Nougat 5

Hello all

Please receive today’s Holy Nougat

“And Jesus said, “All right, receive your sight! Your faith has healed you.”” Luke‬ ‭18:42‬ ‭NLT‬‬

That’s all. No fancy gimmick. Just a clear acknowledgement of the man’s faith. And the man was healed!

Can you see that happening in our time? I can. There are places where signs and wonders are still part of the church’s regular activities. And, whether they operate under another influence or not, many people are still very skeptical. And rightfully so, since some faith healings are actually staged. So it is easy for me to see a similar activity in our present reality. What is not so easy is to see most of us ‘learned’ people of faith accepting this as God’s handiwork.

Does that make us modern day Pharisees?

I am not sure. But it definitely is an invitation for us to deepen our understanding of and relationship with Jesus Christ. For whether charlatans (con artists), false prophets, opportunists or the real deal; people are hungry for live manifestations of God’s power. That has not changed. And many believe (ie have the faith that it is possible). However they are equally hungry, actually desperate, for solid spiritual food. Just as they were back in those days.

Now this is not an invitation to be a false prophet, getting out there and saying stuff just because. Neither is it vilifying or endorsing the next person we see operating in the gifts of the Spirit. For we are known by our fruits – do our signs and wonders, prophetic words and miracles align with God’s Word? To whom do they point – God, or the prophet/faith healer of the hour?

(And, while we’re on the subject of fruits, what about the lifestyle fruit – do the lives of those who manifest spiritual gifts align with Jesus’ call to holiness?)

You see, Jesus did both. He taught with authority (Matthew 7:29), He manifested signs and wonders and Jesus certainly prophesied. That’s worth emulating and seeking after.

The question is – do we remain on the sidelines as skeptics and critics, or do we offer ourselves as visible tangible demonstrations of God’s gifts for the world? Ultimately, it is a matter of Faith.

—

May all we seek be found in Christ