Psychiatry An Industry Of Death Full Length

[n david]

Originally Posted by Aquila

Can you develop this thought of yours for me? The first thing that popped into my head was if it isn't God's will that we become sick, suffer, and eventually die... why do we? It's all a part of the curse and our fallen condition. Which isn't God's perfect will, but since sin entered the picture, it is what God willed for all mankind in our fallen state.

The one thing I think we can all say is that with absolute certainty, we will all grow old, become sick, and as a result... die. Unless Jesus returns first of course. Consider this, even the people healed in Scripture eventually grew old, got sick again, and perished.

Can you develop this more? I might not be understanding your take on it.

I'll try to explain more. First, a minor correction to the first paragraph above. I certainly don't believe we're immortal. We will eventually die. The Bible is clear that man's time on earth is finite. Life is a vapor, three score and ten years, etc.

I also don't believe a person can abuse their body with junk and drugs and alcohol and expect there to be no consequences. Gluttony is a sin which could kill you. Abuse of drugs, even medications, can do more harm than good. Alcoholism harms the body.

I do not read in the Bible where anyone who Jesus or the Apostles healed became sick again. Once a person was healed of their disease/infirmity they were healed completely.

"""And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease."""

Sickness = chronic, persisting disease; incurable.
Disease = condition which weakens or disables a person

"""Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases. And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.

And they departed, and went through the towns, preaching the gospel, and healing every where."""

"""And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you."""

Nowhere in scripture will you find Jesus refusing to heal someone who is sick. Anyone who came to Jesus for healing was healed. Even a centurion's servant, who was miles away at home, was healed. There isn't any scripture where a person asked for healing and Jesus said no.

Because of this, I struggle with why there aren't more healings today.

When I was 10 years old, my mother's Dr told her she needed a biopsy for a mass in her breast. We were preparing to go to General Conference in Anaheim, California, so my mother asked to schedule it after the conference. While at GC, she and my father would go before the services to pray and at one of these prayer meetings, a minister came up and prayed for her to be healed. IIRC, they did not know the minister. My mother said she felt the healing then. When she arrived at the office for the biopsy, she asked the Dr to complete another exam or scan. She waited a while for the Dr to come back, and when he did, he brought another Dr and had both images -- the first one from a couple weeks previous and a new image from that day. The Dr. showed her the mass in the first image and then showed the second image which did not have a mass. He told her he couldn't explain where it went or what happened. He said he couldn't do a biopsy on something which wasn't there. Thirty-one years later, my mother never had another mass.

My father had a stroke while preaching in GA. He was kept in a medically induced coma for a week. Dr's weren't sure he would make it. We prayed and his vitals stabilized and they were able to bring him out of the coma. It was a miracle that he had no side effects from the stroke. That was fifteen years ago.

I know God heals. I know it. I've prayed over the phone for my mother while she was in the ER with chest pains, and the pains left immediately.

I can't explain why healing doesn't happen every time. I have faith. I believe whenever I pray, it will be done. Period. I don't care if it's a paper cut. Granted, I've never prayed over a paper cut, but just saying if I prayed for a paper cut, I'd believe it would be healed then.

One of the worst experiences I've personally had was as a worship leader several years ago. A sweet couple came to church and were baptized. She was diagnosed with cancer and was receiving chemo treatments. We prayed. Months later she was pronounced to be cancer free. They continued to be faithful and she would testify any time she could about how God healed her.

Then she wasn't there for a service. Two services. A month went by and she hadn't been to church. I couldn't believe when I heard her husband tell us that the cancer was back, and worse than before.

Two months later we had a home going service for her. The Sunday following the funeral, I could barely keep composed while trying lead worship. In prayer before the service I was in tears asking why. Why torture the family like this? Why was she healed only to have it come back worse than before?

Rev. Tony Suarez, of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference experienced the same thing. His wife was diagnosed with cancer but was claimed to be cancer free. They were on TBN Salsa giving her testimony. They posted on FB about God's miracle. IIRC, within a month the cancer was back and she died.

So, I'm conflicted. I have my belief which says God heals, and that people should be able to be healed as it happened in the Bible. Yet, reality mocks my belief when there are people who pray for healing, believe God for healing, and yet die anyway.

Fortunately I'm a stubborn man. I can understand why a person would lose faith over this. I can also understand secessionists who don't believe healing happens today. Were it not for my personal experiences seeing family and friends healed, I might lose faith as well.

