Sometimes I wonder if God just chooses to work in different ways in this time and age, or if it's a lack of faith on the part of these men of God, or what it is.
Sometimes I wonder what we can learn from the prophets of the past ... instead of just being amazed at the things they could do in the power of God.
So today I was reading from James 5 and I read these words
9Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door. 10As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.and later in the same chapter
13Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. 14Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. 17Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. 18Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit.We can learn from these men. We can see the example they laid down for us. They persevered through all sorts of stuff. They kept on keeping on for the Lord and they had results in faith. Job had his family and possessions restored to him, Elijah prayed and no rain came, he prayed again and rain came, Jeremiah was a weeping prophet, Hosea married a harlot and showed Israel their relationship with God and so forth.
We can learn from these men. We can see their patience, their suffering, their very lives laid out before God and his people. And God was so gracious to them. Their righteousness made a difference. And ours can too!
Just thought that was neat.
2 comments:
Okay, I know these verses, and it's gotten to be really depressing for me. These days, when you call upon those who should pray over you, they give you excuse of why you cannot be healed. I don't think anyone truly believes in healing anymore. If they did, hospitals would be out of business, and doctors would be annointed men of God.
I've had the faith to move mountains before, but because someone praying for me doubted, I was not healed. It is very frustrating to live under the confines of man's minds.
Leah
Healing from God is NOT dependent upon the faith of those praying for you. Even if their faith is not strong, if it is just the size of a mustard seed, God can work miracles. SOMETIMES God just says no. It is like he is saying "i hear your prayer, but it's better for you, and brings me more glory, if you are not healed."
Leah, I have seen amazing stories of grace from people who have prayed for healing of some physical or emotional illness and have not received it, and yet, their lives are such inspirational stories of grace and mercy. It would blow your mind. God was seen more in their illness. His glory shone through.
And besides, Paul asked for healing three times, and God's response to him was "my grace is sufficient for you in weakness" (or something along that line).
You could also look at Hebrews 11. Some received miracles and others didn't, all was done through faith. Do you see how some received promises and how some were beaten? ALL were commended for their faith.
32 And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets— 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. 35 Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. 36 Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated— 38 of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
39 And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, 40 since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect. (hebrews 11)
Why has God not healed you? I can't answer that. But I do know that if you remain in him, and follow him and love him to the best of your ability, then your life too can be a shining example of God's grace and mercy. His glory can shine through you. I do know, that if you are true believer in the God of the bible, he will work all things out for good. Rom 8 "26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified."
Blessings to you
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