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Emails between Revd Philip Powell of Christian-Witness Ministries and Revd Carolyn A. Hennig. Addresses withheld for privacy reasons, but on file at CWM office. Date: Fri, 26 May 2000 23:16:40 -0400 Dear Friends At CWM,I am writing today with concern about a recent response your editors had to a letter to the editor in "CONTENDING Earnestly for the Faith" magazine The person known as "EH" from the UK asked a question on certain Bible passages. Specifically, the two verses elaborated on the most were Isaiah 53:5 and Matthew 8:17. The editor explained that Isaiah 53:5 must be interpreted according to "specific literary methods". He even went so far as to say that a person can not even understand the verses correctly without employing such methods. Then the editor explained that using the correct poetic literary methods of interpretation; it was proper to come to the conclusion that Isaiah 53:5 is speaking solely of spiritual healing and not at all of physical healing. If we look at the 2 passages in their context by reading the verses surrounding the texts in Matthew 8:17 and Isaiah 53:5, we can see what the Holy Spirit is teaching us. Matthew 8:16 speaks of Jesus casting out devils with His word and physically healing all that were sick. Directly after this the Holy Spirit inspired Matthew to write: THAT IT MIGHT BE FULFILLED which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses. What was done that what might be fulfilled? Let's read the complete verses: Matthew 8:16-17 "When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses." The Holy Spirit is most certainly pointing to and actually quoting from Isaiah 53:4-5 in Matthew 8:16-17. The Lord Jesus had the same understanding as the Holy Spirit. The Lord Jesus knew and believed that He was fulfilling Isaiah 53:4-5 by physically healing the sick. Since Jesus believed and practiced that physical healing is fulfilling Isaiah 53:4-5, and the Holy Spirit plainly teaches the proper exegesis of the verse, then I will choose to accept the Holy Spirit's interpretation of Isaiah 53:5 and not allow "literary methods" to cloud God's clear teaching and interpretation of His own Scriptures. Isaiah 53:5 therefore is speaking of the Messiah coming to heal His people spiritually AND physically. Otherwise physical healing could in no wise fulfill the prophecy stated in Isaiah 53:5 and the Holy Spirit would have waited till Jesus died on the cross and then inspire Matthew to say something like: He died on the cross..."that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses." The Bible expounds upon itself. The Holy Spirit teaches us the meaning of the Scriptures. The wonderful thing about the Bible is that while the scholarly doctors were scratching there heads and arguing over the meaning of Jesus' sayings, Scripture teaches us that "the common people heard him gladly." (Mark 12:37) Let's not fall for Satan's trick leading us to think that we need man's limited knowledge and failing wisdom to understand the Scriptures because the Bible is spiritual book and it is spiritually discerned. The Bible in 1 Corinthians 2:14 teaches us that the natural man can't possibly shed light upon the precious words from God contained the Holy Scriptures. "But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." (1 Corinthians 2:14) We are instead instructed that "the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him." (1 John 2:27 ) We need not that ANY man teach us even if that man is a literary scholar. Man's knowledge can not give us further understanding in the word of God. Otherwise Jesus would have instructed his disciples to read popular scholars and writers of the day such as the Pharisees to understand the Word of God. To the contrary ONLY Jesus could open their understanding that they might understand the scriptures! "Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures" (Luke 24:45) When man's knowledge of science contradicts the Word of God, we must still hold fast to the Bible till man's science catches up with the Bible. When man's knowledge of literary methods contradicts the Word of God, we must still hold fast to the Bible till man's faulty literary methods catch up with the Bible. The Bible does NOT say if any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of man's literary methods, and it shall be given him. The Bible DOES say "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him." James 1:5 God gives wisdom to all, all, ALL men liberally when they humbly ask for it in faith. Especially wisdom to know the correct interpretation of His precious Holy Word. All men includes the "common people" who are not educated with literary methods but only rely on the Spirit of the living God to open their understanding in spiritually discerning how to rightly divide word of truth. Therefore if we desire the correct understanding and interpretation of Isaiah 53:5 or any text of the Holy Scriptures, we must diligently study His word comparing spiritual things with spiritual, i.e.., verse to verse