- Oct 27, 2017
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It is so sad that such a topic has to be put in controversial theology. This should be a mainstay of our beliefs. But, we have dummed down the "normal" beliefs to account for the theology of those who are too blinded by pride to see the Truth.
The thing about the kids I work with is they didn't come from a Christian background. They aren't taught and weren't taught to "fake it til you make it" or pretend to fall over so you fit in. Their crowd is rebellious, wants to hate God because of the situation they are in. They would love nothing more than to be able to say: "I told you that it wasn't real" after I finished a prayer for healing. But, God excuses them for their ignorance and God heals them anyway.
I would love to say that God heals everyone I touch. But, truthfully, I don't see that. For a long time I struggled with that. But, God--Who is the Giver of Gifts--is the One with the plan, not me. He has wisdom and knowledge way above mine. He knows what is most beneficial to His kingdom and in some cases the faith of the individual who doesn't see what they are believing for and continues to believe may be more important to His kingdom. Or it could be that their healing was a work prepared for another unknown Christian who just has to listen to the Spirit tell him or her to step out and start praying for the sick. It is certainly abundantly clear in the Scripture for those with ears to hear.
But, that is God's business. My business is to make sure I don't bury the talent He gives me to use to for His glory.
And then there are conversations I have with adults who want to live a doubting Thomas life, but will never be happy regardless of the proof they see. Jesus said "A wicked and perverse generation seeks a sign." It doesn't mean Jesus stopped providing signs; He just wouldn't do them on the demand of the unbelievers who wanted Him to prove who He was!
A kid who doesn't believe in God (or want to because he is angry about his situation) and "doesn't believe in that crap" (healing prayer) encounters the very "crap" (healing prayer), he demands he doesn't believe in? And, that "crap" is done very clearly in Jesus' Name and God is exalted when the healing has been received, not the man it came through. The focus should be on helping that child to know God lives him or her and wants to have a living relationship with him or her also. The focus is on the wrong person, if the prayer has to run to get proof of the healing that left that kid's jaw dropped when it happened. And, yet that is the ridiculousness of the unbeliever who claims to know Christ Jesus, but walks away from every supernatural sign that He says others will see to know who is genuinely His.
I have heard it said of atheists (and I agree): "Their lack of belief in hell doesn't make it any more bearable for them there." Jesus also said "unbelievers" will not be found in heaven. Jesus defined what signs would follow believers (Mark 16:16-18) Notice, He told us to preach; but "preaching" wasn't a sign of belief. Unbelievers are preaching in "church" pulpits today. I've known some. One even asked his "church council", when they were concerned about budgetary shortfall: "Do you want me to go to the sugar daddies?" Nothing supernatural about that.
The thing about the kids I work with is they didn't come from a Christian background. They aren't taught and weren't taught to "fake it til you make it" or pretend to fall over so you fit in. Their crowd is rebellious, wants to hate God because of the situation they are in. They would love nothing more than to be able to say: "I told you that it wasn't real" after I finished a prayer for healing. But, God excuses them for their ignorance and God heals them anyway.
I would love to say that God heals everyone I touch. But, truthfully, I don't see that. For a long time I struggled with that. But, God--Who is the Giver of Gifts--is the One with the plan, not me. He has wisdom and knowledge way above mine. He knows what is most beneficial to His kingdom and in some cases the faith of the individual who doesn't see what they are believing for and continues to believe may be more important to His kingdom. Or it could be that their healing was a work prepared for another unknown Christian who just has to listen to the Spirit tell him or her to step out and start praying for the sick. It is certainly abundantly clear in the Scripture for those with ears to hear.
But, that is God's business. My business is to make sure I don't bury the talent He gives me to use to for His glory.
And then there are conversations I have with adults who want to live a doubting Thomas life, but will never be happy regardless of the proof they see. Jesus said "A wicked and perverse generation seeks a sign." It doesn't mean Jesus stopped providing signs; He just wouldn't do them on the demand of the unbelievers who wanted Him to prove who He was!
A kid who doesn't believe in God (or want to because he is angry about his situation) and "doesn't believe in that crap" (healing prayer) encounters the very "crap" (healing prayer), he demands he doesn't believe in? And, that "crap" is done very clearly in Jesus' Name and God is exalted when the healing has been received, not the man it came through. The focus should be on helping that child to know God lives him or her and wants to have a living relationship with him or her also. The focus is on the wrong person, if the prayer has to run to get proof of the healing that left that kid's jaw dropped when it happened. And, yet that is the ridiculousness of the unbeliever who claims to know Christ Jesus, but walks away from every supernatural sign that He says others will see to know who is genuinely His.
I have heard it said of atheists (and I agree): "Their lack of belief in hell doesn't make it any more bearable for them there." Jesus also said "unbelievers" will not be found in heaven. Jesus defined what signs would follow believers (Mark 16:16-18) Notice, He told us to preach; but "preaching" wasn't a sign of belief. Unbelievers are preaching in "church" pulpits today. I've known some. One even asked his "church council", when they were concerned about budgetary shortfall: "Do you want me to go to the sugar daddies?" Nothing supernatural about that.