question for all christians

[jasoncran]

that would be most of my county then.

 

[GodspromisesRyes]

the thorn is pauls flesh was an angel of satan that caused him to be persecuted whereever he went the word makes that clear, it is not a physical sickness or disease.

Mat 8:16 ¶ When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with [his] word, and healed all that were sick:
Mat 8:17 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare [our] sicknesses.

Isa 53:4 ¶ Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

griefs-Strong's H2483 - choliy 1) sickness AV — sickness 12, disease 7, grief 4, sick 1

He already bore our sicknesses, and healed all physical sicknesses to show that He has done it for us as we see in matt 8.

Isa 53:5 But he [was] wounded for our transgressions, [he was] bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace [was] upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

healed-Strong's H7495 - rapha' 1) to heal, make healthful

a) (Qal) to heal

1) of God

2) healer, physician (of men)

3) of hurts of nations involving restored favour (fig)

4) of individual distresses (fig)

b) (Niphal) to be healed

1) literal (of persons)

2) of water, pottery

3) of national hurts (fig)

4) of personal distress (fig)

c) (Piel) to heal

1) literal

2) of national defects or hurts (fig)

d) (Hithpael) in order to get healed (infinitive)

AV — heal 57, physician 5, cure 1, repaired 1, misc 3

Psa 103:3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;

Jer 30:17 For I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith the LORD; because they called thee an Outcast, [saying], This [is] Zion, whom no man seeketh after.

God in fact gets angry at false shepards who do not give healing to His people

Eze 34:2 Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD unto the shepherds; Woe [be] to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks?
Eze 34:3 Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool, ye kill them that are fed: [but] ye feed not the flock.
Eze 34:4 The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up [that which was] broken, neither have ye brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost; but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them.



Now you claim that " by His stripes we were healed" is not about physical healing the problem is the word healed in the greek in that verse is used in the NT 30 times in 28 verses is always speaking of physical healing. and that agrees with the OT prophesy that shows it also meant physical healing.

 

[DarcyLu]

Here we see why....God has higher purposes than our physical infirmities.

And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

we are not sure what Paul's thorn in the flesh was, but unlikely it was a disease, it was a messenger from Satan, so likely it was some sort of persecution or tribulation, people being used by Satan to persecute him. we are not promised to get out of tribulation or persecution.
you are not providing any scripture proof that "by His stripes we are healed" only means spiritually - healed is healed, period, we were healed spritually and physically.

 

[GodspromisesRyes]

this is slighty off topic but will prob soon become the topic if not shown faulty. Pauls thorn was not a physical illness or disease, it was not his eyes etc.. It was an angel of satan that caused his persecution whereever he went

2Cr 12:7 ¶ And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
2Cr 12:10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

thorn in the flesh is an OT term used for the people in the promised land who did not get driven out.

it says it is to " buffet" him. which is the greek word meaning to strike, hit or maltreat and every time it is used it is about just that. never about sicknesses or illnesses but persecutions and being literally hit. In the exact same context and what Paul is speaking of we can go to the prior chapter which is still on the same thing he is talking about where he says this about his " infirmities" and reproaches that he has gone through.-

THIS Is how he was kept WEAK so that CHrist can be strong as he says in the next chapter

2Cr 11:19 For ye suffer fools gladly, seeing ye [yourselves] are wise.


2Cr 11:20 For ye suffer, if a man bring you into bondage, if a man devour [you], if a man take [of you], if a man exalt himself, if a man smite you on the face.


2Cr 11:21 I speak as concerning reproach, as though we had been weak. Howbeit whereinsoever any is bold, (I speak foolishly,) I am bold also.


2Cr 11:22 ¶ Are they Hebrews? so [am] I. Are they Israelites? so [am] I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so [am] I.


2Cr 11:23 Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I [am] more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.


2Cr 11:24 Of the Jews five times received I forty [stripes] save one.


2Cr 11:25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;


2Cr 11:26 [In] journeyings often, [in] perils of waters, [in] perils of robbers, [in] perils by [mine own] countrymen, [in] perils by the heathen, [in] perils in the city, [in] perils in the wilderness, [in] perils in the sea, [in] perils among false brethren;


2Cr 11:27 In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.


