The subject of faith healing can be one that causes many to argue. In fact, it has become a very controversial subject mostly among believers. I have been thinking about this and I would like to offer you what I have found in the Bible about the topic of faith healing. Look up the Scriptures and study it out. You may find a blessing and even some new understanding.
Our churches and even our media are/is filled with faith healing ministries. Popular? True, but how many of these programs and ministries promote a true biblical presentation of healing? Or, is this something that believers should be promoting at all, and if so, why? I ask this because when I study it out, I find that true healing, according to how it was done in biblical times, is not something that we see today. In fact, are there people today that even have the “gift of healing”? Let’s look to the Bible for some answers.
How Often Were People Healed?
Matthew 9:35 “And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.”
From this verse in Matthew 9 we see that Jesus was a healer. According to this verse He healed EVERY sickness and EVERY disease. I say that because 100% of the time that Jesus attempted to heal, healing happened. I do not see any mention of faith here.
Luke 4:33–40 “And in the synagogue there was a man, which had a spirit of an unclean devil, and cried out with a loud voice, Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art; the Holy One of God. And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. And when the devil had thrown him in the midst, he came out of him, and hurt him not. And they were all amazed, and spake among themselves, saying, What a word is this! for with authority and power he commandeth the unclean spirits, and they come out. And the fame of him went out into every place of the country round about. And he arose out of the synagogue, and entered into Simon’s house. And Simon’s wife’s mother was taken with a great fever; and they besought him for her. And he stood over her, and rebuked the fever; and it left her: and immediately she arose and ministered unto them. Now when the sun was setting, all they that had any sick with divers diseases brought them unto him; and he laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them.”
So there were many (divers) diseases that the people brought to Jesus. Of those mentioned in this passage here in Luke, how many of them were healed? Every one of them! Interesting, I do not see faith mentioned here either.
Acts 5:12–16 “And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch. And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them. And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.) Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them. There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.”
In this passage of Acts we learn that it was not only Jesus who had the gift of healing, it was also His Apostles that had the gift. Not only that, we see that believers were added because of the gift. This multitude that was brought to the apostles were also healed. How many? Every one.
Why Did Jesus and the Apostles Heal?
Throughout the Bible we see that the sign gift of healing was used to convince unbelievers that Jesus was the Christ, the Messiah, the giver of eternal life, as promised in the Old Testament (John 20:30-31). This power to heal was used even after Jesus rose from the dead to convince and convict the nation of Israel that the promised Deliverer had arrived (1 Corinthians 1:22-24). In fact, every time that we see the use of the gift of healing we see that Jews were present.
It was for that specific time and purpose that the sign gifts were given. The most amazing thing to me is that even though Jesus and the Apostles performed these miracles the Jews still did not believe, and because of this grace was given to the Gentiles (Romans 11). In this the Jews were blinded and all except for a remnant of the Jews will remain blinded (Luke 21:24; Romans 11:25; 2 Corinthians 4:4; Revelation 11:2).
Gift of Healing for Today?
I believe, according to these examples from the Bible that the sign gift of healing like Jesus and the Apostles in the Bible used is no longer given to anyone today. I believe this because if it were true that this gift still exists we would see 100% success when faith healers healed, every time and for everyone.
People who study the Bible should agree that the Bible is a logical book. So if you think about it logically, if that sign gift of healing were still in effect today, why would we need doctors or nurses or hospitals or resuscitation equipment or medications or portable oxygen or other life sustaining efforts?
Don’t misunderstand me. I am not saying that God does not still heal today. He is the Great Physician, He can heal when He chooses to do so. We need to be careful to remember Who gets the glory for healing and it is always God that should be glorified in this (Galatians 4:13-15; 2 Corinthians 11:22-29, 12:7-10). God never stops caring for us, protecting us and healing us (1 John 5:14-15; Hebrews 4:14-16; James 5:13-16)
Final Thoughts
I hope that you were using your Bible when you read this article and that you looked up the Scriptures that I provided. I hope even more that you found additional proof that this gift of healing is not for today because if it were those who call themselves faith healers should not be wasting any time, they ought to get busy shutting down every health care facility in our city, county, state, province, country and the entire world. Is healing all about faith? I believe healing is about the Healer and when we look to faith as a “power” for healing we take the glory from God.
Read more about faith here: 5 Surefire Ways to Strengthen Your Faith
Resource – Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, King James Version
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