Issue of Faith & Healing (3)

By Hazel Holland

Let us take a look at the context of this familiar passage of Scripture in James and see if we can more fully understand the type of healing being talked about here.

“Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer offered in faith will restore (or save) the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him. Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.” James 5:14-16 (NASB)

In order to interpret this passage correctly I believe that we must not only look at the context in order to understand the nature of the healing being talked about, but also weigh it against other Scriptures so that we will be in harmony with the whole counsel of God in the way we apply it. Above all else we must understand that God is sovereign, and He answers our prayers for healing or anything else according to His will as the following passage of Scripture teaches.

“These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life. This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him.” 1 John 5:13-15 (NASB)

As we look again at the context of James 5:13-15, notice that the final part of verse 15 helps verify the importance of what is being promised here when James says, in speaking about the sick person, “and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him.” I believe that the spiritual sickness of the soul is again being talked about here rather that the physical sickness of the body, because James ends his discourse by saying: “Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed.” This of course in no way rules out physical healing, but it again emphasizes the spiritual healing of our souls that takes precedence. In fact confession of sin and the receiving forgiveness often prepares the way for the physical healing of our bodies.

I also found it interesting to note that the word “save” is used here rather than “heal” in many translations. As I have already suggested that doesn’t exclude physical healing, but I believe it puts physical healing in a secondary role because the primary role of healing is to heal our souls from sin. That is why I believe James says “and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.” Knowing that we have already been forgiven for our sins because Jesus took our punishment as our Substitute is a healing and restorative truth.

Yes, of course God wants us to pray in faith and anoint the sick with oil, but all of our prayers for physical healing must still be submitted to His sovereign will and timing and be within the context of other scriptural teachings. If we insist on believing that physical healing is always guaranteed when we mechanically follow the steps outlined in James 5 we will be forced to not only ignore our own reality, but also to take the responsibility for our lack of faith if we are not healed. The worst part of this kind of belief system is that it totally fails to factor in the sovereignty of God in physical healing. As we have already seen, John clearly tells us that we must be submitted to God’s will in this healing business, because God is still sovereign and He decides whom and when to heal.

Moreover, if we choose to believe that Jesus healed everyone during His earthly ministry, we have not taken note of a number of occasions where Jesus passed by many people that he could have healed in order to reach the one person that He did heal. An example of this would be the story of the man Jesus healed by the pool of Bethesda. Jesus could have healed all who were sick that day by the pool of Bethesda, but He only selected one man to heal, and then He “slipped away into the crowd that was there.” John 5:13 (NIV)

I’m sure there were many times Jesus passed by that pool during His three and a half years of ministry, yet this is the only biblical record of healing in that place. Similarly, Jesus could have healed everyone around him in the story of the blind man in John 9, but He chose to heal only this one man who was blind from birth so that “the works of God should be revealed in him.” In other words it was for the glory of God!

Instead of saying that Jesus healed everyone when He was here, it would be more biblically correct to say that He healed all who came and asked. But He did not heal everyone, because the Scriptures tell us that there were places that He went where He would not heal anyone, or he healed very few because of their unbelief in Him (See Matthew 13:54-58).

So how much faith did a person need to exercise in order to get healed by Jesus? At times Jesus would tell someone that they would be healed according to their faith (the Roman Centurion’s servant). At other times the faith of the person wasn’t involved at all as in the raising of Lazarus from the dead. Lazarus had been dead for four days so he couldn’t be a participant in his healing. What’s more, the people gathered around Jesus waiting to see what He would do certainly didn’t believe Jesus could raise Lazarus from the dead. Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead for the glory of God (John 11:40).

I also found it interesting to discover that Jesus miraculously provided food for 5,000 people and later 4,000 people without their faith or lack of faith being an issue (See Luke 9:13-14; Matthew 14:17; Matthew 15:33). He did it because He saw they were tired and hungry and “He was moved with compassion for them.” Matthew 15:14; Matthew 14:32 (NKJ)

Therefore, I think we can safely conclude from these situations that we have looked at so far that God is NOT dependent on our faith in Him before He can perform miraculous healings and wondrous signs on our behalf. He sovereignly chooses when and whom to heal. At times our faith or lack of faith in Him does not determine whether He will heal us or not.

If our level of faith was always the determining factor in healing then we would all be looking within ourselves for the power instead of trusting in the power of God outside of us. This is man-centered theology and has nothing to do with the real faith once for all delivered to the saints (Jude 3).

We must not believe those who tell us that we are not healed because of our lack of faith. Neither must we believe those who insist on informing us that the devil stole our healing because we failed to keep our faith built up. Besides being a manipulation of Scripture, it is false. The object of our faith must always be Jesus Christ, but Scripture also reveals that God isn’t limited in healing us if we lack faith in Him. Yes, faith always pleases God. But God still chooses whom He will heal or not heal because He is ultimately sovereign.

Gathering from what we have just read apparently there is no list of rules that Jesus gave believers to follow that will insure physical healing every time we pray for one another. If Jesus didn’t choose to heal everyone during His earthly ministry, why do we measure the success of someone’s healing ministry today by the number of documented physical healings? Is it because miraculous physical healings take precedence over spiritual healings because they can be seen? But what takes place in our hearts when we repent of our sins and follow Jesus Christ is far more miraculous and precious in God’s eyes that what we can see with our natural eyes.

