Dick Leggatt, President of Derek Prince Ministries – USA and this comprises his April 9, 2015 Newsletter. Click here to receive the Derek Prince Ministries emailed E-devotional.

 

 

Are there areas of your life in which you repeatedly experience defeat and frustration? Does there seem to be an obstacle or barrier holding you back from the victories you hope to experience? Is it a struggle for you to be productive in certain aspects of your life?

Let’s be honest. All of us experience varying degrees of fruitlessness. Much of it simply comes from the adversities we face in life. However, a constant lack of productivity may indicate the presence of some kind of curse. If that kind of spiritual obstacle is at the root of the barrenness you are facing, I want to offer some practical encouragement for breaking its hold upon your life.

Does that sound like something you are hoping for? Then please read on.

Bad Water, Barren Ground

Our starting point is a brief but powerful incident from the early ministry of Elisha, recounted in just four short verses:

“¹⁹ Then the men of the city said to Elisha, “Please notice, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord sees; but the water is bad, and the ground barren.”
²⁰ And he said, “Bring me a new bowl, and put salt in it.” So they brought it to him. ²¹ Then he went out to the source of the water, and cast in the salt there, and said, “Thus says the Lord: ‘I have healed this water; from it there shall be no more death or barrenness.’” ²² So the water remains healed to this day, according to the word of Elisha which he spoke,” 2 Kings 2:19–22.

This passage recounts the second miracle Elisha performed after receiving the mantle of the prophet, Elijah. His first miracle was to part the waters of the Jordan River as Elijah had done before being taken up into heaven. Shortly afterward came this second occasion to demonstrate God’s power.

The leaders of Jericho came to Elisha regarding the condition of their town: Please notice, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord sees; but the water is bad, and the ground barren” (v. 19). (Does that feel familiar to you? Is your outward appearance fairly good — even though you know you are fighting some losing battles in your life?)

That desperate situation is about to change — with one powerful word from the Lord.

“I Have Healed This Water”

Faced with Jericho’s negative situation, Elisha went right to work. He ordered the leaders to bring him a new bowl with salt in it. As Elisha went to the source and threw the salt from the bowl into the spring which supplied all of Jericho’s water, he made this proclamation: “Thus says the LORD: ‘I have healed this water; from it there shall be no more death or barrenness.’” No more fruitlessness!

In that powerful moment when Elisha declared the word of the Lord over the spring at Jericho, everything changed — forever. The Scriptures record that the transformation was complete and permanent. The end of the story in verse 22 confirms the result: “So the water remains healed to this day, according to the word of Elisha which he spoke.”

Does that encourage you? Do you believe the Lord can bring you this same kind of freedom from fruitlessness? He can — and He will.

Complete Healing and Mending

That word “healed” which the Lord speaks through Elisha is the Hebrew word, רָפָא rapha. We know it to be one of the names of the Lord: Jehovah Rapha, the LORD who heals us. The meaning of rapha is very expansive, however. It connotes healing, not only of individual distresses, but of the hurts of nations — a cleansing of water, elimination of miscarriages, repair of broken pottery, reversal of sterility, healing of national defects or whatever else may be barren or unfruitful.

This same word for healing appears in Psalm 147:3: “He [the Lord] heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” In that sense, rapha actually means, “to sew together, to mend.” It has everything to do with stitching up an injury and healing a wounded person.

In the case of a bitter or hurtful wellspring, it means turning bad water into a fountain that is healthy and life-giving. Are you eager for the Lord to do this in your own life? Is today His appointed time to reverse the curse that is obstructing your progress? Are you ready to declare an end to barrenness in your life?

An Act of Faith

In a message called “Healing the Bitter Pool,” Derek Prince discloses a key to the miraculous transformation you and I so desperately need — turning bad water into a life-giving stream. It involves a simple, symbolic act of faith on our part.

You see, generally speaking, any miracle is triggered by an act of faith, something very simple. It doesn’t have to be very complex.

One of the ministries in which this is very apparent is the ministry of Elisha. Every time Elisha had a problem, he did something apparently silly. But it solved the problem. For instance, he was with a group of people who were about to eat some food. But they discovered it was poisonous — they were all going to be dead if they didn’t do something. He said, ‘Bring me some meal.’ Some ordinary flour. Elisha threw the meal into the pot, and the food was all right. The flour didn’t make the food all right. But that simple act triggered the miracle-working power of God which made the food all right.