seeking Him for wisdom and not man. Sincerely in the love of Jesus' Rev. Carolyn A. Hennig From: Philip L Powell To: CH Sent: Monday, May 29, 2000 3:59 PM Subject: Re: Letters To The Editor My dear friend: Thanks for your letter which raises some very good points. I have sent it to my editorial colleague in London, who wrote the bit on healing while I wrote the piece on prosperity. We had anticipated an ongoing correspondence and discussion (debate) on both issues and trust that what surfaces will show a true Biblical balance. The one extreme that says God is obligated to heal because Christ died for our sicknesses in the same way that He died for our sins is causing great confusion and is neither consistent with the Word of God nor true to life. It was with sadness that we recently learned that four people had died in Kenya as a direct result of their signing themselves out of hospital and stopping medication in the hope (vain hope) of getting healed at a Benny Hinn crusade. This fallacy and falsehood needs to be addressed. Equally a denial of the fact that healing is available to us through the work of Christ is wrong and false. We didn't and don't deny that of course. Your letter and our response may help to clarify the matter. Please tell us where you live? I note your name is Carolyn and that you are a minister. Can you please let us have your location i.e. city, state, country. We normally publish letters and identify the writers either fully or with initials and general location as preferred by you. God bless you and thank you for writing. Yours sincerely in Christ's service, Philip L. POWELL. WEB SITES: CWM (home) http://www.christian-witness.org with VANGUARD (mirror), VANGUARD (archives) and CETF (archives) direct links to aid research From: CH To: PLP Sent: Monday, May 30 Subject: Re: Letters To The Editor Dear Brother in Christ, Philip, Thank you for answering my letter. My name is Rev. Carolyn A. Hennig and my address is: [withheld from publication, but on file...ed] As for your concerns about God's being obligated to heal. I certainly don't believe in any sense that He is obligated to heal or even to forgive or to keep any of His promises. He keeps His promises because He is God and does not lie (Numbers 23:19). WHEN and HOW a Christian receives the fulfillment of God's healing promise is the Father's sovereign privilege. Some receive physical healing in this life, some in the very presence of Jesus Himself after passing on from this life. If a Christian died having cancer in this world, certainly the Lord of life gives them healing in heaven with Him. No Christian will have cancer in heaven and certainly not in the New Heaven and New Earth because all old things such as sickness will have passed away. (Revelation 21:4-5) Certainly God has promised forgiveness and healing to ALL of His children. Healing and deliverance are the children's very bread according to Jesus (Matthew 15:26). And James instructs sick Christians to: James 5:14 Is any sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: James 5:15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. I believe it is man's arrogance that teaches us God is "obligated" to keep His Word. The Word Faith movement brings God down to man's level of keeping one's word. The Lord is not obligated, He is faithful. He shall keep His Word without compromising His sovereignty. Some promises that were made to the saints and prophets of old have not yet been fulfilled. Heb 11:38 (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. Heb 11:39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: Heb 11:40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect. But they shall be fulfilled in God's way and time. I see the same for healing. His promise of healing shall be kept but in the Father's way and time. One day all believers shall be healed. I would never counsel anyone to stop taking medication or discontinue undergoing treatment. When a person is healed even their doctor can see it. You are so right my brother that fallacies and falsehoods need to be addressed and you and your team are doing a wonderful job of that with your magazine! I just don't want to see you throw the baby out with the bathwater so to speak. As for the "wealth gospel", I truly believe in riches for the believer. Our riches are not the luxurious material possessions of this world as Creflo Dollar chants: "I want my stuff". Instead we are taught by Jesus to "be content with such things as we have" why? Because He will never leave us nor forsake us in meeting all our needs! (Luke 3:14, Hebrews 13:5, Philippians 4:19) The Christian is rich for God supplies all their needs, spiritually and materially. Christians truly have been blessed with ALL spiritual blessings in Christ (Eph 1:3) and always have all sufficiency in ALL things so that they may about to EVERY good work that God has called them to perform (2 Corinthians 9:8). I pray God's abundant blessings on you and your ministry. Sincerely in Jesus' love, Pastor Carolyn |
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