To continue this study go to "When God says, No! (4)" at: http://sound-the-trumpet.blogspot.com/2008/09/when-god-says-no-4.html

Healing Scriptures (1)

by Hazel

The first thing that came to mind as I began preparing to study the subject of healing and the atonement was this picture of a bronze serpent being lifted up on a pole in the wilderness. You remember the story. Sometime after the Israelites had come out of Egypt they began to murmur and complain against God and Moses. So God sent fiery serpents upon them, and many of the people who were bitten died.

After the people confessed their sin to Moses and pleaded with him to ask God to take away the serpents, God told Moses to make a bronze serpent and set it up on a pole. Everyone who had been bitten by the serpents was to simply look at this bronze serpent and they would live (See Numbers 21:4-9).

What happened to the people who looked at the bronze serpent? They were healed from the poisonous bites and they lived. The healing being provided here for the Israelites was spiritual healing for the soul from sin that resulted in the physical healing of their bodies from the venom of the serpents that represented sin.

In the the midst of the judgment upon their sin, God provided a remedy for the Israelites. But even though that solution was simple many still refused to “look and live”. I wonder if they had been instructed to do something that would require some effort on their part would they have considered looking, and lived.

This lifting up of a bronze serpent on a pole in the wilderness was a symbol of the death of Jesus Christ on the Cross that the Old Testament prophets foretold. The following verses indicate the kind of death by which Jesus was to atone for our sins. When Jesus said to Nicodemus:

“As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up.” He added: “Whoever believes in Him (who was lifted up on the Cross) should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:14-15 (NASB)

“And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself.” John 12:32 (NASB)

Before we examine further Scriptures, it should be noted that the promise that Jesus would atone for our sins was made before the foundation of the world. He was “the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” Revelation 13:8 (NKJ)

Christ being “slain from the foundation of the world” illustrates that the efficacy of Christ's sacrifice is not limited by time. God had all ready ordained a Savior before there was sin. The beneficial effects of that death had been made before the creation of the world. It was as good as “done” from the time that God ordained it.

“who has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.” 2 Timothy 1:9 (NIV)

Before we look at further “healing” Scriptures I think it is important to note that the Hebrew word for healing (rapha) in the Old Testament usually does not refer to the physical healing of the body, but it is more commonly used to refer to the spiritual healing of the soul. On the other hand the Greek word for healing (therapeu) in the New Testament is from which we get the word “therapeutic”, and it always refers to physical healing.

Let us now look at two well known verses of Scripture and consider the context of both of them.

“But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed (rapha)." Isaiah 53:5 (NKJ)

"He Himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sin and live for righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed (rapha)." 1 Peter 2:24 (ESV)

I believe the context is salvation. These two verses are talking about what Jesus Christ endured on the cross as He provided atonement for our sins. Clearly they cannot be interpreted any other way. When Peter quoted Isaiah 53:5 it is clearly in reference to spiritual healing by the fact that Peter says in the very next verse, “for you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.” 1 Peter 2: 25 (ESV)

However, when these verses are used by some of us who have been indoctrinated by the word of the word of faith teachings we feel that it is perfectly legitimate to change the context from salvation to physical healing. In fact, every time some of us see the word “heal” in the Bible we immediately assume it refers to healing for the body even if the context indicates otherwise.

It cannot be over emphasized that there are many places in Scripture where the word “healing” has specific reference to spiritual healing. This is because there are diseases of the soul that have to be healed, the primary disease of the soul being man's unregenerate state which is rooted in sin. The good news of the gospel is that God has provided healing for this disease of the soul.”[1]

I believe this is what Isaiah and Peter are talking about in Isaiah 53:5, and 1 Peter 2:24. Neither Peter nor Isaiah is saying that physical healing is guaranteed to every believer in Jesus Christ in the here and now as some want to believe.

Let’s read 1 Peter 2:24 again from another translation and see without a doubt that the healing mentioned in this verse is healing the soul from sin!

“Jesus took upon Himself our sins [when] His body was placed upon the cross so that we, [through] dying to [i.e., giving up] the sinful life, would live for righteousness. You were healed [from your sins] by His being brutally treated" (The New Testament: An Understandable Version).

As we look at further passages of Scripture from the Old Testament let’s notice how the context gives us clues as to what type of healing is being mentioned.

“If you listen carefully to the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord who heals (“rapha”) you.” Exodus 15:26 (NIV)

“Who forgives all your sins, and heals (“rapha”) all your diseases..." Psalms 103:3 (NIV)

"Return, O faithless sons; I will heal (rapha) your faithlessness." Jeremiah 3:22 (ASV)

"I said, LORD, be merciful unto me: heal (rapha) my soul; for I have sinned against thee.” Psalm 41:4 (NKJ)

“And the LORD heard Hezekiah and healed (rapha) the people.” 2 Chronicles 30:20 (ESV)

“Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk; I took them up by their arms, but they did not know that I healed (rapha) them.” Hosea 11:3 (ESV)

“When I would heal (rapha) Israel, the iniquity of Ephraim is revealed, and the evil deeds of Samaria; for they deal falsely; the thief breaks in, and the bandits raid outside.” Hosea 7:1 (ESV)

“He sent His Word and healed (rapha) them, and delivered them from their destructions." Psalms 107:20 (NKJ)

Notice that the healing being spoken about in all of these verses is largely spiritual in nature because it is dealing with Israel’s unfaithfulness, iniquities and sin. Therefore it would be safe to say that the healing promised by God in these verses is primarily the same as the healing already mentioned in 1 Peter 2:24 and Isaiah 53:5 where God promised to provide spiritual healing for the disease of the soul—sin. Of course that does not rule out physical healing, but I do not believe the context guarantees it as many of us want to believe.

