Brother, I will respectfully, partially agree with your premise. I absolutely agree that all these things you have cited are very important to creating an environment in our lives that miracles and answered prayers may exist. However, it all is contingent upon God's will.
We must use the Biblical methods of dissecting Scripture that says, any doctrine or argument that we take hold of from Scripture, must be able to be taken through to it's logical end, as well as support it's antithesis.
The Antithesis of your assertion above is that if a person doesn't have their miracle, they are lacking in one of these above parts... therefore, like Benny Hinn and the "name it claim it crowd" says, if your not prospering and seeing your miracle, it's a deficit on your part.
That totally subtracts the huge factor of the Will of God in the whole mix. Take the story of the man lame from his mother's womb in Acts 3. From the indications of the Scripture, there is no greater faith mentioned here other than the man believing he might get some generosity from the Disciples... but he ended up with a miracle... because that was God's will at that time.
What about the story where the lame man was at the pool of Bethesda... it would appear that Jesus healed him in spite of his lack of faith. He was looking for someone to place him in the pool and didn't have the realization of who he was even talking to and the possibilities that stood right in front of him.
I know there is a great reward for our petitions, and our earnest seeking. The woman with the issue of blood is a great example of that. But we can never, ever, ever believe that the full work of God in our lives is handicapped by our ability to cross all the t's and dot all the i's and if we aren't healed, it's somehow our fault.
There are times that God's will is greater than our agenda or plan, and all he's told us to do is believe... not try to understand. Our job is just to trust Him, and all the rest is in His department... that's above my pay grade.
To be fair, Lafon didn't really deny the "will of God" component. As I posted, he merely said there were additional requirements. Not only must God want to do what you ask Him to do, you must also be free of sin, before you ask. Even if God wants to heal your sick child, He will still let him die if you ask for the healing after having committed a sin.
__________________
Hebrews 13:23 Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty
to do what you ask Him to do, you must also be free of sin, before you ask. Even if God wants to heal your sick child, He will still let him die if you ask for the healing after having committed a sin.
And is this your assertion as well? That we must be free from sin to have a miracle in our lives? I'm sorry, but I just don't see that in the Scriptures... and I'm about as tight on Holiness and living right as it comes, but I'll never believe that a person has to be "free from sin before they ask"... because the Scripture doesn't bare that out... especially because of the antithesis doctrine that it presents.
And is this your assertion as well? That we must be free from sin to have a miracle in our lives? I'm sorry, but I just don't see that in the Scriptures... and I'm about as tight on Holiness and living right as it comes, but I'll never believe that a person has to be "free from sin before they ask"... because the Scripture doesn't bare that out... especially because of the antithesis doctrine that it presents.
This is very far from my actual assertion (how I think things really work), but there is scriptural support for it. Lafon cited I John 3:22. I think there are others, but nothing pops into mind just now.
__________________
Hebrews 13:23 Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty
Well, I'll have to say I don't read that Scripture in I John quite as my brother does, and we will agree to disagree. I think to take the full context of the whole conversation that is going on in that Scripture, to say that one must be "free from sin, completely and totally" is proof texting a bit.
Don't get me wrong, the obedience, consecration, life, even consistency of the believer is important for presenting an environment for healings... however, it's not a guarantee. To me this are contributing factors, but the major one being the Will of God.
Well, I'll have to say I don't read that Scripture in I John quite as my brother does, and we will agree to disagree. I think to take the full context of the whole conversation that is going on in that Scripture, to say that one must be "free from sin, completely and totally" is proof texting a bit.
Don't get me wrong, the obedience, consecration, life, even consistency of the believer is important for presenting an environment for healings... however, it's not a guarantee. To me this are contributing factors, but the major one being the Will of God.
Maybe he means free from unforgiven sin. Get those sins washed away first, and then pray.
__________________
Hebrews 13:23 Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty
The more you guys try to explain this to Timmy, the worse it gets. Good grief, now I'M starting to doubt God, and it's not from what Timmy says but from what the apologists are saying!! This is like Job's buddies showing up and trying to explain Job's problems. Elihu finally showed up and set things straight. Elihu!!?? We need you, can you jump in here?
__________________ Old Paths II is....not sharing an IP address with any other user. You can put the question about him being another poster to rest. He's just OPII. All by himself. He's not a fake, he's an original. ~The Mrs
The more you guys try to explain this to Timmy, the worse it gets. Good grief, now I'M starting to doubt God, and it's not from what Timmy says but from what the apologists are saying!! This is like Job's buddies showing up and trying to explain Job's problems. Elihu finally showed up and set things straight. Elihu!!?? We need you, can you jump in here?
OP2 taking Timmy's side (kinda)?
__________________
Hebrews 13:23 Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty