The closest I can see to healing as a spiritual gift is in relation to the power that certain objects had such as Acts 19:12 with Peter's handkerchief or apron other than 1 Corinthians 12:9. If this occurs than what is the need for elders to pray for healing and anoint the sick with oil in James 5:14? It either supplements God's procurement of healing; or it indicates that elders had a particular unction of healing; or both. Certainly prayer is crucial in either case for the Spirit to work effectively.
Many want to disparage this gift of healing who don't regularly perform this action as prescribed; as it were in the Bible.
There are no doubt several reasons for illness. We can't dogmatically say with Paul's thorn in the flesh and the case of Epaphroditus in Philippians 2:27 who nearly died from sickness that the natural effects of living in a sinful and fallen world aren't a factor that affect both believer and unbeliever in some capacity. In the second case we see how overwork can lead to this situation which could have caused an early demise if Paul hadn't cautioned for his care in that church. We need to take a sober look at those who bear the heaviest burdens particularly fulfilling the Great Commission around us and keep them in prayer. I know of one Messianic Jewish couple who are elderly yet spreading the Gospel who just got back from Israel after enduring the war there shortly after arrival. They mentioned others too who are hard pressed serving in various capacities of the ministry. Let us not forget material support financially as well as prayer for these individuals whenever possible.
There are times when demonic influences can also cause ailments; both physical and mental. This is why those discerning the spirits are vital to differentiate when this is a direct (possession) or indirect (oppression) situation as well as discerning when it is emotional trauma apart from such influence happens.
Amen! I totally agree, Just to quote Matthew 24:12 And becouse iniqvity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
Here I mentioned lawlessness because it is again translated as that in my new King James Bible. ohh.
Then we don't bother with it anymore now that it becomes a completely different topic of conversation. Thank you for your clear and alert thoughts, we all need them. God bless you and yours in Jesus Name, Amen, Christi Love.
It is written that when the children of Isreal left Egypt " there was not one infirm among them" in the psalms it says how this happened ." He sent His Word and healed them"
When the gentile woman came and cried out " Son of David have mercy upon me" she got no reply for only a Jew can call Him so.
It was not that the Lord was unwilling but God is God of order there is no ' formula" or a prayer we can use . In her desperation she fell at His feet and worshipped Him and said "Lord." She came the right way . When she asked for the healing or deliverance of her daughter ,He replied it is not meet or proper to give the children's bread to the dogs .She embraced His words and replied " True Lord but even the dogs eat from the crumbs that fall from the table "( also true) He replied " great is thy faith.." there are only two times the Lord spine of "great faith " both of them connected to gentiles . If healing was the chiodrens bread under the old dispensation how much more under the New? For salvation ( and healing) is for the Jews first then the gentiles . Her faith reached unto the future dispensation to the old and so was great faith .
There are too many scriptures relating to healing to ignore . " He rose from the dead " with healing in his wings" by his stripes we are healed" " your health will rise up speedily" etc
"the body is dead because if sin but if the same Spirit that raised up Jesus from the dead ,He shall quicken our mortal body"
For the record there is Healings Health and divine health .
And while we may consider healing a great thing ( it is ) Health is far better and if after the bondage of Egypt all were healed it is rather strange how after being delivered from the greater bondage not more are healed .
For we have been translated from the kingdom of darkness into the Kingdom of Gods dear Son .
So true so true Dear "Gerald". Just to add a word, it is strange that more people are not being released and set free. It may be because love is growing cold in most people. Matthew 24:12 Interesting that it says: Because lawlessness prevails. As my mind thinks, lawlessness applies to us believers. But not everything comes from us so clearly. But we go astray, away from the word, away from friends as well. This leads to all the evil we encounter being sorted with different minds. Accept some of it and suddenly we have become lawless. Therefore, we must pray for all those who have gone astray. So that we ourselves are not stuck one day and have no one to pray for us. You never know. What we do know is that we must stay close to the Lord and His Living Word. For why do we know that the Spirit sighs and groans, He do. How serious this is to think about. Jesus prayed for us and John 17 He prayed not only for his Apostles, but us too. It is powerful! Be blessed in the holy name of Jesus Christ, Amen
I used the word " strange" as being out of the ordinary for looking at the scriptures the norm would be healing and health in particular to every true born child of God . But I do not charge God or accuse anyone but rather lift up the scriptures as to what they say rather than bring them down to what our experience might be..
I'm not sure I understand you concerning your thoughts on " lawlessness " for are we not if His under the law of Christ and if not his under the law of sin and death ?
How then are we or can be lawless?
If we are His and we sin we should not wallow in it or worse continue sinning for " if we are dead to sin how can we now live in it?" Asks Paul .
Paul also challenges us that now we live in the Spirit we should also " walk in the Spirit" is it not also written that if we " walk in the Spirit we will not fulfil the lusts of the flesh"? Or in another place " sin shall have no more dominion over us"? For we are no longer under the law of sin and death .
A child learning to walk for every true BORN child of God is so called like any tot will land on his dignity but does not stay there but gets up though at first it's a bit if a shock and the tendency at the beginning is to cry and stay down .
