Something Strange is Happening to Some!!
Jesus said all believers would lay hands on the sick and they would recover. He said all believers would cast out demons, speak in tongues, and handle the old serpent, the devil, and all his poisons. He said all believers would minister to the sick.
All believers, who are obedient to Jesus, will do all of the above things in their daily walk with God and Jesus. However, Paul said something very positive about the gifts of the Spirit (I Corinthians 12:1-11). All of us need to lay hands on the sick as Jesus said, but not all are necessarily qualified to operate in the gifts of the Spirit, including the Pastors and other church leaders. The gift of healings are entirely different from laying hands on the sick. It is a supernatural endowment of the power of God that is normally manifested in services where there are audiences.
There are two gifts that w need to give input that can be invaluable in healing the sick, but can also be a dangerous tool in the hands of an unseasoned Christian. They are the word of wisdom and the word of knowledge. Almost all of these gifts are merely the result of being able to hear God and relying on what he said, and they are powerful if used correctly. However, not all have these gifts. Paul said to one is given this gift and "to another" is given another gift, so we will not all operate in these gifts.
Wonderful things can happen if we are operating in the Spirit and not in the flesh, but terrible things can happen if we operate in the flesh! Immature Christians have a tendency to think in terms of what they want to happen and not in terms of what God is actually saying, and they can step in front of God's plans. Sometimes we don't even look for what we actually want to happen, but something that will bring glory or praise to us.
The word of knowledge in healing is invaluable, because many times people do not tell or even know the truth about what is actually wrong with them. Many years ago a woman came to our services with a bad back problem. We questioned her and came to find out what was the real problem. She had been exercising to lose weight, and did not know she was over a period of time doing the wrong exercise for her present weight and condition. After the service, I talked to her about what the word of knowledge and what the word of wisdom had said. She was ashamed to confess that openly. We got pass that, and she received her healing.
The word of knowledge can be in almost any situation where you are dealing with another person, but it should be exercised first in your church under the leadership of your pastor who knows you and your spiritual maturity. This way you can be corrected, if necessary, to help you mature in this area. If you receive a word of knowledge, such as we do, ask God what to do with it, and also make sure it is God who said it in the first place.
Prophecies given in the flesh but received as if from God have led many good Christians astray. We are to follow after the Holy Spirit rather than a prophecy. Whenever someone prophesy's over us, we lay it on the shelf until it comes true, and then we know that person is a genuine prophet, but we never run after the prophesy in an attempt to make it happen. If it's of God, it will happen; if it's not, it won't. It's as simple as that.
Don't be so eager that you ruin someone's life with your fleshly words of knowledge or prophecy. Desire to operate in the gifts, but only under controlled situations (such as your own church, until you have matured sufficiently to be able to operate in public meetings. A little side note. The scriptures are full of the supernatural. The only cure for the materialism, and lust found everywhere today is to know what the Word of God says about the Spirit world.
Remember gifts or abilities of the Spirit are to be used to accomplish what you are to do for God at that time. These gifts are not given to all but all believers are to minister healing. Those operating in the various abilities or gifts of the Spirit should be mature, seasoned, Spirit-filled Christians who love God and Christ Jesus with all their hearts, who put God's desires before their own desires, and who spend much time meditating in the word of God.
If you are a baby Christian, you should spend hours and hours meditating in the Word of God, seeking to know God, not seeking revelation knowledge, but to know more about God, and the ministry of Christ Jesus. Seek the knowledge according to the level of your commitment to operate in it. If you learn how to stand God will give you plenty of opportunities to use them to fulfill what He has called you to do.
To my fellow pastors, and teachers, we'd rather have a little more Holy Spirit wildfire than no fire, more anointing and less emotion driven services, because it's easier to put out a wildfire that it is to kindle dead ashes.
I thank you for your continued viewing and reading. If this Blog and its contents have been a blessing to you, then I ask, with God's leading, that you consider supporting Artesian Well Church.