2Cr 11:28 Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.


2Cr 11:29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not?


2Cr 11:30 If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities.


2Cr 11:31 The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not.
2Cr 11:32 In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king kept the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me:


2Cr 11:33 And through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall, and escaped his hands.


- This same contentext and conversation goes on to say-

2Cr 12:1 ¶ It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.


2Cr 12:2 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.


2Cr 12:3 And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)


2Cr 12:4 How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.


2Cr 12:5 Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.


2Cr 12:6 For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but [now] I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me [to be], or [that] he heareth of me.


2Cr 12:7 ¶ And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.

 

[archangel_300]

no the name and claim in phenomon teaches that if one is saved then one shouldnt have suffering and also have wealth etc, that's not biblical.

oh, if that is what glory was referring to, then no, it is not Bibical. thanks for clarifying.

Amen Darcy.

Yes there is a huge difference between the so called "name it and claim it" doctrine and the truth about standing on the promises. God never promised us to meet our lusts, only our needs. ALL our needs.People have taken it too far and some are preaching that we can claim anything. That is not in the Word, that is a false doctrine.

Amen Cornelius. :amen

 

[glorydaz]

Here we see why....God has higher purposes than our physical infirmities.

And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

we are not sure what Paul's thorn in the flesh was, but unlikely it was a disease, it was a messenger from Satan, so likely it was some sort of persecution or tribulation, people being used by Satan to persecute him. we are not promised to get out of tribulation or persecution.
you are not providing any scripture proof that "by His stripes we are healed" only means spiritually - healed is healed, period, we were healed spritually and physically.

No one knows what Paul's infirmity was, but it was an infirmity nonetheless. We do know that righteous Job suffered many "infirmities" brought by satan...boils for instance, which are physical infirmities sent by satan. It sounds like there are too many parameters under which these "healing" must fit in order to qualify. :nag

And I have given scripture to show "by His stripes we are healed" is for sin. You just choose to ignore them. "Healing is healing" is simply not true. Being healed of our transgressions is completely different than being healed of polio. I realize it doesn't fit within the doctrine of faith healers, but we need only look around and see men and women of God not being healed. To claim they have a lack of faith is sickenly judgmental, as well as unscriptural.

Once again....how people can slide physical healing into the mix is way beyond me.

But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

 

[glorydaz]

Now you claim that " by His stripes we were healed" is not about physical healing the problem is the word healed in the greek in that verse is used in the NT 30 times in 28 verses is always speaking of physical healing. and that agrees with the OT prophesy that shows it also meant physical healing.

When it speaks of physical healing, it's clear from the text. When it speaks of "by his stripes we are healed," it is also clear from it's text. One need only read the Word to be able to see which it is. In the same way "judge" can mean either discernment or judgement. One must read the verse in context with discernment to judge the difference.

 

[GodspromisesRyes]

Now you claim that " by His stripes we were healed" is not about physical healing the problem is the word healed in the greek in that verse is used in the NT 30 times in 28 verses is always speaking of physical healing. and that agrees with the OT prophesy that shows it also meant physical healing.

When it speaks of physical healing, it's clear from the text. When it speaks of "by his stripes we are healed," it is also clear from it's text. One need only read the Word to be able to see which it is. In the same way "judge" can mean either discernment or judgement. One must read the verse in context with discernment to judge the difference.

The context of both the OT prophesy and the NT quote shows it is physical and even if you want to throw out by His stripes we are healed- You have to contend with " he bore our sicknesses" and that He healed ALL that came to him believing because of that prophesy.

As far as Job goes, He was afflicted- and no one is saying that sickness cannot come on us- But He was DELIVERED and was restored everything back that was taken from him. AMEN. And that is all we are saying- will sicknesses come? Yes may we have trials of faith while we wait for the manifestation of our promised healing? YES but if we believe without doubt will be recieve the fullness of that healing? YES because Jesus already bore it, already provided it for us. It was put upon Him so that we do not need to remain underneath it.

