wellwoman7   on October 7th, 2009

How does one balance their faith with that reality? That, on the one hand, I know God can do anything…on the other, He chooses not to. Is it really just a matter of keep believing that God is good, all the time, no matter what our cirucmstances? Is that a huge step to spiriual maturity?
I have watched a child die, lost my health and given up many homes and belongings…I am weary now and could use revival…how long O Lord, how long? How come I am suddenly angry at God?
How would you describe an unbiblical expectation of God?
Thank you so much for your ministry…I wish you were on the east coast!

Philan   on October 7th, 2009

Chip Ingram
I listen to you every chance I get on living on the edge. You have given me a lot of inspiration in the past few months. I do have a question for you.. my husband is an addict and I am looking for versus to study to help him and myself pull through and find the strength to continue on the right path. Our marriage has struggled through more than I can say but we remain together with our two boys. If you have any suggestions please contact me and help me find the way for him and the family.

Andrea

cer327   on October 7th, 2009

Yes, God heals but sometimes he takes his sweet time. Other times its pretty quick.

Physical problems can take longer to heal when you are older and some problems we just have to live with.

As far as emotional healing…he heals. An example, when I was divorced 6 years ago, I thought the bleeding and pain would never end. After about 4 years it did, now I now longer feel that kind of pain…PTL

Sometimes, physical healing doesn’t come quick enough and we get impatience….and then healing comes.

For some people, healing will never come and they die and we get perplexed. Eventually we will all die & go home to glory !!!

Godhealsreliably   on October 8th, 2009

Your description of rational healers appealed to me. Who wouldn’t want to be rational? I’ve experienced Christian healing my entire life. With no vaccinations, doctor visits, pills, or operations, my family has relied on God alone for five generations and lived well for longer than average life spans. Yes, God does heal today. Over 50,000 written testimonies of medically diagnosed but not treated diseases prove this. I’m glad the Christian world is finally waking up to this reality somewhat, though it’s sad that the doctor must totally give up on them in order to force this awakening.

CmdrMike87   on October 8th, 2009

My wife and I are facing the reality of cancer. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in May of 2005. Through out her surgeries and chemo treatments our faith was a large part of how we “dealt” with her cancer. In December of 2005 her Dr. told her she was cancer free and had a 70% chance it would never return. But it did. In October of 2008 she had speech difficulties and was taken to the hospital. We discovered her cancer had returned and spread to her brain, liver, lungs, bones and lymph nodes. Her Dr. told us 2 – 12 months was the normal survival time for people with her condition. Since then she has had radiation for her brain tumors and numerous different chemos. She finished her radiation in November of 2005 and it was successful in reducing her brain tumors, however none of the chemos helped. On August 17 she had a MRI of the brain and all looked well, but in just three weeks another MRI showed 10 brain tumors. All chemo has stopped and her Dr. is trying more radiation for her brain, considered very risky since she has had previous radiation. Through out all of this her attitude is she wants to help other people! God has given her His peace. We have learned and continue to learn to trust Him, through good or bad news. I have reached this believe:
1. God can heal.
2. God does heal.
3. God does not heal everyone.
4. God has a plan for your life.
5. God is sovereign.
6. God is righteous He will do the right thing!
7. We must accept His will while still beleiving in divine healing.

To Him be all Glory and Honor

Cathie & Mike Honeycutt
Trinity NC

Constance   on October 9th, 2009

Wellwoman7,

I am so sorry to hear what all you have been through.

To answer your question: “Is it really just a matter of keep believing that God is good, all the time, no matter what our circumstances?”

Yes, you are correct that it is really a matter of just keep believing; because, God is good all the time. His word tells us so. The bad things you experience in life (while He may have allowed them) are not from Him, but from satan.

Remember Job from the Bible. It wasn’t God who killed every one of Job’s children, servants, and animals…it was satan. Why? Because satan thought that the only reason Job was so willing to serve God, was because everything was going so well for him. Therefore, he figured that if Job lost everything he would quit serving God. Let’s fact it, Job was really blessed by God in a lot of ways.

