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How
we are alike
There
are two denominations of Christian churches that are
alike in that they believe that the gifts of the
Spirit as listed in I Cor.12 and 14 are for today, and
these gifts are in operation in these churches. Their
people have received the baptism in or with the Holy
Spirit as described in Acts 2, and they speak in
tongues.
Their
church meetings are marked with loud and lively songs,
raised hands, clapping, dancing unto the Lord, and
flag or banner waving in worship. But here is where
the similarity stops.
Two
camps
These
“Spirit-filled” churches are divided into two
camps: Pentecostal
and Charismatic.
The latter is also called the Word of Faith
group, or sometimes just Word people or Faith people.
The
Pentecostal group believes it is completely up to God
if and when He heals, protects or prospers anyone. They believe that God is sovereign and will do these things
whenever and if He chooses.
The
Faith position is that all these things are ours by
the Covenant, guaranteed by the blood of Jesus. The
terms of the Covenant are in the Word of God, the
Bible, and we receive each one by faith. To put it
another way, the Faith people have learned how to
make the promises work, while the Pentecostals are
begging God to do what He has already provided for us
to have. To put it very simply, in one group it’s
all up to God, and in the other, it’s all up to us.
The way it’s all up to us is that God has
already done all that needs doing, (II Pet.1:3), and
has given us His Word, which works when we learn how
to put it to work.
It doesn’t have anything to do with earning
the promises by working or being good enough.
The
Word works and Faith works
The
Word, and Faith in that Word will work for anybody who
will learn how, and put them to work.
God shows no partiality. (Acts 10:34) but He
does honor His Word and He honors faith. So those who
know how are the ones who benefit.
I was a member of two different Pentecostal
churches for a total of twelve years.
I heard one of the pastors say, after being at
a meeting of the leaders of this denomination, that
cancer was taking the lives of their pastors or
pastors’ wives.
One new case of cancer, or one more death was
reported at every meeting.
They beg and plead for God to heal, and when He
doesn’t they are left with believing that it
wasn’t God’s will, saying “We just have to trust
that He knows best.”
The
faith people see that the Word says clearly what His
will is. and His will is always to heal! Satan is the killer, (John 10:10). When people don’t get
healed, it’s because faith wasn’t released.
Somebody has to release faith for a healing to
come. Sometimes it’s the pastor or speaker who has
the faith, but healing won’t come without some faith
being released for it.
In
my first years in a “Spirit- filled” church, I
asked a lady teacher, “How do you know if it’s
God’s will to heal?”
She answered, “We don’t know.
We just pray for the sick, and leave it up to
God if He chooses to heal.”
That is a Pentecostal position. The faith
position is that it is God’s will to heal, so
we say, “Let
me join my faith with yours and get you healed!”
What belongs to us
Healing, health, protection, long life,
prosperity, favor and success were all purchased for
us on the cross of Calvary.
Jesus blood paid for all that for us.
I grew up with the belief that Jesus’ death
was only to keep us from hell, and get us into heaven.
But, oh so much more was done on that cross!
Deut. 28 has the most complete listing of the
blessings and curses of the law, and they include
health, wealth, and length
of life.
That chapter explains that if
you serve God with all your heart, then He will do all
these things for you.
And verse 15 says that if you don’t, then all
these curses will come upon you. Every sickness,
disaster and calamity is listed there.
It’s
all paid for!
Look at Gal. 3:13.
“Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the
law, being made a curse for us, for it is written,
cursed is everyone that hangs on a tree.” And verses
14 and 29 say that in Christ, the
blessings are ours. So God has redeemed us from
sickness, poverty and early death, and has paid for us
to have health, wealth, and long life! And just as
salvation is for “whosoever” (John 3:16), so are
these things!
How
can I get them to work for me?
There are several brochures just like the one
you are reading now that will give you small doses of
this life of faith.
Did you know the Word says in six places that we
are to live by faith?
Jesus said in John 10:10 that He came so we
could have life abundantly. III John 2 says, “I wish
above all things that you would prosper and be in
health, even as your soul prospers.”
Learning to live by faith is the only way to
get these and all of the other promises to work for
you. For
more on this subject:
Other
brochures
If you want the Scriptural proofs for this
teaching, get my brochure called Faith Facts.
If you want to hear how I started learning to
live this way, there are two called Growing in
Faith.
If you have heard objections to the Word of
Faith teaching and you would like to get those
answered, get the brochure called, Objections to
the Faith Message, answered.
There is a brochure called, If it’s
God’s will, then why doesn’t it always happen?
This will tell how to get the promises to
work for you.
If you’re interested in getting out of debt,
or learning how to get rich God’s way, then get the
one titled, Who Qualifies for Prosperity?
Or you might want the one called, Objections
to the prosperity Message answered.
There are other books and tapes by many authors
that will be valuable to help you as you begin this
exciting life where the Word will work for you! |
