Faith healers

[Mouse]

Is the gift of faith healing available today? And if so, how can we test them to know if they are truly from Christ?

My current stand point is that I don't believe people today have the gift to heal. I believe the Lord still heals people today only through prayer and request. Regardless, I went for the very first time to observe a person who claims to be a faith healer. I'm really confused and searching for answers.

Here is what happened.... The faith healer I observed is a man who dresses very unusual. He wears really tight jeans, and he wears what seems to be womans jewelry: flashy rings with large pink and white diamonds, fat pearl bracelets, earings and a pink belt. He said he wears these kind of garments so that we can have an image of what we will look like in the kingdom of heaven. I don't understand that at all.

He played about twelve songs recorded from a CD and at the same time he played along with his guitar. I found that odd because at first I actually thought he was singing until I noticed his mouth didn't always move. He read many passages from the Bible, all which had to do with forgiving others their sins. This entire meeting lasted 4 hours and I was almost falling asleep because his speaking really bored me. He would whisper a lot.

At the end, (3 hours and 45 minutes later), he asked people to come up who needed healing or wanted to be released of their unforgiveness toward others. Only three people went to him and he put his hand over them and said prayer. I really don't even know if they were healed because I was on my way out the door. However, as I was leaving he asked me if I needed anything healed. When I said no he asked if I had back pain, stomach ache or headaches. I actually had a bad headache but I said "no thank you". Praise the Lord I am in very good health. I do get headaches now and then but it has nothing to do with any type of disease.

I have to say that I went to that meeting with the full armour of God and not an open mind. I admit I'm a big-time skeptic but I also don't want my lack of faith to get in the way.

Since this is my first experience with faith healers I would appreciate any help you could offer. My first thought was to come to talkjesus. Thanks!

 

[nighthorde]

healing

i would have to say yes. healing is still used to today through God. My sister does it to animals all the time and they are healed as new

 

[stephen]

My approach to such 'faith healers' is not condemnation, but an open mind. My first question would be "Are they preaching the Message of the Cross, the message of Jesus"

If they are I withhold judgement, because like me they are 'preaching Jesus'

You mention the dress of the Evangelist....I also would question.

I recall my nephew (Pastor) going to hear a well known Evangelist preach, now based in Florida, dressed similar, shirt cuffs engraved hand sewn etc........and after the service my nephew responding for prayer.

My nephew was unable to drive home....such was the power of the Holy Spirit upon his person.

Only Jesus can heal, bless, save to the "uttermost"

I have to say that I went to that meeting with the full armour of God and not an open mind. I admit I'm a big-time skeptic but I also don't want my lack of faith to get in the way.

Since this is my first experience with faith healers I would appreciate any help you could offer. My first thought was to come to talkjesus. Thanks!

I'm a big-time skeptic

Thanks for coming to T.J.

Jesus said " He that believeth on me....out of his belly, (innermost being) shall flow rivers of living water"

 

[Mouse]

Yes, he was preaching Jesus and the message of the cross. That was ultimately the main thing I was looking for for discernment. He also told us that he can do nothing of himself, that it's only through Jesus that he can heal. I also know a woman who had been to this same faith healer and she was brought to Christ. I knew her before that time and I see the remarkable difference when she accepted Christ. So there is more evidence that this man is genuine.

I don't want to condemn and I hope that isn't what I'm doing. But I can't leave and open mind because I feel I have to continually be on the defensive. As 1 Peter 5:8 says, we have to be alert because satan is prowling like a roaring lion.

That's amazing about the power of the Holy Spirit's effect on your nephew. I didn't get that feeling.

Funny thing that you mention healing of animals because there was a toy poodle at the meeting that had a lame leg and was limping around all evening in the room. It was owned by a woman who came with the faith healer who spoke and I don't know if she was his wife. But I felt sad for this cute little limping dog and wondered why his dog was in that condition. Is there any mention in the Bible of Jesus healing an animal?

Here is what I've learned so far on the topic and please add to it if you can. I plan on doing more research today.

-The three reasons Jesus heals:
1) For the benefit of the person, out of compasion and love which Jesus has for all people.
2) For the purpose of bringing sinful men to Jesus.
3) To authenticate the messangers of God. It was given to the apostles and those commisioned by the apostles like Stephen and Philip.

-The types of diseases Jesus healed were organic diseases such as palsy, leprosy, blindness, lameness, birth defects and death.

