Hoekom Berading?

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Soms gebeur dit dat jy ‘n gevoel kry of ‘n emosie beleef wat impliseer dat jou lewe skielik net opdraande is en jou bene te moeg is om verder te stap – onmiddelik is ons geneig om op familie en vriende staat te maak vir ondersteuning, maar dis nie altyd genoeg nie.

  • Deur ‘n berader te gaan sien laat jy jouself toe om jou probleme in ‘n nie-kritiserende, konfidensiële en veilige omgewing te sien.
  • Berading kan jou help om die oorsaak van jou probleme en gevoelens te kry – jy kan weer leer hoe om beheer oor jou eie lewe uit te oefen.
  • Berading kan ook help om jou emosionele seer, soos gevoelens, denke en gedrag na vore te bring.
  • ‘n Berader kan sterkpunte en goeie kwaliteite in jou aanwakker waarvan jy nie eers bewus was nie.
  • As persoon sal jy nuwe perspektiewe en geleenthede ontdek. Jy sal leer om jouself lief te hê, te glo en selfvertroue te bou.

Berading is nie: *Die soorte Professie wat onmiddelike oplossings en satisfaksie bied nie.”

Die doel van berading is nie om advies te gee nie, maar om die kliënt te help om selfvertroue te bou, om self die antwoord en oplossings te vind.

WAT GLO MENSE EN WAT IS DIE REALITEITE?

‘MYTHS’ OOR BERADING:

  • Almal moet self hul probleme kan oplos en net ‘n berader gaan sien as hul nie self met hul probleme kan meeding nie.
  • Mense glo ‘n berader is iemand wat presies vir jou kan sê wat om te doen en hoe om jou probleme op te los.

REALITEIT:

  • Die besluit wat jy neem om jou probleme met ‘n berader te bespreek beteken nie dat jy dit nie kan hanteer nie.
  • Goeie beraders luister, ondersteun en daag jou uit sodat jy kan leer hoe om self ‘n oplossing te vind na jou probleme.
  • Om na ‘n berader te draai vir raad en konfidensiële ondersteuning kan die mees voordeligste besluit wees om te neem.
  • Jy sal nuwe perspektiewe kry oor hoe die lewe met selfvertroue aangepak kan word.

WIE IS DIE BERADER?

‘n Berader is nie iemand wat net raad gee nie, maar iemand wat spesialiseer in die vermoë om jou te help om jou eie perspektiewe, gedrag, en reaksies te bevraagteken.  Dit word bereik deur jou te leer ken en om ‘n verstandhouding te ontwikkel oor jou situasie en omstandighede.

Van die situasies waarmee Berading van hulp kan wees :

  • Verhoudings en familie situasies.
  • Groot lewensveranderinge
  • Hantering van skeiding en nuwe verhoudings.
  • Huishoudelike geweld en seksuele mishandeling.
  • Aanvaaarding van mishandeling tydens kinderlewe.
  • Depressie, angs, stres, agressie,
  • Ouerskap, en stap-vir-stap Ouerskap

Dis makliker om met iemand buite jou omstandighede en persoonlike lewe te praat as wat jy met iemand praat wat of betrokke is, of jou persoonlik ken. Die opinie van ‘n Berader is objektief –  wat jou toegang kan gee tot nuwe perspektiewe, moontlikhede en oplossings.

Berading is die moeite werd om in ag te neem as:

  • Jy oorweldig of depresief voel.
  • Jy iemand nodig het om te luister en jou te help uitwerk wat van mees belang is.
  • ’n Probleem of situasie beïnvloed jou dag-na-dag lewenswyse tot ‘n groot mate.
  • Jy nie in staat is om besluite te maak of nie weet wat om volgende te doen nie.

(Hierdie artikel is publiseer deur Dr. Leon Pienaar, Dekaan van Bet-El Bybel Instituut.  Hy is ook ‘n gekwalifiseerde Christelike Berader en Lewensafrigter wat registreer is by COMENSA en Die Suid-Afrikaanse Raad vir Beraders.  As Lewensafrigter en Berader met gebruik van Skype, telefonies of persoonlik vir individue en besighede, kan hy gekontak word by 072 537 5238.  U kan hom ook kontak op die Webtuiste http://www.bet-el.co.za/kontak/kontak.html)

Have You Ever Thought About Fasting?

