JAN JUC AND THE PROPHETS OF LACK OF FAITH
This morning me Greg and Philpy went for a surf. On the way there we were talking about Elijah and the Baal prophets and how God kicked their buts! (read 1 kings 18, one of my FAVOURITE passages in the Bible!)We checked out Torquay back beach first and it was flat, then made the move to Jan Juc which was pretty flat but it was early and I needed to get something from the shops down there so we had time to spare...
The waves were small were ok but then we all decided to start praying. As soon as we started praying the waves picked up and more than doubled in size. As I looked over to where the other surfers were they were getting no waves but our spot which is allways smaller was getting bigger.
I didnt think anything of it for a while but everytime we prayed for a big wave it came but not for the other surfers further down the beach. We then prayed for a big wave that spread right across the beach to come to prove it was Gods work. A few minutes later it came!It completely reminded me of the Elijah story. God, Glorify your name! Show us what your made of! The "surf god" sometimes called Huey couldnt do anything compared to our God Jesus who sent wave after wave to us!
Now, I know most of you reading this are going to say its just a coincadence, but we are 100% sure it was from God!
Do you have the faith in your life to ask God to show you and your friends and family what He can do? Lets challenge the evil ways of our land and say our GOD IS BETTER! Our God Jesus, IS THE ONLY WAY! You dont have to "make" God do anything, let Him stand up for Himself and show the world His love, grace, mercy, power and justice!
"Even the winds and sea obey Him!" Matthew 8:27
Posts
17 comments:
Hey James, that story is awesome! You just prayed for something to happen, and it happend sraight away- that puts you on top of the world:) hehehe...
Im not sure my secret safe with you. You probably told Sarah already,lol. nah i trust u*rolls eyes*- But i thought about it, what if someone reads it that i didnt think would:S haha. SO i had to change it.
Catch ya at the VCAC concert!
Keep on chugging...
much love xxx
Sarah
Hey James
Awesome experience - you should have tried to part the sea also, just to see if He would let you see that too!! lol
Cool, catch ya soon mate, hope it's all going well
Simon.
So as an extreme example, do you tell the family and friends of a child who has died of cancer, despite countless hours of earnest and heartfelt prayer, your story about how God gave you a better day at the beach? God wouldn't heal that child yet because you asked for a bigger wave you got it? What sort of God denies a request for the life of a child yet grants your frivolous one?
Great questions anonymous! Firstly, if the story of those with cancer dieing is near to your personal experience I send my condolences. It is never easy saying good bye to loved ones. It is never easy praying for something when it doesn’t seem to be getting answered the way we want it to be.
I was asking God what say to you and 2 thoughts came into my mind.
But first I need to say its all about Jesus. We are created for God. We are created to worship God. What we want is secondary to God. After all God is God! He is AWESSOME, He is PERFECT, I could go on for ever! Our prayers need to remember that God is most important in all we do, including prayer. Is God number 1 in our prayers and life?
1) We need to know Gods plan. One thing we always forget to do is listen to God! But if we don’t listen to God how do we know what He wants? We simply plead with God for things we want. But what if God wants something different? The Bible tells us that God uses tough times to teach us stuff! Do you know and actively seek Gods plan? If we don’t know His plan after seeking, we need to continue to trust and obey, once again God first.
2) Sometimes we need to be Empowered. The Holy Spirit gives certain people certain gifts. We don’t all have the gift of healing. When the body of Christ works as the body of Christ we will have ‘healers’ healing, evangelists evangelising, prophets prophesying. Are you empowered by the Holy Spirit? Have you been baptised in the Holy Spirit?
We may never know why I got waves yet prayers for healing or something else go unanswered but we need to remember that God is to be first. Are we willing to put God first above all else regardless of what the outcome is?
i should also add. that I have a funny feeling that my friend greg (who was with us) may have the gift of signs and wonders... might add something in the mix!
GOD IS ABLE!
Fortunately for me the example of a child dying of cancer is not one that I have experienced through family or close friend, however I have been close to plenty of situations of death and illness where God has not healed. But I want to pick up on a couple of your comments. Knowing God's plan - we will never fully know God's plan for us. We can listen and hope that we get it right, but our own thoughts/opinions/feelings are always going to play a part in us trying to discern the will of God.
The gift of healing - so are you saying that despite many Christians praying for healing, that sick child may not have been healed because someone with the 'gift of healing' was not involved? The simple fact is that genuine miraculous healing rarely occurs - I would love you to give me some evidence of anyone on this earth who consistently displays the 'gift of healing' i.e they pray/lay hands on etc. and people are genuinely healed regularly.