[Bill E Goat]

Originally Posted by n david

I'll try to explain more. First, a minor correction to the first paragraph above. I certainly don't believe we're immortal. We will eventually die. The Bible is clear that man's time on earth is finite. Life is a vapor, three score and ten years, etc.

I also don't believe a person can abuse their body with junk and drugs and alcohol and expect there to be no consequences. Gluttony is a sin which could kill you. Abuse of drugs, even medications, can do more harm than good. Alcoholism harms the body.

I do not read in the Bible where anyone who Jesus or the Apostles healed became sick again. Once a person was healed of their disease/infirmity they were healed completely.

"""And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease."""

Sickness = chronic, persisting disease; incurable.
Disease = condition which weakens or disables a person

"""Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases. And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.

And they departed, and went through the towns, preaching the gospel, and healing every where."""

"""And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you."""

Nowhere in scripture will you find Jesus refusing to heal someone who is sick. Anyone who came to Jesus for healing was healed. Even a centurion's servant, who was miles away at home, was healed. There isn't any scripture where a person asked for healing and Jesus said no.

Because of this, I struggle with why there aren't more healings today.

When I was 10 years old, my mother's Dr told her she needed a biopsy for a mass in her breast. We were preparing to go to General Conference in Anaheim, California, so my mother asked to schedule it after the conference. While at GC, she and my father would go before the services to pray and at one of these prayer meetings, a minister came up and prayed for her to be healed. IIRC, they did not know the minister. My mother said she felt the healing then. When she arrived at the office for the biopsy, she asked the Dr to complete another exam or scan. She waited a while for the Dr to come back, and when he did, he brought another Dr and had both images -- the first one from a couple weeks previous and a new image from that day. The Dr. showed her the mass in the first image and then showed the second image which did not have a mass. He told her he couldn't explain where it went or what happened. He said he couldn't do a biopsy on something which wasn't there. Thirty-one years later, my mother never had another mass.

My father had a stroke while preaching in GA. He was kept in a medically induced coma for a week. Dr's weren't sure he would make it. We prayed and his vitals stabilized and they were able to bring him out of the coma. It was a miracle that he had no side effects from the stroke. That was fifteen years ago.

I know God heals. I know it. I've prayed over the phone for my mother while she was in the ER with chest pains, and the pains left immediately.

I can't explain why healing doesn't happen every time. I have faith. I believe whenever I pray, it will be done. Period. I don't care if it's a paper cut. Granted, I've never prayed over a paper cut, but just saying if I prayed for a paper cut, I'd believe it would be healed then.

One of the worst experiences I've personally had was as a worship leader several years ago. A sweet couple came to church and were baptized. She was diagnosed with cancer and was receiving chemo treatments. We prayed. Months later she was pronounced to be cancer free. They continued to be faithful and she would testify any time she could about how God healed her.

Then she wasn't there for a service. Two services. A month went by and she hadn't been to church. I couldn't believe when I heard her husband tell us that the cancer was back, and worse than before.

Two months later we had a home going service for her. The Sunday following the funeral, I could barely keep composed while trying lead worship. In prayer before the service I was in tears asking why. Why torture the family like this? Why was she healed only to have it come back worse than before?

Rev. Tony Suarez, of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference experienced the same thing. His wife was diagnosed with cancer but was claimed to be cancer free. They were on TBN Salsa giving her testimony. They posted on FB about God's miracle. IIRC, within a month the cancer was back and she died.

So, I'm conflicted. I have my belief which says God heals, and that people should be able to be healed as it happened in the Bible. Yet, reality mocks my belief when there are people who pray for healing, believe God for healing, and yet die anyway.

Fortunately I'm a stubborn man. I can understand why a person would lose faith over this. I can also understand secessionists who don't believe healing happens today. Were it not for my personal experiences seeing family and friends healed, I might lose faith as well.

My Dad died last year from a massive heart attack. He had AFIB, but was in good shape for a 68 year old man ( he had abs). July 13 2016 he went to his heart doc appt. and was told he was doing great. 24 hours later he was dead. Are your parents still alive? You can not honestly expect them to live forever? That means that one day , no matter how many healing in the past, there will be no more healings for them. Its just gonna happen, they will be gone. I worked in the funeral business for over 20 years so I have seen my share of death, From new born to one that was 103, and hundreds in between. There is no answer to your question. Do I wonder sometimes why my father was taken at 68 and I know dozens of men that are older and in much worse shape that are still kickin? Sure, but I don't dwell on it, we will not escape death. One day we will not be healed, not in the way we look at healed. So my brother make haste and go buy some life insurance.

