A Place Of Healing Chapter 4: “What Benefit Is There To My Pain?”
Ray writes “Most of my viewers know that I was a ‘healing evangelist’ for more than thirty years, traveling in many parts of the world and all over the United States. So you might ask yourself ‘Why would Ray even want to share a chapter like this? Isn’t it totally contrary to what he believes about healing?’ My answer is absolutely not. In fact, I am more in sync with the thinking of Joni Eareckson Tada then with most “healing evangelists” of today.
“I absolutely know that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 10:38). When He lived in Person for 33 1/2 years here on Earth, He healed and healed and healed. The book of Acts and other New Testament Bible passages show that the healings never stopped. But I also know there are the Christian Joni’s in this world who won’t be physically healed until they are in Heaven.
“Some would say Joni has no faith for healing, I would counter with the fact that Joni has more faith than nearly anyone else I have ever met. That’s why her books are so important. And that’s why I’m sharing this one now. Can there be any benefit to being in pain. Let Joni tell you as we share this book together.”
Joni Eareckson Tada is the founder and chief executive officer of Joni and Friends, an organization accelerating Christian outreach in the disability community. An acclaimed artist and advocate, Joni is also the author of nearly 50 books and a popular speaker around the world. Joni and her husband, Ken, lived in Southern California.
For a complete list of other books written by Joni Eareckson Tada or for more information about her greeting cards, which she paints by mouth, contact the website of the Joni and Friends International Disability Center at:
www.joniandfriends.org
Or you can write Johnny at:
P. O. Box 3333
Agoura Hills, CA 91376 USA
818– 707–5664
The mission of Joni and Friends is to communicate the gospel and equip Christ–honoring churches worldwide to evangelize and disciple people affected by disability. Premiere programs include Wheels for the World, Family Retreats, the Joni and Friends television series, and a radio outreach aired on over 1000 outlets across America. The Christian Institute on Disability at Joni and Friends partners with Christian universities and seminaries around the world to develop courses of study in disability ministry. Through a network of volunteers and JAF field teams, Joni and Friends is committed to accelerating Christian ministry into the disability community around the world. If you would like to learn how you can partner in this effort, write or phone Joni and Friends today.
Ray recommends all of Joni’s books.
A Place Of Healing Chapter 4: “What Benefit Is There To My Pain?”
From UNSOLICITED. HOPE – Pastor Tim Mossholder’s blog (Tim is the senior pastor of Santa Maria Foursquare Church in Santa Maria, California.)
The crush of bodies on a hot, dirty street; pressing, looking, reaching. Filthy mud, made of blood and dust, sticking to the feet of a distraught woman whose bleeding had not stopped in a dozen years.
This broken woman was seeking Jesus, but he was moving away, headed through the unrelenting crowd to bring relief to another.
But she would not be denied. Having heard of other broken ones who had touched Jesus and were healed, she pressed on, believing she could be healed as well.
Fighting her way closer, she finally was near enough to reach between others and brush her fingers against the back of Jesus’ garment.
Instantly something changed. The unwelcome bleeding didn’t just slow; it completely stopped. Right there in a mass of humanity, she received her miracle.
In this story, there are several things that bring me hope. First, is the persistent faith of a woman who never gave up. If I have a headache for more than a half-hour, I’m running for aspirin — but in spite of serious affliction for over a decade, she was pressing on, trusting that God had not abandoned her.
I’m also struck by the accessibility of Jesus. He was not being carried on a throne above the masses. He did not have bodyguards keeping the sick away. Even though he was surrounded to the point of being crushed by the crowds, he could be reached by the one seeking him.
And I’m most taken by the reality that this was not a God-directed miracle. While we find plenty of those in the Gospels, in this setting Jesus was actually headed away from the woman when she was healed. He was not seeking her out, yet she accessed God’s power just the same. I find hope here because sometimes I feel like God is headed away from me when I need him most. While theologically I know this isn’t the case (he has promised to never leave or forsake me), practically it can feel this way.