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by John Edmiston

Fasting has a good biblical pedigree, it was practiced by Jesus, John the Baptist, the apostles, the Old Testament saints and the New Testament church. It has also been regularly practiced wherever revival has come and many of the Christian greats such as John Wesley, Martin Luther, John Calvin John Knox, Finney and Moody practised prayer and fasting to enhance ministry effectiveness.

The merest suggestion of self-denial sends cold shivers down the spine of most modern Christians. We seem to find every excuse to dodge fasting . I might have the wrong motives.. My health isn’t quite up to it…. Isn’t it a bit fanatical. Unfortunately for us Jesus did say that we were to deny ourselves, take up our cross daily and follow Him (Mark 8:34). The spirit of the world is firmly against self-denial and preaches ungodly and profligate indulgence. Perhaps this is why fasting is proving so powerful for church growth today – because it represents Christians making a serious break with the spirit of the world in order to consecrate themselves to God.

The motive behind fasting is all important. Fasting in order to lose weight and look good is hardly a Christ-centred, cross-bearing act of self-denial. It may still be difficult and painful but it is essentially self-centered. Fast whenever you desperately want God to do something. Fast when you want power in the spiritual realm for Kingdom purposes here on earth.

Fasting is a potent spiritual weapon for the transformation of difficult situations faced by Gods people. Esther declared a three day fast (Esther 4:3) when her people were threatened with destruction from the wicked Haman. Deliverance came from God, her people were rescued, Haman hung and the Jews victorious. Jesus fasted to conquer Satan in the wilderness. (Matthew 4:2) Saul and Barnabas were sent out on their first missionary journey after a session where the leadership of the church in Antioch were ministering to the Lord and fasting (Acts 13:3) David even prayed for his enemies when they were ill – with sackcloth and fasting, for their deliverance. (Psalm 35:13) Countless saints have fasted to find the will of God for their lives or intercede for loved ones. True godly fasting is powerful tool for personal, social and spiritual change. But beware of imitations! Fasting can become a source of spiritual pride as it did for the Pharisee (Luke 18:2) or become a public show (Matthew 6:16) Jesus says such fasting is self-rewarded and ineffective. True fasting is not just a ritual but involves a determination to obey God in all areas of life. (Isaiah 58:1-14) . This leads us to the problem of how to go about it.

Start with one day fasts where you allow yourself fruit-juice. Skip breakfast and lunch and after the sun sets eat well. After you have done this a number of times gradually move to two and three day fasts. Most spiritual problems can be resolved in two to three days and I have never had to fast for longer. Wait on God He will indicate to your spirit how long you need to fast for. It is generally wise not go on ten day or longer fasts without a medical checkup from a sympathetic Christian GP. You don’t have to pray all day when you fast. Just carry on with your daily work and use the normal meal and snack times for prayer. Jesus tells us to anoint our heads with oil..in other words look happy and act normal while you are fasting. Don’t look like a bucket of gloom. Alert those who need to know and those who prepare meals but otherwise keep fasting private. The results of fasting make it enjoyable. When prayers are answered and lives changed you will love fasting for the joy it brings into the world and the discipline will seem worthwhile. Well as the shoe ad says Just do it.

© Copyright J. Edmiston 1995-1999

When Rights Clash

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The Rights of The Individual vs That Of The State

A Christian Perspective by John Edmiston

First Scenario

A Christian family believes in disciplining their child by using firm but fair corporal punishment. A law is passed outlawing all corporal punishment in the home. What should they do? What should we do when Scriptural obligations to be respectful to governments and those in authority clash with what we see as our clear duty as parents ?

Second Scenario

An unemployed person with a large family refuses the offer of a well paid job because he can get more on the dole and because he prefers his “chosen lifestyle”. Can we expect the state to support us in our “chosen lifestyle”. Is this theft?

Third Scenario

After the Port Arthur massacre in Australia the Australian government banned all automatic and semi-automatic weapons. Access to firearms was tightened and made on the basis of demonstrated need. Was this a right and responsible action or a violation of individual rights?

