Charismatic - Losing Faith (Healing)

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bikerchaz

Guest
#61
I was diagnosed with heart disease and told I needed bypass surgery 4.5 years ago. I started going to a charismatic/Kenneth E Hagin-like church a few months after my diagnosis. They believe strongly in laying hands on people and healing.

I went up for healing...believed that I received it...testified to being healed for years...got into leadership...and even left my job to be on staff. A few months ago I started having chest pains, after a series of doctor visits and another angiogram my heart has gotten worse.

I'm fighting to believe all that I've learned...but I'm definitely doubting divine healing...what I REALLY don't like...is it's causing me to doubt almost everything I hear or read. I find myself rolling my eyes at testimonies or people encouraging others with scripture or sayings. Any time I hear a charismatic preacher on tv or YouTube I question what they say. I feel like I'm losing my faith in God. He has to be real.

I really need someone who knows their charismatic apologetics. Please don't waste my time or yours if all you have to chime in with is a bible verse with a short saying attached to it like "John 10:10 the enemy is just trying to kill you"

I need something way solid and explained in detail. Please. Thank you so much!
OK some straight talking is needed here. Where is your heart? This is not an accusing question, it is an honest one. Please note, I have not mentioned faith. I am not going to mention having enough faith because that is not the problem here.

I to went to a Charismatic, chandelier swinging, jumping and dancing church. They were wonderful people and Jesus had certainly touched quite a few of them, Jesus did walk among them. But ( I hate that word ), there were things that happened that bought that little church to naught and it was disbanded, the other churches taking a few each and another one starting up under a new name, not quite so chandelier swinging but open to the gifts of the Spirit.

The thing is about church these days is that there is always someone in charge who "Feels led to be there" and while this permeates Christendom the true Church will never be able to raise its true identity of Jesus. The upshot of this is that there will be casualties as people go to these churches to "find . . . (something)", rather than to "be with" Jesus.

Our relationship with Jesus is our relationship. It does not depend on pastor Fred or minister Jeremy. It is not dependant on being able to speak in tongues, or give prophesy. It is only dependant on the love between two people, ME and Jesus! You and Jesus! everyone as individuals and Jesus. If Jesus speaks it will happen. If someone else speaks and pronounces anything from healing to being able to walk on water through enthusiasm which can come in many forms like mass hysteria, then it will fall on its face and be shown for what it is.

This does not mean they are evil, it means they do not have ears to hear what Jesus says at that specific moment. I know through my own life I have been guilty of this myself, even encouraged to "Step out" and say something through someone else's enthusiasm. so I have. When I should have taken a moment in quiet contemplation with Jesus and asked His guidance for that situation. And thinking back, deep down I knew there was something not right, but my enthusiasm being stoked up by others enthusiasm got carried along. No blame there, the guilt was mine not anyone's.

There is still a couple who when they hear anything untoward will, before they engage their mind in thoughtful prayer, will stand and immediately shout "I cast you out Satan in Jesus name". If they meet anyone ill or suffering nearly anything they will do the same. This immediately puts people backs up and turns most (unless one knows them personally), if not everyone they meet into a defensive position because they feel attacked, and they are being. Jesus does not condemn He loves, He was never forceful in peoples lives who needed Him, He was/is gentle and compassionate.

When you were prayed for, for healing, you wanted that healing. Both you and I know you did not hear confirmation for that healing in your spirit. No amount of "working up your faith" would make Jesus talk to you to confirm what you wanted.

Only a few days ago I actually did the same with someone who is a member of CC. I stood in faith and pronounced healing for them. I had not heard from Jesus but because I love them (and I actually do) I wanted them to be even just a little more comfortable in their lives. I was sure in myself that as the body of Christ, as part of His Church, if I spoke out in love then Jesus would be in that situation and that person would receive healing. Do you see the problem there? its all in one word "myself". If I had heard from the Spirit to pronounce healing then that person would have been healed.

What I did was sinful and afterwards I was ashamed, I ran ahead of Jesus thinking I knew better. In what I did I not only showed myself to be un-careful with what Jesus has given me, but I (although not directly) accused my friend of not having enough faith to receive the healing they were given. God is good because he bought me to a place where I could see my dilemma and adjust my thinking through repentance and fellowship with Him.

