications Agreement #40774029.
the time to step into His plans is
RIGHT NOW B Y
R I C H A R D
R O B E R T S
I believe with all my He wants to speak with you, bless you, heart that God has giv- and enjoy a relationship with you right now. en me a word to share Throughout the Bible, God talks about with you for 2010, and now. Let me remind you of some of the that word is: “Now is encouraging words He has said about the time!” I firmly who you are, now that you are in Christ: believe that this year is going to be one Romans 8:1 says, Therefore, there is of the greatest years for miracles that NOW no condemnation for those who are you have ever seen. God has so many in Christ Jesus. good things for you. His plans are to First Peter 2:10 says, Once you were give you a successful life, filled with not a people, but NOW you are the people hope (Jeremiah 29:11). And the time to of God; once you had not received mercy, step into His plans for you is right now. but NOW you have received mercy. Second Corinthians 6:2 says, Now Romans 15:13 says, NOW the God is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of hope fill you with all joy and peace in of salvation. God wants to show you believing, that ye may abound in hope, His salvation, His blessings, and His through the power of the Holy Ghost. favor—and He isn’t waiting until you Ephesians 2:13 says, But NOW in get to heaven to do it. No, He wants Christ Jesus you who once were far away have to show you His goodness now. been brought near through the blood of Christ. When you received Jesus Christ into God is a now God your heart by faith, you were immediAs my Dad liked to say, the only time ately brought into God’s presence. You God knows is now. He’s a “now” God. received the ability to have a daily rela4
tionship with Him. He cares about what’s going on in your life right now, at this very moment. And as His child, you can begin to expect Him to be involved with you every day, in the now of your life.
our faith. When you and I trust in Him and live our lives based on our faith that He is on our side, then we create a pathway for Him to intervene in our lives with His miracle power.
God wants to show you His love right now Through Jesus, God has provided you with the opportunity to enjoy all the blessings you will ever need. You have access to all that God has for you through your relationship with Him. And God certainly doesn’t withhold blessings from anyone because of a lack of love. God is love. He cares about you, and He wants to demonstrate His love to you. Romans 5:8 says it this way: But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. But it’s up to us to receive God’s love and blessings. It’s up to you and me to choose to initiate the miracles that happen in our lives, and we can do that through obeying His Word and living by faith in Him. As I said earlier, I believe 2010 will be a year to see a great outpouring of miracles. Let me assure you, miracles aren’t accidents. They aren’t the result of chance, fate, or luck. They aren’t random acts of kindness from an unpredictable God. In fact, it’s just the opposite. The Bible tells us what God responds to…He responds to our faith in Him. Hebrews 11:1 nkjv says, Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Now is the time to believe God for miracles—and if you and I are going to receive miracles, we’ll need to receive them through our faith in Him, because He responds to
Now is the time to cross over to the other side Sometimes, we look at our now— our current circumstances—through our natural mind, through our questions, through our doubts. But I want to encourage you that, no matter where you are right now in your life— whether you’re up or down, or even turned around—I believe that now is the time for a new batch of miracles. If you’re enjoying blessings, I believe God has even more good things for you to enjoy, if you’ll step out in faith and believe Him for it. And if you’re going through a trial, I believe God has a way out for you, and your way out is through your faith that now is the time for you to be free. Remember, the storms of life come, and the storms of life go. But Hebrews 13:5 says, I will never leave you nor forsake you. God is with you in the now of your life. He’s with you in good times, and He’s with you in every storm. And I believe He’s saying that now is the time for the miracle you need the most. In Mark 4:35–5:1, we see Jesus in the midst of a storm with His disciples. He was with them in trouble, and He had a way to get them out of trouble. That day—in their now—the disciples received a miracle. Their miracle began one evening when Jesus wanted to cross the sea of Galilee. He knew it was time to go to 5
the land of the Gadarenes, so He could But regardless of what your circumdeliver a man possessed by demons. stances look like, don’t think for a So He told His disciples, “Let us cross moment that God doesn’t care about over to the other side.” you. He proved He cared when He The sea of Galilee was a beautiful, yet sent His Son to take on your sin and often treacherous body of water. One shame in His death on the cross for moment, it might be calm, but then the our salvation. God cares about you so next moment, it could turn into a hell- much that He gave His Son for you. ish fury that no boat could withstand. It was Jesus’ faith in God that allowed But Jesus knew in His heart that Him to do what He did in the midst the time to go across the sea was of that storm. He stood up in the boat, now. So He stepped out in faith and walked to the bow of the ship, stretched believed God that now was the time out His arms, and said, “Peace, be still.” to go to the other side. And He took And with those simple words of faith, His disciples with Him. He hushed the sea and the storm to sleep. In fact, Jesus was so confident it was What a moment that must have been time to cross the sea that He actually took in those men’s lives as they saw their a pillow into the boat, lay down, and fell turmoil turned into a glorious miracle asleep! That’s what I call faith. A storm of peace and safety. was coming, yet Jesus was at perfect rest. If not now, then when? Because God is with us Now is the time for that kind of boldnow, we can trust Him now ness as we believe God for everything For a while, the trip across the sea He has for us in 2010. Now is the time seemed to go fine. Then suddenly, a to remove any limits that you may have full-blown storm came out of nowhere. set on what is possible in your life. Now It must have been a terrible experience, is the time to cast down any doubts and because fear rose up in the disciples fears, and to hook up your faith to the like daggers stuck in their hearts. They God who loves you with an everlasting became so afraid that they forgot Jesus love…the God who does the impossible. Now is the time to reach out in faith to was on board the boat! Jesus hadn’t left them. He was right receive the miracles you need. Whatever the devil means for your there in their moment of trial. But the disciples were human, and so are you harm, God can turn it around for your and I. When trouble strikes, it’s easy benefit, if you are willing to look beto forget that God is with us right now. yond your circumstances, place your When we face sickness, when we lose trust in Him, and step out in faith in our job, when there’s trouble in the fam- His promises. Storms will come and ily, when there’s too much month at the storms will go, but the One who said end of the money…That’s when feelings “Peace, be still” is still saying it today. of hopelessness and fear will try to rise He’s saying to you, “Let us go over to up and cause us to quit believing God. the other side. Now is the time!” 6
TV that has
LIFE
Don’t pass by The Place for Miracles without stopping in. It just may be the right place at the right time that can help you enter into an atmosphere where nothing is impossible with God.You’ll see “living proof ” of miracles from people who tell their own stories of supernatural intervention. Listen as Richard and Lindsay share God’s ALIVE Word, and then pray over the needs of those calling in! Get in the right place at the right time to receive the miracles you need!
