Miracles II
Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for a feast of the Jews. Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. Here a great number of disabled people used to lie—the blind, the lame, the paralyzed. One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, "Do you want to get well?" "Sir," the invalid replied, "I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me." Then Jesus said to him, "Get up! Pick up your mat and walk." At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.
John 5
As Jesus and the disciples were going to the official's home, a woman who had had a hemorrhage for twelve years came up behind him. She touched the fringe of his robe, for she thought, "If I can just touch his robe, I will be healed." Jesus turned around and said to her, "Daughter, be encouraged! Your faith has made you well." And the woman was healed at that moment.
Matthew 9
As Jesus and his disciples were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed him. Two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was going by, they shouted, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!" The crowd rebuked them and told them to be quiet, but they shouted all the louder, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!" Jesus stopped and called them. "What do you want me to do for you?" he asked. "Lord," they answered, "we want our sight." Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him.
Matthew 20
Three years ago I was in a conference. This man who I had never heard of before was coming to town to have a miracle crusade. I don't remember anyone making so much noise about a confernece in years. Mexico is not so big in conferences as the US.
It was a great project. He recruited several teenager missionaries to come to Cancun to work in this conference. 10 days in total. The first 4 days was conference like. With session and speakers and stuff like that. After that, 1 day of outreach for everyone and the next day the crusade. The miracle crusade.
I was a translator, which meant that I had to interpret for the prayer people. All kinds of sick people came waiting for a miracle. Some just went because of curiosity and others to find some sort of fault or wrong doing. I had never seen so many sick people at the same time. Blind, deaf, lame were the easy ones to recognize. Many had had months of back pain, chest pain, heart problems, mental diseases, possessed people, etcetera.
Day by day the servie would start with worship and then this guy would speak. He spoke mostly about Jesus' miracles and how faith is an active movement that literally shakes creation and the spiritual world. He stressed the fact that every time that Jesus had an encounter with anyone that was sick, he never did anything without communication with, most times, the sick person, or someone who interceded for them (i.e. the centurion). Jesus never did any miracle without first understanding from the person in despair what the problem was, and after assesting their faith, he would act.
He would make a gospel altar call, explaining about God's redemption plan for humanity and our main problem where we can't reach God and we are naturally condemned to an eternity of darkness, but through Christ all of that can change.
After this, the healing miracles would begin. He prayed individually as much as he could, and along with the prayer partners they would lay hands on as many people as possible. Many received healing, many didn't, and I wondered.
One night, the last night I believe, he asked specifically for kids to come. All kids who had trouble walking because of flat-foot problems. As with all of the people that were prayed for, we verified as much as possible the evidence of the sickness. Some had skin problem, we would see, some couldn't walk or were in wheelchairs. With these kids we had them take their shoes off and we checked their feet.
A little girl was next to me and she showed me her feet. I touched them and felt how both of them were flat. A pastor was next to me and confirmed it, just like with everyone else. At least two people would confirm the sickness and the miracle.
The kids were asked to jump on their feet along with the music and he said that while they were jumping, the Spirit of God touched them and their feet were healed.
What I saw later, because I prayed directly for her, I cannot compare. I saw lots of people get their sight back, hearing, walking, pains gone, skin problems, all kinds of things, but something more..'simple' as a flat-foot changed my life forever.
When we checked her feet again she had a beautiful arch. THe difference was undeniable. It wasn't the product of imagination. I touched her feet and felt how she lacked an arch, flat as a table and then, no more.
Many churches, hence, many people, today deny or simply don't talk about these things because it's too scary, too unnatural, too... weird.
Like I said, they don't deny the existence of miracles, but they label it, and always give you an euphemistic way out saying 'well.. ultimately God can do anything He wants and we are no one to say what He can or can't do'. It's a nice out, but it's just a way to stay accordingly to Scripture, it's not a statement of belief.
They tell you 'be careful' or 'there are many fakes out there'. I couldn't agree more. Unfortunately it happens.
On a previous post I mention how I believe that although knows the future and nothing surprises Him, I believe that that doesn't mean that we are not writing the story of the universe. I believe that the universe shakes with everything we do. That it wouldn't make sense to pray if there was no use for it. Let me explain before you disagree.
In conservative theology, prayer is said to be pleasing to God. Sure, no problem. It says that God expects us to pray. Sure. It says it's an excercise of faith. Fine, but stop.
Faith is the confident assuracne that what we hope for is going to happen. According to Hebrews 11 that is.
Now, notice the word hope. Hope is attached to desire. You cannot hope what you don't desire. It's just the way it is. Now, keep that thought in mind for a second.
We have two wills. God's will and man's will. Hardcore calvinism (presbyterians, some baptists) explains that God is sovereign and that He determines every single thing we do or don't do. That's where the 5 points of calvinism rests, in which they say, by the way, that God predestines people on who goes to hell and who goes to heaven.