Now I come back to the first question I asked you "Where is your heart". Did you join this church for healing or to improve your relationship with Jesus? The latter should be the right answer, and Jesus knows us, He knitted us together in our mothers womb. he understands our every need and want, and He is our master friend and the intimate lover of our souls. We have been given a very short time to come to know Jesus and follow His commands. But unless we listen for ourselves we follow His command given to someone else.

We are here on earth for a reason, and that reason is to acknowlage Jesus and accept His sacrifice. In seeing Jesus we see God and this gives us this;

“I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

This simple statement made by Jesus is the gospel. This is where we meet with Him and have our relationship with Him. If Jesus touches someone to be a healer, and I know He does then that person will heal, if Jesus touches someone to be a teacher they will teach, as a pastor they will care for others more than themselves, these things are given to those they are given and we have to be careful not to run away with things given to others because we see Jesus in them. Look for Jesus in you, search to know Him better for yourself, you will, "will" find your rest in Him.

God bless.
 
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wattie

Senior Member
Feb 24, 2009
3,230
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New Zealand
#62


What is Christian maturity to me? It's being a child. It's being a sheep of His pasture. It's letting Him do for me what I cannot do for myself. Knowing His love personally One on one in my day to day. It's first and foremost those things before it's anything else.

Yes, we will read the Bible we must., it's our food! Pray? yes all the time we must! we love to talk to Him!! being with other Christians? yes. we love the brethren! He teaches us that! And the sufferings of this present world are not to be compared to the glory He is working in us now in for later when we get to heaven.
:D

But without the positioning of who I am IN Christ., my reading the Bible and fellowshipping and suffering and going to a solid Biblical church and rightly dividing the Word of truth in good doctrine was like "sounding brass and clanging symbols" just like 1 Cor. 13 says.

Without the love of God to empower and uplift we are just spinning our wheels in religious works. When I'm believing Him for His love., the Holy Spirit flows like rivers of living water! Seriously!! I know He does many wondrous things and He has also given us the privilege and joy of watching as we see His hand traced in our daily life. It's amazing to be a sheep.

The possibilities are endless when we are positioned that way. We rely on His love and see the power of His grace. I have seen many many "fantastical" things but only because of His grace.



If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not [SUP][a][/SUP]love [for others growing out of God’s love for me], then I have become only a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal [just an annoying distraction].

[SUP]2 [/SUP]And if I have the gift of prophecy [and speak a new message from God to the people], and understand all mysteries, and [possess] all knowledge; and if I have all [sufficient] faith so that I can remove mountains, but do not have love [reaching out to others], I am nothing.

[SUP]3 [/SUP]If I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body [SUP][b][/SUP]to be burned, but do not have love, it does me no good at all.
[SUP]
4 [/SUP]Love endures with patience and serenity, love is kind and thoughtful, and is not jealous or envious; love does not brag and is not proud or arrogant.

[SUP]5 [/SUP]It is not rude; it is not self-seeking, it is not provoked [nor overly sensitive and easily angered]; it does not take into account a wrong endured.

[SUP]6 [/SUP]It does not rejoice at injustice, but rejoices with the truth [when right and truth prevail].

[SUP]7 [/SUP]Love bears all things [regardless of what comes], believes all things [looking for the best in each one], hopes all things [remaining steadfast during difficult times], endures all things [without weakening].
[SUP]
8 [/SUP]Love never fails [it never fades nor ends]. But as for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for the gift of special knowledge, it will pass away.

[SUP]9 [/SUP]For we know in part, and we prophesy in part [for our knowledge is fragmentary and incomplete].

[SUP]10 [/SUP]But when that which is complete and perfect comes, that which is incomplete and partial will pass away.

[SUP]11 [/SUP]When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things.

[SUP]12 [/SUP]For now [in this time of imperfection] we see in a mirror dimly [a blurred reflection, a riddle, an enigma], but then [when the time of perfection comes we will see reality] face to face. Now I know in part [just in fragments], but then I will know fully, just as I have been fully known [by God].

[SUP]13 [/SUP]And now there remain: faith [abiding trust in God and His promises], hope [confident expectation of eternal salvation], love [unselfish love for others growing out of God’s love for me], these three [the choicest graces]; but the greatest of these is love.



Of course christian maturity is complete reliance on Christ.

Daily reading the Word, fellowship in a biblical church.. fellowship with fellow church members etc.. is empowered first by allowing Christ to rule your soul.