Visit www.oralroberts.com to watch us via the Internet or check for program scheduling in your area.
PARTNERS SHARE NEWS OF GOD’S GOODNESS Rejoice with us as we celebrate how God is blessing our ministry partners and friends!
New Job That Pays Double! A year ago, I lost my job. I went through a lot of problems as a result. But I’m a long-time seed-faith partner with the Oral Roberts Ministries, so I began to pray, sow offerings, and stand on God’s promises. I know that we are to be specific when we pray and aim our seed-faith offerings at our need. So I called the Abundant Life Prayer Group and said, “I have a $100 seed in my hand that I’m about to mail you. I’m targeting this seed at my need for a full-time, private-duty nursing job, with a good Christian family and good pay.” The prayer partner agreed with me for God to meet my specific need. Then I mailed in my offering. I also fasted and prayed and continued to believe God. Three days later, I got a telephone call from a Christian family looking for a full-time, private-duty nurse, 8
with double pay. It was just what the ALPG prayer partner and I prayed for! I’ve doubled my salary, and it’s because I sowed my seed-faith offerings and believed God to meet my need. —Betty from Texas
Painful Ulcer Healed I was having stomach cramps so severe that I went to the emergency room. After the doctors ran several tests, they told me I had an ulcer. This painful condition persisted for several months. Then one day, I was watching your television broadcast when I heard Lindsay give a word of knowledge that God was healing people of ulcers. I believed that word was for me. My stomach turned hot. It felt as though God’s hand touched me and removed the ulcer. Later, I went to my physician, who ran tests to see how the ulcer was looking. The results indicated there was nothing there. The ulcer was gone. My doctor was amazed! —Deanne from Utah
Daughter’s Heart Tumor Is Gone My daughter had chest pain for many years. I took her to the doctors, but they initially found nothing wrong. But about five years ago, a specialist discovered a tumor in her heart and told her she would only have about five years to live if it continued to grow. At first, I cried about it. But then I turned to God and cried out for His help. I called the Abundant Life Prayer Group for prayer that God would heal my daughter’s tumor. Four months later, she went for an MRI and other testing, but the doctors could find nothing. The reports indicated that the tumor was totally gone. I am so thankful to God! —Judy from California
however, I called the Abundant Life Prayer Group to agree in prayer that I would be able to talk to my brother again. After prayer, I decided to contact my brother. We were able to talk! I am so amazed that my desire was fulfilled by the Lord so soon. I’m so grateful that you prayed with me. —Paul from Pennsylvania
The Lord Healed My Arm I was working in my attic when I slipped and fell through the dry wall. I was taken to the hospital, where X-rays indicated my arm was broken. The ER doctor told me it would take four to six weeks for the broken bone to heal. When I got home from the hospital, I prayed, “Lord, let there be someSowed Seed Yields Increase thing good on TV.” I flipped through A while ago, my money began to get the channels and found The Place for tight, so tight that I couldn’t pay my tithes. Miracles. As I watched, I decided to This worried me for months, since it call the Abundant Life Prayer Group. looked like my finances were falling apart. A prayer partner prayed with me for One night, I was watching a broad- healing. The pain left immediately. I went to my physician a few days cast of The Place for Miracles, and you offered books on seed-faith and fi- later for a follow-up. After examining nances. I ordered them, and they are me, he told me my arm wasn’t broken awesome! Your teaching reminded after all, but he suspected I had torn me that we always have some seed to tissues and said it would still be several sow. I felt so encouraged as I believed weeks before I could move my arm. I called the ALPG again for further God for my finances to turn around. A week later, my boss informed me that prayer. And I was able to move my he was giving me a five percent raise. For arm. The following week, I returned some people, this may not be much, but to the doctor for another follow-up to me, it’s an answered prayer. Praise God. visit. He did further tests, including an —Wanda from Louisiana MRI and more X-rays, but he couldn’t find anything wrong with my arm. My Brother and I Can Talk Again He didn’t know what to say. I told I had been estranged from my brother him, “Doctor, there’s nothing wrong for several years, and as a result, I had not because the Lord healed me!” talked to him for some time. Recently, —Anthony from Florida 9
ON! TURN THE POWER
B Y
L I N D S A Y
I believe God wants to make us every bit whole. But to make that possible, we need to tap into the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives. If you watch TV or listen to much of anything in the media, you know that people are always talking about power…and how important it is to have it. We even hear terms like power lunch, power breakfast, power walk, power bar. There’s every kind of power mentioned that you can imagine. If you go on the Internet, or even walk in a bookstore, you’ll probably see the word “power” on signs around every corner. So why do you hear it everywhere you go? Because as human beings we’re often lacking in power. For instance, many people are in relationships that are suffering and they need a kind of strength they don’t have in order to bring healing to the situation. Or maybe they’re lacking 10
R O B E R T S
the kind of ability they need to really do well on their jobs, or to be good parents, or to overcome drugs and alcohol. The list just goes on and on. But how do we find the kind of strength and ability we need? Where is the Source for true power in this world? True power lies in God…and when we have believed on His name and accepted Him as our Lord and Savior, He generously makes His power available to us.
