Wednesday, May 31, 2006
Does Divine Healing Still Happen?
The Bible contains many accounts of supernatural deliverance and divine healing. Not surprisingly, these stories are interpreted in many different ways. Some people believe the stories are simply myths or tall tales. A great many others believe these miracles and healings actually took place, but that such things no longer occur. Still others are convinced that deliverance and divine healing still take place. How can such a question be settled? Isn’t the proof of the pudding in the eating?
Perhaps many people struggle with the idea of divine healing simply because they have not had any personal, real-life encounters with healing. Allow me to illustrate:
In the mid-80s, while helping build a church, I was endeavoring to install three 4-way switches. This kind of switch works in combination with two other switches, allowing a light to be turned on or off from three different locations. As a veteran builder and I discussed the proper wiring for these switches, a computer technician who had volunteered to help joined our conversation. The technician was familiar with electrical engineering and technical wiring diagrams but did not have any experience in wiring commercial buildings. As the experienced builder explained how he thought the switches ought to be wired, the technician became increasingly confused. He then began drawing diagrams of what he was being told. Based on his experience and the diagrams he had drawn, he did not believe the switches could work if wired as recommended. After a lengthy discussion the technician returned to his calculating and his diagrams while the builder and I began installing the switches. An hour later, as the builder and I successfully turned the newly wired lights on and off from all three locations, the technician was still arguing that the wiring application would not work. What was the problem? The wiring did not compute within the technician’s realm of experience. He couldn’t make it work within the constructs with which he was familiar. The truth was, obviously, that the switches worked and that they could be schematically represented by someone with more knowledge or experience.
Could it be that many people forfeit opportunities to be healed by God simply because they have not ever seen anyone healed as a result of prayer? Could it be that some people do not believe in healing because it does not compute in their analytical minds? Have you ever noticed that while some are arguing as to whether or not healings still take place, others are believing, praying and seeing the supernatural take place in their personal situations?
Several weeks ago “Rejoice” Hour of Prayer and Care Group, of Worcester MA, and Acts II Ministries, of Thompson CT, sponsored a meeting at a hotel in Worcester. Amongst those who attended were Catholics, Pentecostals, Apostolics, Baptists and Greek Orthodox believers. Their sole purpose for meeting was to pray for people who needed healing. The concept of divine healing was addressed as the meeting began. It was suggested that: since Jesus healed people and then told his disciples that they would do the same… and since St James directed church elders to pray for the sick… and since the Apostles routinely healed the sick… that divine healing should be a part of the believers’ life today.
Before the prayer time began several attendees who live in Southern New England were given an opportunity to share some true, modern-day, personal experiences:
A mother of 4, who lives in Putnam, told of being completely deaf in one ear due to an infection. The doctor told her she would never recover. She was prayed for at a Bible study and several weeks later her hearing suddenly returned.
A former Catholic nun, who now resides in Webster, told of how, years ago, her young son was completely healed of 2nd degree burns within a few hours. Not only was he healed, but his skin resumed its normal color.
A Woodstock resident, and mother of three, described the difficulty and worry surrounding the first few years of her son’s life due to severe asthma that often required hospitalization. The doctor informed her that the boy would not outgrow the condition. She prayed for healing. Months later it dawned on her that her son was not longer having difficulty with his breathing. Upon re-examination the doctor told her he believed her son had been healed. Her son is now almost a teenager and he is still asthma-free.
One man described how he, as a Charlton teen, had more than 40 warts on his hands. He tried many cures. One church service he was prayed for, and within days the warts began drying up – never to return.
A Thompson businessman related his bout with prostrate cancer that included two surgeries and the prognosis that he would never father children. Fourteen years ago the members of Acts II Ministries prayed for his healing and he is now the father of three.
A woman from Southbridge told of being healed of a pituitary tumor and another told of God healing her from life-threatening seizures just a couple years ago.
A chiropractor from Worcester told us how the doctor had discovered as cist in her sinus cavity just a few months ago, but before scheduling an operation she was prayed for in her prayer group and the cist disappeared.
Another Worcester resident described his deliverance from a deep, clinical depression.