[Amanah]

Originally Posted by n david

I'll try to explain more. First, a minor correction to the first paragraph above. I certainly don't believe we're immortal. We will eventually die. The Bible is clear that man's time on earth is finite. Life is a vapor, three score and ten years, etc.

I also don't believe a person can abuse their body with junk and drugs and alcohol and expect there to be no consequences. Gluttony is a sin which could kill you. Abuse of drugs, even medications, can do more harm than good. Alcoholism harms the body.

I do not read in the Bible where anyone who Jesus or the Apostles healed became sick again. Once a person was healed of their disease/infirmity they were healed completely.

"""And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease."""

Sickness = chronic, persisting disease; incurable.
Disease = condition which weakens or disables a person

"""Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases. And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.

And they departed, and went through the towns, preaching the gospel, and healing every where."""

"""And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you."""

Nowhere in scripture will you find Jesus refusing to heal someone who is sick. Anyone who came to Jesus for healing was healed. Even a centurion's servant, who was miles away at home, was healed. There isn't any scripture where a person asked for healing and Jesus said no.

. . .

So, I'm conflicted. I have my belief which says God heals, and that people should be able to be healed as it happened in the Bible. Yet, reality mocks my belief when there are people who pray for healing, believe God for healing, and yet die anyway.

Fortunately I'm a stubborn man. I can understand why a person would lose faith over this. I can also understand secessionists who don't believe healing happens today. Were it not for my personal experiences seeing family and friends healed, I might lose faith as well.

• I believe healing is according to a person's faith.
• Faith comes by hearing the Word of God.
• Jesus is the Word made flesh.
• He was the ultimate faith builder.
• We are likely not as good at building faith in people so they can receive healing as Jesus was.

[Aquila]

I think there are many reasons why people aren't healed. For example:

- Unconfessed sin.
- Lack of faith on the part of the sick.
- Lack of faith on the part of the healer.
- The law of reaping and sowing (unhealthy lifestyle).
- Failure to understand how to use the power of God.
- Selfish desire.
- Misplaced faith.
- Demonic affliction.
- God's plan doesn't include healing.

I'm sure the above list is by no means complete.

[n david]

Originally Posted by Aquila

I think there are many reasons why people aren't healed. For example:

- Unconfessed sin.
- Lack of faith on the part of the sick.
- Lack of faith on the part of the healer.
- The law of reaping and sowing (unhealthy lifestyle).
- Failure to understand how to use the power of God.
- Selfish desire.
- Misplaced faith.
- Demonic affliction.
- God's plan doesn't include healing.

I'm sure the above list is by no means complete.

• Unconfessed sin - I agree

• Lack of faith on part of the sick - Hate when preachers blame the sick for not being healed. Mark 9 story of the father of the kid with the "dumb spirit:" Jesus says "all things are possible to him that believeth." The father says to Jesus, "Lord, I believe, help thou mine unbelief."

• Lack of faith on part of healer - Jesus is the healer, so I'm confused. I believe you mean lack of faith on part of the person praying for the healing. Why pray for healing if you don't have faith that it will happen? I guess some people may be like that. I couldn't imagine praying for God to heal someone, but inside be full of doubt and unbelief. If I'm going to take time to pray for healing, I'm going to believe it will happen.

• Sowing/Reaping (Unhealthy Lifestyle) - I can understand how one would become sick because of this, but I still believe God is able to heal even the dumb one's like me, who spent their teenage years eating a bunch of garbage and now are in the middle of their life hoping it won't come back to burn them.

• Failure to understand how it works - Use the manual. You have HG power. You are the ambassador of Jesus Christ -- His representative here on earth. What powers He had, you have, through the HG.

• Selfish desire - I'd need more on this. On part of the sick person or the person praying for healing?

• Misplaced faith - Same as above. Need more information.

• Demonic affliction - That's easy! Cast the demon out!

Aquila ... this last one just chaps my hinder parts.

• "God's plan doesn't include healing"

Do you have any scripture in which it shows that Jesus didn't heal everyone who came to Him for healing? I get that this is a fallback line, an easy excuse to offer to try and keep faith when healing doesn't happen. But it's not right.

In words cons can understand: "It's as wrong as two boys kissing."
In words libs can understand: "It's as unbiblical as holy magic hair."