I never meant that is wasn't empowered by Him first.

Look.. the ops topic is that he is struggling with his faith because he is seeing holes in the charismatic teachings and theology..

The charismatic teachings not being sound.. he is (it seems to me) then going to the point of disbelieving in God.

But there is a whole other side to christianity that isn't reliant on signs and wonders, tongues and prophecy etc.. so that THE faith is not grounded miracles, signs, wonders etc.. but in quiet times with Jesus, fellowship with fellow church members and daily meditation on the Word etc..

I am mostly agreeing with you on Jesus being the empowerer.. where I would disagree is on what is emphasised in the christian walk.

These are extremes.. but explain a little of what I am getting at :

'I'm praying for a miracle to heal my daughter of this disease' - a statement like this I have seen with a charismatic christian

'I'm taking my daughter to the doctor.. God has provided us with the right skilled people to take care of her.. and there are medicines God has also provided the doctor can administer'

- a possible statement on someone not reliant on miracles but knows God works 'in the balances' 'tipping the scales' rather than every time.. full 100 percent healing.
 

Zmouth

Senior Member
Nov 21, 2012
3,391
134
63
#63
Angiograms are fairly invasive and not super fun so I wasn't real keen on getting one. I'm still a candidate - so 4.5 years ago I had 3 completely blocked arteries (possible triple bypass) at the ripe ol age of 31....now I'm 36 and was told "they've gotten worse"

Too young for this, Lord! No family history, no drugs, no reason why I should have it.
That is awful young for blockage, any reason given that you were more prone to build up. So they didn't tell you that you would be dead by Monday if you didn't have the surgery that day, seems to be a pattern. Yep, when 3 completely block arteries get worse it's good then your still a candidate.
 
Nov 22, 2015
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#64
So why...in this social media age where almost everyone has a camera in their pocket...are we not seeing lame men getting up and walking every day? Why are we not seeing blind eyes opened on cnn? Why is it only the traveling missionary that is raising the dead? The traveling preacher who is opening blind eyes? Diseases arent getting cured, but legs 100% of the time grow back when they are uneven.

And...just because Jesus told his disciples to go do these things why does that mean "us" as well?
There are actually many miracles being done every day by the Holy Spirit working through believers. The world's news is not going to announce it - of that you can be assured. I have heard of people being raised from the dead in the US.

There is a lot more going on then what we can see from our own little window that we personally travel in or see out of.

I believe all healings to do with the gifts of the Holy Spirit need to be initiated by Him because it is as the Spirit wills that the gifts of the Spirit are manifested - not as "we will". We too can have personal faith for ourselves and those under our authority as many scriptures attest to when we look at the life of Jesus and those who came to Him.

 
Feb 24, 2015
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#65
We are called to love God, to let love rule in our hearts, to walk in His ways.
There are gifts of grace and love that He bestows on us, but it can for many become
like a child saying to a parent, they will always give me things when I ask, rather than
acknowledging each gift is a gift of grace, and does not define the relationship.

Things go wrong when it becomes a contract of guarantee, and love goes out the window.
We are not guaranteed health and security here on earth, but in our relationship with the
Lord. But that is where we need to see what sin is and how the Lord dealt with it. If individual
healing does not arrive it does not destroy the reality and love Jesus stands for. The Lords love
is despite our failings and lack of vision he still is true.

This is a point of testing, why are we following Jesus? What really is our foundation?
Because the dental and health plan is good or because Jesus is the Son of God and we are forgiven?
 
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pottersclay

Guest
#66
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pottersclay

Guest
#67
[FONT=&quot]To the o.p. notice my friend gift of healings not healing. Have you ever considered that perhaps the Lord is taking you on a journey? [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Because of this one thing it has shaken your faith to the core. Is it possible that your faith is built on Sandy ground and the Lord wants to establish a more surer foundation? The first thing we must do is trust the Lord. I don't know all the detail but I do know that if you call upon his name he will save you. Is anything to hard for the Lord? You may say to yourself (easy for him to say he's not in my shoes) I've been there my friend, in some ways am still there. But I'm not alone, the Lord knows my heart I cannot hid from him. Seek his face while he may be found.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Please don't let your affliction rise above your faith, You serve a mighty God who can do above all we ask. Don't let doubt rob you of that truth.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Council with him, surrender to him, trust in him then keep on keeping on. The Lord is faithful. He will direct your path.[/FONT]
 
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Ariel82

Guest
#68
Luke: 4. 18. The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, 23. And he said unto them, Ye will surely say unto me this proverb, Physician, heal thyself: whatsoever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in thy country. 24. And he said, Verily I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in his own country. 25. But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land; 26. But unto none of them was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow. 27. And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Eliseus the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, saving Naaman the Syrian. 28. And all they in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath,

*******

People are still filled with wrath when they hear this teaching because it tells them that they aren't promised physical healing and miracles.

