tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-367019700923216960.post1292318977301433683..comments2024-01-17T13:19:24.071-06:00Comments on Salvation And Survival: The Religious Police vs Kingdom CitizensPam Kohlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00678673505358164380noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-367019700923216960.post-2486324673459167372019-12-31T10:33:03.083-06:002019-12-31T10:33:03.083-06:00Yes, and I see this religious spirit dividing the ...Yes, and I see this religious spirit dividing the faithful, just as the Enemy has planned. After all, that spirit comes from him, not the Father! Remember, Jesus called the Pharisees vipers!Pam Kohlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00678673505358164380noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-367019700923216960.post-44083169116633685822019-12-31T10:29:05.217-06:002019-12-31T10:29:05.217-06:00To be honest, I have no way of knowing since I was...To be honest, I have no way of knowing since I wasn't present during the attempts to resurrect the child. And I am hesitant to appear to judge the efforts of others who are following Biblical precepts. But if I have to give an answer, and this is only speculation on my part, I would ask the question, "Did anyone lay hands on the child, and USING THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THEM, command the spirit of Death to go?"<br /><br />Again, I am not condemning the efforts of Bethel church members. All I can go on is what has been reported (and we've all learned to be skeptical about that). But reports say they prayed and sang (worshipped) and called on God to raise the child. But did they do what Jesus did? As in the case of Lazarus, Scripture says Jesus proclaimed He would use the power the Father had given Him, and He shouted WITH AUTHORITY, "Lazarus come out of the tomb!"<br /><br />In the cases of Peter raising Tabitha from the dead (Acts 9) and Paul bringing the boy Eutychus back to life (Acts 20), Scripture is less clear about their actual actions. But in both instances, I surmise that they acted out of confident faith that they had the power of God in them to resurrect. <br /><br />All I can do is speak on my behalf, and I would pray with the authority I know I have to raise the child because the very power of the Holy Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead is in me. For me, faced with a similar situation, I would not ask God to do it for me, but pray, lay hands, and proclaim from the authority and power given to me as a citizen of Heaven, and a daughter of the King. And if it didn't happen, I would not question God, and be prepared to be obedient if faced again with a similar situation. <br /><br />In the end, I only have praise for Bethel for understanding that God can still raise the dead today. Why He doesn't every time is beyond our counsel. But I hold fast to the hope expressed in Hebrews 11, which I have heard referred to as "God's Hall of Faith". Hebrews 11:35 records that faith-filled women received their dead children back to life, while other faithful people were tortured, refusing to turn from God that they might be set free, but putting their hope in a more glorious [future] resurrection.<br /><br />I can't answer why God didn't resurrect this child, but I can declare that He will resurrect all the faithful on the last day. I know that I didn't give you a conclusive answer because I don't think there is one. For me, I live by the truth that God is sovereign,and I am called to be obedient. Jesus said in John 14:12, "Those who believe in Me will do the same works I do, and even greater". But we must remember they are the works of the Father -- not our works -- so the Father is in charge of the miracles. But I trust that He still wants to work them today! Pam Kohlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00678673505358164380noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-367019700923216960.post-20970307068356786612019-12-30T17:41:35.570-06:002019-12-30T17:41:35.570-06:00This! This is exactly what I have been saying and ...This! This is exactly what I have been saying and even dealing with even long time well meaning friends. There is a Pharisee spirit running rampant. And I have been saying something similar, growing up we would say, Don't throw the baby out with the bath water.DonnaB.https://www.blogger.com/profile/12010685529364844443noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-367019700923216960.post-80379903579256624942019-12-30T17:02:07.677-06:002019-12-30T17:02:07.677-06:00Why do you think the resurrection failed?Why do you think the resurrection failed?montanagoosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09863930498788839588noreply@blogger.com