So why does "rapha" in the Old Testament refer more to spiritual healing than to physical healing? Why does God place much more emphasis on spiritual healing than physical healing in the Old Testament? Surely it is because without spiritual healing for our souls we would indeed die for our sins and be eternally separated from Him. God does not view physical healing as importantly as we do because He knows that the end result of physical healing in this life will still result in the death of our mortal bodies. Only at the final resurrection when we receive new glorified bodies will death finally be swallowed up in victory.

(To continue study go to "Difference Between Sin & Sickness" (2)at:http://sound-the-trumpet.blogspot.com/2008/09/difference-between-sin-and-sickness-1.html)

[1] Document by the Christian Research Institute (CRI), Copyright 1994.

Difference Between Sin and Sickness (2)

By Hazel Holland

I think it is important for us to consider for a moment the primary difference between sin and sickness—between the spiritual healing of our souls and the physical healing of our bodies. Some believers have wanted to lump sin and sickness together as one and the same as far as the atonement is concerned, but I don’t believe it is biblically sound to do that.

Let us think about it for a minute. Sin deserves the penalty of death, but in no sense can the same be said for sickness or disease. Christ forgave sin, but He never forgave sickness or disease, because it is only sin that has separated us from God. It is sin that demands punishment by a blood sacrifice. It is sin that demands punishment by death. Jesus Christ took the punishment for our sins upon Himself and bore that punishment in our place.

Of course, one of the natural consequences of sin is sickness and disease. But if sickness and disease needed atonement, wouldn’t that imply broken fellowship with God? If we are honest we will have to admit that some of the most important spiritual lessons of life have been learned when we have been flat on our backs from sickness or disease.

Most certainly I believe that the spiritual healing of our souls that Christ purchased for us through His atonement extends from the spiritual realm of our souls into the physical realm of our bodies. By bearing our sins upon Himself, He also ultimately took care of the natural results of sin—sickness, disease, demonic activity and death.

However, having said that, I believe we have to admit that this secondary benefit of the healing of our physical bodies cannot fully be realized here and now. We battle disease and death every day of our lives, because we still live in a sinful world that is groaning to be delivered from the curse of sin.

But the word of faith teachers tell us that the healing promised us in the atonement covers our sins as well as our sicknesses. For them there is no primary difference between the spiritual healing of the soul and the physical healing of the body. Furthermore, they claim we are entitled to receive both spiritual and physical healing here and now by faith. Although they believe that we will receive new glorified bodies at the final resurrection (Philippians 3:21), they also believe that physical healing is guaranteed here and now by faith as we await the end of all things.

I pray that it will become clear as we study the Scriptures that the primary purpose of the atonement was to deal with the spiritual sickness of our souls—sin, whereas the secondary benefit of the atonement was to begin to correct the effects of sin in our bodies such as sickness and disease. Hopefully, we will see that physical healing is a benefit of the atonement, but not an irrevocable gift that we are entitled to receive in the here and now.[1]

(To continue this study go to "Issue of Faith & Healing" (3) at: http://sound-the-trumpet.blogspot.com/2008/09/issue-of-faith-healing-3.html

[1] www.does-god-always-heal.com

Healing and the Atonement: Introduction

By Hazel Holland

When the question is asked, "Is healing provided in the atonement?" the answer we are essentially asking is, “Is physical healing guaranteed in this life as a result of God’s saving work for us through Jesus Christ's life, death and resurrection in the same way that spiritual healing is guaranteed?”

We know that Jesus Christ came to save and deliver us from our sins, but does His atonement also deliver us from our sicknesses—now? Is physical healing from disease promised in this life when we pray for people in the same way that spiritual healing is?

What prompted me to begin this study on healing was seeing many friends die from cancer over the past seven or eight years. In spite of the fact that they all received the best medical treatment, along with much healing prayer from many members of the body of Christ, they all went to be with the Lord.

One of the things that troubled me the most as I watched these friends suffer was hearing other brothers and sisters prophesy over them that the Lord was going to heal them, because it was His will that they live and not die. The same “healing” Scriptures were repeatedly quoted to support their prophetic words. They sincerely believed that they just had to speak the healing word and my friends would be healed. They adamantly reasoned that God does not want us to be sick.

For years I agonizingly watched as some of these friends became very discouraged as the healing word they received didn’t stop the spread of cancer in their bodies. Although prayer seemed to encourage them to trust in God’s love and rest in His faithfulness, it didn’t restore their sick bodies back to health as the word of faith proponents promised.

In spite of seeing no physical healing manifest in her body one of my friends continued to believe right up to the very end that she would be healed. She truly believed that “by His wounds she had been healed!” “I’m just waiting for the healing to manifest,” she explained “because physical healing for my cancer has been provided for me in the atonement!

I remember another one of my friends grieving over what she supposed was her inadequate faith to be healed. She kept striving to muster up more faith, or be touched by the “right” anointed person. When physical healing did not happen after many months and then stretched into a couple of years of praying and running to get in various healing lines, she eventually became seriously depressed and wondered why God didn’t answer the many prayers of faith that had been offered up on her behalf.

