As many times as I've read these scriptures, I just noticed something about them, I never saw before.
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“ Is any among you afflicted? let him pray”
I would think, this is a chronic illness, and it does not say that God will heal that. I don't believe that God healed Paul.
Of course the “Positive Confessors” will deny that Paul had an illness. But look at the word, affliction.
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infirmitties----English Words used in KJV:
infirmity 17
weakness 5
disease 1
sickness 1
[Total Count: 24]
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from <G772> (asthenes); feebleness (of body or mind); by implication malady; moral frailty :- disease, infirmity, sickness, weakness
Paul's “thorn in the flesh” was his “infirmity.”
So what are we supposed to do? This is kinda bad news for me. I've been pretty weak, this winter, but still felt like that God would heal me. But since my problem is chronic, God has not promised to heal. I know, 'by His stripes we are healed” but everyone is not healed.
Is there more insight that I have overlooked?
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Hebrews 13:23 Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty
Renee819 ... I don't believe that God healed Paul.
Of course the “Positive Confessors” will deny that Paul had an illness.
Where is it written that Paul was ”afflicted,” or that he had an illness? Certainly NOT in this passage -
”And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (II Corinthians 12:9, KJV).
Neither did James use the word ”affliction,” rather it is ”afflicted,” a word whose synonym is ”chasten” (Webster’s New International Dictionary Unabridged, 2nd Edition, 1914).
For one to be ”afflicted” implies that they have been ”inflicted” with continual or chronic physical pain, disease, or suffering that has been administered for the purpose of correction (which, BTW, also represents an accurate description of ”chasten”).
Most assuredly God does not desire that any except the one whom He has ”chastened” to pray for their own healing. This is why John was inspired to write that ”if any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it” (see I John 5:14, KJV).
Many have held that the ”sin unto death” mentioned by John refers to blasphemy against the Holy Ghost, but such is a misrepresentation or misinterpretation, for that is a sin which results in immediate death to the offender (see Acts 5:1-10, KJV). Blasphemy against the Holy Ghost is a sin that is committed by the “fruits” of one’s lips, and seeing that there is no forgiveness for such a sin, then there remains no reason for God to allow the offender to remain alive, therefore death immediately follows its commission.
Seeing that one does not pray for the dead sinner then John could not have been referring to blasphemy against the Holy Ghost, rather he was referencing the very same thing which James wrote about, that is, an ”infliction” (”chastisement” if you will), which God has imposed upon a righteous individual for a sin (s) they have committed, and this because they have failed or neglected to repent of it (God knoweth what that sin might be).
Where is it written that Paul was ”afflicted,” or that he had an illness? Certainly NOT in this passage -
”And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (II Corinthians 12:9, KJV).
Neither did James use the word ”affliction,” rather it is ”afflicted,” a word whose synonym is ”chasten” (Webster’s New International Dictionary Unabridged, 2nd Edition, 1914).
For one to be ”afflicted” implies that they have been ”inflicted” with continual or chronic physical pain, disease, or suffering that has been administered for the purpose of correction (which, BTW, also represents an accurate description of ”chasten”).
Most assuredly God does not desire that any except the one whom He has ”chastened” to pray for their own healing. This is why John was inspired to write that ”if any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it” (see I John 5:14, KJV).
Many have held that the ”sin unto death” mentioned by John refers to blasphemy against the Holy Ghost, but such is a misrepresentation or misinterpretation, for that is a sin which results in immediate death to the offender (see Acts 5:1-10, KJV). Blasphemy against the Holy Ghost is a sin that is committed by the “fruits” of one’s lips, and seeing that there is no forgiveness for such a sin, then there remains no reason for God to allow the offender to remain alive, therefore death immediately follows its commission.
Seeing that one does not pray for the dead sinner then John could not have been referring to blasphemy against the Holy Ghost, rather he was referencing the very same thing which James wrote about, that is, an ”infliction” (”chastisement” if you will), which God has imposed upon a righteous individual for a sin (s) they have committed, and this because they have failed or neglected to repent of it (God knoweth what that sin might be).
Very good. I had posted this, but thought I would post it again.
Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word. (Psalms 119:67 KJV)
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Do Not Argue With Idiots, they will just bring you down to their level and beat you with experience.
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I just posted a video on another healing thread, a very powerful one, that might be considered to be coming from a secular perspective. What i liked about it was that it appears to connect faith with healing, and gives the science--if you can buy that--of how faith is effective. It should be pretty easy to find, or i can fetch it--but I'd also like to point out that if you are eating--an act which must be correlated with taking in Scripture, for a Christian--CAFO protein, and the chemical concoctions dubbed 'food' at the grocery store, i have to wonder a) how much of this 'confidence' you may expect to have, and b) how close you may be to actually ingesting 'witchcraft' unawares.
While this might seem like a stretch, note that you are going to go have a mammogram, ladies, when vitamin D deficiency is a better marker for breast cancer?
Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word. (Psalms 119:67 KJV)
Oh! If we all but understood the truth underlying this passage! Please note the following in support thereof: ...
"He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous: but with kings are they on the throne; yea, he doth establish them for ever, and they are exalted. And if they be bound in fetters, and be holden in cords of affliction; then he sheweth them their work, and their transgressions that they have exceeded.
He openeth also their ear to disciple, and commandeth that they return from iniquity.
And if they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasure. But if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge.
... Because there is wrath, beware lest he take thee away with his stroke: then a great ransom cannot deliver thee" (Job 36:7-12, 18, KJV).
Yea, God doth "chasten" the righteous with "cords of affliction," if it be that they be found guilty of having committed an act or acts of unrighteousness; for as written by John, "all unrighteousness is sin, and there is a sin unto death" (I John 5:17, KJV).
