Category: Claiming God’s Promises

When I first became involved in Way Ministry fellowships, I was in a shell composed of fear and a lack of self-confidence. One of the sources of both my fear and lack of self-confidence was my lack of a normal father-son relationship growing up. When I heard in the Foundational Class about the tender relationship that a father should have with a son described in the Word as “Abba, Father,” I began to realize what was missing from my life up to that point. I didn’t let this stop my spiritual growth, however. The promises of God became living and real to me by my taking the entire class series within eighteen months. These classes, as well as fellowshipping with like-minded believers, enabled me to overcome many of my previously held fears in areas such as finances and other relationships. I was able to gain confidence in both of those areas, but still, something seemed missing.

The opportunity to defeat these self-imposed shortcomings became available when our fellowship was challenged to share one-on-one with our fellowship coordinator, a Way Corps minister, what our goals for that year were. I called him and told him that my goal was to feel that I was a complete man. I told him that I had been taught that we are “completely, completely complete in him,” but that didn’t change my deep-down feelings of incompleteness and inadequacy. We set a time to discuss that. At the appointed time, I laid out my concerns to him. He came back with so many positive observations about me, that I was almost overwhelmed. The gist of the conversation was that I should focus on what I do have and can do, and not worry so much about what I don’t have or felt that I couldn’t do. He gave real-life examples of people who masqueraded as masters of their craft in various areas of life, but hid their real selves behind the masquerade due to deep-down fears of showing their true selves. I was able to apply his advice in my life immediately and stopped worrying and having doubts about myself. In situations where I was previously unable to stand up for myself, I was able to draw on my new self-confidence and take a stand where I was previously unable to do so. I was able to claim righteousness and know that when I was right, I was right, and all I had to do was stand my ground. I stopped comparing myself to others who seemingly had it all, but when you looked beneath the surface, many shortcomings became evident.

Now, when phrases such as “a father’s love” and “Abba, Father” are mentioned, my thoughts no longer turn to the shortcomings and lack of relationships in my past, but to the Word and the examples of God’s love for us. I am truly blessed that these previously held thought patterns have faded into the past. God worked in my fellowship coordinator, who then taught me the above principles from God’s Word in less than an hour, and that started me on the path to victory in this area of my life. What really blesses me is that I was able to raise two stepsons as if they were my own, and I have a great relationship with both of them to this day. They have no idea that I had had those feelings of inadequacy in the past.

Our heavenly Father has made us complete in Christ, and He loves us so that we can love ourselves and others.

A couple of years ago, I moved to a very large city, specifically to help care for God’s people. I was believing for what I call “a God job”: a job where I could have opportunities to share God’s Word, to contribute my long suits to a great company, and to have my financial needs met with an abundance to give. I looked for a job for several months before accepting one. I knew the job I accepted was not the job I was still ultimately believing for; but I believed it would meet my need for the time being. I put my whole heart into that job, knowing that I work heartily as to the Lord and not unto men—a truth in Colossians 3:23 that I learned in this ministry. I knew there was a godly reason I was at the job, and I believed to see it.

In the time I worked there, I continued to look for a different job. At times it was very discouraging; I applied for job after job, and most times I never heard back. Other times I would get interviewed, and it would seem so close, but then they would give the job to someone else. In I Samuel 30, when David was in an extremely intense, tough situation, the Word says he “encouraged himself in the Lord.” Because of what I have learned about believing, when I was discouraged, I would go through a mental list of all the amazing things God had done for me so far since moving here, such as providing me with a car and a computer, which were both a need, and had both been given to me. Even though I did not have the finances to purchase those items, God showed me over and over that He would continue to provide for me. I continued to be clear and concerned in what I was believing for, and I prayed about it much.

On New Year’s Eve, I found myself without a job. Even in this situation, God had prepared me. I was able to drive my mind to the Word. I was excited because I knew that my “God job” was close. I didn’t have a job at all, and I KNEW God would provide. I kept moving forward. Within a couple of days, I saw God working mightily in the timing of things coming into place for me getting not just a job, but the best job for me. I continued to give much and volunteered to coordinate a combined Branch Intermediate Class.

Over the space of a couple of weeks, I had three interviews with a premier company in the city and was wowed by the Biblical principles they practice in their company. The third interview was on a Thursday with one of the partners in the company. When I left the job interview, I was told they had more interviews the following Monday and then would make their decision. The next day, Friday, was the beginning of the Intermediate Class. I went for a run in the morning and received a phone call saying that the company decided to cancel their other interviews to offer me the job. What timing!! I was able to put my full focus into the Intermediate Class, and my new job started the day after the class ended. Before I was officially hired, I was given more responsibility and a raise, making twice as much as I had at my previous job, and also great benefits. I have had opportunities to speak God’s Word to my coworkers, and I continue to see God do amazing things for me at this job.