Yes, the proof of the pudding is in the eating. The above examples may not be easily explained, but they are a matter of record in the lives of those who believed and prayed. After hearing the stories mentioned above, it was easy for us to pray, in faith, for God to intervene in the lives of our friends and acquaintances who were in need. We have already heard one report of healing due to our meeting.
It should be mentioned that believing is never easy. Not every prayer is answered as clearly as those above. It should also be pointed out that some people’s confusion might stem from the fact that God does not perform miracles at the whim of man nor for the skeptic who is demanding for God to prove Himself. Those who pray in faith do not hold God hostage in any way; they simply ask and He responds as He sees fit. Often, the result is divine deliverance or healing in our contemporary world.
Perhaps many people struggle with the idea of divine healing simply because they have not had any personal, real-life encounters with healing. Allow me to illustrate:
In the mid-80s, while helping build a church, I was endeavoring to install three 4-way switches. This kind of switch works in combination with two other switches, allowing a light to be turned on or off from three different locations. As a veteran builder and I discussed the proper wiring for these switches, a computer technician who had volunteered to help joined our conversation. The technician was familiar with electrical engineering and technical wiring diagrams but did not have any experience in wiring commercial buildings. As the experienced builder explained how he thought the switches ought to be wired, the technician became increasingly confused. He then began drawing diagrams of what he was being told. Based on his experience and the diagrams he had drawn, he did not believe the switches could work if wired as recommended. After a lengthy discussion the technician returned to his calculating and his diagrams while the builder and I began installing the switches. An hour later, as the builder and I successfully turned the newly wired lights on and off from all three locations, the technician was still arguing that the wiring application would not work. What was the problem? The wiring did not compute within the technician’s realm of experience. He couldn’t make it work within the constructs with which he was familiar. The truth was, obviously, that the switches worked and that they could be schematically represented by someone with more knowledge or experience.
Could it be that many people forfeit opportunities to be healed by God simply because they have not ever seen anyone healed as a result of prayer? Could it be that some people do not believe in healing because it does not compute in their analytical minds? Have you ever noticed that while some are arguing as to whether or not healings still take place, others are believing, praying and seeing the supernatural take place in their personal situations?
Several weeks ago “Rejoice” Hour of Prayer and Care Group, of Worcester MA, and Acts II Ministries, of Thompson CT, sponsored a meeting at a hotel in Worcester. Amongst those who attended were Catholics, Pentecostals, Apostolics, Baptists and Greek Orthodox believers. Their sole purpose for meeting was to pray for people who needed healing. The concept of divine healing was addressed as the meeting began. It was suggested that: since Jesus healed people and then told his disciples that they would do the same… and since St James directed church elders to pray for the sick… and since the Apostles routinely healed the sick… that divine healing should be a part of the believers’ life today.
Before the prayer time began several attendees who live in Southern New England were given an opportunity to share some true, modern-day, personal experiences:
A mother of 4, who lives in Putnam, told of being completely deaf in one ear due to an infection. The doctor told her she would never recover. She was prayed for at a Bible study and several weeks later her hearing suddenly returned.
A former Catholic nun, who now resides in Webster, told of how, years ago, her young son was completely healed of 2nd degree burns within a few hours. Not only was he healed, but his skin resumed its normal color.
A Woodstock resident, and mother of three, described the difficulty and worry surrounding the first few years of her son’s life due to severe asthma that often required hospitalization. The doctor informed her that the boy would not outgrow the condition. She prayed for healing. Months later it dawned on her that her son was not longer having difficulty with his breathing. Upon re-examination the doctor told her he believed her son had been healed. Her son is now almost a teenager and he is still asthma-free.
One man described how he, as a Charlton teen, had more than 40 warts on his hands. He tried many cures. One church service he was prayed for, and within days the warts began drying up – never to return.
A Thompson businessman related his bout with prostrate cancer that included two surgeries and the prognosis that he would never father children. Fourteen years ago the members of Acts II Ministries prayed for his healing and he is now the father of three.
A woman from Southbridge told of being healed of a pituitary tumor and another told of God healing her from life-threatening seizures just a couple years ago.