So this is a strong reminder: even when it seems God is not setting out to bring his power my way, I still have access to it. Just as this woman was made whole because of her faith in Jesus, I can press through whatever (or whoever!) is standing between me and a miracle, trusting God to meet my need.
Are there places in your life where it feels like God is absent, where it seems he’s moving away from you rather than toward you? Don’t give up and don’t give in to discouragement. Keep fighting. Keep pursuing him.
“So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.” (Hebrews 10:35-36)
To Tullian and Kim Tchividjian – We love you and we care
Milton Gillie, Reach More Now’s correspondent in Australia, has written a powerful letter to a powerful married couple who are at present divorcing. Tullian Tchividjian (pronounced cha-vi-jin), was the most recent pastor of the Coral Ridge Presbyterian church, the church made famous by Ministry of the late Dr. James Kennedy in his many years of television and in person. The fact that Tullian is the grandson of 96-year-old Dr. Billy Graham who has nothing at all to do with Tullian’s and Kim’s decision to divorce. Tullian has admitted he had an affair. Kim was the first to admit that she had one before he did. He released the following statement to The Washington Post:
“I resigned from my position at Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church today due to ongoing marital issues. As many of you know, I returned from a trip a few months back and discovered that my wife was having an affair. Heartbroken and devastated, I informed our church leadership and requested a sabbatical to focus exclusively on my marriage and family. As her affair continued, we separated.
Sadly and embarrassingly, I subsequently sought comfort in a friend and developed an inappropriate relationship myself. Last week I was approached by our church leaders and they asked me about my own affair. I admitted to it and it was decided that the best course of action would be for me to resign. Both my wife and I are heartbroken over our actions and we ask you to pray for us and our family that God would give us the grace we need to weather this heart wrenching storm. We are amazingly grateful for the team of men and women who are committed to walking this difficult path with us. Please pray for the healing of deep wounds and we kindly ask that you respect our privacy.”
Tchividjian, 42, has been married to his wife, Kim, since 1994 and they have three children. Kim Tchividjian sent the following message to The Post of Lauderdale:
“The statement reflected my husband’s opinions but not my own. Please respect the privacy of my family at this time, thank you. I do thank everyone for the outpouring of love for my family as well during this difficult time and we appreciate all the prayers and support we are receiving.”
Rob Pacienza, executive pastor of Coral Ridge, provided the following statement from the church:
“Several days ago, Pastor Tullian admitted to moral failure, acknowledging his actions disqualify him from continuing to serve as senior pastor or preach from the pulpit, and resigned — effective immediately. We are saddened by this news, but are working with and assisting Pastor Tullian and his family to help them through this difficult time, and asking people to join us in praying that God will bring restoration through this process and healing to all involved.”
Many have considered Tchividjian, a rising star in evangelicalism, especially in Reformed circles. He is the fourth Florida megachurch pastor to resign after having affairs, including the son of megachurch pastor Joel Hunter.
The distinguished Dr. James Kennedy was one of the architects of the Religious Right, a movement of evangelicals who became intertwined in more conservative politics. However, Tchividjian decided to preach less about politics, unlike his uncle Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan’s Purse.
As he stepped into Coral Ridge’s pulpit, Tchividjian made a point of moving past the old Religious Right and not being a cultural warrior. Billy Graham, 96, was one of the most influential religious leaders of the 20th century and an adviser to many U.S. presidents. Tchividjian’s mother is Billy Graham’s oldest child.
Here’s what Tchividjian posted on Twitter after his Sunday announcement.
Before he became senior pastor of the Fort Lauderdale congregation, Tchividjian’s church plant, New City, merged with the larger Coral Ridge. Seven months in, a group of church members, headed by Kennedy’s daughter, circulated a petition calling for his removal. Church members voted 69 percent to 31 percent to keep him, but a group of congregants formed a new church in response.
Tchividjian was described by the Miami Herald as a pastor who would focus on specific Bible passages rather than on the news, preferred more contemporary music over the organ, and chose podcasting over broadcasting.