The Holy Spirit brings power Jesus told His disciples in Acts 1:8 that they would receive power when the Holy Spirit came upon them— meaning that the Holy Spirit would be “poured out” on them in the Upper Room after He was resurrected, and would begin to dwell inside of them. He told them that He would be crucified, resurrected, then would leave this earth to return to His Father in heaven. When He saw they were fearful of being left alone, He told
them He would send them another Comforter—the Holy Spirit. “He will live on the inside of you and give you the power you need,” He said. How could another Comforter be just like Jesus? Think about the properties of water. Water is a liquid. But when you freeze it, it becomes a solid; it becomes ice. And when you heat it, it becomes steam. No matter which of the three forms it’s in, it’s still water... and it’s still wet. Father God also expresses Himself in three different forms—or persons— called the Holy Trinity. He’s God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. And when you accept Christ as your Lord and Savior and are born again, the power of the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and He begins to live in you. It’s a package deal. Just as when you get the water, you also get the wet, when you receive Jesus, you also receive the Holy Spirit and the power that resides in Him. Then it’s up to you and me to tap into that Source of living power and allow it to flow into our lives.
can know that the Holy Spirit and all of His power is living on the inside of you. And when you’re sure of that, you can begin to use that power to take authority over whatever it is that’s trying to torment you in your life. God wants you to be every “whit” whole. That means He wants every bit of your life to be healed and at peace, down to the very least little thing. So if there’s something wrong in your life, I want to help you speak to whatever it is that’s tormenting you… not people, but the spirit behind the torment. Begin to take authority over that thing through the power of God that’s inside of you. Right now, begin to pray like this: “In the authority of Jesus’ name, devil, you will not destroy my life. You will not destroy my family, my health, my finances…(or name whatever area is under attack). I take authority over your power with the strongest power on the face of this earth—the Spirit that raised Christ from the dead.” And as you do that, begin to take your rightful place of authority. The words It’s up to us to turn the power on we speak are full of power. So instead of Romans 8:11 tells us that the same saying, “This situation is killing me,” or Spirit that raised Christ from the dead “I’m dying,” begin to say what God says now dwells in us to quicken or make in Psalm 118:17, I shall not die, but live and alive our mortal bodies. God wants to declare the works of the Lord. Expect the transform our lives from the inside out… Holy Spirit to manifest His transformto give us His overcoming power. God ing, overcoming life in every situation wants us to have it. But that’s not the that you face, no matter what it is. I believe that as you turn the power deciding factor. We are—because that power may be lying dormant in our of God ON in your life, you’ll begin to see results you’ve never seen before. lives if we don’t ever tap into it. How do we tap into the power of And the miracle power of God will God for our lives? First, you have to begin to come alive in your life to know Jesus. Once you know Jesus, you make you every whit whole. 11
Make the Most of Every Moment With
Busy days… work… errands… cooking meals… caring for your family… Does this sound familiar? You work hard to care for your loved ones… Make sure you take time for yourself too! Tune in to Make Your Day Count with Lindsay Roberts, a refreshing half-hour of biblical encouragement, prayer, true stories from people whose lives have been transformed by God’s power, and much more.
Check your local television listing, or visit www.oralroberts.com to watch Lindsay live via the Internet. Inspiring interviews
Lindsay with daughter, Chloe
NOW IS THE TIME FOR HEALING!
WHY I BELIEVE
GOD WANTS TO HEAL YOU B Y
R I C H A R D
R O B E R T S
I believe that for too long, many of they chose instead to listen to the serus have accepted sickness and disease pent—the devil—who twisted God’s as something that’s inevitable in this words and told them that when they life…as something that we must just ate of the fruit from the forbidden tree, endure. But according to God’s own they would not “die” as God had said, Word, that couldn’t be further from but they would become “like God,” the truth. In fact, Jesus died to set us knowing good and evil for themselves. free from those very things. In His Adam and Eve could have lived happy Word He teaches us that God wants and healthy lives forever in the beautius to be healed and whole. ful Garden of Eden…but when they It’s important to know that sin and disobeyed God and listened to the devil, sickness were not part of God’s origi- they did die. Not physically, but somenal plan for mankind. thing in their spirit died—which you and I know as sin, or a separation from God always gives us God, their creator and the source of all good choices When God created the Garden of Eden and put Adam and Eve there to live, Genesis 2 clearly tells us that God gave them many wonderful choices of trees and plants to eat. In fact, He told them they could eat from any tree, except for one…the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, because when they ate of that forbidden tree they would “surely die.” But instead of thinking of all the wonderful things God had given them, 13
of their life, including their health. And by a simple act of Adam and Eve’s will, sin and sickness entered the human race. But that wasn’t the end of hope for them…or for us. For the Apostle Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 15:22 that even though in Adam all died, even so, in Christ shall all be made alive. God was not through with mankind. He sent Jesus to the Cross to take the stripes on His back for our healing. That’s why I know God wants to heal you and make you whole.
daughter, Jesus hesitated. He told her that it was not right to take what belonged to the children (healing) and give it to the dogs. But she implored Him by saying, “Even the little dogs get the crusts that fall from the Master’s table.” And even Jesus marveled at that kind of faith, and healed her daughter. Often in my services, people who God heals may not know Him at the time, but because of their healing, they come forward and give their lives to Christ.
