Friday, January 9, 2009
Gift of Healing
Jesus gives power and authority to his disciples to cast out demons and to heal all diseases. Wow! I believe that whatever Jesus gave those disciples, he gives us today. In chapter 9 of Luke there is a lot of emphasis on the healing done by the disciples. And later on (vs. 37-41) Jesus seems frustrated by someone who brings their sick child to him to be healed. He seems to have expected the one bringing him to have had the power himself to heal the child. I'm guessing that person was a Jesus follower (but maybe not). Scientific study and critical thinking in the age of the Enlightenment spent a lot of time and energy trying to negate the claims of Jesus following faith about the power of prayer for healing. In huge measures the church (except for fringe loonies ;>) ) bought into that thinking. In doing so did we rob the Lord of many opportunities to show his power and authority over disease by our lack of faith? I think we did. God doesn't need our partnership to bring healing, but Jesus teaches that God wants our partnership in the process. Today science is much more open to the power of human thought (especially empathy) to bring healing. Way too many in the church are still stuck in Enlightenment thinking about prayer and healing. That was the 18th century folks. Let's come into the 21st century with regards to science, and much more importantly with regards to our Jesus following and the empowerment he gives us to pray for healing. Of course, physical healing doesn't happen everytime we pray for it. But many times when we do, it does. And why would we let our lack of faith keep someone from getting the physical joy the Lord wants them to have and is wanting to send through us? The reason I ask only those who believe in the power of prayer for physical healing to come and lay hands on someone during our celebrations is because I believe there is a component of human power to prayer (certainly not determinative, but absolutely cooperative), and I don't want those who do not believe in that act specifically to be a drag on the combined heart and soul power of those who do. Now let's get to those demons!
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I have a question regarding healing.
ReplyDeleteIf Jesus gives us power and authority to heal and cast out demons, what is it that keeps it from happening when it doesn't? Is it lack of faith and/or God's will anyway?
This subject fascinates me ALOT, and would like to know more about it(That's my 'puzzle' question for ya')
Thanks For Taking The Time!
Wendy Felsenthal aka memphismommy1
January 9, 2009 2:33 PM
I believe Steve may have answered your question in his "Gift of Healing" blog on the previous page. He said that he preferred that only the people who believe in the power of prayer for physical healing to participate. I think that it would fall under the "lack of faith" category.
ReplyDeleteAs far as demonic possession I think the same would apply. I once read a book by Malachi Martin, a former Jesuit priest and exorcist, titled "Hostage to the Devil". In this book he emphasized that demonic possession is very serious business and not to be dabbled with by a curious novice. He said that it is very demanding both physically and spiritually on the one undertaking the exorcism and that it can take weeks or months for the exorcist to recover. Of course I'm sure Jesus didn't have that problem. I admit that I never finished the book because the subject makes me very uncomfortable, I read enough to know that I want to have nothing to do with the matter.
I hope this helps, Dave
When we pray we are partnering with God on something our heart desires. God takes what we pray and gives the perfect answer. If something we pray for does not happen, we have to trust that God answered our prayer perfectly according to God's big plan and what we were praying for was not as great as what God gave us. It's purely a faith thing either way. Steve
ReplyDeleteSo when we pray for God's will to prevail in any situation, isn't it going to happen anyway because it is God's will and He commands it? And then when we partner with God to pray for something we desire are we trying to change or influence God's will? Not that I don't pray or believe in prayer (I definately do) I'm just now trying to understand it on a different level. Greg
ReplyDeleteI finished Luke 8 and 9 in Luke Jesus teaches the parable about the seeds (words) and where the seeds feel. For me growing up and as a young adult the seeds feel on rocky soil for a long time I heard the words but did not understand them. I had no teacher. I do believe some of the seeds feel on good soil and in God's time they went deep and I was taught the words had meaning and today they are deep and I want to go deeper and grow fuller and it is all in God's time. Today I can see myself in all the parables starting out as a very young Jesus follower and growing more and more mature with time. It is a journey I truly enjoy and it is so awesome and exciting when the lightbulbs go on. It is wonderful. Luke 9 Take up your cross daily, I use to read that as take up your cross. period. then somewhere along the way I realized it said daily, and it made sense to me the cross changes daily every day is not the same you have different challenges and situations. Jesus goes on to say "what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but are yourself lost or destroyed?" There is a song out now that say "I don't want to gain the whole world and loose my soul" I got that even before reading Luke, as sometimes I get jealous about what other have whether it be materialistic or money, then I remember God has provided me with every thing I need and some wants. Sometimes my wants are really needs that I do not realize at the time, then I will say I really needed that Lord, Thank you again. A prime example of that is my recent trip to Philadelphia where I was born and raised and I have not been back to Philly just to be there in many many years, my parents and brother are deceased so there is no family to visit, but it is home so my daughter and I went, and to my total surprize this trip brought a lot of closure for me that I was not expecting. The trip turned out to be a lot of fun and also a lot of grieving which I am grateful for. My God is an awesome God He was right there with me having fun and then comforting me in my grief, I would not be here with out Jesus in my life, I truly believe that.
ReplyDeleteSorry, I really do know how to spell fell.
ReplyDeleteit is very late.
When we pray for the will of God to be done we are showing our faith in knowing that the will of God will be done and that we trust the Lord's will will be best for us and all involved. To pray for our heart's desire in not contrary to that faith. God has asked us to pray specifically for our heart's desires; to tell the Lord exactly what we want. I believe the will of God is based in love and is wide. What I desire (if in harmony with love) may find a specific place in the wideness of God's will, and so I ask. What I trust is that if what I ask is outside the will of God I will recieve a specific application of the will of God instead of what I desire, and that will fit me far better than what I had imagined I wanted.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
ReplyDelete