Noticed it talks about healing the broken hearted...,

If your faith is firmly rooted in Christ and what God actually says and promises, you will never be disappointed. However if you build your faith in shifting sand of man-made doctrines,then your faith is misplaced and the castle will be washed away.
 
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Nov 22, 2015
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#69
Luke: 4. 18. The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, 23. And he said unto them, Ye will surely say unto me this proverb, Physician, heal thyself: whatsoever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in thy country. 24. And he said, Verily I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in his own country. 25. But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land; 26. But unto none of them was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow. 27. And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Eliseus the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, saving Naaman the Syrian. 28. And all they in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath,

*******

People are still filled with wrath when they hear this teaching because it tells them that they aren't promised healing and miracles.
``

I don't see that at all - that they aren't promised healing and miracles. Even in the Old Covenant - they were promised healing. Deut. 28 and Psalm 103 say the exact opposite - that He will heal them.

I see in what Jesus said that the Jewish people who thought they were the blessed ones were filled with wrath because the Gentiles got the blessings from God freely.

All those mentioned in that scripture were Gentiles and not Jewish. Gentiles were dogs as far as the Jews were concerned - apart from the promises of God. They were after all - Abraham's children! - but Jesus set them straight a few times and this was one of them.

Religious people get mad when they see others being blessed and they are the "ones for deserve blessings".
 
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Ariel82

Guest
#70
He promises to heal the broken hearted not every physical illness of these dying bodies.

He promises us resurrected bodies, not easy living or material wealth in this life.

He promises to always be with us, not to be a magic genie or attack dog to fulfill our every command or desire if we just "believe" enough.


**** the widow was in Israel,i never saw her as a gentile believer, will look up Capernum and its status.
 
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Ariel82

Guest
#71
"Jesus made Capernaum his home during the years of his ministry: “Leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum” (Matt 4:13).

Peter, Andrew, James and John were fishermen living in the village. Matthew the tax collector also dwelt here.

Capernaum is one of the three cities cursed by Jesus for its lack of faith."

Capernaum (BiblePlaces.com) – BiblePlaces.com
 
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Ariel82

Guest
#72
Sorry but I believe historically the people in Capernaum and the widow living in Israel were most likely from the nation of Israel. Therefore the people's wrath was not due to their jealousy of Gentiles but because Jesus refused to heal them and showed that people are only healed because God has a specific purpose for the miracle.
 
Feb 28, 2016
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#73
Sorry but I believe historically the people in Capernaum and the widow living in Israel were most likely from the nation of Israel. Therefore the people's wrath was not due to their jealousy of Gentiles but because Jesus refused to heal them and showed that people are only healed because God has a specific purpose for the miracle.
Ariel,

you have shown much wisdom and understsanding, GBY...
 
Feb 28, 2016
11,311
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#74
Uh, you don't still go to "preach the Kingdom of God?" I suspect you do. Then why did you chop that sentence in half, and throw out the second half? Because people often don't get healed? Well, actually, just as often, they don't hear your preaching either. Does that mean you are no longer sent to do that? Are you just doing it "on your own", imagining the results when they do happen?
=============================================

Willie,

I just very recently got a healing from Jesus, I should have lost sight in one of my eyes,
where are you coming from? did you miss my witness?

God always has a purpose in everything He does!
 
Feb 7, 2015
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#75
=============================================

Willie,

I just very recently got a healing from Jesus, I should have lost sight in one of my eyes,
where are you coming from? did you miss my witness?

God always has a purpose in everything He does!
Maybe I misread your words, but I thought you said healing was for then not now... that only preaching was for now. I sure wouldn't have challenged that if I didn't think that was what you said.
 
Feb 7, 2015
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#76
LUKE 9:2.

And he sent them to preach the Kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.

this is obviously speaking of those whom He had 'chosen' to heal at that time...
This is where I got that from.
 

