Assumption

There is a naive assumption on the part of many that the Bible has about it some kind of magic power for good. Hope is living because hope rests on reality and not on fantasy. We must be careful that we do not use this as a wishful dreaming but realistic expectations from our Loving God. The effort to please God by faith is not, for it assumes that healing will automatically happen, an assumption wholly false.

The Word.. Spiritual Conviction

It only takes two people with two different point of view that they would appear to be arrogant to each other. Historically, people unconsciously select for special attention for whatever reasons or motives might be. Obviously, the Scriptures and history have taught us and still teaching us but as usual, we are "selective hearing" on various topics just as physical healing. Jesus is the Person who knows our needs, feels our pain, and sympathizes with our weakness. In exchange for our trust, He offers to forgive our sins, to intercede for us, and to bring us to His Father. He cried for us, died for us, and rose from the dead to show that He was all He claimed to be. Conquering death, He showed us that He can save us from our sins, live His life through us on earth, and then bring us safely to heaven. He offers Himself as a gift to anyone who will trust Him (John 20:24-31). The WORD is Jesus Christ. God's Word (the Bible) sometimes wounds us deeply and it is imperative because through the Bible, God speaks loudly. The Bible illumines the dark corners of heart and mind by exposing sin but reveals the way of rightousness. The Word of God (Bible) rebukes in order that we may see our faults. ''Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.'' Psalm 119:105 "For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Sciptures we might have hope." (Romans 15:4). This is what the WORD says: It is pride to refuse to acknowledge the conviction of the Holy Spirit to repent and turn to Jesus for salvation. Without the Holy Spirit, I could not REPENT. We cannot repent on our own. We are to repent with the help from the Holy Spirit who will help us TRANSFORM us to the image of God. People can either acknowledge the conviction of the Holy Spirit to repent and come to Christ in faith. OR Acts 7:51 "You stiff-necked people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are just like your fathers: You always resist the Holy Spirit! 1 Thessalonians 4:8 Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit. Are people willing to acknowledge the conviction of the Holy Spirit is the question. Since sin often ignores the Holy Spirit... not many will acknowledge. People will (as 2 Timothy 3:7 says) always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth. Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. The Bible was not written to satisfy your curiosity; it was written to transform your life. - Howard Hendricks Salvation is the key of Eternal Life. Healing is just visible secondary blessing. Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Visible and Inivisible

Just because we are Christians, think we have no other gods but we do. Often people put Denominations ahead of God. No one is exempt. We should all take a long hard look at what things we consider to be important. Christians' conclusions are either ignorance or loyalty to a specific denomination, cause or person. Church divisions have been going on since the New Testament days As Paul wrote in1 Corinthians 12-13 "One of you says, 'I follow Paul'; another, 'I follow Apollos'; another, 'I follow Cephas'; still another, 'I follow Christ.' Is Christ divided?" We are to focus on spiritual matters in the invisible church rather than temporal matters of the visible Church. We who love Jesus Christ constitute the true church. We belong to the collective Body of Christ whether we're alive or in glory. The Greek word for church is ekklesia, which means "an assembly of called-out ones. " The church is made up of people called by God to be His children. We have become united with all other believers by faith in Christ, who said, "I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it" (Matt. 16:18). Jesus meant He would gather together a body of believers. He wasn't talking about buildings; He was talking about people. We who know and love Him are the living church that has been born into the family of God by the Holy Spirit. As members of "the general assembly and church of the first-born, who are written in heaven" (Heb. 12:23), we have been declared righteous because our sin has been washed away by the blood of Jesus Christ (Rev. 1:5). We are Christians simply because we have accepted Christ as my Lord and Savior. As disciples, our Christian faith should be inward, not outward because the Bible teaches that faith is of the spirit and not of the flesh. Christ dwells in our hearts, and "Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27) is the burning core of the Christian faith. Jesus said in Matthew 22:37 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' He didn't say "Love the Church with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind." But again, visible is more pleasing to the eyes than invisible.

Spirit-filled Believer

We are spiritual with spiritual attitudes of our hearts. If the people are submitting to the Holy Spirit, who will give them fruit. Let the Holy Spirit do what He will through you. Spirit-lead is outlined in Galatians 5:22-23 "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control." Christians are no longer "in the flesh": "You are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him" (Rom 8:9). The Greek word for "dwells" is okv (oike), which means "I inhabit." "If Christ is in us, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness" (Romans 8:10). In other words, our human body is subject to death (and is already dying) because of sin, however our spirit is alive in Christ. We have eternal life in our possession, even though our body is dying because of sin. However, as Christians, our spirits are fully alive and thriving "because of righteousness"--because HE is justified and therefore already has "passed out of death into life" (John 5:24). "My temorary body is decaying at the same time, my inner being is being renewed day by day" (2 Cor 4:16). "If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit." Galatians 5:25. Remember, the Holy Spirit dwells in our hearts with all the power and gifts of God, necessary to enable us to walk the noble, spiritual, Son-like life with God. Romans 15:5 May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, Ephesians 4:3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

Strength

Let's get to word: "anything". Anything does not mean healing but "anything" that God will provide. In 2 Corinthians 12:9, God said: "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. God can only use believers who have limitations, which are weaknesses that the believer inherited or has no power to change, Later in James 1:12 states "Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to thoe who love him." The Holy Spirit gives us strength while our weaknesses create community. “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others.” I Peter 4:10 (NIV) This will result in God's approval of our lives, in His blessings and undertaking, and in spiritual growth and fruitfulness. Scripture References: 2 Corinthians 1:5 (NIV) For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. Romans 5:1-5 (NIV) Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (NIV) Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. Ephesians 3:20-21 (NIV) Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. Phillipians 2:13 (NIV) for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. Colossians 1:28-29 (NIV) We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.

Preoccupation of obtaining temporal blessings

Any selfish motives toward the blessings of God can destroy God's blessings' purposes and usefulness. Motive may be a selfish desire to do something for Jesus. It may be a desire to look good in the eyes of others. In the WoF world, motives are my primary problem because many desires are related to "NOW" rather than later. If what I have built survives, I will receive my reward; however, if it is burned up, I will suffer loss. I am still saved and I am sealed to enter into heaven regardless. Whatever I built spiritual during my human life, my rewards may escape through the flames. If my works passed the test and stand because they are true spiritual works of the Kingdom, then I will be rewarded according to my works. Now if my service to the Lord is consumed by preoccupation of getting healed then based on my wrong spiritual motives, then I will suffer the loss of them, and there will be no reward for me in heaven. If God wants to heal me, He will. Not on my own merit of faith. So, my spiritual goals are to lay up treasure in heaven. I am going to focus on building on the foundation (Christ) with the right spiritual motives, that my spiritual work will be gold, silver, and costly stones. "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." (Gal. 6:9)