It's just wrong.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by n david

• Unconfessed sin - I agree

Amen.

• Lack of faith on part of the sick - Hate when preachers blame the sick for not being healed. Mark 9 story of the father of the kid with the "dumb spirit:" Jesus says "all things are possible to him that believeth." The father says to Jesus, "Lord, I believe, help thou mine unbelief."

Yes, preachers often fall back on this quite often. But few address it. Sometimes those lacking faith lack faith for various reasons. It can be not feeling worthy enough due to past sin, a failure to meet legalistic expectations, past emotional abuse, and the general false idea that God can heal, but why would God ever heal "me"? These can hinder one's faith.

• Lack of faith on part of healer - Jesus is the healer, so I'm confused. I believe you mean lack of faith on part of the person praying for the healing. Why pray for healing if you don't have faith that it will happen? I guess some people may be like that. I couldn't imagine praying for God to heal someone, but inside be full of doubt and unbelief. If I'm going to take time to pray for healing, I'm going to believe it will happen.

Jesus never said, "Go pray that I heal the sick, and that I cast out devils." He told the disciples to do it. On Pentecost, the 120 received POWER after the Holy Ghost fell upon them. This power comes from the indwelling Spirit, but it is the anointed minister who unleashes the power through their prayers. There are ministers that are unskilled and lack experience with the gifts of healing. For some, the request for healing prayer can be intimidating. I've seen a young minister struggle in this area. He prayed with the sick, exuding confidence and faith, but part of him had no idea exactly what to expect.

• Sowing/Reaping (Unhealthy Lifestyle) - I can understand how one would become sick because of this, but I still believe God is able to heal even the dumb one's like me, who spent their teenage years eating a bunch of garbage and now are in the middle of their life hoping it won't come back to burn them.

You're right, God can heal the irresponsible. But, will he heal one who He knows will continue in unhealthy living and habits? Would that not almost encourage such behaviors in others?

• Failure to understand how it works - Use the manual. You have HG power. You are the ambassador of Jesus Christ -- His representative here on earth. What powers He had, you have, through the HG.

Not every one understands how to be filled with the power or how it is released to work miracles. The combination of prayer and fasting in relation to the power of God is not entirely understood, and the ability of the spoken word to release that power is also misunderstood.

• Selfish desire - I'd need more on this. On part of the sick person or the person praying for healing?

Either one. Many evangelists have advertised the success of their healing crusade with posters on billboards, crutches, wheelchairs, and walkers nailed to the walls. A cult of personality can develop. And some evangelists notice that healing ceased from flowing as it did early in their ministry, so they have even paid people to pretend to be blind, lame, deaf, or dumb.

Some people imagine such attention might propel them into ministry or gain awe in the church. Some want their health back, because they love the world, and fear letting go. They feel they deserve a healing, they aren't done living yet.

Then there are understandable reasons that are still selfish, rooted in self. The fear of increased limitation, the desire to marry and have a family, the fear of pain, and the fear of death itself.

• Misplaced faith - Same as above. Need more information.

The cult of personality can often have people believing in the healer more than the one who abides in the healer. Some have flown thousands of miles, just to attend a famous preacher's healing crusades.

• Demonic affliction - That's easy! Cast the demon out!

Amen. Some sickness is a sign of demonic oppression. The unclean spirit must be cast out before healing. This gets into the topic of deliverance.

Aquila ... this last one just chaps my hinder parts.

• "God's plan doesn't include healing"

Do you have any scripture in which it shows that Jesus didn't heal everyone who came to Him for healing? I get that this is a fallback line, an easy excuse to offer to try and keep faith when healing doesn't happen. But it's not right.

In words cons can understand: "It's as wrong as two boys kissing."
In words libs can understand: "It's as unbiblical as holy magic hair."

It's just wrong.

Many think that God heals because He's a big softy who doesn't want us to be in pain, suffer, grow old, or die. Some will say that it's because He loves us.

Yes, God loves us. But are these the reasons that God heals? Or might it to be bigger than us and our fear of suffering?

I believe it's about glory. Will God get the glory? Or will a church pride themselves for who they are if God heals, and in essence, touch the glory? Will the preacher pop his collar if the lame were to dance away after he prayed? Might an org or denomination touch the glory to promote themselves if the sick were to be healed in their churches?

