And through the hands
of the apostles
many signs and
wonders were done
among the
people. And they were
all in one accord in
Solomon’s Porch.
And believers were
increasingly
added to the Lord,
multitudes
of both men and
women,
so that they'd
brought this sick
out into the streets
and laid them
on beds and couches,
that at the least
the shadow of Peter
passing by might
fall on some of
them. Also a multitude
gathered from the
surrounding cities
to Jerusalem,
bringing sick people
and those who were
tormented
by unclean spirits,
and they were all
healed.
1 Acts 5: 12; 14 --
16
The attempt
in examining the various Charismatic and Pentecostal exercises that are used to
demonstrate that they have the power of the Holy Spirit that is so often done as
though they have the same power as that is recorded in the above
Scriptures is contentious, but must be done if we are to be Authentic Christians. This subject which is so
divisive among the Christianity and religion invokes heated arguments that what
God was doing in the early Church is what He is doing in the present church. Is
what is being done in those churches that hold fast to a doctrine that allows
for these various so-called gift of the Spirit a high or low view of the
Christian faith, or is this a faulty view of the doctrine of Christian
faith? Is what is being exercised in
such churches a settling for a substitute for true faith and the authenticity
of true Christian faith making cause for people to miss out on the incredible
power and the beauty of true authentic biblical-based Christian faith? We know from Scripture that the apostles
were granted by the Holy Spirit to be able to perform certain signs and wonders
and that includes the healing of people who were sick. We even have the account were Peter raised
Tabitha from the dead (Acts 9:39 -- 42).
Having read many of the early Church fathers I have not found one case
where any other person raised the dead, but there were at least two instances
where the writer said he heard about such a thing happening. The Greek word used in the above Scripture
translated as "sick" is: άσθενεις, and has the meaning literally to
be without strength, feeble, weak, and bodily debility, impotent, and they were
in such a condition that they had need to be laid upon a bed or upon a
couch. What made cause for these people
to be in such a condition, in other words, what were the sicknesses or diseases
they may have had. They are not
elicited here but we do know that they were brought there in hope that even the
shadow of Peter could heal them: but we have no scriptural warrant to say
anyone was healed by Peter’s shadow.
What we do know though, is that these sick people that were brought to
Peter for healing were also people who were tormented by unclean spirits. How Peter healed them, what method or words
he may have used, are not stated. We also
know from the early Church fathers that this power to be able to pray for
people and to see people healed was evident in the very earliest of the
churches: "See how many men of rank
have been delivered from devils in healed of diseases" (Tertullian, c.
212)! Also recorded for us as
evidence that this healing power existed within the early Church is:" We have faith for a defense... In immediately making the sign and
adjuring.... We often aid in this
manner even the pagan, seeing that we have been endowed by God with that power
that the apostle for use when he despised the viper’s bite" (Tertullian,
c.213). Paul in writing to the
Ephesians quoted from Psalm 60 8:18:
"Therefore He says: "When He ascended on high he kept that led
captivity captive, and gave gifts to men" (Ephesians 4:8). So, what were the gifts that Paul was
pointing to what he quoted the Scripture?
Paul in the next versus tells us that the ascension was about the
resurrection of Jesus Christ who is now in heaven (vs. 9 -- 10) and then states this to answer this
question: "And He Himself gave some
to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,
for the equipping of the saints for the work of the ministry, for the edifying
of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the
knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of
the fullness of Christ;" (Ephesians 4: 11 -- 13). Paul goes on further to warn us not to be
tossed to and fro and carried away by every form of doctrine which is only
trickery by men (vs. 14). If we fall
into this category of Christianity that has become so divisive then we need to
become inclined to look at our own faith.
We need to see our crew state as God sees it and this we can do by
examining the Scriptures. I am afraid
that for many they have become self deceptive and believe only those things
that make them feel that they are doing godly things without taking time to see
whether not actually gives unction for what they believe. Once again this will take courage and be
willing to make any change that may be necessary so that what you believe and
do is authentic Christianity. We will
look at other forms of activities that are propounded as being founded upon
Scripture in our next blogs.
For the word of the
LORD is right,
and all His work is done in truth.
He loves
righteousness and justice;
the earth is full of goodness
of the LORD.
Psalm 33: 4 -- 5
God preserves the
faithful
Richard L. Crumb
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