Now, join this thought and the one I asked you to hold before. If faith is confidence assurance that what he hope, what we desire will happen, if you hold the second thought as true, then what I hope, what I desire, what I wish and long for, does not matter at all, since everything is pre-scripted and nothing really changes, then it doesn't matter what I desire, which defines what I think, believe and ultimately, what I am.
Now, what I think God's sovereignty is, is God's capacity as Creator and Ruler of the universe to over-rule man's will. He gives man will to decide because ultimately love, worship and devotion, has to be a gift, something we decide to do. Our love for Him cannot be forced or predestined. Does God know we will eventually love Him? Yes, but that doesn't He decided for us. It's like if I have a wife and I know she will get strawberry ice cream over anyother flavor. I just know what will happen if we ever get ice cream, but it doesn't mean that I decided for her.
Jesus asked the blind man 'what is it that you want?' He addressed his desire. He explored that part of his heart.
Now, to finish this part, this does not mean that we can do wish whatever we want and exchange it with God just because we 'wish for it'. He's not a genie in a bottle. There is a general rule I believe to be true when it comes to prayer. Here' how it goes:
Through prayer, you cannot 'convince' (lacking a better word) God to do something he DOESN'T want to do, but through prayer you can convince God NOT TO DO something we wants to do.
Think of Moses and Abraham. The two only men in the Bible recorded as 'friends of God'. When God was going to blow up Sodome and Gomorrah Abraham interceded to God so that he holds his fire if at least 10 just men were found there. God wanted to blow up the whole cities, but Abraham convinced Him to do otherwise. Same thing with Moses, over and over again saving the Israelites butt because they did nothing but complain all day long, and God was angry at them and wanted to get rid of them, but Moses kept praying and asking God to have patience, and his prayer saved Israel from destruction. Did God know this would happen? Yes, but it doesn't mean Abraham and Moses intercessions didn't have an impact.
I have to believe prayer has power. That it makes a difference. What I learn from Moses and Abraham is that God, as humble as He is, chose to have mercy on stupid people for the love of one righteous man. I wish I was as devoted as them. Another thing I learn from all this is that God, again, as humble as He is, gives us, wicked, rotten, evil people, the responsability of His creation, He gave it all to us, and all we have to do is enjoy it, and take care of it, and He chooses to let us choose Him instead of anything else, He wants us to come as we are, no strings attached, no fake spirituality but true desires and tears. He wants us to come and let us know we are deeply loved and that it doesn't matter who we are and where we have been, that he will still rejoice with our repentant heart, and will always remain the same.
The biggest miracle I've witnessed wasn't to pray for that girl and see her be healed, but to come to God one day, and literally feel that Him and I, we're ok.
John 5
As Jesus and the disciples were going to the official's home, a woman who had had a hemorrhage for twelve years came up behind him. She touched the fringe of his robe, for she thought, "If I can just touch his robe, I will be healed." Jesus turned around and said to her, "Daughter, be encouraged! Your faith has made you well." And the woman was healed at that moment.
Matthew 9
As Jesus and his disciples were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed him. Two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was going by, they shouted, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!" The crowd rebuked them and told them to be quiet, but they shouted all the louder, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!" Jesus stopped and called them. "What do you want me to do for you?" he asked. "Lord," they answered, "we want our sight." Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him.
Matthew 20
Three years ago I was in a conference. This man who I had never heard of before was coming to town to have a miracle crusade. I don't remember anyone making so much noise about a confernece in years. Mexico is not so big in conferences as the US.
It was a great project. He recruited several teenager missionaries to come to Cancun to work in this conference. 10 days in total. The first 4 days was conference like. With session and speakers and stuff like that. After that, 1 day of outreach for everyone and the next day the crusade. The miracle crusade.
I was a translator, which meant that I had to interpret for the prayer people. All kinds of sick people came waiting for a miracle. Some just went because of curiosity and others to find some sort of fault or wrong doing. I had never seen so many sick people at the same time. Blind, deaf, lame were the easy ones to recognize. Many had had months of back pain, chest pain, heart problems, mental diseases, possessed people, etcetera.
Day by day the servie would start with worship and then this guy would speak. He spoke mostly about Jesus' miracles and how faith is an active movement that literally shakes creation and the spiritual world. He stressed the fact that every time that Jesus had an encounter with anyone that was sick, he never did anything without communication with, most times, the sick person, or someone who interceded for them (i.e. the centurion). Jesus never did any miracle without first understanding from the person in despair what the problem was, and after assesting their faith, he would act.
He would make a gospel altar call, explaining about God's redemption plan for humanity and our main problem where we can't reach God and we are naturally condemned to an eternity of darkness, but through Christ all of that can change.
After this, the healing miracles would begin. He prayed individually as much as he could, and along with the prayer partners they would lay hands on as many people as possible. Many received healing, many didn't, and I wondered.
One night, the last night I believe, he asked specifically for kids to come. All kids who had trouble walking because of flat-foot problems. As with all of the people that were prayed for, we verified as much as possible the evidence of the sickness. Some had skin problem, we would see, some couldn't walk or were in wheelchairs. With these kids we had them take their shoes off and we checked their feet.