"My friend may have the gift of signs and wonders" - again I would love to see any evidence of anyone in this day and age who genuinely displays this gift. The most visible proponents of signs, wonders and healings in the world today are the televangelists such as Benny Hinn, and any basic research will show you that they are at best very misguided in the teachings and at worst false prophets. You seem very quick to come down on Salvation Army officers for what you see as incorrect teachings, yet you are happy to go along with a bunch of teachings (slain in the spirit, tongues, signs and wonders) that many theologians would consider to have ceased long ago. In fact there are many that would see that some of the most extreme areas of pentecostalism (Toronto blessing etc.) as being not of God at all, however you seem to be willing to embrace these things without careful consideration. Finally I would still like to read your answer to the question that I originally asked - "What sort of God denies a request for the life of a child yet grants your frivolous one?" Is that the sort of God that the unsaved would want to follow?
Anonymous,
Didn't Jesus grant "frivolous" requests, like changing water into wine, causing all the fish to go to one side of the boat to be caught, calming the storm, etc.? Jesus did not heal Lazarus, but instead took his time and let him die, only to raise him up to life. Who are we to question him? We are encouraged to pray about everything. If James and his friend prayed about the surf, and Jesus chose to answer, praise him. As I write, I think about Judas complaining about the expensive perfume being "wasted" on Jesus when the money could have been given to the poor.
Was God's blessing wasted on James and his friends, who wanted to shout praises to God because of it?
When our prayers are not answered the way we expect them to be, it hurts. I don't have an answer about why God would not answer all our prayers in the way we expect, but one day we will know for sure. One thing I do know - He will be with us through it all, lifting us, carrying us. Praise him for that.
Don't give up praying for miracles, they are happening! If you are a bit skeptical, or frightened by signs and wonders, God may be protecting you from witnessing these things. I know the world is full of false prophets, but trust God to teach you how to discern.
God is doing wonderful things, and James is on fire for Him.
Regards,
Julie
Anonymous,
I have a high view on "A God who speaks to us!" Jesus said if we ask for bread He wont give us a stone. His sheep will know His voice. The Holy Spirit will guide us in truth. Yes we may get some bits wrong sometimes, but we need faith right? I know times when I didnt know what to do and asked God and He told me, i stepped out in faith and His plan wonderfully unfolded before my eyes!
Other times I need to wait. But I have assurance that God will speak to me I dont just have to 'hope' that He will.
About healing. Yes Im saying that God wants the church to work together!I dont see why your complaining about that. Yes I can contact people for you who reguarly pray for healing and people get better. Theres alot of healing ministries in the world!
About miracles. Ive got friends who see miracles, signs, wonders, healings, prophecies all the time! Check out their blog- mercygracepeace in my blogroll...Healings and miracles happen reguarly.
I dont like benny hinn either, but tele-evangelists arent the only ones doing this! If you want I will help you find some of these people! Just ask and we'll go see them together!
As for incorrect doctrine. The Salvation Army does believe in supernatural stuff. We do believe the gifts are still around. We do believe in the fire of the Holy Ghost! We do believe in the second blessing! And we back it all up with the Bible and the Holy Spirits stamp!
I never have a go at people outside the Salvo's but I want to challenge and encourage people within the Salvos who dont believe these things and at the same time challenge those who may not be salvo into considering these things aswell!
I would love to meet you so we can talk and pray topgether because I know God will reveal Himself to us both!
Im guessing you have high regard for theologians?I do too, but I see the real theologians as those living it out everyday. We dont need degrees to tell us whats right and wrong, we need faith in God and the Holy Spirits leading!
I dont know why you say I dont carefully consider these things? You dont even know me! I havent even spoken to you about that!Id love to chat to you about my careful considerations!Let me know if your up for it!
Answer to your question! "What sort of God is a God who sometimes heals people but not always, and sometimes gives me waves but not all the time?"
He is a loving God who knows best. A God whos plan goes beyond our understanding. A God who loves to spoil His children, yet loves to teach us in the hard times. A God who is always there with us in good times and bad. He is a sovereign God!He is a God who does special things sometimes! A God who does little things to give us a pick up. A God who listens to us. God is a friend who wants to have a relationship with us!
Imagine if God answered all our prayers!That would be terrible!Do you remember the scene from Bruce Allmighty when Bruce who has been given Gods job to see how hard it really is, simply answers yes to everything!It doesnt go well and the place erupts in violence etc!
