I think faith comes, not by the strengths or efforts of the hearer, rather is comes and is automatic when you know who the Speaker is, and you are aware of His integrity.
I think we confuse people when we say things like "if you really believe" or "if you have enough faith."
It is really not a matter of quantity, you either do or you do not.
What do you think?
Hey, Brother once again its been to long since I came into the forum.
A long time ago I was at our Church fellowship meeting.
My Wife and I had been attending for maybe a month, that was eleven years ago.
In speaking with the Co Pastor I mentioned Kenneth E Hagin, and Word of Faith.
His response was very irritated as if I mentioned a non Jesus centered belief.
We found our Church home there because they are full Gospel.
As soon as we walked in the first time we knew this was our Church.
In a prior service the Co Pastor called for anyone who wanted the laying on of hands to recieve the Baptism of the Holy Ghost.
Well it took me a day or two before I was in the presence of the Lord, had to pull off the road, and began praying in Tongues to the point of not caring about time or where I was at, all I could do was speak in the Spirit knowing i was with the lord.
In our Church through the laying on of hands, and anointing with oil people recieved healing from cancer, a donor for a kidney that seemed impossible as time was running out along with people being Born again.
I say this because they teach Faith as well for their doctrine.
The Pastor the following Sunday made mention of the hyper Faith movement , because the Co Pastor asked me during the fellowship if I thought Mrs somebody did not have Faith.
Apparently She was a elder in the Church who was dieing, and it was a topic of grief.
Today My Co Pastorand I are close as Brothers, and we are two manly guys that can say I love you in Church.
He has Parkinsons, and it is starting to show.
Before my Wife and I were there our Pastor had the roof of his mouth removed from cancer, and before that heart trouble.
It is a hard thing to know that through The Faith of God that healing is part of Our lords atonement, when people are hurting and you know its Gods will to heal them.
There comes a unbelief that happens among groups that have known each other for so long.
My Pastors Wife was diagnosed with Parkinsons as well.
They all grew up on farms where chemicals were used, from Sod farms to Tomato fields.
Evil simply pounds the Body of Christ sometimes with Television speaking death and law in the same sentence.
As well we know Jesus could do no good works in His own Home other than Heal a few sick folks.
Dad Hagin somehow figured out it was about eight or nine people.
I have to pick between the promises of God, and someone's Faith and I pick the promises of God cannot fail.
The Book of James tells us :
James 5:14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: 15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. 16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
We know some of the people Jesus healed were not believers in John's Baptism nor did they know that Christ was who healed them.
On some occasions Jesus would ask canst though believe?
One man replied help me with my unbelief.
Mark 9:24 And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.
It is a rough topic of discussion, yet the person cannot have unbelief in their heart, or believe in their heart God is taking them for His reasons,
that are proprietary to them.
God is no respecter of persons.
Duane Sheriff once said I don't know why the sweetest woman in Church died.
He was referring to virtually the same circumstances, and I have to say neither do I, and I agree with you on confusing people if we pressure them by trying to guilt them into believing, one circumstance may be fear.
Personally I have been dealing with a pain that completely goes then comes back, I know the reason and its something within my own thoughts.
Keep up your writing, and stay Blessed you have Blessed all of us these past years.