CS1

Well-known member
May 23, 2012
13,006
4,313
113
#77
I was diagnosed with heart disease and told I needed bypass surgery 4.5 years ago. I started going to a charismatic/Kenneth E Hagin-like church a few months after my diagnosis. They believe strongly in laying hands on people and healing.

I went up for healing...believed that I received it...testified to being healed for years...got into leadership...and even left my job to be on staff. A few months ago I started having chest pains, after a series of doctor visits and another angiogram my heart has gotten worse.

I'm fighting to believe all that I've learned...but I'm definitely doubting divine healing...what I REALLY don't like...is it's causing me to doubt almost everything I hear or read. I find myself rolling my eyes at testimonies or people encouraging others with scripture or sayings. Any time I hear a charismatic preacher on tv or YouTube I question what they say. I feel like I'm losing my faith in God. He has to be real.

I really need someone who knows their charismatic apologetics. Please don't waste my time or yours if all you have to chime in with is a bible verse with a short saying attached to it like "John 10:10 the enemy is just trying to kill you"

I need something way solid and explained in detail. Please. Thank you so much!

Hi Ed_4325 ,

I found your post to be very interesting and I am praying that God would heal you and your medical condition. Sometimes Ed_4325 people are well intended but just wrong about certain things in the bible. God does heal and will heal. God uses many things to complement HIS healing power. one is Doctors, :) another is , in the food we eat and another is by the laying of of hands and the Power of God healing them.

One can be healed of a bad back at the age of 39 and when they are 69 they end up with a bad back again. Does that mean they were not healed? NO! it means the body will break down because of old age . Jesus healed thousands of people in the Bible correct? if history is correct Jesus 3 1/2 year ministry was about 29 to 33 36 AD. How many of those people heal are alive today? let me guess 0.

Some times when we are healed we do not do or take care of our self and continue to do thing to our body that will yet again cause problems for us or as we age things do happen to the body. That did not mean you were not healed.

what is healing? it s the physical body regenerating it's self back to the natural state of being example :
break a bone all you have to do if it is a fracture in many cases place the broken bone into proper setting and it will mend on it's own. Healing happens when we place the body in the proper position or provide support for the area effected in the following way : Proper nutrition, medication, rest or time . God made the body that way.

But we are still going to age and die and God can heal you; has healed you and yet the body will still need more healing and more help as we age. God is the healer and that has not changed. God also uses doctors to heal. God heals by HIS word, His minsters , and doctors. Trust in the Lord ed_4325. He will not fail you.
I have a lot more to tell you but it is as clear as I can tell you. I have been healed by God and have had issues after being healed some do to my own life style and some I cannot even explain but in it all I trust God and believe HE can Heal me because HE has done it before.

God bless you
 
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Ed_4325

Guest
#78
Hi Ed_4325 ,

I found your post to be very interesting and i am praying that God would heal you and your medical condition. Sometimes Ed_4325 people are well intended but just wrong about certain in the bible. God does heal and will heal. God uses many things to complement HIS healing power. one is Doctors :) another in the food we eat and another is by the laying of of hands and the Power of God healing them.

One can be healed of a bad back at the age of 39 and when they are 69 the end up with a bad back again. Does that mean they were not healed? NO! it means the body will break down because of old age . Jesus healed thousands of people in the Bible correct? if history is correct Jesus 3 1/2 year ministry was about 29 to 33 36 AD. How many of those people heal are alive today? let me guess 0.

Some times when we are healed we do not do or take care of our self and continue to do thing to our body that will yet again cause problems for us or as we age things do happen to the body. That did not mean you were not healed.

what is healing? it s the physical body regenerating it's self back to the natural state of being example :
break a bone all you have to do if it is a fracture in many cases place the broken bone into proper setting and it will mend on it's own. Healing happens when we place the body in the proper position or provide support for the area effected in the following way : Proper nutrition, medication, rest or time . God made the body that way.

But we are still going to age and die and God can heal you has healed you and yet the body will still need more healing and more help as we age. God is the healer and that has not changed. God also uses doctors to heal. God heals by HIS word, His minsters , and doctors. Trust in the Lord ed_4325. He will not fail you.
I have a lot more to tell you but it is as clear as i can tell you. I have been healed by God and have had issues after being healed some do to my own life style and some I cannot even explain but in it all I trust God and believe HE can Heal me because HE has done it before.

