Four additional points are shared, today, on faith healing and “prayer death.”
THE BATTLE AXE: “Prayer Death”? (02/21/2014)—(6.) Agents not Caretakers. The notion that adults are caretakers and property managers over minor children very often prevails above the idea that adults are agents to carry out and express a child’s needs, the child’s desires, the child’s integrity of person, and the child’s will. Many Christian believers continue to operate with the understanding that minor children have no value as sentient beings in communion with GOD, and are only an expense and a liability that make no contribution to the prosperity or survival of communities, of their own families, or of the communities of faith. More than this, they are accounted as “expendable”. The Scriptures declare that children are the heritage of the Lord—a treasure and wealth that belongs to GOD. Yet, many regard children as dependent and unable to make sound choices and decisions on their own behalf, or the behalf of others. The subtle and widespread error therefore persists that children are human property of their parents, and may be destroyed, manipulated, promoted, or replaced in accordance with the emotional, psychological or spiritual expression of the adults who conceive them. Parents absolutely must know and accept that their children are not their own, and their duty is to assist the child in developing after the divine will. See Luke 1: 13-16 and 39-47, Jeremiah 1: 5-10, KJV. (7.) Adult Responsibility. The duty of every adult believer is to behave in the most balanced, complete, mature, stable manner to nourish divinity and godliness in their children at all times. While it is natural for children to refuse medical assistance because of fear, separation involved, uncertainty and weakness; the same can be unnatural for adults. At the least it may be adult ignorance, immaturity and insensitivity, when parents fail to acknowledge that the bodies and minds of children do not function, and cannot be maintained in the same manner as for those who are full grown. At its worst, it is arrogance, covetousness, criminal malice, “playing GOD,” and presumption. Even though the Scriptures record that Elijah the Tishbite was miraculously delivered by GOD when Queen Jezebel swore to kill him; we are not to seek the same miracle to set food on our tables in our own homes, and for our own families. GOD commanded the prophet to hide by the brook Cherith, to drink of its waters, and that GOD would command the ravens to feed him there. See 1st Kings 17: 1-6, KJV. (8.) Redemption. For many Christian believers, commitment to GOD through Jesus Christ requires a conscious decision to prayerfully and quietly bear suffering. Adults routinely make similar knowing and willing choices (we may say, sacrifice) when challenged by duties and opportunities such as childbearing, homemaking, marriage, and military service. Children are thought capable of only animal behavior, to operate in terms of appetite, emotion and instinct, rather than intellect, logic and reason. All things dedicated and devoted to GOD, including children, may only be conveyed and transferred into the divine presence (we say, heaven) by their presentation, slaying, and burning upon a holy altar. Otherwise, they achieve status and acceptance by payment of a redemption price. For the tribes of Jacob that left Egypt following Moses, the entire tribe of Levi became the redemption payment to GOD. Later, Christ would come for salvation and redemption of all by a new covenant. Even so, those who are redeemed continue as promised to GOD, and must serve as living sacrifices. See Genesis 22: 1-3, Numbers 8: 17-19, Deuteronomy 18: 1, 1st Samuel 1: 21-28, Luke 2: 39-50 and Romans 12: 1-3, KJV. (9.) About Doctors and Medications. Lacking meekness (i.e., willingness to be instructed and led by the holy writings and the imparted, indwelling Spirit), many will insist on their own way displaying the attitude that says, “you can’t teach me nothing; I’m right when I’m wrong, because….” Yet, the Bible reports the use of balms, herbs, ointments, salt, spices, and even wine for treating injuries, maladies, sickness, and wounds. Hezekiah was king of Judah when the word of the Lord came to him, that he would die of his sickness, despite the divine provision of physicians and other counselors. The king was given a second prophecy that he would live another fifteen years, after obeying the prophet’s counsel to apply a poultice of figs. Men are healed routinely by GOD through purging (we say, inner cleansing), proper diet, and rest. Healing may occur naturally over time. Divine intervention is rarely required given that sickness appears in known patterns that respond to familiar remedies. While children are often more resilient than adults, and may bounce back from illness and fight off disease, they usually do not maintain careful regimens of hygiene, and are continually exposed to unseen germs and uncleanness. It is no more a lack of faith to call for the service of those who have made careful study of disease and its cure, and are trained to assist adults and children, than it is a lack of faith to call a skilled mechanic to repair ones automobile. When divine intervention is made, frequently it will come through agents appointed by GOD; and the healing will turn on rightly receiving them as having been sent by GOD. Unfortunately, the account of a woman healed when she touched the hem of Jesus’ garment tends to convince many that doctors are dangerous and unreliable. Jesus is cast in the mold of a country rabbi, a stranger seeking reputation as a doctor and theologian in Jerusalem. Thinking like thieves, those weak in faith usually conclude that all physicians (and reverend doctors) are sent by the devil, are greedy, are grasping, are impersonal, are indifferent, and will exploit a person’s illness for money. In pride, such believers assert that only they themselves are an acceptable provision from GOD. These are as unlikely to accomplish healing for themselves of others as those who feel that sickness is divine punishment that must be accepted, or that fellow at the pool of Bethesda, drowning in self-pity, and awaiting the troubling of the waters, rather than the coming of Christ, the One Sent. Their error is both that they condemn those truly appointed to heal, and they trust in prophets to heal who have not been sent for that purpose. See 2nd Kings 2: 21, 2nd Kings 20: 5-7, Isaiah 1: 5-6, Jeremiah 23: 20-22, Jeremiah 30: 12-14, Ezekiel 13: 5-7, Matthew 9: 20-22, Matthew 14: 35-36 and John 5: 1-24, KJV.
THE GOLDEN ARROW: When the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither his disciples, they also took shipping, and came to Capernaum, seeking for Jesus. And when they had found him on the other side of the sea, they said unto him, Rabbi, when camest thou hither? Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled. Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed. Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work? Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat. Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread. And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not. All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. (John 6: 24-38, KJV)
THE DOUBLE DAGGER: Intercession (12/27/2013); Jesus Is GOD’s Word (12/28/2013); GOD Enjoys Judgment? (12/19/2013); Miracles are Sacred Events (12/20/2013); A Lid on Love? (09/27/2013); Dying in Terror and Joy? (09/28/2013); When GOD Controls? (04/22/2013); The Divine Use of a Human Life? (04/23/2013); Therefore There Was Trust (01/07/2013); When Does Gossip Become Sin? (01/08/2013)
For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. (Malachi 4: 1-2, KJV)
THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC
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