I've been reading the Gospel of Matthew and am amazed at how often Jesus says, "Yes." He heals with a word, instantly, immediately. He "drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick." When we deal with issues, struggles, sins, sickness, temptations I don't understand why Jesus doesn't "say a word" and the problem is gone. There are prayers my wife and I have prayed for over a decade and only once can I remember something happening that seemed a direct answer and that was about 3 weeks after the fact. And, over time, the problem got worse. Then my mind gets theologically fuzzy. Do I not have enough faith? Am I not praying the prayer of faith? Some of this is on the forefront because a dear sister just passed away suddenly. Many prayed. We prayed. She went on to be with our Lord.

Here are some random thoughts to the question of which I'm not sure that I'm asking:
1. The immediate healings were at particular periods of big-time redemption. IOW: When did most healings occur in the bible? Moses, Elijah, Jesus and the Apostles. Other than that most of the history of God's people lacks the miracles. Why would I argue against miracles? I'm not. I'm simply trying to makes sense of what the bible says about them and go from there.

It does seem that miracles and such are usually a fulfilment of prophecy and not for all time. Even the demons in Mt. 8 know that there is an appointed time that God's kingdom will fully come and they will be finally cast out in one fell swoop. Which to me implies that some demons between Jesus first and second comings will be around. Acts 2 speaks of wonders and signs and Peter's own explanation is that "this is that," iow: this that you see happening is a direct fulfillment of that which God spoke about way back when. That may still mean it's beginning point, but the bible does seem to indicate that those things were for a designated time period. You don't see the later books of the N.T. dealing so much with tongues and miracles.

2. What about the Prayer of Faith? My issue is that the whole point of faith is it's object. Once I begin thinking God didn't answer my prayer, take away that issue, solve such and such, because my faith wasn't strong enough, then I miss the point of faith. My faith is in Jesus. The point of faith is it's object, Jesus. "Do you believe that I AM ABLE TO DO THIS," He asks the blind men. My prayer for our friend has been that Jesus would raise her up in this life or the next, both of which I and many others strongly believe he can do. The key is the object. Jesus has the right and privelage to do what He deems best. That is why the Leper says, "If you are willing..." Jesus willed that our dear sister will be raised up in the next life and not in this one. He healed her from all her infirmities and carried her diseases.

3. God doesn't always answer immeadiately. Jesus asked his Father to take the cross away but he didn't. Jesus questioned why He was being forsaken and God didn't immeadiately answer. He was silent. His answer would come later in the resurrection. The Father raised him from the dead through the Spirit. One day the object of our faith will return at the appointed time (it is in stone, the demons say) and with one fell swoop He will conquer his enemies and my sin will be one of them. He will calm the storm of my heart, excorcise the demon of pride, raise my lowly body and clothe it with immortality.

4. Sometimes God likes us better with our sin. What??? A friend of mine encouraged another friend of mine with these words after he shared a longtime struggle with him. He responded, "Maybe God likes you better with your struggle." John Newton once wrote a glorious hymn that rips my misconceptions of God to pieces. It's worth cutting and pasting:

I asked the Lord that I might grow
In faith and love and every grace
Might more of His salvation know
And seek more earnestly His face

Twas He who taught me thus to pray
And He I trust has answered prayer
But it has been in such a way
As almost drove me to despair

I hoped that in some favored hour
At once He'd answer my request
And by His love's constraining power
Subdue my sins and give me rest

Instead of this He made me feel
The hidden evils of my heart
And let the angry powers of Hell
Assault my soul in every part

Yea more with His own hand He seemed
Intent to aggravate my woe
Crossed all the fair designs I schemed,
Cast out my feelings, laid me low

Lord why is this, I trembling cried
Wilt Thou pursue thy worm to death?
"Tis in this way" The Lord replied
"I answer prayer for grace and faith"

"These inward trials I employ
From self and pride to set thee free
And break thy schemes of earthly joy
That thou mayest seek thy all in me,
That thou mayest seek thy all in me."

I hope this does sound a bit "academic." What? I thought we didn't want to come off that way? Well, Jesus says we are to love God with our mind and Paul says "zeal without knowledge is dead" and "be transformed by the renewing of your minds..." My thinking needs help, that's what I'm saying. I need to understand more of my Savior and His words. And, this isn't theoretical. We have been in the hospital on several occasions, once with a son fighting for his life. The academic became life reality. Jesus took what He had stored up in our minds and hearts and breathed life into it. I can't say that before or since then we've had so much hope and faith because somehow, through him, not in our strength - He gave Himself to us. I'm sure if I would have looked at "my faith" if would have been lacking. But, by His grace He fixed our eyes on Him, the author and perfecter of our faith.