Today we feature two article extracts. One from Russell D. Moore and the other from Paul Rees provide us with some areas where we might be better discerning regarding the content or lack thereof that excites the church in the present day. It rather seems that in the pursuit of spiritual gifts it is forgotten that the gift of discernment is one of the grace gifts imparted by God for the upbuilding of the church- these posts are helpful in this regard.
'There's much in the news these days about yet another travelling evangelist promising healing to the sick. Every few years here comes another fraudulent, scandal-riddled "faith healer." That's, sadly, no surprise.
Having said that, let me make clear, I am not dubious about healing. I believe that God heals today, often miraculously. And I believe that there are sometimes certain people whose prayers for the healing of others avail much. We all know, however, that there are those who will use the power of God to peddle a product. What's most tragic about this is the fact that there's always a constituency for guys like this.
I fear that it's more than just P.T. Barnum's famous old maxim about the gullibility of the American public. I fear that there's something missing in our churches that drives even some of our people to charlatans. Might there be less of a demand for these travelling health-and-wealth revivalists if our churches spent more time on our knees in prayer for sick and hurting people?
Of course, all our churches have prayer lists of the sick, and many of them go over these lists line-by-line at Wednesday night prayer meeting. But when's the last time you saw a church follow the command of the Holy Spirit as to what to do for the sick in James 5:13-15? When's the last time you saw a suffering Christian call the pastors of his church to anoint him with oil and to pray for healing?
Perhaps if we gave more attention to prayer in our own churches, the most desperate among us--in our neighborhoods and in our pews--would have less reason to search out a self-appointed carnival-tent apostle.'
'I have been thinking about spiritual revival in light of Paul's ministry in Ephesus (Acts 19v8-41) and how it contrasts with the claims being made in Florida right now with Todd Bentley.
From Acts 19 I believe here are some essential marks of a genuine, Holy Spirit empowered revival:-
Where :-
1. The Word of God is Proclaimed!
2. Jesus Christ is exalted!
3. The Wider Community comes under the Fear of the Lord!
4. Conviction of sin and deep repentance marks his people!'
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2 comments:
James tells us, "You do not have because you do not ask"(James 4v2) He implies that faiure to ask deprives us of what God would otherwise have given to us. We pray and God responds. Jesus also says, "Ask and it will given you; seek and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him to him who knocks it will be opened. (Luke 11:9-10) He makes a clear connection between seeking things from God and reciving them.
Stick your name at the bottom of your response please. It's helpful to know who we are responding to so that we can seek to serve you as best we can. the point is not a lack of desire to see God work to reform and revive His people both posts I believe express a desire and belief that such is possible- they are asking about authenticity and seeking to discern what is right.
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