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According to the Word in John 14:12, they who have faith in the Lord, will do the same miracles (healings included), that did the Lord, and even greater miracles.
So why are we Christians today not doing these acts Jesus did? It is because we do not have a total faith in Christ, and are double minded.
John 14:12 [FONT="]Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.[/FONT]
So why are we Christians today not doing these acts Jesus did? It is because we do not have a total faith in Christ, and are double minded.
John 14:12 [FONT="]Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.[/FONT]
I have to say that this does perplex me.
Every time I think of the above verses I ask "Why are we not seeing these miracles now?
I am not a cessationalist.
I have prayed many times for people and healing.
I have even prayed for two people to be raised from the dead.
I have held the hand of the corpse and prayed for them to wake up.
My dear friend Ray who died at the age of 40 from a rare brain tumor.
I got a call 15 minutes after he died. I went to see him in his hospital bed that he was on in his house.
I held his hand and prayed earnestly under my breath as others were around.
After about half an hour someone pulled me aside (fellow Christian) and told me I was being disrespectful to his wife.
His wife was upstairs trying to compose herself as there were a lot of people in the house.
So I was urged to stop before she came back down.
So I left.
2 hours later she called me and it was apparent to her that I left because I was disrespectful to her.
She asked if I would come back I pray again.
I couldn't because I was devestaed, not only by his death but also because of what I was being accused of.
I did go again in the funeral parlor, anoint with oil and prayed for him to be bought back.
I even said what Jesus said to Lazarus.
I had genuine faith for it. Let's be honest why would you do that if you didn't?
So yes I want to see the miracles today that Jesus did and said we would do.
It pains me why we do not see it.
Every time I think of the above verses I ask "Why are we not seeing these miracles now?
I am not a cessationalist.
I have prayed many times for people and healing.
I have even prayed for two people to be raised from the dead.
I have held the hand of the corpse and prayed for them to wake up.
My dear friend Ray who died at the age of 40 from a rare brain tumor.
I got a call 15 minutes after he died. I went to see him in his hospital bed that he was on in his house.
I held his hand and prayed earnestly under my breath as others were around.
After about half an hour someone pulled me aside (fellow Christian) and told me I was being disrespectful to his wife.
His wife was upstairs trying to compose herself as there were a lot of people in the house.
So I was urged to stop before she came back down.
So I left.
2 hours later she called me and it was apparent to her that I left because I was disrespectful to her.
She asked if I would come back I pray again.
I couldn't because I was devestaed, not only by his death but also because of what I was being accused of.
I did go again in the funeral parlor, anoint with oil and prayed for him to be bought back.
I even said what Jesus said to Lazarus.
I had genuine faith for it. Let's be honest why would you do that if you didn't?
So yes I want to see the miracles today that Jesus did and said we would do.
It pains me why we do not see it.
D
I said earlier that God rarely gives me what I wants, but always gives me what I need.
Patience is one of those things I do NOT want. The only way to get it is through trials, so why in the world would I want it? And yet... always what I need, whether I want it or not.
I'm the kid mom never asked what I wanted for dinner. She knew. Pie. Cake. Candy. So why ask, if she wasn't going to give me what I wanted anyway?
Patience is one of those things I do NOT want. The only way to get it is through trials, so why in the world would I want it? And yet... always what I need, whether I want it or not.
I'm the kid mom never asked what I wanted for dinner. She knew. Pie. Cake. Candy. So why ask, if she wasn't going to give me what I wanted anyway?
Look at what Peter in response to the lame beggar who asked alms of him and John in Acts 3:3-5 responded in Acts 3:6-7.
Peter and John told the lame beggar they had no silver or gold.... Even though, as heads of the church in Jerusalem they could have had all the silver and gold they wanted, but instead had no faith in Mammon, and as such through their singular faith in God to provide, were able to cure the lame beggar.
Acts 3:3 [FONT="]Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms.[/FONT][FONT="]4 And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.[/FONT]
[FONT="]5 And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.[/FONT]
[FONT="]6 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.[/FONT]
[FONT="]7 And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.[/FONT]
Peter and John told the lame beggar they had no silver or gold.... Even though, as heads of the church in Jerusalem they could have had all the silver and gold they wanted, but instead had no faith in Mammon, and as such through their singular faith in God to provide, were able to cure the lame beggar.
Acts 3:3 [FONT="]Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms.[/FONT][FONT="]4 And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.[/FONT]
[FONT="]5 And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.[/FONT]
[FONT="]6 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.[/FONT]
[FONT="]7 And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.[/FONT]
D
No one in this house has worked for money since 2002. Our house. Our food. Our lives. And we are not rich by any stretch on the imagination. (Slightly above the Federal Government's definition of "poverty.")
Why you're stuck on money? No idea. We learned the hard way how to trust God.
So, all along you think there are no miracles because people work for a living today? Umm, they worked for a living 2000 years ago too. Nothing has changed.