Simply stated, the sacred writings of the Scriptures are replete with knowledge showing us that should a righteous man commit an act of unrighteousness (i.e., sin), even though it be done in ignorance, God takes certain steps to make that man aware of his unrighteous deed. As evidenced by the words which the prophet Elihu spake unto Job, God "then sheweth them their work, and their transgressions that they have exceeded," this being done to make the offender aware of his unrighteousness so he can repent thereof and be restored to a right standing before God. Such is the example depicted in the sufferings of Job, for he was guilty of having committed unrighteousness of which he apparently was utterly unaware, that is, until the words of the prophet Elihu were confirmed to him by none other than the LORD Himself.
A careful study of Job's trial of "affliction" reveals that he had cried aloud unto God during his lamentations, saying, "Oh that one would hear me!" (Job 31:35, KJV) Almost as soon as these words departed from his lips we find that the prophet Elihu appeared on the scene, informing Job, "Behold, I am according to thy wish in God's stead;..." (Job 33:6, KJV) after which he proceedeth to inform Job and his three companions of the unrighteousness which wrought physical and emotional suffering unto Job, saying, "Job hath spoken words without knowledge, and his words were without wisdom ... For he hath added rebellion unto his sin, he clappeth his hands among us, and multiplieth his words against God" (Job 34:35, 37, KJV). And what was the very first words that God spake to Job after Elihu had finished his admonishment?
"Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said, 'Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge? Gird up thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me'" (Job 38:1-3, KJV). And what was Job's response?
"Then Job answered the LORD, and said, ... 'Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? Therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not. ... Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes" (Job 42:1, 3, 5, KJV).
Yes, Job was "afflicted" because he had been guilty of unwittingly speaking about things of which he did not possess all of the facts about; and as noted in the words of James 5:13, it was only through Job's prayer of repentance that he was relieved of his sufferings and restored to a right standing before God. And yes, as written by John, this act of unrighteousness is also "a sin that is unto death," that is, if the one experiencing such an "affliction" fails or neglects to heed the many warnings God sends their way to alert them, and refuses to repent.
As it was during the days of old, I am persuaded to believe that there are many today who are guilty of the same act of unrighteousness which Job committed, yet they have either failed to take heed to God's warnings and therefore never become not aware of it. As a result many today have been, and continue to be compelled to confront God's "chastening." I know that this is true, for I speak these words from personal experience!
Let it be understood that God NEVER "inflicts" physical suffering upon the righteous (that is, "chastens" them) without cause, and even then He does not abandon them to such fate, but takes certain steps to make them aware of the reason for their "affliction". Elihu also informs us that whenever God "chastens" the righteousness He "... speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not." God does this speaking"In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed; then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction, that he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man." God undertakes this first step in His effort to make the righteous man aware of his transgression to "... keepeth back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword" (read Job 33:14-19, KJV).
Should it be that this initial act by God to alert man to the consequences of his transgressions goes unnoticed or neglected, then God's actions advances to the next level - "chastisement" - and this by "inflicting" the transgressor with physical sufferings ... "He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, and the multitude of his bones with strong pain: so that his life abhorreth bread, and his soul dainty meat. His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen; and his bones that were not seen stick out. Yea, his soul draweth near unto the grave, and his life to the destroyers" (Job 33:19-22, KJV).
The third, and final act which God undertakes to make a righteous man aware of his transgression(s), takes place (as it did with Job) "If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to shew unto man his uprightness:..." (the "uprightness" mentioned refers to God's righteousness, not the one that has been "chastened" with physical pain, disease, or suffering) (Job 33:23, KJV). Should it be that the one that has been "chastened" heeds the admonitions of the "messenger" whom God has sent to inform his of his transgression(s), and repents thereof, take note of what follows ...
"Then he is gracious unto him, and saith, 'Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a Ransom.' His flesh shall be fresher than a child's: he shall return to the days of his youth: he shall pray unto God, and he will be favourable unto him: and he shall see his face with joy: for he will render unto man His righteousness. He looketh upon men, and if any say, 'I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it profited me not;' he will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light" (Job 33:24-28, KJV).
Oh! How doth God love His chosen people that rather than cast them away should it be that because of an act of transgression against Him they are instead "... bound in fetters, and be holden in cords of affliction," He takes steps to bring them back into that honored place of righteousness with Himself.
Some of my thoughts on this matter for careful consideration by the reader ...
Last edited by Lafon; 12-31-2013 at 10:09 AM.
Reason: corrections
Sorry you are feeling poorly, Renee. I think most of us will go that way before it's over.....
Yes, most of us will. One cannot help but notice the similarities to the sin unto death, and the lack of a peaceful death, in these examples, imo. I might suggest--as i have before--that one in this position consider coming out of the world with respect to their food, and their physicians; but let the Spirit guide you there.
Yes, most of us will. One cannot help but notice the similarities to the sin unto death, and the lack of a peaceful death, in these examples, imo. I might suggest--as i have before--that one in this position consider coming out of the world with respect to their food, and their physicians; but let the Spirit guide you there.
From what I understand, Renee has been for years doing what you suggested, and I quote you... "consider coming out of the world with respect to their food, and their physicians".... although she, as with us all... are learning as we go, and we must definitely be guided by the Spirit in all things that we do.
"Quote:
Originally Posted by renee819 View Post
Jermyn, I have always felt, that if they say, "It is gone." and it is not, they have just lied to the person or to themselves. /Quote
Oh, but that's "man's logic", not "God's logic".
wherein you are both possibly right. You can skip to the 3 hour mark for the gist, i think.
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