Postures Taken In Scripture

There are seven basic postures that we see exercised between men and women of God and the State in Scripture. To make it easy I have started them all with the letter R.

Rapport – Orderly and godly government – Nathan, Priests & David and Solomon

Respect – Orderly pagan government – Daniel & Nebacudnezzar, Darius

Rebuke – Significant systemic sin – the prophets and most of the Kings of Judah

Ridicule – Despicable , disorderly and profane government – Daniel & Belteshazzar, Jesus and Herod.

Resistance/Civil disobedience – Anti-Christian authority – Peter and the Sanhedrin, Roman persecution.

Reformation/Restoration – Idolatrous government – Ahab, Jezebel vs Elijah, Elisha &Jehu. OT reform movements.

Revolution/War – Oppressive and evil government – Moses & Pharaoh, Maccabees & Antiochus Epiphanes.

This leaves us with the problem of how to select the appropriate response for the times we are in. Most of us live under “orderly pagan government” deserving of respect most of the time and godly confrontation on others. We do not need to resort to military action in most Western democracies. There are two indicators for the Christian that help us select the right response: 1) The style of the government we face (as listed above) 2) The promptings and leadings of the Spirit. This will be dealt with in the next paragraph.

The Christian Response – Flesh or Spirit?

Our responses to injustice need to be of the Spirit not of the flesh. We are not to revile in return or to curse. We are to accept most injustice with joy. Outbursts of anger, wrath and dissension are not to be part of the Christian response. Spiritual responses and fleshly responses can look similar but in fact be miles apart. Passive acquiescence to the regime of Ahab and Jezebel was simply not God’s will. God’s will in this case involved the killing of Ahab, Jezebel and 800 false prophets! The flesh can be more “submissive” than the Spirit when self-interest is involved. For example the unprotesting acceptance of an unjust status quo on the grounds that we are to be “submissive to the government”. Christians have upheld great evils such as apartheid by compliance with evil. Spiritually sensitive people have protested against such entrenched injustice (eg Amos). We need to be careful especially if the injustice operates in our favour. The Spirit may lead different people to respond in different ways e.g. the Hasidic and Maccabean responses to Antiochus.

Jesus Christ as Basileus

Jesus Christ has all authority in heaven and on earth and is the Christian’s only true allegiance. Matthew particularly indicates that He is a King with a Kingdom. Revelation sees Him as establishing a theocracy where “He will rule the nations with a rod of iron”. The early Christians were martyred for seeing Jesus Christ as their true Basileus (Lord) in contrast to Caesar. This was so pronounced that the Roman Empire interpreted the Lordship of Jesus Christ as a political statement regarding the subject’s loyalties and somehow as a tangible threat to Rome’s dominion. At Christ’s trial it was His claim to Kingship that caused Pilate to feel threatened. True Christianity is a plotical as well as a spiritual reality.

Suffering unjustly

While the State has no right to be unjust or capricious, if it is unjust and if it does persecute Christians for their faith, then we should rejoice in our sufferings. This is our glory and the way the prophets of old were treated. The State will be judged for its oppression by God. The first response of the Christian to the enactment of unjust laws should be defiance followed by suffering. Matthew 5:10ff, 1 Peter etc.

The dangers of Dominion theology

There is no indication in Scripture that the Church is to be a triumphant political Kingdom before the return of Christ. There are great dangers in trying to use military or other means to advance the earthly power of God’s people.

Antiochus Epiphanes …calling the unholy holy.

Where God’s people are being asked to profane themselves or defile their faith and to call the unholy holy there may be a case for an armed response as in the case of the Maccabbean revolt against Antiochus Epiphanes which seems to have been of God. God’s people divided then over the issue of armed resistance and would also divide now but in retrospect both the pacifist and non-pacifist groups were doing so “unto the Lord” and were blessed by God in their own ways.

Taxation – Jesus’ perspective and Paul’s

At no point do the Scriptures advocate withholding taxes as a means of protest. The overwhelming burden of Scripture is to “render unto Caesar the things that are Caesars”.