Healing demonstrates the power of God A miracle settles the issue in people’s hearts of what to believe. It answers the question of their hearts. People may not believe what we say about Jesus. But it’s hard to deny His power when you see someone being healed. Years ago, I
Jesus heals because He has compassion Scripture teaches us that Jesus has compassion on us. Compassion is more than sympathy. It’s an irresistible urge to rid the sick person of their problem. Hebrews 4:15 says that we have not a high priest which cannot be touched by the feelings of our infirmities. But we do have Jesus and He was touched by the sicknesses, diseases, and other problems of mankind as He walked this earth, and His compassion moved Him to do something about it. Whenever he saw a great multitude, he was moved with compassion and brought healing to whoever came to Him. And He has put that same kind of compassion in me. I cannot walk past Richard and the young beggar he someone who is ill without wanting to prayed for in Jos, Nigeria, 1984. pray for them…and I often do. prayed for a young beggar in Jos, Nigeria, who had never walked. I didn’t Healing belongs to know who he was, but everyone for miles God’s children around did know. And the next night at In Matthew 15, when a woman who my Crusade service, when they’d had was not Jewish—who was outside of time to hear about the boy being healed, the covenant between God and His more than 25,000 people gave their hearts chosen people—came to Jesus ask- to the Lord. It’s hard to deny God’s love ing Him to heal her demon-possessed when you see for yourself what He does. 14
Healing magnifies the power of Jesus’ blood The Bible tells us that on the Cross, Jesus was beaten beyond recognition. There wasn’t just a little blood here and there. He had a crown of thorns piercing into His head, He took 39 stripes on his back—one less than what the Romans thought of as a death sentence—He had huge nails in His hands and His feet, and a spear pierced His side. The blood of Jesus poured out of His body and He died for you and me. With every stripe Jesus took, He took it for your sickness, for your disease, for your doubt and fear… Jesus told us that it’s the “children’s bread.” for your healing and for mine. It belongs to you and me. If you’re suffering right now, I want to Jesus heals to destroy pray for you. I encourage you to release the works of the devil your faith for a miracle. In 1 John 3:8 we’re told, For this purpose In the authority of the name of Jesus, I the Son of God was manifested, that He might send the Word to you right now. I rebuke destroy the works of the devil. It was the devil this sickness and disease that has tormented who brought sin and sickness into the you, and I command it to come out! I pray human race, and it’s still the devil today and command sickness, and disease, and who is tormenting people and trying to pain, and anything and everything that make them think that it’s God’s fault, or is unlike God to leave you now. I pray that God doesn’t care that they’re sick. for you to be healed physically, spiritually, Friend, God gets no glory from you emotionally, financially, and in every area being sick. Suffering came into the of your life. In Jesus’ name, Amen. human race through our own sin and Now continue to believe with me for rebellion, and by listening to the devil’s your healing. I believe God knows what lies. And when we believe that it is God your particular need is, and He wants to who made us sick, or put us in poverty, make you whole. I believe that nothing we’re still listening to those lies, instead is too big or too small for Him. of what God tells us in His Word. For further prayer, call the Abundant Because of the Cross, we don’t have Life Prayer Group at 918-495-7777, to live under the curse of suffering. or go online at www.oralroberts. We’ve been redeemed from the curse com. We will continue to pray and of the law by the blood of the Lamb. agree with you in faith, and we won’t I want you to remember that as a born- come out of the agreement, believing again child of God, you have a Bible right for you to receive the miracle you need, to believe God for your complete healing. in Jesus’ name. 15
When It Seems All Hope Is Gone by Richard Roberts
In this book, Richard shares biblical insight gained from his own personal experience with seemingly hopeless situations. Discover how Jesus—our ever-living hope—can help you overcome the impossible situations in your life. Book $10 LC1996
Encouraging Words of Hope and Life by Richard and Lindsay Roberts
Richard and Lindsay put together this powerful CD of Scriptures just for you. As you listen over and over to God’s own words about how much He loves you and who He says you are in Him, you can keep your spirit built up and your faith strong to receive the miracles you need. CD $7 LC2302
36 Hours with an Angel by Lindsay Roberts
This touching book tells the story of how God brought Richard and Lindsay Roberts through the loss of their firstborn son many years ago, and is a testament to God’s miraculous restoration in the midst of devastation. If you’re dealing with disappointment or loss of any kind, or if you know someone who is, this book can be an encouragement. Book $7 LC233
Getting Your House in Order by Lindsay Roberts and Leigh Anderson
This quick reference guide is specially designed to help you organize your important personal and family documents so they will be available at a moment’s notice. You’ll also find helpful hints and encouraging Scriptures among its pages! Book $7 LC1176
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A great tool to help you get organized –LR
Tent Sermons by Oral Roberts
In Oral Roberts Tent Sermons, you can hear four of Oral’s most powerful messages of all time, recorded live from the great tent crusade days: The Fourth Man, Holding the Rope, Samson and Delilah, and Christ’s Mastery Over Demons. As you listen to this digitally re-mastered, state-ofthe-art CD series, you can experience for yourself the never-changing, miracle-working power of God that’s available to meet your needs today. 4 CDs $25 LC2207
Includes “ The Fourth Man”
Children’s Word Pack
The Children’s Word Pack includes three books by Lindsay Roberts: The ABC’s of Faith, volumes 1 and 2, and God’s Champions. These exciting, colorful children’s books can help the children in your life see themselves the way God sees them, and encourage them to become all that God wants them to be. Set $20 LC1645
If You Need Healing Do These Things by Oral Roberts
One of the first books ever written by Oral Roberts, this timeless message is still a powerful tool to help you learn how to release your faith for healing! Book $7 LC120
Seed-Faith in a Nutshell by Richard and Lindsay Roberts
This power-packed mini-book explains how you can make your giving a seed of your faith in obedience to God—and the scriptural benefits you can expect to receive when you do. Booklet $2 ENC61
To order: Call 918-495-7777, or visit our online bookstore at www.oralroberts.com for a complete listing of our products. 17
