Podcast Episode: 603 Why Are Some People Not Healed When They Have Received Prayer For Healing? 

Posted on September 23, 2026 by Jim Holbeck

Pip: If you've ever prayed hard for someone's healing and watched it not work, you probably didn't need a theology degree to feel the weight of that question — you just needed to survive it.

Mara: Today we're working through a post from Jim Holbeck that takes that question seriously: why are some people not healed after faithful prayer? It's honest, it's personal, and it draws on a wide range of scripture to hold the tension without collapsing it.

Pip: Let's start with what the Bible actually says — and what it doesn't.

Why Prayer for Healing Doesn't Always Look Like We Expect

Mara: The post opens with some of the most cited promises in healing ministry — Mark 11:24, James 5:15, 1 John 5:14 — and the honest admission that even people who acted on those promises with real faith sometimes received little healing, while others with apparently little faith were greatly blessed.

Pip: That asymmetry is the whole problem, isn't it. The promises are clear on the page. The outcomes are not.

Mara: And the post doesn't paper over it. It describes years of healing ministry, seminars on barriers to healing, and then this: "Sometimes it seemed that many who had recognised and, by God's grace, removed the barriers to healing, remained not fully healed."

Pip: Which is a remarkably honest thing to write when you've built a ministry around those promises.

Mara: It gets more personal. The post describes praying for Carole, his wife, through thyroid cancer, then breast cancer, then uterine cancer — joined by many others in prayer. The cancer spread. Doctors gave her three days. On the third day, leaving the hospital, he prayed over her and said, "Carole, if you want to go home to Jesus I will be ok. I love you." She passed two hours after he got home.

Pip: That's not a theological abstraction. That's the question with a name on it.

Mara: And the answer he arrived at was grounded in 2 Corinthians 5:8 — "Absent from the body. Present with the Lord." He writes that death and passing into the presence of Jesus is the ultimate healing.

Pip: Which reframes the whole framework — healing isn't absent, it's just not always the kind we were expecting in the room.

Mara: The post then works through six biblical reasons why healing may not occur as expected. God's sovereign purpose — Paul's thorn in the flesh, God answering "my grace is sufficient." Delayed healing tied to the resurrection. Sin as sometimes a factor, though never a blanket explanation. Unbelief, carefully handled so it isn't used to blame the unhealed. Suffering as a path to maturity. And God's answer simply being no rather than not yet.

Pip: The list is careful not to let any single reason become a weapon.

Mara: Exactly. The post is explicit: "Scripture does not teach that lack of healing automatically means a person has insufficient faith." It maps God's possible answers as yes — immediate, yes — gradual, wait, no with grace to endure, and ultimate healing through resurrection.

Mara: The closing turn is Job — recognising God's omnipotence while admitting his own understanding was insufficient. The post lands on Proverbs 3:5: "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding."

Pip: Which is less a theological resolution than a posture. You don't get the answer. You get a way to stand when the answer doesn't come.

Mara: And for those who've prayed and felt let down, the post reframes the problem: our expectations may be at fault, not God's faithfulness. His expectations are based on his character, his will, his purposes — and those remain beyond full human comprehension.

Pip: Heavy territory. But handled with the kind of care that only comes from having actually lived inside the question.

Mara: The through-line here is holding two things at once — pray expectantly, submit humbly — without letting either one cancel the other.

Pip: Which is harder than it sounds, and probably why the question keeps coming back.

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Podcast Episode: 604 CAN HUMANS EXERCISE SELF-CONTROL?

Posted on September 23, 2026 by Jim Holbeck

Pip: If you've ever watched parliament on television and thought "someone really needs to get a grip," you are, it turns out, asking a theological question.

Mara: Jim Holbeck takes that question seriously in this episode's territory — whether self-control is something humans can actually achieve, and what the New Testament says about how it works. Let's start with the case he builds.

Can Humans Exercise Self-Control?

Mara: The post opens with the world as evidence — government spending spiraling, political discourse coarsening, domestic violence shattering families — and asks whether self-control is even available to people living inside those pressures.

Pip: The answer hinges on a passage from Galatians. The setup is Paul's list of what the Spirit produces in a believer: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."

Mara: So self-control, in this framing, is not a willpower achievement. It is a fruit — something that grows from being indwelt by the Holy Spirit, not something mustered independently.

Pip: That reframe matters practically. The post argues that Satan, named by Jesus in John's gospel as "the ruler of this world," can feed thoughts into human minds. The battleground is internal, and the weapon is what Paul describes in 2 Corinthians 10 as taking "every thought captive to obey Christ."

Mara: What that looks like moment to moment is a choice architecture. Each moment presents a decision, and a bad choice opens a path toward further bad choices. The post puts it plainly: "the right choice leaves us with many options."

Pip: The post also drills into the Greek. Two words carry the concept in the New Testament: enkrateia, meaning inner mastery over desires and impulses, and sophron, meaning sound thinking that leads to disciplined behavior.

Mara: The distinction is worth holding. Enkrateia is about governing what you want. Sophron is about thinking clearly enough that behavior follows. Both appear across Paul's letters and the Pastoral Epistles — Titus alone uses the sophron family four times, covering older men, younger women, younger men, and church overseers.

Pip: So the vision isn't individual heroics. It's a community where, as the post imagines it, "the behaviour and speech of all people were characterised by love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control."

Mara: The transformation runs through Romans 12 — presenting oneself to God and being renewed in mind — and culminates in 2 Corinthians 3, where ongoing change by the Spirit moves a person "from one degree of glory to another."

Pip: The thread running through all of this is that self-control isn't a personal achievement — it's a posture of surrender.

Mara: And that's a question worth sitting with well past this episode.

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604 CAN HUMANS EXERCISE SELF-CONTROL?

Posted on September 23, 2026 by Jim Holbeck

It seems in many ways that the world is out of control. When one looks at the nations of the world, one is tempted to think that they have lost control of their expenditure so that living standards are deteriorating. Watching parliament on television gives the impression that some politicians have lost control of their senses and of the comments they make against other politicians in the parliament.

Or we could look at situations where domestic violence and sexual violence have led to shattered lives. We might ask “Why can’t people control their emotions and their temper?”

WE need to get control of our thoughts for the ruler over this world, Satan, the devil, or the accuser, is called as such by Jesus in John’s gospel, Jhn 12:31 Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out. Jhn 14:30 I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me.  (Jhn 16:11 concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. He can feed thoughts into our minds, which affect our relationships and our behaviour.

Humans who were once under the control of Satan in the darkness of ignorance, sin, and evil can be delivered from that darkness. Colossians 1:13-14: He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Being in His kingdom by the grace of God we begin to have the mind of Christ and become aware of spiritual realities and of truth. 1Co 2:15-16, The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. 16 “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

Most people in the world long to see people act with self-control. But how can it be attained?

The Bible indicates one sure way humans can exercise self-control. It is by being filled with the Holy Spirit of God where self-control is part of the fruit of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Paul wrote in Galatians 5:22-23, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” That comes by receiving Christ into one’s life as Saviour and Lord and asking Him to fill us with His Holy Spirit. It means allowing the Lord to take control of our lives as we surrender them to Him so that our behaviour and whatever comes out of our mouths is controlled by the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit and thus is pleasing to Him.

