God Heals - Or Not

Feb 13, 2001

Because not everyone gets healed, should we stop praying for it, even if you have not been healed yourself? The answer here is obvious yet there are others who would think that God does not heal at all or it was for a specific time in the past and not for today. God heals through His supernatural power and God heals through the natural power of our body's ability to heal. He heals through prayer, He heals through doctors, He heals through medicine and wholesome living. And don't forget that inner healing is much more valuable than physical healing. We need faith to be able to ask of God but God does not need our faith to heal, He heals because He loves us and bestows His compassion on us.

I mentioned before about the healing crusade that I attended and that I had prayed for healing in the congregation. The evangelist remarked about the man in a wheelchair being healed. I looked at the rapture on his face and the fact that he was giving the glory to God. His was an inner healing, it was real and I give thanks to God for it but I don't remember the man getting up out of his chair and running around yet he did get healed and I recollect perfectly that God's power had come out of my asking Him for healing in the service.

I haven't been healed yet but that will not and should not deter me from asking the Lord to heal me. It may be His will or not but the scriptures say that we should pray and ask others to pray. Jesus healed the ear of Malchus, the high priest's servant but he did not ask for it and would not have expected it either. Jesus healed Malchus because He had compassion on Him. Can you think of someone that Jesus does not have compassion for? No, that is the job of those with white-washed conservative compassion, not the ones that are willing to lay down their lives for us.

We have been concerned with what is bogus in evangelistic ministries in this discussion but we must never lose sight of what is real. There are healing crusades where people get healed, we have heard testimonies to the fact so we must not let the bogus spoil what is right and pure and from a Godly source. We may however be thinking in the wrong terms when we try to predict what Jesus will do through us when we will be doing the greater works. We may in fact not know what those greater works are. After all, if they are greater, they might not just be more of the same but something even different than before. So many think it is in giving us as individuals a healing ministry but at this point we don't know and we have to be open to the fact that it may be greater works through us as a united group.

I am very comforted by the fact that there were so many positive personal messages in my confirming liberality. These short little messages of amen and well said and in agreement are soothing to the soul but i will leave them out here for fear of criticism of patting my own back. The fact that others are also seeing through all the right wing insanity that is being spout off by an apostate church is very encouraging for me. So often I think I am all alone in this feeling among spirit filled ministries; more and more, the veil is being lifted.

The e-groups forum is in the midst of a lively discussion on tithing so it would be good to bring it here. This parallels the healing ministry problem of just what kind of faith is pleasing to God. The problem in the tithing question is if it is necessary or not. The responses in a nutshell seem to be going toward the answer that tithing is valid but like so many other things, it has been misused. I always tend to go toward free-will spirit directed rather than the legalistic way but let's hear your thoughts. Think about the curse of Malachai and how tithing has been used as a tool for money hungry pastors and evangelists. Conversely, think of the way it can be used constructively for the glory of God. There were several good responses already that I will wait for the next time.

Read the current responses below. Thoughts on liberality vs. right wing conservatism, a touching story of healing - or not, false prophets, discernment, prosperity doctrine. And get back to me about tithing.

Jay

Dear Jay

What a relief to hear from someone who shares my concerns and views. The only decent Christian radio station left in my area is constantly spewing right-wing conservative propaganda, and I often wonder why I'm on the opposite side of so many other Christians' perspectives.

I also appreciate your piece on discernment. Many times things I hear and see through various churches and ministries just don't sit right with me. I, too, have privately questioned the authenticity of prophecy given in King James English and other similarly questionable practices or unusual claims. Sometimes I have tried to participate but the results did not witness to me.

Thank you for your emphasis on love. I also believe many people in these churches and ministries have good intentions. Many have lifestyles that seem to be holier than mine and because of their devotion to Jesus I end up thinking something is wrong with me when I doubt. Yet at the same time, I know in my heart that the things I am doubting are not scriptural and that I have a witness that they are indeed false. I can find no scriptural basis that being "slain in the spirit" should be a common experience. Nor can I find a scriptural basis for uncontrollable laughter in church.

I know that God can do anything He pleases. But He really doesn't need people to fake miracles for Him. When the real miracles come, the Servants of God won't be able to keep people away.

Keep up the good work. Thanks for helping to clear up the confusion.

