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To: Bellflower

re: “Because not very many mighty, nature defying, completely unexplainable, apart from God’s intervention, feats of faith have been seen or experienced, doesn’t mean that they are any less possible then flight by man. It means that few know what it means to believe in God in such a way that He will perform them.”

No one is denying that God can heal - but, it is according to His will and purpose, not ours.

If you know the scriptures, you’ve read of Paul’s asking God to heal him of an infirmity - but, God said no to Paul,

“My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” 2 Corinthians 12:9

You guys who preach that healing is a given if only you have the right kind of faith, live the right kind of life, if only you practice/understood real faith, if only you did this or that - you would experience healing.

You take Jesus’s words and twist them out of their context and put burdens on people making them think they are deficient in their faith, that they are the reason they are still suffering. That is sick and the Lord will rebuke you one day for adding to people’s suffering with your unscriptural teachings.

I think most charismatics mean well, but wrong is wrong and you are hurting people’s faith and their spirit, adding to their suffering. God does NOT HEAL everyone. Yes, God does, in His mercy, often heal, remove consequences that we rightfully deserve. God can do anything He wants, but He is not OBLIGATED to heal - that is up to Him.

Yes, faith is absolutely important and the lack of it can be a barrier to receiving all that God wants us to do for Him. Someone quoted Jesus’s words, “Thy will be done on earth, as it is in Heaven”, saying that this means because no one is sick or hurting in heaven means that it can be that way on earth just for the asking, by faith.

That passage is not talking about that at all. The disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to pray, He gave them what is often called the Lord’s Prayer. That phrase, “Thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven” is a request. It is a declaration of devotion and desire on our part, as His children, that God’s will be done on the earth, just as it always is in Heaven. This recognizes that not everything that happens on this earth may be God’s moral will - even though He ulimately works all things into obedience to His will.

An example of this is when Jesus was praying over Jerusalem in Luke 13:34 -

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not!”

Notice Jesus says “how often would I have gathered thy children together. . ., and ye would not!” Jesus desired, He WANTED the people of Jerusalem to turn to Him in belief and obedience so He could protect them and save them, but they refused.

This may open a can of worms with our Calvinsit brothers, but that is not my intent or desire at this point in the discussion. I’m just trying to point out that not everything we want, even if asked in faith, in proper attitude, proper understanding, proper living of a holy life - sometimes God just says “No”. He has His reasons and He doesn’t always tell us what those reasons are.

Please, my charismatic friends, stop adding burdens and added suffering to those God choses not to heal - ultimately we will all be “as He is” in Heaven one day. Maranatha, Lord Jesus!


19 posted on 08/18/2012 2:13:49 AM PDT by rusty schucklefurd
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To: rusty schucklefurd
Can I add to it? I had a guy I work with a Charismatic tell my wife that her lack of faith kept her in her wheelchair. It tormented her considerably because she took him serious. I had to deal with the harm her did her mentally as if she didn't have enough on her plate. In two more weeks she will reach her 27th year since she last walked.

The guy quit a few months after that and moved away to another town Just before he left he was cheating on his wife with a woman in the company we worked at. When he returned about a year later his life was in ruins as his wife moved in with his neighbor.

I do not believe in name it claim it or everything is roses theology especially when The Bible says otherwise. Did the Disciples or Apostles die healthy? Some were murdered Stephen in his final breaths saw heaven open up. Tradition has it Peter was hung from a cross upside down.

I do believe this though. As with Daniel was in the lions den and the lions mouth were closed and as with his three students who were thrown into a furnace GOD will not forsake us but rather Christ will be there to bring us through the conclusion of it. The conclusion may well be one of being called home. So be it. Christ Kingdom and His Kingdom which is forever is not of this earth for earth shall pass away.

21 posted on 08/18/2012 2:53:59 AM PDT by cva66snipe (Two Choices left for U.S. One Nation Under GOD or One Nation Under Judgment? Which one say ye?)
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