Axe To The Roots
LOVE, POWER AND HEALTH
I used to be involved in the "charismatic movement." It is the belief in the gifts of the Holy
Spirit being available not only to the original apostles, but to us here today. When one first
experiences the power of the spirit, he or she can be overwhelmed with a new and exciting
spiritual journey. It is like coming alive to something wonderful you had been missing right
before your eyes. All of a sudden, God becomes real to you. Many worldwide have
experienced prophecy, visions, dreams, spiritual tongues, healings and most importantly,
transformed lives. I personally have seen God's power come and "touch" an unsuspecting
person, incredibly changing them while sometimes even taking them physically down to the
ground. Many of these were people who would never allow themselves to be taken by
surprise, if they could have stopped it from happening. During these "manifestations" of
God's spirit, often times the different giftings or healings would appear.
There is one fine example that now comes to mind. I remember a very reserved,
non-charismatic lady in particular. "Leslie" came hobbling into the sanctuary of a local
church, about an hour before the service was to begin. Immediatley, I had asked her,
"What happened to you?" She replied, "It is a back problem that I recently found out from
my mom, runs in our family. Both my mom and aunt have it and have been told I am
destined to have it, also." Well, I was immediately under the impression that Leslie had
believed a lie about her health and so I told her if she wanted us to pray for her, she should
come up at the end of the morning service for us to "lay hands" upon her in prayer.
Someone must have seen the surprise on my face when Leslie came up for prayer that day.
We had many invitations over approximately two years for people to come up and receive
prayer, but never had she come up for herself. She must have thought prayer wasn't for
her, or that we might embarrass her. Still bothered by her limp, I felt inclined to read her a
passage from Galatians which stated that we are not entitled to curses, but blessings. The
mind is a powerful thing. I knew she had believed whole-heartedly that she was cursed
with some form of a hereditary disease and therefore had fallen ill. As I spoke those freeing
words to her, I waved my hands toward Leslie and the spirit of God poured upon her like a
river! She struggled to remain standing, but eventually succumbed to the power and fell
completely to the floor. She just wanted to be healed and stood up very surprised that day.
Her healing had come to her by simple faith, but also in a new and unique way.
With all the great things I witnessed by the power of the spirit, I knew there were major
things missing with our beliefs. For instance, we did not see all people healed as Jesus
spoke of and demonstrated. A good friend of mine once said, "It is like being up to bat in a
baseball game. When you make contact with the ball and drive it out of the ballpark, it is a
great feeling. You know it can be done. However, what about all the other times you
swing the bat and do not connect? How can you hit the ball perfectly every time?" He was
making a good point. If we are correct with our current beliefs and they are identical with
Jesus' teachings, why are we not having a 100% success rate with healings and miracles.
Who failed to heal? Was God too weak in power to heal one person, but plenty more
powerful and more willing to heal another? I believe what God would give to one, He
would give to another, as well.
I think our message has been wrong. In fact, I believe we totally missed Jesus' core
message as demonstrated by his life. I firmly believe we still do not know him or even
ourselves, yet. I think at times when we have seen miracles and healings we have
"connected" with a true faith and understanding, in line with God's spirit...truth.
When we haven't connected with God, I believe we have missed the mark and fallen short
of truth. What was his message? John stated in Revelation, "The testimony of Jesus is the
spirit of prophecy." I believe John was saying that when we look at Jesus' life of miracles,
healings and unconditional love, we are seeing who we really are to become. We become
Him (Jesus) by coming to the knowledge of the truth of who we are and what we already
have. His life prophesies or reveals God's plan for the future of mankind. This is Christ:
being one with your heavenly Father. Here are some questions to contemplate with
regard to Jesus' message and ministry:
Question Fifty One: The scriptures state "God is love," "Perfect love casts out all fear,"
and "Now there is no condemnation." How then, can preachers preach and teachers teach
a message of fear, condemnation and guilt? Is that "love" in light of Jesus words, "Love
your neighbor as yourself," and "Judge not lest you be judged?" Why didn't Jesus preach a
message of condemnation? (Romans 8:1; I John 4:8,18)
Question Fifty Two: Is fear, condemnation and guilt even from God or is it man-made?
Are not these the very things Jesus set people free from?
Question Fifty Three: Whom did Jesus speak against, the common people or the
religious leaders who led by fear, guilt and condemnation? (Matthew 23:13-16,23-29)
Question Fifty Four: We are told in the New Testament of the Bible, "God is love," while
the Old Testament tells of a God who kills women and children. Can they be the same God
when several verses tell us, "God does not change?" How can there be a God of
opposites? (Malachi 3:6; James 1:17)
Question Fifty Five: Many believe it is not always God's will to heal sickness. How could
this be true if Jesus "healed all that were oppressed of the devil," and exclaimed it was His
will to heal? God is either a healer or non-healer, if He is eternal and true. He has to be
one or the other. What about the scripture, again, that says, "God does not change?"