Yours in Christ, Diane Delaney

The Need for Illumination

But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
--1 Corinthians 2:14

The doctrine of the inability of the human mind and the need for divine illumination is so fully developed in the New Testament that it is nothing short of astonishing that we should have gone so far astray about the whole thing. Fundamentalism has stood aloof from the Liberal in self-conscious superiority and has on its own part fallen into error, the error of textualism, which is simply orthodoxy without the Holy Ghost. Everywhere among Conservatives we find persons who are Bible-taught but not Spirit-taught. They conceive truth to be something which they can grasp with the mind. If a man hold to the fundamentals of the Christian faith he is thought to possess divine truth. But it does not follow. There is no truth apart from the Spirit. The most brilliant intellect may be imbecilic when confronted with the mysteries of God. For a man to understand revealed truth requires an act of God equal to the original act which inspired the text....

Conservative Christians in this day are stumbling over this truth. We need to re-examine the whole thing. We need to learn that truth consists not in correct doctrine, but in correct doctrine plus the inward enlightenment of the Holy Spirit. We must declare again the mystery of wisdom from above. A re-preachment of this vital truth could result in a fresh breath from God upon a stale and suffocating orthodoxy. The Pursuit of Man, 76-77,84.

"Lord, I do believe in the authority of the Scriptures, and thank You for that foundation of truth. But I need this reminder that even that inspired text is not alive until the Holy Spirit takes it and enlightens the recipients. May the Holy Spirit indeed take what I teach and imbed it in the hearts and minds of my hearers. Amen."

A. W. Tozer reprinted from "Insight for Leaders" at: http://www.litmin.com/tozer.php3

Dear Jay, my dear brother in our most precious Savior Christ, Jesus who sits at the right hand of God our Father, may your ministry be blessed and may our discernment of God's will be true and seem good to us and the Holy Spirit, and may we know His truth as the core of our being, that is in our hearts, I ask this in Jesus Christ's precious name.

I have a dilemma. I've belonged to a church that I know the Lord led me to for a year now. The pastor a woman, and I know is anointed by God is the most gracious and God loving of the saints I've ever met. I moved here a year ago to work after a long bout with a disabling degenerative disc disease. And two operations and three years of abject poverty, a brutal divorce that brought me back to God and mercifully coming back to the Church, an awful custody battle which I won only by divine intervention, and having our blessed Savior there with me and for me every step of the way; answering prayers, talking to me, walking with me, a baptism of the Holy spirit in and Old Growth forest that was truly God and truly Holy and not dependent on any preacher, or Church (although was going to church more than the Pastors at the time ), God loving me (I must continually ask 'why me?'), saving both of my sons and well just being our wonderful Lord. You know how He is, I know you do.

My current Pastor's exegesis of scripture has been mostly impeccable, and I knew there was some faith based theology in there some where, but I did not let it keep me from the presence of God, and just let it go. She did six weeks on the two trees and knowledge of good and evil and the Tree of Life that was most excellent! Now there has come the time where I'm up against the wall. I got a sermon that told me I have to be healed and that the only thing that is holding me back is me. The week after the sermon I had lunch with my Pastor and her husband and told her I was a poster child for her preaching about people who are dependent on Doctors and drugs, and not dependent on the Lord. It was not that blunt. But I'm due to go to Portland next Wednesday the see the best surgeon in the State.

I received the laying on of hands, two weeks ago and was "told this is my day." Well though I was taken a hold of spiritually, little has changed, oh I felt better but my arm still goes numb and if I wasn't on these pain killers I couldn't work or walk. Anti inflammatory drugs damaged my liver so the current opiate like substance is the only thing they can give me, I have had a miraculous healing last in April, of 1999, two weeks before I was due to be operated on for a low back fusion, it was awesome. Since that time I had surgery again on my neck (there have been two neck operations) and the last operation they (a charismatic Christian neurosurgeon) operated on my neck and fused a good disc and left the bad one. We said we'd pray with my pastor and the Doctor before surgery, but it didn't happen. I've been on oxycontin (synthetic morphine) for two years and it has taken a toll.