-There are no cases of Him healing people who had headaches, back aches or stomach aches (these are functional diseases). In fact, 1 Timothy 5:23 Paul did not cure Timothy's stomach ache.

 

[stephen]

I feel I have to continually be on the defensive. As 1 Peter 5:8 says, we have to be alert because satan is prowling like a roaring lion.

Indeed. We have to discern, and Jesus gives the ability to do that, according to scripture

-The three reasons Jesus heals:
1) For the benefit of the person, out of compasion and love which Jesus has for all people.
2) For the purpose of bringing sinful men to Jesus.
3) To authenticate the messangers of God. It was given to the apostles and those commisioned by the apostles like Stephen and Philip.

I would agree

 

[oboy]

Hi Mouse,

Yes, the gift of healing is still for today. We can debate that later on if you wish.

In Scripture, it says, "Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed, and he healed them." (Mat 4:23-24). This would include headaches, stomach aches and the like.

The disciples did the same.

I'm not sure quite what you mean by organic and functional diseases, but from your list, it seems like fever would fall into the functional diseases. Jesus healed Peter's mother-in-law of fever.

As for the flashy faith healer, judge his message, not necessarily whether or not he gets people healed.

One other thought is that any one of us can be used to healed the sick. One does not need a gift of healing.

oboy

 

[Chad]

One other thought is that anyone of us can be used to healed the sick. One does not need a gift of healing.

I don't think that's true. Can you back this up with Scripture?

 

[oboy]

I don't think that's true. Can you back this up with Scripture?

It can be backed up with both Scripture and history.

Mark 16:15-18 says, He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well."

Who is it that will lay hands on the sick? Is it the apostles? No, it is those who believe the message of the apostles. That's you and me.

Any believer can lay their hands on the sick and see people healed.

In James 5, it's the elders that are used to pray the prayer of faith.

In Acts 6, we have Stephen, one of the seven (called to wait on tables), "a man full of God's grace and power, did great wonders and miraculous signs among the people." It doesn't say what kind of wonders and signs, but these usually refer to healing.

In Acts 8, Phillip, another of the seven and an evangelist, did many "miraculous signs...With shrieks, evil spirits came out of many, and many paralytics and cripples were healed."

If any Christian can preach the Gospel and cast out demons, then any Christian can heal the sick.

In history, we don't just see healing evangelists healing the sick, but all kinds of people healing the sick.

Pastor Blumhardt of Germany, Andrew Murray, Rees Howells, Martin Luther are some famous folk that saw the sick healed. When C.T. Studd was heading out to Africa, he got sick and his 20-year old fellow missionary laid hands on him and anointed him with lamp oil. Studd woke up the next morning healed.

The Baptist, John R. Rice, was used in healing.

When I was in college, I had a friend that prayed for a guy that had fallen and been cut. The cut instantly healed.

I prayed for my cousin-in-law who was bed-ridden. The next day she was up and moving with no problem. (BTW, when I say pray, I mean that I command the sickness to leave...not just ask God to heal a person).

A 60-something old guy in my men's group got saved a few months ago, and was delivered from alcohol and smoking, and God is using him to heal the sick.

I have friends all over the world, from many different denominations, who have testimonies of how they prayed for someone and that person was instantly healed.

The only reason more people don't get healed is because we, the believers, don't have faith to lay hands on the sick and see them recover. The fault lies totally with us.

oboy

 

[ladylovesJesus]

my Pastor's wife says she has the gift of healing as people get healed when she lays hands on them and prays for them. I know God can use us as His vessels to bring healing to whoever He chooses to heal.
We also need to have faith to believe we have received it as well.

God bless

LLJ

 

[Mouse]

Hi Mouse,

Yes, the gift of healing is still for today. We can debate that later on if you wish.

In Scripture, it says, "Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed, and he healed them." (Mat 4:23-24). This would include headaches, stomach aches and the like.

The disciples did the same.

I'm not sure quite what you mean by organic and functional diseases, but from your list, it seems like fever would fall into the functional diseases. Jesus healed Peter's mother-in-law of fever.

As for the flashy faith healer, judge his message, not necessarily whether or not he gets people healed.

One other thought is that any one of us can be used to healed the sick. One does not need a gift of healing.

oboy

I read those scriptures, thank you. But now I wonder why Timothy's stomach ache wasn't cured in 1 Timothy 5:23?