A chiropractor from Worcester told us how the doctor had discovered as cist in her sinus cavity just a few months ago, but before scheduling an operation she was prayed for in her prayer group and the cist disappeared.
Another Worcester resident described his deliverance from a deep, clinical depression.
Yes, the proof of the pudding is in the eating. The above examples may not be easily explained, but they are a matter of record in the lives of those who believed and prayed. After hearing the stories mentioned above, it was easy for us to pray, in faith, for God to intervene in the lives of our friends and acquaintances who were in need. We have already heard one report of healing due to our meeting.
It should be mentioned that believing is never easy. Not every prayer is answered as clearly as those above. It should also be pointed out that some people’s confusion might stem from the fact that God does not perform miracles at the whim of man nor for the skeptic who is demanding for God to prove Himself. Those who pray in faith do not hold God hostage in any way; they simply ask and He responds as He sees fit. Often, the result is divine deliverance or healing in our contemporary world.
Tuesday, May 02, 2006
Wild Churches
Each week hundreds of millions of Christians gather throughout the world for times of corporate worship. For some the experience is very quiet and formal. For others the atmosphere is one of activity and celebration. Which is more appropriate? Which way should it be? Shouldn’t church be quiet in order to be reverent and holy?
Ever since the first century, when Jesus Christ established His church, there has been much controversy and heated debate about which worship styles are proper and pleasing to God. This is understandable since one’s faith is so close to the heart. But, is it possible that some believers could actually be more committed to worship styles than to God?
Perhaps a good question to begin with would be: “What makes a church wild or out of order?” Often times those who have grown up knowing only the quiet or formal kind of church services assume that any kind of worship that includes spontaneity, clapping, or congregational response to the sermon should be categorized as “wild.” In fact, often times, anything unfamiliar is automatically rejected as out of order or wild. So, how can one tell if a church is wild?
Before the above question is addressed, maybe we could ask a similar question about a less controversial subject: “What constitutes a wild horse?” Would we consider a race horse wild because he is running at top speed around a track? No. Would we consider a circus horse wild because he walks on his hind feet? No. These animals are just doing what they have been trained to do. However, if a horse who has been trained to gently carry young children around a track suddenly takes off running he would be considered wild. Likewise, if a horse is being directed to carry his rider in the standard fashion and he continually rears up on his hind legs, he would be considered wild. The point being that wild is not about noise or activity; wild is about a lack of proper response and obedience. Bottom line: A horse that does not respond to his master is wild. This is true even if the horse is very quiet and subdued. If the master nudges his horse in the flanks as a signal to gallop and the horse does nothing, then the horse is wild – untamed.
So, what constitutes a wild church? A wild church is a group of people who are not responsive to their Master. If God is interested in one thing, but the worshippers are doing their own “religious thing,” then they are not being responsive to God. A true worshipper will not be interested in a place where religion rules. A true worshipper will be interested in a place where God rules; a place where his presence is entertained and His wishes are the driving force behind everything that takes place. Anything else is wild.
Christianity is a unique faith in that we believe our God is alive and interacts with His people. This characteristic makes it possible for church services to be dynamic; people can interact with God, not just with a ritual or a program. Whenever tradition or man-made rules trump true interaction with God, the worship service loses its power, because God, Himself, is the power behind Christian worship services.
I dare say that if modern-day Christians had an opportunity to sit in on some services that took place in the first century, some would consider their services to be wild. In Acts chapter 2 the Bible describes the first church service that ever took place. At that time a group of people interacted with the Holy Spirit in a dramatic way. This church group included, Peter, James, John and Mary, the mother of Jesus. They were noisy. They spoke in languages they had not learned. They were so lost in worship that some observers even thought the worshippers were drunk. But these first century Christians were not wild, they were the tamest people in town… they were responding to their Master.
Is your worship dictated by ritual and religion or does it center around a dynamic moving of God’s spirit upon your heart? When you worship God is it on His terms or on yours; Are you in control, or is He? If ritual and personal preference dominate your worship experience, you may be in a wild church. It might seem quiet and reverent, but if it leaves no place for the Spirit to move and interact with the worshippers, it is wild.
Psalms, the songbook of the Jews, describes some characteristics of true worship.
