Ellen and I have been watching more Christian produced movies lately. We are also watching the chosen over again beginning with season 1. Looking back I find myself struggling at times with the contrast in messaging between the Biblical truth concerning faith, which is clearly evidenced in The Chosen, and the results of the faith that is seen in the lives portrayed in these movies.

Some of these movies are based upon actual events as they transpired in the lives of individuals, these, we must assume relayed these events as they occurred. Obviously there is the reality of literary license having taken place for viewer impact. And although I’m certain that there must be many movies based on true events where there were real or actual answers given by God to the prayers offered; yet I’ve not run across even one of these accounts in these movies. Perhaps we need to publish a list of films containing such evidence. But there are other things that we need to consider here.

Jesus certainly tells us that there were areas where unbelief kept Him from performing some miracles.

Mark 6:4 But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house. 5 And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them. (KJV)

Is it possible now, that Jesus own household is His own Church in this our day. There certainly is a rather large part of the Church which believes and even argues that miracles are to be over and done with following the lifetime of the apostles?

Mark 6:6 And he marveled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching. (KJV)

I would suggest to you that maybe you have had healings, as have I, which were miraculous. I have written previously of my having been prayed for when in my late twenties, for the healing of hemorrhoids, a healing which has lasted all these many years, because although I had had several years of off and on suffering before that time due to hemorrhoids, yet I have not had one episode of such following that prayer. My salvation came a few years before that. You can read about that here: https://raptureonline.blog/book-chapters-2/a-bit-of-testimony/

Following both of these events: my salvation and my healing; our two sons were at that time being exposed to the excitement of our (Ellen and my) experiences with the Lord. It was then that our younger son Shawn was almost 4 years old that I had come down with a stomach like virus and nausea one evening around supper time, and I was laying on the sofa, and Shawn came over to me; and I said: son don’t get to close to Daddy. Daddy is sick. And he came to me and put his hand on my arm and said: “Daddy I pray for you”. After a simple prayer he walked away, and it was amazing. Within a matter of seconds I realized that I had no more nausea or other symptoms. I got up and went out and ate dinner with the family soon after that. I shared what he had done with Ellen and we were both amazed.

James 1:6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. (KJV)

I know that this verse refers to asking for wisdom, but it also tells us something of the condition of faith needed for answers from God. Faith as a little child is pure. Our faith is tainted often with doubt or some other sin. If we are unwilling to confess our sin to one another; then we can’t be healed of our sin sickness or of our bodily ills. This understanding also comes straight out of James (God’s Word).

Paul tells us that because many do not properly discern the body and blood of Jesus they are sick and some have even died. If we fail to understand that by His stripes we are healed bodily then we are subject to sickness and death. If we don’t understand that His blood cleanses us from all sin then the same is true for our faith, as it is compromised by sin.

We know that through sin death entered the earthly scene. Jesus paid for our healing (by His stripes are we healed) otherwise the resurrection would not involve a new eternal body free of sin and disease. However just because one sins they are not also sick, but all are eventually sentenced to death. The day that you eat thereof ye shall surely die. Was that a literal promise? Yes: it was within one of God’s days or 1000 years. Adam nor any other man has ever existed any longer.

Jesus even implied that sickness may at least be an opportunity for the Father to be glorified.

3. Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him.

4. I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. (John 9:3&4 NKJV)

Jesus was not implying that these had not sinned, but that this sickness was not due to sin. His statement also must imply that you and I must be working these works of His in order to reveal God in those works, and we must do that while it is yet day. If we cannot trust the scriptures concerning God’s purpose for healing; then how can we trust them concerning God’s purpose for forgiving sin and for our victory over sin?

May God give us understanding of these things. We certainly are in need of it.