As she began to question God’s love for her I began to question the biblical soundness of some of the faith-healing teachings. Since God wasn’t answering our prayers of faith in the way we wanted, I began to question if we rightly understood the “healing” Scriptures that we had been encouraged to claim by our word of faith friends.

Although so many of us longed to see physical healing manifest in the here and now, all my friends eventually died. But it certainly wasn’t because of any lack of faith or cherished sin on anyone’s part that prevented God from answering our prayers.

So I had to ask myself some difficult questions as I began this study on healing. Hopefully, as we search for a more biblical understanding of the healing that has been provided for us in the atonement, we will find answers to the questions listed below. I will try to discuss them in the order they are presented.

1. Have we inadvertently been violating one of the primary rules of biblical interpretation by taking “healing” Scriptures out of their context, and in so doing have misinterpreted the type of “healing” being promised?

2. What is the primary difference between sin and sickness?

3. Is faith in Jesus Christ always a condition for our healing, and if so, is there a certain degree of faith required on our part in order for God to heal us?

4. Does God sometimes say, “No” to physical healing?

5. Have we also misunderstood the dual application of some healing passages by believing that physical healing is always guaranteed here and now when in reality it is only guaranteed at the final resurrection of the righteous?

6. What is the Biblical relationship between healing and suffering?

7. Is the “Prosperity Gospel" found in the atonement?

8. Have we misunderstood the “greater works” prophecy of Jesus by thinking He was primarily speaking of miraculous signs and physical healings?

9. Have we failed to understand the primary focus of the Great Commission by majoring on the “signs that will follow those who believe” instead of the preaching of the Good News of salvation?

In order to answer these questions we will look at some familiar “healing” Scriptures in their context in order to see what the Word of God has to say about the subject of healing and the atonement. I believe it is crucial as we begin this study that we recognize that God’s reconciling work for us on the cross is grounded on His unconditional love for us and His sovereign knowledge of our desperate human need.

* To continue this study go to Chapter 1: Healing Scriptures

He Who Does the Will of My Father

By Hazel Holland

As I finished reading the Parable of the Sower in Mark 4:3-9, this familiar phrase of Jesus at the close of the parable caught my attention. “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” I was reminded that the seven letters to the seven churches in Revelation each end with that same familiar phrase. “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” Obviously then what is being taught by Jesus in this parable is important. He desires that we grasp the significance of His parabolic teaching.

Later when Jesus was alone, the disciples came to Him wanting to understand the meaning behind this parable that He had spoken to the large crowds that day. They had ears that wanted to hear. He told them, “The secret of the kingdom has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables so that, ‘they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding…’” (Mark 4:11-12).

Then Jesus asked them, “Don’t you understand this parable? How then will you understand any parable?” (Mark 4:13). He then began to explain to them the meaning of the seed that fell by the wayside, on stony ground, among thorns, and on good ground. He told them that the seed represented the word of God and that the ground represented people’s hearts (Mark 4:14-20).


The Secret of the Kingdom

So what is the “secret of the kingdom” that this parable reveals that was not only given to the disciples, but has also been given to us? What is the parabolic teaching that Jesus wants us to hear and understand? In fact Jesus seems to be saying that without an understanding of this parable we will not be able to rightly discern the hidden meaning behind His other parables.

The point that Jesus is making here in this parable is that there are different types of ground (hearts) upon which the gospel seed falls. But only the good ground (prepared heart) receives the gospel seed and produces a lasting harvest. The soil of the good ground (heart) is called “good” because it has already been plowed up by the work of the Holy Spirit in order to break up any hard ground and make it soft and ready to receive the gospel seed.

In other words, Jesus is teaching in this parable that when the gospel is preached there will be true conversions resulting from hearts that have been prepared by the work of the Holy Spirit, and false conversions that have not been prepared by the work of the Holy Spirit. Evidently, the fruit of a lasting harvest distinguishes the true from the false.

As I thought about this principle of true and false converts being alongside each other in the church, the light began to dawn about what Jesus taught in other parables about the kingdom of God. Parables such as, the wheat and the tares (Matthew 13:24-30), the wise and the foolish virgins (Matthew 25:1-13), the sheep and the goats (Matthew 25:31-46), and the parable of the dragnet (Matthew 13:47-51), all teach that the true and the false remain together until the Day of Judgment.

Apparently false believers have a degree of spirituality about them so that they are not easily recognized for what they truly are. Clearly, none of the disciples suspected Judas would betray Jesus. Instead they suspected themselves! “Lord, is it I?” they each asked.

So it seems to me that the thrust of Jesus’ message in His parables is to challenge us as believers to honestly examine our own hearts in order to make sure we are continuing to walk in the way of the Master. Are we the “good soil” that produces a fruitful harvest? Are we wheat and not tares? Are we the wise and not foolish virgins? Are we sheep and not goats? Does our profession of faith reveal that we not only know Him, but more importantly, does He know us?

Recognized by Our Fruit

Scripture teaches us that God knows us because He recognizes us by our fruit—the fruit of obedience. In the same way we will recognize those who know Him by their fruit. A good tree produces good fruit, but a bad tree produces bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit anymore than a bad tree can bear good fruit (Matthew 7:17-18).