In practice, that means taking every thought captive to Christ, 2 Corinthians 10:3-5: For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. 5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.” Life is made up of moments and in those moments we make choices for which we are responsible. A bad choice may lead to a series of bad choices and eventual disaster, whereas the right choice leaves us with many options. It is in those moments that we can surrender our thoughts to the Lord and allow Him to influence our decisions which will be consistent with the other parts of the fruit of the Spirit.

Imagine a community where the behaviour and speech of all people were characterised by love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Self-control, enabling people to take their thoughts captive to obey Christ, who can break the power of adulterous, murderous and destructive thoughts and replace them with love, patience, and forgiveness for hurts they perceive they have received.

Humans can have victory over sin and evil as St. Paul wrote in 1Co 15:56-57, The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. That comes from presenting all we are to God to allow Him to change us by renewing our minds. Rom 12:1 -2, “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” The renewed mind does not act independently of God but takes thoughts captive to Christ who can modify them to become those that are indeed “good and acceptable and perfect.”

This transformation by the renewing of our minds enables us to conform more and more to the image of God so that we begin to see things more from His perspective rather than our own. That will affect how we think about situations and about people, and His Spirit imparts to us the self-control we need to think, speak and behave wisely. As St Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 3:17-18, Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. Ongoing transformation by the Holy Spirit enables us to more fully have the mind of Christ, 1 Corinthians 2:16, and exercise the selfcontrol that the Lord wants to show in all the difficulties and uncertainties of today’s world.

In the study below we will note that 2 words are used in the Greek New Testament to describe self control. They are: enkrateia, ἐγκράτεια meaning “I have mastery over myself.” The other is sophron, σώφρων meaning I think clearly and wisely, and therefore live in a disciplined way.”

For those who are interested in knowing more about self-control [and hopefully living it], I have included below the words used for “self-control” in the New Testament.

SELF CONTROL IN THE BIBLE

There are two main Greek words associated with “self-control” in the New Testament, with a few related words.

They are ἐγκράτεια [enkrateia] and σώφρων [sophron] and their cognates.

THE DISTINCTION

• ἐγκράτεια (enkrateia) Self-control and mastery. Controlling desires and impulses.

• σώφρων (sōphrōn) Self-controlled, being sensible. Sound thinking leading to disciplined behaviour

A HELPFUL SUMMARY IS:

• ἐγκράτεια = “I have mastery over myself.”

• σώφρων = “I think clearly and wisely, and therefore live in a disciplined way.”

THE FIRST WORD. [The G stands for the Greek number in Strong’s Concordance.]

1]. ἐγκράτεια — enkrateia (Strong’s No. G1466)

• Meaning: self-control, mastery over one’s desires, disciplined restraint.

• It comes from ἐν (en) = “in” + κράτος (kratos) = “strength/power.” The basic idea is having strength over oneself.

It occurs in:

  • Acts 24:25 And as he reasoned about righteousness and self-control and the coming judgment, Felix was alarmed and said, “Go away for the present. When I get an opportunity, I will summon you.”
  • Galatians 5:23 —ἐγκράτεια (enkrateia). Paul presents self-control not merely as human willpower, but as something produced by the Holy Spirit in the believer. Self-control is part of the fruit of the Spirit. • gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
  • 2 Peter 1:6 — 1:5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness,

• Key thought: inner mastery—being able to govern one’s desires and impulses.

G1467. ἐγκρατεύομαι [egkrateuomai] to exercise self-restraint (in diet and charity): — can(-not) contain, be temperate.

  • 1 Corinthians 7:9. But if they cannot exercise self-control, they should marry.
  • 1 Corinthians 9:25. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things.
  • Titus 1:7-8. For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, 8 but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled σώφρων [sōphrōn], upright, holy, and disciplined. ἐγκρατεύομαι [egkrateuomai]

THE SECOND WORD.

The other word with its cognates are:

2]. σωφρων (sōphrōn) — Strong’s No. G4998. Key thought: a sound, disciplined mind that governs behaviour wisely.

Comes from the base of σώζω (sózó) — To save, to rescue, to heal and that of σώφρήνphrén) — Mind, understanding. Meaning: safe (sound) in mind, i.e. self-controlled, discreet, sober, temperate. Self-controlled and sensible. Sound thinking leading to disciplined behaviour.

Related forms include:

G4998. σωφρονέω (sōphroneō) — to be self-controlled, think sensibly.

Titus 1:8. Rather, he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined.

  • Titus 2:2 —Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness.
  • Titus 2:5 — younger women are to be self-controlled. to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.
  • Titus 2:6 —Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled.
  • 1 Timothy 3:2 —Therefore, an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,
  • 2 Timothy 1:7 — God gives a spirit of “power and love and self-control” ( often translated “sound mind” or “self-discipline”). For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

• Key thought: a sound, disciplined mind that governs behaviour wisely.

6 occurrences of G4993 σωφρονέω.

  • Mark 5:15 And they came to Jesus and saw the demon-possessed man, the one who had had the legion, sitting there, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid.
  • Luke 8:35 Then people went out to see what had happened, and they came to Jesus and found the man from whom the demons had gone, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid.
  • Romans 12:3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.
  • 2 Corinthians 5:13 For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you.
  • Titus 2:6 Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled.
  • 1 Peter 4:7) The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers.

1 occurrence of G4994 σωφρονίζω

  • Titus 2:4 and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.

1 occurrence of G4996 σωφρόνως

  • Titus 2:12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age,

3 occurrences of G4997 σωφροσύνη

  • Acts 26:25 (But Paul said, “I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I m speaking true and rational words.
  • 1 Timothy 2:9 (likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire,
  • 1 Timothy 2:15 Yet she will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith and love and holiness, with self-control,

Blog No.604 posted on Wednesday 23 September 2026

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603 Why Are Some People Not Healed When They Have Received Prayer For Healing? 

Posted on September 16, 2026 by Jim Holbeck

1]. Many people involved in Healing Ministries take the Word of God seriously and base their ministries on the promises in His word. Such promises as these. 

(Mark 11:24  We can ask, believing that God has provided the answer, to be released in His time. .So I tell you, whatever you ask [present tense] for in prayer, believe [present tense] that you have received it, [aorist past tense]  and it will be yours [future tense.].

(1Jn 5:14-15. We pray. He hears. We have. If we ask [present tense] anything according to his will, he hears [present tense] us. And if we know that he hears [present tense] us in whatever we ask, we know that we have obtained [present tense] the requests made [perfect tense] of him.

James 5:15  The prayer of faith [offered in faith or based on faith] will save or heal the sick.] And the prayer offered in faith [literally the prayer of faith] will make  [future] the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up [future tense] . If they have sinned, they will be forgiven [future tense.]

1 John 5:14 -15, We ask. He hears. We have. And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.

These are very powerful promises because they originate from the mind of God Himself. I myself quoted them frequently during my ministry of healing in an attempt to raise expectancy in the minds of those to whom I was ministering. There was no doubt that many who received and acted on those promises received a large degree of healing. But not all. Surprisingly some who seemed to have great faith received little healing while those with apparently little faith were greatly blessed. 