Mission and evangelism – obeying God rather than men

Acts indicates that the proclamation of the eternal gospel is of a higher priority than obeying religious or civil authorities but that discretion should be used to avoid inciting unnecessary confrontation.

Separation of Church and State

Depends on how it is interpreted. The American High Court interpretation gives dominance to the State and relegates religion to a backwater. Biblically the State is accountable to the Church which has the right to anoint Kings or uproot governments but not by military power but through the power of God manifested through the actualisation /fulfilment of the prophesied Word.

Military service

There are no Biblical prohibitions against military service or records of exemptions being asked for on the grounds of conscience. It was an expected duty of all citizens. The limits placed on soldiers include not using their force/power for exacting unjust gain. Military service is never condemned as such. Warfare is defiling but not sinful.

The miraculous answer and the alternative Kingdom.

Moses’ answer to an unjust regime was a clear demonstration of the power of God in miracles that finally persuaded Pharaoh to let them go. The power of the Kingdom of God was manifested in Jesus and the early apostles and is the best preparation for and answer to persecution. Our answer must not be fleshly but spiritual in the demonstration of the Spirit and of power and of Christ’s character. It was their godly character and joy – that left the deepest impression on those observing the persecution of the early Christians. God is a delivering God and has saved His people from many persecutions down the centuries (see Esther) when our rights are violated then we must look to the Lord, not to our own anger for a solution.

Jesus and Healing

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(By John Edmiston)

The healing ministry of Jesus is one of the most acknowledged and most controversial parts of His redemptive work. There are those who see healing as being “in the cross” and thus automatically and instantly available to the believer. Others see physical healing as outside of redemption which they confine to dealing with sin. Both views are, to my mind, a little less than fully biblical. Jesus did indeed bear our illnesses – but not first of all on the cross, but during His earthly ministry to the sick. Matthew clearly sees the fulfillment of the prophecy being while Jesus was alive and ministering!

(Matthew 8:16-17 NKJV) When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick, {17} that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: “He Himself took our infirmities And bore our sicknesses.”

However that fact that Jesus has ceased His earthly ministry does not mean that He has ceased His healing ministry because healing is part of the nature and goodness of God and that does not change. The ministry of healing is as unchanged as Christ Himself.

(Hebrews 13:8 NKJV) Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

The healing ministry of Jesus can be broken into two parts:

1) That which He did before the cross and which He taught His disciples to do (Matthew 10:8, Luke 10:1,9, Acts 5:16) and which we can participate in by faith today (John 14:12, James 5:13-15)

2) That which He did in the cross itself. This is a unique and completed work and we simply proclaim its benefits. This is the healing of our spirits from sin , death and going astray. (1 Peter 2:24,25).

I will deal with the second part in a later part of this series on redemption. For now I will concentrate on physical healing, exorcism and raising the dead as typified by Jesus earthly ministry before the Cross and which He continues today through His servants. (Acts 4:22 , 30, 5:16, James 5:13-15)

Physical healing

Even among unbelievers there is a general perception of Jesus as a healer of the sick. It is closely entwined with who He is and how He acts towards needy people. People see Jesus as someone who is supposed to meet their deepest needs including the need for physical healing. When people see healing take place in Jesus’ name it strengthens their faith in His nature and in the gospels thus enabling many to believe for salvation. Healing the sick and preaching were often associated in Jesus’ ministry. But to confine healing to something that validates the gospel is to miss Christ’s compassion for the sick and to turn healing into little more than an attention- gaining religious publicity stunt. Jesus was genuinely moved out of compassion for the sick. For Him healing was an essential part of His ministry to hurting people and not merely an “opener” before the message. Jesus associated healing with the Presence of His Kingdom (Luke 10;9). The Kingdom has not yet arrived and still needs to be proclaimed with power and authority. Jesus through His body the Church needs to confront evil in all its forms – physical, emotional, spiritual and systemic.. Thus we can expect His healing ministry to be manifested today to some degree in the redemption of our physical bodies from the effects of evil. This will be finally accomplished at the resurrection but is accomplished in part and as a foretaste through His healing ministry today. So we see that Jesus is still the same yesterday, today and forever and is still healing the sick. Each day thousands of people around the world experience healing in answer to prayer. Sure not all are healed, sure a lot more should/could be healed, but the Church is reawakening to the Presence of Jesus in our midst as our healing Redeemer. The following six points provide a brief theological tour of the reasons underlying Jesus’ healing ministry. I am sure you can diligently search the Scriptures to find even more!

