"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.

ON THE ROAD TO THE HOUSE OF JAIRUS

People often have the idea that when Jesus was on earth, he spent most of the time going around condemning people of their sins and telling them to repent.

That was not the case. When Jesus walked around the countryside and in the cities of Israel and Samaria, he brought with him healing and provision. He lifted the suffering ones out of their misery and gave food to the hungry.

It is true that he also sometimes spoke words of condemnation, but these were seldom spoken to the common man or woman. The great majority of his words of reprimand were spoken to those men who held themselves up as the leaders of their religion—those who had a self-righteous attitude and considered others as less “holy” than themselves.

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.

KISII REPORT - WHERE WE ARE NOW

I think it has been almost a couple of weeks since I last wrote about things in Kisii. But here is how things stand at the present:

 

There have been days of hunger again for the children, but thankfully, the orphanage has once again been able to go to the market to buy some food. Thanks to each of you who have contributed for this, and thanks to God for not abandoning these kids to the world.

This time they were 5 days basically without food. The only thing that they eat in these times is a thin soup/porridge made of maize meal – one bowl per day. These are the hunger times. The orphanage runs out of food quite often, so they must learn to endure and trust God that soon there will be something to eat.

I am thankful now that the kids have been able to have a full meal of rice, beans and vegetables (it is seldom that they can afford meat). I am happy to report that their food stores have been now restocked for several days.

I am also very happy also to

"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?