Although it took over a year and a half to find this job, I know that my faithfulness to keep looking and keep moving forward with believing was due to the solidity of the Word I live in my life. It was The Way International that taught me how to understand and live this Word. What a faithful God we have!

The greatest thing that I have learned in The Way Ministry is the knowledge and understanding that God loves me. From my first days with this ministry until now, I have known God as a loving Father, and I am helped daily because I trust in Him and His Word. This has given me a firm foundation to stand upon.

Prior to my involvement with this ministry, I wasn’t sure what God thought about me. I didn’t know if I was good enough for Him to love. I believed that God’s love was available to those who lived a good life, a life without sin, and that His love and concern for me was passive, available only if the situation or need was important enough. I would barter with God for His help and His love. If He helped me I would promise to go to church more. I would keep my promise for a while, but something would happen and I would break my promise, losing God’s love, I thought.

But then someone taught me what God’s Word says about the love of God. I learned that God has an active love and concern for my life. Shortly after taking the Foundational Class, I became ill from a reoccurring stomach virus. My friend who had gotten me into the Word said, “You can believe for God to heal you.” I said, “I don’t need to do that. This will be gone in a week. Besides, I will lose a little weight.”

She tried to encourage me to believe for God’s healing, but I thought, why bother God with this? It is not life threatening. With medication I will only be sick for about a week. I will not be able to eat without discomfort, but I will lose a few extra pounds. Why should I involve God?

A couple of nights later, I went out to have ice cream with some friends, thinking I should be able to tolerate ice cream. I ordered a banana split. It looked delicious, but one spoonful and it was too painful to finish. I was sad, but what surprised me was that I knew that God was hurt for me. He was not happy that I was not able to enjoy my ice cream. God loved me and was that concerned for me. Since God cared so much for me, I knew I should believe to be healed.

I was so excited to believe God. I was thrilled to be doing something with God. I prayed and thanked God for His love and concern. Then I wrote down verses that I thought would help me to claim my deliverance:

I Peter 2:24:
Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

III John 2:
Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.

Ephesians 3:20:
Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.

I John 3:2:
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

II Timothy 1:7:
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

I wrote down the definition for fear that a believer had taught me: FEAR—false evidence appearing real.

The next day, I went to the student union, bought a hot fudge sundae with nuts, and sat down. I prayed and thanked God for healing me. I read the verses I had written down and ate a spoonful of ice cream. Pain. I said, “False evidence appearing real. By his stripes I have already been healed.” I ate another spoonful. Pain. I read through all the verses again. Then… “One more spoonful and I’m finished. This is the best hot fudge sundae that I have ever had!” As I thought about how good that ice cream was, I began to realize that there was no more pain. I don’t know when it stopped, but it was gone for good.

God loved me and was concerned for me. He cared about this small part of my life. I knew that He meant what He said, that His Word could be trusted. Over the years I have sought God’s help in situations big and small. As I have grown in my knowledge of God’s Word, I have learned to believe God more. But I always come back to God’s love and concern for me. It is real and never ending. God always has time for me. I don’t have to be perfect for Him to love me. This knowledge has given me a firm foundation to stand on for over forty years.

An Amazing Journey with My Heavenly Father

When I was a young adult, I had so many questions about life and the direction I needed to go as an adult. One evening I was working at my part-time job, and a young man came in and said to me, “How would you like a purpose for doing the things you do and to have direction in life?” He had me hooked. I took The Way Ministry’s Foundational Class almost forty-five years ago, and that was the beginning of an amazing journey with my heavenly Father. I had clear direction for my life, and I knew my purpose in life.

Since that time, I have had many victories because of the Word of God I have been taught. I learned to believe and trust God and have no fear, no doubt, no worry. When I was faced with a serious health situation that could have potentially been fatal, I steeled my mind and claimed that by the stripes of Jesus Christ I was healed. My healing was so rapid that even family had no idea how sick I really was. That’s victorious living. Before I took the Foundational Class, I had no idea that God’s desire was health and prosperity.

I can truly say that each day I have so many blessings to be thankful for. To know that I can have a true and vital relationship with the Author of all life is awe inspiring. To enjoy God’s peace, His mercy, and His grace on a daily basis is beyond words. I walk down the street each day with my head held high because I know who I am in Christ and that I am a son of God with all power. What a victory!

I Looked to God’s Word for Strength

I am a French-speaking college student originally from Africa. My goal is to become a nurse. In order to achieve this goal, it is required that I take several very difficult biology courses. After passing the first biology course, I was enrolled in Biology II. I faithfully attended lectures, but I really struggled. First of all, I really couldn’t understand what the teacher was saying. No matter how hard I tried to learn, I could not focus, and I became more and more distracted. I was very discouraged, and I felt like my brain was frozen. As a result, I was failing the class. At first, I panicked, but then I chose to do what I had learned as a follower of The Way: claim a promise found in God’s wonderful Word that would bring victory. As I looked to God’s Word for strength, it was Psalms 147:5 that really hit home for me. It states, “Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite.” I told myself this verse over and over. In this very challenging situation, God’s Word warmed my heart and melted my frozen brain! I did pass the class, and I know it was not by my own doing, but by God Who brought me a sweet victory.

