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John 6:
Similarly, for the disciples, Matthew 10:
Later, however, Paul wrote in 1 Timothy 5:
More generally, individual believers could be gifted. 1 Corinthians 12:
Yes, today, I believe God still heals supernaturally through faith at times, but at other times, he uses doctors. When God heals miraculously, he is proving a point. It is a sign, Mark 16:
There was a special case of healing: Jesus healed a Canaanite woman's daughter because of her persistence. We cannot demand God to heal, but we can keep asking with faith.
Another unusual case was a woman who suffered from bleeding for 12 years. She was healed by touching Jesus' garment with faith (Mt 9:22).
Is faith healing for today?
On the healers' side, some followers of Jesus were given the power to heal as a sign to demonstrate their God-sent authority. Peter and Paul were apostles. Not every apostle was a healer. These people were extremely rare, then and now.
On the patients' side, some special cases of believers received what they faithfully asked for. This was between the patients and God. We have to distinguish between our wishful thinking and our faithful thinking with peace. Like other kinds of miracles, supernatural healing cannot be systematized. We need to consider them on a case-by-case basis.
I.e., Jesus healed the sick to prove that he was sent by God.2 A large crowd kept following him because they saw the signs that he was doing for the sick.
Similarly, for the disciples, Matthew 10:
The apostles healed many in Acts 5:1 Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.
And for Paul, Acts 19:15b People brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. 16Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by impure spirits, and all of them were healed.
All of the above healings show that they were sent by God. Miracles are often signs to demonstrate something. In the last case, it showed that Paul was an apostle.12 so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them.
Later, however, Paul wrote in 1 Timothy 5:
Paul didn't send Timothy his handkerchief to heal him. The healing miracles/signs were no longer associated with him.23 Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses.
More generally, individual believers could be gifted. 1 Corinthians 12:
Should we pray for healing?8 For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit.
Yes, today, I believe God still heals supernaturally through faith at times, but at other times, he uses doctors. When God heals miraculously, he is proving a point. It is a sign, Mark 16:
James 5:17 these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
Having prayed, it is not always the will of God to heal everyone every time.14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.
There was a special case of healing: Jesus healed a Canaanite woman's daughter because of her persistence. We cannot demand God to heal, but we can keep asking with faith.
Another unusual case was a woman who suffered from bleeding for 12 years. She was healed by touching Jesus' garment with faith (Mt 9:22).
Is faith healing for today?
On the healers' side, some followers of Jesus were given the power to heal as a sign to demonstrate their God-sent authority. Peter and Paul were apostles. Not every apostle was a healer. These people were extremely rare, then and now.
On the patients' side, some special cases of believers received what they faithfully asked for. This was between the patients and God. We have to distinguish between our wishful thinking and our faithful thinking with peace. Like other kinds of miracles, supernatural healing cannot be systematized. We need to consider them on a case-by-case basis.
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