Jeremiah 32:27 - Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?
I CAN DO ALL THING THROUGH CHRIST WHO STRENGTHENS ME
~ Luke 1:37 - "For nothing will be impossible with God." ~
Another of many misquoted scriptures we often hear from the pulpit is:
Philippians 4:13 - I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. (KJV)
After hearing that on Sunday morning, and the typical sermon that goes with it, we walk out of the Church and into the parking lot feeling like Superman, or Superwoman. We can do "ANYTHING!" Then by the time we have left the buffet, reality starts setting in. We get home and that pile of bills is still sitting there on the table, you still haven't received the miracle or healing you needed, your teenagers still have a bad attitude, your enemies who hate you still hate you and those who are facing divorce are still facing it.
But the preacher said: I can do anything!, and nothing is impossible! This message and most of the messages from the prosperity preachers are designed to do two things, separate you and your money, and give you a temporary fix. We're human and we love that feeling we get when we leave the Church after hearing those sermons. Unfortunately, it merely resembles a drug from which we have to go back next Sunday morning to get another fix after it has worn off and like heroin or cocaine, we gladly pay money for it. Over time it will completely destroy your faith. If you haven't been getting answers to your prayers, I can tell you why.
God can and still does heal people, you "can" receive a miracle from God, nothing is impossible or to hard for God. God knows where all the gold is, he knows where all the diamonds are, and he knows where all the oil is. God even knows next weeks winning lottery numbers and God can restore a broken marriage in a moment. The problem is, you've been taught by the prosperity and hype preachers to focus on "you", not on God. EXAMPLE: "I" can do all things etc . .
The most accurate interpretation of Philippians 4:13 is found in the Good News Bible translation. (Believe it or not)
Philippians 4:13 - I have the strength to face all conditions by the power that Christ gives me. (GNB)
Whenever you read a scripture in the bible where Jesus is promising or has given power to someone, back up a few verses and you'll usually find that he was speaking directly to his disciples, and he usually waited until the crowd left to do so. Traditionally, it has been the disciples who have been given the power to perform miracles and healings, but it is unlikely that the preacher you've been listening to or watching on television, is a true disciple of Christ, and I'll sum this up in one verse.
Luke 14:33 - "So then, none of you can be My disciple who does not give up all his own possessions.
This not only means physical possessions, it means relations, friends, possessions, estates, etc . . . Hmm, how does that line up compared to the evangelist on television wearing the expensive suit, gold jewelry, and has gotten filthy rich accepting money from senior citizens who live on fixed incomes, seniors who still hope for a miracle from that person. It doesn't quite line up does it? For that matter, the preacher in the little tiny Church down the road is literally living like a king compared to Jesus and his disciples.
If you are in desperate need of a miracle, go to the Power of Faith Website and read "How To Get A Miracle" and you will see that you can receive it through prayer and a personal relationship with God, "not" by your own power, but it does happen! Go tell that hype preacher that you want your money back! (Yea - see how that works out for ya)
~ POWER COMES FROM THE HOLY SPIRIT ~
After Jesus ascended to Heaven, he sent the Holy Spirit to help us, just as he promised he would.
John 14:16 - "I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever;
John 14:17 - that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.
John 14:26 - "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.
The Holy Spirit is the one with the power. Instead of praying for power, you should be praying that God will fill you with his Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit does give people the gifts of healing, speaking in tongues, interpretation of tongues, wisdom, knowledge, faith, miracles, prophesy and the distinguishing spirits. The Holy Spirit will give you the gift you need at the time, to perform Gods purpose. He does not endow one with his gifts just so they will have it.
1 Corinthians 12:11-12 - But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills. For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ.
If it is in God's plan that you have the gift of healing or performing miracles, you will receive the gift needed from the Holy Spirit at the appropriate time. This does not mean you start selling "Prayer Cloths" or "Miracle Water" that you have touched, because it may be God's plan for you to have the gift of prophesy or wisdom next week. It all depends on what God's plan is, and how willing you are to be an instrument for him to use.
If you need a miracle, keep your focus on what God wants, not on what you need or want. When you start making God's will your first priority, God will start making your needs his priority.
Dan Douglass - I have Spoken!
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48532
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