Do the unsaved want a friend?Do the unsaved want someone to put hope and faith in?Do the unsaved want to see people lives changed by God? People uplifted by God? Set free?A God who knows better than we do?
Of course they do!
Now, I dont really want to get carried away with too much theology here.It gets annoying.I want to tell peopl about what God has done for me and what God can do for them! As I was writing I really felt as though you have a lack of faith.I would encourage you to pray to God about that and see if its true, and if it is then repent and start living a life of faith.
Finally, i know you have written comments on blog before but you nevre leave a name. May I ask why this is so?
I'll pray for you that the Holy Spirit will lead you in truth and you do the same for me. Lets see what God says!
The simple reason I don't give my name when commenting is that I would prefer that what I have to say is looked at purely on its own merits. You would know who I am, but not very well, and I would feel that making my identity known would to some degree cloud your thinking over what I have to say. I could be wrong, but that's how I feel about it at this time. As far and signs/wonders/miracles go, I worry that some Christians spend so much time seeking after these experiences that they neglect simply loving and serving God. To me this great desire for signs and manifestations such as tongues, slain in the spirit experiences etc. shows a lack of faith in God - needing physical signs rather than just feeling the presence of God within.
First of all i would like to say greetings to everyone, may God bless us all in everything we do in our lives, and i pray that he helps to guide his people and protect them so we may continue to surve and revere his name. In Jesus name, Amen.
I am being complelled by god to write this evening. I would like to point out that this is not about who gets what who is greater then who, why god chooses to do what he dose, for that is up to the great teacher himself to decide not us. I pray that we as a people continue no longer to put the Good lord to the test.
It is about surving and worshipping the Lord our God. Why God dose one thing and not another is not for us to question, i pray that we do not question the lord in all he dose. Have you thought of why something such as this might be allowed in the world? Sin and seperation from god spring to mind faith or the lack of for that matter. It is true that one may ask, seek, knock and we shall find\recieve as our lord has tought us. It comes down to faith and gods purpose and plan for our lives. What he wants us to learn It is not up to us to question but to surve and thank God for his unconditional love and support.
Now to the question of spirital gifts have we been so blinded by the 'Great Deciever' that such a thing is not possible? I hope not. But if it is then Satan himself would be well pleased to learn that you yourself do not believe that such gifts and feats are possible for that pleases him greatly.
Ok so you want a sign, that all things might be possible, all things from that of a believing heart so you too might believe that the gift of healing might be possible. For something such as this to come to fruition one must come from belief that all things are possible through him (Jesus our Lord), ones heart must never be found douting and believe that his\her prayer has already been answered. These facts are tought in the bible itself. But what your really asking for is it for yourself or to bring Glory to God. There is so much to go into but here i go.
I was away in europe a complete world away enjoying my time with my parents. Then one day a call came through my mums father had a heart attack. She was so distraught as were we all there was nothing we could do not long after he had a stroke he was worse for wear and was thought he would not make it when we we're to return. I remember praying one afternoon for a mirical that god would send me a sign that he answered my prayer and that was to recieve news that he was improving via a phone call. I didn't think of it much till the next morning when mum told me he had improved and was doing better all i could think about was my thanks to god. I then remember praying that god spare my grandfather just long enough that his eldest daughter might have the chance to see him one last time before he went. My prayer was answered yet again we arrived home and she was able to spend the last few weeks with him before he passed praise god i say. It is through heart felt pray and selflessness that these things might be.
God can and will do anything for those he loves, for he dose love us all. Why something happens is not allways a thing that can be prevented but we must continue to love him as we do each other and pray that we too may share in Christs glory and recieve the gift of Life.
In Jesus name we pray for ever and ever,
Amen.
Ok anonymous, is your real issue is that you think we shouldnt bother with signs and wonders and should just do Gods work and feel His presence within?
1) Signs and wonders are from God.Not me. If God sends them then your problem is with God not me.
2) As for seeking them, the bIble tells us to.Why do I do that?So God can be glorified,so I may be encouraged,so I can testify, so I can be pumped up for God!So I can work with God.So people may see God si real, mey be healed etc I think those are good things!
3) You say we should just do Gods work.Well its actually Gods work.The way He uses different people is different.Another good thing!I may get to lead people to Christ, you may get to disciple them or something... Again good things!We need them all!
4) You say searching after these things shows a lack of faith.I find this misunderstanding funny!We actually NEED FAITH to get these signs and miracles!