More-Than-Enough Miracles Became My Way of Life in 2009 Being a partner of the Oral Roberts Ministries can bring great blessings into your life, as 20-year-old Jesse Robinson can tell you. In many ways, Jesse Robinson is a typical 20-year-old, making plans for his future and learning about life as an adult. But if you listen to him long enough, you’ll hear the words of a young evangelist out to change the world. “I have a desire to help people,” Jesse says. “I know that’s what the Lord wants me to do, so I’m just running after that dream as fast as I can.” From an early age, Jesse felt the touch of God on his life. But when he turned 16, his life went downhill. His parents’ divorce sent him searching for ways to cope with the pain. “I started hanging out with the wrong crowd,” Jesse says. “We’d smoke marijuana. Then it turned to other things. I’d take cocaine or acid once in a while. And it just started to get bad.” Even his relationship with his girlfriend at the time started to go downhill. Distraught, Jesse knew he needed help. “I was at a friend’s house, thinking that there had to be something different than what I was experiencing. I knelt down, prayed, and accepted the Lord back into my life.” 18
After Jesse returned to the Lord, he continued to experience challenges, but God was there for him with muchneeded answers. One problem he faced was an addiction to cigarettes. Jesse says, “I tried to quit so many times. Finally one day, I was on my back porch smoking, and I decided I was done with this habit. I threw the cigarette away and knelt down to pray, and the Lord delivered me. Since November 5, 2008, I haven’t smoked a cigarette.” God continued to work in Jesse’s life, this time through bringing him into contact with the Oral Roberts Ministries. One late night, when Jesse was going through a hard time due to trouble in one of his relationships, he came across a television broadcast of The Place for Miracles. That’s when he heard Richard Roberts give a word of knowledge that spoke directly to him. “Richard said, ‘There is someone watching who is heartbroken, and the Lord wants to mend your broken heart.’ The moment he said that, I thought, ‘Wow, that’s for me!’ I laid my hands on the television as a point of contact while he prayed. I just felt
MORE THAN ENOUGH MORE THAN ENOUGH MORE THAN ENOUGH
in my heart like the Lord did something when I prayed, and since that day, everything’s changed,” Jesse says. He also heard Richard use a word unfamiliar to him—the term seed-faith. “When I started listening to The Place for Miracles,” Jesse shares, “I’d hear Richard talk about seed-faith. I didn’t understand what that meant. But I got his little booklets* (see note) and read them. I learned about seed-faith giving through Richard’s teaching.” Jesse began to put what he had learned into action. He sowed a seedfaith offering from the Christmas money he received from his mother and grandparents. But he didn’t stop there. “I sowed seed continually, whenever I had the chance,” Jesse says. “And then one day I was out in the front yard filling up holes in the lawn. My neighbor came over. She told me she had a lot of work to do. And she said that if I wanted to do it, there was more than enough work for me until I got a job or went to school. “I was amazed, because More Than Enough was the theme for the Oral Roberts Ministries in 2009. I was sowing into the ministry, and I received more than enough. It was awesome! The Lord blessed me.” Seeing God’s faithfulness, Jesse continued sowing his offerings and expecting God for miracles. And recently, he received another blessing. “I owed so much money on my credit card,” Jesse says of a large debt he owed on a hospital bill. “But I got a call from the credit card company. They told me they’d cut what I owed in half, and if I paid that amount, they’d consider my
I was sowing into the ministry, and I received more than enough. It was awesome! account paid in full. The debt would be gone. Thank God!” Jesse also appreciates the monthly partner letters from Richard. Through them, he says he has received valuable teaching to help him in his daily walk of faith with the Lord. Jesse shared, “When Richard wrote, ‘This year is More Than Enough,’ I said, ‘Then I’ll just believe God for that.’ “That’s one of the reasons I was sowing seeds into the ministry,” he adds. “It’s at the beginning of the year of More Than Enough that things began to happen for me.” And just as you might expect from an enthusiastic young evangelist in the making, Jesse wants to share what he has learned with others. “God can do anything,” he says. “He’s a healer, so He’s in the healing business and the blessing business. Whatever people need, God is there, and He’s got it. “I want to thank Richard Roberts from the bottom of my heart for what he is doing and how God is using him. I thank God for using a man like this to reach me. As the Lord blesses me, I plan to keep blessing Richard and his ministry.” If you would like to request the booklet Seed-Faith in a Nutshell—see page 17. *
MORE THAN ENOUGH MORE THAN ENOUGH MORE THAN ENOUGH 19
T H E A B U N D A N T L I F E P R AY E R G R O U P
ALPG Prayer Partners believe
Every call is a miracle contact There’s a popular saying that when you’re in the hands of an expert, you’re in “good hands.” But as many people know who have called the Oral Roberts Ministries 24-hour a day prayer line, we believe you’re not just in good hands when you call the Abundant Life Prayer Group, you’re in the very best Hands possible…because one of the first things ALPG prayer partners are trained to do is to put every one of their calls and every caller into the Hands of an everlasting and ever-loving God. Every day, the Abundant Life Prayer Group receives as many as 3,000 phone calls, with many callers expressing serious needs. AnneMarie Worner, Prayer Group Director, says that in recent months, “The intensity of our calls has increased, and there are more very dire prayer requests than ever before.” 20
Because people know the Oral Roberts Ministries as a healing ministry, the majority of calls are for healing— not only physical, but emotional, financial, in relationships, and other areas as well. But recently there has been an increase in calls specifically regarding finances and job situations, such as these prayer requests: After asking for prayer, one caller stated that if they didn’t immediately receive a financial miracle, they would lose their house and car and would soon be homeless. A house painter called from Florida, scheduled to be evicted from his apartment in days. He literally had not one penny and hadn’t eaten in three days. Another caller began having panic attacks from the financial turmoil in her life. Already bankrupt and about to lose her home, she had just learned
that the income tax refund she was counting on to pay rent and utilities for herself and her children was being seized by the government. One woman, representative of many callers, mentioned how she had no money for her family to celebrate the holidays.
