__________________ But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23
It is simply believing the Word of God over your circumstances.
For example if your circumstances were that you were sick, a Word of faith person would read the Bible and find out it said "By His stripes you were healed."
When a doubting Christian would say: the Bible doesn't mean that because I can't see it, a Word of Faith Christian says: the Bible does mean that and I will see it.
Have a read of Mark 11.23-24 as those verses sum up what makes someone a Word of Faith Christian.
We all should be word of faith according to Romans 10, but sadly so many Christians let life and circumstances push them around and don't push circumstances around.
Blessings,
Benjamin
__________________ Never let experiences or circumstances determine how you interpret the Word.
Stand on the Word and change your experiences and circumstances.
It is simply believing the Word of God over your circumstances.
For example if your circumstances were that you were sick, a Word of faith person would read the Bible and find out it said "By His stripes you were healed."
When a doubting Christian would say: the Bible doesn't mean that because I can't see it, a Word of Faith Christian says: the Bible does mean that and I will see it.
Oh, I see. Yes, I can understand how "healed" can be interpreted many ways. There's so much in the New Testament that would direct one to believe "healed" actually means delivered from the bonds of sin, which is death.
How would you explain something that happened in my life. There was a time when i felt a great urgency to pray for one of our pastors for healing from a stage-nine terminal cancer, one that two different doctors confirmed, one of the doctors being his own family member. Twice in six months I was compelled to pray for him (with another friend who also had the same strong desire to pray for him.) His cancer was healed, and his doctors claimed there could be no other answer than this was a miracle from God.
But then, in another situation, I just didn't have the same faith. In the first situation, it was as if the faith was planted inside me, and I was compelled to pray in so powerful a way that I could only attribute the urging as coming from God.
In the other case, there was nothing. To me, this indicated God's will was not for the second person to physically survive the illness. She had great faith that she would leave this life and go straight to the Father's arms, and so she had great faith in this. But, none of us had faith for her healing.
How can you explain the different faith experiences in these two cases? Would you say the woman who was not healed was not taking the Word as the truth?
What would you have said to her?
__________________ But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23
I am just getting to grips with many of these concepts myself but my understanding is that in the second situation that you mentioned if it was the woman's desire to go and be with God, then that is what ultimately happens. God is a perfect gentleman, He never forces anything upon us. Even if you had been praying in complete faith that that woman would be healed, she herself can negate that prayer by her own contrary desires.
That is my understanding but maybe someone can explainn it better than me.
Thank you, Heatherfb. Maybe another situation I experienced might provide a more poignant example.
In the church I left, there was a young boy who was stricken with an aggressive cancer. He was only nine, and we prayed so much over him. Twice, we fasted and held all-night vigils in our church. His parents' entire lives turned upside down with his care. When he did finally die, the pastor told the congregation he was in so much pain he asked the pastor to touch only his fingertip instead of laying hands on him one final time in prayer.
What followed is in part what caused me to leave the church. Some began to look for fault in the parents, as so many prayed with what they believed was great faith. Whispers of rumors began to spread, that a poster he had in his room might have indicated his parents were allowing demonic forces in his life. Others questioned the faith of the parents, or the validity of their Christianity.
I was devastated for the parents. Not only did they lose their son, they were left terribly bewildered as to why their prayers were not answered, and then on top of everything else, they finally left the church under a cloud of judgment and suspicion.
It was horrible. But, how would someone in the WOF movement have handled this family? How would they have comforted them when "lack of faith" could be the only answer?
__________________ But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23
Oh, I see. Yes, I can understand how "healed" can be interpreted many ways. There's so much in the New Testament that would direct one to believe "healed" actually means delivered from the bonds of sin, which is death.
Maybe I should have made myself clear. Another aspect of Word of Faith is taking the Bible literally. When VW said in another thread that non-WoF people don't take the Bible literally, I thought he was overstating the matter (Sorry, VW!) Having reflected upon it I think he is exactly right.
Let me say this: there is not one shred of NT evidence that the word healing means anything other than physical bodily healing. Never salvation or restoration. Healing means bodily healing.
How would you explain something that happened in my life. There was a time when i felt a great urgency to pray for one of our pastors for healing from a stage-nine terminal cancer, one that two different doctors confirmed, one of the doctors being his own family member. Twice in six months I was compelled to pray for him (with another friend who also had the same strong desire to pray for him.) His cancer was healed, and his doctors claimed there could be no other answer than this was a miracle from God.
