Hi Marques,
Thanks for the Counsel & Admonition contained in these Tips and Reminders. Hopefully, most of Us, including myself will apply these reminders in Our Forum conversation and Dialog. For those With Questions: Tip # 4 stood out as something that occurs too often, ie- " Someone asks a Question and proceeds to write what they think the answer already is while supposedly searching for an answer to their question in starting a Thread. " If you have the answer, Why ask." I experience this scenario quite often outside the Forum in everyday life, too.
I noticed from point # 5 of For those with Answers(this could include those with comments too), a New Member, with less than Two Weeks Membership as an example getting hammered for saying something that We might not readily agree with and I'm not referring to the Basic Milk teachings found at this Site, I think this is unwarranted and unnecessary, because their true colors will manifest itself soon as to whether they are a Troll or Troublemaker. See recent example below !
Ian 155's Introduction, He just joined on 11/22/11 and got hammered right away regarding His approach to Ray's cancer getting healed and His apparent belief that " Gifts of Healing " takes place through some Human agency like what occurred in the first Century. Now, personally I think that this activity of a physical nature(healing, raising from the dead, speaking in tongues, etc) has CEASED as mentioned in 1 Cor. 13: 8-11. This is substantiated By Ray as shown in this Email response below, so what I'm getting at is although I didn't particularly like this initial declaration of Ian155's authority to Heal like the Apostles in the First Century were able to do, I didn't think it was necessary to initially "Hammer" Him as some members did in response to His initial remarks about having authority to heal in Jesus name.
[Ray Replies]
Dear Cindy:
Many assume that the statements that Jesus made to his eleven apostles on the evening of His arrest, were a blanket statement to all believers to follow, for all time. This is not so.
Jesus did do many miracles through His apostles after His death and resurrection. He promised them the gift of the Holy Spirit (Comforter), which would give them faith and power to spread His gospel message.
This came true fifty days later on the Day of Pentecost. The apostles were given the gift of tongues so that they could even speak in foreign languages which none of them had ever studied. They were able to heal the sick. And they even RAISED THE DEAD. Peter and Paul both RAISED THE DEAD.
These special miracle gifts did not follow all generations of the church. Even later in the ministry of the apostles, God began to withdraw these gifts. No one was raised from the dead in their later ministry. Paul said that "tongues would cease" in I Cor. 13. Only "faith, hope [expectation] and charity [love]" were to "NOW remain...." Some of Paul best friends and servants in spreading the gospel were sick and not healed. Paul told his dear friend Timothy, to "take a little wine for thy stomach's sake, and thine OFT [MANY] INFIRMITIES. God did NOT heal them. Do we think that Paul did not even ask?
Many in the charismatic church try to make a carnival exhibition of such gifts, but I am afraid all they do is deceive.
However, with that said, does God no longer perform miracles or healings? Yes, He does. I have seen and experienced them. Does He always heal? Does He always alleviate our problems and trials? NO. Why should we pray for God to TAKE AWAY all the things that are absolutely NECESSARY FOR OUR FAITH AND PERFECTION?
Don't neglect to ask God for EVERYTHING you feel you should have. But don't be disappointed if God allows you to CONTINUE IN YOUR TRIALS. Sometimes He removes certain trials after a period of time. We do not know when and how or even if God will do this that or the other thing, so we keep praying. I ask for STRENGTH AND FAITH to face my trials and OVERCOME my flesh. I no longer pray for God to make me HEALTHY, WEALTHY AND WISE, with absolutely no price to pay for such privileges.
This site is an answer to prayer. My understanding of the Scriptures is an answer to prayer. Everything I have is an answer to prayer. I pray for others and many times, GOD ANSWERS MY PRAYERS! But I do NOT always heal the sick through my prayers, I do not make people wealthy through my prayers, and I have NEVER raised the dead through my prayers. So don't stop praying!! And ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS, thank God for all that you have.
And then, don't WORRY about anything. Phil. 4:6 is a terrible translation in the KJV. Instead of "Be careful in nothing..." it should read:
"DON'T WORRY ABOUT ANYTHING..."
God be with you, Ray
So, if Ian155's comments were not appreciated, agreed upon and too forward regarding healing, couldn't Forum Members wait a little to see whether or not this becomes a pattern and manifests itself and then will can take off " the kid gloves " as mentioned in Tip # 5(For those that answer) and do what's necessary to expose error or unsound teaching.
Just something I noticed, Samson.