God's plan is to bring Himself glory. Any one, any church, any ministry, any denomination who would touch the glory will stand in the way of the flow of healing.

Christ was in the flesh, walking the earth. He opposed the religious and political institutions of earth. He alone received glory and every healing testified to who He was and the truth of his message. Ever notice that healing seem to be more common on the mission field? The miracles validate who Christ is and his message, compared to the indigenous gods and religion.

Will God heal to merely cater to the saint's fear of pain and death? Or will a healing truly serve the greater purpose of revealing who He is, validate the Gospel, and bring Him, and Him alone all the glory?

Those are my thoughts. Good bless you and yours.

[Amanah]

I think healing is often in confirmation of the gospel and according to a person's faith.

Acts 14:7..And there they preached the gospel.
8..And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother's womb, who never had walked:
9..The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed,
10..Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked.

[Amanah]

Jesus prayed with fasting and returned in the power of the Spirit to preach the gospel and deliver the captives. I think He is our model. I would not listen to anyone who told me I could not be healed and delivered.

Luke 4King James Version (KJV)
4..And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,
2..Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered.
14..And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about.
15..And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all.
16..And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.
17..And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,
18..The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
19..To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
20..And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.
21..And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.
31..And came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and taught them on the sabbath days.
32..And they were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was with power.
33..And in the synagogue there was a man, which had a spirit of an unclean devil, and cried out with a loud voice,
34..Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art; the Holy One of God.
35..And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. And when the devil had thrown him in the midst, he came out of him, and hurt him not.
36..And they were all amazed, and spake among themselves, saying, What a word is this! for with authority and power he commandeth the unclean spirits, and they come out.
37..And the fame of him went out into every place of the country round about.
38..And he arose out of the synagogue, and entered into Simon's house. And Simon's wife's mother was taken with a great fever; and they besought him for her.
39..And he stood over her, and rebuked the fever; and it left her: and immediately she arose and ministered unto them.
40..Now when the sun was setting, all they that had any sick with divers diseases brought them unto him; and he laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them.
41..And devils also came out of many, crying out, and saying, Thou art Christ the Son of God. And he rebuking them suffered them not to speak: for they knew that he was Christ.
42..And when it was day, he departed and went into a desert place: and the people sought him, and came unto him, and stayed him, that he should not depart from them.
43..And he said unto them, I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also: for therefore am I sent.
44..And he preached in the synagogues of Galilee.

[votivesoul]

Mental illness is diagnosed through behavior pathology.

It is believed that a person who is mentally healthy would not under normal circumstances exhibit the behaviors of someone who is mentally ill.

These behaviors, in no particular order, include things like:

- Anger/Rage
- Lying/Dishonesty
- Irrational fears/phobias/paranoia
- Sexual deviancy
- Violent uncontrollable outbursts
- Inappropriate words and actions
- Delusions
- Narcissism
- Desire to harm
- Panic/anxiety attacks
- Displays of ego/pride
- Prolonged sadness/depression
- Loss of hope
- Loss of joy
- Unwillingness or inability to cope with life
- Degradation of the body
- Addiction
- Bitter/caustic personality
- And etc.

Pray tell, how many of the above behaviors or symptoms of mental illness are called works of the flesh in the Bible, which otherwise are called sins, each of them or together barring someone from inheriting eternal life?

Seems to me that every one of them can be linked to at least one sin, if not more. Therefore, every one of these behaviors and symptoms can be addressed by the very thing God put into place and action to save a person and protect them from the law of sin in their members, namely the Gospel.

You see, I have perhaps a unique experience that many of my brethren in the faith do not have: I was possessed by evil spirits for nearly ten years, and oppressed by them from the time I was a little kid. My mom was also possessed, as were both of my brothers. My dad and stepdad, however, were not.

There are things about "mental illness" that only someone who has actually been mentally ill can know. There are things about demonic affliction, oppression or possession that only people who were so afflicted can know.

