For those who cannot/will not accept the idea of healing.
I can give you 3 examples where I was personally involved.
In 1976 my mom had back surgery. She had a metal rod put in her back to stabilize her spine after the degeneration of several disks. After surgery, she was in a body brace for 90 days. From that day forward, she could not bend without sever pain, she could not sweep, or vacuum or simply take clothes out of the dryer. In 1979 that metal rod had started to pull away from the spine. The Dr. Took x-rays. As it progressed, mom couldn’t use her right leg. She was in the bed on major pain killers for weeks. After several weeks, she had determined that she had to be healed or just die. It was too painful. I vividly remember going to church that Sunday. Dad and I carried her into the church. Really it was just dad, as I was 10 but I did my best to help.
We stopped in the hallway by the pastor’s office and he prayed for mom. Serious apostolic prayer. Nothing happened. She was still in utter pain. We went into Church to find out there was a missionary. Mom was NOT HAPPY. This was the 70’s and that meant a seriously dry slide show and an appeal for money and little else.
Mom sat there and in her words, letting God know how displeased she was. Here she was, in utter pain, at the point of asking God to kill her. All she wanted was a service where faith was moving and where she could be healed and what she got was a slide show from Ireland. I don’t think she cared if the Irish got saved or not at that moment.
Brother Miller was the missionary. He gave his slide show, then stopped and said he felt like there was a need for an alter call. That was not his normal thing etc… Still mad at God, mom went to the alter. As she began to pray, God began to deal with her attitude and asking her why this couldn’t be the service where she was healed? What did slide shows have to do with Gods healing? Brother Miller came by and laid hands on her and began to pray, not knowing anything about mom.
Mom said it felt like someone poured warm butter on her head and it just went down and covered her entire body. As that happened, the pain went away. She was pain free for the first time in years. From that day to this, she has not had a single issue with her lower back. She can bend; do anything she needs to do without pain.
When I was a teenager, we had one of those prophets come to the church. I’m not a big fan. But on that day, He said that there was someone who suffered from a certain type of headache. Several people stood and he would ask them questions and he would say “no that isn’t it.” He described a situation where someone had been hit in the head and from that time forward, had suffered from a debilitating pressure that would almost be a blackout situation. It would come on after some kind of exertion.
I sat there freaked out. I had gotten a serious concussion playing basketball in the 6th grade. The hit knocked me out and I was OUT for 15 minutes or more. Ended up in the hospital etc. He was describing me and my situation to a T. I didn’t want to say a word, but he would not move forward in the service. He was adamant that there was one person with a very specific situation and God was going to heal that person that day. Finally I stood up and explained what had happened and what I had suffered with from 6th grade to 11th grade. He said “you are the one. You won’t have any more of those headaches.”
From that day to this, I have not had a single one. Nothing even close.
A few years ago, a friend of mine was diagnosed with an incurable disease. Evidently it is something that only hits people of African/South American decent. It is a pretty terrible thing that will kill and there is nothing that can be done. He had lost 50 pounds and was desperate. I prayed for him, he began to gain weight and feel better. He went back to the Dr. and was told that there was no longer any evidence of the illness.
I know some here don’t want to talk about healing. I know some don’t think God can or does. My LIFE tells me a very different story. Now I do not know why everyone is not healed. I do know that God does heal. I live in pain every single second of every single day. God has not healed me yet. God healed my oldest son of a very serious heart condition. God did not heal my second son of a very serious (but different) heart condition. He will have surgery this summer. I don’t know all the ways of God, nor do I understand his will in full. But I do know that I am in his hands and that he can do so much more than I think he can.
The lack of seeing hundreds healed, is no indication that he does not.
__________________ If I do something stupid blame the Lortab!
Ferd, those are all good stories. I especially appreciate the middle one (the one with the prophet) who actually told people "No, it isn't you" when trying to find the person that was impressed on him.
I never said I didn't believe in healings and miracles (although I do smell a "cold reading" prophet or minister a mile away and know what healings are used most for theatrical purposes, such as leg lengthening), but what I am objecting to is the concept that every sickness is an attack from the devil and every mental condition is demon possession. I also do not believe that sickness comes from sin in our lives in MOST cases.
I tell the story of my wife when her mother died. She was going to bible college (the AG in Springfield, MO) and returned to class a few days after the funeral (they only gave her a few days). She met with a few of the higher ups in their office and one asked her what sin her mother had in her life that she wasn't healed. My wife shouted "Go to hell!" and walked out, never to return. Which was a good thing because she went on to get her medical degree.
Last edited by RandyWayne; 03-22-2013 at 10:34 AM.
Ferd, those are all good stories. I especially appreciate the middle one (the one with the prophet) who actually told people "No, it isn't you" when trying to find the person that was impressed on him.