Could it be God's will to heal all today? (Matthew 13:15; Acts 10:38)
Question Fifty Six: Jesus said, "You will do greater works than these." If we are correct
in our current doctrines and dogmas, why haven't we seen these greater works? Could it
be we have missed his message? (John 14:12)
The End
I used to be involved in the "charismatic movement." It is the belief in the gifts of the Holy
Spirit being available not only to the original apostles, but to us here today. When one first
experiences the power of the spirit, he or she can be overwhelmed with a new and exciting
spiritual journey. It is like coming alive to something wonderful you had been missing right
before your eyes. All of a sudden, God becomes real to you. Many worldwide have
experienced prophecy, visions, dreams, spiritual tongues, healings and most importantly,
transformed lives. I personally have seen God's power come and "touch" an unsuspecting
person, incredibly changing them while sometimes even taking them physically down to the
ground. Many of these were people who would never allow themselves to be taken by
surprise, if they could have stopped it from happening. During these "manifestations" of
God's spirit, often times the different giftings or healings would appear.
There is one fine example that now comes to mind. I remember a very reserved,
non-charismatic lady in particular. "Leslie" came hobbling into the sanctuary of a local
church, about an hour before the service was to begin. Immediatley, I had asked her,
"What happened to you?" She replied, "It is a back problem that I recently found out from
my mom, runs in our family. Both my mom and aunt have it and have been told I am
destined to have it, also." Well, I was immediately under the impression that Leslie had
believed a lie about her health and so I told her if she wanted us to pray for her, she should
come up at the end of the morning service for us to "lay hands" upon her in prayer.
Someone must have seen the surprise on my face when Leslie came up for prayer that day.
We had many invitations over approximately two years for people to come up and receive
prayer, but never had she come up for herself. She must have thought prayer wasn't for
her, or that we might embarrass her. Still bothered by her limp, I felt inclined to read her a
passage from Galatians which stated that we are not entitled to curses, but blessings. The
mind is a powerful thing. I knew she had believed whole-heartedly that she was cursed
with some form of a hereditary disease and therefore had fallen ill. As I spoke those freeing
words to her, I waved my hands toward Leslie and the spirit of God poured upon her like a
river! She struggled to remain standing, but eventually succumbed to the power and fell
completely to the floor. She just wanted to be healed and stood up very surprised that day.
Her healing had come to her by simple faith, but also in a new and unique way.
With all the great things I witnessed by the power of the spirit, I knew there were major
things missing with our beliefs. For instance, we did not see all people healed as Jesus
spoke of and demonstrated. A good friend of mine once said, "It is like being up to bat in a
baseball game. When you make contact with the ball and drive it out of the ballpark, it is a
great feeling. You know it can be done. However, what about all the other times you
swing the bat and do not connect? How can you hit the ball perfectly every time?" He was
making a good point. If we are correct with our current beliefs and they are identical with
Jesus' teachings, why are we not having a 100% success rate with healings and miracles.
Who failed to heal? Was God too weak in power to heal one person, but plenty more
powerful and more willing to heal another? I believe what God would give to one, He
would give to another, as well.
I think our message has been wrong. In fact, I believe we totally missed Jesus' core
message as demonstrated by his life. I firmly believe we still do not know him or even
ourselves, yet. I think at times when we have seen miracles and healings we have
"connected" with a true faith and understanding, in line with God's spirit...truth.
When we haven't connected with God, I believe we have missed the mark and fallen short
of truth. What was his message? John stated in Revelation, "The testimony of Jesus is the
spirit of prophecy." I believe John was saying that when we look at Jesus' life of miracles,
healings and unconditional love, we are seeing who we really are to become. We become
Him (Jesus) by coming to the knowledge of the truth of who we are and what we already
have. His life prophesies or reveals God's plan for the future of mankind. This is Christ:
being one with your heavenly Father. Here are some questions to contemplate with
regard to Jesus' message and ministry:
Question Fifty One: The scriptures state "God is love," "Perfect love casts out all fear,"
and "Now there is no condemnation." How then, can preachers preach and teachers teach
a message of fear, condemnation and guilt? Is that "love" in light of Jesus words, "Love
your neighbor as yourself," and "Judge not lest you be judged?" Why didn't Jesus preach a
message of condemnation? (Romans 8:1; I John 4:8,18)
Question Fifty Two: Is fear, condemnation and guilt even from God or is it man-made?
Are not these the very things Jesus set people free from?
Question Fifty Three: Whom did Jesus speak against, the common people or the
religious leaders who led by fear, guilt and condemnation? (Matthew 23:13-16,23-29)
Question Fifty Four: We are told in the New Testament of the Bible, "God is love," while
the Old Testament tells of a God who kills women and children. Can they be the same God
when several verses tell us, "God does not change?" How can there be a God of
opposites? (Malachi 3:6; James 1:17)
Question Fifty Five: Many believe it is not always God's will to heal sickness. How could
this be true if Jesus "healed all that were oppressed of the devil," and exclaimed it was His
will to heal? God is either a healer or non-healer, if He is eternal and true. He has to be
one or the other. What about the scripture, again, that says, "God does not change?"
Could it be God's will to heal all today? (Matthew 13:15; Acts 10:38)
Question Fifty Six: Jesus said, "You will do greater works than these." If we are correct
in our current doctrines and dogmas, why haven't we seen these greater works? Could it
be we have missed his message? (John 14:12)
The End
Copyright 2002
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