I would explain this first situation as an operation of the charismatic gift of faith (1 Cor. 12). In a situation like this the Holy Spirit fills you to the brim with faith then gives you an action to perform to release that faith (here a compulsion to pray). If you yield to the compulsion to perform the action, the faith is released and a miracle is received. It is a wonderful experience and a moving of the Holy Spirit as He wills. You have to yield to it and you can resist and grieve the Spirit, but you don't have to work it up or anything. It is easy - almost enjoyable.
But then, in another situation, I just didn't have the same faith. In the first situation, it was as if the faith was planted inside me, and I was compelled to pray in so powerful a way that I could only attribute the urging as coming from God.
Hence why I say this is the operation of the gift of faith. It was clearly a gift.
In the other case, there was nothing. To me, this indicated God's will was not for the second person to physically survive the illness. She had great faith that she would leave this life and go straight to the Father's arms, and so she had great faith in this. But, none of us had faith for her healing.
To me this indicates that God wanted you to grow up a little, spend a bit more time in the Word than you have done (and I am quite sure that during this time the Lord would have been trying to lead you into spending time in the Word) and not need the faith poured out on you via a gift, but you would have built your spiritual muscles to be strong enough to produce the faith.
You felt empty because you did not build up your faith through hearing the Word and speaking in tongues and meditating on the promises of God for healing.
How can you explain the different faith experiences in these two cases? Would you say the woman who was not healed was not taking the Word as the truth?
What would you have said to her?
I would have shown her the Scripture 1 Peter 2.24: by His stripes You were healed. I would have encouraged her to believe and confess that she was healed. Because the Bible says in James 2.24 that faith must have accompanying actions, I would have encouraged her to step out in faith and do something she could not do before.
I want you to know that my advice is not mere theory. I have seen people get up off their death bed. I have seen deaf ears open, I have seen people get up out of their wheelchairs and walk. I have seen many, many healings. The last time I preached on healing, everyone sick in the room was healed. The Word of God works and I have proved it experientially.
Hope this answers your questions,
Blessings,
Ben
__________________ Never let experiences or circumstances determine how you interpret the Word.
Stand on the Word and change your experiences and circumstances.
Thank you, Heatherfb. Maybe another situation I experienced might provide a more poignant example.
In the church I left, there was a young boy who was stricken with an aggressive cancer. He was only nine, and we prayed so much over him. Twice, we fasted and held all-night vigils in our church. His parents' entire lives turned upside down with his care. When he did finally die, the pastor told the congregation he was in so much pain he asked the pastor to touch only his fingertip instead of laying hands on him one final time in prayer.
What followed is in part what caused me to leave the church. Some began to look for fault in the parents, as so many prayed with what they believed was great faith. Whispers of rumors began to spread, that a poster he had in his room might have indicated his parents were allowing demonic forces in his life. Others questioned the faith of the parents, or the validity of their Christianity.
I was devastated for the parents. Not only did they lose their son, they were left terribly bewildered as to why their prayers were not answered, and then on top of everything else, they finally left the church under a cloud of judgment and suspicion.
It was horrible. But, how would someone in the WOF movement have handled this family? How would they have comforted them when "lack of faith" could be the only answer?
The same applies here? We couldn't have spent more time in the Word, fasting, praying, prayer vigils, on and on. How would you explain this?
__________________ But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23
The same applies here? We couldn't have spent more time in the Word, fasting, praying, prayer vigils, on and on. How would you explain this?
We walk by faith not sight.
The Word of God is above mans explanations.
The Word of God says the effectual fervant prayers of a righteous man avaieth much.
The Word of God says The prayer of faith, shall save the sick. James 5:15
The Word of God says Mark 16:18 Those that believe, in the Name of Jesus shall lay hands on the sick, and the sick shall recover.
The circumstances you have described, (if true), are not greater than God and His Word, you do not display a faith icon, take your words of doubt to some other thread, as for me I serve the Lord. period
__________________
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2 Chronicles 16:9 For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward Him.
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When I pray for the sick, they get healed, in the Name of Jesus.
__________________
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2 Chronicles 16:9 For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward Him.
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
We walk by faith not sight.
The Word of God is above mans explanations.
The Word of God says the effectual fervant prayers of a righteous man avaieth much.
The Word of God says The prayer of faith, shall save the sick. James 5:15
The Word of God says Mark 16:18 Those that believe, in the Name of Jesus shall lay hands on the sick, and the sick shall recover.
The circumstances you have described, (if true), are not greater than God and His Word, you do not display a faith icon, take your words of doubt to some other thread, as for me I serve the Lord. period
I do agree with most of what you say, I'm just not convinced the interpretations are right. But, taking your final words, I will leave this thread, and I will seek the Lord for his wisdom, as I do believe I still have lots to learn from Him.
__________________ But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23
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