IS GOD A LIAR?

IS GOD A LIAR?
Your immediate answer would be, "No." Mine would be too, for the Scripture tells us plainly that God CANNOT LIE.
Titus 1:2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;
I have a problem that just won't go away and be quiet. I wish it would, but it won't. I try to "shoo" it away, but before long it returns like a panting, hungry puppy, wanting attention.
The "problem" is trying to reconcile what is being taught by many zealous Charismatic people today, compared to what God is actually doing in the world presently.
There are conflicts in many areas, which worry me to greater or lesser degrees, but one is especially bothersome right now.
That is the matter of Divine Healing. Why is there such a great gulf between what is being taught, and what is actually happening? Please don't conclude that I am doubting what God is able to do, as though it were His fault.
But the glaring FACTS still remain. GOD IS NOT DOING WHAT WE ARE BEING TOLD HE IS SUPPOSED TO DO. Herein is my problem.
Psalms 103:3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;
This scripture, along with many others, has been used to "bolster our faith" to believe for miracles of healing. Actually, it has served to depress us more than to help us.
If we have been assured that God HAS TO PERFORM HIS WORD, and we do not receive the healing miracle, our faith plummets, and dismay establishes a "beach head" in our life. "God failed me," gnaws at our hearts, and a real case of confusion sets in.
Early in our ministry, Pearl and I were called by a former member of our group, who then lived in another town some distance away. Her father had lung cancer-- very bad. She had called her present Pastor to pray for her father, that he might be healed. The Pastor had come, but had refused to pray for the man to be healed. He told our friend that her father was not going to be healed-- he was going to die.
Not wanting to take "No" for an answer, she called and asked if we would come pray. It was gas rationing time, and we really didn't have either the gas nor the money to spare for a trip to where our friend lived. But she had confidence in us. We dare not risk letting her down. We went.
When we arrived, confusion reached out a slimy hand and grabbed for me. I knew at a glance that the woman's present Pastor had known the score. God WAS NOT GOING TO HEAL HER FATHER. Could I shatter our sister's confidence in us, her former shepherds? How would I handle it?
I had an experience there that day which was to be repeated many times through the years which followed. It was the beginning of a learning process. Learning about God, and how to work with Him.
We anointed the brother with oil according to James 5:14. We laid our hands on him and began to pray-- having absolutely no faith that God was going to raise him up. We KNEW He was not going to do it.
As we prayed, affirming our love to the Lord, and honor to His Name, the Name of Jesus, the Spirit spoke, almost audibly, to me that the brother didn't need to suffer any more.
We immediately began to take the authority of the Name of Jesus over the pain in the man's body.
As near as we could know by circumstances, nothing, absolutely nothing happened.
We sat and visited a few minutes before returning home. As far as we were able to discern, the trip and the prayer had been in vain. A week later, the man died.
It was then that we learned what had happened the day we prayed. The brother was under the influence of strong pain killers when we prayed, so he was at ease.
BUT THE PAIN DID NOT COME BACK AFTER THE MEDICINE WORE OFF. IT NEVER DID RETURN!
God had spoken to our hearts what His Will was for the brother. We had acted accordingly, and the WORK OF GOD'S CHOOSING HAD BEEN ACCOMPLISHED.
On the morning he died, his wife had taken him his breakfast. After he had eaten, she returned to the kitchen and was doing up the dishes-- listening to him sing a hymn from his childhood. The song stopped abruptly, and she went to see why. He was gone. The Lord had kissed his breath away-- painlessly.
As I have said, that was the beginning of a learning process in our lives. Learning how to work with God.
We began to listen for the Voice of the Spirit as we prayed for people. Was He going to heal or not? Was He doing some other thing this time?
If, and when, we got a message from God, we knew we could act accordingly. When we would declare what the Spirit was saying, we were not disappointed.
God did not always give a clear Word to us. Those times, we sought Him for His Mercy, and He often extended mercy to us. We learned that we could not force the Hand of God. We are the slaves, He is the Master.
THE PROBLEM WAS STILL NAGGING FOR AN ANSWER-- WHY IS GOD NOT DOING WHAT HIS WORD SAYS HE WOULD DO?
Obviously, the "problem" is "in our court"-- not in the Lord's. It has to be our understanding that is faulty. God is perfect and right. His Word is perfect and right.
His Word must have a different meaning than is conveyed by the ink on the paper. It tells us: I Corinthians 2:14 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.
One day I was reading, and found a verse that "stood out" to me. It was Hebrews 2:8 Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing [that is] not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him.
What it was "saying" to me was, "It is already done, but not yet." For a while it seemed like double talk, and I didn't know what to do with it. "It is already done, but not yet." What could it mean?
Sometime later another "illumination" came my way. This time it was from I Corinthians 12:9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
Along with it I was given I Corinthians 12:30 Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?
The Spirit seemed to be trying to tell me we have been given the gifts of healing until "that which is perfect is come".
There can be no doubt that Jesus paid the price for perfect and complete health (healing) for His people. There likewise can be no doubt that it will become a reality in some future day.
"It is already done, but not yet."
It was the beginning of several "illuminations" which were to follow concerning God's dealings with His People today, based upon the same principle of God having made provision for certain things which have not come to realization yet.
Some day we may share some more of them with you, but we are still thinking of Divine Healing right now.
Pearl and I have seen some remarkable miracles of healing take place as we listened for the voice of the Spirit, and have spoken accordingly.
A few times we have been allowed to enter into what might be called a "Creative Command", in which we could command certain things to happen-- speaking the Mind of the Lord. On these occasions, we could watch as the Spirit carried out the commands. We could only do this with His Permission.
Other times, when we could not discern the voice of the Spirit, we have done what any other person would do-- pray.
Affirming our confidence in the integrity of God, we plead for His Mercy to be extended. Often we are surprised at what He does in response to our simple pleadings for mercy.
God does not lie, but we are not wise to take the ink on the paper as our criterion. The Word was given by the Spirit. It takes the Spirit to interpret that written Word.
We will do well to consider the element of TIME in our endeavours to interpret the Word of God.
Complete health and healing was paid for on the Cross, but the "fullnes of time" has not yet arrived for that portion of our redemption. " It is already done, but not yet."