by Rev. Daniel M. True
Here comes controversy again – Divine Healing! As with many things of and from God, this is SO misunderstood.
Even before Jesus was born onto the Earth scene, there were accounts of Diving healing. They may not have been as dramatic as we would expect but still, they were from God. Elijah performed several acts of healing – some call them miracles. The son of the widow who baked him the last of her bread died of a sickness. Elijah lay upon his body and the boy awoke from his “sleep” (in the New Testament Paul did the same (Acts 20:9-12)).
Abraham prayed for the sick and they were healed. Priests prayed for leprosy and the lepers were healed. Angels “troubled” the water in certain pools and those immersed in it were healed of their infirmities. We could go on and on but “faith” healing was active in the days of the Old Testament world.
Then Jesus appeared on the earth and, as the Scripture says (John 21:25), He did so many “things” that they couldn’t be written down! Most of those things were acts of healing. Just before Jesus went back to Heaven, He commissioned His followers (that’s me and I hope, you, too) that we would do the things He did while here on Earth. In short, we would carry on where He left off.
We know that Peter and John went to pray and just spoke to the man crippled from birth, and he arose (Acts 3:1-9). They were as surprised as the cripple but they spoke by faith and the man was healed! They, unknowingly I’m sure, just exercised the “commission” that Jesus spoke over all who believe in Him (His followers).
Over the twenty centuries since Jesus ascended, there have been many recorded accounts of “Divine healing”. One famous 1800’s healer was Smith Wigglesworth. Smith was an uneducated man (his wife taught him to read the Bible) that God chose to do His work on earth. He was reported to have raised several persons, including his wife, from the dead.
However, like most who have the gift of healing, it is not all-inclusive; even Wigglesworth had infirmities for which he was prayed over but never received his own healing. In fact, he died in 1947 while at the funeral of a friend!
There are a number of people today who are or have been anointed with this gift of healing. Oral Roberts and Kathryn Kuhlman, prominent in the ‘50s and ‘60s, come to mind. But like most, they came under scrutiny of non-believers who doubted their “gift”. And, they also had personal physical setbacks in their own lives.
A very close minister-friend from Canada, Nicole Brock, had this gift. In fact, while at a restaurant near the Toronto airport a few years ago, awaiting a flight to minister in the USA, she raised a lady from the dead!
The lady was eating at the same restaurant and choked on a piece of food. She turned blue and fell to the floor. An off-duty paramedic was in the restaurant and confirmed that she was dead – no breathing and no pulse. He called for an ambulance and, as they were carrying her out, Nicole noticed what was happening and went over, pulled the sheet from over her face, and laid her hand on the woman’s head and spoke, commanding her to arise, in Jesus’ name! The lady coughed and sat up! She was taken to the hospital for observation and Nicole flew away. She never did learn anything more about the condition of the woman. But, she was alive again!
Years later, when my wife and I went to Ontario to assist Nicole and her ministry, we went to eat at that very restaurant. While there, the owner came over to our table and basically recounted (confirmed) this same story to us.
While working on and off with her for a number of years we personally saw many miracles and healings flow through Nicole. Unfortunately, like many faith-healers, her own life was physically troubled and, despite much prayer by many of us friends from all over the world, Nicole Brock died of cancer in 2005.
Even my wife was endued with the gifts of miracles and healing (many of which are documented in my biography). However, her life ended prematurely (age 64) due to that same disease.
The point being made here is that the Bible is full of accounts of God working through His people. Why would that end? He STILL has His people here on earth, and we DO have the “Great Commission” from Jesus – to do the same things He did!
Like Baptism, the “Rapture”, healing, “speaking in tongues” and the like, there are many diverse “opinions” about these things – how they should be done or if they are valid at all. Setting aside what God has done through me, I have always taken the position that God can and will do whatever He wants, and if that is to commission someone with a special gift or ministry, that is His business. I will not try to interfere or doubt what He is doing! Can you imagine – the creature questioning his Creator???
I have laid hands on people and many have received healing. Other have not. I have/had no control over the results, just the action and faith to believe. I have never seen anyone raised from the dead by my hand, but several times I have gone as far as to enter a funeral home, lay hands on a corpse and “command” that person to arise. They didn’t — but it doesn’t mean that it is not possible!
There is the classic example of the “donkey” (“ass”, for KJV purists!) being used by God to speak to His servant (Balaam). If God can speak through a donkey to get a person’s attention, surely He could use ME as well! (Numbers 22:28)
If gifts of God are exercised freely (no charge or “offering”), I would consider the validity or sincerity of that person. Psychics or “for-fee faith healers” are no-no’s for God’s kids!
Eventually, you must put your full trust in the Lord rather than His servant. You will be seeking healing from God, not His subordinate.
Also, not covered in this article, is the trained medical doctor. DO NOT discount the ability of your doctor – God gives talents and gifts to them as well! Whether they know it or not, they are also servants (instruments) of God. (But, get a “second opinion“, just to make sure!).