Furthermore, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evil-doers (literally means you who practice lawlessness)!’” (Matthew 7:21-23).

Listen to what Jesus will say to many people on that day. “Although you healed the sick, and you cast out demons, and you did many mighty miracles in My name, I NEVER knew you! Although you professed to know Me, I NEVER knew you because you did not do the will of my Father! Therefore, you cannot enter My kingdom. Depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!”

How tragic! How could this possibly happen? Apparently the list of “good works” that the many people performed is not the good fruit that Christ or the Father are looking for! These people cannot enter the kingdom, because Jesus did not know them because they did not do the will of the Father!

So if I understand this passage of Scripture correctly, it becomes vital that we understand how to do the will of the Father. What obedience is the Father looking for that will give us entrance into His kingdom? Usually I have stopped reading with verse 23, but today I continued to read the next few verses and discovered the answer as to why “many” people will be barred from entering the kingdom of heaven on that day.

I Never Knew You

Notice that the very next word in verse 24 says, “Therefore…” That means we are going to get an answer as to why many people who say, “Lord, we did this… and we did that… in Your name” will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Instead they will be told to depart from Christ because He never knew them.

“Therefore, everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall because it has its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash” (Matthew 7:24-27).

Aren’t these verses telling us that Jesus is the Rock upon which we must build our house of faith? Only if our house of faith has its foundation on the Rock—Jesus Christ…only if we are grounded securely in Him, will we be able to withstand the winds of adversity and the flood of overwhelming deception that is coming upon the earth to deceive those who do not have the Father’s name written on their foreheads. (See Revelation 14:1). The Scriptures tell us that everything that can be shaken will be shaken so that what cannot be shaken may remain (Hebrews 12:26-27). We may and indeed must remain in Him—our Rock!

God wants our faith firmly rooted and grounded in Jesus Christ. For it is Jesus’ finished good work that God is looking at—not our good works. Because the Scriptures tell us that even our good works—even our righteousness is still filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6)! Our confidence and hope must be in Him—not in ourselves!

Hence, it appears to me that the “many” who will say to God on that day, “Lord we did all these wonderful things in your name” have not built their house of faith on the righteousness of the Rock—Jesus Christ, but rather on their own righteous accomplishments (sand). Tragically they proudly believe that their good works (sand) have some merit that will entitle them to an entrance into the kingdom of heaven.

Christ’s Good Work Alone

In essence, the Father will say to the “many” who hold up their good works as a ticket to enter the kingdom of heaven, “No! Only those who do My will have the ticket that entitles them to enter My kingdom. And what is My will? What must you do to do the works I require?

You must believe in the One I sent (John 6:28-29). For My will is that all those who enter My Kingdom will trust only in My Son’s righteousness—not their own. For it is my Son’s perfect obedience—My Son’s good work that fulfills the demands of the Law.”

“Your prophesying, your casting out demons, and your performing of many miracles are not the good works that can ever fulfill the demands of the Law, because the Law demands perfect righteousness. You have not attained what I require. You have falsely believed that your righteousness—your good works have some merit that would gain you an entrance into My kingdom.”

“By your erroneous beliefs you have trodden underfoot the blood of the covenant. You have trodden underfoot My Son—the ONLY righteousness that I freely provided for you in the atonement (Heb.10:28-29). You proudly thought that your good works could be added to My Son’s good work. But your good works that you offer Me are nothing more than filthy rags that are an offense to My nostrils!”

“Sadly you stand naked before Me in your own righteousness instead of My Son’s (Revelation 3:16-17). You failed to obey My will by placing your faith in My One and Only Son—The Rock that cannot be shaken! You are a lawbreaker because your “good” works do not fulfill the demands of the Law. Therefore you are an evil-doer—one who practices lawlessness, and I must cast you away from My presence…”

And the many houses that were built on sand fell with a great crash. And there was much weeping and gnashing of teeth. He, who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit is saying to the church!

The Rock is Forever

"My beloved children, this is the hour when everything that can be shaken will be shaken (Hebrews 12:26-28). I would remind you that these days were prophesied about long ago."

“These are the days of Elijah”, not because you (would-be "Elijah’s") are performing more "signs and wonders" in My name, but rather because these are the days when there is increased lawlessness, not merely in the world, but more importantly in the church."

"These are the days to stand up and cry out in repentance! All your flesh—all your works must fade away and fall to the ground like the grass and flowers of the field (Isaiah 40:8). This is the time to let go of trusting in your good works. For only the work of the Son of God abides forever. All the sand is washed away, but The Rock is forever!"
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This post can be considered as "Part 2"of the post I wrote earlier...  He Who Has An Ear to Hear...

Also several years ago Yoko (Ramone's wife) had some 'apocalyptic' visions about being weighed on the scales. Specifically, the "rock" vs. "sand" parable in Matthew that I have written about seems to be exactly what she saw! The pictures can be seen here.

Ears that Hear what the Spirit of Truth is Saying to the Church...

By Hazel Holland

It has been a couple of months now since I posted anything on my blogs. Breaking my toe slowed me down tremendously. Adjusting to life with crutches and a wheelchair while trying to take care of my "adopted" mom who has Alzheimer's was quite a challenge. Thankfully the worst is over now, and I'm slowly getting back to writing and painting what I sense is on God's heart...