In times like these… It’s important to remember that God doesn’t change with the times. He’s always the same, and the resources available to His children are always unlimited. And AnneMarie believes it’s important to know that in more than 50 years of ministry, the Abundant Life Prayer Group still operates by the same principles it did when it began in 1958. “One thing I’ve always loved about this ministry,” says AnneMarie, “is that we don’t try to give people answers. We know the answer comes from God. And we believe every call is a miracle contact. “What we do as prayer partners is meet people right where they’re at. It doesn’t matter if they’ve called about one particular prayer request one time or fifty times, our direction has always been to pray with faith each time as if it’s the first time. We don’t try to teach, counsel, correct, or give advice. We just come in agreement with them where they’re at, believe for a miracle, and trust that God will give them whatever they need that we could not possibly provide. “That’s why it’s so thrilling when someone calls back—and many do— and let us know the miracle ending to their story. It doesn’t change our job. Our job is to pray, knowing their lives
don’t depend on anything we can do, but on everything that God can do. So it’s always a joy to hear the miracles.” Miracles from people like Barbara, who called back recently to report that she and her children, who’d been facing eviction, were given a new place to rent. Or James, who sowed a seed against his financial need and called back to say he had just received four new contracts for his business. Or Monika, who had been laid off, but after prayer and sowing a seed of her faith, now has a new job with better pay and more opportunity. “We don’t get into worrying and wondering what happened. Even when we end the call, we believe that God is right in the room with our callers, so we aren’t leaving them alone. “It’s important for us to stay focused on God and His ability, rather than ours, so that we can come into work each day and pray fresh and new all over again. It’s such a joyous thing… knowing who God is and what He wants to do in people’s lives. “It’s wonderful to have peace at the end of the day. And it’s exciting to see what God is doing, and how He often uses the ALPG to bring miracles into people’s lives.”
ALPG Prayer Partners are on call 24 hours a day. 918-495-7777. 21
We’re Here for You… ••We’re here to pray with you when you’re hurting badly and feel that you can’t even pray yourself. ••We’re here to pray with you when you have no one else to pray with. ••We’re here to pray with you in the middle of the night when everyone else is asleep. ••We’re here to pray with you at Christmas or on your birthday—when everyone else is gone and you’re alone. ••We are always here to pray with you…No matter what your situation is, no matter what has happened, we are here and we want to see God meet you at your time of need…to share the love of God with you as He has freely given it to all who call upon Him. ••We want to pray the Word of God and send His peace that passes all understanding into your life and circumstances. ••We want to believe with you for the answer and miracle that you need and we will expect your miracle. ••And we want to rejoice with you in all your praise reports!
For prayer anytime, call 918-495-7777, or reach out to us on the Web at www.oralroberts.com/prayer.
the
Fourth Man
in the burning, fiery furnaces of life
A CLASSIC MESSAGE BY ORAL ROBERTS
Like a glittering diamond on a velvet pillow, the city of Jerusalem is situated in the geographical center of the earth. It is the city of God, the great King. Far away from Jerusalem was another city at one time, the greatest city the pride and skill of man had ever built. Its name was Babylon. Inside Babylon’s walls was the great palace of Nebuchadnezzar the king, the proudest and perhaps the cruelest man who ever sat on an earthly throne. His armies had conquered the world. And at the time that Daniel and his three young Hebrew companions were captured and taken to Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar was the undisputed ruler of the world. (See Daniel 3.)
A decree was made that when the people heard the king’s musicians playing their instruments, everyone—without exception—was to bow down and worship the golden image of Nebuchadnezzar. Those who failed to obey would be cast into a burning, fiery furnace. All around them they saw the Babylonians falling on their faces, crying, “Great is Nebuchadnezzar our god! There is no god in the earth but Nebuchadnezzar.” Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were dumbfounded. The Babylonians were worshiping the image of Nebuchadnezzar—a man—as God! They made the decision that they would never do that, and they refused to bow. Had not their God commanded, Thou shalt have no others gods before me 23
(Exodus 20:3)? They knew the Lord Jehovah was the only true God.
God’s people will be tried These three young men came faceto-face with this inescapable fact of life: True salvation will be tried! Whether God’s people live in Jerusalem, Babylon, or Tulsa, Oklahoma, at some point we will have the opportunity to prove what we are made of. We will face some kind of ultimatum as these three young men faced—either bow or burn. When Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to bow to the golden image of the king, naturally someone reported them to the king. “O King,” they said, “there are three young Hebrew men in your kingdom who refuse to bow to your image.” Enraged, the king ordered them to be brought before him. And he threatened them with their lives. “If you don’t bow and worship my image,” he shouted, “I will cast you alive into the midst of a burning fiery furnace within the hour.”
It was then that he made his first mistake, when he said, “And what god can deliver you out of my hands then?” He had severely underestimated the faith of those Hebrew young men.
Our God is able Without a moment’s hesitation, without the flicker of an eyelash, the three young men declared, “Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us!” And yet, their consecration did not even depend upon their knowing that God was able to deliver them. It went deeper than that. They said, “But even if He doesn’t deliver us, we will not bow down to your image or serve your gods.” They would be true to their God even if their faithfulness meant their death. Two laws of life There are two laws in this world that men live by—the law of faith and the law of compromise. Everything we do is either by faith or by compromise. Our convictions are put to the test every day. We are called upon to do what we know is right. But the devil will always tempt us to compromise to gain money, or the approval of someone we work for, or with whom we associate. Here’s a point that is very important to remember. Nothing you gain by compromise will ever have the power to satisfy you. Whatever you get by compromise, you will lose. On the other hand, what we get by faith we will keep. Life’s fiery furnace I cannot promise anyone that you will never be put into a furnace of suf-
24
fering for God. We have been there, and we will be there again before this spiritual battle is over. Every one of us has to face life’s fiery furnaces. We have to be willing to know Christ in the power of His resurrection AND in the fellowship of His suffering (Philippians 3:10). These young men were willing to suffer for God. They would not compromise. Filled with fury, Nebuchadnezzar ordered the furnace to be heated seven times hotter than usual. But when his soldiers threw Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego into the fiery furnace, the Fourth Man hurled Himself through space and in a moment’s time was beside them, walking through the burning fiery flames with them! And by the time the door was shut, the Lord had ripped off their bonds and clothed them with divine protection. When the king looked into the furnace, he shouted in amazement, “Didn’t we cast three men into the furnace? I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound, unhurt, and untouched by the flames! And the form of the Fourth Man is like the Son of God” (Daniel 3:25). The Fourth Man had come forth in the urgency of the three Hebrew children’s needs, subduing the crackling flames, robbing the fire of its violence, and delivering them!