My answer was to do seminars on Barriers to Healing looking at what the Bible taught as constituting barriers. See link here https://jimholbeck.blog/2022/09/29/432-learning-to-recognise-and-remove-barriers-to-healing-core-1-topic-4/

However sometimes it seemed that many who had recognised and, by God’s grace, removed the barriers to healing, remained not fully healed.

That was the case with my beloved wife Carole who recovered marvellously from thyroid cancer, then breast cancer and later became ill with uterine cancer. Many people joined me in praying for Carole that the Lord would heal her of this disease. However the cancer spread and the doctors eventually told me she had only 3 days to live. On the third day she was totally unresponsive, so as I left to go home I prayed over her and added “Carole, if you want to go home to Jesus I will be ok.  I love you!” Then as I walked out of the room I looked back to see if she had begun to sit up, healed, which I believed could happen.  But there was no change.  Just two hours after I arrived home I got the news that Carole had passed away or as I understood,  had gone home to the Lord. Into my mind immediately came the words from 2 Corinthians 5:8, “Absent from the body. Present with the Lord.” Carole had been healed, with the ultimate healing, at home with the Lord, in bliss, free from pain and disease. 

I understood afresh that death and passing into the presence of Jesus IS THE ULTIMATE HEALING. To know that brought some relief to the immediate grief I felt. 

2].  DOES THE BIBLE GIVE ANY CLUES AS TO WHY SOME PEOPLE ARE NOT HEALED?
The Bible does indicate several reasons why some people are not healed when prayer is offered. Scripture does not teach that lack of healing automatically means a person has insufficient faith.Here are some Biblical reasons to consider:-
i]. God’s sovereign purpose. Sometimes God chooses not to remove a problem, even when a faithful person prays. Paul prayed three times for his “thorn in the flesh” to be removed, but God answered: “My grace is sufficient for you” (2 Corinthians 12:7–9).So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. 8  Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 9  But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.  God in His goodness gave St Paul an answer to his ongoing troubles. It was to enable him to call upon His grace to cope thus building up his reliance on the Lord. 
Timothy also appears to have had continuing stomach problems (1 Timothy 5:23). (No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments.) Good practical advice which is always needed in life. 

It’s a reminder to us that none of us perfectly ascertains the fullness of God’s purposes,  for as Isaiah wrote, in Isaiah 55:8,  For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
None of us will ever be able to comprehend the fulness of God’s purposes in His world. His ways of accomplishing His purposes may be totally at odds with the way we expected Him to work. His wisdom is perfect. Ours can never be on the same level as His. Humility demands our conviction that He knows best even when it seems that He is uncaring. He isn’t, for He is working His plans out through human lives.

ii]. Healing may be delayed. Scripture teaches that our ultimate healing is connected with the resurrection.Romans 8:23 speaks of believers “waiting eagerly for our adoption… the redemption of our bodies.” Rom 8:23  And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.

Revelation 21:3-4 points to the final removal of sickness, suffering and death. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4  He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.
Even the most spectacular healings are only temporary because we will all die. Our ultimate healing takes place through our death or in the resurrection at Christ’s return.

iii]. Sin can sometimes be involved. James 5:15–16 connects prayer for healing with confession of sin. Jas 5:15  And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16  Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. Confessing our sins to others instead of hiding them brings healing. “Confess” is homologeo, meaning “saying the same” about our sins as God has already declared. It is bringing them to the light to be forgiven rather than trying to hide or deny them.

Jesus sometimes connected illness with sin, but not every illness is caused by personal sin. Jesus explicitly rejected that assumption in John 9:1–3.  As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. 2  And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3  Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. The healing of his blindness in the purposes of God demonstrated God’s healing power.

 iv. Unbelief or lack of faith can sometimes affect healing. Jesus occasionally identified unbelief as a reason healing did not occur (Matthew 13:57-58; And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honour except in his hometown and in his own household.”58  And he did not do many mighty works there, because of their unbelief.
Mark 6:5–6). And he could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them. 6  And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went about among the villages teaching. Jesus was perfect in His ministry and preaching but many hardened their hearts against his message and were not able to receive the blessings he was offering.
However, this factor of unbelief should never be used to blame every sick person who remains unhealed. Even Paul, Timothy and others who clearly had faith experienced continuing difficulties.

v]. God may have a different purpose. God can use suffering to produce perseverance, character and spiritual maturity Romans 3:3-5, What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God? 4  By no means! Let God be true though every one were a liar, as it is written, “That you may be justified in your words, and prevail when you are judged.” 5  But if our unrighteousness serves to show the righteousness of God, what shall we say? That God is unrighteous to inflict wrath on us? (I speak in a human way.)
1Tim 5:23  (No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments.)
James 1:2–4). Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3  for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4  And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
God may allow difficulties in our lives to bring us to a greater endurance so that we realise our needs are all met in Him. Paul’s continuing weakness became an opportunity for him to experience Christ’s strength. 2 Corinthians 12:10). For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. Our strength becomes stronger as we discover He is our strength as we turn to Him for help.

vi]. God’s answer may be “no” rather than “not yet.” Jesus Himself asked His Father to spare Him from the trials He was about to suffer as He was about to bear the sins of the world. Mark 14:36  And he said . Yet not what I will, but what you will.” However, His purpose in coming into the world was precisely to die for the sins of the human race. His commitment to do the Father’s will was seen in  His prayer, “Yet not what I will, but what You will.” He was applying the same truth He had taught in the prayer He taught His disciples to pray, “Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

“Perhaps the prayer we should pray in every situation is “Yet not what I will, but what You will.” In that way we fit in more with God’s purposes rather than wanting our own will to be done. Prayer is therefore not a means of making God do what we request. It is rather trusting Him to do His will in every situation for our benefit but particularly to His glory.  

The Bible holds two truths together:
1]. God heals — therefore we should pray expectantly. Jas 5:14  Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. Jas 5:15  And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven.

2]. God remains sovereign — therefore we pray submissively. “Jas 4:14  yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes 15  Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.”Perhaps the prayer we should pray in every situation is “Yet not what I will, but what You will.”
So a Christian can genuinely pray in faith for healing and yet remain unhealed without concluding that God has rejected them or that they have failed spiritually.

A useful way to teach this: Prayer for healing → Faith + Expectation → God answers. 
His answer may be:
YES — immediate healing. Seen in the ministry of Jesus. Matthew 8:1-3, . . . . When Jesus came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him. 2 A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”3 Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy.

YES — gradual healing . Even Jesus healed in stages as we read in Matthew 8:23-25,And he took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village, and when he had spit on his eyes and laid his hands on him, he asked him, “Do you see anything?” 24  And he looked up and said, “I see people, but they look like trees, walking.”25 Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again; and he opened his eyes, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly.
The healing was not immediate but came in two stages. 

WAIT — healing later.  The 10 lepers who came to be healed by Jesus were asked by Him to go and show themselves to the high priest. Luke 17:11-19, “  When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed.
They had moved away chronologically and geographically from the source of healing before their healing came. That often happens in healing ministries today.

NO — grace to endure / a greater purpose. That was the answer given to Jesus as He prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane.” But Jesus submitted to His Father’s will and purpose,  “Yet not what I will, but what You will.”

