I had an interesting question posed to me by a friend yesterday and it has me a bit perplexed. I don't want the FH response here... I am looking for a common sense reply to this question.

There are many places in the Bible where it talks about prayers being answered. Many people attribute cancer cures of other recoveries to prayer. So...why is that no matter how much an amputee might pray, their leg will never be restored? We can attribute physical recovery with other things... if prayer plays any part in this, why has an amputated limb never been restored?

This came up regarding my neighbor who just lost a leg to diabetes.

Any thoughts?

I've read this... but it seems to be inconsistent with some things in the Bible... so, I am at a loss.

What if God only chooses to work miracles that COULD be chalked up to coincidence (however unlikely such coincidences are) and does NOT choose to perform miracles that would leave absolutely NO doubt as to His existence? Why would God do this? To call us to faith. The book of Hebrews makes clear that "without faith, it is impossible to please [God]." If God started regenerating limbs on amputees, it's clear that our conception and understanding of "faith" would be significantly altered.

Not meaning to be callus. Sometimes God says 'NO'.

I received nothing I wanted ........
I received everything I needed!

MEDC - one of the great mysteries.

I have heard of such restorations - also people being raised from the dead.

We don't understand all things.

See some of the writings about an English Evangelist, long dead, Smith Wigglesworth.

I know sometimes God says no... but why answer prayer on some illnesses and not one that can be seen?

And as far as God saying "no" I get that...but there are parts of the Bible that basically say... ask and you will receive.

Actually, the idea that God says no is not scriptural.

that's my point BK...

medc specifically requested a non-scriptural response. Or did I interpret this incorrectly?

medc, my understanding of scripture and prayer is this:

when praying for something pray like you have already received it

also, God can do anything. BUT you must actually BELIEVE that he can do it. even one ounce of not believing, one ounce of doubt, i believe messes with prayers. and, we being human, i honestly don't know, if i lost a limb, if i were praying for it to be restored, would i not have some inkling of doubt somewhere in my mind that this was actually going to happen? i believe you must believe that god can actually do it.

I also believe that some things are a complete mystery and only to be revealed when we are in his presence. then again, once we are in his presence i even wonder if we will have these questions anymore? i wonder if being there in his presence will be so awe inspiring, like the song " i can only imagine" "will i dance for you jesus or in awe of you be still?"

and your question, why heal some diseases and not others, etc? well, i believe god works in mysterious ways. i think he works within his will. if god calls you home it is because he has a purpose for you there and your work here is done. sometimes i believe that disease and sickness brings people closer to god. and of course, he wants that none of us should parish. i believe that everything is for a reason. and done by god for a reason that we cannot always see. not being able to see the big picture. but a year or two later you can look back and say "oh, ok, now i see what was being done" I know there always seems to be pain before there is glory, but in my life, the pain has always been for a greater purpose.

lastly, i do believe some things happen because there is evil in the world and god does allow the evil to be until he comes again. sometimes in some situations i think it is satan at work, putting doubts into our minds and into our prayers.

i don't know if i answered anything, but this is my 2cents.

mlhb

sorry medc, i just re-read your question. altho i think my answer is common sense just because i think god is common sense, i am not sure if what i wrote is what you were looking for.....

mlhb

thanks for the replies...but no, no answer yet...
why cancer and not a limb?

And I don't mind a scripture response... just not from FH. Take Matthew 21:21-22 and Christ's own words and I am perplexed by this question. It is clear that a believer will have prayers answered.... and I don't buy that not one person has ever had faith after becomming an amputee... or that they never asked for their limb to be restored. Think about it for a minute... not one person given their limb back.
Do I believe the Lord can cure hunger in this world.... obviously. I have prayed hard for the children starving everyday...that they are nourished... and yet thousands, tens of thousands die every single day from starvation.
Why? Scripture says prayer would allow for this to stop. Why?

Even a friend that is an associate pastor has been unable to answer this. There seems to be an issue with how this all relates to the promises in scripture.

It is my understanding and belief that 'miracles' or 'signs and wonders' have been done away w/ w/ the completion of the Bible.

While we can and ought to pray for healings today, b/c God does in fact still heal today. We can not expect miracles such as was performed by the prophets and the apostles....such as: the raising of the dead, the restoration of a withered hand, or an amputated leg restored.

Miracles have always accompanied new revelations from God. Since the Bible has been completed, there is no longer any need for miracles.

~ Marsh

but isn't curing an inoperable cancer a miracle???

and God healing someone would be a miracle...wouldn't it?

when natural law cannot explain away something, and prayer is involved, is that not a miracle??? So, why not a limb??? Why not ending hunger?

We may have a different definition for miracles. I know God heals people from cancers. Any time someone is healed from anything, God is the one who has done it. But, I don't call those healings "miracles".

mir·a·cle (mr-kl)
n.
1. An event that appears inexplicable by the laws of nature and so is held to be supernatural in origin or an act of God:

My sister had an incurable type of cancer. She read about an alternative herbal product, and God used it to heal her from her cancer. I don't call that a miracle. I call it a healing. I also have a family friend who had done nothing different other than pray and his tumor vanished. I still call that a healing, not a miracle.

I consider someone w/ a withered hand that is restored a healthy hand, or the dead being raised up, or the blind made to see (apart from medical advancements) miracles. And I don't see those things happening today.

~ Marsh

Ah yes. Marsh and I have done the rounds on this before.

To imply that God "did away" with miracles at the end of the church age is incorrect IMO.

MEDC - did you research Smith Wigglesworth?

medc, i just believe there are things that will be answered when we are before him.

and, we don't live in a perfect world. heaven, and the world that will be here after christ returns will be perfect. no sickness, no hunger, no amputations.

when we die, if we are a believer (we have accepted lord as savior), we get a perfect body. at that time that amputation would be restored.

but i know what you are saying. why not now? we must just believe and trust by faith. i don't need to see god restore a limb in order to believe he exists. (like if he restored a limb, look at how many people would come to him, seeing that miracle). i think he wants us to come to him by faith, not by having to see him perform miracles.

god is capable of anything. and this question may be one that only god can answer medc. we only have a mere non perfect human minds you know! ;-)

mlhb

Marsh, I do not see a distiction between a cancer and a limb.

BK, I will do so.