The Hartford Institute for Religion Institute’s database of megachurches lists Coral Ridge as having 1,900 attendees. The church had its first worship service in 1959, and under Kennedy, its weekly services were televised as the Coral Ridge Hour, reportedly reaching up to 3 million people. Kennedy was a founding board member of Jerry Falwell Sr.’s Moral Majority and developed the popular curriculum “Evangelism Explosion.”
Last year, Tchividjian broke up with the Gospel Coalition, a network of Reformed leaders, over a theological dispute. His popular blog was hosted at TGC and he wrote several books with evangelical publishers Crossway and David C. Cook.
“Kicked out of his family’s home as a teenager, Tchividjian indulged in almost everything Miami’s sensual nightlife offered,” a 2009 profile in Christianity Today said. “But now he believes that Christians must forsake any hope of winning cultural acceptance if they want to affect the culture for the Lord’s sake.”God’s grace
Now, for the letter to the Tchividjian’s from Milton Gillie: An open letter to Tullian and Kim Tchividjian.
I was recently shocked to read of your marital troubles and of Tullian’s subsequent resignation as senior pastor of Coral Ridge Presbyterian church in Fort Lauderdale Florida. When I read about it following the resignation announcement my first reaction was denial followed by a search which revealed the truth of what I had read. On reflection I asked myself why the troubles of a pastor on another continent in another denomination affected me more than I expected. I am quite familiar with your teaching having four of your books and listened to a number of messages. But you are not the first writer or minister I have known or read that has had a moral failure, so why did I feel your failure more than others. As I contemplated this question I came to the conclusion that it is because your message is so much different than most of the others I have known or known about who have walked this path.
Most open letters are written by people wanting to bring correction or accusation against the recipient. I want to make it clear that that is not my intention. I have read commentary by others some which is critical or professing great wisdom on your situation. The only message that I would have would probably come out of one of your sermons and contain a heavy dose of “Grace” because I believe that is the only message that can be shared with anyone in your situation. So why write to you? There are several reasons expressed in what I would say to any one in your situation and this letter is for any one broken and in need of healing following a failure.
I am sure that there is nothing unique in my comments but sometimes we need to rehear the things that we already know to encourage ourselves. None of us are exempt from or innocent of any form of sin before God, even if we have not physically committed it. Yes we understand that there is more work to do on horizontal relationships particularly with a spouse when we physically commit serious sin, but nothing is irreparable with God.
One of the great tragedies that I have seen is the number of people that having failed, have received condemnation rather than forgiveness and healing that drove them away from their faith and their calling. We are all broken people living in a broken world. Yet it is in our brokenness that God is revealed fully to us. Through our brokenness it becomes totally about him, and nothing about us.
What keeps us from fully receiving God’s grace and healing? It is only ourselves. Recently I had a disagreement with my wife. I was most unhappy with her attitude towards me. Everything within me wanted justice. As I meditated I heard the Spirit prompt “show grace to your wife”. The problem I had was I didn’t want to show grace to her. My self-righteous nature wanted to squash the idea and have my thoughts and actions justified. I have found that the closer a relationship I have with someone, understanding grace is easier than applying it in relation to them. I don’t know where the two of you are with restoration process, but I suspect it is not an easy process to go through. I pray that you are receiving healing and restoration.
Probably the most disturbing aspect of human nature is the rise of self-righteousness when dealing with those who have fallen. The church unfortunately is not immune from this fault as time and again we see condemnation being cast at those who have fallen. I am not referring to appropriate discipline by authority in the situation, but to those outside that sphere who effectively shoot the wounded. My good friend Ray has shared with me how he lost nearly all his friends when he walked a similar path to you. There was no one that came to him to bring healing and restoration which led him to spend five years in the wilderness. But even in his situation the grace of God reached out and brought healing and restoration.
One thing life has taught me is that it is so often easier to see God working from outside a failure than when living through it. The scripture tells us the gifts and calling of God are never cancelled or rescinded. You have been called and gifted. There is probably no harder time than being removed from your gifting and calling because of failure. Yet in all this God’s purpose can still work in your lives.