ULTIMATE HEALING — resurrection. The central Christian promise is not that every believer will be healed immediately in this life, but that every believer will ultimately be made whole in Christ at the resurrection.
 

SUMMING UP.

One must admit that the Lord is still healing hordes of people today in answer to the prayers of His faithful people. But we also have to admit that many have died after receiving what seemed to be believing prayer. 

Is there an answer to the question, “Why Are Some People Not Healed When They Have Received Prayer For Healing?”

Perhaps we could learn from a righteous man, Job, as he tried to make sense of all the difficulties that had come upon him. We read of his confession and repentance in Job 42:1  Then Job answered the LORD and said: 2  “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted. 3 ‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’ Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. 4  ‘Hear, and I will speak; I will question you, and you make it known to me.  I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you; 6  therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes.”

Job had come to realise that God was omnipotent; nothing was beyond His power. His purposes would always come to pass. But his understanding of God’s purposes had been insufficient to understand the intricacies of God’s purposes. Considering the greatness of God, Job could do no other but repent of his attitudes towards God and commit himself to the Lord again. 

As the writer of Proverbs 3:5-8 put it, Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. 6  In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. 7  Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil. 8  It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones.

  • Trust Him completely. He does work all things together for good for those who love Him. Romans 8:28. 
  • Don’t rely on our own limited understanding. His thoughts and ways are beyond our understanding.  
  • Acknowledge Him in all our ways and He will direct every aspect of our lives. 
  • Don’t believe we are wise but rather fear the Lord and turn away from evil. Proverbs 9:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.
  • Even when we don’t understand why bad things happen to good people. 

DEALING WITH DISAPPOINTMENT

Perhaps we have been disappointed when people for whom we prayed did not recover. We may begin to think subconsciously that the Lord failed to live up to our expectations. He has the power to heal. He has made promises in His word about answering prayer, so why did He let us down? 

But we may need to recognise that our expectations may be at fault. His expectations are based on His character,  His will and His ultimate purposes, and no human has the ability to fully understand His will and His ultimate purposes. These are far beyond human understanding. He always fulfils HIS own expectations which are based on His eternal plan and purpose for the world and for all its peoples. 

OUR RESPONSE TO THE PROBLEM OF UNANSWERED PRAYER

  • When it’s as though the Lord has failed to fulfil our expectations, our response perhaps should be, “Lord, You are supreme in this universe and I need to accept that things You have allowed to happen in this world are part of Your eternal plan and purpose. I submit to Your greater wisdom even though I do not understand!” 
  • YET! I still feel it is appropriate to share with those we are helping, the promise of Jesus in Mark 11:24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” This is His promise with no qualifications. It may encourage them to reach out to the Lord with some expectancy and bring them the healing the Lord has for them. Whatever that may be. Only He knows what that is. 
  • When we resign ourselves to understand that the Lord loves the person for whom we are praying, far more than we ever could, and will deal with them appropriately in His perfect love, we can experience some peace in the midst of our disappointment and sadness. 

Blog No.603 posted on Wednesday 16 September 2026

Posted in BIBLE PASSAGE OUTLINES, Bible verses. Comments, Coping With Personal Grief, Evangelism, Faithfulness, Forgiveness, Glorification, Healing, Holy Spirit, Justification, Mental Health, Prayer, Questions and Answers, Real Life Stories, Salvation, Sanctification, Temptations, TOPICS | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

602 Canon Jim Holbeck’s tribute to Canon Jim Glennon at his Funeral Service in 2005.

Posted on August 30, 2026 by Jim Holbeck

We can so easily forget things, especially as we grow older. But we need to recall from time to time those who had a positive influence in our lives. Even more so, those whose ministry influenced the lives of hordes of people throughout the world. One such person was Canon Jim Glennon whose Ministry had such an impact on thousands of people in many parts of the world.

When searching for a file on my computer I came across this file which formed the substance of the tribute I paid to him as his successor at his funeral service in St Andrew’s Cathedral, Sydney on Wednesday 22 June 2005. I share it now as a reminder to many people how the Lord used his ministry to impact the lives of thousands of folk and how the Healing Ministry in St Andrew’s Cathedral Sydney has continued unbroken for over 66 years.

THE TRIBUTE

It’s a privilege to give a tribute to Canon Jim Glennon at this service. Because he was essentially a private person I want to share with you some things that you may have known about him. 

