God has give US the power to heal ourselves and others. The only necessary component: faith. Everything in the scriptures from Gen to Rev is about trusting in God. It's finished and settled.
You need to reread several times what I wrote and meditate on the word of God given. You have everything you need. Here's your answer as to the definition of faith.So.... What do you define as "Faith" - and does faith necessarily include Obedience or not? Whose "Faith" is required?
If the Power was within YOU - why would ANYONE ever have to learn "My grace is sufficient for you"...
Of course Jesus had faith. And scripture says the people lacked faith. If you don't want the gift and lack faith that is on you.The irony of all this is that Last week - I would have agreed with you wholeheartedly.... but as I studied the scriptures more - I noticed these details... critical details that somehow - the people talking about "Healing" not being a Calling within the Church never drug out the details within the scriptures themselves......
So.. I am dragging them out....
You just made my point with your own interpretation of the bible verse.... By your own Interpretation - you claim that Even JESUS himself - The Son of God in Flesh - was UNABLE to heal certain people at certain times due to a condition outside of himself... Which means HEALING is not a Power that can be wielded by men....
If healing was a Power wielded by Men - why could JESUS himself not heal people in certain situations? Is it because JESUS did not have enough faith - because that's what you are claiming....
That's what you are claiming when you state that Miracles don't happen because we don't have enough faith.... Therefore, Jesus did NOT have enough faith in certain situations because HE could not heal in all situations....
Right? Nope.... Obviously, something is wrong with this position.... because Jesus DID have enough faith!
now.. you will say... Well.. It was those dirty old people with weak faith... and their lack of faith prevented them from BEING healed.... Well... How then did Jesus cast out the demon in the the blind mute (Matt 12:22) - that man could neither have understood, nor seen to believe Jesus was capable of doing anything.. And.. he was demon possessed on top of that.... so THAT man certainly did not have enough "faith" - in the sense of "Belief" in Jesus.... but he was healed....
By your interpretation (And my former interpretation) - these would all be contradictory.... There's no rhyme or reason to why he healed one day and not the next if it's just your "Belief in God" that's operative....
Unless.... we are missing something important here...
Sometimes, Men are allowed to take part in Miracles out of obedience to God... But... The miracle comes from God... Man's "performance" is obedience - not wishing for party tricks.. Our "Job" in a miracle is Witnessing and TESTIFYING to God's miracle... on God's timeline.... to God's display of sovereign will and power.... Our "Faith" in this situation is being Obedient to God's Command.... To DECLARE it before Men... Stand Up! God is Healing YOU right NOW!
Let's look at a specific situation where God runs us through the nuts and bolts of a miracle in slow motion....
So... Go on back to Exodus 17:1-6....
God commands Moses - Go strike the rock and I will provide water....
Moses goes before the People - he strikes the Rock... and Water comes out....
The PEOPLE observe that Moses did a miracle in front of them...
Moses must be a Miracle worker... Right?
Well.... No... God did the miracle..... Moses was being obedient and banging on a rock and declaring that God would provide water.....
Now..let's go back to Mark 6:3....
Jesus can't heal these people because of their lack of faith.......
Jesus is being OBEDIENT to God the Father - and obediently NOT healing them because of their LACK of Obedience to God the Father.....
What was their Lack of Obedience? Those people would not TESTIFY that Jesus had worked a Miracle of God in their midst.. They would not BELIEVE in Jesus.. Mark 6:4 "A prophet has no honor among his own people"...
At least that's how I currently see it...
Why would Jesus (who is God) require faith?Of course Jesus had faith.
Jesus was also human. I was responding to someone who asked if Jesus lacked faith. Jesus didn't lack any faith. And sorry Asuk won't get pulled into one of your debates on a word.Why would Jesus (who is God) require faith?
I think the passage in Isaiah 53 speaks mostly to the healing of spiritual sickness (our iniquities, transgressions, and chastized shalom). Does anyone else see that?
This one is a fun one to dig around in the Scriptures.....
So... Instructive is that Paul lists "Gifts of Healing" in many lists.....
So far as I could find - in his lists, he never uses "Healing" that's not prefaced....
Specifically - here, the greek word for "Gift" means an unwarranted favor - as in like a Christmas present....
It denotes a "Thing" given - and that "Thing" is A Healing.... It does NOT mean an ability to produce such things....
My current opinion on this is that a "Gift of Healing" is like a Christmas present that God gives someone in need..... It is a manifestation of the Divine Sovereignty and Power of God's Mercy and Love in response to the condition of the person needing the Healing.... God may ALSO manifest a healing as a WITNESS to US of His Own Divine Sovereignty and Power.....
Note that None of Paul's lists has "Healer" listed as an Office or a Calling.....
None of Pauls lists list "Healing" in the Verb sense - as in Man providing or administer healing...
Scripture wise - the ONLY MAN who EVER was able to heal 100% on command was Jesus....
Even among the Apostles - "Healing" was a Miracle bestowed by God... They did not have the "Ability" to heal... Not Peter, not Paul, not the rest of the Apostles.... Only Jesus was able to heal 100% of people, any time.