My own church here in Australia went through the fall of the previous senior minister. Through it all though God was faithful and had prepared new pastors for us that none of us could have dreamed of. The scripture “all things work together for good” was fulfilled in our midst. If we had not gone through the valley five years ago we would not be where we are today. I am not suggesting any sin is good but that in the worst situation God is working for our good.
This year the theme for our church is “grace” and the word hangs over the stage in our sanctuary. Our conference theme this year is Grace Divine. Our worship teaches us about God’s grace. Our messages have grace as the foundation. Would we have been where we are today if we hadn’t gone through pain five years ago? I know God could have caused blessing
I have wondered what I would say if I was given the privilege of ministering to either or both of you. I am sure you have people in your lives more capable than I who can minister healing to you. My only message would be how much God loves you and the fullness of His redemption for every situation. I’d probably encourage you to have a break from your environment, get away hopefully together, work on your issues.
A final thing I would encourage is to come to our conference. Why the conference? It’s probably the last thing you feel motivated to do. But you can’t get much further away from your home than Australia. Almost nobody would know you here, but most of all you need the ministry. You can register here https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/hopeuc-conference-2015-tickets-12661146831.
May God bring full restoration to you both.
Milton Gillie
Australian correspondent for Reach More Now
I can be contacted through this web site.
Ray’s e-mail address is: ray@holyhugs.com
To Tullian and Kim Tchividjian – We love you and we care
“For the kingdom of heaven is like [a]a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard.2 When he had agreed with the laborers for a [b]denarius for the day, he sent them into his vineyard.3 And he went out about the [c]third hour and saw others standing idle in the market place;4 and to those he said, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.’ And so they went.5 Again he went out about the [d]sixth and the ninth hour, and did [e]the same thing.6 And about the [f]eleventh hour he went out and found others standing around; and he *said to them, ‘Why have you been standing here idle all day long?’7 They *said to him, ‘Because no one hired us.’ He *said to them, ‘You go into the vineyard too.’
8 “When evening came, the [g]owner of the vineyard *said to his foreman, ‘Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last group to the first.’9 When those hired about the eleventh hour came, each one received a[h]denarius.10 When those hired first came, they thought that they would receive more; [i]but each of them also received a denarius.11 When they received it, they grumbled at the landowner,12 saying, ‘These last men have worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the scorching heat of the day.’13 But he answered and said to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for a denarius?14 Take what is yours and go, but I wish to give to this last man the same as to you.15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with what is my own? Or is your eye [j]envious because I am [k]generous?’16 So the last shall be first, and the first last.”
17 As Jesus was about to go up to Jerusalem, He took the twelve disciples aside by themselves, and on the way He said to them,18 “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem; and the Son of Man will be [l]delivered to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn Him to death,19 and will hand Him over to the Gentiles to mock and scourge and crucify Him, and on the third day He will be raised up.”
20 Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to [m]Jesus with her sons,bowing down and making a request of Him.21 And He said to her, “What do you wish?” She *said to Him, “Command that in Your kingdom these two sons of mine may sit one on Your right and one on Your left.”22 But Jesus answered,“You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?” They *said to Him, “We are able.”23 He *said to them, “My cup you shall drink; but to sit on My right and on My left, this is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by My Father.”
24 And hearing this, the ten became indignant with the two brothers.25 But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them.26 It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant,27 and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave;28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His [n]life a ransom for many.”
29 As they were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed Him.30 And two blind men sitting by the road, hearing that Jesus was passing by, cried out, “Lord,have mercy on us, Son of David!”31 The crowd sternly told them to be quiet, but they cried out all the more, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”32 And Jesus stopped and called them, and said, “What do you want Me to do for you?”33 They *said to Him, “Lord, we want our eyes to be opened.”34 Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes; and immediately they regained their sight and followed Him.