1.         HIS OWN QUICK THUMBNAIL SKETCH OF HIS LIFE

  • Jim Glennon was born in 1920 in Sydney, Australia and educated at Randwick High School, Moore Theological College and the University of Sydney. 
He was ordained in the Anglican Church in Sydney in 1951 and he served two curacies in Haberfield and Darlinghurst in Sydney. 
He went to England where he was on the staff of the Parish Church of Birmingham, St Martin’s-in-the-Bull Ring, where Canon Bryan Green was the Rector and where he received his main pastoral training.
Following this, he was for a time at St Augustine’s College, Canterbury before returning to Sydney in 1955. 
At this time he qualified as a Social Worker at Sydney University, specialising in casework and the psycho-social development of children.
Following this, and for seven years, he taught Pastoral Method at Moore Theological College and supervised senior theological students in clinical pastoral education in Sydney hospitals.
In 1960, Jim Glennon became involved in the Healing Ministry of the Church, initially through reading Agnes Sanford’s book, “The Healing Light”. He said as a result of reading that book, “I came to see that our Lord healed today in the same way as He healed in the days of His earthly ministry because He is the same now as then”.
In 1988 he completed 33 years on the staff of St Andrew’s Cathedral and was responsible for the weekly Wednesday night Healing service for 28 years. He quoted Canon Michael Harper as once saying of the Healing service – “This must be one of the most famous services in the world”.
2.      THE MINISTRY HE EXERCISED
He was a man of the Word. Canon Glennon had a deep evangelical love of the Word of God. He loved to teach the Bible and to show how God’s word had answers to our human problems. It was not unusual to hear him saying over and over again, “The Bible says..” and then begin to quote many passages from memory to prove his point.  
He was a man of prayer. In his time on the Cathedral staff he tried to make most lunch hours a time when people could come and pray with him in the Chapel.  His office was filled with people coming to seek his counsel and to have him pray for them. When I invited him to minister at the HM Centre I would often see him sitting in the garden in deep meditation and reflection before a speaking engagement. Then he would come in and speak for an hour or so with no notes whatever and his teaching would flow forth from him, punctuated with many anecdotes and illustrations from real life situations. People would ring him from all over the world, sometimes even in the wee hours of the morning to ask him to pray for them. And he did. 
He was a man of faith.  He really believed that God would answer prayer and provide for the needs of His people. When he encouraged the purchase of the property for the Healing Ministry Centre in 1985 he believed that God would provide the finances in a very short time, even when others thought he was misguided or had lost touch with reality. He really believed God would answer prayer for physical and emotional healing. 
He was a man who cared about people. I would not be surprised if it were to be discovered one day that he had been one of the most effective evangelists that this country has ever seen. No matter where I have been in the various states of Australia or in some of the states of America there have been folk who told me that they came to Christ through his ministry. He wanted people saved, he wanted them healed, he wanted them getting on with life serving the Lord. He encouraged them. Strongly! Often very strongly!
He wanted the message of Christ to go out to a needy world. He became a very experienced missioner and conducted teaching missions on the Healing Ministry throughout Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States. The tributes in the Service sheet today collated in such a short time show how his life and ministry impacted on so many different people around the world.
Testimonies are still coming in from people in many nations who were blessed through his ministry.
He wrote his books to share his insights on healing with people around the world. His book “Your Healing is Within You”, was published by Hodder & Stoughton in Great Britain and has sold 100,000 copies and is still being published today.  His second book “How Can I Find Healing?” was published by Hodder & Stoughton in 1984. 
He was tenacious. Many of us were astounded when he came to preach at an Anniversary service some years ago. A few days before he had been at death’s door in hospital. He arrived too weak to climb up into the pulpit. But as he preached sitting down he got stronger and stronger preaching as boldly as he had ever done. Later he mingled with the people and then left the Cathedral striding out as though he never been sick. It was quite remarkable. 
3.     PEOPLE THOUGHT HIGHLY OF HIM. 
He was delighted to be made a Member of the Order of Australia in the Australia Day Honours List in 1987 for “Service to the Community and to religion, particularly at St Andrew’s Cathedral”. He was humbled by that public recognition of his ministry.  He wore his AM badge proudly on every occasion. 
A former Primate of the Anglican Church in Australia, Archbishop Grindrod wrote; “I would judge that no other Anglican in his generation has made so significant a contribution to the Healing Ministry”. 
A former Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Robert Runcie, in a message to mark the retirement of Canon Glennon in June, 1988, wrote in part – “For 28 years Canon Glennon has been engaged in the Healing Ministry and there are thousands of people who will be grateful for what he has brought to them. Jim Glennon has shown that healing lies at the heart of the Christian gospel, for true healing is intimately related to wholeness. In the past years Canon Glennon’s ministry has extended far beyond Australia, and there will be many who at this time, like myself, will give thanks to God for a unique and distinctive ministry exercised with quiet compassion”.
He could win the affection of those who had come to know him for just a short time. He did it recently with the nursing staff at the Prince of Wales hospital. Canon Jim went into the hospital with very little personal effects. Consequently he had to wear the basic hospital garments. They didn’t fit well. There was a yawning gap at the back of the (back to front) night-shirt he wore. A nurse walking along behind him passed him, turned around and cheekily said to him, “Nice butt!”. How would a bachelor, a private person, a modest man take such a cheeky comment? He saw it as really an affectionate rather than an offensive remark. He thought it was funny and humorous enough to share with those who came to visit him. There was often a twinkle in his eye. He shied away from getting too close to people, because as he once said he found it hard to pray for people if they got too close to him. But he did love affection that came in very different ways, even from a cheeky little nurse who felt free enough to tease him.  

Canon Jim Glennon, misunderstood by many, feared by some, loved by thousands, but mightily used by God in His kingdom purposes in this world.  

No.602. Canon Jim Holbeck’s tribute to Canon Jim Glennon at his Funeral Service in 2005. Posted on Sunday 30 August 2026

Posted in Forgiveness, Healing, Holy Spirit, Mental Health, Prayer, Real Life Stories, Salvation, Tributes | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

601 An AI search on the life of Carole Holbeck [nee Tapsell].1943-2019. A Life Shaped by Teaching and Service

Posted on August 17, 2026 by Jim Holbeck

When the calendar approaches the 22nd August each year I feel inclined to post something about my late beloved wife Carole. Why 22 August? That was the date in 1964 when I proposed to my best friend Carole Tapsell and she replied, “Yes!” Life had a new meaning and purpose for both of us from that moment forward.  A summary of articles I have written about Carole are found on my blog site in article No.588. https://jimholbeck.blog/2026/02/06/588-summary-of-reflections-on-my-beloved-wife-and-very-best-friend-carole-ann-holbeck-nee-tapsell-07-february-1943-to-31st-october-2019/

This year instead of writing something personal about her I decided to give AI [Artificial Intelligence] an opportunity to tell her story as it related to the work she performed in the years since that date. So here below is the result of what an AI search did on her name. [With slight additions.]

An AI search on the life of Carole Holbeck [nee Tapsell].1943-2019. A Life Shaped by Teaching and Service

Carole Holbeck (née Tapsell) approached education not merely as a profession, but as a calling. Throughout her life, she believed that teaching was an opportunity to shape character, build confidence, and encourage young people to reach their God-given potential. Her career, spanning several decades and multiple states, reflected both professional excellence and deep personal commitment.

Carole’s journey into teaching began in Queensland, where she trained at Kelvin Grove Teachers College. She later completed a Diploma in Physical Education at the University of Queensland, equipping her with strong academic foundations and practical skills. These early years of preparation shaped her disciplined work ethic and her lifelong passion for physical education, health, and sport.

In the early 1960s, Carole commenced her professional career in the Ipswich–Brisbane region. During summer terms, she travelled between primary schools teaching swimming, helping hundreds of children gain confidence and safety in the water. In winter, she worked in secondary schools as a Physical Education teacher, where she also coached athletics and hockey. Her students regularly achieved outstanding results, and her teams were known for their discipline, teamwork, and sportsmanship.

Beyond technical instruction, Carole invested personally in her students. She took time to encourage those who lacked confidence, supported those facing personal challenges, and modelled integrity through her own conduct. Many former students later recalled her as both demanding and deeply caring—an educator who expected excellence but always offered support.

After her marriage to Jim Holbeck in 1966, Carole relocated to Melbourne and accepted a position as Sports Mistress at Lakeside High School at Reservoir. In an era when leadership roles for women in sport were still developing, she demonstrated quiet strength and professional authority. She supervised girls’ sporting programs, expanded participation, and promoted fitness as an essential part of holistic education. Her work during this period strengthened her reputation as a capable and forward-thinking leader.

In the 1970s, Carole entered a new phase of her career when she moved into vocational education in New South Wales through the Technical and Further Education system, initially in Child Studies. Later teaching in Health and Recreation she taught on health, fitness, and recreation, and contributed to programs designed to prepare students for practical careers in sport, leisure, and community services. She embraced this environment enthusiastically, recognising its potential to transform lives through skills-based learning.

Her ability to combine academic standards with genuine pastoral care made her highly respected among both students and colleagues. She mentored younger teachers, supported struggling learners, and encouraged professionalism at every level. Her classrooms were marked by order, warmth, and mutual respect.

During the 1990s, Carole was appointed Senior Head Teacher in Health and Recreation at Sydney Institute of TAFE, based at the Loftus Campus. This senior role placed her in charge of staff management, curriculum development, and departmental planning. Under her leadership, the unit expanded significantly in size and influence, becoming one of the most respected programs in its field.

As a leader, Carole combined firmness with compassion. She set high expectations, addressed problems directly, and supported her team through personal and professional challenges. Her management style reflected her Christian values: fairness, honesty, humility, and service. These qualities earned her lasting loyalty and admiration.

Her contribution to public education was formally recognised when she was named runner-up for the New South Wales Premier’s Award for Public Service. While grateful for the recognition, she remained characteristically modest, viewing her work simply as a privilege and responsibility.