To Christians:What does the Bible teach us about healing?
I agree with you. I would say James 5:14-15 contains both scenario's.KingJ, though I loved your exposition I would like to point out that two words are usually used to refer to physical healing in the NT...one is iaomai (to heal, to cure), and the other is therapeuo (from which we get "therapy", to work towards a cure, to make the unsettled condition right so as to promote healing)...but in James 5 the prayer of faith could be the sick persons confession of Christ and before God, and as for the "shall save the sick" is not the same as to "cure their disease", but sozo or "save"....IMO this could be (not is) to assure their place in Christ's promised resurrection (Christ in you the hope of Glory)...as this is the NT common usage for the term being "raised up"...otherwise why finish the statement with the forgiveness of their sins...I admit this is something somewhat speculative...so what do you brothers and sisters think?
KingJ, though I loved your exposition I would like to point out that two words are usually used to refer to physical healing in the NT...one is iaomai (to heal, to cure), and the other is therapeuo (from which we get "therapy", to work towards a cure, to make the unsettled condition right so as to promote healing)...but in James 5 the prayer of faith could be the sick persons confession of Christ and before God, and as for the "shall save the sick" is not the same as to "cure their disease", but sozo or "save"....IMO this could be (not is) to assure their place in Christ's promised resurrection (Christ in you the hope of Glory)...as this is the NT common usage for the term being "raised up"...otherwise why finish the statement with the forgiveness of their sins...I admit this is something somewhat speculative...so what do you brothers and sisters think?
I liked your post because the point you brought is very valid.. Healing is a gift from God to the person being healed.. I can absolutely agree with that.. If a pastor prays for a person and he is healed, then the gift is received by the person who is healed.. But God uses certain people as vessels.. It does not make them "healers". Or God does not call evangelists to host healing crusades (only place to expect healings!!!) As Major rightly said, God choose when, where and through whom healing will come. He can use a person or not use a person..This one is a fun one to dig around in the Scriptures.....
So... Instructive is that Paul lists "Gifts of Healing" in many lists.....
So far as I could find - in his lists, he never uses "Healing" that's not prefaced....
Specifically - here, the greek word for "Gift" means an unwarranted favor - as in like a Christmas present....
It denotes a "Thing" given - and that "Thing" is A Healing.... It does NOT mean an ability to produce such things....
My current opinion on this is that a "Gift of Healing" is like a Christmas present that God gives someone in need..... It is a manifestation of the Divine Sovereignty and Power of God's Mercy and Love in response to the condition of the person needing the Healing.... God may ALSO manifest a healing as a WITNESS to US of His Own Divine Sovereignty and Power.....
Note that None of Paul's lists has "Healer" listed as an Office or a Calling.....
None of Pauls lists list "Healing" in the Verb sense - as in Man providing or administer healing...
Scripture wise - the ONLY MAN who EVER was able to heal 100% on command was Jesus....
Even among the Apostles - "Healing" was a Miracle bestowed by God... They did not have the "Ability" to heal... Not Peter, not Paul, not the rest of the Apostles.... Only Jesus was able to heal 100% of people, any time.
Actually you are wrong. Even Jesus couldn't heal people who lacked faith (Mark 6:5). It says he only was able to heal a few not everyone. The Apostles healed people all the time, through the power of God. When we are saved and filled with the Holy Spirit we have received this gift. Jesus commanded for us to heal the sick, raise the dead and cast out demons. Matthew 10:8. It is a great deception from Satan that people have stopped believing we have the power to heal as well. You keep on spreading those false statements about healing then you will be limited on what God promises He will do through us.
Great question. Raising the dead only the person raising the dead has to have faith. The reason two have to have faith is because lack of faith will hinder the healing. A dead person is dead therefore no lack of faith is in play. If a person goes around saying it is Gods will Im sick then they will continue or maybe take longer to be sick.Not that I disagree with you, but your post had me thinking. Mainly the verse you mention where it says "Heal the sick, raise the dead." My question would be who actually needs to have the faith, the one healing, or the one being healed? Does it have to be one or the other? Could it be both? If not, then are we saying the dead that was raised, had faith? Or did the one raising the dead have faith? Great thought provoking post!
Would this be just for healing, or would this apply to all miracles being performed?Great question. Raising the dead only the person raising the dead has to have faith. The reason two have to have faith is because lack of faith will hinder the healing. A dead person is dead therefore no lack of faith is in play. If a person goes around saying it is Gods will Im sick then they will continue or maybe take longer to be sick.
Great question. Raising the dead only the person raising the dead has to have faith. The reason two have to have faith is because lack of faith will hinder the healing. A dead person is dead therefore no lack of faith is in play. If a person goes around saying it is Gods will Im sick then they will continue or maybe take longer to be sick.
All miracles. One thing to consider is some people don't see alot of miracles is because they are walking in the blessing of God. I would rather be blessed than see miracles throughout my lifeWould this be just for healing, or would this apply to all miracles being performed?