19 But I hope [a]in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, so that I also may be encouraged when I learn of your condition. 20 For I have no one else of kindred spirit who will genuinely be concerned for your welfare. 21 For they allseek after their own interests, not those of Christ Jesus. 22 But you know of his proven worth, that he served with me in the furtherance of the gospel like a child serving his father. 23 Therefore I hope to send him immediately, as soon as I see how things go with me; 24 and I trust in the Lord that I myself also will be coming shortly. 25 But I thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, who is also your [b]messenger and minister to my need; 26 because he was longing [c]for you all and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick. 27 For indeed he was sick to the point of death, but God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, so that I would not have sorrow upon sorrow. 28 Therefore I have sent him all the more eagerly so that when you see him again you may rejoice and I may be less concerned about you. 29 Receive him then in the Lord with all joy, and hold men like him in high regard; 30 because he came close to death [d]for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete [e]what was deficient in your service to me.
Now it happened that while the crowd was pressing around Him and listening to the word of God, He was standing by the lake of Gennesaret;
and He saw two boats lying at the edge of the lake; but the fishermen had gotten out of them and were washing their nets.
And He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little way from the land. And He sat down and began teaching the people from the boat.
When He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, “Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.”
Simon answered and said, “Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing, but I will do as You say and let down the nets.”
When they had done this, they enclosed a great quantity of fish, and their nets began to break;
so they signaled to their partners in the other boat for them to come and help them. And they came and filled both of the boats, so that they began to sink.
But when Simon Peter saw that, he fell down at Jesus’ feet, saying, “Go away from me Lord, for I am a sinful man!”
For amazement had seized him and all his companions because of the catch of fish which they had taken;
and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not fear, from now on you will be catching men.”
When they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed Him.
While He was in one of the cities, behold, there was a man covered with leprosy; and when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and implored Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.”
And He stretched out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” And immediately the leprosy left him.
And He ordered him to tell no one, “But go and show yourself to the priest and make an offering for your cleansing, just as Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”
But the news about Him was spreading even farther, and large crowds were gathering to hear Him and to be healed of their sicknesses.
But Jesus Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray.
One day He was teaching; and there were some Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting there, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem; and the power of the Lord was present for Him to perform healing.
And some men were carrying on a bed a man who was paralyzed; and they were trying to bring him in and to set him down in front of Him.
But not finding any way to bring him in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down through the tiles with his stretcher, into the middle of the crowd, in front of Jesus.
Seeing their faith, He said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven you.”
The scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, “Who is this man who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?”
But Jesus, aware of their reasonings, answered and said to them, “Why are you reasoning in your hearts?
“Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins have been forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’?
“But, so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins,”–He said to the paralytic–“I say to you, get up, and pick up your stretcher and go home.”
Immediately he got up before them, and picked up what he had been lying on, and went home glorifying God.
They were all struck with astonishment and began glorifying God; and they were filled with fear, saying, “We have seen remarkable things today.”
After that He went out and noticed a tax collector named Levi sitting in the tax booth, and He said to him, “Follow Me.”
And he left everything behind, and got up and began to follow Him.
And Levi gave a big reception for Him in his house; and there was a great crowd of tax collectors and other people who were reclining at the table with them.
The Pharisees and their scribes began grumbling at His disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with the tax collectors and sinners?”
And Jesus answered and said to them, “It is not those who are well who need a physician, but those who are sick.
“I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”
And they said to Him, “The disciples of John often fast and offer prayers, the disciples of the Pharisees also do the same, but Yours eat and drink.”
And Jesus said to them, “You cannot make the attendants of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them, can you?
“But the days will come; and when the bridegroom is taken away from them, then they will fast in those days.”
And He was also telling them a parable: “No one tears a piece of cloth from a new garment and puts it on an old garment; otherwise he will both tear the new, and the piece from the new will not match the old.
“And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the new wine will burst the skins and it will be spilled out, and the skins will be ruined.
“But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins.
“And no one, after drinking old wine wishes for new; for he says, ‘The old is good enough."”