Here is another thing I'm investigating. The way we test people today is by seeing if they line up with the scriptures. But back when the apostles were spreading the message of Christ they didn't have this method, so they needed signs such as healing to authenticate themselves. So the gifts of healing and all the other gifts would be in effect to authenticate. But today we have scriptures so we don't need to use the signs.

 

[carlos marquez]

I would stay far away from faith healers.
Even if they stress that they are doing it all in the name of Jesus.(Mark 13:22-23) God does heal today but our problem is we seek after "special men with healing powers to rescue us".Instead shouldnt we be seeking Christ and Him alone in prayer and suplication.
Or are healing crusaders absolutely nesesary in order for us to get our healing?
What I dont understand is why do people keep on seeking after the crumbs when they can get the whole loaf.Jesus himself said.Iam the bread of life.(John 6:3536)
Luke 9:24-25.
Following circuit healers is time wasted.Our lives are short,time is prescious,lives are being lost,many countless victims are falling dead of the dreaded decease we know as sin.
For what advantage has a man if he has a clean bill of health all his earthly life.But fails to make his life count for the kingdome of God?
For its not about how healthy we feel or how long we will live,but it's about being good stewards with what ever time He has alloted us.

This is a perilous time in our history.The gospel is free but someone has to put in the plumbing.
Amos 8:11-12
Behold the days come,saith the Lord,that I will send a famine in the land,not a famine of bread,nor of thirst for water,but of hearing the words of the Lord:
And they shall wander from sea to sea,and from north even to the east,they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord,and shall not find it..

Just because theres lot's of activity does not mean it is the work of God.
Romans 13:12-13

 

[oboy]

I read those scriptures, thank you. But now I wonder why Timothy's stomach ache wasn't cured in 1 Timothy 5:23?

Here is another thing I'm investigating. The way we test people today is by seeing if they line up with the scriptures. But back when the apostles were spreading the message of Christ they didn't have this method, so they needed signs such as healing to authenticate themselves. So the gifts of healing and all the other gifts would be in effect to authenticate. But today we have scriptures so we don't need to use the signs.

Hi Mouse,

You make an excellent point about the gifts used to authenticate Scripture.

First, I've no idea why Timothy wasn't healed. Unfortunately, what the church has done is make a rule out of the exception. Throughout the Gospels and Acts, time after time we read, "and they were all healed" or "and they healed them all." That should be the norm in the church today, but we prefer Timothy, Trophimus, and maybe Paul's sicknesses over Christ's healings.

As for the authenticity, we know from Scripture that many non-Christians can do miracles and heal the sick. Jesus told us, "Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' 23 Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'"

There were and are many who can heal the sick who do not know Jesus. This is why we need to make sure that the message being preached is truly of God and lines up with Scripture.

But last of all, God still uses healings to confirm His word, especially in pioneer mission settings, where people still serve and worship demons. When someone goes with the power of God to heal the sick and get answers to prayer, it shows that the Living God is more powerful than the false gods.

 

[oboy]

I would stay far away from faith healers.
Even if they stress that they are doing it all in the name of Jesus.(Mark 13:22-23) God does heal today but our problem is we seek after "special men with healing powers to rescue us".Instead shouldnt we be seeking Christ and Him alone in prayer and suplication.
Or are healing crusaders absolutely nesesary in order for us to get our healing?

Hi Carlos,

You also make some great points.

There is absolutely no need to chase after people such as Benny Hinn or other faith healers. But if you look in Scripture, very rarely (to my knowledge, never) did a person get healed because of his own faith (meaning, while they were sitting in their own homes praying for healing of their own bodies). The sick person or a friend or relative of the sick person always went to someone who could get them healed, or the "healer" went to the sick person.

All the faith that a sick person needs is to either call for the elders of the church, or to get to someone that can heal them (a believer). It then becomes the elders' or believer's responsibility to get them healed.

In Scripture, people brought the sick to Jesus or the apostles. On some occasions, Jesus or the apostles went to the sick person.

What we never find is Jesus or the apostles going to all of the sick people and healing them (i.e., emptying out a hospital).

Do not ask me why this is. It simply seems to be part of God's Kingdom and design.

IMHO, each church should have a team of people that can minister healing to the sick, both the saved and the lost, in church, in a hospital, in homes, or in Walmart.

God bless,
oboy

 

[Mustard_Seed]

There have been some excellent points in this discussion, and as someone who is part of my church's prayer and healing ministry, I can empathise with many of them.