At another time, he was near the city of Jericho. There was a spring of water there, but the water was bad: it didn’t make the ground fruitful. It was bitter or saline water. So the leaders said to Elisha, ‘We like this place. It’s a beautiful place. But the water is no good.’ Elisha said, ‘Bring me a cruse of salt.’ Then he threw the salt into the water. When the salt entered the spring, the water became sweet and drinkable.

And it still is today. For something like 2,700 years, that testimony has stood of what happened when Elisha threw the salt into the water. The salt didn’t make the water drinkable. In fact, salt never makes water drinkable, does it? But, it was the act of faith that released the miracle-working power of God into the water….

So, here is a deep, scriptural principle that we find early on in the Bible. When you have a problem you can’t resolve, but you want the miracle-working power of God to move in on that situation, God will show you a very simple act of faith that will release the power of God into that situation.

Proclaiming Your Freedom from Fruitlessness

From what Derek has just taught us, it is clear that you and I need to take action — some simple step of faith to engage the miraculous power of God in our lives. Are you ready to take that step? Are you ready to proclaim the powerful prophetic word Elisha delivered, applying it to your own life?

Make this prayer your simple act of faith, throwing salt into the spring of your life:

Lord, I realize from all that has been shared that the frustration and fruitlessness I have been battling is not simply a product of my own inadequacy. It may well be a curse that is obstructing my progress. Thank You, Lord Jesus, for making me aware of this barrier.

In response, I want to address whatever is opposing me. With Your help, I want to reverse its effects forever. By the authority of Your Word, I now proclaim over my life the same words You spoke through Elisha: “I have healed this water; from it there shall be no more death or barrenness.”

I proclaim that any curse which has been stifling fruitfulness and productivity in my life is now null and void by Your Word. In the name of Jesus, this is what I proclaim instead for my life, my family and my work: No more fruitlessness! No more death! No more miscarriages! No more defeat! Instead, I receive — for myself and my family — victory, productivity, fruitfulness and success in every aspect of our lives.

Thank You, Lord. I receive this marvelous transformation on the basis of what I have proclaimed by Your Word. I give You the glory for every victory that will come forth in my life from now on. Amen!

A Life-Changing Proclamation

When you began this day, you probably didn’t realize that a life-changing experience was awaiting you. But by what you and I have just proclaimed, our futures have just grown much, much brighter. You and I can trust the Lord from here on to bring forth fruitfulness and productivity where once there were only barriers and barrenness.

We are so grateful for the privilege of entering into this new season with you. How appropriate that it takes place in a month when we celebrate Jesus’ resurrection — moving forever from death to life!

It is our joy to stand with you as you move forward, providing helpful tools to anchor solid biblical principles in your life. In that regard, we want to offer you “Healing the Bitter Pool,” the message by Derek Prince from which his excerpt was taken. This entire teaching is yours — free of charge — by simply clicking here to download it.

Providing helpful resources for you is just one way for us to thank you for your partnership in the work of DPM. We are happy to do so. We trust that you, in return, will stay in touch with us, pray for us, and support us to the degree you are able with your financial contributions. Your gifts make it possible for us to touch the lives of so many others who need reliable teaching in their relationship with Jesus Christ.

Thank you once again for linking arms with us in this wonderful venture. We send our love and appreciation for every prayer and every contribution you provide.

Your Victorious Testimony

Now it’s time to test the waters. Think of a task or challenge that has defeated you in the past — one that may have even caused you to give up in frustration. Make up your mind right now to take on this challenge once again. Address it with new insight and fresh spiritual energy, trusting the Lord to empower you to bring forth a fruitful result. Then, let us know what Jesus has accomplished as a result of the step of faith you have taken.

Every day, we receive reports from believers all around the world about the life-changing progress they have experienced by putting Derek Prince’s teachings into action. We would love to hear from you as well, so please keep us informed of how things are going for you. Know also that we are praying for you — every step of the way!

We look forward to hearing from you soon. We promise to rejoice with you when you share your victorious testimony: No more fruitlessness!

 

All the best,
Dick Leggatt
President, DPM–USA

 

P.S. It is our great privilege to be connected with you. Please make sure to download the free message by Derek, “Healing the Bitter Pool.” We know this inspiring resource will help to confirm the step of faith you have taken today.

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Materials used by kind permission of Derek Prince Ministries.