My mind was restless last night as I tried to grapple with what I have seen and read online over the past couple of weeks regarding the healing revival that is breaking out in Florida. I was equally concerned with the many ministries and well known “prophetic” people (in the charismatic movement) who appear to be giving their total support to the “supernatural” events happening in the Lakeland Revival led by Todd Bentley.

Those of you who know me know that I am not against supernatural manifestations that have their source in the Holy Spirit of God, and I am not against divine healing. But last night I was troubled in my spirit as I watched this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGCTMEoifqQ&feature=related on Youtube. I continued to toss and turn until five o'clock this morning.

To be quite frank and blunt, I received a strong witness in my spirit that there is a mixture of spirits in what I witnessed online here. I have great concern that the Holy Spirit is NOT behind this kind of stuff. I believe this is opening up the door to spiritual deception!

I have had reservations and discomfort about some of Bob Jones' and Patricia King's teachings for awhile now, because I have sensed a lack of biblical support for them. Learning that Todd Bentley is also eager to participate in this “third” heaven teaching, I am very concerned and saddened by what I see--people flocking to get on this bandwagon.

I don’t deny that something “supernatural” is going on in Florida, but I do not believe that everything I am witnessing online regarding these “revival” meetings has the Holy Spirit as the source of that power. I believe there is a mixture of spirits at work… Knowing that people are flocking to these meetings from all over the world to “come and get some” as Todd Bentley has suggested disturbs me greatly!

Since leaving Adventism, I have a very strong desire NOT to repeat the error of falling into cultic teachings that have no foundation in God’s word. So when I hear Todd Bentley talk about an “angel” talking to him and telling him that he’s the healing angel that Bob Jones said was coming to bring a healing revival to Florida, I get concerned because this doesn’t seem to ring true with God’s Word. Immediately I see a red flag! Since when do angels bring healing and revival anyway?

Or if someone whom others consider an “apostle” or “prophet” describes an “experience” they had that seems to go off on a tangent and beyond what God has already revealed in His Word, and does not draw attention to Jesus Christ and His finished work on the cross, then I receive a caution in my spirit to wait and see the fruit of such an “experience”. I am not one to run after everyone who says, “Come and check out this person or this teaching or this supernatural event.

After watching many of my friends over the years run after this “anointed” leader and that “anointed” teaching or word, I realize that we do not have to go anywhere to experience more of God’s presence, love or words than right where we are.

We don’t need to climb up to the "next level" to get God’s attention! We don’t need to follow some religious protocol or ritual in order to get more of God. God is NOT more accessible during one month than another month. He is not in one place more than another place. God has already made Himself accessible to you and me in Jesus Christ. We only need to respond (usually in repentance) and by the obedience of faith to the urging of His Spirit.

I believe that trying to achieve a higher realm of awareness in the Spirit realm by accessing the “third heaven”, as Todd Bentley and others are teaching, is opening doors for satanic delusion. Believing that some victories can only be obtained on certain “watches of the Lord” (Jews divided the night into military watches instead of hours, and each watch represented the period for which sentinels remained on duty), and that certain spiritual dynamics happen in each “watch”, finds people clamoring after “products”, such as various scented candles (Elijah List promotes and sells such things) that are supposed to be “tools” that the Holy Spirit can use to help develop our prayer life in each watch.

Tickling People’s Ears

What I am seeing and hearing lately disturbs me greatly! It appears that many people in the body of Christ are not studying God’s word to see if what is being taught is sound doctrine! For instance, I recently heard Kim Clemente on YouTube (who is revered as a “prophet” by many), say that the difference between an Old Testament prophet and a New Testament prophet is that the New Testament prophet is more fun, because he is now under grace and not the law.

Kim Clemente claims he is in the office of a New Testament prophet, and he says he “does not deal with the sin factor as much”. He says that he is not going to direct a people, but rather “affirms and reveals” what people already know and “releases” what is inside of them so they can move to the next higher level. He says, “Usually all hell breaks loose after that”. He says, “I am not going to join preachers speaking against sin. I am here to draw the treasure out of a person so they can be what they were destined to become…”

Isn’t this kind of “prophet” tickling people’s ears? Isn’t this a people-centered gospel instead of a Christ-centered gospel that is being promoted? Isn’t this kind of theology self-absorbed? Doesn't it encourage people to run after another “high” in the Lord? Doesn't it encourage people to run after excitement and hype instead of the cross of Jesus Christ?

Elijah List Quote

Here’s a quote from the Elijah List this week that troubled me also. “Last year's Growing in the Supernatural conferences gathered together prophets, preachers, and expectant believers from all over the world. As we worshipped, dug into the Word, prayed, and combined our faiths to put a demand on Heaven, something was unlocked in the Spirit, releasing believers to all new levels of supernatural encounters and experience.

This year, we continue to press in by again gathering together with some of the weightiest prophets in the land and hungriest believers on earth to reach out and receive more of God. More presence! More encounters! More miracles! More signs and wonders! More revelation! More of the fruits! More of the gifts! And more of His heart!

Gather with us to add your faith to the cry for more. Receive revelation, impartation and downloads from the glory realm that will leave you forever changed and fueled to advance the Kingdom in more glorious ways. Come and... grow in the supernatural!”

Here are a few of my comments about this quote… Since when does our faith in Jesus Christ put a “demand on heaven”? God is sovereign! We don’t tell Him what to do and “demand” Him to act. He is a holy, righteous and awesome God. He knows what our needs are before we ever ask Him!

