To another faith
by the same Spirit,
to another gifts
of healings
by the same Spirit.
1Corinthians 12:9
Many Christians on both sides of the aisle in regards to the gifts of the Holy Spirit will admit that these gifts are of the greatest mystery. These mysteries of miracles, healing, and supernatural gifts have divided the Church and there is a need of an answer; not from men, but from Scripture, and we must allow our rational thinking to come into play and we are not to coalesce, that is to come to a decision just for unities sake. Furthermore, we are not to tacitly agree with men and women because they seem to have the "truth." Much has been written in regards to the gifts of the Spirit leading us often to becoming confused; all seem to have come to a conclusion that gifts either exist or they do not, and they apply Scripture, and make assertions that seem right: are they? One such assertion was that these gifts characterized the life and worship of the early Church: Did they? Quoting from an early Church father: Irenaeus, St. (c.130-c.200) Description:Demonstration of the Apostolic Preaching is a second century guide for Christian converts.
In V, xv. 2 f. "our Lord’s cures in the Gospels are said to show the Hand of God, which formed man at the beginning:" cf. also xvi. 1. (Italics mine).
As I begin to address any gift of the Spirit, especially the gift of healing, I know that I will step on someone's toes, or beliefs. You might be repulsed, reject, or place your head in the proverbial sand; do so at your own peril for Scripture is clear that we are to study, to meditate, and to examine everything that is being taught us and when we do the Holy Spirit will guide, if you will allow Him to do so, to the truth. Often when we speak of healing, faith healers come to mind, charlatans who attempt to sell objects that have some special healing; it is all about the money to those men and women who disguise the truth of God's mercy and of His gifts given to the Church for the benefit of the Church and the propagation, and expansion of the Gospel.
No Christian would ever state that God does not heal. Many have seen healing of loved ones, or friends, or have heard of such healing. God heals! Men die! Those two facts are present in this life, some are healed, others are not! Some claim healing and then the disease that was cured comes back again, often with a vengeance. How are we ever going to reconcile those opposites? The first question that comes to mind is why heal at all? In other words what is the purpose to heal? Why some are healed and not others? Was healing an occurrence in the Church throughout it history? Is the gift of healing a gift for the Church today? Oh! the questions are numerous and I will attempt to bring some calming but important information from the Bible that will not just place a salve on your confusion, rather to give you meat, the meat of truth, from the Bible. Notice, we all have presuppositions, and have predetermined our position, but are we willing to allow God, by means of His word, and by good use of our faculties, given by God to come to the right conclusion and understanding?
Many, many, people flock to meetings of healing, they go hoping to view men with special powers; maybe they go to find healing for themselves, they believe that these men or women, have special powers that can heal. Is this not Biblical? I noticed the other night while surfing the T.V. and saw Oral Roberts, Jr. asking for people to write in and receive a special note, a note that can heal. We may laugh at such things, but they are occurring and many people succumb to such means, they want to be cured. Some Churches believe in such healing but don't advertise that they do as though they don't want the hassle to explain these gifts, or they do explain them in their preaching in such a manner so that they would be acceptable to the hearer. Maybe your Church is one such Church. How do you know? Check out their statement of faith. Have you? If not, why? This is important, we must know with whom we are associated. Don't just look at the good things your Church is doing; even non-Christians do good things, they are philanthropic. What does your Church believe and why? I hope to aid you in your search for the truth.
Much attention has been focused on physical healing, and on other "sign" gifts; i.e., tongues, and miracles; and many claim to have this special gift to heal, a gift they say is from the Holy Spirit. Is it? Should not our focus be on the Gospel? Let me ask this question: Jesus healed people, not just simple psychological healing, but real healing, blind people from birth could see, malformed limbs restored to normality, etc., why then did not those who saw those healing come to follow Jesus? Why was there not a huge influx of people, running to those who witnessed Jesus, and His apostles who healed, and become believers in Jesus as the Messiah, the long awaited Messiah? It seems that these healing did not proselytize people, and they do not today. People go to a healing Church, or meeting, so that the excitement, the euphoria expressed is emotional, this hysteria so present becomes inviting and acceptable, and even some go just so that they might receive a healing, a blessing; but have they accepted Jesus as Savior, and will they have the faith in Jesus that no matter what occurs in their life, sickness, health, etc. that they will be devoted to Jesus Christ and be a witness to the Gospel. By the way: the Gospel is the death of Jesus Christ whereby He took upon Himself the sin that so encumbered the world, He paid the debt that God who is just and demanded payment. It is not a belief in any special gift of the Holy Spirit that saves a person, it is that they have come to believe upon the one who saves, and saves eternally for those God has drawn and enabled so that they can believe; that is what makes a Christian. We seek God, not healing, not gifts, we may desire gifts, but our focus is on Jesus Christ. We place ourselves to be used to further the kingdom of God and His gospel.
I will continue and more specifically on this gift of healing in the next blogs. Put on your thinking cap, read your Bible, pray that God will guide you and that your beliefs and thoughts will become Scriptural and not just from your own self.
O wisest love! that flesh and blood,
Which did in Adam fail,
Should strive afresh against the foe,
Should strive and should prevail.
And that a higher gift than grace
Should flesh and blood refine,
God’s presence and his very Self,
And Essence all-divine.
Newman's Hymn
Taken from:
Irenaeus, St. (c.130-c.200) Description: Demonstration of the Apostolic Preaching.
Incline Your Ears To God's Word
Richard L. Crumb
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