You Have Been Healed
© 07-08 Born-Again-Christian.info
Waiting for healing
Q: Why is healing sometimes delayed? My daughter has been faithfully expecting healing from almost total paralysis for two years. She loves the Lord Jesus. We do not understand. Angela
A: It's just unbelief.
Look at what you write, you're 'expecting healing', whilst the Bible says you are already healed, 1 Pe. 2:24.
That is the truth, simply believe it in your heart, and act on it.
We must learn to walk by faith, not sight. Faith in the Word must come before visual evidence. Heb. 11:1. That's the Bible order. God won't change it to please us. We change to please Him. Without faith, it is impossible to please Him.
Mental assent is not faith. Stop asking God to do what He's already done. Instead, thank Him, rejoice in it, confess it, act on, and glorify Him for it.
It would help to build yourself up in your faith and knowledge of redemption. These Wigglesworth books will feed you.
Idleness
Q: How can I overcome laziness and sloth? Nathaniel
A: Simply get saved, then Spirit-filled, and stay in step with the Holy Spirit. When you love Him, you will do as you're told, and enjoy being busy for Him. Gal. 5:16-26
Helping the poor
Q: Since Jesus said we will always have the poor amongst us, is it a waste of time trying to help them?
A: There's at least two kinds of poverty, material and spiritual. The lost may be rich in material goods, but they are bankrupt spiritually, so our main outreach is to the lost, whether rich or poor.
But, I believe God's heart is full of compassion for the materially poor. Poverty has a way of preoccupying sinners so that they neglect the more important pursuit of the riches of salvation. Scavenging for plastic bottles in dustbins, stitching leather goods for a pittance, and hand-irrigating fields of melons doesn't leave a lot of time for contemplating their eternal destiny.
So, if you come along with a helping hand, or a useful practical opportunity that eases their burden, you give them room to consider your message and God's kindness to sinners.
In this way you build a platform on which to share the Good News, and show real love. There are many New Testament reminders to be busy helping the needy.
A practical note: I've learned not to give cash-handouts (unless the Lord specifically tells me to), but rather offer the poor the opportunity to help themselves. This is more dignified, makes them self-reliant, and is more beneficial in the long run.
A Christian lady I know tries literally to give to everyone who asks. I was horrified to see her giving money to a junkie for his daily fix.
"Well it stops him from stealing," she responded.
"If he asked for a gun to kill himself would you give it to him?" I replied.
Wisdom, would instead offer the junkie a place in a Christian rehabilitation centre, rather than encouraging his sinful habit.
Will animals be saved?
Q: The Bible tells us that God loves the world, does that include animals too?
A: This is a fascinating topic, as a Christian vet, and zoologist, I've spent many hours pondering it.
'World' in Jn. 3:16 specifically refers to people, because animals do not have the ability to repent and believe the Good News.
That God loves animals and plants is obvious from the care He took in creating and sustaining them. Remember He 'saved' them from The Flood in the Ark. But clearly, He cannot have the same loving rapport with an oak tree, mushroom, toad, cat, or stick-insect, that He can have with a Spirit-filled child of God.
You love your pets, and in their way, they return this affection, but it is far below the divine level isn't it?
This leads to the question of whether or not animals can be saved, and will our pets be with us in Heaven. Many people influenced by Hindu and New Age thought quickly go off track on this subject. Every book I've read on the topic claims to be 'Christian' and 'scriptural' but they are all dodgy, and unsound.
My personal conclusion is given at the bottom of this page, Pets in Heaven?
Second time lucky?
Q: I left home with a girl and married her, but I know I was being led by the flesh, we are now separated, and I met a girl that is very interested in the Gospel, am I in sin? Lee
A: Of course you are sinning. You have a wife in the Lord, and you are not loving her with His love, nor are you obeying the Holy Spirit.
Get right with God, and with your wife.
Satan is tempting you to go against both your conscience, and integrity, then to commit adultery. The Holy Spirit has drawn you to this site to wake you up. What will you do?
Singing for Jesus
Q: I am a new creature in Christ. I have been confused for a long time because I have been wishing to sing for the Lord, but I don't know what to do, or where to start, but this desire keeps coming back to me. Please help, and tell me what I should do, I write the songs, but I never sang them. Julius (Kenya)
A: Simply begin in faith, and let the Lord lead you as you obey. If it is the Lord inspiring and leading you, He will provide all you need. If it is yourself, it will wither without fruit.
If you want to be a preacher or evangelist, start on the streets. If you want to sing for the Lord, start on the streets. If you want to be a minister and pastor, begin on the streets.
Just get on with it in faith looking only to the Lord, and He'll direct you.
If only all ministers would stop 'going to Bible school or Seminary', or seeking sponsorship, and simply learn by experience on the streets, like the first Twelve, we'd get this job done much quicker, and be where we all really want to be.
Understand where sickness comes from, what Christ has done for you, and how to overcome it.
