By Brenda Groves
The Post Newspaper Contributing Writer
When we first received cable television many years ago I was so excited.
Back then, I watched a lot of television. The day it was installed my husband introduced me to the new remote and away I went, flying through the channels like a kid in a candy store, or a wife with the control (By the way, I thought it was very nice of him to relinquish the power to me. He didn’t seem to mind at all)!!!
Now in those days TV Guide magazine was my broadcast Bible of sorts, and I had been looking forward to watching Lifetime, CMT, Biography, Food Network, Discovery and the History Channel to name a few. But even though we had dozens of new stations, I was dismayed to find out that even though we had selected the “Choice Package,” we were still missing many channels that were to my choosing.
Now, I did wonder how we were in no short supply of sports stations. So for many months, I pined over what I could be watching if only our cable company provided them. In these somber moments I would share this sorrow with my hubby, to which he’d respond with a sympathetic frown.
Then it happened!
A severe thunderstorm knocked out our power and when it finally came back on, I grabbed the remote for a quick fix.
That’s when I discovered that Discovery and Lifetime and The Food Network and the other channels that had been denied us all those months. IT’S A MIRACLE!!!!!!!!!!!
Now, I surmised that somehow the storm had triggered, ummm “microwave molecules” or some cosmic event took place and well, now we were getting ALL these great channels!!
When my hubby arrived home, I couldn’t wait to tell him the good news.
He listened intently, and then with a sheepish grin he admitted that we had them the whole time. You see, he simply programmed the remote to conveniently skip over the “unimportant” ones.
Awwwh! It cuts to the heart!! For once, I was speechless.
Very gently, he pried my fingers away from the remote and started the reprogramming process again, only this time with all the channels.
Well folks, I want to make a point here. At some point Satan has gained control of the remote in many areas of the church and he has managed to deceive us into thinking that Jesus is not healing people today. That miracles seldom happen and then only to a select few whom God chooses.
He is also deceiving many into believing that there are several pathways leading to God, that Jesus is just “a” way and not “THE” way. (John 14:6) Those born again believers in Christ Jesus have no authority and we and those around us have to suffer through depression, poverty, illness.
Well, I am saying this in love, but that doctrine is false.
We are very well equipped for every good work with “the same resurrection power that raised Jesus Christ from the dead living on the inside of us.” Eph. Chapter 2
Jesus said, “The thief (satan) does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” John 10:10
How does he steal? He twists, or even veils the word of God from us. We are responsible for what we see and hear. And for generations, the church (body of Christ) has been like I was with the cable stations: trusting in someone else’s control of the programming of what was available. Instead of searching out the truth for myself.
When I became a disciple of the Lord Jesus, I began earnestly to study His word. I also started bringing my Bible everywhere. Not religiously for show, but to listen to sermons with an open heart, yet at the same time with an opened Bible on my lap to discern, for myself, opinion or church doctrine from the truth/heart of the word of God.
Brothers and sisters, we need to “reprogram” our minds to what God says about us. You know, the book of Ephesians explains what He has already provided by His grace so we can receive it by faith and revelation of His love for us.
“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Romans 12:2.
You know, many people initially come to church hoping for a miracle. They need help! Yes, they need to be saved from their sins, but we come so broken we can’t see past our current circumstances to even think about eternity. A broken marriage, a sick child, financial ruin and on and on.
But instead of hearing the full Gospel message, much of the body of Christ is teaching the opposite. They will hear a Christian say that their child died because, “God needed another angel in heaven.” Or, “if it His is will, then you will get healed”
Not true. Jesus never said that. I know we say these things to comfort people, but it is the knowledge of the truth that sets people free.
Never once do we see Jesus cause sickness to come upon someone, or refuse to heal a person. There is sickness in this world as a result of sin but Jesus said, “be of good cheer for I have overcome the world.
You know, for quite awhile, I did without the channels I desired to watch. I had hoped for them when we got cable, but was sadly disappointed when I couldn’t find them. I trusted that that was all there was.
And if the truth in God’s word is not being taught, sadly, people (and generations) of God’s children have not known, nor will future generations of children know the full benefits of their salvation that was bought and paid for with the precious blood of Christ, and has been available to us “here in this life” all this time.
But Hosea 4:6 says, “my people perish for lack of knowledge.” There is no lack in the kingdom of God, and “His kingdom come, His will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”
The whole word of God is Holy Spirit inspired, and the Bible is our guide, we shouldn’t skip through it like certain parts are not relevant today.
If we do, there is more than a remote possibility that we will be missing out on a wonderful revelation.
Jesus didn’t just pay for our sins, He paid for the fallout of living in a sinful world.
There is a song that goes ….”Look what the Lord has done. He heals our bodies, He heals our minds, He saves me, just in time. Oh, look what the Lord has done …”
“He is the same, yesterday, today and forever.” He hasn’t changed His mind or purpose for you to “prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.”
His power is always directed to us and through us who believe and have chosen by our own free will to tune in to the FULL Gospel Truth. The whole package.
Our “choice,” choose life!
(2 Cor. 11:14, Colossians 1:15, John 16:33, Deut. 30:19, Ezekiel 18:32; Romans 2:4, 10:17; 2 Cor. 5:18-20; Psalms 34:8; Mark 16:17; 1 John 3:2; Matt. 6:10; 2 Tim. 3:16; Heb. 13:8 NKJV)
Contact Brenda Groves at: bkgroves1996@yahoo.com
Contact Brenda Groves at: bkgroves1996@yahoo.com
