22a. It is unacceptable to make what the Bible says about salvation from sin fit our experience, if our experience is contrary. A preacher doesn’t stop believing and preaching salvation is the will of God because one of their children tragically dies lost. (Num 23:19, Psa 33:4, Psa 89:34, Psa 119:89, Mat 24:35, Rom 3:3-4, 2 Cor 1:17-20, 2 Tim 2:13, Tit 1:2, Heb 6:18, Heb 11:3, 6, 1 Jn 5:10)
22b. Why do so many feel the liberty to make what Scripture says about healing fit their contradictory experiences? This is inconsistency. Those who do this need to examine themselves if they correct others (such as homosexuals, racists, etc) who refuse to agree with the obvious, inescapable reading of the Text in effort to defend/preserve their experience. Why is so much of our message on healing dictated by what we’ve experienced? A tragedy doesn’t change the truth. (Same references as above)
23a. The Bible does not leave us with the option that a person can call upon the Lord in faith, believing and praying for deliverance from any kind of sin and God has the sovereign right to deny/refuse their faith. Yet, on multiple occasions, I have heard homosexuals boldly declare, “I’ve prayed and begged God to deliver me from this lifestyle, sinful desire, etc!” By this they imply that God denied their faith-filled prayer for deliverance. What better excuse/defense of their continued sin could they resort to? In other words, they’re saying, “I know what the Bible says, but God lied. Believe me.” Any true Christian would stand with God in this scenario. We don’t deny that they prayed, begged, etc but in order to stay true and faithful to Scripture we are forced to conclude that faith and/or repentance was lacking. However offensive this is considered, we recognize that this is the cost of commitment to the Word in a contrary world. (Every reference of “shall” and “will” concerning prayer, salvation, etc…i.e. Mar 16:16, Rom 10:9-11)
23b. Why do so many believe we have the option available that someone can pray in faith, believing for healing, meet every condition of the Word, and God has the sovereign right to deny/refuse them? Sadly, it is considered unchristian and deeply offensive to even suggest that somewhere faith, authority, etc was lacking, when this is exactly to what Christ attributed every failure when asked or not (unbelief.) Do we really want each other to be Christ-like? (Every reference of “shall” and “will” concerning prayer, healing, etc…i.e. Mar 16:18, Jam 5:15)
24a. Concerning salvation from sin, the results of the initial experience are expected to be seen afterward in the fruit. (Mat 3:8, Mat 7:16-20, Rom 6:22, Rom 7:4, Gal 5:22, Eph 2:10, Eph 5:9, Col 1:10, Jam 2:26)
24b. Concerning salvation from sickness, the results of the initial experience should be expected to be seen in the fruit afterward. (Mar 4:28, Mar 8:23-25, Mar 11:22-24, Lu 17:14, Jn 4:52)
25a. Since faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God, we recognize that the sinner needs to hear preaching that confidently declares,” Jesus bore your sin!” How many would have been saved throughout the church age without this specific preaching? Would the absence of it affect the numbers? If a person can’t be sure Christ bore his/her sin, how could they receive salvation by faith (Greek, “pistis” persuaded, convinced)? As long as it’s someone else’s sin, personal faith/conviction is inactive. (Rom 10, 1 Cor 1:21)
25b. Why are we surprised that we see fewer healings when the bold declaration, “Jesus bore your sickness!” is rarely preached? And if it is preached, it’s a passing, uncertain sidenote. If a person can’t be sure Christ bore his/her sickness, how can they receive healing by faith? As long as it’s someone else’s sickness, personal faith/persuasion is inactive. (Mar 2:2, Lu 4:18-19, Lu 5:15, Lu 6:17, Acts 14:7-10, Rom 10:17)
26a. We understand that since Christ bore our sin away, removed it far from us, etc, then we should not bear it. In other words, we shouldn’t tolerate sin in our lives because Jesus bore our sin, therefore we shouldn’t both bear it. (Psa 103:12, Isa 53, 1 Pet 2:24)
26b. Why is there still confusion over whether it’s God’s will for us to bear sickness when the Bible uses the same language to describe what Christ has done concerning sickness as He has concerning sin? He bore/carried away our sickness and removed it. Just like sin, we should not tolerate sickness because Jesus bore it all. Again, we should not both bear it. (Isa 53, Mat 8:17, 1 Pet 2:24)
27a. Genuine salvation from sin can be neglected and lost through unbelief, unrepentant sin, etc. (Heb 2:1-3, 2 Tim 2:12, Jam 5:19-20, 1 Jn 5:16)
27b. How many people’s initial, genuine healing is nearly immediately lost and neglected due to doctrinal mindsets of unbelief, or sin? (Mat 13:19, Jn 5:14)
28a. We teach a new convert that even if they commit a sin, have drug withdrawals, struggle against old desires, etc, it doesn’t mean they were never saved in the first place, or that they should just give up on victory over sin. We teach them to press on in faith, believing that their salvation was real and it is still God’s will for them to live free from sin. (2 Cor 5:17-18, Heb 10:23, Heb 10:35, 1 Jn 1:9)
28b. Unfortunately, when physical symptoms, new doctor reports, or lies of the devil confront a person who prayed and believed they received healing, many think that God must not have healed him/her and it must not be His will for him/her to be free from sickness. Why are they not taught to press on in faith, believing that they really received healing and that they shouldn’t give up on the visible manifestation? After all, do people give up and conclude that it’s not God’s will for them to get better after the first medicine prescription or procedure didn’t work? No, they go from one medical option to another. Why discourage someone from going from faith to faith? (Heb 10:23, Heb 10:35)
29a. Lying (contrary) thoughts, feelings, etc may come to a born-again Christian. They are real, but not true. (Mat 4:4, 2 Cor 10:5, Eph 6:16)
29b. Lying (contrary) symptoms may come to a healed believer. They are real, but not true. (Same references as above…also Rom 4:17-21)
30a. Even though immediate victory over every sin, addiction, etc is available, it is not always easy to appropriate. Even believers who have struggled with bitterness, grudges, or unforgiveness would have to admit and affirm that immediate victory was always available to them. That means one minute, hour, or day of bitterness was one too long and unnecessary. (Mat 5:23-24, Mat 18:21-22, Eph 4:31-32, Heb 12:15)
30b. Immediate victory/deliverance over sickness is always available, but not always easy to appropriate. Many inconsistently conclude that because healing wasn’t immediate, it must not be God’s will to happen at all. They don’t apply that logic to someone struggling with sin. We should always aim our faith for immediate manifested healing, and be prepared to not budge from our faith if the manifestation is gradual or eventual, because we know that one minute, hour, or day of oppression is one too long. (Mar 8:22-25, Lu 17:12-19, Jn 4:49-53, Heb 6:12)
To be continued in Part 5…