I never said I didn't believe in healings and miracles (although I do smell a "cold reading" prophet or minister a mile away and know what healings are used most for theatrical purposes, such as leg lengthening), but what I am objecting to is the concept that every sickness is an attack from the devil and every mental condition is demon possession. I also do not believe that sickness comes from sin in our lives in MOST cases. I tell the story of my wife when her mother died. She was going to bible college (the AG in Springfield, MO) and returned to class a few days after the funeral (they only gave her a few days). She met with a few of the higher ups in their office and one asked her what sin her mother had in her life that she wasn't healed. My wife shouted "Go to hell!" and walked out, never to return. Which was a good thing because she went on to get her medical degree.
Randy, I think you and I are close on these things. I know God does heal. I also know that there are far more Profits than Prophets.
I tend to be skeptical overall now, even though I have seen and experienced Gods healing thru such a preacher.
we are 100% in agreement on the part in bold. I do not believe sickness and or Mental illness is always (or even most often) deomonic. It just isnt. my experience tells me something completely different.
__________________ If I do something stupid blame the Lortab!
A presumption, not a fact. This is why people like you are dangerous in Faith today. You live by ideas that cannot be substantiated with valid reason or fact. I suppose you’re going to tell us that Satan was responsible for this disease and sickness.
Behold, with a great plague will the Lord smite thy people, and thy children, and thy wives, and all thy goods: And thou shalt have great sickness by disease of thy bowels, until thy bowels fall out by reason of the sickness day by day.
So, are you Apostolic? What makes you an Apostolic?
Jesus Christ never called 1 person an Apostolic. Jesus was a man of no reputation, defying those who were named, "Religious", or Apostolic. This whole Apostolic thing is really a farce, and none of us live like the early Church, or Apostolics, if you want to call them that.
Think about the 12 whom Jesus chose; none of them were from Religious ranks or reputations. None of them were Rabbis, Scribes, or Pharisees, but were all ordinary men with ordinary faults.
I’m not Apostolic, I’m a follower of the Man that changed the World with His love and mercy.
people just have no clue what these drugs are doing...
Several years ago I started taking Strateria (sp) for Adult ADHD. It made me want to fight. I mean serious violent desires. I recognized it pretty quick and stopped but like you it took a few weeks to get back to normal.
Thank God I didnt do something really stupid.
Cymbalta.
This is a drug that was originally developed for depression- however, they have found that it works with chronic pain as well. I suffer from Lupus and RA and live with constant, debilitating pain. I started Cymbalta and was virtually pain free within a few days! It was wonderful, and I could play with my grandbabies again, and clean my house...it truly IS a great drug- for the patient's who can tolerate it.I was one who could not.
I just want to state that I am a firm believer in healing and deliverance. I have experienced marvelous healings in my own body, as has my family as well.
HOWEVER:
I have a child that is Manice Depressive with Bi-polar Disorder. Some symptoms manifested themselves when she was ain grade school. Pastors told us that she had a spirit of rebellion and to beat it out of her. Being the obedient and loyal saints that we were- we followed this misguided advice. We are sorrowful to this day, and she is over 30 years old. Men of God who have no training in the area of Psychology and the workings of the brain, should NEVER offer advice to ignorant parents that are searching diligently for answers and solutions. We endured her mood swings and angry disruptions that eventually graduated to alcohol and drug abuse, as well as being promiscuous. We were dumbfounded. Why wasn't God healing her mind? Why was she suffering this way? She would cry and sob, all the while telling us how much she loved od and wanted to please Him- but she felt powerless to fight the 'demons' in her mind. I will not go into what this girl endured at the hands of over zealous leaders and saints in the church.
She had a near death experience at 23 years of age, that was a turning point in her life. Her chemical imbalance became prevalent and manifested itself quite strongly. Finally, she chose to go the medical route and got hooked up with a Counselor. Within a year, and after many recipes of drugs- she was able to live a 'normal' life. No more angry outbursts, no more days in the bed with debilitating depression...she still depends on drugs to help her maintain her present lifestyle. She goes to church and is raising her daughter on her own, while working a small job.
I thank God every day for giving doctors the intelligence to help my child.
Cymbalta.
This is a drug that was originally developed for depression- however, they have found that it works with chronic pain as well. I suffer from Lupus and RA and live with constant, debilitating pain. I started Cymbalta and was virtually pain free within a few days! It was wonderful, and I could play with my grandbabies again, and clean my house...it truly IS a great drug- for the patient's who can tolerate it.I was one who could not.
I was thinking that might be the one.... Lyrica is another one like that.
__________________ If I do something stupid blame the Lortab!
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