  • As the incarnation of God. One of the names of God is YHWH Rapha “The Lord Your Healer”. Our God has always been a healing God and this is His nature. Therefore Jesus as incarnate deity represented this by healing the sick..(Exodus 15:26 NKJV) and said, “If you diligently heed the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the LORD who heals you.
  • As an intercessor against evil and bearer of sin. Jesus confronted all forms of evil and lifted it off people. (This is perhaps a more literal translation of nasa to bear). As the confronter and demolisher of evil He took on sickness and the toll it takes on suffering humanity.(1 John 3:8 NKJV) He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.[See also Matt 8:16,17, Isaiah 53:4,5]
  • As One who did “the Father’s will” and only did what He saw the Father doing He enacted God’s “Father-heart” toward His Creation. If as human fathers we want our children well how much more does God want His images healed – both physically and spiritually?(John 5:19-21 NKJV) Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner. {20} “For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel. {21} “For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will.[See also Luke 11:10-13] Note: These verses tell us that all His works flowed from an intimate relationship of obedience to the Father so that Jesus knew His actual will in all things. This was not some quick presumption of what His will “should be” (like we tend to do) and knowing the Fathers will from an intimate relationship with Him is perhaps one of the keys to healing people today.
  • Out of mercy – God’s relenting in judgement on sinners – and consequent bestowing of blessing. The blind men cried “Have mercy on us Son of David..” and were healed. Many of Jesus’ miracles flowed from His compassion for hurting humanity.As a fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy and His nature as the Messiah. For instance in Malachi it says: Malachi 4:2 NKJV) But to you who fear My name The Sun of Righteousness shall arise With healing in His wings; And you shall go out And grow fat like stall-fed calves.
  • As a demonstration of the Spirit’s power and the Presence of the Kingdom of God. (Luke 10:9 NKJV) “And heal the sick there, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’

Exorcism: (Matthew 12:22-29 NKJV) Then one was brought to Him who was demon-possessed, blind and mute; and He healed him, so that the blind and mute man both spoke and saw. {23} And all the multitudes were amazed and said, “Could this be the Son of David?” {24} Now when the Pharisees heard it they said, “This fellow does not cast out demons except by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons.” {25} But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand. {26} “If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? {27} “And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they shall be your judges. {28} “But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you. {29} “Or how can one enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house.

There is increasing recognition today of an evil spiritual kingdom arrayed against the Kingdom of God. Movies such as “The Exorcist” and “The Omen” and sensationalised reports of exorcisms gone wrong have done little to help the Church. They have instead created a paralysing fear of tackling the demonic realm. Yet for Jesus His authority over the demonic realm was undisputed and absolute. He cast out demons with a word (Matthew 8:16, Mark 1:27) and relieved the symptoms of their possession (Luke 13:11-13). He also passed this authority to the Twelve and later to the 70.

(Luke 10:17-22 NKJV) Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.” {18} And He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. {19} “Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. {20} “Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.” {21} In that hour Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight. {22} “All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.”

This is a great perspective statement. It puts authority over spirits in the second rank of blessings behind those associated with salvation(v. 20). Yet it clearly states that even “babes” – the ordinary Christians who are neither “wise” or “prudent”(v. 21) can operate in spiritual power and authority providing they operate within the scope of Jesus’s redeeming Name.(v. 17-19) . Demons do not respect knowledge. They only respect authority and power. God gives His authority and power to all who believe and operate in his name. The humblest believer can be endowed with great authority from God. The apostles were certainly “unschooled” miracle workers. (Acts 4:13,14)

The power to deal with the demonic comes from God through faith in the name of Jesus and is part of His works that He trained His Church to do (Matt 10:8). The Presence of the Kingdom demands the absence of the demonic and evicting evil powers is a battle of heavenly proportions that the Church is called to wage.