5) These signs arent for me to believe God is there, or real. But When i get these signs they are for me to praise God about.God gets glorified!Thats a good thing!God loves to be glorified!They also encourage me HEAPS and I love encouragement!Again good things!
6) I believe my relationship with God starts with Him.He loved us first.My relationship with God starts with Him, who He is, what He does, How He makes me feel etc and I respond to that.So if I get a miracle that helps me serve and love Him better thats a good thing!
7) You say we just need to feel God in our hearts.How is that any different than me wanting to see Him do stuff?Its not, God is real and shows us in different ways!Thats a good thing coz we're all different and different things affect us differently!God loves to have a personal relationship with us!And that relationship compells us to love and serve Him!
Anonymous,im worried that youre more interesrted in an arguement more than seeking the truth otherwise you would have wanted to catch up with me and meet these people. I hope I am wrong. Im sorry you think me knowing who you are will make me make this personal. But at the same time your asking personal questions. I get the feeling that you feel away from God, that your work is your job, and God is up there somewhere watching. I want to invite you again, to come and meet me, because we can pray for you that God can empower you, so its not just you doing His work, but you with God!
Of course this is going to take a step of faith by you, but its your choice...
I could be compeleteyl wrong of course, and you might have a wonderful ministry seeing people saved, lives transformed, Jesus glorified, lots of people passionate about serving God! I hope so! I would love you to tell me about your ministry!I think it will show that we are all part of one body but have different functions!
And Greg (post above) thanks for your words! Its been great seeing the difference God has made in your life over the last year when you accepted Him to be your Lord!Love what you had to say about believeing in prayer!
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.
Ephesians 6:18
I think I just need to stay away from blogs like yours and others like it, which seem to generally fit into the "primitive salvo" category. It frustrates me too much not being able to get you to see a different viewpoint, and it probably frustrates you not being able to get me to see through your eyes.
Primitive salvo category, interesting choice of words for one who would deny God Glory and work against his or her creater. What's so primitive about serving god and having him do wonderful things in ones life, for these gifts and blessings are ment for all who belief and trust in the Lord and ask the holy sprit for. I am interested in hearing your view of things so it might sheed some light on this topic? So i can see things through your eyes.
I am not a salvo and the belief in god is great i have learned so much all thanks to the bible. It has never been anyone person eg. James that i create my view. It is God himself that guides me in my studies both pratical, phyiscal and theroetical learning. It is due to him that i see all things are possible because he tells me they are. It is his love that keeps me going and his tender guidence. I tell you this now if it was not for him i would be a wreck now i would be bitter toward the world more so, i would have no hope no purpose and would hate everyone and this world and i would not know god like i do now.
In less then a year i have read the entire bible and hang and learn it's every word. I have grown greatly in sprit and and knoledge of gods word.
I want to touch on your example for a sec here. I am sorry if a child looses his life due to lifes cruel circumstances. But how am i surpose to know if ones life is in danger and i am not informed? If i knew i would not be at the beach i would be in the hospital praying for that mirical to occur, to save the childs life then praying for waves and god would answer us due to our faith and belief in the Lord. It is unfair that you stand in judgement over what others do you should encourage others in following the Lord.
I wish you all the best, may god bless and reavel to you what you ask for and continue to guide you as he dose me.
In Jesus name we prey,
Amen
Anonymous,
The "primitive salvo" category? Please explain!
Julie
"To sum up the heart of Primitive Salvationism, it is “charismatic-flavoured, missionfocused
heroism”. Primitive Salvationists are Warriors in The Army of Salvation; and
Soldiers in The Salvation Army. We will go to great lengths to see even a single soul
saved, and we will keep up this fight until every soul is saved, or Christ returns to Earth." Taken from JAC (http://www.armybarmy.com/pdf/JAC_Issue_045.pdf)
another site to check
http://www.primitivesalvationist.com/
basically means full on Christians...
anonymous, maybe instead of reading our blogs, read the Bible...
James I do read the bible. In relation to the things we have been discussing, try Luke 11:29, Matthew 24:24 and 1 Corinthians 1:22. I don't want you to reply to refute these passages, as I know you can find passages to back up your position and we could go back and forward on a never-ending basis. Let's just stay in disagreement. As far as primitive salvationism goes, I have no real issue with most of the ideals but when I read people continually referring to themselves as heroes and warriors I worry about it. Perhaps a less condescending attitude (re your "read the bible" comment) and a bit of humility might be a good idea.
Post a Comment