Greetings Brethren:
We are grateful this day and all days
we have been with God the Creator of all that exists. Is knowledge of God the
greatest Joy? When you deny The Lottery, (The Devils Power Ball) for God you are
on the way. Hence it is written that Faith is greater than a Dollar Bill that
is often soiled and Dirty.
Peace and Love,
Carl Patton writing for the
FreedomJournal August 27, 2001 in the year of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
CHRISTIANITY: FALSE TEACHING,
FALSE DOCTRINES
THE MIRACLE OF HEALING
PART 39: GREAT FAITH PAUL &
SILAS
In
the name of Jehovah God, Master of the universe, Ruler of the earth.
The Philippian jailer is converted as
is noted in Acts 16:25-34 and 16-40. There were various superstitious beliefs that existed during
Greek and Roman culture. Thus, through fortune-telling many
people believed the future could be fore-told. In this passage of scripture we
see a young slave girl possessed with an evil spirit. However,
she made her master very rich by telling people their fortunes.
She also spoke of the condition of Paul and Silas and noted the following.
Acts
16:18. "And this did she many
days, But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to
come out of her. And he came out the same hour."
The slave girl made a true statement
noting the Paul and Silas were God sent men. However, the source of this knowledge was a demon. She did
not receive any super natural power from God. As a for-runner
of modern day fortune tellers and faith healers she was a con artist. Thus, she
made them think she could foretell future events.
Meanwhile it is noted that the Lord
does not accept testimony from Demon possessed fortune- tellers. This is why Paul was annoyed. He did
not want to link the Gospel of Jesus Christ with demon-related
activities. If so people would become confused and Christ would be associated
with evil. So Paul commanded the spirit to leave the slave girl so she
could not continue to mis-lead the people.
When this happened the Bible says
(Acts
16:23. "And when they had laid
man stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely."
16:25. And at
Although Paul and Silas were beaten
and placed in stocks they praised God. While they prayed and sang songs of praise the other prisoners
listened. Hence we see a great lesson of faith. Regardless of
circumstances praise God and keep the faith. Those that don't know God that
hear your faithful praises may also come to know God.
16:26. " And suddenly there was
a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison was shaken: and immediately all the doors were
opened, and every one's bands were loosed."
The power that released Paul and
Silas was a miracle from God. This miracle is related to the miracle that freed Peter from prison in Acts
12:7-10. The Lord would not perform a jail delivery in
opposition to the law. Thus it is assumed that the other prisoners were being
held lawfully. So although the bands were loosed no one
escaped.
16:27. "And the keeper of the
prison awakening out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have
killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been
fled."
16:28. "But Paul cried with a
loud voice saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here."
16:29. "Then he called for a
light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas."
He fell down before Paul and Silas
because this miracle convinced him that these men had been imprisoned unjustly.
16:30. "And brought them out,
and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"
10:31. "And they said, Believe
on the Lord Jesus Christ, and this shalt be saved, and thy house."
The jailer was a heathen and did not
understand the teachings of the Gospel. But this miracle that he had witnessed convinced him that they
represented a great power. He also realized that he would
suffer a great punishment unless he did something to prevent it. Thus, the
question.
Paul answered and pointed to the
source of salvation. Jesus Christ is the source and who we place our trust and faith. When we do this,
we can expect miracles in our lives. Meanwhile Paul became
very close to the church at
Cont. Part 40:
Healing Does Not Depend on Faith
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