Carole retired from full-time teaching in 2006 after many years of distinguished service. Her farewell reflected the depth of her influence, with colleagues and former students expressing heartfelt appreciation for her guidance, encouragement, and example. Retirement did not end her interest in education; she continued to support others through mentoring, prayer, and practical assistance.

Looking back, Carole’s teaching career reveals more than professional success. It reflects a life devoted to nurturing others—intellectually, physically, and spiritually. Through classrooms, sports fields, and leadership roles, she consistently sought to build people up and point them toward lives of purpose and integrity.

Her legacy lives on in the countless students she taught, the teachers she mentored, and the families she influenced. In every stage of her career, Carole demonstrated that true education is not only about knowledge and skill, but about character, compassion, and faith.

Carole passed away in October 2019 from cancer which she had fought bravely for 5 years. “Absent from the body. Present with the Lord” are the words on the plaque her husband had placed on her resting place in Port Macquarie. 

Blog No.601 posted on Monday 17 August 2026.

Posted in Forgiveness, New Beginnings, Prayer, Real Life Stories, TOPICS, Tributes | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

600 Ephesians 1:15-23. “Knowing The Power Of God In Our Lives”

Posted on August 11, 2026 by Jim Holbeck

AS I was just searching for a missing file I came across this copy of a file containing a sermon I preached in Port Macquarie in May 2023. I thought it might be helpful for someone throughout the world who discovers it on my blog site. It is my 600th article on the site. May the Lord use it to His glory!

THE NEED TO PRAY FOR ONE ANOTHER TO KNOW GOD BETTER. 1:15-17

Eph 1:15  “For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, 16  I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.”

There’s only one thing better than knowing God. That is, that we might know Him better!

WHAT TO PRAY FOR ONE ANOTHER. TO KNOW 3 THINGS. 1:18-21

Eph 1:16  I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, 18  having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the richesof his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe.

He wants them to know… Their HOPE. Their RICHES in Christ. The POWER they had in Christ. 

1]. THE HOPE TO WHICH HE HAS CALLED YOU.

In our culture, the word “hope” doesn’t have quite the same meaning as the word in the NT Greek. We use hope to describe what we would like to happen. i.e., we hope to one day get married, or to obtain a degree, or to live to a ripe old age. Or we hope it will be fine next weekend. But there’s always a certain amount of uncertainty involved with it in the way we use it.

But there was no uncertainty involved with the way it was used in the NT. Hope meant something that was assured, something that would certainly come to pass. Nothing could prevent it.

Christian hope doesn’t mean that we become X’ians and then hope that one day we’ll go to heaven. 

  • No! Our Christian hope means that as Christians we’re assured of one day entering into the presence of our Heavenly Father. 
  • There’s no doubt about it at all. This is something God has promised to us in His grace.
  • We can know that we are right with God and that when we breathe our last breath, we will be immediately in the presence of God. 

ESV.  2 Tim 1:9 [God] who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began.”

He calls us to a certain hope,  which He planned for us before the world began.  As Paul wrote in Eph 1:3-4, “Eph 1:3  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4  even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him.

2]. THE RICHES OF HIS GLORIOUS INHERITANCE IN HIS HOLY PEOPLE,

When we give our lives to the Lord, we become the heirs of God, and fellow-heirs with Christ.  

  • We become open to receive all the things that God has promised His people.
  • They are riches, or as Paul writes elsewhere, they are the “unsearchable riches in Christ”  Riches that can never be exhausted by anyone within a lifetime.

There’s been a lot of argument in the church this century as to whether there is a second blessing beyond our conversion experience.  

  • I personally believe there IS a second blessing, 
  • AND a third AND a fourth, and a thousandth blessing. 
  • In other words, our whole spiritual pilgrimage will be spent discovering more and more of those unsearchable riches in Christ. 

I cringe every time I hear anyone say they have had THE  second blessing. 

  • Why should anyone stop there?  We can never ever say that we’ve arrived spiritually at a stage where 
    • there is nothing more to learn,  nothing more to experience, 
    • nothing more to appropriate from those inexhaustible riches in Christ.

Unfortunately there have been so many within the Christian church, who have been led into deeper insights in the scripture, or who have had some new experience of God, who make the same mistake.  They identify their new insight, or their new experience of God, with God Himself.

But God is always beyond the limits of our experience. 

  • His unsearchable riches will never be appropriated by any individual or by any denomination, or by any movement within the church.  
  • We need to learn to be humble, and never to believe that we’ve “got it” or “we’ve arrived!”

3]. EPH 1:19- 21.  AND HIS INCOMPARABLY GREAT POWER FOR US WHO BELIEVE.

“That power is the same as the mighty strength 20  he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21  far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.”

There are many Christians today who are very sensitive about any mention of power.  But the Bible isn’t reticent about mentioning power. Notice what Paul says about power here. 

  • It is beyond measurement. It is megatos or megaton power, exceedingly great. 
  • It is the power God used in raising Jesus from the dead, and in seating Him at His right hand in glory. 
  • It is this sort of power which is “in us who believe.”

This is the humbling part. That you and I will only be able to experience anything of God’s power, when we become utterly weak. As Paul wrote, God’s strength is made perfect in weakness.

Paul later wrote in this same letter that “God is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us..” (3:20.) I’ve seen something of the dimension of that power in the transformation of individuals, yet I know there infinitely more power available for us to tap into.

Paul finishes his prayer with the reminder that the risen Christ is the One in absolute authority in the church and in the world. But it’s an authority that has to be personally submitted to. In other words, for Christ to be the Lord of our lives, we need to submit ourselves to His rule over us. It’s not automatic. It needs a step of faith to say to the Lord, “Lord I want you to become the Lord and Master of my life, so that You can do in me and through me what you desire. I crown you as the Lord of my life.”

But what about us in May 2023? How do we stand before God? 

In Ephesians 2 verses 1 and 3 He says that the whole human race is dead in sin and that we are deserving of God’s wrath. We are sinners  facing the judgment of God. Not good news but absolutely true!

BUT WAIT! There is good news!  We can be set free from God’s wrath and judgment. Eph 2:4-6. “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5  made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6  And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus.”

  • He made us spiritually alive with Christ. Once we were spiritually dead, but now we have become spiritually alive with Christ.
  • When God raised Jesus from the dead and He ascended into heaven, He raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus.”
    • Seated in Christ, in the place of acceptance with God
    • Seated in Christ in the place of authority over the powers of darkness
    • Seated in Christ in the place of power over the world, the flesh and the devil.

So as God looks upon us today, He sees us in 2 ways

  • He sees us Geographically as being seated in this building [between Hay & Murray streets, Port Macquarie.]
  • He sees us Spiritually. He sees some of us being seated in Christ at the right hand of God. Everyone else being “outside of Christ.” 

How can we become among those who are “in Christ?” [No longer under the judgment of God?]

It was a question I was facing on New Year’s Eve 1958. 

