The bible states in the book of Acts that Paul laid hands on the sick and they recovered. I am a spirit filled believer and my beliefs are that if the word says that we will do GREATER works than those of the disciples than when we pray and lay hands on the sick....THEY SHALL RECOVER. I don't believe God takes away-He is the giver of life. Jesus already paid the price for us-He took the keys from hell, death and the grave. So when it comes to prayer, I know God hears my petitions-He said it in His word and I believe it. No, I don't understand why babies(or anyone for that matter) are taken, but I know who does take them and that is the devil and not God.
When I pray for someone for healing (or any promise that God provided for me in the bible), I am standing on the word of God in James 5:16 "The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results."
AND
1 Peter 2:24: "He personally bore our sins in His [own] body on the tree [as on an altar and offered Himself on it], that we might die (cease to exist) to sin and live to righteousness. By His wounds you have been healed." (AMP)
The word tells us that when Jesus died on that cross He already paid the price for my (or your) healing. He didn't say that the devil wouldn't come and try to kill us-Jesus actually states that the devil comes to steal, kill and destroy!
It also states in 1 Peter 5:8"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour"
Another great scripture to stand on...
Ephesians 6:11-20:"Put on God's whole armor [the armor of a heavy-armed soldier which God supplies], that you may be able successfully to stand up against [all] the strategies and the deceits of the devil.For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the despotisms, against the powers, against [the master spirits who are] the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere.Therefore put on God's complete armor, that you may be able to resist and stand your ground on the evil day [of danger], and, having done all [the crisis demands], to stand [firmly in your place].Stand therefore [hold your ground], having tightened the belt of truth around your loins and having put on the breastplate of integrity and of moral rectitude and right standing with God, And having shod your feet in preparation [to face the enemy with the [a]firm-footed stability, the promptness, and the readiness produced by the good news] of the Gospel of peace.Lift up over all the [covering] shield of saving faith, upon which you can quench all the flaming missiles of the wicked [one].And take the helmet of salvation and the sword that the Spirit wields, which is the Word of God.Pray at all times (on every occasion, in every season) in the Spirit, with all [manner of] prayer and entreaty. To that end keep alert and watch with strong purpose and perseverance, interceding in behalf of all the saints (God's consecrated people). And [pray] also for me, that [freedom of] utterance may be given me, that I may open my mouth to proclaim boldly the mystery of the good news (the Gospel),For which I am an ambassador in a coupling chain [in prison. Pray] that I may declare it boldly and courageously, as I ought to do." (AMP)
So I am Fully persuaded (Romans 4:21:"Fully satisfied and assured that God was able and mighty to keep His word and to do what He had promised.") that when God says He will do something, our prayers are heared. He hears me. I could go on for a while now, but I wont.
I just want to encourage you, if you are struggling, please don't stop believing God can do miracles! He can and will.
On a side note:
A good book to read (I recommend) is
Understanding the Purpose and Power of Prayer by Myles Munroe
"You're in our prayers" has become a cliché, just a nice thing to say when we see someone struggling. But do we really understand the power of prayer?
God, God Almighty, God the Creator of the heavens and the earth, God the Beginning and the End, God the Source of all that is, God the Creator of man--the same God, in all His power and all His majesty, stops and listens when you pray. God has given mankind earthly license for heavenly interference.
Whether you know it or not, you have the authority to change the world through prayer. When God said, "Let man rule over all the earth," He was arranging the dominion of the world so that the partnership of man was essential for the accomplishment of His purposes. He causes things to happen on earth when men and women are in agreement with His will. Prayer is essential for God's will to be done on earth.
Through his unique perspective on this often-misunderstood subject, best-selling author Dr. Myles Munroe takes the mystery out of prayer, providing practical answers for difficult questions about communicating with God.
All that God is--and all that God has--may be received through prayer. Everything you need to fulfill your purpose on earth is available to you through prayer.
The biblically-based, time-tested principles in this book will ignite and transform the way you pray. Be prepared to enter into a new dimension of faith, a deeper revelation of God's love, and a renewed understanding that your prayers can truly move the hand of God.
Okay....I'll step off my soapbox now.....
P.s. .. This was written In Love....
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5 comments:
beautifully written. love it. so true!
Some good points, and food for thought.
I'm a "spirit filled" believer as well, and I know that God is sovereign in all the earth, and that our prayers reach Him, and He hears and answers... BUT...
I don't believe that every sickness and illness, or trial or hardship is an attack of the enemy. I know it is all birthed out of sin, which was his ultimate attack, but, I don't think, for example, that Stellan's SVT is necessarily the direct work of the enemy. I think he can use it for his gain, and he can use it against the family, but I don't believe that Stellan is in the hospital w/ SVT b/c that is Satan's plan. Does that make sense?
I know he is real, and I have experienced his attack in my life in ways I wouldn't wish on anyone, still though, not worse than other people have. I have stood up in his face and used the name of Jesus to gain victory over the lies that he uses against me and my family, oh yes, I am very aware of the spiritual battle.
I guess I just feel like situations can maybe be subjective? I am no judge for sure, but... hmm... how to explain myself...(no doubt as soon as I get going, trick or treaters will be at the door;)) I think sometimes that the enemy believes that he is in control of a situation, like, again, for example, Stellan. He thinks he is getting the upper hand, but I know that God is at work in a mightier way, using Stellan's illness for an amazing purpose. For whatever reason, God allowed this illness to take place in his body, honestly, it could be a device of the enemy, I have no idea, but I don't personally believe that it is.
This raises all sorts of questions about God and His character, that I am in NO WAY prepared to answer or defend, because I am carnal and human, and I make mistakes, and I'm not a theologian...
basically I'm just sayin' that it's not my belief that everything negative in the world is an attack of the enemy. RESULT of an attack, yes, but direct attack? I don't know.
I may sound like a crazy person, but I do for sure want to preface (As I did) and end with the fact that my eyes are open to the spiritual war going on (as much as I'd like to ignore it), and I have trust in my Father to see me through whatever comes my way, be it by His hand or the enemies, or my own sinful nature, He is faithful and gracious, merciful (though I so don't deserve it), even when I say things that I may not fully understand myself! :)
Thanks for letting me know about the post though. There is good scripture in there that I need to be prayin' over my boys, and you have great thoughts!!!
as I spend more time thinking, maybe I am off my rocker. I don't know.
I'm not pretending to know anything... nothing at all. *sigh*
AND, you can delete this one if you want, I don't have your email anymore...
When I mentioned about God's character in my own post, and the questions I have about the crap that happens, I wasn't suggesting that He was the cause of the bad things that happened, but questioning WHY He lets them.
When I was in Thailand, He showed me just a sliver of the pain that He feels towards injustice, and I swear to you, I thought I was going to die. I think I blogged about that, if you search for Thailand on my blog, you'll find the post, it's called The AWakening. Anyway... I know that what I felt was so microscopic, if even that much, compared to what God feels about some of the things going on in the world today, and I just don't understand why He continues to let them. I suppose it goes back to the cross, where He had to turn His face from His only Son... and people were saying "Why doesn't He just DO something?"
aaaaaaaaaah. I long for the day when knowledge will be made complete!
I will now stop hijacking your comments:)
You've provoked a process in me, so, again, thank you.
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