Believing that praying unlocks something in the Spirit that releases “believers to all new levels of supernatural encounters and experience” suggests that we don’t believe what Paul teaches us in Ephesians--that we already have the fullness of the godhead bodily dwelling in us by faith.

How can we go to higher levels when we have the fullness of the Spirit in us already?Perhaps it is our lack of faith in that reality because we do not feel that we do. Perhaps we are waiting to have a spiritual experience that will confirm the truth rather than accept by faith what Jesus has already revealed to us in His Word. Scripture must be the final test, not my experience. My experience must line up with Scripture.

Finally, to be encouraged to come to a conference and “grow in the supernatural” instead of to come and “grow in the Lord” is another huge red flag for me! I’m sorry, but something is just OFF here that it makes me want to run in the opposite direction!

Protection from Deception

I read the first chapter from Derek Prince’s book, “Protection from Deception” this week and found some very helpful reminders that can help us navigate through the minefield of supernatural signs and wonders. I was reminded that signs and wonders in and of themselves do not determine truth. Truth is already determined and established—it is the Word of God that point to Jesus as Truth. Here are some thoughts that I gleaned from my reading…

Remember the first thing Jesus said about the events leading up to His return in Matthew 24? "Take heed that no one deceives you." In these verses I discovered that Jesus actually warns us four times against deception. Therefore, we can conclude that the greatest single danger in these end times is not sickness, or poverty, or persecution, but deception!

Paul tells us in 2 Thessalonians 2 that there are lying signs and wonders. Scripture here make is very clear that Satan is fully capable of supernatural signs and wonders. True signs attest the truth. Lying signs attest lies.

Sadly I find that many in the Charismatic movement today have the attitude that if something is supernatural, it must be from God. But there is absolutely no scriptural basis for that kind of assumption. Satan will produce signs and wonders to confirm his lies, and the reason people will be deceived is because they did not receive the love of the truth.

The Scripture says that God will send strong delusion on those who do not receive the love of truth. I think that is one of the most severe judgments of God recorded in Scripture! People will receive a delusion and be condemned, because they did not believe the truth.

There is only one sure way to know the truth that makes us free, and that is to, not only know the Word of God and apply the truth of God’s Word to our hearts, but to know the heart of the Father who gave us His Son. The Father’s will is that we be found in His Son, because the Son is the only One whom the Father is looking at! It’s His righteousness alone that gives us access 24/7 to God’s throne. With all the talk of the “glory cloud” coming down and feeling the “glory” in Todd Bentley’s meetings, I am reminded that the Scriptures talk about the “glory” that is found in the face of Jesus Christ!

My heart is heavy as I realize that this recent explosion of signs and wonders appears to me to be a mixture of the biblical and the bizarre. To me there seems to be a mixture of spirits, both the Holy Spirit and unholy spirits. Truth and error are mixed together, and it is something which the Scripture warns us against.

This mixed message brings confusion because part is true and part is false. People respond in one of two ways. Some will see the good and focus on it, and therefore also accept the bad. Others will focus on the bad, and therefore reject the good. In either case, it does not accomplish God's purposes, and confusion is the result!

Some of the unusual manifestations that accompanied the ministry of John Wesley, George Whitefield, Jonathan Edwards and Charles Finney, etc. were always preceded by the strong preaching of God's Word, and they always made a strong call for repentance. That was their primary demand on the people to whom they ministered.

Some people call what we are seeing in this revival today "a refreshing”, but in Acts 3:19 Peter says that refreshing must be preceded by repentance. Any refreshing that bypasses repentance is not scriptural.

Also in the ministry of the above mentioned men there is no record as far as I know that any of them laid hands on people. Although it is scriptural to lay hands on people, is there perhaps a danger that a mixture of spirits could be transmitted by way of a “vessel” which is not always pure.

Since Todd Bentley is laying hands on everyone every night during this revival in order to impart the healing anointing, it seems that the important question to ask then is, “Are Todd Bentley’s hands pure channels through which only the Holy Spirit can flow? Since this “anointing” seems to be very contagious and easily imparted to others, I am seriously concerned about what is being imparted.

Listen to the following comment by a British Bible teacher: “Some Christians take the text "God is love" and turn it around to mean "Love is God." In other words, nothing can be wrong if it is rooted in love. However, any love that comes between us and God is an illegitimate love… Likewise any love that diverts us from obedience to God's Word is illegitimate.

Distinguishing the Holy Spirit from other spirits

So how do we recognize the Holy Spirit? How do we distinguish the Holy Spirit from other spirits? I believe witchcraft is the attempt to control people and get them to do what we want by the use of any spirit that is not the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is God, and no one uses God.

It is important to see that there is a difference between the Holy Spirit as a Person, and the gifts of the Holy Spirit. In Romans 11:29, Paul tells us that the gifts of God are irrevocable. In other words, once God has given us a gift, He never takes it back. That means the opportunity exists for the gift to be used to bless others, but also it can be misused.

Paul tells us that when the gift of tongues is misused it is an empty clanging noise. Of course it is possible to misuse other spiritual gifts also, such as a word of knowledge or a gift of healing in order to promote a person, or a movement, or for personal gain.

Jesus gives us a glimpse of the Holy Spirit's ministry and activity when He says, "However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth: for He will not speak on His own authority (literally: from Himself) but whatever He hears He will speak: and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you" (John 16:13-14).

