So . . . are you asserting that
the only options left are
that
A) Jesus no longer heals?
or
B) that bitterness and resentment are great routes to healing
or
C) ???
I do not have bitterness and resentment, but neither am I going to sit back and watch believers get pummeled over their lack of healing, therefore lack of faith, by those who think they have all the pat answers. Those days are gone for me. I've been on the receiving end of that judgment and condemnation and no more for me or for anyone else.
The sick person needs compassion and understanding. They're usually dealing with enough on their plate without being lectured at. They're already struggling enough with their faith and relationship with God in the midst of something often life threatening. The last thing they need is other bashing them over the head about their lack of spirituality and deficient faith.
Tell me, what takes more faith? Getting healed? Or not getting healed and still loving Jesus and following Him and praising Him, knowing that God is GOOD anyway, even if things don't go the way I want all the time and trusting Him to get me through it? When I am weak, then I am strong.
It's easy to believe in a Santa God.
There is too much judgment and condemnation from the ranks of the charismatics. The legalism within is appalling.
1 Thessalonians 5:14-22 14 And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. 15 See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise prophecies, 21 but test everything; hold fast what is good. 22 Abstain from every form of evil.
The hypocrisy of some - 'can't you see what you are doing' - while keeping score is amazing. Talk about 'according to their own experiences'. We don't see the same admonishment given earlier for their reasons. I was trying to 'open their eyes' but they will have none of it unless it favors their agenda. And make their own stories - with their 'yeah, buts... and we have no idea' earlier in the thread.
They have no idea why he was sick but had no problem running off and using that Scripture for their agenda. No meditation on their part and that's called rightly dividing the word for them.
"But when he asks, he must believe and NOT doubt because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does."
With their mindset they pray in DOUBT. "If it be your will" - demonstrating have no idea what the will of God is. "I am the Lord that heals you" and "By My Stripes you were healed" means nothing to them - they DOUBT in their heart the very words of God.
"From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it." Matt 11:12
Enjoy your day as the Joy of The Lord is your strength! We won't find it here but lots of strife and bitterness and insults!