Healing

The following question was presented to me via e-mail.

"My question is do healers today posses this same authority and power?"

My response below.

I believe all would agree, that first and foremost, it's God that heals.

"See now that I, [even] I, [am] he, and [there is] no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither [is there any] that can deliver out of my hand." (Deuteronomy 32:39)

C.f. Numbers 12:13; 2 Kings 20:8,5; 2 Chronicles 7:14; Psalm 6:2; 41:4; 60:2; Isaiah 19:22; 57:18,19; Jeremiah 3:22; 17:14; 30:17; Hosea 6:1; 14:4; Matthew 8:7; 12:10; 13:15; Mark 3:2; Luke 4:18; 5:17; 6:7; 7:3; 9:2; 14:3; John 4:47; 12:40; Acts 28:27.

Jesus, of course being God Himself, healed.

"And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him." (Matthew 8:7)

He sent His disciples out with power and authority to heal.

"And when he had called unto [him] his twelve disciples, he gave them power [against] unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease." (Matthew 10:1) This would include the seventy also.

C.f. Matthew 10:8; Mark 3:15; Luke 10:9; Acts 4:29,30.

The Apostles after Jesus' ascension healed.

"And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple; Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms. And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us. And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them. Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. And he took him by the right hand, and lifted [him] up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength…And when Peter saw [it], he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk? The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let [him] go. But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses. And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all. If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, [even] by him doth this man stand here before you whole." (Acts 3:2-7,12-16; 4:9,10)

And

"And it came to pass, as Peter passed throughout all [quarters], he came down also to the saints which dwelt at Lydda. And there he found a certain man named Aeneas, which had kept his bed eight years, and was sick of the palsy. And Peter said unto him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole : arise, and make thy bed. And he arose immediately." (Acts 9:32-34)

And by Paul.

"And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul: So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them." (Acts 19:11,12)

A word of caution, we should take extra care as to not go around saying, "God does not heal today, or I don't believe the gifts are in operation, or that was of the devil." We don't want to be guilty of blaspheme of the Holy Spirit. (for those confused as to what "blaspheme of the Holy Spirit is read very carefully Matthew 12:22-37; Mark 3:13-30; Luke 11:14-26; 12:9-12)

God gave the gift of healing to the Church—believers.

"Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit." (1 Corinthians 12:4-9)

"And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues." (1 Corinthians 12:28)

Does every believer possess the gift of healing? No.

"Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?" (1 Corinthians 12:30) Some believers possess the gift of healing, and some don't, but have other gifts. Does every "faith healer" possess the gift of healing? No.

The power to heal by God through His Church—believers have been, are, and will continue to be done in different ways. I have met different individuals that possess this gift, and they are usually very humble saints of God; not willing to draw attention to themselves but giving glory to God. If we are brought into communion with Jesus Christ and possess His Holy Spirit those individuals that have the gift will possess the same power as Jesus.

"But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, [and He does if we are saved] he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you." (Romans 8:11)

C.f. Romans 8:15,26,27; 1 Corinthians 2:12; 3:16; 7:40; 12:13; 2 Corinthians 1:14.

So, in the Church there are those that have the gift to heal, and I am convinced that God still gives that gift, and others, to certain individuals today. The book of James was written about A.D. 49 there it's recorded for us a method of healing for the sick.

"Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. Is any sick among you? 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: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him."

Those "elders" possessed a certain "power" to heal. However, don't be confused in thinking that the elders were doing the forgiving it just says, "… and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him." If the Lord does the raising (healing) He does the forgiving also. However, after thorough research Dr. Ronald A. N. Kydd, in his book "Charismatic Gifts in the Early Church" concludes his work as follows:

"Though out the first and second centuries, the gifts remained very important to the Church. We have looked at material from all parts of this period, and we have drawn from virtually every kind of person in the Church…generally speaking, and of course there must have been exceptions at specific places and times, the Church prior to A.D. 200 was charismatic. However, in the first half of the third century, things change. We still find evidence, nevertheless, we have to admit that even in the West there were Christians who were raising more than one eyebrow over the Gifts. In the Greek East we hear of only traces…the Gifts just did not occupy the place in the life and thinking of the Church as they once had." (p.87)

What was he saying? Not that the gifts (including healing) had ceased, but as the Church became more and more organized, educated, wealthy, and socially-powerful she came to the place were the Holy Spirit's Gifts were looked upon as unneeded. That's Sad. So to answer the question "…do healers today poses this same authority and power?"

Yes, if one is chosen to have that particular gift and uses it correctly. No, because the teaching that the Gifts have ceased "quenches the Holy Spirit."

"If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall [your] heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?" (Luke 11:13)

That's my teaching.

Amen?

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