Beyond that this is a promise:

Jam 5:14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:


Jam 5:15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.

the prayer of FAITH SHALL SAVE THE SICK! and the Lord SHALL RAISE HIM UP and if he has sinned it SHALL BE FORGIVEN.
Jam 5:16 Confess [your] faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

confess faults that you may be HEALED.

FAITH and confession of sins and healing of physical sickness in the word are tied very closely together. There are TWO SOLID PROMISES in these three verses for physical healing being PROMISED and One for sins being forgiven.

Psa 103:2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:

Psa 103:3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;


Now James does not say so you might be saved, so there is the possiblity of healing, or so that if Gods wills you will be healed. He says that the prayer of - FAITH- SHALL save the sick! that the Lord SHALL raise him up AMEN AMEN. He forgives all our iniquities and heals ALL our diseases.

So since we cannot agree on " by His stripes we are healed" then we have both " who bore our sickness" and " the prayer of faith SHALL save the sick and the Lord SHALL raise him up. Those are gooood promises.


2Cr 1:20 For all the promises of God in him [are] yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.

 

[jasoncran]

that includes physical healing but that confession thing can also mean accountability. as one is struggling with a sin and needs to delivered from it.

that still not a promise, if God wills you get healed.

your own admission.

then we should be living forever and dont die, even the greatest miracle workers died. none alive today that wont die.

 

[glorydaz]

Ah, heal our backsliding....all scripture must be taken in context.

Return, ye backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings. Behold, we come unto thee; for thou art the LORD our God.

Convert and be "healed".

Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed.

I'm supposing some would claim this was a physical healing spoken of here....it even speaks of medicine. They would be wrong, of course, since healing for iniquity is why Christ died on the cross.

For thus saith the LORD, Thy bruise is incurable, and thy wound is grievous. There is none to plead thy cause, that thou mayest be bound up: thou hast no healing medicines. All thy lovers have forgotten thee; they seek thee not; for I have wounded thee with the wound of an enemy, with the chastisement of a cruel one, for the multitude of thine iniquity; because thy sins were increased. Why criest thou for thine affliction? thy sorrow is incurable for the multitude of thine iniquity: because thy sins were increased, I have done these things unto thee. Therefore all they that devour thee shall be devoured; and all thine adversaries, every one of them, shall go into captivity; and they that spoil thee shall be a spoil, and all that prey upon thee will I give for a prey. For I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith the LORD; because they called thee an Outcast, saying, This is Zion, whom no man seeketh after.

Healing because of transgressions are not physical healings.

Fools because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted. Their soul abhorreth all manner of meat; and they draw near unto the gates of death. Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saveth them out of their distresses. He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.

Elisha had no faith? Or perhaps sickness hadn't been nailed to the cross yet?

Now Elisha was fallen sick of his sickness whereof he died. And Joash the king of Israel came down unto him, and wept over his face, and said, O my father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof.

 

[Cornelius]

Brother, God is not moved by begging, because He has already given the healing 2000 years ago in Jesus Christ. God is moved only by faith and us not being double minded. We have to do two things when we come to God : Heb 11:6 and without faith it is impossible to be well-pleasing unto him; for he that cometh to God must believe that he is (That is what most people call "faith" ), and that he is a rewarder of them that seek after him (That would be to have faith in the what He promised us.Healing is just such a promise.)

I hate to disagree again, brother, but God is, indeed, moved by begging (beseeching in the Bible).

And he preached in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and cast out devils. And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean.

[quote="Matthew 8:4-6":37yr1lwu] And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them. And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him, And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented.

Turn again, and tell Hezekiah the captain of my people, Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee: on the third day thou shalt go up unto the house of the LORD.

Go, and say to Hezekiah, Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will add unto thy days fifteen years.

We aren't promised physical healing, although God, in His great mercy often answers our prayers for healing...as He does every area of our lives.[/quote:37yr1lwu]


Of course we have to ask. Even urgently (beseech) . But that alone is not how we are healed as believers. God needs faith.
Jam 5:15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.

