wolf in sheeps clothing

[bnrr]

Hello to all in worthy community

I am new to the worthy community and would like to say hello in Jesus name.

I would like to ask any one in the worthy community who would be able to

help me in restoring my faith. to begin with, last year I was watching a ministry

program of Pastor don stewart of phonix arizona about his handkerchief of healing.

at the time I wasn't in strong faith, hardly read the bible, say prayers once in awhile.

I decided to try and see if this healing could help me, so I send in a request for the

handkerchief in lest then 3 weeks I receive the handkerchief and follow the instructions

as to begin the healing process. 10 minutes later something came over me that was so

strong that it made me cry like I had never cry before since I was a child, my cry laste

almost 20 minutes and the feeling lasted up until the next day. the feeling is like some

thing has been lifted off of me and I felt peace, can't exactly descripe it because never

felt anything like it before. after the experience I began to read the bible (all day) and

praying(all day) and my family notice the changes in me. 2 weeks later I came across

an article about pastor stewart that just shot down my faith. now I look at him as one

one of the wolves that Jesus warn his disicples about in sheeps clothing. now today I struggle

to try and keep my faith, I am loseing because of the situation in my life asking god for

help. I belive now that I have lost it.

[Marnie]

First let me say this: there is no such thing as a "healing handkerchief." I don't know how much you paid for it, but this kind of nonsense is akin to snake oil salesmen of a bygone era. G-d works through your faith, not a piece of clothe. I realize there is a Biblical precedent for this sort of thing, but nowhere in Scripture are we told to put our trust in anything other than the healing power of G-d.

Second, put your trust in G-d, not any man. A preacher, pastor or evangelist will always let you down no matter how sincere they may be. A man is not G-d; only G-d will never disappoint you. Your faith will always be shaken when you take your eyes of G-d and put them on a man.

Third, stay in the Word. It is what feeds your spirit. Know what the Word promises an obedient believer and start living a life that will be receptive to the Lord's blessing.

Friend, as a child of G-d you are a joint heir with Jesus Christ to the storehouse of heaven's blessings! Of all the people in the world, Christians should not have any lack: we are promised an abundance of joy, peace and contentment if we but put our complete, unwavering trust in G-d Almighty.

[AnExample]

First let me say this: there is no such thing as a "healing handkerchief." I don't know how much you paid for it, but this kind of nonsense is akin to snake oil salesmen of a bygone era. G-d works through your faith, not a piece of clothe. I realize there is a Biblical precedent for this sort of thing, but nowhere in Scripture are we told to put our trust in anything other than the healing power of G-d.

Second, put your trust in G-d, not any man. A preacher, pastor or evangelist will always let you down no matter how sincere they may be. A man is not G-d; only G-d will never disappoint you. Your faith will always be shaken when you take your eyes of G-d and put them on a man.

Third, stay in the Word. It is what feeds your spirit. Know what the Word promises an obedient believer and start living a life that will be receptive to the Lord's blessing.

Friend, as a child of G-d you are a joint heir with Jesus Christ to the storehouse of heaven's blessings! Of all the people in the world, Christians should not have any lack: we are promised an abundance of joy, peace and contentment if we but put our complete, unwavering trust in G-d Almighty.

Amen, Marnie. I also want to say that there are tares among the wheat and the word tells us that they go out from among us because they were not of us. The other is...unfortunately we live in era where people in general are greedy and will use God and His word or anything else to manipulate anyone. Some people attempt to use the scripture from "touch the hem of His garment" to justify using prayer cloths, beads, etc., you must always remember God's commandment to not have idols. If you put your faith in items that our Creator created as opposed to the Creator Himself. The action is idol worship. Remember, we serve a loving, forgiving, and gracious God. Reading your bible as Marnie suggested will increase your relationship with God through the person of Christ Jesus. The other thing that will happen is the Holy Spirit will teach you. Then you will know (you hear when He is forewarning you about things not of God. When you pray ask God to forgive you for things of co-mission and omission, sins you knowingly committed and for things you did that you did not realize you were doing. As you grow in the Lord it will get easier. God loves you.

[TheoMike]

A big amen to both responses.

Jesus told His followers: "Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves." (Matthew 10:16). Very good advice.

[RustyAngeL]

Hello to all in worthy community

I am new to the worthy community and would like to say hello in Jesus name.

I would like to ask any one in the worthy community who would be able to

help me in restoring my faith. to begin with, last year I was watching a ministry

program of Pastor don stewart of phonix arizona about his handkerchief of healing.

at the time I wasn't in strong faith, hardly read the bible, say prayers once in awhile.

