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Healing Definition: Causing a person who has been physically, mentally or spiritually sick to gain good health. Some of the pre-Christian Hebrew prophets as well as Jesus Christ and certain members of the early Christian congregation were enabled by God's spirit to perform miraculous healing. Is Miraculous Healing In Our Day Done By Means Of The Spirit Of God? Can the ability to perform miracles come from a source other than the true God? Moses and Aaron appeared before Pharaoh of Egypt to request that Israel be allowed to go into the wilderness to offer sacrifices to Jehovah. As evidence of divine backing, Moses directed Aaron to throw down his rod and it became a big snake. That miracle was done by God's power. Then the magic-practicing priests of Egypt threw down their rods and these, too, became big snakes. (Exodus 7:8-12) By whose power did they perform their miracles? Deuteronomy 18:10-12 There should not be found in you anyone who makes his or his pass through the fire, anyone who employs divination, anyone practicing magic, anyone who looks for omens, a sorcerer, anyone binding others with a spell, anyone who consults a spirit medium or a fortune-teller, or anyone who inquires of the dead. For whoever does these things is detestable to Jehovah, and on account of these detestable practices Jehovah your God is driving them away from before you. In the 21st century some faith healing is performed in services conducted by the clergy of christendom. Amoung non-christian religions there are voodoo priests, witch doctors, medicine men and others who also do healing; they often employ magic and divination. Some "psychic healers" say that their cures have nothing to do with religion. In all these instances, does the healing power come from the true God? Matthew 24:24 False christs and false prophets will arise and will give great signs(miracles - TEV) and wonders so as to mislead, if possible, even the chosen ones. Matthew 7:15-23 Be on the watch for the false prophets....Many will say to me in that day, 'Lord, Lord did we not prophesy in your name, and expel demons in your name, and perfom many powerful works(miracles - JB, NE, TEV) in your name?' And yet then I will confess to them: 'I never knew you! Get away from me, you workers of lawlessness.' Are The Sensational Cures Of Our Day Performed In The Same Way As The Miraculous Cures Of Jesus And His Early Disciples? Cost of services. Matthew 10:8 Cure sick people, raise up dead persons, make lepers clean, expel demons. You received free, give free. Are healers of today doing that - giving free, as Jesus commanded? Rate of success. Luke 6:19 All the crowd were seeking to touch Him because power was going out of Him and healing them all. Acts 5:15+16 They brought the sick out even into the broad ways and laid them there upon little beds and cots, in order that, as Peter would go by, at least his shadow might fall upon some one of them. Also, the multitude from the cities around Jerusalem kept coming together, bearing sick people and those troubled with unclean spirits, and they would one and all be cured. In our day do all who go to religious practitioners or to religious shrines seeking a cure get healed? Does The Way Of Life Of Members Of The Organizations Of Which 'Healers' Are A Part Give Evidence That They Have God's Spirit? As a group do they outstandingly manifest such fruits of the Spirit as love, long-suffering, mildness and self control? Galatians 5:22-24 On the other hand, the fruitage of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, mildness, self-control. Against such things there is no law. Moreover, those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed to the stake the flesh together with its passions and desires. Are they truly 'no part of the world.' shunning all involvement in the world's political affairs? (John 17:16) They are no part of the world, just as I am no part of the world Have they remained clean of bloodguilt during wartime? (Isaiah 2:4) He will render judgment among the nations and set matters straight respecting many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning shears. Nation will not lift up sword against nation, nor will they learn war anymore. Do they have a fine reputation because of avoiding the world's immoral conduct? (1Thessalonians 4:3-8) For this is the will of God, that you should be holy and abstain from sexual immorality. Each one of you should know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not with greedy, uncontrolled sexual passion like the nations have that do not know God. No one should go beyond proper limits and take advantage of his brother in this matter, because Jehovah exacts punishment for all these things, just as we told you previously and also strongly warned you. For God has called us, not for uncleanness, but for holiness. So, then, the man who disregards this is disregarding, not man, but God, who gives you his holy spirit Are True Christians Today Identified By The ability To Do Miraculous Healing? John 13:35 