All right, Brad, and all, I'm ready to hang myself. Does anyone
out there have any rope? LOL! I believe that one problem we
Christians have is with the concept of mustard seed faith. Most
believers, in fact, most people, misinterpret what Jesus said.
Here is an example taken from Luke 17:5-6. "And the apostles
said unto the Lord, Increase our faith. And the Lord said, If ye
had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this
sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou
planted in the sea; and it should obey you."
Please note that Jesus said, "If ye have faith as a grain of
mustard seed." He did not say, "If ye have faith the size of a
grain of mustard seed," like most people tend to think.
Remember, the apostles asked Jesus to increase their faith.
The very point Jesus was trying to make is that a mustard seed
grows when it is planted, watered, and receives sunlight.
Likewise, our faith should grow once we become believers,
start praying and reading the Bible, and watching God working
through other believers. I think, however, that the church has its
priorities reversed. The church is seeking after signs and
wonders, rather than helping people in their current condition;
and Jesus said, "An evil and adulterous generation seeketh
after a sign." If the church would return the emphasis to the fruit
of the Spirit, then the gifts of the Spirit, the signs and wonders,
would have their rightful place. But iniquity has abounded in
these days, just like the Bible said it would, and the love of
many, in fact, most people, has grown cold. This is happening
even within the church, insomuch that it is often hard to
distinguish believers from unbelievers. And you wonder why
there aren't many miracles today? Remember, the apostles
taught love, equality, fairness, helpfulness, and suchlike;
and signs and wonders followed them. Today, churches are
fighting and arguing among themselves. Most people won't
even provide transportation to church for the disabled,
not counting offering help for other purposes. Where are the
signs? Where are the wonders? Where are the miracles?
One reason God is withholding them these days is that the
church as a whole is selfish. It has left its first love. You cannot
love God, if you do not love your brother; and most believers
don't truly love their brothers and sisters. The church is selfish.
It wants the glory and honor for any signs and wonders,
and God will not share His glory with another.
Several years ago while preparing for Sunday school lessons,
I identified at least eight other reasons why there is suffering,
and why it's not always God's will to heal; but that's way too
much to share at this time. Are you all ready to kill me now?
David
Don't let the god of this world be the God of your world.
----- Original Message -----
From: "MV" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, January 25, 2006 7:40 PM
Subject: Re: Scripture ponderment
David,
I agree we probably can't free the prisoners which is why scripture in
essence said "visit" them, and I found it curious as well that it also
said to "visit" the sick. However, it didn't say we couldn't pray or
shouldn't pray in that visit. Some scriptures do say pray about such
things, yet as you say and I think Kathy said same, no apparent change
comes forth. Your explanation makes my curiously searching and sometimes
synical mind say "If prayer, from a lack of faith even from word of
faithers, doesn't help the sick, why do we ask for prayer for it on lists
as this? And if it doesn't work for sickness, why would it work for
anything then?" Then why do we pray at all. Also what measure of faith is
needed for a major miracle as oppose to a minor one, and are there
categories of miracles? Is a miraculous financial miracle any lesser or
greater than a miraculous recovery from an evident fatal illness? Do I have
only enough faith to extract God's healing on this cold but not enough for
the flu for example? I don't mean to be contrare , this is just what comes
to my mind, and I know I have much to learn about such things.
Bad mind bad bad bad *smile*.
Brad
At 01:43 AM 1/25/2006 -0500, you wrote:
>Brad, it seems to me that Jesus, being omniscient, and having
>full understanding of our human character and limitations,
>would realize that most of us could provide food, clothing,
>and/or shelter for needy people, if it our will to do so. We could
>even visit the sick, and offer them some level of comfort. But we
>must face reality. Most of us don't have the faith that God will
>perform major miracles when we pray. Not even the word of
>faith people have that kind of faith; otherwise there would be
>many more testimonies of healings throughout the world, and a
>lot less begging for money! LOL! We could visit the prisoners,
>but it might be against the law to free them.
>David
>Don't let the god of this world be the God of your world.
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "MV" <[log in to unmask]>
>To: <[log in to unmask]>
>Sent: Tuesday, January 24, 2006 1:11 AM
>Subject: Scripture ponderment
>
>
>I read the below scripture, when you are done I have a question to present.
>
>Matthew 25:34-40
>
>34 "Then the King will say to those on His right, "Come, you who are
>blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the
>foundation of the world.
>35 "For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and
>you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in;
>36 naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in
>prison, and you came to Me.'
>37 "Then the righteous will answer Him,"Lord, when did we see You hungry,
>and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink?
>38 "And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and
>clothe You?
>39 "When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?'
>40 "The King will answer and say to them, "Truly I say to you, to the
>extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of
>them, you did it to Me.
>
>OK here is an outline of my thoughts...
>
>1. I'm hungry. You fed me. You fixed the situation makes sense.
>2. I'm thirsty. You gave me drink. Again fixed it sensibly.
>3. I'm a stranger. You invited me in. Again fixed the situation.
>4. I'm naked. You clothed me, yep makes sense.
>5. I was sick. You visited me. Visited me? Visited!! Just visited? Why not
>heal?
>6. I was imprisoned. You came to me . Came to me? Why not free me?
>
>All the prior instances were directly fixed with the curative. I wonder why
>the tone changed with sickness and imprisonment? Curious minds want to know.
>
>Brad
Brad
Character is how you conduct yourself when no one is looking
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