(2 Corinthians 10:3-5 NKJV) For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. {4} For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, {5} casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,

(Ephesians 6:10-12 NKJV) Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. {11} Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. {12} For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

We cannot wage this battle in our own strength but only with weapons that are given to us from God and with His delegated power and authority.. We only have a right to this authority because of what Jesus did on the cross in “spoiling” , capturing and defeating and “looting” the “principalities and powers..”

(Colossians 2:15 NKJV) {15} Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.(the cross) The Christian is by definition “in Christ” and participates in this victory of his Master just as a mere private participates in the victory of a General. When one wartime commander defeats another even a private in the winning army has authority over a general in the losing army. Christ has won the battle for us and God has given us authority to defeat evil. (Luke 10:19, Romans 16:20). Demons are afraid of 1)The blood of Jesus Christ 2)The bold testimony of Christians 3) The authority of Christ and His saints. (Revelation 2:11, Ephesians 1:20, 2;6).When Christians resist evil even Satan himself is forced to flee. (James 4:7)

How can we tell if a demon is involved? In brief demonic activity most frequently stems from the person’s or their immediate families involvement in occult activity, destructive addictions or promiscuity/pornography. These are very strong life-controlling things that affect our spirits directly. When illness results from such a lifestyle and proves largely untreatable (some alleviation may be experienced but never freedom) then pray and ask God if evil spirits could be involved in the person’s subjugation. There were two main groups of symptoms of demon activity that were alleviated when Jesus cast out evil spirits – 1) Chronic untreatable illness 2) Mental instability , inner torment and derangement. On liberation from demonic activity epileptics were healed (Mark 9:17-27), infirm cripples straightened up,(Luke 13:11-13) blind and mute people received speech and sight (Matt 9:32-34) and people were relieved from inner torment (Luke 6:18, 8:29-35). This is not to say that all chronic illness or mental instability is due to demonic activity but merely that when it is due to evil spirits that we have the authority in Christ Jesus to alleviate the distress. I can recommend Ed Murphy’s “Handbook of Spiritual Warfare” for a balanced and thorough treatment of this topic.

Raising The Dead

One of the most obvious effects of Jesus redeeming us is that we will all one day be raised from the dead. (1 Corinthians 15:51-55 NKJV) Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed; {52} in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. {53} For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. {54} So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” {55} “O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?”

Jesus is “the resurrection and the life”(John 11:25,26). He is able to impart life to our mortal bodies through the power of the indwelling Spirit (Romans 8:11). The final wonder-filled resurrection to glory is pre-figured in gospel events such as the raising of Lazarus from the dead. (John 11:1-45). However raising the dead in the here and now as a result of the faith-filled prayers of the saints is in the category of “great wonders”. Raising the dead was a rare event even in the ministry of Jesus and the apostles and only occurred a handful of times. It is never implied that all who die should be raised to life. It always seems an extraordinary mercy of God toward some person “deserving” of that mercy because of great need or a life of good works. While the New Testament amplifies at length on the healing ministry of the church and the gift of healing and commands the elders to pray for healing there is only one recorded injunction to “raise the dead” – that given to the twelve by Jesus when sending them out into ministry, . (Matthew 10:8). Thus the New Testament raises the possibility of believers being able to do this work of Jesus but seems , frustratingly, to leave it there. There have been various reports of the dead being raised even today however they are nowhere near as common as that of healings or exorcisms. Those raisings from the dead that have occurred in modern times seem to have mainly been in conditions of exceptional revival. I think this is generally its proper context.

Despite all this caution we should remember that Jesus is the Lord of Life – in all its forms (not just spiritual life) and that He can raise the dead and give people a second chance at life. After all “nothing is impossible with God”(Luke 1:37). The possibility of the dead being raised in answer to prayer exists because Jesus has chosen to confront and defeat Death “the last enemy”(1 Cor 15:26). While Death will be the last enemy to be defeated some victories are possible here and now though most will undoubtedly wait until the resurrection of the dead when Christ returns.

