I share often that I don’t fit nicely into any denominational box. I am not defiant about authority and/or structure in fact I believe in it, but I am honestly a denominational MUTT. A mix a beliefs and theologies that are sincere. These views do not make me necessarily right, but like they say ‘opinions are like noses.. everyone has one’.
Just a few years ago I was attending a little Pentecostal church, and I recall one specific church service where the sermon particularly spoke to me. One of the major points was that we when we pass another church when driving down the road. Thank God for that church and say a prayer for them. Church is not a competition, and while we all have different flavors of theology from our background and faith walk we are all the same body. One body, many parts, one body, many man made theology-theories, one body, many denominations.. but in the end ONE BODY.
The other big point form this service was on the gift of healing. The pastor was asking for those in the congregation who were in need of God's healing hand. While I don't believe God heals everyone that asks, I do believe I put a lid on what is possible. Our bodies are broken down existing in a world of sin and we will all succumb to sickness, injury, and eventually death. THIS BEING SAID.. it would be selling God short to believe He does not still heal men and women in big and small ways.
Just a few years ago I was attending a little Pentecostal church, and I recall one specific church service where the sermon particularly spoke to me. One of the major points was that we when we pass another church when driving down the road. Thank God for that church and say a prayer for them. Church is not a competition, and while we all have different flavors of theology from our background and faith walk we are all the same body. One body, many parts, one body, many man made theology-theories, one body, many denominations.. but in the end ONE BODY.
The other big point form this service was on the gift of healing. The pastor was asking for those in the congregation who were in need of God's healing hand. While I don't believe God heals everyone that asks, I do believe I put a lid on what is possible. Our bodies are broken down existing in a world of sin and we will all succumb to sickness, injury, and eventually death. THIS BEING SAID.. it would be selling God short to believe He does not still heal men and women in big and small ways.
I appreciate the Old Testament story of Naaman being healed in the Jordan River by dipping in the river 7 times as instructed by Elisha. Well during this Sunday service at this little pentecostal church a light bulb went off in my head when the pastor asked for those who were in the need of God’s healing hand that day to raise their hands.
The fact is God will heal as he chooses whether it is Naaman in the Jordan River or Jeff in the Back Pew, or YOU… BUT if I won’t even raise my hand to ask for prayer then I would be like Naaman who was instructed to dip in the Jordan River 7 times, but just dipped 6 times, toweled off and headed home for Sunday brunch. It would have been a HEALING UNREALIZED.
Like Naaman we of course should be obedient to God’s instruction. I need to be brave enough to raise my hand and ask for prayer uninhibited by what others think or do, and ‘dare to be healed’.
The fact is God will heal as he chooses whether it is Naaman in the Jordan River or Jeff in the Back Pew, or YOU… BUT if I won’t even raise my hand to ask for prayer then I would be like Naaman who was instructed to dip in the Jordan River 7 times, but just dipped 6 times, toweled off and headed home for Sunday brunch. It would have been a HEALING UNREALIZED.
Like Naaman we of course should be obedient to God’s instruction. I need to be brave enough to raise my hand and ask for prayer uninhibited by what others think or do, and ‘dare to be healed’.
This is a world full of people in need of God’s healing hand, but not few are brave enough, or believe enough to even raise our hands let along dunk ourselves in a river 7 times.
While I am a relatively happy man I continue to worry, fret, hang on to my baggage, and wallow in insecurities.. BUT this way of thinking has to go. I need God’s touch in ways that free me from worry and the illusion/delusion that this life is about me. So please see me through this email as raising my hand, asking for prayer, and being open to the realization I NEED GOD’S TOUCH.
May each of us live uninhibited by man, the quiet whispers, and not sell short what is possible with God’s blessings. God forgives, and heals our thoughts, worries, bodies from the trappings and consequences of this fallen world.. AND.. God can do this is ways that are BEYOND OUR DREAMS... if we do not reduce our faith to 6 dips instead of 7.
Jeff
While I am a relatively happy man I continue to worry, fret, hang on to my baggage, and wallow in insecurities.. BUT this way of thinking has to go. I need God’s touch in ways that free me from worry and the illusion/delusion that this life is about me. So please see me through this email as raising my hand, asking for prayer, and being open to the realization I NEED GOD’S TOUCH.
May each of us live uninhibited by man, the quiet whispers, and not sell short what is possible with God’s blessings. God forgives, and heals our thoughts, worries, bodies from the trappings and consequences of this fallen world.. AND.. God can do this is ways that are BEYOND OUR DREAMS... if we do not reduce our faith to 6 dips instead of 7.
Jeff
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