God bless you.
Pull up a chair, if you will, and let me praise, preach and thank the Lord with you for
a moment. And if you are not too busy Wednesday and Thursday nights, June 17 and
June 18, join me in revival at the Community Covenant Church 12446 South Loomis,
where Dr. Mark Thompson is the dynamic pastor.
My latest praise report is the continued lowering of my PSA, which tells me that
God's healing of my prostate cancer is in continued progress because the disease is in
progressive remission.
Get back, cancer!!! Get back!!! Get up off of me and get on out of me!!! Be gone
from my midst, in the mighty and magical name of King Jesus!!! By the power of the
Holy Ghost and by the grace of almighty God, I claim victory over mine infirmities and
over your infirmities, my blogreaders, in the name of Jesus and under the anointed
authority of our faith.
The final result of my blood work during my May 28 visit with Dr. Allen Anderson, my
cardiologist at the University of Chicago Medical Center, included the report that my PSA
is now down to 1.01, a marked improvement from my February reading of 2.01. My good
friend Eugene and the Kizart brothers (David, Milton and nephew Clay), Samuel, Andre,
Joseph, David, George and Jacqueline are all happy about this.
Hallelujah!!!!
Ain't God good!!!!!
First, the tumor on my brain was ruled benign a year ago. Now, my prostate cancer
is dissolving more and more toward oblivion.
It's unfortunate that my heart is no better. I'm still an end-stage congestive heart
failure patient, needing a heart transplant. It's still very, very weak. Its pumping efficiency
has been rated at 19 percent and less. But I am blessed and fortunate that it isn't worse.
Right?
Praise the Lord for every little bit more of His grace and mercy trickling down on me.
In my smackdown with death, that ol' despicable grim reaper, God is giving me the
victory. That gives me continued cause to sing,
"Victory is mine.
Victory is mine.
Victory today is mine.
I told Satan, 'Get thee behind me.'
Victory today is mine."
If God is likewise blessing you in your battle with whatever health issue or adversity,
why don't you join in with the rest of us redeemed with our healings in progress and sing,
"Victory is mine. Victory is mine. Victory today is mine. I told Satan, 'Get thee behind me.'
Victory today is mine."
Praise the Lord!
I want to thank all of my blogreaders for your continued prayers and support. You
are a great part of the reason why I am not just still holding onto God's unchanging hand,
but that my overall health issue, including a bad back, is slowly getting better .
I know that, for my enemies, I am not dying fast enough.
Neither are you.
If our enemies had their way, you and I would have been dead a long time ago. Am I
right about it, Gwen, Donna, John, Connie, Carrol, Natasha, Tomas, Mary, Cheryl, Darrell,
Gregory, Henry, Tommie, Jimmie, Veryunca, Flossie, Spencer, Maria, Patricia, Bill,
Wardella, Marsea and the rest of y'all? I just had to give a shout out to all y'all.
Am I right and ain't God good?
But while we're not dying fast enough for our enemies, we're dying slow enough
for our friends. Moreover, we're dying slower than a lot of people who presently are
younger, healthier and wealthier than we are. One does not have to be sick or old or
both to die.
Once more, am I right about it?
Yes, we are in a smackdown with death just like our dear departed loved ones were.
A smackdown with debts.
A smackdown with sickness.
A smackdown with unemployment and economic hardship.
A smackdown with divers temptations.
A smackdown with doubt, despair, depression and disaster.
A smackdown with all manner of evil.
But thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory through Jesus Christ our Lord. For
greater is He who is within you and me than he that is within the world.
Yes, we may have to suffer sometimes. But we have the victory.
Our burdens may get heavy and our souls may feel dreary and weary. But we have
the victory.
We may have to cry, drink tears for water and toss and turn all night in beds of
affliction, sometimes. But we have the victory.
Our friends may desert us and our enemies may outnumber us and even seem, at
times, to have the upper hand. But weep not. Be encouraged. Take heart and be
thankful. For whereas weeping may endure for a night or two or even three sometimes,
joy cometh in the morningtime and we shall gain the victory.
So, keep on praying, trusting and believing in God, because our God is an awesome
God.
God bless you.
Rev -
I'll give you a big "Amen!"
Thanks for the reminder that, although our problems may be common - illness, economic hardship, struggles with doubt and fear, we don't have to accept the common thinking about them. We have can dare to imagine perfect solutions to our struggles. We know that miracles are, in fact, the natural outworking, if we only open our eyes to see them and our hearts to accept them.
Isn't that what they're singing about when they sing, "I was blind, but now I see?"
Congratulations on your continued improvement. Thanks for keeping me in your prayers, as well.
BANKS' RESPONSE: John, one of the big reasons my blog is a success is
because of the regular contribution of you, the Powers that be. Your keen
sensitivity and eloquent prose leave my blog smelling like a rose. People like to
read blogs that attract people of substance and people of perfect pedigree. The
likes of you and my other blogreaders are the salt of the earth and the light of the
world. As I've told you, John, and the rest of the congregation from jump street, I
personally wanted a quick, cataclysmic, no-fuss, thorough healing. But I've learned
during this sometimes arduous grind that ain't nothing wrong with a slow-motion
healing. It gives me time to reflect and project on every subtlety of a healing. It also
gives more people more time to discover US, log in, dig in and enjoy.
