Should modern believers expect a healing from G-d?
I believe the spiritual gifts (like healing) experienced by the early believers were intended to show G-d's validation of Yeshua's and the apostles' ministry; and to work as an outward visible witness of G-d's powers for non-believers to see. It is clear that healing the sick commonly occurred among the first believers. "And they departed, and went through the towns, preaching the gospel, and healing everywhere." Luke 9:6
The question is whether those early gifts are still in place today. I believe the Brit Chadasha (new testament) speaks of a time when the gifts would fail:
While it is clear healings were everyday events in the early ministry, I'd like to show Scripturally that such miracles ceased being everyday events even while Sha'ul was still alive. Let me show a few cases in the later years of Sha'ul's ministry:
Sha'ul advised Timothy to "Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities." (1Tim 5:23) I point out this verse for a couple reasons; it tends to indicate the gifts were already failing or else one would expect Sha'ul to have recommended a full healing for Timothy instead. We know from Acts 28:8 that at one time Sha'ul did have the power to heal; but in this epistle, the gift seems to have faded away.
A second reason for quoting this verse is to point out Sha'ul's advice to Timothy belies a common belief today that all sickness is from HaSatan. The gist being that sickness indicates that one's faith must be weak (or else G-d would have sent healing). Timothy, a godly man, apparently suffered much with 'often infirmities' yet no healing was suggested or even expected here for him. We already know from Job that physical sickness cannot be the measure of one's relationship with G-d -- physical suffering doesn't mean one isn't right with G-d (remember Sha'ul himself had a thorn in the side). In this epistle we see illness handled differently than some modern 'spiritually-gifted' churches would have handled Timothy's illness. According to the common practice of some modern churches, Sha'ul should have spoken a 'positive confession' for the complete healing of Timothy and then 'believed' G-d for the miracle. And in keeping with such modern teachings, had Timothy's healing not occurred, Timothy would be blamed for not having enough positive faith. But note that is not what happened in this epistle. An ill brother was simply accepted as an ill brother and the only advice offered was practical and not supernatural.
In 2 Timothy 4:20 we again see unhealed illness, Sha'ul notes:
Why was Sha'ul's other beloved brother not healed either? Can we see, based on these later letters of Sha'ul's, that what was commonplace during the early years of the ministry eventually began to fade out? Can we expect self-proclaimed 'modern apostles' to have the very powers that Sha'ul himself had begun to lack?
My hope is that people will re-check scripture and test some of their modern doctrines against it. Modern healers often quote this verse:
However, a deeper study of the matter will reveal that there was a condition attached to this promise:
Did you catch that? "According to His will." According to His will, not our will. This is an excellent litmus test; if you ever wonder how you're doing in your walk, stop and see if you are seeking His will or your own. The answer may shock you.
*We* are servants of the Most High. He is not our servant. Yet many treat G-d as our servant, to answer our beck and call. "Heal this." "Give me this." "Fix this for me." G-d is not bound by some cosmic contract to meet our every demand. Some seem to believe G-d's power is at OUR disposal -- and that's dangerous haughty territory. Please understand this. We are made in G-d's image -- not He in ours! It is *HIS WILL* we should seek. And it is not always G-d's will to heal sickness -- as seen in the above Scriptural examples of those who did not receive healing. Sometimes G-d's answer to a prayer request is 'no.' Remember that much healing in Scripture was done to validate the ministries of G-d's servants so that the people would know it was from G-d. The point of the healings in the Brit Chadasha (new testament) was to evoke a "Wow -- Yeshua truly is the Son of G-d" response. It was not intended to show that anyone-anytime could utilize the power of G-d at will.
So what can modern believers expect of G-d?
Too many preachers on television are teaching a 'health&wealth' gospel, yet we are simply not guaranteed these things in Scripture. Can we really 'name it and claim it' and basically write our own ticket with G-d? No. What can we reasonably expect from G-d? Except during times of persecution, we can expect to be clothed and fed. Sha'ul eloquently writes:
And during times of persecution when even our most basic physical needs aren't being met, we can take comfort in our hope:
"And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience" Romans 5:3
"For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." Romans 8:18
"Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer." Romans 12:12
I realize many do not want to hear that believers can suffer. Worse, many want to believe all suffering and trouble isn't G-d's will but instead are brought to us by the enemy (hasatan). But sometimes G-d's will *is* for us to suffer:
"For this reason, those who suffer according to the will of God shall entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right." 1 Kefa 4:19 Kefa's point here is that when suffering comes, it is better to suffer blamelessly than to suffer as the result of our own wrong actions. But I quoted the passages here to show that suffering can be G-d's will. To assume all suffering is against G-d's will, and therefore the result of hasatan is to credit hasatan with the actions of the Father.
But in the end days, many depart from truth -- re-creating doctrine according to our own selfish wills, ignoring the 'hard' passages of Scripture that don't promise worldly health and prosperity:
Greater comfort comes in knowing the Truth that Scripture teaches rather than the false hope promised by false teachers. Truth is freedom.
A Gift Of Healing?
Ellen Kavanaugh
"Love never fails: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away." 1 Cor 13:8
"Erastus abode at Corinth: but Trophimus have I left at Miletum, sick."
"And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive. Mattityahu 21:22
And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he will hear us." 1 Yochanan 5:14
"Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, How shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knows that you need these things. But seek first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Mattityahu 6:31-33
"For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment, let us be content." 1 Timothy 6:8
"These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." Yochanan 16:33
"For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing." 1 Kefa 3:17
"As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent." Revelation 3:19
"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears. And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry." 2 Timothy 4:3-5