Summary and Conclusion

Jesus’ redemption of mankind has opened up possibilities for the believer in healing the sick, raising the dead and in casting out demons. Two of these – healing and exorcism seem to have been commonplace in the early church while raising the dead seems to be much rarer. Jesus confronted evil in all its forms and has borne not just our spiritual afflictions such as sin and judgement but our physical illnesses and emotional griefs. He began to bear these latter things during His earthly ministry (Matt 8:16,17) and culminated this lifting of burdens on the Cross. Since then He has continued to heal the sick through the ministry of His body the Church.

Where to from here? There is not sufficient space for me to fully outline a balanced and compassionate and Biblical theology of healing. That would take a book. What I can recommend is starting with a concordance or computer Bible program go through and study every biblical reference to healing, exorcism and raising the dead. Test your theories against the biblical data and pray, pray, pray for the sick. They need your prayers and Christ’s help.

How To Pray For The Lost

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Many of us – if not all of us , owe our conversion to friends and family who prayed us into the Kingdom. Prayer is the big weapon for the salvation of souls. Argument and debate without prayer is dry and fruitless. Do not spend all your time bashing your head against the arguments of people. Instead bash into Heaven with strong prayers on behalf of those you want to be saved.

Why should we pray for the lost?

1. Out of love – if we love our neighbour as ourselves we will want him or her to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour too.

2. Out of holy fear – if we realise that Hell is for real and for eternity then we will not want our friends, family or neighbours to go there.

3. Out of knowledge of the nature of God – who loves to be merciful and desires that all men should be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth.

4. Out of knowledge of the power of prayer – prayer often succeeds when all else has failed. It is the only way we have of asking God to move in someone’s life and heart. We know that the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. We know that prayers according to God’s will are answered. This is not spiritual manipulation from a distance. Rather prayer grants the person the ability to see clearly and make a free and informed choice, free from the manipulative bondages and blindness that the Devil tries to impose. We can legitimately pray that a person may be able to freely choose between the mercy and glory of God and the temporary trash of this world. We can pray that their blindness be removed and Christ shown to them convincingly and clearly. Imagine if we could present every non-Christian with a clear convincing presentation of the facts. Imagine they were made to choose between the love of Jesus Christ, eternal glory, a magnificent resurrection body , life in heaven etc. versus pain and torment and death and disgrace for all eternity . Only a crazy person would choose to remain a non-Christian. Prayer allows the unbeliever to glimpse the facts for what they are and to make a sensible choice. It is not unfair or manipulative -it is the fairest, most freeing way we have.

Praying for Structures

Paul writes to Timothy about his FIRST PRIORITY in 1 Tim 2:1-8

1 Timothy 2:1-8 I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone– 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3 This is good, and pleases God our Saviour, 4 who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all men–the testimony given in its proper time. 7 And for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle–I am telling the truth, I am not lying–and a teacher of the true faith to the Gentiles. 8 I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing.

God wants us to pray – for kings and all those in authority….. in order that people may be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth. This points out a sometimes forgotten aspect about praying for the lost – that governments can do a lot to help or to hinder the process of evangelism. For instance in Albania, one of the world’s most atheistic communist states a generation of people has been raised without the remotest awareness of Jesus Christ or the gospel. Albania is in ruins as a result and is without the social services or human compassion that the influence of the gospel brings. On the other hand Samoa and some of the Pacific nations are very Christian and the Government actively encourages participation in Christian activities. Everyone has some knowledge of the gospel and many are saved.

God wants “all people everywhere” – that means the lot of you without exception – to pray for those in authority so that we may openly have permission to preach the gospel without hindrance. Please pray that:
That anti-Christian laws in some States may be repealed.
That the Government recognise the contribution that true Christianity can make to South Africa .
That we change to a Christian nation in the true sense of the word..
That we may remain able to proclaim Christianity , in all its truths, in all areas of our society.
That people such as nurses who have difficult issues of conscience be allowed to be truly Christian and abstain from practices they consider inappropriate to their faith.

Also as issues such as pornography laws etc. pop up from time to time we can make them a matter of prayer by “all people everywhere”. I look upon such praying as paving the way for the gospel – it is very hard to sow the seeds of faith in a mind filled with pornographic trash. Pornography greases the path to Hell and banning it is a positive action not a negative one.

