Struggling with healing

[stanneberg]

Looking at the overall theme of this segment on the Forum, I see everyone struggling with the concept of healing. In here, we have heard the cries of desperate people looking for healing -- spiritual, emotional, physical and mental. We have also read the posts from the believers -- claiming scripture, giving encouragement, testimonies and prayers.

I read and studied the miracles of Jesus and other God fearing men. One thing is certain: God can do anything! The Word promises that we can do the same if we pray in Jesus name and believe. Reading the miracles again, Jesus never broke a sweat. He could say one word and it was done. It didn't matter if the person was possessed, deformed, bleeding, paralyzed or dead. With just a few words or mud -- His will was done. People were healed.

The first thing we think of when someone is sick -- it must be sin. In scripture, sometimes it is, sometimes it isn't. We think that God is punnishing them. In scripture, sometimes it is, sometimes it isn't. Seriously, what difference does it make? The bottom line is -- someone is sick and they want to be whole.

The miracles in scripture were so easy for Jesus to do. He gave us the ability to do the same. All we have to do is just . . . Everytime someone was healed, the people around the miracle were in awe. Some believed and followed Christ. Others were angry and tried to trip Him up.

Why is it we handle miricles from the negative side? Yesterday I was talking to someone about this topic and the first thing out of their mouth was a caution. "We have to be careful about this theology . . ." In other words, what does it do to our belief when we pray for something -- and it doesn't happen? The name it and claim it approach has caused me more grief than good. But still, how come Jesus just said a word, not questioning anything, and it was done?

I heard a testimony about a boy that went to every healing service his mother could find. At the end of the service, someone had to carry him home -- because "the faith" of the man doing the praying had his crutches burned. What about all the people that have prayed for healing -- and weren't healed? Was it their faith? Sin? Why could Jesus do all of this, tell us that we have the power to do it too -- but yet we aren't doing it?

I want to struggle through this concept in this thread. It may get heated, but lets not get ugly. James tells us that if we lack wisdom, we can ask God for it -- and He will give it to us.

One more question. What would happen if we, collectively, were able to heal the suffering bipolars that read this part of the Forum? What would happen if God worked through each of us to pray and believe that our suffering peers could find relief and strength? Can you imagine what would happen if God's promises would be fulfilled through us?

Stephen Tanneberg

 

[stanneberg]

I know that there are at least 19 people out there that read this post. You either don't care about the concept of healing, or you are stumped.

This post has been sitting out here for almost two days. No one has an opinion?

 

[Mayflower1]

Why is it we handle miricles from the negative side? Yesterday I was talking to someone about this topic and the first thing out of their mouth was a caution. "We have to be careful about this theology . . ." In other words, what does it do to our belief when we pray for something -- and it doesn't happen? The name it and claim it approach has caused me more grief than good. But still, how come Jesus just said a word, not questioning anything, and it was done?
What about all the people that have prayed for healing -- and weren't healed? Was it their faith? Sin? Why could Jesus do all of this, tell us that we have the power to do it too -- but yet we aren't doing it?
One more question. What would happen if we, collectively, were able to heal the suffering bipolars that read this part of the Forum? What would happen if God worked through each of us to pray and believe that our suffering peers could find relief and strength? Can you imagine what would happen if God's promises would be fulfilled through us?

Stephen Tanneberg

[/QUOTE] I had an opinion, and then the computer froze and the message deleted!!!! I was so upset and I just didn't feel like doing it again at the time. Now though, I will try again. Stanneberg, you have some very important questions. When God answers our prayer, he gives us one of three answers: yes, no, or wait.

God answers all of our prayers. We just just have to open up our ears and listen to what He has to say. God might answer no to some of the prayers we pray because it is not part of His will. My Father is a righteous God and when He says no to one of our prayers and a person isn't healed, then that means it is not part of His will. A "no" answer is always that God has something bigger planned in either that person's life or the lives around the person. Through trials, faith grows stronger, and as Christians we lean on God more. That is what I had to learn to do... God's answer to me wasn't no though but "wait."

