when we talk of the Gospel – we definitely need to clarify what we mean by that…! ( also review our true Jesus-False Jesus page)
Gospel means the good news.. & in particular the good news of Jesus… so in a sense we can see how the confusion has run away with itself in the church.. now being genuinely healed & delivered is of course good news & if genuine healing has formed part of any of our experiences Im not here to undermine that at all – please hear me correctly BUT the better news, than healing is salvation & salvation from what?
well the separation between God the father & us because of our sin — this is the issue – the problem of sin that separates – so what to do about it?
mark 16 v 15-18 http:///www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=mark+16%3A15-18&version=A
Believe In Jesus for salvation, but NOT because of what he CAN DO FOR US but what he has already done… his precious sacrifice at the cross dealt with the whole problem of separation through sin once & for all…
Once we see this – this way we understand that it is ALL about him & nothing to do with our wants & desires for more of an “experience” or a special touch… sure those things are nice but truly – what are they when they stroke our egos & overinflated senses of self entitlement but do nothing to truly reveal to our hearts as to why Jesus Came & the significance of his sacrifice for us?
the problem is, that when this is misrepresented to ” the man on the street” & he/she receives some sort of “power encounter” which makes them feel good.. with no other point of reference, people are literally bought & sold into an understanding of the experiential – Power trip… we cannot blame them – when they truly believe that this is what Christianity is.. this is after all, pretty much all they know.
now, the above passage talks about going & preaching the gospel – to everyone everywhere. well the word preach implies at least some sort of communicative discussion about what Jesus has come to do on the cross & then signs & wonders follow – this is the biblical order… its not signs & wonders first as an opener, sweetener, or hook for attention.. its the GOSPEL preached first…
the scripture makes a distinction here & so should we. – that lead us to the opposite conclusion that signs & wonders in activation ARE NOT the demonstration of the Gospel… when you think about it actually – signs & wonders on their own are in fact A DIFFERENT GOSPEL…
my friends I so want to show you clearly & up front how this is being twisted in the river movement, please, please review these things in the words of Jesus himself…. when Jesus spoke these words in Mark 16 he had of course not yet gone to the cross – but knew absolutely that he would.. notice he DOES not say – something like “promote me through providing healings” which would have made more sense to the disciples as at that point – their experience having been with him would have lead to that assumption straight off – no; notice he first says that “you must BELIEVE” & believe what exactly? that HE is the Christ – sent to bring reconciliation of man to God… in some senses harder for those disciples in the days before the event than for us today… but believe this we must – Do you? & if we believe these truths in our inmost being, we know that this is what we must share with others waaaaay ahead of physical needs & feel good factors. having a few supernatural experiences proves nothing except that the person either receiving it or administering it is engaging with a very powerful spiritual force..
believing by FAITH.. is ultimate conviction by the Holy Spirit that Jesus is who he says he is & that all honour , blessing & glory belongs to him..
where are you at?
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