Please notice that the prayer of faith.....shall.

 

[Cornelius]

Mat 9:2 And behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, be of good cheer; thy sins are forgiven.

Mat 9:22 But Jesus turning and seeing her said, Daughter, be of good cheer; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.

Mar 2:5 And Jesus seeing their faith saith unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins are forgiven.

Even the apostles operated as Jesus did:

Act 14:9 The same heard Paul speaking, who, fastening eyes upon him, and seeing that he had faith to be made whole,

 

[glorydaz]

The context of both the OT prophesy and the NT quote shows it is physical and even if you want to throw out by His stripes we are healed- You have to contend with " he bore our sicknesses" and that He healed ALL that came to him believing because of that prophesy.

Let's just look at the quote from Matt., shall we?

He took our infirmities lines up perfectly with Isaiah.
Bare our sicknesses here is "removed" or "carried away"....

When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.

Matthew was referring to this quote from Isaiah...

Isaiah introduces Christ...has no form or comeliness, no beauty that we should desire Him, despised and rejected of men, acquainted with grief. He has borne our grief (sickness and disease), carried our sorrows (comforted). This is referring to Christ's ministry here on earth when He healed and comforted....despised and we esteemed him not.

For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

BUT...he was wounded for our transgressions...all this has to do with sin, and the cross. This is what Peter is talking about...by His stripes we are healed. It was at the cross that He took our sin, not during His ministry when he was healing.

But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

Perhaps we need to study what was taken on the cross.
Was it sin or was it a whole host of other things?
If we say it was all the curses, as some claim, then that would mean Jesus not ony took on various illnesses, but mildew, drought, cannibalism and rape.

 

[Cornelius]

this is slighty off topic but will prob soon become the topic if not shown faulty. Pauls thorn was not a physical illness or disease, it was not his eyes etc.. It was an angel of satan that caused his persecution whereever he went

2Cr 12:7 ¶ And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
2Cr 12:10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

thorn in the flesh is an OT term used for the people in the promised land who did not get driven out.

it says it is to " buffet" him. which is the greek word meaning to strike, hit or maltreat and every time it is used it is about just that. never about sicknesses or illnesses but persecutions and being literally hit.

That is true. Paul's "thorn" is not sickness. Its a demon, or "messenger of Satan" that caused him to go through many trials and tribulations. But God delivered Paul out of them all. The "thorn" was only given so that Paul had to keep on trusting in God's strength to be delivered and not his own.

The thorn worked.2Co 12:10 Wherefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in injuries, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

 

[Cornelius]

Mat 8:17 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through Isaiah the prophet, saying: Himself took our infirmities, and bare our diseases.

Here we see "infirmities" and "diseases" are not the same thing. In some cases infirmity is sickness, but in some cases, "weakness" is meant. Like in the case of Paul. Paul went through many trials that he was not capable of solving in the natural. God had to deliver him. And HE did.

When we read the Bible as a whole and not take words out of context, we see that Jesus took our sickness and our infirmities upon Himself. That is why we can now come in faith to God and accept the free gift of healing from Him.

Jesus bare out diseases.

 

[glorydaz]

Brother, God is not moved by begging, because He has already given the healing 2000 years ago in Jesus Christ. God is moved only by faith and us not being double minded. We have to do two things when we come to God : Heb 11:6 and without faith it is impossible to be well-pleasing unto him; for he that cometh to God must believe that he is (That is what most people call "faith" ), and that he is a rewarder of them that seek after him (That would be to have faith in the what He promised us.Healing is just such a promise.)

I hate to disagree again, brother, but God is, indeed, moved by begging (beseeching in the Bible).

And he preached in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and cast out devils. And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean.

[quote="Matthew 8:4-6":1bv0e8n9] And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them. And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him, And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented.

[quote="2 Kings 20:5":1bv0e8n9]Turn again, and tell Hezekiah the captain of my people, Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee: on the third day thou shalt go up unto the house of the LORD.

Go, and say to Hezekiah, Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will add unto thy days fifteen years.

