I will ask you 4 questions that I'm sure you are often asked. So often in fact, that they are probably considered absurd. But I would like to see your responses.
Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities." 1 Tim. 5:23.
Why wasn't Timothy prayed for and hands layed on him to heal his "often infirmities" ? Where were the divine healers when such a great man as Timothy was in need of healing?
Perhaps the same place St Paul was when The Lord told him HIS GRACE WAS SUFFICIENT regarding his “thorn in the flesh!”
Where did I say there are NO MYSTERIES in our Christian walk?
Where did I say ANY of us no longer “see through the glass dimly” but now see all things with crystal clarity?
2. When was the last time someone in your church handled snakes? Mark 16:18 says "they SHALL". Not some of them. Or only those with enough faith. It says ALL WHO BELIEVE. They SHALL.
Absolutely and I believe it entirely. I have come across folks who were bitten by deadly poisonous snakes in missionary situations without ill effect. As we know from what Christ said—DO NOT TEMPT THE LORD YOUR GOD. Deliberate snake handling is absurd. Nevertheless, GOD’S PROMISE IS STILL OPERANT AND EFFECTIVE for fitting cases of snake bite.
3. Who in your church has drank poison and survived? Once again, "they SHALL". Not a few. ALL that believe.
Again, The PROMISES OF GOD are STILL operant and in effect. I’ve talked with folks where enemies of missionaries tried to poison them with no effects. And, I, myself, unwittingly drank some pretty dreadful stuff on the mission field without ill effects. Again, that’s quite different from TEMPTING THE LORD YOUR GOD by drinking poison deliberately to ‘TEST GOD.’ Foolishness is still foolishness regardless of the rationalizations involved.
You cannot have it both ways. Take the verses you like and run with them, take the ones you're not so comfortable with and let them lay unanswered. Either ALL THAT BELIEVE ARE ABLE TO DO THESE THINGS, or they are NOT. OR, perhaps, there is another answer to this conundrum.
No conundrum. Like the 3 children of Israel in the fiery furnace . . . OH KING, OUR GOD IS ABLE TO DELIVER US. HOWEVER, IF PER-CHANCE FOR WHATEVER REASON, HE CHOOSES NOT TO IN THIS CASE, WE WILL STILL NOT BOW DOWN TO YOU—IF WE DIE WE DIE. YEA THOUGH HE SLAY ME, YET WILL I SERVE HIM. That’s the proper stance.
God has always shown Himself faithful in behalf of those WHO TRUSTED HIS PROMISES AND HIS GIFTINGS IN FITTING FAITH AND OBEDIENCE.
God is not obligated to support foolishness any more than Peter put up with the foolishness of the bloke wanting to pay money to be able to lay hands on people and have them healed.
The attitude behind such things is foolishness and worse. God does NOT affirm such foolishness.
HE DOES affirm His promises and giftings.
Those who teach against Holy Spirit’s manifestations and operations in the whole of the Church Era are on very hazardous ground. AT best they will look back with grief at what MIGHT HAVE BEEN in their life and ministry had they been more fair-minded, objective and obedient to The Scriptures on such matters.
It does NOT say that a few will do these things; it say ALL who believe. It does NOT say pick out a few signs that fit your personality and let them be for you; it says ALL signs are for ALL who believe.
THAT is the point, Quix. When God says ALL who belive can DO things, it is NOT tempting Him to believe what He says.
I'm not nit-picking this. I am trying to understand how something that is PLAINLY stated by Jesus Christ can be taken any other way than the way He said it.
Why didn't Paul lay hands on Timothy and heal him of his often stomach infirmities? There MUST be a reason. Or else Paul was out of the will of God, if he had the gift of healing and did not use that gift to heal. THere IS a reason. But you refuse to see it.
I cannot, in good conscience, just let your words go unanswered. But I cannot, in good conscience, argue with my brother in Christ. HERE is a conundrum my FRiend..