This is a topic of considerable dispute among Christian’s. The Bible is clear that we are to ask God for healing. (James 5:14-16; Luke 9:2; 1 Cor. 12:9,11; Mark 11:24-25) When Yeshua was on earth a significant portion of His ministry involved healing the sick, infirmed, and diseased. He also cast out demons frequently. The scope of divine healing ranges from Peter’s mother-in-law not feeling well to sick people dying from their sickness and Yeshua raising them from the dead. We know that after Yeshua’s resurrection the apostles also healed many people.
Divine healing falls into a broad category of questions where people ask, “Does the whole Bible apply today as it did in the first century?” Some of those who limit divine healing or other gifts to the First Century generally believe God has given us modern medical science and Biblical healing was done only as signs to verify and confirm that Yeshua was the Messiah. Why signs are no longer beneficial or necessary today is not addressed; some may assume we have the Bible wherein people can read about the healing Jesus performed when He was on earth. Additionally, some assert that total healing will only happen in heaven, therefore, why would God heal people, knowing they will die later anyway? The obvious answer to this supposition is that healing is a compassionate merciful act of a loving and merciful God who clearly communicated through scripture that we should ask Him for all our needs. Moreover, raising people from the dead, knowing they will die again, did not stop Jesus from doing it at least three times.
For many the issue is not about divine healing, but verification of an actual healing from a divine source. Many people are turned off by the means and methods of ministers involved in divine healing. For example, Benny Hinn who lives in a big house, drives an expensive car and heals people on a stage before an audience has been accused by some as a fraud. However, in his book, he says his organization requires every healing to be verified through medical professionals before and after, to be acknowledged a divine healing. There have been some frauds and swindlers, but also countless scientifically unexplainable healings. Is the God of the Bible a supernatural miracle working God who says He remains the same forever – unchanging? (Malachi 3:6; Psalm 55:19; Heb. 13:8) It is one thing to doubt people, their actions and motives, but doubting God is a different matter entirely. Perhaps the most important criteria is the Messiah’s identity in scripture: “He took up our infirmities and bore our diseases.”(Isaiah 53:4-5/Matt. 8:16-17) God is Sovereign, He decides whether we are healed or not, nevertheless Israel named Him, “Jehovah-Rapha,” the God who heals.
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