7
Bill...I would not accept that...we do share some similar things it seems
I used to get pretty anxious myself over who knows what...would just hit me and I wanted to claw the walls
I began to see it as spiritual (through other things...long story)
I am of the mind that we do not just accept things...I believe we need to distingush when we can take a stand and whatever it is, it has got to go
I can still get those zoomy butterflies for no reason...but now I chase 'em away in Jesus name
the fact that this hit you all of a sudden sends up red flags IMO and I don't want to get spooky here but my worst things also started in a church...through an individual that was appearing as a minister of God but was not because they were living a double life and fooling people...you cannot do that and be a person through whom the Holy Spirit operates
if I can get free of that, I believe you can also...I heard you about the prayers and begging God...I begged God for 7 years to get free and although it is like I can still feel...if that makes sense...aftereffects...I know what is what now and will not accept things I know are not of God...I honestly wish I could have just not lived this, but in the end, it probably has helped me more than hurt me...
I wish I could talk to you face to face but that isn't going to happen....but coping is not good.
I don't want to 'cope' and I am sure you don't either. we are promised victory over the enemy and sometimes it can take years because this is just not taught in church
it is really through reading 2 different books that I got free...one is one that I already mentioned to you and the other is Neil Andersons' 'Victory Over the Darkness'....and I went to different people also to 'help' with my problem and they made it worse because they could not help me...in the end, I came to the conclusion that God wanted me to stand on my own 2 feet and help myself...with His word and His promise to set us free
unlike physical healing, we are promised victory over the devil because Jesus attained that for us
I don't know what Paul's thorn in the flesh was, but not sure it was his eyesight...seems more likely that everywhere he went, great opposition was stirred up against him...and that by an unseen 'force'
I can see some people rolling their eyes now...but if this helps at all.........
D
If it was God's will that Ray live again, he would have lived again. (And I will do the same thing if/when hubby dies without regret.) You did get God's answer, it's just the hard answer to get, and you did something good, because you helped his wife. She wasn't mad, so you weren't disrespectful.
But here is one time the Lord brought back a man from the dead in the 21st century.
[video=youtube;VmZ5Ox7Uzns]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmZ5Ox7Uzns[/video]
But here is one time the Lord brought back a man from the dead in the 21st century.
[video=youtube;VmZ5Ox7Uzns]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmZ5Ox7Uzns[/video]
You believe the worst of times mankind will have ever experienced from the beginning of the world have already occurred? Matthew 24:21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
Here in the industrialized nations of the world, most of our lives have been easy street. What this means in great part is that we here in the industrialized nations are relatively a whole lot more materialistic/idolotrous than they in the non industrialized world.
Here in the industrialized nations of the world, most of our lives have been easy street. What this means in great part is that we here in the industrialized nations are relatively a whole lot more materialistic/idolotrous than they in the non industrialized world.
This is a fair question Ben, and one that strikes to the very heart of what I believe to be your error.
WE DO NOT employ God to do OUR bidding. HE EMPLOYS US to do His.
His Grace is sufficient. Say it over and over. His Grace is sufficient. "God take this thorn from my flesh. MY GRACE IS SUFFICIENT FOR YOU"
Our primary, numero uno mission on Earth at this time is to be used of Him to bring the Gospel of Salvation to lost souls. BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY. So the momentary afflictions we suffer now are not to be compared with what God has for us in eternity.
If God uses an affliction for His Glory and our ultimate good, to bring others to Christ, He may choose to not heal that affliction.
Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, WHICH GOD PREPARED beforehand that we should walk in them.
These works He has prepared include healings, generosity, love, prayer, even battle. Think of the meteors that killed so many of the Amorites to help Israel and Joshua. They were in motion since the creation of the universe hurtling through space on a divine appointment to fall exactly where the enemies of Israel were! God employed Joshua to be part of His Plan, NOT the other way around.
So we are instructed to pray for people for everything, including healing, but we know God's Will be done, and we TRUST that regardless of what WE think the outcome should be, that HIS WILL is ALWAYS for our good and His glory.
So I would counsel you to accept His Will, and understand it will NOT always be in accord with what YOU think outcomes should be.
WE DO NOT employ God to do OUR bidding. HE EMPLOYS US to do His.
His Grace is sufficient. Say it over and over. His Grace is sufficient. "God take this thorn from my flesh. MY GRACE IS SUFFICIENT FOR YOU"
Our primary, numero uno mission on Earth at this time is to be used of Him to bring the Gospel of Salvation to lost souls. BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY. So the momentary afflictions we suffer now are not to be compared with what God has for us in eternity.
If God uses an affliction for His Glory and our ultimate good, to bring others to Christ, He may choose to not heal that affliction.
Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, WHICH GOD PREPARED beforehand that we should walk in them.
These works He has prepared include healings, generosity, love, prayer, even battle. Think of the meteors that killed so many of the Amorites to help Israel and Joshua. They were in motion since the creation of the universe hurtling through space on a divine appointment to fall exactly where the enemies of Israel were! God employed Joshua to be part of His Plan, NOT the other way around.
So we are instructed to pray for people for everything, including healing, but we know God's Will be done, and we TRUST that regardless of what WE think the outcome should be, that HIS WILL is ALWAYS for our good and His glory.
So I would counsel you to accept His Will, and understand it will NOT always be in accord with what YOU think outcomes should be.
D
Not going to derail this thread into eschatology, but read of the history of the church in the first two centuries of Christianity, and then tell me where it's been worse than that. Jesus wasn't fooling. He was warning the people who were going to go through hell on earth that even then he is sovereign, knows it, and it's all working out for God's glory and his people's good. Who else needed to know that but those who were going to go through that kind of truly great tribulation? I mean come on now! We're Americans. We've got it good!