Healing: Miraculous and Providential

I. Introduction: Many television ministries and “full gospel” ministries revolve around God’s power to heal sickness. Many claim that God has given them the power to heal sicknesses just as Jesus and the apostles did while on the earth. Let us examine their claims in light of scripture.

II. Jesus and the apostles healing power

A. Examples of diseases

B. Matthew 4:24-25 - Recognized demon possession as separate from diseases such as epilepsy Luke 7:22 – “Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things you have seen and heard: that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised,”

C. Characteristic of healing

D. Instantaneous not many days, weeks, or months of recovery Healing was not the center of the message; the kingdom was.

E. Failures to heal

F. Matthew 17:41-21 - Apostles could not heal because of their own lack of faith

G. Some faith healers claim that failures are due to a lack of faith on the part of the one who wanted to be healed.

H. John 9:35-38 – He was healed and later learned about Jesus Mark 5 – Twelve year old girl was raised from the dead

III. Modern claims of faith healing

A. Examples of diseases and verification

B. TV evangelist’s doctor that was one of his followers would say, “I don’t see evidence of __________.” However, he did not examine them before nor was there a confirmed diagnosis. When you see the modern healers you do not see the dead raised, the leper’s skin restored, or those who are palsied and visibly diseased go away healed.

C. Characteristics of “healing”

D. Claims are made but no proof but questionable testimonials. Most claims are about inside feelings, pains, aches, and mild problems. Not instantaneous. Oral Roberts, in his book, God Still Heals Today, says that “during the faith healing process, there may be pain, or slight relapses, or even what may appear to b a reoccurrence of the problem” but that one must remain convinced of their healing and await further improvement (Randi 11).

E. Failures to heal

F. Faith and the healed

G. Faith of the healer

H. Shouldn’t this remain constant? Jesus blamed a failure to cast out demons on the lack of faith with His disciples; I have never heard a faith healer claim that a failure was due to his own lack of faith.

I. Faith of the sick person

J. Some teach that if a person does not have faith, and especially a faith that gives, he will not be healed. This is dangerous for the person who is not healed blames his lack of faith instead of the ability of the healer; he may become more desperate in his giving and mental state because of these charlatans.

K. How can the healers have some apparent success?

L. The Freireich Experimental Plan states that any remedy will have some effective benefit for virtually every patient with any disease because of the natural ups and downs of any disease (Randi 9-10).

M. If a person receives any type of treatment, there will likely be a relief period soon to follow that can be attributed to the treatment. If a person feels no better or worsens, the healer can say that they came too late but to give more and pray more; eventually a relief period will come. If a person dies they can say it was God’s will. Some people are not suffering from illnesses but have convinced themselves that they are sick so that their faith in the cure—any cure—will succeed. Some seek healing for things that will, in the natural course of time, heal. Some are being heavily treated by medications, medical therapies, etc. but, after going to a healing service, will claim that it was a completely divine healing.

N. Some are deceitful, working for the ministry.

O. An undercover survellience of W.V. Grant’s ministry witnessed 30 wheelchairs being unloaded and placed in a staging area. Some early arrivals, walking in with canes were put in the wheelchairs and wheeled up front. When the healer calls the person to stand up (who could stand up and walk without the wheelchair before), the crowd is amazed (Randi 107).Former ministry employees have related instances of being “healed” many times in different cities being made to walk, receive sight, etc.

IV. Does God heal people today?

A. Not by the hands of men

B. Acts 8:13-21 – Simon realized how the power was transferred by the apostles Death of the apostles ended this method

C. James 5:14-15 – Prayer and anointing of the elders

D. This was during a time when spiritual gifts were prevalent in the church This, too, ended with the passing of spiritual gifts.

E. God does not remove all suffering

F. Suffering is a part of life

G. “The impression given by the ‘full gospel’to the average believer is that God does not want His people to suffer in this world…Here is the candy-coated life, guaranteed to extract all bitter tastes.” (Chantry 103) Philippians 2:25-27 – Epaphroditus was sick unto death2 Timothy 4:20 – Paul left Trophimus in Miletus because he was sick1 Timothy 5:23 – “No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for your stomach’s sake and your frequent infirmities.” Sickness is a natural part of life; a consequence of Adam and Eve’s sin in which our physical bodies are born to die. When suffering comes, we either draw close to God or blame Him.

H. God does not promise release from suffering but strength to endure it.

I. 1 Corinthians 10:10-12 – We can endure because God is in control1 Peter 5:7 – “casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” Too often we give up before we really know what we are made of.

J. We can gain strength through suffering

K. 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 – Paul’s thorn in the flesh Charles Spurgeon: “The greatest earthly blessing that God can give to any of us is health, with the exception of sickness. Sickness has frequently been of more use to the saints of God than health has. If some men, that I know of, could only be favoured with a month of rheumatism, it would, by God’s grace, mellow them marvelously…I would not wish for any man a long time of sickness and pain; but a twist now and then one might almost ask for him.” (Chantry 104)

L. Some suffering is brought on as a consequence of sin or neglect

M. Hosea 8:7 – “They sow the wind, and reap the whirlwind.” Galatians 6:7-9 – We will reap what we sow; physically and eternally.

N. We should seek God’s help and strength

O. God has blessed our world with wonderful medical advancements and knowledge by which we can improve our physical health.

P. When we are sick, we can pray for strength and renewed health.

Q. James 5:13 – “Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray.”3 John 2 – “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.” We should also ask for strength to endure suffering and sickness if we will not be healed of the sickness. Job 2:7-10 – Let us accept good and adversity and do not blame God.

V. Sources

VI. Chantry, Walter J. Signs of the Apostles. The Banner of Truth Trust: Pennsylvania, 1976.

VII. Randi, James. The Faith Healers. Prometheus Books: New York, 1989.

VIII. Miraculous and Providential Healing