Praise God,again. Thank you, for sharing your story and for inspiring me, and countless others.
BANKS RESPONSE: To borrow an idea from Gamble and Huff, on the lyrics of
the Teddy Pendergrass hit recording, where he sings, "it's so good loving somebody
and somebody loves you back." Well, Valerie, likewise, it's so good inspiring
somebody and somebody inspires you back. This blog and an interactive affair
where we enjoy that call-and-response thing so celebrated in black Baptist church
worship. So, I say unto you, thanks for inspiring me with your e-mail.
I can just see you now, standing in the middle of the ring, with one foot on Satan's chest, your arms in the air, and that big old heavy Championship Belt around your waist and all the rest of us standing in your corner behind your assistant manager, your lovely wife! Now we know that our Father in heaven never needs an assistant, but just had to give her a title, you know. I am so lifted up and can feel your joy and elation, your praise. Oh, yeah, He's good alright! Hallelujah! Praise Him!
BANKS' RESPONSE: You are so on-time with your celebration and praise
theme. One of our biggest problems is our refusal to change our tears into cheers.
And you are right. This is a fight that you and I and others of the redeemed are
engaged in. And yet, we already know who the winner is. We are. Thanks by to
God, who giveth us the victory through Jesus Christ, our Lord. So rather than sigh,
and cry and give alibi after alibi, we ought to take the time out to praise God's
name and thank Him for the problems He's already brought us through. Still, we
fight. Onward Christian soldiers we go, marching as to war, with the cross of
Jesus going on before.
Good Morning Rev.
Thanks for that powerful sermon. That's right, we all have come together to tell Satan that he must STAND DOWN in Jesus name. I keep telling you that we have your back. With this many prayers going up you can't help but to get the victory.
God Bless you today and always,
Donna
BANKS' RESPONSE: I thank God for prayer partners like you, Donna. The
psalmist says he was glad when they said unto him, "Let us go into the house of the
Lord." Well, we ought to feel the same way when praying time comes. We ought to
be glad when somebody invites us to bow down and pray to God. When as few as
two of us gather in Jesus' name, touching and agreeing on a common thing, the
Holy Ghost will be in our midst.
Hi Mr. Banks,
I am very happy to hear you are doing better. You wrote to me a few weeks ago & said that at times we all will be tried in the furnace of affliction & how right you were. But with knowing at the end of our battles if we believe, have faith & trust in a higher power than our own, we will be okay. I just mentioned to a friend that I can't wait for my healing (emotional) to begin & as I read your blog to see of your physical healing taking place, only confirms that mine is possible. I thank you once again for your inspiration & encouragement that you have given to so many of us.
God Bless :)
BANKS' RESPONSE: May God bless you, be with you and keep you until we
can pray and meet again.
Lacy, I've said it all along and let me shout this out...YOU WILL COVER THE 2016 OLYMPICS IN CHICAGO!!!!!!
BANKS' RESPONSE: Hot diggidy dog, Stan! Man, you're getting me all
excited with your awesome faith. I can feel the thrill way over here. I'm going to
ponder that piece of thunder in my heart and mind. Heck, why not! By the grace of
God, the love of Jesus and the power of the Holy Ghost, yes I can and yes I will!!!!!
You sure know how to pump people up, Stan.
Dear Lacy Banks.
I heard you preach, many years ago, at 2nd Baptist Church in Evanston as guest of Rev. Hycel Taylor. I was impressed and inspired by your presence and sermon. Ath that time I knew you only as an excellent sportswriter and was surprised to find out you were an outstanding preacher also. On April 7, 2009 I cut out your article,"Time for heart decision". I am following your blog and just wanted to encourage you and let you know that I am praying for you. Your courage and faith in inspiring. God is Sovereign, in control and can do anything except fail. Nothing is too hard for God and as we "seasoned saints" say, God is good- all the time. All the time God is good." Keep trusting and praying, there are many of us praying with and for you. God bless you.
Rev. Brenda H. Heffner
BANKS' RESPONSE: I thank God, Rev. Heffner, that He saw fit to cross my
path with yours, Dr. Taylor and those of similar ilk and pedigree while I'm on this
tedious, Christian journey. Thanks for remembering me and for your being in the
company of Dr. Taylor and the Second Baptist Church of Evanston family. Dr.
Taylor is one of the kindest, most talented, most eloquent and most intelligent men
I have ever met. Moreover, his Christian work ethic is second to none. So anybody
I meet through my association with him likewise has to be a good, refined person.
Thanks for keeping up with the results of your prayers. For it is the prayers of the
righteous like you that are availing for me in the form of my ongoing healing.
Thank you for this beautiful stand of faith. I happened upon your blog today, but I know it was not a coincidence - more like a God-incident. To Him be the glory for the strength and love that He has given you on your road to recovery! I pray those sandals of peace don't wear thin. God bless you and your family!
BANKS' RESPONSE: Likewise, how beautiful are your feet for spreading and
preaching the gospel of peace. Spoken like a true disciple of our Lord and Saviour
Jesus Christ. I pray that God showers you with blessings galore and that you be
drenched with a downpour of His priceless anointing. Great is our God and
greatly to be praised in the city of our God and in the mountain of His holiness.