  • I knew I wasn’t a believer.
  • I knew I had to get right with God. But how?
  • As I wandered through the streets of Tweed Heads-Coolangatta about 11pm I knew I wanted to get right with God, and I remembered a prayer of commitment I had seen in a little booklet by the Rev John Stott. It was based on 4 letters of the alphabet. A,B,C and D.
  •         I had to Admit I was a sinner in the sight of God. [Sins of commission and of omission.]
    • I had to Believe that Jesus died on the cross for me for me to be forgiven.
  •         I had to Consider the Cost of  becoming a Christian. Cost me nothing, but God, His Son.
    • I had to Do something about it.  I had to invite Him into my life to be my Saviour and Lord. 

AND I had learned how to invite Him into my life in Rev 3:20 where Jesus said, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.”

It’s the picture of Jesus standing at the door of the hearts of the people in the  church in Laodicea, knocking and asking to come into their hearts. 

So I prayed the prayer and opened my life to Jesus. He entered my life and I entered 1959 as a brand-new creation in Christ and life really began from that moment. I had come from spiritual death to be spiritually alive. Christ was now my Saviour from sin and I had made Him Lord of my whole being. 

The Good News is that you can leave this building today knowing that you are right with God and that if you were to die this afternoon or in 70 years time, you would wake up in bliss in the presence of Jesus. 

Today we celebrate Ascension Day, the day Jesus ascended into heaven. There He received the promised Holy Spirit whom He now pours out on all who trust in Jesus as Saviour and Lord. That’s what He wants to happen in every person ever born!

Let’s allow Him to do that on us today as we pray.     

You can become a believer, someone in Christ, a child of God as you pray this prayer. A,B,C,D.

A].  Lord, I Admit I am a sinner in Your sight.

B].  I Believe Christ died for me on the cross.

C].  I have Considered the Cost of becoming a believer. It costs me nothing, but God His Son.

D]. I need to Do something about it. I now open the door of my life to You Jesus. Come into my life Lord Jesus.”

“Thank You Lord Jesus for coming into my life to be my Saviour. I now enthrone You as the Lord and Master of every part of my life. AMEN!” 

But if you have prayed the prayer you need to tell someone you trust. 

St Paul wrote in Rom 10:9, “if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

You can leave this building today knowing that when you die you will go to be  with Jesus in Paradise. 

Blog No.600 posted on Tuesday 11 August 2026

Posted in anointing, Bible verses. Comments, Creation, Evangelism, Faithfulness, Forgiveness, Glorification, Healing, Holy Spirit, Justification, Lectionary Readings Year A [All Years], New Beginnings, Prayer, Real Life Stories, Salvation, Sanctification, spiritual warfare | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

599 VICTORY OVER TRIALS AND TEMPTATIONS.

Posted on August 2, 2026 by Jim Holbeck

Sermon preached by Canon Jim Holbeck at the Healing Service at St Andrew’s Cathedral, Sydney on Wed 24May2006.  Reading: James 1:12-18.   Topic:  “Victory Over Trials And Temptations.”

•       Ever feel a bit battered. There are just so many things coming at you and you just get over one crisis and then another one appears. 

•       It’s as though things are coming at us to test us all the time.

•       Well sometimes we are living in such a way that we are bringing all sorts of difficulties on ourselves.

•       In that case we need to repent of our rebellion against God and ask for His forgiveness and help in Jesus. 

•       But at other times we are trying to do the right thing but everything seem to be going wrong or we keep facing pressure after pressure. 

•       It has a name. It’s called “Being Human.” 

1. TRIALS WILL SURELY COME OUR WAY.  1:12

James 1:12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him

•       We are all going through various trials and temptations but we can learn to cope with them. 

•       James knew that everyone including Christian believers were going to undergo trials and be tempted. 

•       He makes the promise to those who stood the test that they would receive the Crown of life (or God’s approval) which God promised to those who love Him. 

•       John wrote the same thing in Rev 2:10 to show that though believers might have to suffer various kinds of trials including persecution, it was not that God had lost control but that He was allowing those things to happen in a world that wasn’t perfect in any way. 

•       If they remained loyal to Him they would know His blessing.  Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. 

•       Faithfulness and dependence on Him leads to His blessing. 

2.  HOW TO FACE THE TRIALS THAT COME

i). Recognise the source of temptation. It is not God. He doesn’t tempt anyone towards evil. 

•       But there is another who is called the tempter, Satan who does tempt us. 

•       In Gen 1-3, we saw Adam and Eve tempted by the serpent in the Garden of Eden and giving in to the lies of the evil one. 

•       We saw Jesus as a man being tempted by Satan but winning victory over all the temptations Satan threw at him. 

•       Paul was conscious that being unwilling to forgive someone could lead to an openness to being deceived by Satan, 2 Cor 2:10  Anyone whom you forgive, I also forgive. What I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has been for your sake in the presence of Christ. 11  And we do this so that we may not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs.

•       He warned that harbouring sin could give a foothold to the devil Eph 4:26-27,  “In your anger do not sin” : Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27  and do not give the devil a foothold.. 

ii). Recognise why we respond to temptation 

James then went on to talk about what one should do when faced with trials and temptation.

•       He shows that trials will come to all of us and that we might be tempted to act in ways that were not right. but God is not the source of temptation.

•       God cannot give into temptation and tempts no-one.

James describes temptation as acting in this way.

•       We may be undergoing a trial of some kind.

•       But there may be something in the trial that becomes tempting to us.

•       James says that we are lured and enticed by our own desire. 

•       That means there is something within us that wants to respond to what we see or hear. We have a nature within us that has a bias towards evil. 

Eg., Gal 5:16-21, 16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.  

•       James then talks about desire as conceiving and give in to sin. 

•       By that he means that as we continue to focus on the things or people that tempt us we can lose our self-control and come under their control. 

•       In our desire to possess the inappropriate thing or person that is tempting us we can be possessed by the object of our desire. 

•       We’ve had a defeat. We have sinned and fallen short. We have fallen into sin. We have rebelled against God and are guilty in His sight, even though we may try to suppress our guilt. 

iii). Seeking God’s enabling to give us victory

•       If we want to be changed God can help us.  

•       It’s as we open our lives to Him that He can come in power to bring about a transformation within us. 

•       Instead of being continually biased towards evil we can know His presence in our lives wanting us to do what is righteous and good. 

•       No illustration is perfect but just imagine a bowling ball on the bowling green. The ball is biased with more weight on the one side than the other. It cannot go in a straight line unless we put more weight in the other side to make it go evenly. 

•       We’re like that with our bias towards evil in the trials of life. It is natural for us to do evil. 

•       We need a counteracting presence in our lives so that we can go along the straight and narrow and live as God wants us to live.  

•       Bu the paths of life are not always smooth and level like a bowling green.  We need a presence in our lives that can make us keep going in the straight and narrow even when the ground tilts sharply or become rough with lots of obstacles ahead.

•       The only presence in our lives that can bring that victory is the presence of Christ within us in the power of His Spirit. 

•       Paul put it like this in Gal 5:16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.

•       We can overcome that bias towards evil no matter how rocky is the path before us, nor how powerful are the forces opposed to us to take us downhill. 

•       Instead of reacting naturally to the temptations and trials of life we can be different. 

•       Instead of letting our old nature rule our lives, we can let Christ by His Spirit change us to be like Jesus. 

•       Gal 5:17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. 

•       There can be no victory without Christ in our lives. 