So part of our praying for the lost is praying for structures that block the spread of the gospel to be removed. The second part of praying for the lost is praying for individuals / families/ villages and nations to be saved.

How To Pray for The Lost

The following ideas have been pinched from a small pamphlet called “How To Pray For The Lost” which I discovered years ago and have found very useful. I have also added in a few practical hints of my own.

The first thing you need to understand when praying for the lost is that the price has been paid. When Jesus died upon that cross He paid the price for every single sinner on the earth. When you are praying for the lost remember that the price has been paid and make that the starting point for prayer.

“Lord you bought Joe Bloggs* at Calvary, he is yours and so is his wife Joanne Bloggs* and now we are asking You to claim Joe and Joanne* for yourself, to remove the chains that bind them. Don’t let the Devil have those you have bought Lord, be glorified in them and through them Lord. Take them back to yourself , set them free, Christ has done it, now we claim it . Amen ” (* just as an example)

Knowing that Christ has paid the price gives us confidence to pay boldly. It is not as if we have to bargain at all. The price is paid – that person rightly belongs to God who has bought them back out of slavery and sin. The technical name for this is “praying on the basis of redemption” or in some circles “praying for the lost in the power of the blood of Jesus” . Stand before God, confident that He wants your friend saved and confident that He has already paid the price for that to happen.

PERSISTENTLY AND REGULARLY – praying for people to be saved can at times be a very long battle. We need to pray persistently and regularly for those we want to be saved. In Luke 18:1 ff Jesus makes it clear that persistence pays off and tells us that we ought to “pray and not get weary..”

PRAY WATCHFULLY – It pays to be alert to the spiritual state of the unbeliever and to pray appropriately – are they curious about God yet? Are they convicted about their sin? Are they attracted to Jesus? Are they involved in something they would find very difficult to give up if they became a Christian? Pray specifically for where the person is at spiritually so they can take one or two steps closer to faith in God. “Lord you know how Joe finds it hard to believe your Bible – please show him it is true and that it can be relied on…”

SPECIFIC THINGS TO PRAY FOR:

1. That God will make them curious about spiritual things. The first hurdle is often sheer apathy with regard to the truth. Pray that God will stir them up to search out the truth about Life, The universe and Everything -for themselves.

2. Pray that God will surround your friend with witnessing Christians. Pray that they will feel absolutely surrounded and unable to escape from God. This forces people to consider Christ and the difference between their lives and the lives of true Christians.

3. Ask that they may clearly grasp that they are sinful. Unless there is a clear perception of sin there can be no true repentance from sin. They must know that they are in the wrong.

4. That God will grant them an almighty thirst for God’s Word. That even as unbelievers they will want to read the Bible especially Genesis, Psalms, Isaiah and the Gospels.

5. Plead for a clear understanding of Jesus as Saviour and Lord. With some of the heresies abroad today Jesus is often misunderstood. Pray that your friends may see Jesus as real and historical and also as divine. Pray that God may clear up any misunderstandings in these areas and be prepared to answer questions. Be clear about Jesus being the only way to a true and favourable relationship with God.

6. Intercede for your friends at any points where they are being held under Satan’s power. Ask for release from wrong ways and bad influences. Their friends may be a real obstacle to their salvation, pray that they may not give in to them but may instead have the courage to believe in God. There is today an increasing interest in the occult and some people are badly hooked -pray for their release from this dark addiction so that they may be free to believe.

7. Ask for grace toward your friends so that they may develop godly tastes which lead them toward God and salvation. Pray that they may start liking Christian music or if they are literature buffs that C.S.Lewis, John Donne, Milton and T.S. Elliot may hold a fascination for them. If classical music – pray that the great Christian works of Bach and Handel may intrigue them. If rock music that the contemporary Christian rock bands with good messages may become their passion. Pray that in everything from bushwalking to building models that somehow their tastes will be drawn to that which witnesses to Christ.

CHALLENGE I am going to leave you with the challenge of making a list of people you will pray for . Also get your home groups to buy a small notebook, rule it up, “Person,” “What We Will Pray”, “When It Was Answered.” We can really see things happen when we persistently pray for the lost on the basis of what Christ has done on the cross.