What a Joy to Live with Such Power!

The greatness of God’s Word that I have learned in The Way Ministry has taught me how to do the works of Jesus Christ and greater by operating the gift of holy spirit. When our son was a toddler, we were out together on a shopping trip. At the store, I placed him so he was sitting in the seat section of the shopping cart. I turned to look at an item on the shelf behind me, and as I did so, my son quickly stood up and fell out of the shopping cart onto the concrete floor below. As soon as it happened, I grabbed my crying son in my arms and immediately started to pray for him and believe that God would heal him of any injury. My son immediately stopped crying and was once again smiling. We finished our shopping and headed home.

I told my husband about the incident, and he thought it would be a good idea to take our son to our pediatrician, who was a believer. When I arrived at the doctor’s office, she started doing her examination of him. She felt his head and neck, then she got to his collar bone. She looked at me and asked if he had ever broken his collar bone. I told her no, he had not. She told me to feel a small nub on his collar bone. She said the bone had calcified in that one spot, indicating that it had been broken. She said that he must have broken his collar bone when he fell, but God had already healed it.

Because of the Word of God that I have learned in The Way Ministry, I knew I had the authority before God to pray and believe for complete wholeness for my son. What a joy to live with such power!

I Can Receive the Promises of God

It was springtime 1975, and I had been regularly attending my ministry’s home-based fellowships and had also taken their Foundational Class. The class is designed to teach you how to understand the Bible. It was during one of the home fellowship meetings that I learned that by Jesus Christ’s stripes, by his broken body, I had—past tense—been healed. I had never heard this before, and this truth struck home with me because for many years prior to this day, I had been plagued with seasonal bronchitis. I was told by my doctor that I would always have this problem. Every year as the seasons changed, I came down with bronchitis; but what I didn’t know at those times was that believing equals receiving.

However, in the Foundational Class that I had taken, I learned about believing and how I can receive the promises of God. When I heard and believed the truth that by Jesus Christ’s stripes I had been healed, I received complete deliverance from bronchitis. It has been more than forty years since I received this healing, and I am still thankful for this wonderful blessing in my life that was made available to me through the Word of God that I learned in The Way Ministry.

I started attending Way Ministry household fellowships during my last year of college. I was going to school full-time, and I was working part-time: nights and weekends. I wanted to take the Foundational Class, but between school, work, and studying, I could not see how I could do it. I didn’t have the money nor the time.

When a Foundational Class presentation came up, I went to it in spite of thinking there was no way I could be in the next class. The Word of God taught during that presentation set my heart on fire. I learned that Jesus Christ came so that we could have a more abundant life and that God answers prayer when we pray according to His Word and believe. I decided that I needed to learn the Word of God taught in that class in order to live with power and abundance. After the power-packed teaching, I learned that a class was starting in a few days. I would need to have my fee paid and make a commitment to be at each session (evenings and weekends) by the next day.

On the drive home, all I could think about was, who can I borrow money from? And how could I get the time off from my new job? Then I remembered the powerful Word I had just heard.

Ephesians 3:20:
Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.

Philippians 4:19:
But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

During that drive home, I said to the friend who was undershepherding me, “I know God is going to get me the money I need tonight.” When we got to my apartment, I checked my mailbox, and there was a letter. In the letter was a check for the exact amount I needed to register for the class! And when I went to work the next evening, I told my supervisor about the wonderful class I needed to be in and the evenings and weekend days I needed off. After previously warning all of us part-time employees not to even ask for any time off during the busy holiday season, she said, “OK, I can make it work”!

When we believe God’s Word, claim His promises, and walk out with boldness, our loving heavenly Father meets our every need every time.

I had the privilege of growing up as part of the household of The Way. My parents were witnessed to when my brothers and I were children, around seven years of age; my parents were part of the leadership for many years, serving with all their hearts.

Knowing and understanding the Word of God from a young age has helped me face the challenges of life. Each of us has challenges; what makes a difference is how we face each one of them, and the Word of God gives us the tools to win. Philippians 4:13 is one of the promises that I have always remembered. I remind myself that the promises of God are for me, and they are for you too. God has not failed me.

For more than seventy-five years, The Way International has made available the Word of God rightly divided through its household fellowships, classes, and training, for those who want to know exactly what God’s will is for their life. This is one of the reasons why I feel so proud to be part of this household of believers.