Talk to you soon,
Pastor James P. Norman Jr.
Artesian Well Church
6031 Linden Avenue
Long Beach, Ca
All believers, who are obedient to Jesus, will do all of the above things in their daily walk with God and Jesus. However, Paul said something very positive about the gifts of the Spirit (I Corinthians 12:1-11). All of us need to lay hands on the sick as Jesus said, but not all are necessarily qualified to operate in the gifts of the Spirit, including the Pastors and other church leaders. The gift of healings are entirely different from laying hands on the sick. It is a supernatural endowment of the power of God that is normally manifested in services where there are audiences.
There are two gifts that w need to give input that can be invaluable in healing the sick, but can also be a dangerous tool in the hands of an unseasoned Christian. They are the word of wisdom and the word of knowledge. Almost all of these gifts are merely the result of being able to hear God and relying on what he said, and they are powerful if used correctly. However, not all have these gifts. Paul said to one is given this gift and "to another" is given another gift, so we will not all operate in these gifts.
Wonderful things can happen if we are operating in the Spirit and not in the flesh, but terrible things can happen if we operate in the flesh! Immature Christians have a tendency to think in terms of what they want to happen and not in terms of what God is actually saying, and they can step in front of God's plans. Sometimes we don't even look for what we actually want to happen, but something that will bring glory or praise to us.
The word of knowledge in healing is invaluable, because many times people do not tell or even know the truth about what is actually wrong with them. Many years ago a woman came to our services with a bad back problem. We questioned her and came to find out what was the real problem. She had been exercising to lose weight, and did not know she was over a period of time doing the wrong exercise for her present weight and condition. After the service, I talked to her about what the word of knowledge and what the word of wisdom had said. She was ashamed to confess that openly. We got pass that, and she received her healing.
The word of knowledge can be in almost any situation where you are dealing with another person, but it should be exercised first in your church under the leadership of your pastor who knows you and your spiritual maturity. This way you can be corrected, if necessary, to help you mature in this area. If you receive a word of knowledge, such as we do, ask God what to do with it, and also make sure it is God who said it in the first place.
Prophecies given in the flesh but received as if from God have led many good Christians astray. We are to follow after the Holy Spirit rather than a prophecy. Whenever someone prophesy's over us, we lay it on the shelf until it comes true, and then we know that person is a genuine prophet, but we never run after the prophesy in an attempt to make it happen. If it's of God, it will happen; if it's not, it won't. It's as simple as that.
Don't be so eager that you ruin someone's life with your fleshly words of knowledge or prophecy. Desire to operate in the gifts, but only under controlled situations (such as your own church, until you have matured sufficiently to be able to operate in public meetings. A little side note. The scriptures are full of the supernatural. The only cure for the materialism, and lust found everywhere today is to know what the Word of God says about the Spirit world.
Remember gifts or abilities of the Spirit are to be used to accomplish what you are to do for God at that time. These gifts are not given to all but all believers are to minister healing. Those operating in the various abilities or gifts of the Spirit should be mature, seasoned, Spirit-filled Christians who love God and Christ Jesus with all their hearts, who put God's desires before their own desires, and who spend much time meditating in the word of God.
If you are a baby Christian, you should spend hours and hours meditating in the Word of God, seeking to know God, not seeking revelation knowledge, but to know more about God, and the ministry of Christ Jesus. Seek the knowledge according to the level of your commitment to operate in it. If you learn how to stand God will give you plenty of opportunities to use them to fulfill what He has called you to do.
To my fellow pastors, and teachers, we'd rather have a little more Holy Spirit wildfire than no fire, more anointing and less emotion driven services, because it's easier to put out a wildfire that it is to kindle dead ashes.
I thank you for your continued viewing and reading. If this Blog and its contents have been a blessing to you, then I ask, with God's leading, that you consider supporting Artesian Well Church.
Talk to you soon,
Pastor James P. Norman Jr.
Artesian Well Church
6031 Linden Avenue
Long Beach, Ca
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