I've been committed to a psychiatric ward. I've had my shoelaces taken away. I've slept in beds with restraints on them. I've had nurses come in at 4:00am and take my blood to make sure the dosages of whatever various meds I was being given were correct. I remember them coming in and how surreal it was, and how impossible it was to do anything but lay there because I was too drugged up to stop them. I even know what it's like to be cavity searched to make sure I wasn't trying to smuggle contraband into the hospital. I know what 200 mg of Prozac a day can do to a fifteen year old. I know what it's like to sleep 20 hours a day every day of the week because the meds I was on turned me into a near-lifeless zombie. I know what it's like going from a strong, physically fit athlete to a wasting away shell of my former self. I know what it's like to have to take B vitamin supplements just to keep myself alive. To being so physically weak I couldn't handle stairs so my mom brought my bed down into the laundry room. I know what it's like to forget how to speak because of selective mutism. To be removed from school and become a "home-bound" student, who only just barely passed his classes because a teacher took pity on me and volunteered to come to my house once a week for nearly three months to help me with my homework. I even know what it's like to lose fifty pounds of mostly muscle in the space of four months and nearly die because I was starving myself, having no desire to live.

And I tell you all the truth, here and now. Everything I just wrote and everything related to what I just wrote, but have not shared, that would seemingly be about mental illness instead is the direct result of the law of sin in my members. Because while I know all about those things, I also know how blasphemous toward God I was. How manipulative and deceitful I was. How arrogant and proud I was. How full of lust and perversion I was. How monstrous and inhuman and indifferent I was.

When my mom attempted suicide, I was content to let her die, and even though I could hear plainly what was happening, instead of going to her rescue or calling for my stepdad, I smiled and turned the volume of the TV up. When, after my step-dad found her and she was rushed to the hospital I called my brothers with glee to tell them what was happening, and when I arrived at the emergency room, my stepdad a complete wreck, by brothers pacing like caged animals, I sat down to read from The Antichrist by Friedrich Nietzsche. She survived, to my dismay.

A few years later, I talked my oldest brother into killing himself because I hated him and wished he'd just die and be done with it. Some time after that phone call, he began stabbing himself in the stomach with a steak knife. Only his girlfriend's intervention kept him from doing more harm to himself. He survived, to my dismay.

My point is, the reason I was "mentally ill" is because I was spiritually damned. Had I been raised in a Godly home and had I received the Holy Spirit as a child, none of the above would have ever taken place. There would have been no demonic oppression then possession when I was fifteen. I would have not engaged in such heinous sinfulness. Jesus would have already saved me before anything of the sort would have ever taken place.

So what's the conclusion? It is the saving of the soul that either prevents or eliminates the "mental illnesses" that otherwise exist in and amongst the lost in sin, damned masses of unbelievers. To say otherwise is to say that the Gospel is the power of God to kind of save, and that God is able to save to a partial extent all who come to Him through Jesus Christ His Son.

I serve God with a pure conscience and testify to all that I am complete in Him. If a person cannot find that purity of conscience and completeness in Christ alone, where and how in the world do they hope to find it someplace else?

Salvation is not merely just the saving of some intangible idea of a soul for some distant hard to comprehend, mysterious afterlife. It's for the here and now, too, with the hope of eternal life to come. If your eye offends you, pluck it out, and enter into life partially blinded. If your right hand offends you, cut it off and enter into life maimed.

But remember: just because you're partially blind and are maimed, doesn't mean you're not whole. Sin and the law of sin working through the carnal mind and the flesh thereof is the only thing preventing a child of God from the wholeness, soundness, and blamelessness Jesus can and does provide.

No one is separated from God on account of their mental illness. They are separated from God on account of their sin. But His arm is not shortened, dear brothers and sisters, nor His ear too heavy, that He cannot reach or hear, because He is not slack concerning His promises. Don't just talk about trusting Him. Actually do it. Take your concerns, your doubts, your worries, your fears, your weaknesses, your complaints, and all that is wrong with you, all these things that constitute a mental illness, and go boldly into the throne room of grace and find help in the time of need.

I know I did, and when I did, He saved me, healed me, freed me, and adopted me as His child. Now He walks with me and talks with me and tells me I'm His own. That life is worth the living just because He lives. That I can have a little talk with God to tell Him all about my problems because He knows and He cares. That He is my shelter in the time of storm. He's my haven of rest and I don't have to needlessly bear any sorrow, shame, or pain, because I have a friend in Jesus.

And guess what? He can be your friend, too. Just lean into the everlasting arms of the Father who loves you unconditionally with an everlasting love and let the false narrative the devil has fed you regarding how you think things are and have to be, get nailed to the cross, and walk away a new man or woman of God Most High.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by Amanah

I think healing is often in confirmation of the gospel and according to a person's faith.

Acts 14:7..And there they preached the gospel.
8..And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother's womb, who never had walked:
9..The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed,
10..Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked.

So, if healings become rare or cease... might something be wrong with the message?