even the smell of the fire upon them! Upon witnessing this mighty miracle, Nebuchadnezzar found a new God to worship in his life. And he ordered that all his kingdom should worship the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, for he declared, “There is no other God that can deliver after this sort!” And this truth is as genuine and eternal today as it has ever been. There is no other God who can deliver like our God can!
Do you know this faithful, delivering God? If you’ve never met the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego… the God who can deliver you from whatever burning, fiery furnace you’re going through in your life…you can meet Him today. Once you receive Him, He’ll never leave you or forsake you, just as He never left those Hebrew young men. He’ll go with you into the storms of life, and He can bring you safely to the other side. It’s very easy to meet this Fourth Man. His name is Jesus and He stands at the door of your heart, knocking and waiting to come inside. Will you let Him in today? If so, pray this simple prayer with me right now: Father, thank You for being the kind of God who never leaves us or abandons us. The king is converted Thank You for sending Your Son Jesus to Nebuchadnezzar shouted into the die on the cross for me. I accept His sacrifice f lames, “Shadrach, Meshach, and on my behalf. Please forgive me of my sins Abednego, come forth!” The three and my turning away from You in the past. young men stepped out of the furnace, Today I take You as my Lord and Savior. rejoicing and praising God, without In Jesus’ name, amen and amen. 25
A CLASSIC MESSAGE BY ORAL ROBERTS
I see Him revealed in every book of the Bible. In GENESIS, He’s the Seed of the In HOSEA, He is the faithful Huswoman. In EXODUS, the Passover band, forever married to the backLamb. In LEVITICUS, our High slider. In JOEL, the Baptizer with Priest. In NUMBERS, the Pillar of the Holy Ghost and fire. In AMOS, Cloud by day and the Pillar of Fire by our Burden Bearer. In OBADIAH, night. In DEUTERONOMY, the the Mighty to Save. Prophet like unto Moses. In JOSHIn JONAH, our great Foreign MisUA, the Captain of our salvation. In sionary. In NAHUM, the Avenger of JUDGES, our Judge and Lawgiver. In God’s elect. RUTH, our Kinsman Redeemer. In I In HABAKKUK, God’s Evan& II SAMUEL, our trusted Prophet. gelist, crying, “Revive thy work in In KINGS AND CHRONICLES, the midst of the years.” In ZEPHAour reigning King. In EZRA, our NIAH, the Savior. In HAGGAI, the faithful Scribe. In NEHEMIAH, the Owner of all the gold and silver in the Rebuilder of the broken-down walls earth. In ZECHARIAH, the Founof our human life. In ESTHER, our tain opened up in the house of David Mordecai. In JOB, our ever-living for sin and uncleanness. In MALARedeemer. CHI, the Sun of Righteousness, rising In PSALMS, He’s the Lord our Shep- with healing in His wings. herd. In PROVERBS & ECCLEIn MATTHEW, He’s the MesSIASTES, He is our Wisdom. In the siah. In MARK, the Wonder-Worker. SONG OF SOLOMON, the Lover LUKE, the Son of Man. In JOHN, and the Bridegroom. In ISAIAH, He’s the Son of God. In ACTS, the One the Prince of Peace. In JEREMIAH, who confirms the Word of God with the Righteous Branch. In LAMEN- signs and wonders. TATIONS, the Weeping Prophet. In In ROMANS, He’s the one who EZEKIEL, the wonderful Four-Faced makes everything work together for Man. In DANIEL, the Fourth Man in good to those who love God. In I the burning fiery furnace. & II CORINTHIANS, He’s the 26
“He’s the Brightness of God’s Glory”
gifts of the Spirit and the fruit of the Spirit. And in GALATIANS, He’s the Redeemer from the curse of the law. In EPHESIANS, He’s the Christ of unsearchable riches. In PHILIPPIANS, the God who supplies all our Valley, the Rose of Sharon, the Staff needs according to His riches in glory. of Life, and Honey in the Rock. In COLOSSIANS, the Fullness of the He’s the Brightness of God’s Glory, Godhead bodily. In I & II THESSA- the Express Image of His Person, the LONIANS, our Soon-Coming King. King of Glory, the Pearl of Great Price, In I & II TIMOTHY, our Mediator the Rock in a Weary Land, the Cup between God and man. that Runneth Over, the Rod and Staff In TITUS, He’s our faithful Pas- that comfort. And the government of tor. In PHILEMON, the Friend our lives is upon His shoulders. that sticketh closer than a brother. In HEBREWS, He’s the Blood of the Who is this Fourth Man? Everlasting Covenant. In JAMES, the HE IS JESUS OF NAZARETH, Great Physician. In I & II PETER, our the Son of the Living God! My Savior! Chief Shepherd, who soon shall appear. My Companion! My Lord and King! In I, II, & III JOHN, He’s evTo order the Fourth Man and other erlasting Love. In JUDE, He’s the Lord, coming with ten thousands classic messages of Oral Roberts, see of His saints. And in REVELA- Bookstore on pages 16 and 17. TION, He’s the King of kings and Lord of lords! He is Abel’s Sacrifice, Noah’s Rainbow, Abraham’s Ram, Isaac’s Wells, Jacob’s Ladder, Samuel’s Horn of Oil, David’s Slingshot, Hezekiah’s Sundial, Daniel’s Visions, Amos’ Burden, and Malachi’s Sun of Righteousness with healing in His wings. He’s Peter’s Shadow, Stephen’s Signs and Wonders, Paul’s Handkerchiefs and Aprons, and John’s Pearly White City. He’s a Father to the Orphan and Husband to the Widow. To the traveler in the night, He’s the Bright and Morning Star. To those who walk the lonesome valley, He’s the Lily of the 27
Home Ministries department director Bob Mills
ORM Home Ministries
