Posted on Mon, Aug 10, 2009

Larry Ollison

Faith is Life Changing
By Larry Ollison, Ph.D.
 
Several years ago I had a going away party for a friend who was a college professor. He was head of the department of biblical studies at a denominational university. So, in order to give him a good send off, I invited several ministers from the University to my home. It was a very unique day, to say the least.

During the day, everyone was out on the lake, but as evening came, they all came to the house for food. After all, they were ministers.

After dinner I expected them to start leaving, but someone mentioned something about some deep theological subject. So, they all got their Bibles and congregated in my living room.

The subject changed to healing. Was healing for today? Was this just something that Jesus and the apostles did or is it something for every Christian? Well, all these things were discussed.

One pastor's wife said that she had just finished teaching a study course on the book of Acts and she knew it was not for today. She said, "Everything in the book of Acts - the healings, the miracles, the filling with the Holy Spirit, all of it has passed away. It doesn't apply to us today."

At that point, the college professor, who was (and is) a great man of God, opened the Word, the Holy Bible, and began to teach. He showed that God's Word did not just apply to the Jews in Israel during the time of Jesus. It applies to us today.

He showed the promises of God in the Word. He proved beyond any doubt that miracles and healings have not passed away. They are very much a part of the church today.

Six hours later the power of God fell in my living room and the lives of these ministers changed. In fact, one minister's wife was blind in one eye and could not keep it straight. She worked in the cafeteria at the college and her eye problem was well known. That night her eye was healed completely. Several other life-changing things happened that night in 1973. I know I have never been the same.

There's just something about seeing the power of God.

First Corinthians 12:28 says, "And God appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues."

To me this clearly shows the heart and plan of God for the church. All these things are available for us as Christians today. However, there is one very basic requirement. We must believe. We must have faith.

In Mark 11:24 Jesus said, "Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them." This is a key to receiving from God. We must believe. Then we will receive.

In James 1:5 it says, "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. Let not that man" (the man who does not ask in faith) "suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord."

God's supernatural power is available to all Christians today. All we have to do is ask in faith. What is faith? Faith is simply believing that God will do what he said he would do and acting on it.

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