I've been told by my pastor, I'm "a Holy Ghost man," and that I'm "going to be a sign and a wonder." And well I think the Lord has told me that I may have got all the healing I'm going to get from Him in this manner, though He may use a surgeon to finish me up. I say this because I was worshipping in the charismatic church where I received healing in 1999 and there was a woman there who was worshipping and had only one leg, well the Lord kind of spoke to me the way He does with out saying any thing audibly and showed me that if I were to receive more healing for me it would be no different for me, than if this woman had a new leg restored. And well no one has seen anything like that recently have they? I know I'm going to receive a glorified body, but the old and new testaments say plainly this one is going to wear out. I almost feel like I can't go to Church because my faith is in their eyes so weak that I'm not receiving healing, which becomes a works kind of thing, now doesn't it. I know they love me and don't really feel that way. Well at least I hope so.

I don't know what to do, I have my son who is blossoming in their Christian school-I have to keep him there as the public school did something that was awful and is another story. I love everyone there and feel it to be my spiritual home, but oh how the enemy has used this dilemma the past two weeks to sow doubt in my mind. This Church I recently found out gives to a couple of ministries that three years ago I would have never believed that I would be a apart of (Hinn and Copeland). The prosperity doctrine that goes out to the edge and makes prosperity a sign of righteousness, has been one of the great bane's of the church and the church age, I believe it is just simply misguided and wrong. The faith based healing is true because I know I've been healed and I've seen others miraculously healed, but the Lord heals some and others he does not, He heals some through miracles and others He uses Doctors, and then some of us go home to Him.

Please pray for divine guidance that I may see from Him a way to go through this seeming maze in the Kingdom and not end up where I shouldn't. I'm a single Dad raising a good little boy to Love God and love His neighbors as himself, I don't want any more surgery, but I may have to brave through another round of them cutting my throat (they've done that twice now and I get sick to my stomach thinking of it). And a MRI on Wednesday will tell another tale whether or not I have another one. Oh and though I voted for the current president I've been a Democrat all my life and the current rush to embrace this administration is not to be done without discernment, sure I pray for GW but I prayed for Clinton too. Abortions wrong it must be stopped, but then we must take care of the many poor children that will be born, and not discriminate against anyone. I am very hopeful and if he is indeed who he says he is maybe there will be a brief change for the better, if he is not, may the Lord help us all. Thank you for your ministry, your commentary on Liberalism is very, very good. Thank you and may the Lord bless and keep you. In Him, James Kelly

You know what you say here is so true. There is a prophetic meeting every 2nd and 4th Friday at a church around here and the head prophet is very stern about things coming from the spirit and the gift of prophecy came to me suddenly and swiftly and I did nothing to bring it out and only words came to me for certain people there and I did not speak with anyone that the Lord did not give me specific words and I am glad I waited and this was one time when my hesitancy to do things like that paid off! Amen!

Audette

Thank you so very much, for these words of wisdom. I want to say AMEN on your article. I have experience this kind of thing over and over again, but always thought I had a judgmental spirit.

Louwdene Swart

Jay,

I really enjoyed your letter, as I enjoy much of what you share with the group. I think the topic you chose is one that too often goes undiscussed or discussed with little conviction at times. It is amazing to think of the literally billion plus christians that are in the world right now and the five plus billion who are non-christian, and those that lead and direct and teach them in the way of spiritual matters. In christianity today it is even more amazing to see the division of sects and how differently each of these people preach and teach what is "the doctrine of salvation" Even within organized sects individual beliefs and ideas may differ so greatly it can confuse both christian and non-christian alike as to what is right and what is wrong. It can be even more discouraging for people to see the attitudes that accompany these people to the point of arrogance as too the fact that the way they fallow is the "only way" I study people in my line of work and most of what I do is to try to understand how people socialize in groups and how an individuals background, beliefs, and abilities cause them to attract, act, react, associate, and disassociate with groups, weather they be secular or religious.

One thing I find in all people is an individuals need to belong to something or anything, to be associated with or recognized with a group or ideology or movement. In christianity we have so many different groups it easy for one to see how people have a menu of options that allow them to pick and choose the religion that best suits there likes and dislikes, there work ethic, there tastes, and needs. Take for instance a lazy man. It is much easier for him to attend church and fallow the teachings of a minister or preacher who doesn't believe a man should try and work out his own salvation. Go to church once a week and believe and you are saved. Or a man who is stingy with his money. How simple it is for hime to just follow after a group that passes an offering plate where he can give a few dollars for the whole world to see and not have to give freely of tithes and offering in a private manner to be rewarded by God. Those who feel they have been called to preach the word of God so desperately seek to "convince a world that has been deceived" and seek to bring others to the enlightenment that they have obtained. So many choices, so many Words of God, so many different doctrines, so many different teachings, all coming from one place. I often ask myself if God is a god of confusion? and Why so much chaos now exists amongst those who profess to follow him. But I know that God is not a god of confussion and he doesnt have more than one doctrine, that he has only one plan, and he does everything in order and in purpose. He is the same yesterday, today and forever.

