Quote from Forum Archives on January 28, 2003, 11:15 am

Posted by: masinick <masinick@...>

Dear friends,

Now here's a message that is really interesting! It's about a
healing service. Both Larry and I come from fairly mainstream
church backgrounds. We both firmly believe in the power of God
to work in all kinds of different situations.

Even so, when things like a "Healing Service" or something else
that's a bit out of the mainstream of events that we're used to
comes along, let's say we're surprised, at least I am, and from
the sound of Larry's first words, he was, too.

My personal view on such things is that I constantly see the
work of God taking place everywhere. I believe that God works
in the every day and in the ordinary, but I can also accept that
God is capable of working in the unusual, too. The Bible
certainly records many such events.

Now for me, I don't need miracle after miracle, sign after sign
on public display for me to believe in the power of God. At the
same time, when God does work His signs and wonders, I firmly
believe this:b

"20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above
all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in
us, 21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all
generations, forever and ever. Amen." (Ephesians 3:20-21, NKJV)

Larry will share a couple of messages about his impressions.
Here's the introduction to Larry's experiences in a "Healing
Service". Stay tuned. I'm sure he'll share more in the weeks
ahead, Lord willing.

Your Brother in Christ,
Brian

Sowing Seeds of Faith...

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"What's A Healing Service?" Larry Davies

"Come on Larry, I'm taking you to a 'real' church! We're going to
a healing service!" The first words, after a short introduction,
uttered by Dot, an energetic 75-year-young woman who felt led by
God to provide a room for me during my studies at Duke Divinity
School. Before I could set down my suitcase she steered me back
outside to her car and forcefully exclaimed, "I'll drive!"

"As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man who had been blind from
birth." (John 9:1)

As we entered the crowded church everyone was exuberantly singing
and clapping. We were ushered to the only seats available... on
the first row, directly in front of the speakers. Boy, was I
feeling intimidated. It had only been a few short weeks since I
left the business world to become a preacher and here I was on
the front row of a crowded healing service having no idea what
was going to happen next. I didn't even know what a healing
service was?! I would soon find out.

"'Teacher,' his disciples asked him, 'why was this man born
blind?' ... Jesus answered. 'He was born blind so the power of
God could be seen in him." (2-3)

Dot, gave me a knowing look that implied, "Trust me!" The music
was catchy and easy to sing and I found myself beginning to relax
and enjoy the service. The speaker stressed the importance of
individual fasting and prayer. "We cannot be an example for
others unless we are willing to practice what we believe!" he
said. Nothing unusual so far, but then...

"Then he (Jesus) spit on the ground, made mud with the saliva and
smoothed the mud over the blind man's eyes. He told him, 'Go and
wash in the pool of Siloam" (Siloam means Sent). So the man went
and washed and came back seeing!" (6-7)

The preacher pointed to a young woman and mentioned a recent
divorce and how God would help her cope as a single mother. He
looked at a young man and spoke of his struggle with alcoholism
and how God could overcome it. Then, the minister looked directly
at me and asked me to stand. He told everyone I was a new
minister (that much he knew) but then he shared personal details
about my life he could not have known. He asked everyone to pray
for my ministry and let me sit down. Now I was uncomfortable and
my head was spinning with questions.

"His neighbors and others who knew him as a blind beggar asked
each other, 'Is this the same man - that beggar? Some said he was
and others said, 'No, but he surely looks like him.' And the
beggar kept saying, 'I am the same man!'" (8-9)

As if by unspoken command people began slowly moving to the
front. The minister approached one woman standing directly in
front of me and gazed into her eyes and mentioned a severe blood
disorder. "In the name of Jesus, heal her!" he said and she
spread her arms straight into the air, screamed and fell
backwards right into my arms. I had no idea what to do but two
women immediately grabbed her, gently eased her to the floor and
discreetly covered her with a sheet.

"So for the second time they called in the man who had been blind
and told him, 'Give glory to God by telling the truth, because we
know Jesus is a sinner.' The man replied, 'I don't know whether
he is a sinner but I know this: I was blind and now I can see!'"
(24-25)

I left the service that night with more questions than answers.
Are special healing services necessary for God to respond? Did
Jesus really heal that blind man? How did the preacher know so
much about me? Was the woman really healed of her blood disorder?
What about people who are not healed? Are there other less
dramatic ways we can be involved in a healing ministry?

Next Week: For years I have struggled with the questions
presented by this story. I pray that my answers based on
scripture and personal experience as a pastor will help you
clearly understand and appreciate how we as the church can be
actively involved in God's miracle of healing?

If you like this devotion you will love the book: "Breaking the
Peanut Butter Habit: Following God's Recipe for a Better Life"
now on sale only through this website. Click here for more
information: www.sowingseedsoffaith.com/peanbutt.htm

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Jesus said: "You are the light of the world--like a city on a
mountain, glowing in the night for all to see. Don't hide your
light under a basket! Instead, put it on a stand and let it shine
for all." (Matthew 5:14-15)

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--
Brian Masinick, mailto:masinick@yahoo.com
Home page: www.geocities.com/masinick/

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