"I AM NOT WORTHY; I AM NOT WORTHY"

Is Your Prayer a Prayer of Faith,

or Merely a Prayer of Wishful Thinking?

 

Today’s topic is a difficult one for me, because there is so much about it that I do not understand. Frankly, there are many aspects about this subject that are unclear in the teachings of Scripture. The topic is that of healing and of praying for the healing of the sick.

Most teachers, when writing or speaking on this subject, will usually center it on the need for faith. And faith is important. The New Testament writer James says that “the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick. The Lord will raise him up” (James 5:15).

But having faith is not the first step in praying for healing. There is something that comes even before faith that is critical for us to understand. That important step is the topic for this post. I will come to it a little later. 
 

KISII REPORT - LEMONADE STAND

Earlier this summer, some friends of ours from Onalaska held an event that seemed like it was fun for them, and it also was of benefit for the Kisii orphans. They set up a lemonade stand to collect money to send to Kenya.

KISII REPORT - REWARDS AND CHALLENGES

Never have I been involved with a work that has been so challenging, and yet at the same time so rewarding. On the rewarding side, to know that we have been involved with a work that has literally saved the lives of these children has been very gratifying and deeply satisfying. If no one had intervened in their lives, many would by now probably have been dead, and the rest living on the streets scrounging in garbage heaps.

One day in Kisii town, when I was walking in the market, I walked past two huge garbage dumpsters. As I was passing, two boys emerged from them, probably about 12 years old or so. They had an appearance like death itself— two starved and emaciat-ed children wearing filthy rags to cover what they could of their muck-caked bodies.

THE GOOD DEED BALANCE SCALE

It is the common perception of spiritual reality around the world, in many different religions, and even in daily living—The Good Deed Balance Scale. You might call it Karma, the Golden Rule, or even “Paying it Forward.”

It is not that all these teachings are bad, necessarily. All are teachings to encourage us to do good to other people. Rather, it is that these teachings to no go far enough. 

There are some places in the Bible where I wish that the writers would have added a couple of footnotes. Today’s Scripture reading is one of those instances.

In this passage, some people had come to Jesus, wanting him to comment about some “Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices,” as the writer put it (Luke 13:1).

THE BAPTISM OF JESUS

John the Baptist came preaching repentance, telling anyone who would listen that “the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

What did John mean to say when he talked about this kingdom? How did the people understand the words “the kingdom of heaven”?

The ancient world had already had several kingdoms in its history that had arisen to such power that, during the times of their reigns, they had controlled the activities of all the known peoples of that day. Kingdom after kingdom had ruled this way in their times before falling from their position. Finally, leaving nothing but the stone ruins of their ancient and once great buildings, they were replaced by yet another kingdom.

But the Jews believed that this cycle of kingdoms rising and falling would eventually cease.

"BAPTISM NOW SAVES YOU"

“Baptism now saves you.”—Saint Peter said that.

Jesus also said at one time, “He who believes and is baptized shall be saved.”

Just what role does baptism play in our spiritual walk?