The Holy Spirit does not speak from Himself—He only reports to us what He is hearing from the Father and the Son. His aim is NOT to glorify Himself, NOT to attract attention to Himself, but ALWAYS to glorify and focus His attention on Jesus Christ. Therefore, any spirit that focuses on the Holy Spirit and glorifies the Holy Spirit is not the Holy Spirit. His purpose is ALWAYS to glorify the One who sent Him.

Father, You say in your Word that love is expressed by the obedience of faith. Any kind of love that we express to You that does not result in that kind of obedience is NOT scriptural love. It is a counterfeit—a substitute for the real thing.

God, You say in Your Word, “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent" (Revelation 3:19). If we are disobedient, Your love is expressed in rebuking us and correcting us in order to bring us to repentance. Lord, once again You know that we have this problem of trying to get what You have promised us, but bypassing repentance. You call that deception.

Oh God, break our hearts with the Truth of who You are and what You have already given us in Your Son! We do not want to be in that group of professed believers who receive a spiritual delusion because we will not repent and receive a love of the Truth! In Jesus Holy name I pray that You give us ears to hear what the Spirit of Truth is saying to the church. Amen.

The Lion of Judah has Triumphed!

By Hazel Holland

"Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed." Revelation 5:5

I was compelled to paint this picture of Jesus Christ’s triumph over death after discovering that He wasn’t in soul sleep while He was dead in the grave... After a lifetime of believing error, I was overwhelmed with joy and many tears as I discovered the length and depth that Jesus Christ went to for you and me. He literally left no stone unturned! His powerful words from the cross reverberated throughout His creation causing even the rocks to be torn apart when He cried out, “It is finished!”

Unfortunately, the KJV translates both the words Sheol and Hades as grave, death and hell, but this can be shown to be incorrect as it does not accurately represent their meaning. Prior to Jesus Christ’s ascension to Heaven biblical writers tell us that both believers and unbelievers alike entered Sheol (Hebrew) or Hades (Greek)—the destination of the spirit and soul at death.

Apparently Sheol was divided into two separate sections, an upper part and a lower part, denoting the differences of where the righteous and wicked dwelt. In the Talmud the wicked were in torment, while the righteous were in bliss. This is probably what Christ was referring to when he told the story of the rich man and Lazarus…

So while Christ’s body was laid in the tomb, His spirit/soul went to Hades (the lower parts of the earth), because he died under the conditions of those living prior to the resurrection. That is why the Scriptures make several references to Christ’s entry into Hades that are distinct from being in the tomb.

“Foreseeing this, David spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, saying, ‘He was not abandoned to Hades (where souls are in the lowest parts of the Earth), nor did His flesh experience corruption (in the grave)’” (Acts 2:31; NRSV; See also Psalm 16:10). Since Christ was not abandoned in Hades, this can only mean that He was actually there, but not left there! "I will ransom them from the power of Sheol; I will redeem them from death: O death, where are thy plagues? O Sheol, where is thy destruction?" (Hosea 13:14; ASV).

There’s an interesting Scripture in 1 Peter 3:18-22 where it seems that Jesus went into Hades while His body was resting in the tomb in order to announce the completion of His atonement. “For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that he might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit; in which also He went and made proclamation to the spirits now in prison…” (1 Peter 3:18-19; NASB).

In the next chapter Peter says, “For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they may be judged according to men in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit” (1 Peter 4:6; NIV). It seems to suggest that after all things were accomplished by Christ, He went to Hades to reveal the rest of the story of salvation and to announce to them that “It is finished!” “And having disarmed the powers and authorities, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross (Colossians 2:15).

After the resurrection we see in Ephesians 4:8-9, “Therefore it says, ‘When He ascended on high. He led captive a host of captives, and gave gifts to men’ (Now this expression, ‘He ascended,’ what does it mean except that He also had descended into the lower parts of the earth (Hades)?" This could not be referring to His grave because His tomb was above ground as were the other graves of that day.

Now that Christ has ascended to heaven and taken a train of captives with Him we know that it is clear that believers now go directly to be with Christ in heaven when they die. Paul says, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain… But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better…” (Phil. 1:21-22; NASB). Paul continues, “Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord—for we walk by faith, not by sight—we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:6-8; NASB).

The author of Hebrews clearly states where the spirits of righteous men made perfect in Christ go after they die when he says, “You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire…But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God… You have come to God, the judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant…” (Hebrews 12:18-24; NIV).

Now the Scriptures that used to be so confusing make perfect sense… Speaking of the Second Coming of Christ, Paul says, “Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him” (1 Thessalonians 4:13-14).

Paul is saying that when Jesus comes back the second time He will bring back the spirits of the righteous (those who have died in Christ) to be united with their new glorified bodies, and we who are alive will also be changed and receive glorified bodies, and be caught up with them to meet the Lord in the air (See 1 Thessalonians 3:15-18).

Surely, the Lion of the tribe of Judah has triumphed! (Revelation 5:5). By faith we enter into His triumph!
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Go here to read further details about the painting.
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(I want to give credit to Dr. Cherry Brandstater for many of the thoughts I have expressed in this post. I also want to publicly thank her for her labor of love in making the "Shadow or Substance?"-- State of the Dead Studies under Spirit available for those eager to know truth. My life has been changed forever by His Truth!)