The Power to Heal? Really?

We are all acquainted with the fact that at certain times in history, God healed those who were sick, injured, hurt or physically broken in some way. For instance, we read that Jesus healed “every kind of disease and every kind of sickness among the people” (Matthew 4:23). We also read that He “healed all who were ill” (8:16). It should be noted that there were no failures. There were no postponements. There were no excuses. All (everyone) who were sick were healed! And they were healed of all sorts of illnesses!

Further, this power to heal was transferred to the apostles. In the so-called “limited commission,” Jesus gave this instruction: “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons; freely you received, freely give” (Matthew 10:8; cf. Luke 9:9). When our Lord gave the “great commission,” He said that the apostles “will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover” (Mark 16:18). Again, there was no provision for failures.

Later, in the body of Christ, Paul says that there would be some with “gifts of healings” (1 Corinthians 12:28; cf. v. 30). James also said that if a person was sick, he should call for the “elders” in the congregation and “the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up” (James 5:15).

There is no indication that there would be any failures in the life of Christ, the ministry of the apostles, or in the early body of Christ. All who sought healing would be healed.

Because of this, we are dismayed when we learn today of sick people going to a “healer” (perhaps a charlatan?) to be healed, but such a person turns away—unhealed. The so-called miracle-worker or healer tells the person to come back next week or later to be healed. The rejected sick person turns away in dismay without the healing that he sought and the healing that he was convinced he needed. This is the case of many people who have cancer, broken limbs, lack of limbs, blindness, diabetes, and other serious ailments. We are not speaking here of those who have headaches or arthritis, but those who have critical illnesses and sicknesses. Where are all of the healings?

Sadly, we charge that the ones we have learned about are merely charlatans. They deceive the people and go their way, seeking to convince the sick person that he or she didn’t have enough faith. Or perhaps sin was in their life and this is why God did not heal. These excuses are routinely given and the person is not healed! But the “healer” is able to pocket the cash that gullible worshipers give to him.

Just today, I learned of a woman who is quite enamored with a minister in one of the more prominent healing denominations (the so-called “Assembly of God”). She has been living uncomfortably with cataracts and the other eye is severely compromised. Surely if this minister were of God and had the “gift of healing,” there would be no doubt that the woman’s eyes would be healed and become like they were years ago—perfect in every way. But, no, she remains unhealed and with defective eyes.

This is just an example that shows how much healers misuse Scripture to their own lucrative purposes. If anyone knows the Bible and still claims to not heal, when this healing is promised by the healer, there is something seriously wrong! Could it not be that they “distort” Scripture to their own purposes (2 Peter 3:16)? If you are reading this and have suffered harm at the hands of one of these charlatans or counterfeits, renounce this immediately! Turn from such a person—whether a man or a woman—and turn to the Scriptures that “are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 3:15). Don’t allow them to “take you captive” by their specious arguments and philosophies (Colossians 2:8).

God does not promise healing today, thus when they offer such healing, remember that they can easily misuse Scripture. Be willing to compare the healings of Jesus and the apostles with the purported “healings” of today. May God open the eyes of these dear sick people and show them that they must not throw away their hard-earned cash to such charlatans!

–Richard Hollerman