Thank you for joining the Partners in Health and Wholeness Book Club. You can officially sign-up here. Through it, we hope to engage people of faith in discussions over why our health matters. Our current choice of reading is “Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire” by Jim Cymbala. We are posting updates through the PHW Facebook page, but our PHW blog page has the discussion posts in full with responses from staff. Just look for the apple on top of the book picture among the blog post pictures and you will find past Book Club entries.
Prayer. Action. Cymbala says that our preaching should be followed by action and have a trail of the power of the Lord behind it. But what does that look like? Paul is a great example. In Acts 13:7-9, Paul was filled with the Holy Spirit as he rebuked a sorcerer who was trying to interrupt his message of the Lord. I didn’t totally get this example when Cymbala mentioned it, however, Pastor Cymbala later explained that professing the truth of the Word is not enough.
Why? Well, even the demons believe and shudder, the Bible says. It is the action that is needed—by us to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit in rebuking unwanted habits. It is not enough just to jump and shout our praise or enough to talk about changing, but it is the actual change that is the point. There should be evidence of the Lord’s hand in our actions that follow the teaching of the Word of God. So let us not only seek to act on a change, but to pray for the power of the Lord to accompany that change.
I know that I’m seeking healing in many areas of my life and my loved ones. And after reading this chapter, my prayer is now, Lord show me how to allow your power to happen in my life.
Questions:
1) What are your thoughts around prayer and action?
2) What else could you add to this conversation surrounding Cymbala’s point of change being the point of the message of Jesus?
–Joy Williams, PHW Regional Consultant
Partners in Health and Wholeness is an initiative of the North Carolina Council of Churches. PHW aims to connect health as a faith issue. Please visit our website to sign your personal pledge to be healthier, and to find out about grant opportunities for places of worship in NC.
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