As a child of God, I have done my best to please Him with my walk. We do not walk perfectly, but we are FAITHFUL, acting according to what we have seen and learned in the Word of God. The Word of God is the genuine answer to the meaning of my life, and this ministry has taught it to me.

Growing in the Word has allowed me to develop that love and respect for the Word of God.

It was in the spring of 1985, and the next start date for our area’s Intermediate Class had been set. My fellowship coordinator asked if I planned to be in the class. I affirmed that I would be fully registered that same evening. However, there was a small opportunity. At the time, I was serving in the United States Navy, and my ship, the USS John F. Kennedy, was scheduled to be out at sea during the class dates. I knew from a recent Foundational Class that James 5:16 promises “…The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” I let my fellowship coordinator know the need, and we agreed that our God is big—bigger than even a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier—and that I should attend the class.

On the day of the class, the ship put to sea as scheduled for a two-week deployment, but I kept confessing that I would be at the class on time. As the day wore on, the ship continued on its appointed course. Having recently graduated from the Foundational Class, I was reading records in the Old Testament that were written for our learning, especially as they related to believing God. One record that got my attention was Joshua 10:12, where it was recorded that Joshua said, “…Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon.” The next verse records the results: “And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies….” I figured since God did that for Joshua in that battle and I was in a spiritual battle, He would do the same for me. After all, we had been taught in the Foundational Class from Acts 10 that “God is no respecter of persons.” I kept the mind picture that I would be at the class and continued to speak in tongues as I had been taught, believing that God would come through.

A few hours later after lunch, an announcement came over the public-address system: “Good afternoon, Kennedy men, this is the captain speaking. We have experienced a small issue and will need to make an unexpected return to port this afternoon. The remainder of the cruise has been canceled and will be rescheduled for a later date. We expect to be back at the dock by 5:00 p.m.”

I never did find out exactly what happened, but I departed the ship as soon as we returned and was in my seat on time for the first session of the class!

There is a verse from the Military Outreach Retemories set that I have enjoyed over the years that I claimed that day and continue to hold close.

II Chronicles 20:15:
…Thus saith the Lord unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s.

We serve a loving, powerful God Who never changes. What He did before, He can and will do again. We just have to believe Him and claim the promises we have been taught in His wonderful, matchless Word. I am so thankful for this ministry and how we have been taught to practically apply the Word and expect to see the results!

I have been in this ministry for over thirty years. Do you want to know why? Well, the ministry of The Way International has turned my life upside down, in a positive way of course!

After taking the Foundational Class, I had the blessing and the privilege to benefit from the teachings of the Word, which allowed me to understand many things with a new light because with the Foundational Class:

• I learned how to read the Bible by myself.
• I have come to know God and how He works and what He wants for each of us.
• I learned how to build my believing in God.
• I learned how to renew my mind and how to believe His Word in order to receive concrete answers to my prayers.

Since then I walk in peace. I do not worry about anything, since I know that He is always near me and that He always answers my prayers as it says in Matthew 6:33 and 34 and Philippians 4:9.

Matthew 6:33,34:
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

Philippians 4:9:
Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

This great ministry of The Way International has shown me that God, the Creator of all things and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, is real, and His Word is living and energetic for all who believe it and put it into practice. We can trust God because He is faithful and just to take care of us in all situations.

That is why, for decades, I have continued to stand steadfastly in this ministry, continuing to grow through all the avenues that the ministry makes available for our personal growth, such as household fellowships, The Way Magazine, Sunday Teaching Services, etc.

With all these things, how can I not love the Word of God? How can I not fellowship with The Way International?

My wife and I would like to testify of God’s glory, which was manifested in the face of a big challenge when we were expecting our baby girl. Around the twentieth week of pregnancy, due to a risk of early delivery, the doctor suggested a cervical placement for my wife. However, the amniotic sac was broken by mistake, which caused the amniotic fluid to leak.

Due to the seriousness of the situation, the doctors suggested that we abort the pregnancy. At that time, they told us that it was impossible for the sac to be restored, and that it is very rare for amniotic fluid to be replenished. We had a need! Our need was for the sac to be restored and the liquid to be reconstituted in the womb. So we prayed to God and claimed what God has promised us in III John 2. Then we asked the household to believe with us. We also built our believing on some other verses of the Bible such as:

Jeremiah 32:17:
…there is nothing too hard for thee.

Proverbs 10:22:
The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.

Proverbs 3:8:
It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.

We endured one day at a time, a wonderful principle that we learned in the Foundational Class. Around the twenty-fourth week of pregnancy during an ultrasound, the doctor noticed that the amniotic fluid was replenished and in a loud voice said that it was in abundance. At some point she thought it was even too much and needed to make sure that everything was normal. God also restored the sac. No amniotic fluid escaped from the womb until the delivery.

Today, as we are writing this sharing, our daughter is eight months old, and she continues to grow. God’s Word is the will of God and it works!