Isn’t that just like how we humans think…when everything is going our way it is easy to serve God and with a smile. It’s easy to give that extra dollar to someone else in need when it isn’t taking away from your own need. You get the picture.

So satan went about doing what he loves to do…destroy things. Remember though, that God had the ultimate control and wouldn’t let satan kill Job.

Despite all that satan did to Job he remained faithful to God; because, he realized who was the one behind all the bad stuff he was going through…satan and who has the ultimate say so in his life…God.

“The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1:21-22).

To answer your other question, “Is that a huge step to spiritual maturity?” This is a matter of opinion, but to some degree I think it is a huge step in spiritual maturity as well as faith period.

The great thing is that God knows we are only human and will forget this principle and have to be reminded of it from time to time.

I admire people like you and my grandmother who have endured such tragic things in life so many times more than the average person and continue to stand as well as remain faithful to God…turning the situation around in such a way as to witness to others for Christ going through the same or similar things.

God Bless!
Constance
http://words-of-encouragement4u.blogspot.com

Godhealsreliably   on October 10th, 2009

CmdrMike87. If the doctors throw in the towel, you have a great opportunity to rely on God alone, as Jesus did. I recommend the book Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, by Mary Baker Eddy, in order to forward your reliance on God alone. God never failed Jesus and did not fail a friend of mine in just your wife’s situation, when medical means fail to meet expectations. This person is completely healed today of prostate cancer, when no medical solution claimed to exist. Yes, God is truly the Great Physician.

eohixon   on October 12th, 2009

Thanx Chip for meeting me in San luis Obispo recently in Ross store. I shared in church today in Atascadero CA about forgivng a person that had committed on going crimes against me of stalking and the police have only offered to take notes but no action. Chip suggested that I just bless him(the stalker). God has given me this opportunity and now I no longer have my heart wanting to harm this person who is guilty. He accepted me telling him that I forgive him for everything and I have thus heaped the burning coals on his head of Gods grace. I now truely forgive and many where touched today by the true message of living Romans 12. Thank you Chip. Sincerely Eric.

mickeyp   on October 12th, 2009

Thanks Chip for the message on spiritual healing.
I have been a christian for over 26 years and in ministry in the past..but have been so hurt and disillusioned from the church and the hassles I have just about threw in the towel..
I love your teaching and have downloaded several of the series to go through.

I pray that my wife and I can find a good church in our area that we grow in. We live in a rual area in Tennessee…so that has been a problem for us since moving from Florida.

eohixon   on October 13th, 2009

I know this is more of a Roman’s 12 forgiveness but I believe this is the start of healing my wounded heart from all the stalking behaviors I have endured for 12 months, just wanted to share this. For Mike I pray that God continues to heal any ongoing wounds you are dealing with in addition to helping your inspiring wife(Cathy). Eric.

Kristie Jackson   on October 13th, 2009

Amazing that I made my way here today. This is an issue that I’ve really been grappling with. I so want to know God’s heart on this issue, and I know it was His divine hand that brought me here. Excited to listen in full! Many blessings on you Chip for bringing wisdom and light to this controversial topic!

scorl   on October 15th, 2009

God healed me and I praise him for it. I had high blood pressure and was told by doctors that nothing I could do would bring it down. I HAD to take medication. For most people that is not a problem but I am extremely sensitive to side effects. I tried many medications and they all made me feel terrible. One even caused hallucinations. Not to mention, the medicines did not work. I know where I’m going when I die because I have trusted Jesus as my Savior. Why take medicine that makes me feel terrible to “prolong” my life? God used this trial in my life to mold and teach me. I decided not to take any medicine and I prayed for God to heal me and give me his wisdom and guidance. God is in control. He decides when I die and he is powerful enough to do anything, even get through to me and show me what He wants me to do. A little over a year ago today at a doctor’s office my blood pressure was 170/130. Last Friday in the same doctor’s office my blood pressure was 120/84. Even if God did not heal me, I would still go to Heaven with Him on the day He chose. It was a win/win situation. On moments that I did fear I would remind myself that God is in control. I won’t die until he is done with me here on earth and he will use even my death for His glory.

