Book Review: How to Receive a Miracle and Retain It: A Book Written By Pastor Chris Oyakhilome

How to Receive a Miracle and Retain It

Focal Points:

• Miracle: A supernatural intervention of God that transcends all human reasoning.

• Wrong Assumptions: Beliefs not based on the Word of God that hinder receiving from God.

• God's Willingness to Heal: The foundational truth that God desires to heal.

• God's Finished Work: The understanding that healing and blessings have already been provided through Jesus Christ.

• Faith: Belief that comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God, essential for receiving a miracle.

• Confession: Speaking the Word of God and affirming one's healing or miracle.

• Action: Taking steps in line with one's belief and confession, despite challenges.

• Receiving: Actively accepting the miracle by faith and giving thanks.

• Retaining: Maintaining the miracle through consistent spiritual practices.

• Testimony: Sharing one's experience of receiving a miracle to affirm it and build faith in others.

• Positive Confession: Continually declaring one's healed state, regardless of symptoms.

• Rejecting Negative Thoughts: Discarding doubts and focusing on thoughts of life and healing.

• Ignoring Symptoms: Recognizing that symptoms are not the sickness itself but lying darts of the devil.

• Exercising Faith: Continuing to do what was previously impossible due to the ailment.

• Abstaining from Sin: Avoiding sin, which can open the door to negative consequences.

• Right Environment: Associating with God's people and maintaining godly fellowship.

• Attending Church: Regularly participating in church meetings where the Holy Spirit ministers.

• Prayer: Maintaining constant communication with God.

• Studying the Word: Learning and understanding God's Word for personal growth and revelation.

Nuggets from the Book:

1. A miracle is that supernatural intervention of God that transcends all human reasoning. People need miracles when faced with seemingly hopeless situations, when circumstances need to change, and when medical science and human reasoning offer no solutions.

2. The primary wrong assumption is that God will heal if He wants to. This is incorrect because the Bible, particularly Mark 1:41, shows Jesus expressing His willingness to heal ("I will; be thou clean"). God's compassion and affirmation demonstrate His desire for people to be well.

3. The analogy of the father and the college student illustrates the shift from God sending blessings periodically (Old Testament) to making all blessings, including healing, readily available in Christ Jesus (New Testament), like a father depositing all the needed funds into a bank account for his child to access anytime. It highlights that the provision has already been made.

4. The story of the woman with the issue of blood exemplifies hearing and believing in Jesus' ability to heal, saying (confessing) that if she could just touch His clothes she would be whole, and acting on her faith by pressing through the crowd to touch His garment despite the social and legal barriers.

5. It is important to "say it" because voicing faith reinforces belief and brings it into the realm of reality. Saying it to oneself and others helps to convince and establish the expectation of receiving the miracle, aligning with the principle that one often receives according to their faith.

6. "Act on it, no matter what it takes" means taking concrete steps of faith aligned with one's belief, even in the face of significant obstacles. The woman with the issue of blood acted on her belief by pressing through a dense, potentially hostile crowd, risking social ostracism and legal repercussions, to reach Jesus.

7. "Stepping into it" means actively claiming the miracle when a relevant word or opportunity arises. When a word of knowledge is given, individuals should recognize it as applying to their situation, thank God for the miracle, and begin to act as if they are already healed, doing what they couldn't do before.

8. Sharing testimony affirms what God has done by faith, confirming the healing and restoring the individual to wholeness. It also magnifies God's name and strengthens the faith of others who hear it, potentially leading to more miracles in their lives.

9. Every child of God should reject negative thoughts after receiving a miracle, by resisting the devil and filling their minds with thoughts of life and healing. They should not regard symptoms as the return of sickness but as lying darts of the devil to be resisted by standing firm in their confession of healing based on God's Word.

10. Three practical steps for retaining a miracle are: telling it (sharing your testimony), maintaining a positive confession (continually declaring healing), and rejecting negative thoughts (focusing on faith and health).

Key term:

• Divine Healing: Supernatural restoration of health and wholeness through the power of God.

• Faith: Firm belief and trust in God and His Word, often described as acting on what one believes.

• Confession: Publicly or privately declaring one's beliefs, often specifically related to God's promises and one's identity in Christ.

• Supernatural Intervention: An act of God that goes beyond the ordinary laws of nature and human capability.

• Word of God: The Bible, considered the inspired and authoritative message from God to humanity.

• Testimony: A personal account of an experience, particularly of God's intervention or blessing in one's life.

• Symptoms: Physical or mental signs that may indicate the presence of illness or other conditions.

• Positive Declaration: Speaking words of affirmation and agreement with God's Word, especially concerning healing and well-being.

• Righteousness: The state of being just and in right standing with God, often received through faith in Jesus Christ.

• Anointing: The bestowing of divine power or favor, often through the Holy Spirit, for a specific purpose.

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE:

1. Discuss the significance of identifying and rejecting "wrong assumptions" as the first step towards receiving a miracle according to Pastor Chris Oyakhilome. Use specific examples from the text to support your analysis.

2. Analyze the interconnectedness of hearing, believing, saying, and acting in the process of receiving a miracle as presented in Chapter Two. How do these steps build upon each other?

3. Evaluate the importance of retaining a miracle after receiving it. Based on Chapter Three, what are the key principles and practices that contribute to maintaining divine healing?

4. Explore Pastor Chris Oyakhilome's understanding of the role of faith and confession in both receiving and retaining a miracle. How do these spiritual principles empower believers?

5. Critically examine the practical advice offered in Chapter Three for retaining a miracle, such as abstaining from sin, attending church, and studying the Word. How do these practices contribute to a believer's overall well-being and sustained healing?