God has followed the same pattern of revealing truth through out the ages. Holy men are chosen to testify of Christ as did Peter in Act 10 and as he spoke the Holy ghost fell upon those that heard, and those that believed were numbered amongst the followers of Christ and to be baptized in his name. When a man speaks with the authority of the Almighty and stands as a witness to the divinity of Christ the Holy Ghost must and will testify of the truth of those things. With out the testifying spirit of the Comforter no man can with any authority say "Thus saith the Lord" By the fruit of the spirit which is hope, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance, brotherly kindness, charity humility, diligence, virtue, joy, and love shall ye know of there truthfulness. By there fruits ye shall know them. Notice how the description though adjectives they are, they also describe the actions which they shall take. But beyond the kind of person that a preacher or pastor or reverend or minister or prophet is, what they have to tell you is the single most important aspect of what it is they are and are doing.

In today's main stream christian society we have the bible. Bill Cosby always said to read your bible but to get a really thick one so as to be sure none of the words are missing. I laughed at that, but in a sense it is true. So many people have had liberty with the words of God over the century and so many take liberty with it today, it is very hard to tell who is right and who is wrong, what is of God and what is of man. A learned man of the scriptures can prove anything they want with an appeal to the bible. A historian or archeologist can prove or disprove because of certain other texts and past beliefs. So we find ourselves on dangerous ground as to what we can and can't believe and what we should or shouldn't follow. So in the end we have to look at what is essential for each of us to determine what is of God and what is of man. I first see that we know that God spoke to prophets, seers, and revelators in the past. These men although foretelling of different events and bring to light new answers and mysteries, they never contradicted each other as to the doctrine. God would not give one thing to one prophet and something to another that would go against what he has commanded the first to preach. God is not an author of such confusion. He established one body in the days of the jews and one body in the days of Christ, man has fractioned it and God's purpose is to have only one. Those who preach and teach and expound the word of God today must follow the same criteria. Secondly, the holy ghost must follow these men to testify of the things to which these men have said. Not only does the spirit have to rest in them and with them but must go unto those whom they have preached too. Thirdly those that hear these words must follow after these teachers of righteousness and follow the doctrine which the Lord has laid out, to be numbered amongst them.

A prophet in this day and age is so often looked upon as a charlatan or a con-artist, and by right they should be because the Lord dwells with so few, but a few, a small handful do exist. They all belong to the same body and they all preach the same doctrine, they and they alone hold the keys to the preaching of the kingdom of Christ, they alone can say "Thus saith the Lord" Our job is to find such men, such teachings, and such doctrine. Our responsibility is to seek out truth to test it, to accept it no matter how it contradicts what we have been taught for truth is truth and if we don't accept it we will be condemned in it and through it. Our Father will give us all things what so ever we stand in need of if we are seeking him. Christ Jesus has sent us the Holy Spirit of Promise to act as a guide, as a messenger, as a testifier of truth. I know that Christ lives and he bids each and every one of us to come unto him and be sanctified. It is our responsibility to meet him as he comes half way and stretches forth his hand, all we have to do is step forward to the truth and take it.

Sincerely Your Mormon friend in Christ Jesus Cole

I enjoyed your article on discernment. I think I possibly have this gift. I have watched many of the TV evangelists and have been concerned about many things they throw out to the viewers. I have also done some reading up on some particular evangelists I have concerns over. I have also checked out some of their comings and goings. I have difficulty dealing with those I have investigated and who themselves have said over TV that God wants us to be very prosperous. I believe God wants us to have the necessary essentials and possibly a little more to sustain our livelihood.

These guys from TV have a boat load of stuff. Some have more than one very luxurious home, and very fancy automobiles; plus many other high end items. I won't go into any names, but many, not all, come from the TBN broadcasting programs. They all seems to get on this same bandwagon about things. When you see one evangelist on the shows start something that supposedly the Lord has led them to do, then all the others say they have the same vision.

