I Really Doubt It

I love the Body of Christ and I should, because I'm a Christian. I get to meet many believers from various parts of the church and make it a point to ask a few questions to see what is going on throughout the church. Recently I had a conversation with a believer that was not connected to a local church. (The Bible teaches that all believers need to be connect to a local expression of the church, not some mystical me and Jesus church) Naturally, I asked this person why they were not connected. Their response did not shock me because it is one of many typical responses that many confused believers have today. However, I was grieved because once again the issue of faith (or should I say a lack of faith) was the root of this issue.

The apostle Paul write, "...that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it..." (1 Corinthians 12:25-26) (I am going to take some latitude with these verses at the end as I share this persons personal story with us) During the 1980's this person (whose story I'm about to tell) went to a major US city to attend a healing and deliverance meeting sponsored by a well known female minister that flowed in this ministry. (If I mentioned the ministers name you would immediately recognize it) This person saw first hand all those who came forth received healing and gave a testimony that they were indeed healed. The person left the meeting with a new excitement for the LORD and His desire and love to heal hurting people.

A few years had past and this person purchased a book by a very well known Christian author. (If I mentioned the authors name you would immediately recognize it) The author wrote a book as a follow up on the healing ministry of this  particular minister. The author of the book revealed that several people who had claimed to have been healed had either died from or were struggling with the same sickness that they were supposedly healed of. In short, the author concluded that the ministry was false and that God does not heal today like He did in the early church. If God does heal today, it is because He picks and chooses who receives healing and who does not. With that, it only took a short period of time when this person bought into this well known authors logic which eroded their faith in Christ for healing. Now for nearly two decades this person has not been connected to any local church.

Unfortunately, there always seems to be people in the Body of Christ who work hard at disproving that believers have access to the power of God today for healing, deliverance, provision, etc. The real reason behind this is a subtle deception that has nothing to do with faith, but causes one to doubt in the immutable Creator of all things. Problems arises when believers do not apply faith to God's Word and permit the wisdom of man to take precedence above the knowledge of God. No doubt (no pun intended) this is exactly what happened to this author.

If believers placed faith in the integrity of God's Word there would be no question at all that God is still in and will always be in the business of healing. He has not changes (Malachi 3:6, Hebrews 13:8) which means His Word has not changed (Psalm 89:34, 119:89, Isaiah 55:11, Jeremiah 1:12, John 1:1, 14) God and His Word are one!!! To say that God decides who He heals and who He doesn't means He show partiality towards people which is also contrary to scripture, (Acts 10:34, Romans 2:11, Ephesians 6:9). Jesus said, "as you have believed, so let it done for you" (Matthew 8:13), "Be it according to your faith" (Matthew 9:29), "If you can believe all things are possible to him who believes" (Mark 9:23) and the writer of Hebrews records, "But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him" (Hebrews 11:6) It sounds like the condition to receive anything from God requires faith, not chance. If anyone meets God's condition to receive, which is faith, then they shall have. "For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says." (Mark 11:23) 

We must come to grips with these verses. It is not a matter of yesterday, today or tomorrow, but "whoever" can believe without doubt. The issue of people receiving healing and then losing it comes down to permitting doubt to have place if or when a symptom tries to manifest after they have received healing. It comes down to whether or not one believes God's Word and acts on it or if they respond to their five senses which say, "I won't believe unless I see, feel, etc.". All sickness and disease comes from Satan. Peter tells us (talking to believers) "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith..." (1 Peter 8-9) Although Peter is talking about humility and that some may suffer persecution for their belief, the point is Satan still works against believers. Sickness and disease is one of the areas that he tries to put on believers. Unfortunately, for many believers, he seems to have an element success. But believers are to resist him steadfast in faith!

The author of the book that this person read somehow either forgot, did not consider or just does not know the power of God's Word. He himself apparently does not act on God's Word through faith, nor resist the devil in the manner Jesus shows us, "It is written." His only objective seems to have been to discredit healing in the church for today. This author apparently has more faith in his own wisdom than in the Word of God. It apparent that the research for his  book excluded what God's Word says about this issue. I am not trying to create division, but it is time for Christians to stop buying into the nonsense of faithless words spoken or written by faithless authors and church leaders.

Fortunately, the person that I talked with was relieved and encouraged as I showed them what God's Words says on the matter. Hopefully, the day will come when Christian author's only write books that build up the Body of Christ and stimulate faith rather than tearing it down. Things like this causes schism in the church as well as causing believers who truly love the LORD to suffer when all they have to do is believe God's Word.

Although this was the short version concerning this matter, I have one more thought that I would like us to consider. This may be a hard word for some, but when we allow doubt to say that God does not do the things that His Word says He does or if we allow doubt to say that He does things that are contrary to His Word, we will find ourselves creating God in our own image. Jesus said, "Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it." (Luke 18:17) It's time to exercise child like faith in a loving faithful God who is our Father!