WHEN HEALINGS DON’T TAKE PLACE?

If one is open minded with Scripture, it’s obvious that God is for healing in the life of the believer. In fact I would go so far as to declare that God does not actively send disease. Disease is the result of Satan’s temptation, free will and the Fall.

Except for direct judgments by the Lord on the wicked, Satan is the one who manipulates the weather or natural means to bring disease, Job 1 & 2.

However, the Lord provides healing for His people:  He reveals Himself, as the “Lord your healer”, Exodus 15:26. He forgives all our iniquities and heals all our diseases, Psalm 103:3.

Jesus, who healed and raised the dead, promised, that “Whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do, and greater (amount, Greek, Vincent) than these will he do.” John 14:9

In III John 2 John provides the model we are to pray for one another that “I pray that all will go well with you, and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul” ESV.

To top it off James tells us that any sick believer should call the elders, and “the prayer of faith will save the sick.” James 5:15

Frankly, I believe the church is too timid about divine healing. Thirty years ago, I once had a Pentecostal preacher tell me I was too strong about healing. That’s kind of a laugh, as I’m an ordained Baptist minister, not often accused of making too much about healing.

THE POINT I’M MAKING IS WHY DON’T ALL GET HEALING WHEN WE PRAY?

Let’s not turn into Job’s comforters and tell people that “don’t have enough faith”, or “there’s something wrong with us” (and there always is), or healing is “not for our day.” I think there’s something missing from the whole discussion of divine healing.

THE KEY IS PAUL’S THORN IN THE FLESH

Frankly, we don’t know what that “thorn” was, as He doesn’t tell us other than saying it was  a “messenger from Satan” II Corinthians 12:7, which kept him from being “conceited” (ESV).  God told him that my power is made perfect in weakness” v. 9. “The power of Christ may rest upon me.” V. 15.

There may be delays in healing, as you battle with the Lord against the enemy. That certainly was true of Paul’s companions, Philippians 2:30; I Timothy 5:23; II Peter 4:20.

Paul did not have things “go well with him” as he faced decapitation by Nero. Yet he testifies, “I have fought the good fight” II Timothy 4:7.

THE EXAMPLE OF PASTOR TOMAS KRISTA OF SLOVAKIA

Pastor Tomas was discovered to have terminal cancer. Though prayers and various means were attempted the cancer did not go away. Having a short time to live, nevertheless Pastor Tomas preached when he could, taught at their camp, and continued to write to his flock and family. Sometimes spending 12 hour days ministering to married couples! Finally, on Easter Sunday he wrote his last lines, “There is no better morning to face the fact of death---because today we are focused on our living hope that life for us doesn’t end with death.”

This is far better than physical healing. Though waiting for it, though perhaps having to die and then get the healing of a glorified, immortal body when Jesus comes back, NO MATTER. Right now, in our situation of health, financial problems, issues at home and work, we can by faith tap in the the ALL SUFFICIENT POWER OF GOD.

ROSS

WHEN WAS THE NEW TESTAMENT WRITTEN?

ANCIENT COPY OF GREEK NEW TESTAMENT

There is so much frank ignorance from the atheists and the left about this, I feel I must report the solid evidence for 2000 years of Christian scholarship.

1.      There are no original manuscripts of the N.T. because they deteriorate in much of the weather in Israel.  However, the early Christians preserved the copies of the New Testament in the best way, THEY MADE THOUSANDS OF COPIES.  Today we have 5500 copies of the N.T.  many dating  A.D. 120-140 and another 18, 000 early translations.  THERE ARE NO OTHER ANCIENT COPIES OF ANY KIND OF LITERATURE NEAR THE VOLUME OF THE  N.T.

2.      Studies of the writing of the early church Fathers, the disciples of the disciples, have been researched using the window of A.D. 70-150.  All books of the N.T. are not only quoted but quoted as authoritative, or Scripture. (86,000 citations).

3.      The  church Councils  did not arbitrarily form a canon.  It simply reported the existent of  the N.T. books already received by the churches having Apostolic  authorship or written under apostolic authority. (Mark, Luke’s writings).

4.      The Gnostics of the 2^nd century reported that the Christians had FOUR GOSPELS. Other “gospels” written a few centuries later were Gnostic writings and not received by the churches.

5.      Recently, a small fragment of the Gospel of Matthew gives evidence that the N.T. may have been written in the very early years after the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus.  The letters are made after the ancient fashion as seen in manuscripts near the Dead Sea Scrolls.  This would mean that Matthew could have been written around A.D. 30-35.  ( This also is confirmed by the use of ancient names of places no longer popular into the later part of the first century.)

6.      It is probable that the N.T. was begun in A.D. 33 and finished before Paul and Peter were executed under Nero in A.D. 65. I believe that John wrote Revelation during the rule of Vespasian, around A.D. 75, see Rev. 17:10 , and my book, A Clear View of Revelation.

                                  JESUS SAID, “MY WORDS WILL NOT PASS AWAY! “ Matthew 24:35

ROSS

NAE, YOUR CHILD'S ENEMY

NAE, ENEMY OF YOUR CHILD OR GRANDCHILD

The National Education Association is getting its way more and more in the public schools. Here are  three sample resolutions from the 2112-2013 Convention:

1.     B.14:  Pushes programs that increase acceptance of homosexual lifestyle, regardless of parent’s views.

2.     C.25, Family planning instruction and resources should be given directly to children.

3.     E.3, Oppose parental efforts to restrict obscene and offensive books in the classroom or library.

While in some parts of the country, there are some schools operating as a sense of community under local control. This is fast disappearing.

