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That is a marvelous testimony Joshua. Faith can be very powerful, it IS very powerful. I beleive in the power of faith and prayer, I beleive the Bible. One verse if I recall correctly, said something to the effect that "Jesus did not do many miracles there, because of their lack of faith. In other cases, Jesus says "your faith has made you well". As others have poited out, Paul prayed repeatedly and was told "no". The woman with an issue of blood was not even prayed over, her faith was sufficient without Jesus direct intervention. What I take away from these various examples, is, that the faith of the one receiving, or the faith of the one doing the healing etc. might be all that is required, but that cannot mean that God will always heal. Paul's faith was answered with a "no". What it boils down to, is that God is on the throne of the universe, not you faith, not my faith. If all that is required is faith on that part of the one person intending healing, why aren't people who have such faith or gifts of healing, emptying hospitals? I think you made some reference about it not being in God's character to be a cause of illness or something to that effect, you might want to rethink that. The LORD said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes him mute or deaf, or seeing or blind? Is it not I, the LORD? Ex 4:11 Sometimes God has a purpose, and we have no idea what it is: 1As He passed by, He saw a man blind from birth. 2And His disciples asked Him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he would be born blind?” 3Jesus answered, “It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him. John 9 Some evils, as you pointed out, are a result of the fall. That is of course very true. That does not mean though, that we can just pray or 'faith' it away. The creation groans awaiting the revelation of the sons of God, and it will continue to do so. We are still sinners and still under the curse, that will be fixed one day, but that day is not yet. Until then, we still have the good news of Romans 8:28. This also, is where faith comes in. In a case where relief is elusive, And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. Life for the Christian is never promised to be trouble free, if anything we are told to expect troubles and suffering. I agree with others that if we say the only reason that you are not healed, is because you lack faith, then we serve to cause doubt in that person, about their salvation, about God etc, because their prayers are not answered, when likely it is just not God's intention to heal them at that time. Doctrines like that attack God's soveriegnty. We have been given the priveledge to come to our Father and ask what we want of Him, and the confidnce of knowing, that if He wills it, it will be done. We have not been given any right to come to Him and demand to change anything, he is not a celestial Santa Clause who grants wishes, He is the author of the universe and sees a larger picture, using everything for His purposes, and not needing to justify to us, why He does anything or fails to do anything. My advoce to you, is to continue to pray for healing, continue to exercise whatever gifts God gives you for His glory, but cease promulgating doctrines that are not in harmony with every word that comes from the mouth of God. Things like sickness, are temporary and not our focus, instead, we triy to focus on the love that God has shown us, patiently an joyfully await out eternity with Him. Contentment is hard when you are in pain, but some find it, that is where I am most impressed by faith. For now, we take comfort in passages like Rom 8 18For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. 20For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope 21that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. 23And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. 24For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? 25But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it. Our Victory in Christ 26In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; 27and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 28And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. 29For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; 30and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified. 31What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? 32He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? 33Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; 34who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. 35Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36Just as it is written, “FOR YOUR SAKE WE ARE BEING PUT TO DEATH ALL DAY LONG; WE WERE CONSIDERED AS SHEEP TO BE SLAUGHTERED.” 37But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. 38For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Hallelujah~!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSuUL34KKqQ

This verse that I'm about to share with you is pertaining to the word of God through the Holy Bible who had either rejected God's word, refrained from God's word, or retained God's word. My 3 question are: 1) Do you believe in the word of God which is the Holy Bible? 2) Do you hold fast to Jesus Christ's teachings? 3) Do you obey and keep God's commandments? Well, lets see. Read "The Parable of the Sower:" Luke 8:4-15. This verse will answer your question for you. Cross reference Luke 8:4-8 with verse Luke 8:11-15 to get a clear understanding of the parable. Choose A, B, C, or D as your answer. Make sure to state why you had either rejected God's word, refrained from God's word, or retained God's word. Also make sure to answer my 3 questions as well. INTRODUCTION: Luke 8:4-5 While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from town after town, he told this parable: “A farmer went out to sow his seed." Cross Reference: (Luke 8:11 The seed is the word of God). A) Luke 8:5 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds of the air ate it up. Cross Reference: (Luke 8:12 Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved). B) Luke 8:6 Some fell on rock, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture. Cross Reference: (Luke 8:13 Those on the rock are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away). C) Luke 8:7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants. Cross Reference: (Luke 8:14 The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature). D) Luke 8:8 Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown. Cross Reference: (Luke 8:15 But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop). ===================================================================================== Roman 10:17 Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ. Remember, you have to bear good fruit >>> (Matthew 7:16-19). Everybody is more than welcome to answer.

The first miracle Jesus did at the Wedding in Canaan was to make good wine. Jesus was called a drunk and a glutton (Matthew 11:19) and yet He warns against drunkenness ( Luke 21:34) The question is can Christians drink alcohol and still operate in the power of the Holy Spirit? And why was Jesus called a drunk?