"Waiting" is the answer I don't like to hear. I cut myself for a long time and I am still struggling against it... the joy in my life was not as strong as it was before and I pray so much that God will just make my past go away... that I would be able to stop cutting and being sad all of the time. The first answer God gave me was no... and now I know I wouldn't be the same person I am today if I hadn't been molested... Going through these memories though, I know that God is there for me and He has a bigger purpose for me. The next answer was wait and in ways I am still waiting for deliverence. I even have an 8 hour counseling session Monday that I suppose to be facing a lot of the things I didn't have to face before. It is all part of God's plan. If God had got me out of Depression and cutting right away, I wouldn't have found these forums, I wouldn't have made the true friends I never had, I wouldn't have been made stronger in faith... I wouldn't have been strong enough to face the things I am going through now. God has a purpose, I strongly believe, and that is why I think that some people don't have answered prayers or are even told to wait, because they need to be made stronger... God's purpose is great in their lives and those are the people who are most often helping others dramatically in our world today. Some have had to wait 25 years and God clearly answers them in a way that can never be coincidential.

Lastly, there is "Yes", the answer all like to hear. My Mom prayed a prayer one time because we didn't have a car and didn't have money to get one. She prayed. "Lord, we really need a car right now, and it doesn't have to be a cadillac or anything, but we really need one..." Well, about three days later, my Aunt called us and asked if we wanted her cadillac for $50 because she was getting a Lexus. We had that cadillac for a very long time and it got me through four years of high school. Now it is broken down and we have a cavalier but every time I think of that cadillac and what God did for us, it is just truly amazing and I don't believe it was a coincidence.

Matthew 17:20 says "... Verily I say unto you, If you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence from yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible to you." For a prayer to be answered yes, you must believe thoroughly that God can answer it. You asked why Jesus could say a word and it was done, that verse is my answer to that. Jesus had utter faith that was beyond any we will ever have. He is the son of God and He is God in flesh (Holy Trinity). Our works are made manifest through Christ and the question isn't "what if God's promises were fulfilled through us," the question is "what if we ALL had the faith to heal and fulfill God's promises." There are people who do pray and answers come true. I know because God has answered many of mine. My preacher is healing and so am I... Best Wishes, hope I helped you with your questions. Lily00

 

[stanneberg]

Stanneberg, you have some very important questions. When God answers our prayer, he gives us one of three answers: yes, no, or wait.

I used to think the same thing about "yes, no and wait." The problem is, I can't find any supporting evidence to that in scripture. I can't see where God ever said "No". Can you?

 

[stanneberg]

I did a computer search. The word "No" came up 2077 times -- mostly passive useage in the middle of things but not as an answer from God to a specific request.

The word wait came up 94 times -- again mostly passive. When I went to the famous verses like Isaiah 40:31, the word "wait" was translated into "Hope". I couldn't see where the word "wait" was given as an answer to a specific request.

I couldn't find any verses with the word yes. I guess it didn't translate into our language. Still working on that one.

 

[stanneberg]

God answers all of our prayers. We just just have to open up our ears and listen to what He has to say.

I thought that God heard all our prayers too. Just found these verses:
Isaiah 1:15-16 From now on, when you pray with your hands stretched out to heaven, I won't look or listen. Even though you make many prayers, I will not hear, for your hands are those of murderers; they are covered with the blood of your innocent victims. Oh, wash yourselves! Be clean! Let me no longer see you doing all these wicked things; quit your evil ways.

Proverbs 28:9. God doesn't listen to the prayers of those who flout the law.

Isaiah 59:1-- Listen now! The Lord isn't too weak to save you. And he isn't getting deaf! He can hear you when you call! But the trouble is that your sins have cut you off from God. Because of sin he has turned his face away from you and will not listen anymore. You spend your time and energy in spinning evil plans which end up in deadly actions. It is because of all this evil that you aren't finding God's blessings

Isaiah 58:3 "We have fasted before you,'' they say. "Why aren't you impressed? Why don't you see our sacrifices? Why don't you hear our prayers? We have done much penance, and you don't even notice it!'' I'll tell you why! Because you are living in evil pleasure even while you are fasting…

Psalms 66:17-20 For I cried to him for help, with praises ready on my tongue. He would not have listened if I had not confessed my sins. But he listened! He heard my prayer! He paid attention to it! Blessed be God who didn't turn away when I was praying, and didn't refuse me his kindness and love.

 

[Mayflower1]

I thought that God heard all our prayers too. Just found these verses:
Isaiah 1:15-16 From now on, when you pray with your hands stretched out to heaven, I won't look or listen. Even though you make many prayers, I will not hear, for your hands are those of murderers; they are covered with the blood of your innocent victims. Oh, wash yourselves! Be clean! Let me no longer see you doing all these wicked things; quit your evil ways.

