CESSATIONISM AND HEALING

Healing can still happen today if that is the will of God, but gift of faith healers has ceased!

 

Is this an authoritative statement? Like Thus says the Lord?

 

Faith is a factor. You dont want anyone praying for you who is not willing to believe whatever you are petitioning God for.

And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief. - Matthew 13:58
Jesus, said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house. And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them. - Mark 6:4-5
So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief. - Hebrews 3:19
Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief... - Matthew 17:19-20

 

After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come. - Luke 10:1

And what did the Lord disciple the seventy to do?

And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you: And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you. - Luke 10:8-9

And what did the seventy return saying?

And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. - Luke 10:17

 

13 Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.
14 Is any sick among you? 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 shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. - James 5

 

Not sure how this topic fits with Calvinism and Arminianism.

Of course God heals and of course the gift of healing still exists. But, in scripture we see God being very selective. God healed when others needed a miracle to show the Sovereign authority of God over all other powers. The healing was always done on the front line of evangelism to a new people group. I have no doubts that God still uses healing among unreached people's as a revelation of His authority and Sovereignty over all other gods.

 

Well there is faith and there is the will of God. We had better start aligning our will with God if we want faith to work.

The gifts were for signs. The Word was to keep our minds in lign with God. Making disciples instead of just feeding the flock. Gifts can only go so far, and having a group of believers is economical. However having a group of disciples in The Word is the most sought after position. Only the will of God produces fruit above that of a disciple.

 

Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations. - Romans 14;1

 

Were not the disciples weak in faith? You would think at one point their middle names were, "Oh ye of little faith,"

For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. - 1 John 5:4

I am white, with tough luck going in, of Scottish descent, and at one time a very negative guy. In the 1990's our factory hired several VT football players who were all black and of Word of Faith doctrine. In all my years of knowing these guys I have never once heard the first negative word out of their mouth, everything they spoke was faith. They called me, "McCwowt" and would say things like...

"Do you know what over comes fear McCwowt? Action! Action overcomes fear"

"I'm getting out of here McCwowt" And then lay out some plan of escape. They would also come to me saying...

"What are you believing God for McCwowt?" And expect some great plan that would bring joy to their hearts.

They were also very schooled in the Word of Faith. If you had any pains at all they would offer to pray for you right then and there. They also broke me of my negative talk and for that I am eternally grateful.

I am not saying we should continue in Word of Faith doctrine, but a little of that can go a long way.

 

No, just stating that those sign gifts operating among people ceased after Apostolic Age!

 

God would be using that, as you stated, to advance the name and cause of Jesus among groups not been reached until now, but not the normal way that he now operates!

 

the sovereign God will decide if and how we are healed, as many of the saints of His get healed by passing on to heaven today!

 

All healing comes from God, and he decides if and how for His own!