The Weekly Epistle 10/30/19

Does a person have more faith by believing something that isn’t promised to us in the Word of God?  I ask this, because we often hold someone up as a person of great faith when they claim great things of God.  For example, can a student believe that God will give them an “A” on an exam?  Can a person believe God will provide them with 10 acres of land if they have great faith?  Can a person claim healing for themselves or someone else and call that great faith?  When does prayer become presumption?  
 
This is a bigger subject than one epistle can cover.  Suffice it to say, our faith is not in prayer, but faith in God!  To claim things that weren’t written for us or because we believe they will happen is misplaced faith.  Many Christians have been disillusioned because they were told the answer to their prayer didn’t come because they lacked faith.  This is often applied to matters of physical healing and that physical healing is always God’s purpose.  That all we have to do is call out our illness; to name it, affirm it, and make it our own and it will be our own.  People that say such things are misguided at best and at worse deliberately counterfeit.  On the authority of Scripture, people cannot and should not make such categorical claims.  I could give many examples to you to prove that it isn’t always God’s purpose to heal (in this life) but will only give you the example of the apostle Paul.  
 
In 2 Corinthians 12 it is recorded for us that Paul pleaded with God to remove the “thorn in his flesh.”  Although it is unclear as to the nature of the thorn, it is very clear that his prayer was “not answered.”  What promise could Paul claim in this instance?  Not one of healing, but that God’s grace would be sufficient (read 2 Corinthians 12:1-10).  
 
We can be encouraged.  God’s grace will always be enough.  God’s power will be made perfect in our weakness.  God will give us everything we need for life and godliness.  And we will be healed in our eternal home.  We also can take comfort in the truth that God can do more than we can ask or think even for this life.  Our faith is in a big God and not faith in faith or in how great is our faith.  It isn’t “more” faith that God is after in our lives, it is acting on the faith we have, no matter how small it might be (check out Luke 17:1-6).  We must humbly acknowledge that there is much we don’t know with certainty and must trust God to do what is best all the time, even if He doesn’t deliver or heal or answer in the way we might expect (see Daniel 3:16-18).  I will leave it at that for now and trust that you will search Scriptures yourselves around this.
 
Celebration Sunday is this Sunday between services from 10:15-10:45 (no prayer builders for this month).  Our second service will begin at 11:00.  Our fellowship time will take place in the gym building as we thank God for what He is doing through your gifts to the what’s next campaign.  
 
Our trunk or treat has been moved to Friday since the forecast for Thursday is calling for heavy and steady rain.  We are doing our best to get word out, but you can pass it on as well.  I hope that this change to Friday doesn’t impact the number of cars decorated for this outreach event as I still think there will be a great turnout from the community.  
 
Blessings, Pastor Brian