I decided to try and see if this healing could help me, so I send in a request for the

handkerchief in lest then 3 weeks I receive the handkerchief and follow the instructions

as to begin the healing process. 10 minutes later something came over me that was so

strong that it made me cry like I had never cry before since I was a child, my cry laste

almost 20 minutes and the feeling lasted up until the next day. the feeling is like some

thing has been lifted off of me and I felt peace, can't exactly descripe it because never

felt anything like it before. after the experience I began to read the bible (all day) and

praying(all day) and my family notice the changes in me. 2 weeks later I came across

an article about pastor stewart that just shot down my faith. now I look at him as one

one of the wolves that Jesus warn his disicples about in sheeps clothing. now today I struggle

to try and keep my faith, I am loseing because of the situation in my life asking god for

help. I belive now that I have lost it.

First off I want to say welcome to Worthy. You have come to the right place for help. Here you will find so many of us have and are going through rough times. You can find help here I promise you. However my sister Marnie is so right. These people dangle a carrot in front of you making you put your faith in something other then the almighty God who is your answer not a piece of cloth. God's strengeh will sustain you, not give you a high for a few moments then drop the floor out from under you. His word says that He will never leave you or forsake you. Throw the handkerchief away get out your Bible, get on your knees and cry out to God. I promise He will answer. Also if you have a CD player with a headset get some praise and worship tapes and listen to that. The Bible says that God inhabits the praises of His people. When you begin to worship and praise God the devil flees in terror.

[quieth3art]

Welcome to Worthy, bnrr. You will find a lot of love, support and inspiration here on the boards as well as the chats. All of the advice you've received in the previous posts is only a small sampling.

[Guest yod]

jr...are you trying to stir up trouble? There is a nice way to disagree with someone, ya know?

I'm with Marnie on this one. There is no such thing as a healing handkerchief. Only the Lord heals and He can not be contained in a handkerchief.

If someone has faith that God can heal them and they think it is done through any type of agency, then their faith might be released at a specific point in time because of an outside object...but it is never the "object" that healed them.

We need to learn that Yeshua is able to heal at any time in any way. A kick-start doesn't hurt once in a while as long as we understand the Power behind it.

Concerning this preacher:

in every believer there are 2 things at work in us

1. Anointing

2. character

Character doesn't usually grow fast enough to keep up with the anointing. It takes a while sometimes before our character even reflects the anointing we have in the Lord but we grow through perseverence and patience. In the meantime, the power of the Holy Spirit is still available to do His will...and His will can be rather spectacular to behold which might make it look like one has a "special" power to outside observers.

Example:

Sampson - a man carried by passion who was fooled into serving the enemies of God. Yet was one of the great prophets/judges of Israel. We learn from his mistakes or we fall the same way.

Modern examples:

Televangelists - I don't like the character of most of them...but there are many saints (and other people) who have been blessed and benefitted from their anointing.

God is faithful to mold their character over time in His own special way...so it's not my place to judge the validity of their anointing if their character is showing even the least bit of improvement over time.

If they are producing only thorns and thistles, then their anointing is not of God. If they are producting good fruit, even with bad character, it is the Lord's arm at work through them and we speak against God when we speak against the anointing. Character is a different issue.

Example:

Solomon

[Leonard]

"And there were taken from the body of Paul, handkerchiefs and cloths. These were sent to sick folks, and many people were healed and demons were cast out."

I know Reverend Don Stewart personally, and have for more than a decade. No one 'pays' for a prayer cloth. IF they choose to send in an offering, that is well and good, but if not, Don never knows which cloths came back with a donation, or those that came back without an offering. All are prayed over with complete impartiality.

I will testify to this: If ever there was a heart of genuine compassion for the sick, the poor, and the oppressed, it beats within the bosom of Don Stewart.

I was able to help him once when the Canadian news media attempted a character assassination against this decent Christian leader, and I would just advise all to disbelieve anything at all in the secular press, and question most of what you read in the 'Christian' media.

What article did you read friend, maybe I can shed some light on this for you....

[Guest camieo66]

i had a mental break dowm tis year .ididn't start coming back to myselh till I asked for abible and started reading job and the psalms.Iwas suprised they had a bibli in the hospital but by reading it it brought back reality and my faith ihad jest growes more with the more I read it you can't depend on some people but god will lead you to others like this site to help in your growth keep studying the bible it can answer many questions and show a better way of living

[Leonard]

Cameo: Thanks for sharing this with us. It is a very important message! God bless you, and help you in your recovery. I believe He has great things for you in this life.