How many times have we heard: "You don't need psychology or a special program if you got real faith in God and the Holy Ghost!", or a similar statement that seems to discredit anything helpful outside of church? In my past ignorance I've said that too, but I've learned better. One of the problems with the church is that too often we stress to people what we want for them, like salvation, but after they've come and gotten saved and we can't do anything else with them we condemn them for going elsewhere to get the help we can't give them; even if that means getting assistance from a separate ministry who is properly equipped to deal with their issues. The scriptures declare that the Yeshua the Messiah is also called "Counselor".
ISAIAH 9:6; "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace."
Being our "Counselor" means Christ also uses practical godly wisdom to give us the best and clearest direction to help resolve the problems of life by whatever goodly means there is available for us; which isn't always supernatural or at church. Many of the things we discredit have helped save the lives and marriages the church couldn't or wouldn't, and YAH has worked just as miraculously through them as he has at our ministries. Is Adonai Yeshua only Christ at church or is he the omnipresent GOD who is everywhere at all times and that can still do anything? We've got it wrong with this whole "anointing oil" thing and "Christian counseling". As a result we've created traditions such as praying over bottles of olive oil and having our altars stocked with them to grease folks foreheads up for prayer. We also make church members feel guilty for wanting to seek help beyond the confines of the pastor's office.
JAMES 5:14-15; "Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: 15) And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him."
The above scriptures are actually talking about the practical application of medicine combined with prayer to the sick person, and not the literal smearing of oil on their forehead or body to lay hands on them for prayer. We can find a scripture reference for this in the story of King Hezekiah's malignant fatal boil in the book of ISAIAH 38:21; "For Isaiah had said, Let them take a lump of figs, and lay it for a plaister upon the boil, and he shall recover." The prophet Isaiah did not perform some supernatural act but used the available practical medicine of their day along with the spiritual things. How many times in scripture do you recall Christ, the apostles, or even the prophets ministering healing by using anointing oil like we do? Yeshua the Messiah sought to deal with the total person by healing them physically, repairing them mentally, restoring their value socially, and delivering them spiritually.
The scriptures say of Christ in the book of JOHN 9:6-7; " When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay, 7) And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing." We are not the Lord so we don't make supernatural "spit mud" to apply to people lest we get punched in our own faces. Ministers use scare tactics to put people in fear of treatment by teaching scary doctrines that attach demonic spirits and Satanic influence to almost anything outside of church as if the Lord has no power over these things, or won't work through them for our benefit. When we overlook other available options to minister to the very real needs of people we end up spitting our own bad advice on the situation and muddying up the problem even more by ignorance.
The scriptures say of Christ in the book of JOHN 9:6-7; " When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay, 7) And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing." We are not the Lord so we don't make supernatural "spit mud" to apply to people lest we get punched in our own faces. Ministers use scare tactics to put people in fear of treatment by teaching scary doctrines that attach demonic spirits and Satanic influence to almost anything outside of church as if the Lord has no power over these things, or won't work through them for our benefit. When we overlook other available options to minister to the very real needs of people we end up spitting our own bad advice on the situation and muddying up the problem even more by ignorance.
JEREMIAH 8:22; "Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there? why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered?"
There is "balm in Gilead" and "physicians" are available for the healing of God's people that won't be found in the "church's medicine cabinet" of prayer meetings, revival services, and the pastor's office. In the gospel of Saint John 9:6-7 involving Christ and the man born blind, the Lord uses a method common to the Jews for the healing of the eyes which involved "spittle" (spit). He takes his own spit and mixes it with dirt from the earth to make a clay salve for which he then applies to a man, who is originally formed from the earth (*Genesis 2:7). This prophetically represents God not only physically healing the man but also spiritually and mentally addressing what may have been years of social and psychological damage associated with his condition for which he also needed complete healing and restoration. Yeshua does so on the Sabbath day to prove to the Jews his lordship and power over their own medicinal expertise as well to further expose their hypocrisy and indifference in not meeting the needs of people by reason of their vain traditions.
The Jewish leaders were more concerned with the keeping of their rules and traditions over getting genuine help for those in need unless it affected them directly; for which they would then conveniently make up an excuse out of personal preference. How often has this same type of thing occurred in our churches? Pastors, senior leaders, and brainwashed saints often pressure other church members into keeping everything in house to the detriment of the individuals involved. Paul the apostle gave "practical spiritual" advice to his spiritual son Timotheus on how to deal with his physical ailments. He didn't sanction getting drunk or alcoholism, but recommended the use of wine in temperance, moderation, and with God given wisdom without supernatural reliance to settle his stomach and other natural issues.
The Jewish leaders were more concerned with the keeping of their rules and traditions over getting genuine help for those in need unless it affected them directly; for which they would then conveniently make up an excuse out of personal preference. How often has this same type of thing occurred in our churches? Pastors, senior leaders, and brainwashed saints often pressure other church members into keeping everything in house to the detriment of the individuals involved. Paul the apostle gave "practical spiritual" advice to his spiritual son Timotheus on how to deal with his physical ailments. He didn't sanction getting drunk or alcoholism, but recommended the use of wine in temperance, moderation, and with God given wisdom without supernatural reliance to settle his stomach and other natural issues.
1st TIMOTHY 5:23; "Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities."
One may wonder: Why would Paul give Timotheus (Timothy) such advice and how did he even know this would help? It is highly likely he had learned such information from his traveling companion Saint Luke, who wrote both the gospel of Luke and the book of Acts, and who was also a medical physician. The moderate use of wine for medicinal purposes adequately addressed Timothy's issues just like the prayer of faith and medical treatment does for us today. It is just as prophetic and spiritual that when someone comes to the pastor for counsel or to the altar for prayer to recommend medical or outside help from a licensed professional or other resources such as "Alcoholics Anonymous", a "12-Step Program", or truly unbiased and fair marriage counseling.
Our full loving and prayerful support combined with these outlets will serve as the "clay of spittle" that brings healing and wholeness to that person or persons by combining the spiritual and the natural. Salvation is portable; which means it goes with you and it travels well. Don't be afraid to get help elsewhere besides the church, and don't discourage others from getting help elsewhere. Adonai Yeshua and his servants did most healings and miracles outside and away from the temple and synagogues, and Christ still operates the same way today through us. If we believe that Yah is truly in control then we must take him at his word that he is with us always; even at the doctor's office, on the counselor's couch, in the support group meeting, in outside marriage counseling, or in the rehab center. The LORD is just as practical as he is spiritual, and in order for us to be a balanced Body of Christ we must be the same. Shalom. ~ I.J. West
Our full loving and prayerful support combined with these outlets will serve as the "clay of spittle" that brings healing and wholeness to that person or persons by combining the spiritual and the natural. Salvation is portable; which means it goes with you and it travels well. Don't be afraid to get help elsewhere besides the church, and don't discourage others from getting help elsewhere. Adonai Yeshua and his servants did most healings and miracles outside and away from the temple and synagogues, and Christ still operates the same way today through us. If we believe that Yah is truly in control then we must take him at his word that he is with us always; even at the doctor's office, on the counselor's couch, in the support group meeting, in outside marriage counseling, or in the rehab center. The LORD is just as practical as he is spiritual, and in order for us to be a balanced Body of Christ we must be the same. Shalom. ~ I.J. West
MATTHEW 28:20 (ESV); ".... And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
No comments:
Post a Comment