By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love amoung yourselves. If we really believe Jesus on this point we need to look for love, not miraculous healing, as evidence of true Christianity. Acts 1:8 You will receive power when the Holy Spirit arrives upon you, and you will be witnesses of me....to the most distant part of the earth. Just before leaving His apostles to return to Heaven, Jesus told them that this, not healing, was the vital work they were to do. Matthew 24:14 And this good news of the Kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come Matthew 28:19,20) Go, therefore, and make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the and of the holy spirit 1Corinthians 12:28-30 God has set the respective ones in the congregation, first, apostles; second, prophets; third, teachers; then powerful works; then gifts of healing; helpful services, ability to direct, different tongues. Not all are apostles, are they? Not all are prophets, are they? Not all are teachers, are they? Not all perform powerful works, do they? Not all have gifts of healing, do they? So, the Bible clearly shows that not all true Christians would have the gift of healing. Does Not Mark 16:17+18 Show That Ability To Heal The Sick Would Be A Sign Identifying Believers? Mark 16:17+18 - KJ These signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly think, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover. These verses appear in certain Bible manuscripts and versions of the fifth and sixth centuries C.E. but they do not appear in the older Greek manuscripts, the Sinaiticus and Vatican MS. 1209 of the fourth century. Dr. B.R. Westcott, an authority on Bible manuscripts, said that 'the verses....are no part of the original narrative but an appendage.' (An Introduction to the Study of the Gospels. London, 1881, p.338 ) Bible translator Jerome, in the fifth century, said, that 'almost all the Greek codices (are) without this passage.' (The Last Twelve Verses of the Gospel According to S. Mark, London, 1871, J.W. Burgon, p. 53) There is no record that early Christians either drank poisons or handled serpents to prove they were believers. Why Were Such Gifts As The Ability To Do Miraculous Healing Given To First-Century Christians? Hebrews 2:3+4 How shall we escape if we have neglected a salvation of such greatness in that it began to be spoken through our Lord and verified for us by those who heard Him, while God joined in bearing witness with signs as well as portents and various powerful works and with distributions of Holy Spirit according to His will? Here was convincing evidence, indeed, that the Christian congregation, which was then new, was truly of God. Once that was fully established, would it be necessary to prove it again? Miraculous healing was to be a “sign” of divine backing. Acts 4:22, 29+30 For the man on whom this miracle of healing had been done was more than 40 years old.....And now, Jehovah, give attention to their threats, and grant to your slaves to keep speaking your word with all boldness, while you stretch out your hand for healing and while signs and wonders occur through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” Those who refused to recognize and acknowledge this sign were spiritually blind and deaf. Isaiah 6:10 Make the heart of this people unreceptive, make their ears unresponsive, and paste their eyes together, so that they may not see with their eyes and hear with their ears, so that their heart may not understand and they may not turn back and be healed.” John 12:37-41 Although he had performed so many signs before them, they were not putting faith in him, so that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, who said: “Jehovah, who has put faith in the thing heard from us? And as for the arm of Jehovah, to whom has it been revealed?” The reason why they were not able to believe is that again Isaiah said: “He has blinded their eyes and has made their hearts hard, so that they would not see with their eyes and understand with their hearts and turn around and I heal them.” Isaiah said these things because he saw his glory, and he spoke about him For the reason, then, that divine healings were to serve as a sign to unbelievers, they were not ordinarily performed in behalf of those who were already spirit-begotten Christians. So when Timothy had stomach trouble, instead of performing a miraculous cure, Paul recommended that he take a little wine for his ailment. 1Timothy 5:23 Do not drink water any longer, but take a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent cases of sickness. 