27-11-2013
Dear Pastor.
Thank you so very much for taking the time to answer my letter. I wanted to write you back right away, but have been busy with the work, the family, & it has taken me a couple of days to put my thoughts together. The reason I write these things to you is because I know you sincerely love the Lord & are someone who would look up the Scriptures & bring up a balance as our commitment is to follow what the Lord commands & not get sidetrack into things that would make us waste God's precious time. I agree with your comment that Jesus only fed the multitudes a few times, but what I said that Jesus always did heal everyone He met while his mission on Earth is based on the following Scriptures.
Mat 4:23-24 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people. And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatic, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them all.
Mat 9:35-38 And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. Then said He to his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He will send forth labourers into his harvest. Mat 8:16-17 (Luke 4:40-42) When the evening was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses. Mat 14:34-36 (also in Mar 6:53-56) And when they were gone over, they came into the land of Genesaret. And when the men of that place had knowledge of him, they sent out into all that country round about, and brought unto him all that were diseased; And besought him that they might only touch the hem of his garment: and as many as touched him were made perfectly whole. Luke 6:17-19 And He came down with them, and stood in the plain, and the company of his disciples, and a great multitude of people out of all Judea and Jerusalem, and from the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, which came to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases; And they that were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed. And the whole multitude sought to touch him: for there went virtue out of him, and healed them all. There is no record in the New Testament of any sick person that Jesus wouldn't heal, and it was quite usual for the Lord to heal people regardless whether they would become believers in Him or not. The only time it mentions ... And He could there do no mighty work, save that He laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them, Mar 6:5. There He claimed that a prophet has no honor within his own country, his own kin & his own house. But nevertheless healed the sick He found. We read in the New Testament that Jesus' sovereign plan when visiting an area was not only to preach the Gospel of the Kingdom, but also to make sure that all the sick people that would show up would receive healing. I think that since "God is light, and in him is no darkness at all." 1Jn 1:5, So Jesus being God of Light in the flesh, would not put up with anything caused by the kingdom of darkness & then He would proceed to enforce his Father's will & to make things on earth as they are in Heaven, & since there are no sicknesses in Heaven, then He would proceed to heal also showing at the same time that God was in Him doing the works proving by his works that the Kingdom of God had indeed arrived. Of course, those Scriptures do not strictly demonstrate Jesus actually visited & healed every single person in the whole country. But would all sick people not run to the only man that would heal them and for free, & with guaranteed real healing, regardless of their reputation or past history. No wonder people would bring their sick loved one from all regions around. Even the case of the Syrophenician woman where she was able to pull a “yes” after the Lord had said no & as He didn't seem to want to heal her daughter. Then Jesus turns to his disciples & commands them to follow his example... Mat 10:7-8 And as you go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely you have received, freely give. Mt 10:1, Lc 9:10 Lc 10:8-9 And into whatever city you enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you: And heal the sick that are therein, and say to them, The kingdom of God is come nigh to you. (Notice He didn't say heal those you can, but heal them all) Then when He is about to leave to Heaven, his last commands... Mat 28:18-20 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying: All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. You go therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Being the case that the Lord had shown such a degree of concern for people's physical healing; would He not be expected to turn & asked them to carry on with this part of his ministry too? Well to back this; He says in the Gospel of Mark... Mar 16:15-20 and He said to them, You go into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believes and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believes not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen. Then in the book of Acts, we find the disciples performing miracles such as his... Act 2:43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. Acts 3:6-7 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. Act 5:12 And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; Acts 5:15-16 Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them. There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one. Act 6:8 And Stephen, (not an apostle but a deacon, a believer) full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people. Act 8:5-7 Then Philip (another deacon, a believer) went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed.
Act 8:13 Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done. Raising people from the dead: Act 9:40-41 But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up. And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive. No wonder Peter when preaching to Cornelius' household said... Act 10:38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
That statement indicates; Peter had not seen anyone Jesus would not heal. Then Paul comes into the picture and not only did he heal many, but also... Act 19:11-12 And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul: So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.
In Acts 20 he rose a young man from the death... named Eutychus, & there are other miracles by the hand of Paul also recorded in the same book. What I gather from these Scriptures shows that somehow the western modern church has lost the power the Holy Spirit bestowed upon the first disciples & the churches have abandoned this aspect of miraculously helping the physically afflicted. I would mainly say because most seem to have lost the faith that when they pray they can remove mountains. Some even preach: the days of miracles is past, because, say they, we now have the Bible & all we have left to show forth the power of God is to live lives of “holiness” & resort to eloquent preaching which will bring down the strong holds of the enemy. Is that really the case? I think is rather an excuse to justify the fact that as they preach...the Lord is no longer working with us, and confirming the word with signs following... as in Marc 16:20.
Do we still believe: Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever. Heb 13:8
What about 1Cor 2:4-5 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
Then, we have no excuse. Please understand that I am merely sharing my personal reflection with you, I am not satisfied with how far have I come, nor what I have given to the Lord thus far (2014); if God so empowered his disciples so they could reach the lost & bring glory to his name, why should He not us. His promises are there for us for the taking, the violent take it by force... Mar 9:23 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. I pray every day God will help me to die to myself & put away anything that may get in the way of me trusting Him as a child trusts his loving dad: that He is powerful to do exceeding abundantly more of what I'm asking Him, through His Power which is at work within me. After all is not because of anything that I have done, nor anything that I do now, nor will ever do; but by what Jesus did on the cross for all of us, it is his righteousness which makes us the righteousness of God ... in Jesus name... amen!
Col 1:10-12 that you might walk worthy of the Lord to all pleasing, being fruitful in every work and increasing in the knowledge of God, being empowered with all power, according to the might of His glory, to all patience and long-suffering with joyfulness, giving thanks to the Father, who has made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light.
Love in Jesus... Alejandro
If this reading inspired your heart, be sure to share it with your contacts ... Today is the day! We must do the works of the one who chose us while it is day, because the night comes when no one will be able to work. Jn 9:4
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