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Pet Theology and Mind Set
God must perform His promises. How to force God's hand through faith
in faith. Believe and receive.
"We prayed for Fred's head,
And now Fred's dead;
But Fred doesn't know it yet,
'Cause that's not what we claimed and said."
Rationale: Fred died because He didn't have enough faith. It didn't matter
that he was in a coma. So if you don't get out of your wheelchair, or
smash your glasses believing you are healed, it's your lack of faith.
Or sin in your life. Otherwise known as guilt manipulation.
Plumb Line of Truth
We recognize and accept that God does heal, but once again balance is
the byword.
"Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him
sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the Lord?" (Exodus 4.11)
"It is good for me that I have been afflicted that I may learn your
statutes...in your faithfulness you afflicted me." (Psalm 119.71
& 75)
Also recognize:
Faith is not conjured, or grunted up; it is a gift of God's Holy Spirit.
(1 Corinthians 12.9)
And you can ask for it: "One day the apostles said to the Lord, "We
need more faith; tell us how to get it." (Luke 17.5)
"I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief". The father of
a boy with an evil spirit, and his plea to Jesus to heal his son. (Mark
9.24)
Goodies from God Group
Pet Theology and Mind Set
Closely aligned with the previous group believing that Christ's "riches in glory" are defined as cars, houses, material wealth and success. Abraham and Solomon were rich weren't they?
Plumb Line of Truth
Jesus Christ, "Rich as He was gave it all away for us-in one stroke
He became poor and we became rich." (2 Corinthians 8.9)
As foreign as it is to many of us, we must identify with Christ and our
spiritual forefathers. "The value of suffering is far greater than
wealth. We should look ahead, anticipating the ultimate payoff."
(Hebrews 11.26)
Conversely, poverty is not a gift of the spirit. Again, balance is the
byword: "Give me neither poverty nor riches! Give me just enough
to satisfy my needs! For if I grow rich, I may become content without
God. And if I am too poor, I may steal, and thus insult God's holy name."
(Proverbs 30.8-9)
Powerless Preaching
Pet Theology and Mind Set
Adding to the cacophony and the rhetoric assaulting us through radio, TV, and other media, we are further inundated from pulpits with more smooth as butter verbiage, catch phrases, and buzz words, or loudness. "Why is this man yelling at me?" Often volume is an attempt to compensate for the lack of the true power of God.
Plumb Line of Truth
The criterion for preachers and commercials should be the same:
What are they saying?
What does it require of me?
How much does it cost?
Does it work?
What are the results?
Is it true?
"The man who preaches truth and applies it to the lives of his hearers
will feel the nails and thorns. He will lead a hard life, but a glorious
one. May God raise up many such prophets. The Church needs them badly."
A.W.Tozer pastor/ writer (1897-1963)
Many are "drunk with the wine of their own wordiness." E.Stanley
Jones
"I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished
through me…by the power of signs and miracles, through the power
of the Spirit." Paul the Apostle (Romans 15.18)
"My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words,
but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might
not rest on men's wisdom, but God's power." Paul the Apostle (1 Corinthians
2.4-5)
"So proclaim the Message with intensity; keep your watch. Challenge,
warn, and urge your people. Don't ever quit. Just keep it simple.
You're going to find there will be times when people will have no stomach
for solid teaching, but will fill up on spiritual junk food - catchy opinions
that tickle their fancy. They'll turn their backs and chase mirages. But
you - keep your eye on what you're doing; accept the hard times along
with the good; keep the Message alive; do a thorough job as God's servant."
The Apostle Paul to Timothy (2 Timothy 4.2-6 - The Message)
"It was the Holy Spirit who moved the prophets to speak from God."
(2 Peter 1.21)
"Thus says the Lord!" God through His messengers and servants
from Genesis to Revelation.
Powerless Churches
Pet Theology and Mind Set
For some inexplicable reason God quit performing miracles. That was for another age and time the argument goes. Although today there is a greater need for signs, wonders, and miracles than ever before. As the church has abdicated its role the alternatives are springing up everywhere, with more to come. Just call the psychic hotline and ask them.
Plumb Line of Truth
"The grand reason why the miraculous gifts were so soon withdrawn
was not only that faith and holiness were well nigh lost; but that dry,
formal, orthodox men began even then to ridicule whatever gifts they had
not themselves, and to decry them all as either madness or imposture."
John Wesley - English theologian and evangelist - founder of Methodism
(1703-1791)
"And these signs will accompany those who believe: In My name they
will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick
up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will
not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people and they
will get well." Jesus Christ's commission to the Church (Mark 16.17-18)
"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever."
(Hebrews 13.8)
"I only speak what I know, in word, deed, by signs, wonders, and
mighty power, by the Holy Spirit." Paul the Apostle (Romans 15.18-19)
"For when we brought you the Good News, it was not simply with words
but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction."
Paul the Apostle (1 Thessalonians 1.5)
A caring friend will be there to pray with you in your time of need.