Page 289 - Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible Christianity. Based on the King James Bible

HEALING

healings He performed. He healed every type of disease, to do so. He was told that this infirmity was something
cast out every type of devil, raised the dead, and He did God wanted him to have FOR HIS SPIRITUAL
these miracles repeatedly, at will. He healed perfectly. WELLBEING. Upon learning this, Paul bowed to God’s
He never failed to heal those who were brought to Him. will. This is a perfect example for Christians today. We
Not once did He fail; there was no kind of disease He should pray for healing and release from trials, but
could not heal. Who can say that today? when God does not heal, we must bow to His will and
3. The healing ministry of the apostles was unique—to accept that sickness or trial as something from the hand
authenticate their work. “Truly the signs of an apostle of God. This is not lack of faith; it is obedience to the
were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and sovereignty of God.
wonders, and mighty deeds” (2 Co. 12:12; See also Mk. 5. Charismatic healers cannot heal themselves. The
3:14-15; Ac. 2:43; 4:33; 5:12, 15; 19:12). hypocrisy of the “faith healing” movement is amazing.
Note that the miracles of the Apostles were special It’s leaders teach that healing is promised in the
and were for the purpose of marking them as the atonement and that it is always God’s will for the
Apostles of Christ. They had miracle-working power to Christian to enjoy wholeness. Yet these very leaders do
authenticate their unique ministries. That is what not enjoy such wholeness! It is important to note that
Scripture says. All Christians could not do the sign those today who claim that healing is in the atonement
miracles of the Apostles. The only exceptions were a few do not enjoy perfect healing and physical wholeness.
men upon whom the apostles had laid hands. There was They wear glasses; they go bald; they get sick; they have
no general miracle-working experience among the first operations; they die. They have no greater success in
churches. If there had been, Paul could not have pointed living a perfectly healthy life than those who don’t
to his miracle-working ability as a special sign. His believe healing is guaranteed for the Christian.
would have been just another miracle-working Christian 6. Charismatic healers cannot heal others. The fact is
ministry if all could have performed such things; but all that modern “faith healers” simply cannot heal as Christ
could not. If all could have performed miracles as a and the apostles did. They claim God wants to heal
matter of course, the Christians would not have called today as He did during the life of Christ, but the fact is
for Peter to come and raise Dorcas from the dead (Acts that He doesn’t heal that way through them. All you
9:36-42). Peter’s miracle that day was the “sign of an have to do to prove this is attend ANY faith healing
apostle.” crusade and note the sick people who attend only to go
It has never been God’s will for all Christians to be away disappointed. The fact is that the “faith healers”
running around performing sign miracles and healing simply cannot heal any more effectively than can any
everyone. That has never been the case, and will never godly, non-Pentecostal pastor who faithfully prays over
be the case in this age. Don’t be deceived. Don’t seek his people. We have seen many marvelous healings
that which God has NOT promised and thereby leave among our church members and friends in answer to
yourself open to the deception of the devil. prayer. The Charismatic faith healers have nothing on
Jesus warned that an evil generation seeks a sign us! (See the article “I Believe in Miracles” at the Way of
(Mt. 12:39). Let’s not be identified with evil. Let us seek Life web site -- http://www.wayoflife.org/fbns/
those humble things which God HAS promised and ibelievein-miracles.html.)
which He wants to do in and for and through us to the 7. Mighty saints of bygone days often were sick and not
glory of Christ. Let us seek to live holy, gentle lives; to healed. We think of William Tyndale, translator of the
preach the Gospel and see souls saved and lives changed English Bible, sitting in a dank prison cell, lonely, sick,
for the glory of God; to be looking and longing for cold, neglected. Most of the powerful preachers in
Christ’s return; to be obedient, fruitful Christians. history past suffered great sicknesses and physical
4. God did not always heal, even in the first century. handicaps which were not healed. One writer notes:
Timothy was not healed. “Drink no longer water, but use “Almost every hymn that we have in our hymnbook
a little wine for thy stomach’s sake and thine often came to us from the hands of sick people. Charlotte
infirmities” (1 Ti. 5:23). Trophimus was not healed (2 Elliot was sick all her life. Fanny Crosby was blind from
Ti. 4:20). Paul was not healed (2 Co. 12:7-10). In 2 Co. birth, blind 95 years. She wrote, ‘Saved by Grace’ and
12:8-10 we read that the Apostle Paul was afflicted with ‘Safe in the Arms of Jesus.’ William Bradbury, who wrote
some sort of infirmity. We are not told the exact nature ‘He Leadeth Me’; August Toplady, who wrote ‘Rock of
of Paul’s problem, but the word translated “infirmities” Ages’; Philip Doddridge, who wrote ‘Oh Happy Day’;
in 2 Co. 12:9-10 is also translated “weakness” (v. 9), Sarah Flower Adams, who wrote ‘Nearer My God to
“sickness” (Mt. 8:17; Jn. 11:4), and “disease” (Ac. Thee’—all of them had TB all their lives and finally died
28:9). Three times the faithful Apostle asked God to of it. Isaac Watts, who wrote ‘When I Survey the
take away this problem, but the Bible says God refused Wondrous Cross,’ and ‘Marching to Zion,’ and ‘Joy to the

Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible & Christianity 289