THE BEACON - Electronic Edition - 8/17/99 Biblical Healing And Modern Healing The Jesus of Scripture was a miracle worker and a great healer - "And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name." (John 20:30,31) Twelve men on the day of Pentecost received power from on high to perform miracles and heal the sick. The infancy of the church was characterized by the blessings of miraculous power to heal and administer to those in need. Biblical healing was indisputable. In Acts 3, a lame man was healed who had been lame "from his mother's womb" - over 40 years (Acts 4:22). The Sanhedrin acknowledged they could say nothing against what had happened because it was positive proof a miracle had occurred. Even the enemies of Jesus never denied His miracles. "And behold, there was a man who had a withered hand. And they asked Him, saying, 'Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?' -- that they might accuse Him." (Matthew 12:10) Notice they accepted the power of Jesus to heal - they were more concerned about whether He could do so on the Sabbath or not. Biblical healing was to confirm the word. "And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs." (Mark 16:20) The purpose of miracles was to confirm the gospel message that was preached. Jesus used miracles to confirm His authority, His Sonship, His relationship with the Father and His teaching - "I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in My Father's name, they bear witness of Me." (John 10:25) As noted above in John 20:30,31, the miracles John wrote about were to prove Jesus to be the Son of God. Biblical healing was never accommodating. Paul left Trophimus at Miletus sick (2 Timothy 4:20), encouraged Timothy to drink a little wine for his stomach sake and frequent infirmities (1 Timothy 5:23) and wrote of how sick Epaphroditus had become - almost to death (Philippians 2:25-27). Why didn't Paul just heal these people? Why didn't Paul have someone heal him of his "thorn in the flesh?" (2 Corinthians 12:7-9) Biblical healing was not done to attract attention nor to gain popularity. John 5:36 shows the mission of Jesus - "For the works which the Father has given Me to finish -- the very works that I do -- bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me." On five occasions Jesus commanded those healed to "tell no man." (Matthew 8:1-4; 9:27-31; Mark 3:7-12; 7:31-37; 8:22-26) Biblical healing dealt with all kinds of diseases and afflictions. Not once did they require a preliminary interview with those to be healed. Never did the lame, blind and dumb fail to be healed and they were never "culled out." There were no failures and no excuses offered. Aeneas had been bedridden eight years and was paralyzed and was healed; Dorcas was raised from the dead; "Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul, so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them." (Acts 9:32-43; 19:11,12) Biblical healing was not always based upon the recipients faith. Some now excuse their failures by charging "a lack of faith." The man who had been sick for 38 years did not know who Jesus was until after he was healed (John 5:5-13). The man born blind did not believe until after he had been healed (John 9:35-38). Elymas was struck blind by Paul. Did he believe before this miracle? (Acts 13:8-12) It has never been true that you could be healed miraculously if you had faith - consider Paul's request in 2 Corinthians 12:7-9. Biblical healing never suffered relapse. Those healed by Jesus and the apostles never failed. Their miracles were complete and decisive. Those healed did not "begin to feel better gradually." Jesus never performed partial healing. Jesus and the apostles never made faith a uniform condition of healing. Modern day "healing" can do none of the above. Modern day "miracles" cannot strike anyone blind (Acts 13:11), feed five thousand as found in Matthew 14, walk on water, calm the storm, raise the dead, heal the sick, make the lame to walk, cure blindness, deafness nor any such thing. The witch doctor in Africa can present as many testimonials as any healing group can today. If it proves one, it proves the other. God's Word stands true! - by Kent E. Heaton Sr. __________________________________________ WHO BETTER THAN YOU? - Who better than you to be here and to get involved in the worship services? - Who better than you to visit some person who is ill or otherwise needs some assistance? - Who better than you to send a card or mail a tract to some recent visitor to our services? - Who better than you to encourage some young person who is struggling to do what God wants? - Who better than you to make some older person feel wanted again? ___________________________________________ Repentance Jesus said, "Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish" (Luke 13:3). Repentance - true repentance - is surely one of the hardest things God has commanded us to do. It is important that we understand what true repentance is. Repentance is not: - Simply quitting your sin. A man might stop drinking because he can no longer afford it, or stop beating his wife because she has him, or stop cursing because he lost his voice. The sin has stopped, but no repentance has taken place. - Hiding your sin. The fact that a person tries to conceal his sin does not prove he has repented. Remember how David tried to hide his sin with Bathsheba? - Being sorry. Many are sorry for the consequences of their sin, the results of their sin, the pain their sin has caused for themselves or for others. But this sorrow is not real repentance. Repentance is: - A chanae of heart that leads to a change of action. Jesus illustrated repentance perfectly in two of his parables. In one He described this situation: "A certain man had two sons; and he came to first, and said, Son, go work today in my vineyard. He answered and said, I will not but afterward he repented, and went" (Matthew 21:28,29). Do you see it? Clearly there was a change of thinking followed by a change of conduct. Again, Jesus told of the prodigal son who had ruined his life but "came to himself" and "arose and came to his father"(Luke 15:11-32). His obvious change of attitude prompted him to return to his father's house and confess his unworthiness. This is repentance. What about you? Have you had this important change of heart that has caused you to turn to God in obedience? Remember, God "now commandeth all men everywhere to repent" (Act 17:30). - Greg Gwin __________________________________________ Trends . . . In 1988, a majority of nurses (52%) said they would work in an ob/gyn unit where abortions were performed. This is no longer the case, according RN Magazine. Now, 61% say they would not work in an ob/gyn unit that performs abortions. Among nurses who actually care for new morhters and their babies, the shift against abortion has been even greater. In 1988, 55% of ob-gyn/neonatal nurses said they would work in units where abortions occur, but now only 37% would do so -- a drop of 18 points. Almost two-thirds of nurses (63%) say that partial-birth abortion should be banned. - via Washington Watch, 4/99 _____________________________________________ Some quotes worth pondering . . . "A man wrapped up in himself makes a very small package." "People know what you are by what they see, not by what they hear." "Temper is what gets most of us into trouble. Pride is what keeps us there." "Living would be easier if men showed as much patience at home as they do when they're fishing." "The company you keep will determine the trouble you meet." ______________________________________________ News from Collegevue . . . We're so grateful for your presence here today. We especially greet those who are visiting with us. Please come again at your earliest opportunity. If you have any questions about what we've taught or what we've done here today, please let us know. We'll gladly study any Bible subject with you. Thanks to David Andrews for teaching and preaching while Greg was on vacation last week. Due to that week of vacation, this bulletin was prepared in advance. Therefore it is lacking in the current "news." Remember that we will meet at 5:30 this evening for a period of song practice. Plan to be here. Don't fail to pray for all who are sick. Be sure to include Edith Massey and Ed Simmons. Figures for Sunday 8/1/99: AM, 93; PM, 78; Contribution, $2433 _______________________________________________ "The Beacon - Electronic Edition" is sent out weekly from Columbia, TN, and contains articles and information taken from the most recent "paper" bulletin of the Collegevue Church of Christ. We hope you will use this material in any way you can that will glorify our Father. Please give proper credit to the respective authors. - Greg Gwin ggwin@edge.net