Psalm 47:1 commands: “O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph.”
Psalm 149:3 encourages us to “praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp.”
In Psalms 150:3-5 worshippers are encouraged to “Praise him with a blast of the trumpet; praise him with the lyre and harp! Praise him with the tambourine and dancing;praise him with stringed instruments and flutes! Praise him with a clash of cymbals;praise him with loud clanging cymbals.”
Does your worship experience ever include any of the above? If not, you are missing a great, interactive celebration with God that will make church attendance a pleasure rather than an obligation. This kind of worship involves a great deal of noise and activity, but it is not wild.
Ever since the first century, when Jesus Christ established His church, there has been much controversy and heated debate about which worship styles are proper and pleasing to God. This is understandable since one’s faith is so close to the heart. But, is it possible that some believers could actually be more committed to worship styles than to God?
Perhaps a good question to begin with would be: “What makes a church wild or out of order?” Often times those who have grown up knowing only the quiet or formal kind of church services assume that any kind of worship that includes spontaneity, clapping, or congregational response to the sermon should be categorized as “wild.” In fact, often times, anything unfamiliar is automatically rejected as out of order or wild. So, how can one tell if a church is wild?
Before the above question is addressed, maybe we could ask a similar question about a less controversial subject: “What constitutes a wild horse?” Would we consider a race horse wild because he is running at top speed around a track? No. Would we consider a circus horse wild because he walks on his hind feet? No. These animals are just doing what they have been trained to do. However, if a horse who has been trained to gently carry young children around a track suddenly takes off running he would be considered wild. Likewise, if a horse is being directed to carry his rider in the standard fashion and he continually rears up on his hind legs, he would be considered wild. The point being that wild is not about noise or activity; wild is about a lack of proper response and obedience. Bottom line: A horse that does not respond to his master is wild. This is true even if the horse is very quiet and subdued. If the master nudges his horse in the flanks as a signal to gallop and the horse does nothing, then the horse is wild – untamed.
So, what constitutes a wild church? A wild church is a group of people who are not responsive to their Master. If God is interested in one thing, but the worshippers are doing their own “religious thing,” then they are not being responsive to God. A true worshipper will not be interested in a place where religion rules. A true worshipper will be interested in a place where God rules; a place where his presence is entertained and His wishes are the driving force behind everything that takes place. Anything else is wild.
Christianity is a unique faith in that we believe our God is alive and interacts with His people. This characteristic makes it possible for church services to be dynamic; people can interact with God, not just with a ritual or a program. Whenever tradition or man-made rules trump true interaction with God, the worship service loses its power, because God, Himself, is the power behind Christian worship services.
I dare say that if modern-day Christians had an opportunity to sit in on some services that took place in the first century, some would consider their services to be wild. In Acts chapter 2 the Bible describes the first church service that ever took place. At that time a group of people interacted with the Holy Spirit in a dramatic way. This church group included, Peter, James, John and Mary, the mother of Jesus. They were noisy. They spoke in languages they had not learned. They were so lost in worship that some observers even thought the worshippers were drunk. But these first century Christians were not wild, they were the tamest people in town… they were responding to their Master.
Is your worship dictated by ritual and religion or does it center around a dynamic moving of God’s spirit upon your heart? When you worship God is it on His terms or on yours; Are you in control, or is He? If ritual and personal preference dominate your worship experience, you may be in a wild church. It might seem quiet and reverent, but if it leaves no place for the Spirit to move and interact with the worshippers, it is wild.
Psalms, the songbook of the Jews, describes some characteristics of true worship.
Psalm 47:1 commands: “O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph.”
Psalm 149:3 encourages us to “praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp.”
In Psalms 150:3-5 worshippers are encouraged to “Praise him with a blast of the trumpet; praise him with the lyre and harp! Praise him with the tambourine and dancing;praise him with stringed instruments and flutes! Praise him with a clash of cymbals;praise him with loud clanging cymbals.”
Does your worship experience ever include any of the above? If not, you are missing a great, interactive celebration with God that will make church attendance a pleasure rather than an obligation. This kind of worship involves a great deal of noise and activity, but it is not wild.
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