1Corinthians 12:29+30; 13:8, 13 Not all are prophets, are they?...Not all have gifts of healing, do they? Not all speak in tongues, do they?...Love never fails but whether there are gifts of prophesying, they will be done away with; whether there are tongues, they will cease...Now, however, there remains faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love. When they had accomplished their purpose, those miraculous gifts would cease but priceless qualities that are the fruitage of God's Spirit would still be manifest in the lives of true Christians. As Long As A Person Is Healed, Is It Really Important How It Is Done? 2Thessalonians 2:9+10 The lawless one's presence is according to the operation of satan with every powerful work (all kinds of miracles - JB ) and lying signs and portents and with every unrighteous deception for those who are perishing, as a retribution because they did not accept the love of the truth that they might be saved. Luke 9:24+25 Whoever wants to save his soul (life - RS, JB, TEV) will lose it; but whoever loses his soul (life) for my sake is the one that will save it. Really what does a man benefit himself if he gains the whole world but loses his own self or suffers damage? What Hope Is There For Real Healing From all Sickness? Revelation 21:1-4 I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the former heaven and the former earth had passed away....And He(God) will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away. Isaiah 25:8 He will actually swallow up death forever, and the Sovereign Lord Jehovah will certainly wipe the tears from all faces. Isaiah 33:24 No resident will say: "I am sick." Not withstanding the source, any healing done in this system of things brings only temporary benefits as eventually we all die. Lazarus was raised from the dead(healed as it were) by Jesus, but he still eventually died again. That is why the promised resurrection is needed. In this satan system all are weighed down by our age old enemy, death. Will There Ever Be A Time When Everyone Living will Enjoy Good Health And Never Have To Dies? In God’s promised new world, Christ’s love and tender care will then be abundant, just as they were when he was on the earth. At that time He gave us foregleams of what the New World will provide and what a loving King He will be to us. Psalm 72:12-14 For he will rescue the poor who cry for help, Also the lowly one and whoever has no helper. He will have pity on the lowly and the poor, And the lives of the poor he will save. From oppression and from violence he will rescue them, And their blood will be precious in his eyes. During the rule of God’s Kingdom, there will be a literal fulfillment of prophecies of marvelous things as foretold. Isaiah11:6-9 The wolf will reside for a while with the lamb, and with the young goat the leopard will lie down, and the calf and the lion and the fattened animal will all be together; and a little boy will lead them. The cow and the bear will feed together, and their young will lie down together. The lion will eat straw like the bull. The nursing will play over the lair of a cobra, and a weaned will put his hand over the den of a poisonous snake. They will not cause any harm or any ruin in all my holy mountain, because the earth will certainly be filled with the knowledge of Jehovah as the waters cover the sea. Isaiah 33:24 And no resident will say: “I am sick.” The people dwelling in the land will be pardoned for their error Isaiah 35:5-7 At that time the eyes of the blind will be opened, and the ears of the deaf will be unstopped. At that time the lame will leap like the deer, and the tongue of the speechless will shout for joy. For waters will burst forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert plain. The heat-parched ground will become a reedy pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water. In the lairs where jackals rested there will be green grass and reeds and papyrus. Isaiah 65:17-25 For look! I am creating new heavens and a new earth; and the former things will not be called to mind, nor will they come up into the heart. So exult and be joyful forever in what I am creating. For look! I am creating Jerusalem a cause for joy and her people a cause for exultation and I will rejoice in Jerusalem and exult in my people; No more will there be heard in her the sound of weeping or a cry of distress. No more will there be an infant from that place who lives but a few days, nor an old man who fails to live out his days for anyone who dies at a hundred will be considered a mere boy, and the sinner will be cursed, even though he is a hundred years of age. They will build houses and live in them, and they will plant vineyards and eat their fruitage. They will not build for someone else to inhabit, nor will they plant for others to eat. For the days of my people will be like the days of a tree, and the work of their hands my chosen ones will enjoy to the full. They will not toil for nothing, nor will they bear for distress, because they are the offspring made up of those blessed by Jehovah, and their descendants with them. Even before they call out, I will answer; while they are yet speaking, I will hear. The wolf and the lamb will feed together, the lion will eat straw just like the bull, and the serpent’s food will be dust. They will do no harm nor cause any ruin in all my holy mountain,” says Jehovah. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~` What brilliant promises God has made to us......so much to look forward to. A Real Healing! Love Katidid. |
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