Setting 'healing' apart from the whole ministry of the Church will always be a problem and something that has been touched on here is that physical healing's are not separate from the whole ministry of the church, but a part of it. After all, Christ did not just heal specific ailments: his healing was (if you will excuse the use of the word) holistic.

The healing ministry should always be part of the whole ministry of the church, from the preaching of the Word, to the fellowship of the church.

He called for repentance, He forgave sins, He freed the least person from the burden of the legalism, preached the Good News of God's kingdom: all of these things were acts of healing as much as the physical healings were. (See Matthew 4:23 for example).

And finally, in the greatest single act of healing, He died for the sake of our sins and then conquered death itself when He rose again on the third day.

He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

The greatest act of healing there is to accept Christ died for your sins and ask Him to come into your heart.

Blessings

 

[carlos marquez]

I believe we were created for fellowship,for it is when we as a body come together that we remain in Him.I also believe in letting my brothers and sisters pray over me while allowing the holy spirit to move as he may.What bothers me is seeing those who are in vulnerable positions being abused by counterfit healers.
I believe that one characteristic of a person who is endow with the gift of healing
is humility ,and how many of us human beings can say we are truely humble?
This gift of healing is known to seduce many if you think you have it that may be a strong indication you dont.
The problem is men dont know how to wait on God and they graduate themselves into positions of healers.

Paul emphasized how all the gifts were good but the most important was to wait on God til we learn what love is.1 Cor 13:4.
1Corinthians 12:27-30.
In our time and day people dont need a quick fix of healing,they need to be loved on a consistent basis.1 Cor 13:7.the world is not needy for more healers,what we are desperately lacking is people who are willing to commit to people with sicknesess.
When I visit the sick and the dying at the local hospitals,they aint looking for a quick fix.
I offer them the gospel that is able to secure them eternally.1 Cor 13:8-13
We are priviledged to live in the greatest time in history, we little Christians posses in our hands this dynamite we call the gospel the power of God unto salvation.

Why is it that we as Christians feel uncomfortable around sickness and imidiately implement a task force of healers?One day we will come to the end of our earthly life some of us will die naturally others will succumb to ilness but we must weigh out what is the most important gift.

blessings in abudance
world without end.Amen.

 

[oboy]

I believe we were created for fellowship,for it is when we as a body come together that we remain in Him.

Hi Carlos,

There's no doubt that we need the fellowship of one another, but that doesn't mean that we cannot pray and minister healing to one another.

As I read the Bible, I find that healing is part of the Gospel, that healing of the body and the forgiveness of sins are sometimes one and the same (Matthew 9 being an example).

What bothers me is seeing those who are in vulnerable positions being abused by counterfit healers.

This is true. There is a lot of abuse, but it isn't just by counterfeit healers. It's true throughout the body of Christ.

I believe that one characteristic of a person who is endow with the gift of healing is humility, and how many of us human beings can say we are truely humble?

Humility, love, the fear of God...all of these are characteristics that all Christians need, not just one that has a gift of healing.

I have no biblical proof to back it up, but I think one characteristic of someone with a gift of healing* is compassion. They long to see the sick healed, and their hearts cry out whenever they see someone with a physical problem.

This gift of healing is known to seduce many if you think you have it that may be a strong indication you dont. The problem is men dont know how to wait on God and they graduate themselves into positions of healers.

As I mentioned in previous posts, I don't believe a person needs a gift of healing to see someone healed. It's the job of every Christian to minister healing to others. It's part and parcel of the Gospel proclamation.

Paul emphasized how all the gifts were good but the most important was to wait on God til we learn what love is.1 Cor 13:4.
1Corinthians 12:27-30.

No where in Scripture are we told to "wait on God til we learn what love is." Rather, we are commanded to love both God and man. We may need to learn how to do that, but there's no waiting involved.

Love is not a gift. It is a fruit that grows within us and is given to others.

In our time and day people dont need a quick fix of healing,they need to be loved on a consistent basis.1 Cor 13:7.the world is not needy for more healers,what we are desperately lacking is people who are willing to commit to people with sicknesses.

Quick fix or not, we are told that believers will lay their hands on sick people and they will recover. We are told that the elders are to anoint with oil sick Christians, and they will recover, and the Lord will raise them up.

While a person is sick, we should look after them and care for them (Matthew 25). But let's not stop there.