•       Paul contrasts in Gal 5 what he calls the works of the flesh, the characteristics of our old nature, the way we behave naturally to testing or tempting situations, with the fruit of the Spirit.  

•       When the trials and temptations come instead of responding n a godly way with God’s strength we cave in and sin. 

a). We sin in the area of morality.

•       We become guilty of sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality. Instead of living as God wanted us to live as celibate until we find our life partner we give in to our inward desires and become guilty in the sight of God. We can suppress our guilt but suppressed guilt can lead to physical and emotional damage.  

b). We sin in the area of religion. 

We become guilty of turning away from God and replacing Him with something or someone less challenging, what Paul calls here 20 idolatry, sorcery. Many people today have had mental stress and breakdown because they dabbled in the areas of the occult and were possessed by the power they were trying to harness. They live in fear of powers that are nasty and dangerous. 

c). We sin socially with wrong attitudes that may lead to wrong actions. 

•       Instead of doing what God said in loving our neighbour as ourselves we responded to those around us in negative ways as Paul writes,  we became characterised by social sins  strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy 

•       We have no peace because our minds may be full of evil thoughts or even plotting revenge against those who made us angry or whom we envied because they seemed to have more than we have. 

•       How much time do we spend thinking or speaking evil of those whom we felt hurt us. 

d). We sin in the area of drink. We become guilty of sinning in the area of being involved in drunkenness, orgies, and things like these.

God has said Eph 5:17  So do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18  Do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery; but be filled with the Spirit,

•       What stress has come into your life because you lost control and came under the influence of alcohol or drugs and became addicted to them instead of being besotted with Jesus and filled with His Spirit.

•       What has it done to your marriage, your family, your body, the physical and emotional health of those around you? 

•       We may say “I’m just a social drinker”  but how often are you filled with wine rather than filled with the Spirit of God? 

•       No wonder Paul sums it up by saying for those who are showing forth that sort of lifestyle, I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

•       It shows that such people are not born again of the Spirit of God and certainly not filled with His Spirit. 

3.  THE DECISION NEEDED TO CHANGE 

What’s the answer to beginning to be different with God’s help and becoming open to more victories and more healing in our lives.

•       Letting Jesus Christ to come into our lives and allowing Him to fill us with His Holy Spirit. 

•       What sort of life would that look like?

•       What sort of characteristics might I begin to show if I did such a thing? 

•       Paul calls it the fruit of the Spirit , the outward evidence of the presence of Christ within us by His Spirit. 

•       22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

•       How are you and I going to face the trials and the temptations that come our way? 

•       By going it alone doing our own thing in our own strength and have defeat after defeat so that we despair of life being any different.

•       Or letting Jesus Christ change us and fill us with His presence so that when people look at us as changed individuals they see for the first time,  love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control.

•       Only you can determine the decision you need to make. 

If you want to be different, to live with more victories in your life, to be more open for God to heal you and to bless you, then pray to let God change you to be the person He wants you to be.

Blog No.599 posted on Sunday 02 August 2026

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598 Preventing Sin By Memorising The Word Of God. Psalm 119:11.

Posted on July 13, 2026 by Jim Holbeck

There’s an old saying which says, ”Sin keeps us from God’s word or God’s word keeps us from Sin!” It has encouraged  a lot of young believers to try to memorise many of verses from God’s word to use when being tempted to sin. Of course, one has to remember that every verse needs to be interpreted in the light of its context to fully understand its true meaning. But remembering single verses helps us to find the context of those verses to give us a more balanced understanding of God’s word. Here is how the Psalmist recognised the power of God’s word, Psalm 119:9  How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word. 10  I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. 11  I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.

The following is a list of verses that one can turn to, to see how the Lord has promised to answer our prayers as believers and how He can guide us as we seek to live for Him.

VERSES INDICATING THAT GOD HEARS AND ANSWERS THE PRAYERS OF HIS CHILDREN

2Chronicles 7:13-14.   When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command the locust to devour the land, or send pestilence among my people, 14  if my people who are called by my name humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

Psalm 37:4  Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Psa 91:15  When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honour him.

Psa 145:18-19.  The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. 19  He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them.

Isa 65:24  Before they call I will answer; while they are yet speaking I will hear.

Jer 29:12 -13.  Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you.  13  You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.

Jer 33:3  Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.

Micah 7:7  But as for me, I will look to the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me.

Matthew 6:6  But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

Matthew 7:7–11. “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.   8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.  9  Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone 10  Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? 11  If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

Mat 18:19 -20.  Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20  For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”

Luke 11:13  If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

John 14:13–14. Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14  If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.

John 15:7.  If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

John 16:23 -24.  In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. 24  Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

Mark 11:22 -24.  And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God. 23  Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. 24  Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

Rom 8:26  Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27  And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

Eph 3:20  Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,

Philippians 4:6 -7.  do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7  And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Heb 4:16  Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

James 1:5. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.

James 5:13-16.  Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. 14  Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15  And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16  Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

1Peter 3:12  For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

1 John 3:21-22.  Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; 22  and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him.

1 Jn 5:14-15. And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. 15  And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.

VERSES ON SEEKING THE LORD’S BLESSING OR GUIDANCE

Psa 32:6  Therefore let everyone who is godly offer prayer to you at a time when you may be found; surely in the rush of great waters, they shall not reach him. 7  You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with shouts of deliverance.  8  I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.  

Psa 139:23  Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! 24  And see if there be any grievous way in me and lead me in the way everlasting!

Prov 3:5  Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. 6  In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

Psa 23:1  A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2  He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. 3  He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 4  Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 5  You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

Blog No.598 posted on Monday 13 July 2026.

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597 Humour And The Bible

Posted on July 10, 2026 by Jim Holbeck

There are many believers who think that using humour to describe people or events in the Bible should not be used. However, sometimes the use of humour allows us to remember important parts in the Bible.

For example there is an old saying which helps us remember the difference between the thinking of the Pharisees and the Sadducees in the time of Jesus. The preacher referred to this example in a recent sermon and the congregation chuckled as they learnt an important truth. Pharisees believed in the resurrection.  The Sadducees did not. As the old saying has it, “That is why they were Sadducee.” [That is why they were “Sad, You See!”]

Or some puzzles can produce a smile. When the question is asked, “Who was the shortest man in the Bible?” the answer is often given, “Nehemiah.” [Knee High Meyer.] But one response is this. “Bildad was the shortest man in the Bible.“ You see Bildad was known as Bildad the Shuhite. [ “Shoe Height.”] We are reminded of a man who was one of Job’s comforters who tried to comfort Job in his sadness.

Jesus used humour in His teaching. He used hyperbole to get His readers to imagine ridiculous pictures. For example in Luke 6:42  to show the danger of hypocrisy. “How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother’s eye. ‘”

AND Matthew 19:23-24, Jesus used the picture of a large animal being squeezed through the eye of a needle to show the impossibility of entering heaven by human effort. “And Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven. 24  Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.’”

It may be better for churchgoers to leave their churches with smiles rather than grimaces! WE need to remember that Jesus promised, “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. “John 15:11.

Humour may be part of expressing the joy we can experience when we give our lives over to the Lord and to His purposes for us. 

Blog No 597 posted on Friday 10 July 2026

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