I have to say that most of the time, they do preach the word. It seems to always be a good message with biblical meanings. But, I could be way off base here, but I still have this discernment about many of them thinking that they are doing God's work, and living the way God would have them. I get the feeling that quite a few have gone over the edge where the money and possessions part comes into play. They almost live the lives of millionaires. I truly do not believe this is what God intended. So much more could benefit from all that money going to some other worthy cause other than for themselves. Maybe you could give me your perspective on all of this. I am open to what might be going on other than what I seem to discern. Thanks and God bless.

gmgraham

Jay,

On the subject of false prophets and such. Something that I would like to reply for the sake of the truth. I agree with all that you were saying. I do want to point out something that I might need more discernment on.

I'm coming from the angle of abasement in this matter when you say;

"the Didache tells us that if a prophet asks you for money, he is a false prophet. These ministers would rather prey than pray. If God cannot provide for your ministry without asking anyone other than Him,"

This statement is true, but it is as manifold as truth ever is in that the prophets have a history of asking, even telling persons to sustain them...remember Elijah and the woman's last meal? Paul stayed and shared his load with those who made tents, it wasn't his home...many times the disciples were received into the homes and taken care of by the people. The reason why? They probably didn't have to ask most of the time. They followed the teachings of Jesus.

But we are living in a day when men have departed from the wholesome words of Christ, simple words ...even the first doctrine that was delivered unto us...." ask and ye shall receive"....and from a personal point of view, I think in this time it is a very clever way to see if someone is living by the wholesome words of Christ or not!

Listen to this parable:

A wise man walks up to a fancy dressed preacher and says; " preacher, the Lord told me to give you two hundred dollars.." The greedy preacher said..." Brother, you ought to obey the Lord". And so the man gives him the money, and the preacher receives it with joy. That same wise man puts a fake mustache on, dirty clothes, and pours beer on himself to come and see the same preacher again. When walking up the preacher doesn't recognize him...and the wise man says: " preacher the Lord told me to come to you for 100 dollars.." All of a sudden the preachers face gets serious as he says in his heart..." if that were true, the Lord would have told me before this man came". The preacher then replies, " Sir, Im going to pray for you that God is going to meet your need, you know he is able to do it...and Im going to have to pray about giving you money, because it is not my money but the Lord's...until then..."Be thou clothed and warmed in the name of Jesus!" and walks away.

Be we are not to be like the hypocrites, departing from the simplicity that is in Christ.

"Give to him that asketh of thee, and lend expecting nothing in return....if a man asks you to go a mile, go with him twain."

Its one thing to realize that they are wrong for asking for money on television....but its another thing to obey the words of Christ, and send them money for His sake...whatever it may be that we send. This is where a reward is...for what reward do you have for giving to them that are your friends only? For we are not doing it because they ask, but we do so because the Lord told us to give to them that ask.

In the above understanding, its a good way to try the spirits by allowing people to know your faith and love in the Lord Jesus, and if you are without .....be honest...and if you have it to give...be honest...God supplies every need regardless of those who shut up their bowels of compassion....

I am in a time personally that I have less than ten dollars in the bank. I have two churches scheduled to preach revivals in a couple of months... I do have a check coming for helping a man build a driveway for 80 dollars...and I have worked to stay afloat...despite at least six hours a day in the word. But in my need for a financial miracle even as I sought the Kingdom...He said for me to "knock on doors... and He would answer with those living by His words."

Should I feel bad about making my need known? Or rather should we as churches feel bad for not giving...making others to ask when they shouldn't have to ...and even then.." we have to pray about it".

I agree with you totally about the greediness we see in the ministries today. God never intended us to ask the suicidal for money as he turns on the Christian TV station, with a gun to his head for his last hope.

But it also is a faithful token of the love of God when your need is made known, and real followers of Christ's wholesome words respond to their own prosperity.

Are these things correct?

I agree with you.

Christopher

Dear Jay,

I knew a man who was preaching in a church, denominational Pentecostal...etc. Just such a person was preaching wildly about healing....He said something like this;

" Im not talkin' bout no TV show, honey! I'm not talking bout' somethin you said that she said, that someone else said to someone who told someone else all about what someone had experienced...I'm not talkin' bout that right now...God help me....I'm talking bout' POWER!