(from an Aricle by Dr. Albert Mohler, SBS President in Answers Magazine, Oct.-Nov. 1013.

For counsel see article on line which discusses 1) Myths and Realities of Christian Schools, 2) Options for home schooling, 3) If public school is the only option.  Go to  www.answersmagazine.com     

 

Pray for our public school teachers.  Make available resources, people, youth ministries,  and instruction that gives a solid basis for what we hold as we follow Jesus.    Just giving Bible stories and social spectaculars won’t cut it anymore!   ROSS                 

DOES ETERNAL SECURITY LEAD TO SIN?

“ETERNAL SECURITY” LEAD TO SIN?\

This is our last study on CALVINISM and ARMINIANISM and the practical truths  we can learn as we investigate the Bible.  It might be surprising, but the term “Eternal Security” is a rather new one, coming out of the nineteenth century. The term isn’t bad, but it only tells one part of the story. My theology professor, Dr. J. Oliver Buswell, Jr., stated , ‘WE DON’T BELIEVE IN THE ETERNAL SECURITY OF A RELIGOUS EXPERIENCE.”

WE ARE CALLED TO PERSEVERE  IN FAITH

If we look at Scripture we read “he that overcomes shall inherit all things” (New Heaven and Earth. Revelation 21:7).  John 3:16 in the literal Greek reads “he that continues to believe in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”  The analogy of Jesus that He is the vine and we are the branches.  If we aide or remain in Him bear fruit, but those who do not are taken and burned (John 15:5-6).  Becoming a Christian means you decide to follow Jesus!   “If any one decides to come after me, let them deny themselves, take up their cross daily, and follow me.”(Matthew 16:24).

So far both sides of historic Christianity are agreed.  We are not saved only because we in a moment of time said we believed on Christ.  We then prove that statement by following Him.

THE  DIFFERENCE IS THAT THE CALVINIST SIDE STATES THE TRUE BELIEVER WILL NOT TOTALLY AND PERMENENTLY FALL AWAY FROM CHRIST

Jesus said that all who were given to Him will come to Him, and one who “comes to me I will in no wise cast out.” (John 6:37).  Jesus again promised to those who come to Him, “I give to them eternal life, and they shall NEVER PERISH, and neither shall anyone snatch them out of my  hand.”  (John 10:28).  Paul writes  He that began a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ” ( Philippians 1:6)

Remaining saved is God’s sovereign promise and grace is evident by our continuance  in  believing and following Him.  We call this  the PRESERVAITION AND PERSEVERANCE OF THE BELIEVER.

I like what their Faith and Message (Confession of Faith of the southern Baptists) renders about the security and perseverance of the believer.  “All true believers endure to the end---(they) may fall into sin through neglect or temptation---yet, they shall be kept by the power of God through faith---“

Here’s the deal!  You have more assurance you are saved when you’re walking with the Lord and you can see Him working in you (II Peter 1:10).  However, as one Anglican minister said long ago.  If you see little fruit of the Spirit in your life, and its winter time in your soul, don’t look to the evidences.   Look to the cross and Jesus’ blood as the basis of your certainty and the source of strengthening you for victory! 

 O.k. Let’s get up and keep going, following Jesus! Regardless of what position you take, WE KNOW HE IS WITH US EVERY STEP OF THE WAY AND WE LOOK TO HIM TO KEEP US!

MORE IN HEAVEN THAN IN HELL?

THE VICTORY OF THE CROSS:  WILL MORE BE IN HEAVEN THAN HELL?

The worst comment I ever read about the cross was from the late Dr. Noel Smith in the Baptist Bible Tribune. He stated that Christ died on the cross for sinners, and most reject Him.  “God did all He could do.  He failed!”

No, according to my Bible he didn’t! Jesus said that of all the Father gave to Him, “I should lose nothing” John 6:39.  All those who would believe, the Father gave to the Son!  They will ALL be saved!  The cross was victorious.

What about Spurgeon’s comment, that there will be more in heaven than hell?  Didn’t our Lord tell that few find the way of salvation? (Matthew 7:14).

Let’s see how the Cross works.  There are two heads of the human race.  Adam sinned and all the human race was plunged into darkness with him.  “As in Adam all die.” (I Corinthinas 15:22).

So Christ as the last Adam ( I Corinthians 15:45) took the place of the human race and died a death that was worth this world and "ten thousand worlds." (Calvin).  Now the condition to receive this gift is to be “in Christ”.  That means a rational person must repent and trust in Christ to be saved.

What about infants and young children who die before they have a mental capacity to understand the Gospel and their own sin?  (Like those first graders who were shot by that monster in  Connecticut?) Up to the twentieth century more infants died than lived. This is STILL true today in “developing” nations. What about the mentally “challenged” or  many psychotics?  The penalty  of the human race was paid in Christ. Yet, these  have no mental capacity to comprehend the responsibility of the gospel. I believe that God saves them, and they are placed “in Christ”!

“Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound” Romans 5:20.  Historically, more infants have died than adults, even today in much of the world.  If we take also the mentally helpless, I believe Christ is victorious in bringing them to glory as well.  Therefore, I agree with Spurgeon that more will be in heaven than hell.