Meeting the Needs of Our Partners When Oral Roberts first started the Home Ministries department many years ago, he told his staff, “Meet the needs of our partners, and God will meet our needs.” Then he made sure the Home Ministries staff was trained to minister to the financial and spiritual needs of the people they would meet with. As current Department Director Bob Mills notes, meeting Oral Roberts Ministry partners’ needs by ministering to them as whole people—including their financial health—remains the key principle behind what he and his staff members do. “What we do is consistent with the whole man concept that Oral and Richard Roberts have been teaching for years,” Bob says. The Home Ministries staff is trained to provide planned giving advice to those who feel led of God to bless this ministry through annuities, will bequests, charitable trusts, life income plans, or 28
gifts of property, stock, life insurance, and other financial instruments. ORM Representatives focus on helping this group of partners get the most benefit out of their giving by helping them make the best possible decision not just for the ministry, but for their own lives as well. They also are prepared to minister through encouragement and prayer—a part of the charge that Oral gave the department to meet the needs of partners. “We look at what we do as a ministry,” Bob says. “We’re sowing seed into our partners’ lives for their financial and spiritual well-being.”
A double blessing As Bob drove to the home of an Indiana partner some time ago, he thought and prayed about the best advice to offer her. She had made a seed-faith gift to ORM—a blessing to the ministry. But Bob wanted to be
sure that this partner had also chosen the best giving option available to her. So he traveled to her home and sat down with her to discuss the many ways she could support ORM f inancially, while at the same time choosing the giving method that would best suit her personal financial needs. Their discussion together ensured that one blessing could easily be turned into two—both for the ministry and the partner.
Confident About Your Retirement Plan?
How Home Ministries can help you For those who are interested in planned giving, the Home Ministries Department can help you plan charitable donations in ways that provide benefits such as lower taxes, sound estate planning, and lifetime income. Says Mills, “We are always glad to personally meet with partners to discuss these options in detail.” Contact us today To request more information or to set up an appointment with a Home Ministries representative, call (918) 591-2020, visit us online at www.ormgift.org, or e-mail home.ministries@orm.cc. We look forward to helping you.
“Meet the needs of our partners, and God will meet our needs.”
– Oral Roberts
Gift Annuity • Will Bequest • Revocable Living Trust • Life Insurance Gift • Appreciated Property • Gifts of Stock • Life Income Plans
Our Home Ministries Department would be happy to talk with you and make recommendations, including ways to provide for your retirement while supporting the outreaches of Oral Roberts Ministries.
Bob Mills, Director of Home Ministries 918-591-2020 home.ministries@orm.cc www.ormgift.org 29
REACHING MORE PEOPLE THAN EVER WITH GOD’S LOVE 2009 ORM Ministry Update from Richard Roberts Last year was a year of fruitful opportunities for the Oral Roberts Ministries. With your help we have done our best to preach the Good News of the Gospel and to fulfill God’s Word to us in James 1:27 to minister to those who are needy and hurting. Since our nightly TV program, oriented programming that lifts up The Place for Miracles, went on the the name of Jesus and declares His air in 1997, we have received more saving, healing, delivering power to than 125,000 miracle testimonies. the world. And with your help in expanding the Our missions outreach is constantly Abundant Life Prayer Group, ORM expanding. In addition to our latest now receives more than 3,000 phone trip to Kenya in January 2010, I have calls a day for prayer. also been contacted by government We are grateful that more homes leaders of many other needy counthan ever are now able to watch our tries—such as Honduras, Tanzania, television programs, The Place for Burundi, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Miracles and Make Your Day Count. Columbia, and Costa Rica—who For more than 50 years, we have want me to bring a Healing Crusade been providing wholesome, family- to their nation.
Nicaragua, April 2009 30
Kenya, July 2009 (be looking for our Kenya report coming soon)
Jordan Roberts and Adrian Compton in Kenya, October 2009
Over the past year, through our hu- ask you to prayerfully consider planting manitarian outreach, we were able to a special seed of your faith to help us distribute 4 million nutritious meals of follow the Lord’s leading in 2010. If you fortified rice, oats, and/or dried fruit—a would like to see more information, go total of 16 food shipments to six coun- to www.hungerneedsavoice.com. tries: Nicaragua, El Salvador, Haiti, Ni- You can go online at www.oralrobger, Honduras, and Kenya. Praise God! erts.com to plant your seed. I believe We are excited about 2010 and be- God has great blessings in store for you lieve it could be one of our most pro- and for all those who will share their ductive years ever. Thank you so much blessings generously as a seed of faith for your generous support to date, and I in the lives of others.
“We are excited about 2010 and believe it could be one of our most productive years ever.” 31
Miracles magazine
Living Proof Testimonies
Prayer Requests
Books, CDs, and DVDs
Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Wichita, KS Permit No. 23
Online Giving
There’s Life Online at the Oral Roberts Ministries Website
TV Shows—live and archived
…and so much more! Log in anytime, day or night, for resources to help you stand strong and grow in God.
www.oralroberts.com