And Jay, that whole place was as quiet as a prison at playground time..

All happy, caught up in the moment...and such a man went on and shouted, couldn't help himself...even this man lifted up his voice like the apostles of old and said;

Im talkin bout you gettin on your good pants!.... you know....the pants you wear to Go Sunday, y'all know how to dress to "Go Sunday?"

Put your hair back, just as pretty as you can if you want to...get yourself down to Wal-mart....Find that guy in the wheel chair ....and tell him to come to your church ! CAUSE YOU FOLKS DONE MOVED UP IN THE BIG HOUSE MINISTRY NOW ! YES MA'AM....

YOU GOT THE NERVE TO PUT THE WHEEL CHAIR RAMPS ON YOUR NEW EDITION TO YOUR DIVIDED TABERNACLES...WHERE IS YOUR GOD? YOU KEEP HAVING CHURCH THIS WAY IF'N YOU WONT TO......

BUT ONE OF THESE DAYS THE CHURCH THAT HAS FALLEN AWAY IS GOING TO BE AWAKENED BY A STORM...EVEN THE FORMER AND THE LATTER RAIN...AND THERE IS GONNA BE A MORNIN'....GOOD GOD I FEEL IT RIGHT NOW...IM GONNA WAKE UP...AINT EVEN GO'WN GO IN THE BATHROOM...!

AINT EVEN GO PUT MY SHOES ON OR WORRY BOUT' MY BREATH , OR BRUSHIN' MY TEETH....UH! GREAT GOD ALMIGHTY! BLESS YOUR NAME!

GOWN GET IN MY CAR WITH MY BLUE PAJAMA'S ON....!

GO TO WAL-MART.....DONT KNOW IF I HAVE TO WAIT FOR HIM OR NOT...DONT KNOW HOW LONG I HAVE TO LOOK FOR HIM... BUT WHEN I SEE THAT MAN IN THE WHEEL CHAIR....UUOH!

HAVE MERCY...SOMEBODY TELL ME YOU KNOW WHAT IM TALKIN BOUT!

I AINT TALKIN BOUT SOMETHING ON TV..WHAT THEY NEED TO SHOW IS THE FOOT UNCURLING ON CAMERA!

I CAN SEE THE FACES IN WAL- MART AS THE MANS BONES BECOME STRONG ENOUGH TO PULL A TWENTY FOOT BOAT THROUGH A SEA OF DOUBT! THAT HAS BEEN INFUSED AND INJECTED LIKE A SUICIDLE DRUG TO INFLICT THE SAINTS! LOOK OUT TONIGHT...CAUSE GODS GONNA HEAL YOU TONIGHT! STEP OUT FOR YOUR HEALING!

And Jay...nobody moved. Such a man's heart was beating because he knew God was going to back his word up...

There was a man with dark glasses on, in his fifty's sitting in back. I was there, Jay....he had been a member of that church for years...and this was was someone doing the work of an evangelist, that was coming through challenging his faith, for the man was blind...he couldn't see, but he heard the word of faith...

But the preacher was looking right at him as he continued;

"HOW YOU GONNA SEE A MAN'S FOOT UNCURL IN A WHEEL CHAIR IF YOUR EYES ARE BLINDED, AND YOU CANT SEE A THING....SOME OF Y'ALL WANT TO HEAL PEOPLE....BUT YOU GOT YOUR OWN AILMENTS TO WORRY BOUT'!

MAN IN THE BACK WITH THE GLASSES ON COME UP HERE...(the man who was preaching didn't know the man was blind, he just thought he wore the glasses because of maybe sensitive eyes...he had met others with that condition.)

And the minute the evangelist said that A woman, the daughter of the blind man got up and led him to the front where the evangelist was..

the evangelist seemed to calm down a little;

"Okay you people of God! What do you want to do now...you think Im gonna slap some oil on his head..GREASE HIM UP LIKE A CHRISTMAS TURKEY? MAKE HIM FALL TO THE FLOOR...AND LAY THERE PRAISING GOD FOR HIS BLINDNESS? TELL ME HOW TO DO IT!"

What do you think John and Peter did as they went to the temple at the hour of prayer!? Did they pass by like all the other meaningless forms of religions going in the temple?