Steve JJ   on October 15th, 2009

Hello Chip,

We love ya up here in the Pacific Northwest! Our bible study is listening to your series on Why I Believe for evangelism training-WOW!! You’re the best, God bless you big time and let’s play some over 50 hoops if ya get up this way! Living Hope Church Vanc, WA

Glory B   on October 17th, 2009

Dear Chip,

I so look forward to when I can listen to you. You come on at 6pm here and for various reasons, I cannot usually listen to you at home, so I try to get in my car and drive at 6pm whenever I can. I am sorry I missed the chance to get the free materials for a group study… some other time, I guess.

Anyway, I have been healed of 2 different things: one was merely physical, hemorrhoids, the other was mostly emotional, anxiety attacks (only it was constant, 24 hrs/day) and it gave me great physical distress.

Although I was extremely skeptical, in both cases, I give a certain degree of credit to traveling evangelists that claim to have the gift of healing, and I was a bit saddened when you said that if they are for real, let them show it by going to the hospitals and heal everyone there (sorry if I am misquoting you, but that’s the way it came across to me). Anyway, that’s not what Jesus or the disciples were told to do. In fact, why hadn’t Jesus healed the man who had been begging outside the temple for years, who Peter healed shortly after Jesus’ death and resurrection?

By the way, my healings were both many years ago, one was in 1978 and the other in 1985, but the emotional one still tried to manifest itself on occassion afterwards, so the complete healing was not instant. But the physical one was instant and has never returned–Praise God!

I regret that I no longer fellowship with folks who emphasize divine healing, oh, yes, we pray for everyone who is in need of healing, but it’s not the same as being with those who truly expect Jesus to heal when they pray.

My husband, who just turned 60, needs healing for several ailments and cannot work now after losing his job almost a year ago, so maybe God wants me to return to my old faith for healing again.

Sorry this got so long!

Keep up the good words! God is using you mightily!

In Christ,
Glory B

dennisgkidd2   on October 26th, 2009

Dear Chip,
I would I am a small church pastor who really enjoy listening to
” Living on the Edge” What kind of material do you have for Pastors who may be struggling.

Mike Grill   on October 27th, 2009

First, the argument that annointing with oil in James 5 was for medical reasons makes no sense at all. This is for serious illness.
How many cancers would be healed by oil?
How many blood problems would be healed by oil?
How many tumors would be healed by oil?
How many heart conditions would be heald by oil?
How man serious physical problems of any kind would be healed by oil then or now.
The answer is zero…
God doesn’t mind doctors. He just minds being second. “Well there is nothing left to do but pray” is the mindset of too many Christians. He becomes the last resort instead of the first one we think to turn toward.
I don’t think God heals everyone but I do think He wants to heal a lot more than are healed and lack of faith to even ask with any expectation is often the cause. We go through the motions not wanting to be disappointed and not wanting to put God on the spot. This isn’t faith in any true sense of the word. God still speaks today if we would but listen to the Holy Spirit and He still heals today through elders praying in faith.

kimviquach   on October 29th, 2009

Hello Chip Ingram,
This is my first time commenting on this site. I am a huge fan of yours, I look foward to hearing your voice in my earphones on my labtop or the library. Keep up the great work in ministering to us. I love God and I love to follow him with my whole being. Please keep me in your prayers.. My family and I have alot of cout issue’s in our lives. And I worry alot on how this life is going to get easier. Life is hard but God is always with us.. Thanks for being so inspiring to my life.. I could do all things in Christ..From San Jose, Ca In my weakness you are strong. I take my Christian Life seriously.. Love Always, Kimvi Quach 30

linda   on November 4th, 2009

Hi I just wanted to thank you for some awsome teachings! I am a women that Loves the Lord & has a Husband that is really trying to deal with an adiction. I have found that God will use what ever he wants to help us grow. Sometimes it feels like this is just to much & very Crazy & then I see how God used it for his Glory. I am trying to Worship God all week long & find that he is my only source of Peace. So I just want to thank you for helping me to have good lessons to think on. Thanks Linda