A little girl was next to me and she showed me her feet. I touched them and felt how both of them were flat. A pastor was next to me and confirmed it, just like with everyone else. At least two people would confirm the sickness and the miracle.
The kids were asked to jump on their feet along with the music and he said that while they were jumping, the Spirit of God touched them and their feet were healed.
What I saw later, because I prayed directly for her, I cannot compare. I saw lots of people get their sight back, hearing, walking, pains gone, skin problems, all kinds of things, but something more..'simple' as a flat-foot changed my life forever.
When we checked her feet again she had a beautiful arch. THe difference was undeniable. It wasn't the product of imagination. I touched her feet and felt how she lacked an arch, flat as a table and then, no more.
Many churches, hence, many people, today deny or simply don't talk about these things because it's too scary, too unnatural, too... weird.
Like I said, they don't deny the existence of miracles, but they label it, and always give you an euphemistic way out saying 'well.. ultimately God can do anything He wants and we are no one to say what He can or can't do'. It's a nice out, but it's just a way to stay accordingly to Scripture, it's not a statement of belief.
They tell you 'be careful' or 'there are many fakes out there'. I couldn't agree more. Unfortunately it happens.
On a previous post I mention how I believe that although knows the future and nothing surprises Him, I believe that that doesn't mean that we are not writing the story of the universe. I believe that the universe shakes with everything we do. That it wouldn't make sense to pray if there was no use for it. Let me explain before you disagree.
In conservative theology, prayer is said to be pleasing to God. Sure, no problem. It says that God expects us to pray. Sure. It says it's an excercise of faith. Fine, but stop.
Faith is the confident assuracne that what we hope for is going to happen. According to Hebrews 11 that is.
Now, notice the word hope. Hope is attached to desire. You cannot hope what you don't desire. It's just the way it is. Now, keep that thought in mind for a second.
We have two wills. God's will and man's will. Hardcore calvinism (presbyterians, some baptists) explains that God is sovereign and that He determines every single thing we do or don't do. That's where the 5 points of calvinism rests, in which they say, by the way, that God predestines people on who goes to hell and who goes to heaven.
Now, join this thought and the one I asked you to hold before. If faith is confidence assurance that what he hope, what we desire will happen, if you hold the second thought as true, then what I hope, what I desire, what I wish and long for, does not matter at all, since everything is pre-scripted and nothing really changes, then it doesn't matter what I desire, which defines what I think, believe and ultimately, what I am.
Now, what I think God's sovereignty is, is God's capacity as Creator and Ruler of the universe to over-rule man's will. He gives man will to decide because ultimately love, worship and devotion, has to be a gift, something we decide to do. Our love for Him cannot be forced or predestined. Does God know we will eventually love Him? Yes, but that doesn't He decided for us. It's like if I have a wife and I know she will get strawberry ice cream over anyother flavor. I just know what will happen if we ever get ice cream, but it doesn't mean that I decided for her.
Jesus asked the blind man 'what is it that you want?' He addressed his desire. He explored that part of his heart.
Now, to finish this part, this does not mean that we can do wish whatever we want and exchange it with God just because we 'wish for it'. He's not a genie in a bottle. There is a general rule I believe to be true when it comes to prayer. Here' how it goes:
Through prayer, you cannot 'convince' (lacking a better word) God to do something he DOESN'T want to do, but through prayer you can convince God NOT TO DO something we wants to do.
Think of Moses and Abraham. The two only men in the Bible recorded as 'friends of God'. When God was going to blow up Sodome and Gomorrah Abraham interceded to God so that he holds his fire if at least 10 just men were found there. God wanted to blow up the whole cities, but Abraham convinced Him to do otherwise. Same thing with Moses, over and over again saving the Israelites butt because they did nothing but complain all day long, and God was angry at them and wanted to get rid of them, but Moses kept praying and asking God to have patience, and his prayer saved Israel from destruction. Did God know this would happen? Yes, but it doesn't mean Abraham and Moses intercessions didn't have an impact.
I have to believe prayer has power. That it makes a difference. What I learn from Moses and Abraham is that God, as humble as He is, chose to have mercy on stupid people for the love of one righteous man. I wish I was as devoted as them. Another thing I learn from all this is that God, again, as humble as He is, gives us, wicked, rotten, evil people, the responsability of His creation, He gave it all to us, and all we have to do is enjoy it, and take care of it, and He chooses to let us choose Him instead of anything else, He wants us to come as we are, no strings attached, no fake spirituality but true desires and tears. He wants us to come and let us know we are deeply loved and that it doesn't matter who we are and where we have been, that he will still rejoice with our repentant heart, and will always remain the same.
The biggest miracle I've witnessed wasn't to pray for that girl and see her be healed, but to come to God one day, and literally feel that Him and I, we're ok.
posted by Havoc at 4:48 PM
1 Comments:
very nice =) mmust have been an unbelievble experience
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