Or don't you think that Peter and John, got to chapter three...simply because of what happened in chapter two on the day of PENTECOST? DONT YOU THINK THE PENTECOST EXPERIENCE IS STILL SUPPOSED TO FUNCTION TODAY? WE HAVE THE POWER...WE BOAST OF THE GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT...BUT SOME OF THEM ARE ACTIVE WHILE OTHERS ARE LYING DORMANT IN YOUR CHURCHES? YOU GOT TONGUES...BUT YOU ALSO HAVE WHEELCHAIR RAMPS...AND IT SICKENS ME TO KNOW THAT THIS MAN HAS BEEN COMING TO THIS SO CALLED PENTECOSTAL CHURCH WITHOUT A HEALING?

How would you have prayed for the man at the gate beautiful? He asked, standing there in front of the blind man. The blind man was white bearded, and over weight...he had gotten used to his condition...and needed to be led out of his surroundings....where he was feeling along the walls of the town...Jesus had to lead this man out of the town as well...because there had been many times he got prayed for and didn't get the healing.

" DONT YOU BRING THAT DOUBT UP HERE THAT WAS GIVEN TO YOU OF YOUR FATHERS! THE PROBLEM WITH YOUR FATHERS IS THEY CALL PEOPLE UP TO BE PRAYED FOR...BUT "YOU HAVE BEEN CALLED UP TO BE HEALED....IT DOESN'T MATTER WETHER YOU BELIEVE IN THIS CASE OR NOT...BECAUSE EVEN IF WE BELIEVE NOT...YET GOD ABIDETH FAITHFULLY!"

And this such a man I knew jerked the sunglasses off the blind man's face...and the church got as quiet as a catholic sermon....you could hear the patter of someone's feet on the floor....the awesome presence of Almighty God was there...and some people weren't used to that feeling.

This man started stomping on those glasses and busted them to pieces on the floor..and kicked them all the way up the center isle...saying things ferociously in a clear distinct foreign vernacular and Holy language...that penetrated the ears of the people..and they began to rise to their feets and praise the Lord!

This man I knew got through destroying those expensive glasses and came back and stood in front of the blind man and asked him:

"Can you see?"

"Nope...said the blind man....with tears...but I feel the touch of God....."

"YOU AINT GOT TIME TO SPEAK THOSE WORDS....YOU ARE HEALED! ITS TIME TO PRAISE THE LORD!"

And the preacher laid his hands on the man...and he lifted his hands up and praised God for his healing.

After a while the church had a shout fit...and when things had quieted down, the preacher asked him again...

"Can you see?"

"No .."

"I DONT BELIEVE YOU....IF YOU AREN'T HEALED THEN I WILL QUIT PREACHING..."

And with that..this man I knew pulled out his wallet and gave the man a fist full of money...and said..

"WHEN YOU START BELIEVING THE TRUTH, THAT YOU ARE HEALED...SEND THIS BACK TO ME...ILL LEAVE IT UP TO YOU...OR BUY YOU SOME MORE SUNGLASSES WITH IT!"

And this man I knew told the people he wasn't taking a check from them, but was gonna preach the whole revival taking nothing from them...and over twenty got saved and filled in that revival...and others healed...But the blind man left being led by the hand down the wheel chair ramp.

"YOU MAY WALK OUT HERE ON THE WHEEL CHAIR RAMP....AND EVEN BE LED BY THE HAND...BUT YOU'R HEALED...OR I WILL QUIT PREACHING..."

two months later this same man was preaching at another church not far from there...a bigger church with 400 people packed in...they had to bring in chairs..it was the second week of revival...

a man I didn't recognize stood up and said;

"several months ago I was in a revival in my own home church, and a man got prayed for that was blind...well two weeks after the evangelist left...the pastor of the church went to see this man who was blind...and when the pastor opened the screen door and walked in...the man called from the other room...and said..

"Pastor, That's a nice plaid shirt you got on!"

Needless to say, this guy I know is still preaching. All glory to God for what He is going to do...even the things yet to come!

Chris

God many times does things different ways for different people IN HIS TIME and for HIS reasons with HIS great wisdom! He knows what we need, when we need it and how we need it. He knows us so intimately that the hairs on our heads are even numbered. I always can soothe myself by knowing that the creator of our entire universe in now in charge of my life and my destiny and what more could you ask for?

Audette Johnson

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