When I visit the sick and the dying at the local hospitals,they aint looking for a quick fix. I offer them the gospel that is able to secure them eternally.1 Cor 13:8-13

You're right. The Gospel message is needed above all. Eternal salvation is much more important than bodily healing.

We are priviledged to live in the greatest time in history, we little Christians posses in our hands this dynamite we call the gospel the power of God unto salvation.

What does Paul say about preaching the Gospel?

"My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power." (1 Corinthians 2:4-5).

Why neglect one for the other? Why not use both healing and the preaching of the Gospel as was done by Jesus Christ and the early church?

Why is it that we as Christians feel uncomfortable around sickness and imidiately implement a task force of healers? One day we will come to the end of our earthly life some of us will die naturally others will succumb to ilness but we must weigh out what is the most important gift.

Yes, we're all going to die, and some will die by illness. That does not negate the fact that whenever Jesus commissioned anyone to preach the Gospel, He also gave them authority and commanded them to heal the sick (Luke 9:1-2; Luke 10:1-9; Mark 16:15-20).

If it's God's heart to heal the sick, shouldn't it be our heart, too?





*The reason I say "a gift of healing" rather than "the gift of healing" is because the Bible says "gifts of healing." That seems to imply that there's more than one kind of gift of healing.

 

[Mouse]

Lots of good information here. But I still remain undecided.

I hear a lot about Benny Hinn being a fake? I don't know anything about him so I'll have to go read about that.

The faith healer I watched had things about him which I wasn't comfortable with. He dressed weird: women's
jewelry and too tight jeans in that I could see every form of him below the waist. I didn't like the way he
played music from a CD and appear to sing but didn't. When he spoke he would use a normal voice and then
go to a really low voice. But just because I myself wasn't comfortable with these things, does it mean he
doesn't have the gift? Maybe I'm unwilling to leave my comfort zone about how the children of God should
present themselves physically.

 

[oboy]

Mouse,

I would've been uncomfortable with that as well, quite a bit more judgmental, and would probably have left a lot sooner than you did.

I'm a Charismatic, but I like to believe that I'm somewhat normal, as are most of my Charismatic friends. But there are admittedly some very weird and, IMHO, unsafe people connected with the Charismatic church.

But please don't write off divine healing because of these characters. People from all kinds of denominations and backgrounds believe in divine healing. Some may have different beliefs about how to get a person healed, or whether it's God's will to heal all or not, but most of these folk are regular people with regular jobs living regular lives -- with the power, love and compassion of God being manifested.

God bless.

 

[carlos marquez]

Although love is a fruit of the spirit,if neglected fruit will wither and rot.Fruit must be prperly cultivated and nourished,and fruit takes time to grow.
As believers we are supposed to remind our selves that this Christian life is a growing process,and learning experience. 2 Peter 3:18.Titus 3:14.

Yes we are commanded to do many things,including to love,but there is a selfish desire that wars in every one of us.That is precisely why Paul takes the time to write the Corinthians.
If the Corinthian church had it all together concerning the issue of loving then why does Paul write a lengthy letter teaching them agape? 1Cor 13:3-8.
All things were written for our learning.Love is an action,love is a choice,and many faith healers are more in love with their gift than they are with meeting the needs of the suffering.

Waiting on God is biblical and obsolutely necesesary.We are comanded to wait on God and not let our pride run ahead of Him.Romans 12:7. Psalm 27:14.
Any honest Christian will wait on God and in the quietness of his own heart will examine him self to see if his works are wrougth in agape or in his own selfish love. 2 Cor 13:5

Faith healing is a hit and run ministry.
Caring for the sick and dying is a life long commitment.

Bodily healing is temporal.
The preaching of the gospel to receptive hearts is eternal.

Our times require an urgent call to preach the gospel of Christ.

 

[SpiritLedEd]

The faith healer I observed is a man who dresses very unusual. He wears really tight jeans, and he wears what seems to be womans jewelry: flashy rings with large pink and white diamonds, fat pearl bracelets, earings and a pink belt. He said he wears these kind of garments so that we can have an image of what we will look like in the kingdom of heaven. I don't understand that at all.

Here's what I've learned in the 25 years since I came to Christ - healing is for today BUT God never gives it to any one person as a possession. It is always distributed by the Holy Spirit as He chooses.

The guy you describe is an obvious fake (and a laughable one at that). Always pray for discernment before going to see a "faith healer". There are many charlatans who are eager to fleece the sheep.

Spirit Led Ed (SLE)