God bless you
I agree with a lot of this in a lot of cases...but

1) I asked my doctor if my heart disease was due to a poor diet - I'm not obese, but I do eat my McDonald's here and there like any other person. She (my doctor) said that she wouldn't even expect my arteries to look like they do if I had eaten absolutely horribly and I was 65. And that's when I was 31. So if God can heal me - awesome. If God can heal me, but isn't - why? If God can't heal me because healing was only for Jesus' time - then why me, God?
I don't know if I can follow or even wrap my head around believing that there is a God out there that would let his children be sick and not provide a Healer for them. I mean if I were to inject one of my children with a needle full of cancerous cells - I would be put in prison in any country in the world or put to death in many. I just can't believe that God would ever "use" an affliction to further someone's walk...that doesn't sound like God. I'm digressing here and talking to a lot of posters and not just you, but...to the people that mentioned Paul's thorn in his flesh...there are plenty of exigetical writings do prove/provide good apologetics that the thorn was actually PERSECUTION...and NOT sickness.

2) Why didn't God use doctors back then? He used Jesus and others after Jesus to cure people supernaturally. And what about all of the people who came down with afflictions over the years BEFORE medicine was able to cure them. They're just out of luck? What kind of God would He be if He did that?

Please don't take my tone as angry - I know writing can be interpreted incorrectly very easily. I'm very calm as I say all this...I just think they are valid questions for me or anyone else to be asking.

Thanks for your post.
 

notuptome

Senior Member
May 17, 2013
15,050
2,538
113
#79
I agree with a lot of this in a lot of cases...but

1) I asked my doctor if my heart disease was due to a poor diet - I'm not obese, but I do eat my McDonald's here and there like any other person. She (my doctor) said that she wouldn't even expect my arteries to look like they do if I had eaten absolutely horribly and I was 65. And that's when I was 31. So if God can heal me - awesome. If God can heal me, but isn't - why? If God can't heal me because healing was only for Jesus' time - then why me, God?
I don't know if I can follow or even wrap my head around believing that there is a God out there that would let his children be sick and not provide a Healer for them. I mean if I were to inject one of my children with a needle full of cancerous cells - I would be put in prison in any country in the world or put to death in many. I just can't believe that God would ever "use" an affliction to further someone's walk...that doesn't sound like God. I'm digressing here and talking to a lot of posters and not just you, but...to the people that mentioned Paul's thorn in his flesh...there are plenty of exigetical writings do prove/provide good apologetics that the thorn was actually PERSECUTION...and NOT sickness.

2) Why didn't God use doctors back then? He used Jesus and others after Jesus to cure people supernaturally. And what about all of the people who came down with afflictions over the years BEFORE medicine was able to cure them. They're just out of luck? What kind of God would He be if He did that?

Please don't take my tone as angry - I know writing can be interpreted incorrectly very easily. I'm very calm as I say all this...I just think they are valid questions for me or anyone else to be asking.

Thanks for your post.
Have you read the book of Job?

Understand that the physical you, your body, is going to perish. Your physical body is subject to the consequences of sin. God in His mercy heals the physical but His main concern is the soul of man or the spirit of man. Jesus did not die on Calvary for your body but your soul.

If God asks you to sacrifice your body for Him are going to say no? God is able to heal you physically but it may be for His glory that you are not healed.

Ps 116:15 Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.

You may be a witness to your doctor or to the others that will administer to you in this sickness.

This is not about you but about Christ. You are here to testify of His ability to save souls from eternal condemnation.

Mt 5:29 And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

Just be careful that you do not judge God or hold God responsible for the consequences of sin. It is the goodness of God that leads men to repentance.

Ro 2:4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

For the cause of Christ
Roger

The bible is a mirror not a magnifying glass.
 
Nov 22, 2015
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#80
Sorry but I believe historically the people in Capernaum and the widow living in Israel were most likely from the nation of Israel. Therefore the people's wrath was not due to their jealousy of Gentiles but because Jesus refused to heal them and showed that people are only healed because God has a specific purpose for the miracle.
If you look up Sidon you will find out that it is in Lebannon. Luke 4:26 They were actually Phoenicians and the widow was not Jewish.

Jesus was talking to the people in Capernaum "about" the widow that was from Sidon. You got yourself mixed up there. The widow was not from
Capernaum - she was definitely a Gentile.
 
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