Tommy,
To correctly understand N.T. healing the believer needs to heed (2 Tim 3:14-17), remembering that the holy scriptures then were the Old Testament writings.
The creation of Israel as a nation began with signs & wonders. Ex 4:1-9; v 28-30; 7:3; 8:23; 10:1-2; Deut 4:33-39, etc. God told Israel that was how they would know for certain that the messenger was truly from Him, that is, unless the worker was a test to see if Israel would abandon His commandments (Deut 13:1-10).
Thus Israel was programmed, so to speak 1 Cor 1:22, to look for signs & as a result had no excuse to reject their Messiah for He did such, abundantly (Jn 7:31; 9:16; 11:47;-48; 12:17-19; v 37; 14:9-11; Acts 2:22, etc). Consequently that is why their judgment was so severe (Mt 23:33-36; Luke 12:48).
Knowing that Israel had been so conditioned (Jn 1:1; v 14), our Lord gave the apostles healing power (Mt 28:18; Mk 16:16-18; Acts 3:1-8; 5:15; 28:3-5; 2 Cor 11:5; Gal 2:6-9; vs. 11-19, etc) so that whether the Jew was in the land of Israel or dispersed in the world (Dan 9:7; Jn 10:16; Acts 2:5-14; v 39) they would believe (1 Cor 1:22). And if you will carefully read the N.T. you will discover that there were no healing failures after our Lords ascension (Acts 5:16).
However, as Paul clearly states in 1 Corinthians 13, such signs would cease, which is proven in the lives of faithful ministers of the gospel before the end of the lives of the apostles (1 Tim 5:23; 2 Tim 4:20; Phil 2:27). Why, because the dispersed Jew had by then heard the gospel (Col 1:5-6).
Yes, God still heals, if it is His will, in answer to prayer. No, there are no faith healers being sent by God today as such repeatedly & blatantly prove. If they could they heal just 10% of the folks found in hospitals, not their auditoriums, would not the major TV networks be following them around in order to capture TV audience? Would they not be interviewing doctors about the healing of their patients?
Again, keep in mind that is with just 10% being healed. Imagine the reaction of the public & the doctors dismay when they watch their 2nd house, Mercedes, airplane, boat payment walk out of the hospital without the need of their services. So what do you think their reaction would be if there were zero failures (Acts 5:16)?
When I went to a truck terminal in Birmingham in 1979 looking for employment there was a truck driver memorizing other drivers with tales about a faith healer who was even raising the dead. After I quoted some of the above verses his audience began making the connection. Seeing that he no longer had their full attention, & being asked for proof, the trucker became irate & said that he had such out in his truck.
Though I thought he was lying, this was my 2nd direct involvement with faith healers, would have several more later that all turned out the same way, I also had then a brother-in-law that was dying from M. S. & Im not infallible on the scriptures.. If this guy could document what he had said my brother-in-law was going to that healer immediately. So I went with him to his truck, where he jumped into the cab & reaching under his seat produced a snub nosed revolver stating this was his proof.
No, Im not making this up. Such people are greatly deceived as it is obvious they are not truthful (Ps 51:6; Jn 4:23-24).
Yes, Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, & forever in love, mercy, etc. but His operation & commandments with believers has changed, as witnessed by the eating of shrimp, pork, etc which were once a clear violation of the dietary law of the Jews.
Please feel free to PM me if you have any questions about this matter.
KCD
This is my first post.......