Proverbs 28:9. God doesn't listen to the prayers of those who flout the law.

Isaiah 59:1-- Listen now! The Lord isn't too weak to save you. And he isn't getting deaf! He can hear you when you call! But the trouble is that your sins have cut you off from God. Because of sin he has turned his face away from you and will not listen anymore. You spend your time and energy in spinning evil plans which end up in deadly actions. It is because of all this evil that you aren't finding God's blessings

Isaiah 58:3 "We have fasted before you,'' they say. "Why aren't you impressed? Why don't you see our sacrifices? Why don't you hear our prayers? We have done much penance, and you don't even notice it!'' I'll tell you why! Because you are living in evil pleasure even while you are fasting…

Psalms 66:17-20 For I cried to him for help, with praises ready on my tongue. He would not have listened if I had not confessed my sins. But he listened! He heard my prayer! He paid attention to it! Blessed be God who didn't turn away when I was praying, and didn't refuse me his kindness and love.

Dear stanneberg, Our sins do strain our fellowship with God. If someone doesn't have faith in Him, how can those prayers be answered? Ones who live in evil, who spin evil plans, who never repent... they don't believe that God can answer them. That is why God doesn't listen to them. Psalms 102:17 says, "He will regard the prayer of the destitute and will not despise their prayer." If you repent and believe that God can answer then He will listen and answer. Psalms 91:14-15 says, "Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honor him." For God to answer a prayer, one has to have faith and the ones who He does give an answer too, there are only three answers God can give. They are the only three answers that exist to mankind!!! Yes, no, or maybe(wait, hope).

Hoping is the same as waiting. Psalms 39:7 says, "And now, Lord, what wait I for? My hope is in thee." If someone stops hoping, they have already decided to wait no longer!!!! I hope, therefore I have faith in things unseen... therefore I know I can conquer this if I keep waiting, hoping...

Best Wishes, Lily00 "...seek and ye shall find..." Matthew 7:7 (By the way, I was in a rush so when I said that this should go under debate, I wasn't really thinking. We all struggle with healing and I see why you put this here.

 

[BOJAX]

Looking at the overall theme of this segment on the Forum, I see everyone struggling with the concept of healing. In here, we have heard the cries of desperate people looking for healing -- spiritual, emotional, physical and mental. We have also read the posts from the believers -- claiming scripture, giving encouragement, testimonies and prayers.

I read and studied the miracles of Jesus and other God fearing men. One thing is certain: God can do anything! The Word promises that we can do the same if we pray in Jesus name and believe. Reading the miracles again, Jesus never broke a sweat. He could say one word and it was done. It didn't matter if the person was possessed, deformed, bleeding, paralyzed or dead. With just a few words or mud -- His will was done. People were healed.

The first thing we think of when someone is sick -- it must be sin. In scripture, sometimes it is, sometimes it isn't. We think that God is punnishing them. In scripture, sometimes it is, sometimes it isn't. Seriously, what difference does it make? The bottom line is -- someone is sick and they want to be whole.

The miracles in scripture were so easy for Jesus to do. He gave us the ability to do the same. All we have to do is just . . . Everytime someone was healed, the people around the miracle were in awe. Some believed and followed Christ. Others were angry and tried to trip Him up.

Why is it we handle miricles from the negative side? Yesterday I was talking to someone about this topic and the first thing out of their mouth was a caution. "We have to be careful about this theology . . ." In other words, what does it do to our belief when we pray for something -- and it doesn't happen? The name it and claim it approach has caused me more grief than good. But still, how come Jesus just said a word, not questioning anything, and it was done?

I heard a testimony about a boy that went to every healing service his mother could find. At the end of the service, someone had to carry him home -- because "the faith" of the man doing the praying had his crutches burned. What about all the people that have prayed for healing -- and weren't healed? Was it their faith? Sin? Why could Jesus do all of this, tell us that we have the power to do it too -- but yet we aren't doing it?

I want to struggle through this concept in this thread. It may get heated, but lets not get ugly. James tells us that if we lack wisdom, we can ask God for it -- and He will give it to us.