We aren't promised physical healing, although God, in His great mercy often answers our prayers for healing...as He does every area of our lives.[/quote:1bv0e8n9]


Of course we have to ask. Even urgently (beseech) . But that alone is not how we are healed as believers. God needs faith.
Jam 5:15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.

Please notice that the prayer of faith.....shall.[/quote:1bv0e8n9]

If one has no faith, why beg (earnestly or otherwise)? If one is begging God for healing, does he not have faith? Now, bribery, that would be another matter. "Lord, I promise I'll be good if you heal me." That's desperation and last resort...not faith.

The prayer of faith is a wonderful thing, but it does have a stipulation.
It must be in accord with the will of God. It is not always God's will that we will be healed.
The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man AVAILETH MUCH. That does not mean it is God's will that healing will always take place. God often has higher purposes for His children than our physical well-being, and the Word is filled with reasons we will suffer in this life...not just with persecutions but with infirmities. When we are weak, He is strong.

Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. 14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: 15And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. 16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

 

[Cornelius]

God is gracious and He knows how we struggle with faith.

The woman who kept on knocking eventually received. If we need faith, we must ask God for it until we have it.

God always heals, because that is His revealed will in the Word. We see God healing ALL that came to Him Luk 4:40 And when the sun was setting, all they that had any sick with divers diseases brought them unto him; and he laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them

We are to follow the example of Jesus .


Jesus also did not tell His disciples anything else, He sent them to heal the sick with not "if it is God's will" attached to the command Mat 10:7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Mat 10:8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons: freely ye received, freely give. And they went out and did exactly that. Jesus told them to preach that the Kingdom is at hand (in the Kingdom there is NO sickness) and then they SHOWED the people what the Kingdom looks like.

We too are to preach the Kingdom where the curse is not ruling and then we too must follow the same path and heal the sick.

 

[Cornelius]

If God has a secret will then we have nothing to stand on. Nothing to have faith for. We must then just say "If its God's will" (sounds familiar ? ) and wait for our lot.No need for faith. Well that is easy, because there is then also no faith that must endure to the end when the promise is manifested !

But when we see that Jesus healed all our diseases at the cross 2000 years ago, THEN we can place out faith on that fact and endure the trial until we see it come to pass.

So when we do not have faith: Ask and keep on asking . "Beg" if you want to call it that. Keep on and ask God to allow a single minded faith to arise in our hearts.Then when that happens, use it to get healed.

Then we have the "prayer of faith" . That person does not need to knock and knock, because he or she already knows the promises are true. Their faith has been tested and it has grown. That person can use this route: Mar 11:24 Therefore I say unto you, All things (including healing) whatsoever (Yes , again healing too) ye pray and ask for, believe that ye receive them,(Receive the answer at that moment and thank God for it before you see it. JUST because you trust Him to be true to His Word ) and ye shall have them.

So , the prayer of faith receive things as DONE , before it is visible to the eye. Just because they know God will always answer if the conditions have been met.

 

[Elf]

is all sin that we do, done willfully? or most of the time when we sin its by a mistake? and mixture of both.

As far as a Christian goes? I believe 90% of it is done willfully. But that is a fuzzy area since man does not know all things. Man, before he becomes a Christian has morals, he knows right from wrong, how much more when he becomes a Christian?
When we do something wrong and suffer no apparent consequences it makes it easier to do it again, "human nature." It is the Holy Spirit transforming one to the image of Christ which strengthens us by knowing Christ more and being convicted that slows us down more and more or stops us from sinning. In a sense (if you will), growing up, putting away childish things.

For example, when we are tempted to steal something, or lie, ect..... Human nature wants these, do we know? Yes, unless we decide to lie to ourselves, which we know we are doing anyhow.

But again, there is that fuzzy area, somethings we are not sure of, or what our decisions will do to others.

 

[Elf]

is all sin that we do, done willfully? or most of the time when we sin its by a mistake? and mixture of both.

the vast majority of a Christian's sin is not willful.

Fore example?

We sin against our wills? We are forced to sin?