But we should be encouraged the Lord is patient and will dust us down and set us up on our feet again.
But let us not become as spoiled children and self indulgent thinking we can sin with impunity .
Who God loves He also chastens and so we learn to walk in the light as He is in the light and we have fellowship one with the other and the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin" As the blood in the natural body continually circulates and cleanses the body and fights off infections so likewise the Spiritual body as we walk in the light of the scriptures the blood of Jesus Christ continually cleanses us from all sin .
And progressively we overcome and "put off every weight and the sin that so easily besets us ".
The closest I can see to healing as a spiritual gift is in relation to the power that certain objects had such as Acts 19:12 with Peter's handkerchief or apron other than 1 Corinthians 12:9. If this occurs than what is the need for elders to pray for healing and anoint the sick with oil in James 5:14? It either supplements God's procurement of healing; or it indicates that elders had a particular unction of healing; or both. Certainly prayer is crucial in either case for the Spirit to work effectively.
Many want to disparage this gift of healing who don't regularly perform this action as prescribed; as it were in the Bible.
There are no doubt several reasons for illness. We can't dogmatically say with Paul's thorn in the flesh and the case of Epaphroditus in Philippians 2:27 who nearly died from sickness that the natural effects of living in a sinful and fallen world aren't a factor that affect both believer and unbeliever in some capacity. In the second case we see how overwork can lead to this situation which could have caused an early demise if Paul hadn't cautioned for his care in that church. We need to take a sober look at those who bear the heaviest burdens particularly fulfilling the Great Commission around us and keep them in prayer. I know of one Messianic Jewish couple who are elderly yet spreading the Gospel who just got back from Israel after enduring the war there shortly after arrival. They mentioned others too who are hard pressed serving in various capacities of the ministry. Let us not forget material support financially as well as prayer for these individuals whenever possible.
There are times when demonic influences can also cause ailments; both physical and mental. This is why those discerning the spirits are vital to differentiate when this is a direct (possession) or indirect (oppression) situation as well as discerning when it is emotional trauma apart from such influence happens.
Here I mentioned lawlessness because it is again translated as that in my new King James Bible. ohh.
Then we don't bother with it anymore now that it becomes a completely different topic of conversation. Thank you for your clear and alert thoughts, we all need them. God bless you and yours in Jesus Name, Amen, Christi Love.
Luke 4
When the gentile woman came and cried out " Son of David have mercy upon me" she got no reply for only a Jew can call Him so.
It was not that the Lord was unwilling but God is God of order there is no ' formula" or a prayer we can use . In her desperation she fell at His feet and worshipped Him and said "Lord." She came the right way . When she asked for the healing or deliverance of her daughter ,He replied it is not meet or proper to give the children's bread to the dogs .She embraced His words and replied " True Lord but even the dogs eat from the crumbs that fall from the table "( also true) He replied " great is thy faith.." there are only two times the Lord spine of "great faith " both of them connected to gentiles . If healing was the chiodrens bread under the old dispensation how much more under the New? For salvation ( and healing) is for the Jews first then the gentiles . Her faith reached unto the future dispensation to the old and so was great faith .
There are too many scriptures relating to healing to ignore . " He rose from the dead " with healing in his wings" by his stripes we are healed" " your health will rise up speedily" etc
"the body is dead because if sin but if the same Spirit that raised up Jesus from the dead ,He shall quicken our mortal body"
For the record there is Healings Health and divine health .
And while we may consider healing a great thing ( it is ) Health is far better and if after the bondage of Egypt all were healed it is rather strange how after being delivered from the greater bondage not more are healed .
For we have been translated from the kingdom of darkness into the Kingdom of Gods dear Son .
I used the word " strange" as being out of the ordinary for looking at the scriptures the norm would be healing and health in particular to every true born child of God . But I do not charge God or accuse anyone but rather lift up the scriptures as to what they say rather than bring them down to what our experience might be..
I'm not sure I understand you concerning your thoughts on " lawlessness " for are we not if His under the law of Christ and if not his under the law of sin and death ?
How then are we or can be lawless?
If we are His and we sin we should not wallow in it or worse continue sinning for " if we are dead to sin how can we now live in it?" Asks Paul .
Paul also challenges us that now we live in the Spirit we should also " walk in the Spirit" is it not also written that if we " walk in the Spirit we will not fulfil the lusts of the flesh"? Or in another place " sin shall have no more dominion over us"? For we are no longer under the law of sin and death .
A child learning to walk for every true BORN child of God is so called like any tot will land on his dignity but does not stay there but gets up though at first it's a bit if a shock and the tendency at the beginning is to cry and stay down .
But we should be encouraged the Lord is patient and will dust us down and set us up on our feet again.
But let us not become as spoiled children and self indulgent thinking we can sin with impunity .
Who God loves He also chastens and so we learn to walk in the light as He is in the light and we have fellowship one with the other and the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin" As the blood in the natural body continually circulates and cleanses the body and fights off infections so likewise the Spiritual body as we walk in the light of the scriptures the blood of Jesus Christ continually cleanses us from all sin .
And progressively we overcome and "put off every weight and the sin that so easily besets us ".
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