One more question. What would happen if we, collectively, were able to heal the suffering bipolars that read this part of the Forum? What would happen if God worked through each of us to pray and believe that our suffering peers could find relief and strength? Can you imagine what would happen if God's promises would be fulfilled through us?

Stephen Tanneberg

Great Message,

You raised an important thing that shouldn't be overlooked.
Of course I am referring to the blind man who called out to Jesus from the side of the road. The one whom Jesus healed by spitting into the ground, making mud from the spit and dirt, and then rubbing it into the man's eyes. There are times when God will heal us, but not exactly in the mothods that we would have chosen or were expecting. Also in the timing. And like the blind man sometimes we have to put our own effort into our healing just like he did when Jesus told him to wash his eyes out. Sure, God can just blink and all our allictions will be gone, but I do believe that God wants us to have more faith than that. Also, we have to want our healing bad enough to make this effort. Just like the blind man when he kept calling out to Jesus even though Jesus's own diciples told him to shut up. The blind man had to seek Jesus too. Jesus didn't come to him. Those of us who haven't recieved our healing yet should use this story as a very important example. Also, we should not despair if we are in a deep pit. If we were in a struggle for just a little while and God said the word and we were healed in a split second, what kind of testimony would we be? Especially to unbelievers. People can't accept the fact that God exists and that His miracles still happen. When someone sees you in such turmoil and they don't even believe that you can get out of it. When God does bring you out they have to admit that God did it. The greater the struggle the greater the glory. This is something I hope all of us can remember.

 

[Jeshu]

I know that there are at least 19 people out there that read this post. You either don't care about the concept of healing, or you are stumped.

This post has been sitting out here for almost two days. No one has an opinion?

Dear brother
Healing has been a major point in my life - a hope which so far has gone unanswered. Oh not that I don't believe that God can heal, I certainly do, but rather is it His will that I would be healed at the time of my asking.

For a long time I prayed for healing, blaming myself (sinfulness) as the reason why God didn't listen. Once in my manic stage I thought God had healed me, I fully believed that I had been healed. I can NEVER tell you the dissapointment I felt when I woke up in the hospital again. In the end it was the cause of much of my anger directed at God.

It is for this reason that I have decided not to 'pester' God with my many prayers for healing any longer but to accept the fact that I am mental ill.
And indeed things are better now than then. Spiritually I improved because I accepted the fact that God wasn't going to heal me or at least not as I had wanted to be healed by Him.

I'm not saying that God doesn't heal we both know that He does. But I don't think that 'sinless living' combined with prayer will ALWAYS heal sick people. Such thinking can be very dangerous, I found out, for we can so easily try to 'force' God to act on our behalf and then we forget the line which should always be part of our prayer - not my will but Your will be done.

God's blessing upon your life.

Gerry

 

[s_gunter]

Dear brother
Healing has been a major point in my life - a hope which so far has gone unanswered. Oh not that I don't believe that God can heal, I certainly do, but rather is it His will that I would be healed at the time of my asking.

For a long time I prayed for healing, blaming myself (sinfulness) as the reason why God didn't listen. Once in my manic stage I thought God had healed me, I fully believed that I had been healed. I can NEVER tell you the dissapointment I felt when I woke up in the hospital again. In the end it was the cause of much of my anger directed at God.

It is for this reason that I have decided not to 'pester' God with my many prayers for healing any longer but to accept the fact that I am mental ill.
And indeed things are better now than then. Spiritually I improved because I accepted the fact that God wasn't going to heal me or at least not as I had wanted to be healed by Him.

I'm not saying that God doesn't heal we both know that He does. But I don't think that 'sinless living' combined with prayer will ALWAYS heal sick people. Such thinking can be very dangerous, I found out, for we can so easily try to 'force' God to act on our behalf and then we forget the line which should always be part of our prayer - not my will but Your will be done.

God's blessing upon your life.

Gerry

This is what I wanted to say in here too, but you did such a better job than I could.

 

[SFBUK]

One more question. What would happen if we, collectively, were able to heal the suffering bipolars that read this part of the Forum? What would happen if God worked through each of us to pray and believe that our suffering peers could find relief and strength? Can you imagine what would happen if God's promises would be fulfilled through us?

Stephen Tanneberg

When I first joined this Website I was going through a major episode of depression (I've suffered on and off for several years). I truly believe that I have been healed through prayers of many people, include some of you here. Thanks to everyone who has prayed for me, and of course thanks to God

SFB