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Having Faith
When royalty meets the Redeemer
By: Jeff Kaplan, Community Contributor
Topics: Church Article
Anonymous user
Fri May 11, 2007 15:41:43 PDT
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Location:
26180 Plateau Way,
Tehachapi, CA 93561
It's interesting to hear how people pray for healing. In some cases, it's almost comical. At one extreme, we have all heard people almost demanding God to heal a person. Usually, the demander is sweating, yelling and slapping his Bible. That person prays as though he was a drill sergeant and God was a new boot camp recruit. At the other extreme, the way other people pray, you would think that their motto was based on a song that actress and singer, Doris Day, made popular in 1956. You know the song, don't you? It's called “Que Sera, Sera,” which in Spanish means “what will be, will be.” It's fatalistic and faithless.
One person who almost went overboard with this type of prayer for healing was a Norwegian theologian named Ole Hallesby, who prayed: "Lord, if it will be to Your glory, heal suddenly. If it will glorify You more, heal gradually. If it will glorify You even more, may Your servant remain sick awhile and if it will glorify Your name still more, take him to Yourself in heaven."
Still, when others pray for someone to be healed, they pray long-winded prayers. The way they pray, you would think they perceive God as a cobra snake in a basket who needs to be charmed.
In John 44:43-54, we find a man who prayed for healing and he got immediate and positive results. There are two brief lessons that are implied in that passage. First, Jesus' power defies our understanding. The official didn't have the slightest idea as to how Jesus healed people. He was clueless as to how Jesus pulled off the miracle. Do you remember when Job got too cute for his own good and God challenged Job's power and wisdom? Verses in Job 38 read: "Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. Who set its measurements? Since you know. Or who stretched the line on it?” (vv.4-5); "Or who enclosed the sea with doors when, bursting forth, it went out from the womb. When I made a cloud its garment and thick darkness its swaddling band, and I placed boundaries on it and set a bolt and doors” (vv.8-10); "Have you ever in your life commanded the morning, and caused the dawn to know its place?" (v.12); and “Have you understood the expanse of the earth? Tell me, if you know all this" (v.18). There are certain things we will never fully comprehend. God's power is one of them. It defies our understanding.
Second, Jesus' compassion goes out to meet us at our point of need. No matter how much you may be hurting today, Jesus' mercy is ready to hold you up. I may not know the deep pain of your heart, but Jesus does, and He wants to minister directly to you. Hebrews 4:15f reads: "We do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." Jesus can sympathize with your weaknesses. He was tempted in every way. He will give you mercy and grace to help you in your time of need. Lamentations 3:22,23 reads: "The Lord's loving kindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."
Please join us at Bear Valley Church this Sunday morning as we worship the Lord. Our services are at 8:15 am, 9:45 am and 11:15 am. If you live outside of Bear Valley Springs, please call the office at (661) 821-0183 for a gate pass.
