Mass Healings? Do they really happen?

[redeemed098]

In the words of the Centurion.

"I DO believe. Help me in my UNbelief."

God help me to believe in any areas where I may struggle with UNbelief.

Regards,

Ben.

[Brandli5]

May I suggest that this thread is getting off topic?! I never meant it to be about Pentecostalism. I have repeatedly said that I am not trying to offend Pentecostals. If I have done that, I am deeply sorry. I know there are many Pentecostals who love and serve the Lord with all their heart and soul. The reason I suggested that non-Pentecostals respond to this topic was to prevent what is happening now. If anyone remembers, my interest in this thread is to reassure myself that I am doing the right thing in sponsoring a missionary with Gospel for Asia even though I don't believe in the healing ministry as a rule. I have also introduced the idea that God may do healings in areas where there is no Bibles for people to read. In some remote areas of India, for example, it is much like the book of Acts. Missionaries are being beaten and killed on a regular basis and so perhaps God is using healings to show his power and grace. Can we please get back to that? It would be greatly appreciated. God bless.

When you ask a certain group of people to refrain from posting on a topic, Its like ringing a bell saying "THat group of people would not understand, or give me a message I do not want to hear. You are putting a group of people on a sterotype list. As I said now, and forever, read my post. I am not just blowing smoke. It is the truth.

We are not all the same. Doctrine does not have anything to do with it.

The bible clearly has printed information in it that should be used by everyone.

If I were a missonary I would teach the entire bible, not just bits and pieces. YES THE GOSPEL IS Imporant to the max.

But, I would not keep out certain parts, just because you feel its not your fancy. It still is Good, and holy, and its what God has given to some as gift, and everyone has it, they just have to trust the holy spirit.

[David from New Bern]

I am a Baptist pastor who is not ignorant of other views (emphasis, overemphasis, underemphasis) of doctrine. I spent my early years in the Church of God. I find myself wanting to say this to the OP. The beauty of Worthyboards is the spectrum of who is here. Diversity is what you should expect and not control. Limiting your scope to non-pentecostal participants is not fair to the forum. I would completely agree with you if you suggested than anyone respinding please identify from what background or expereinces that are affecting your comments. Just as I have at the beginning of this post. I believe it is polite and productive to do so. Now, if someone dismisses completely your comments as ignorant because of your denominational bias their comments should be dismissed or as we say, "consider the source, when evaluating what has been said."

[Rober H]

I mainly would like to hear from non-Pentecostals on this one. No offense to anyone, but I know the Pentecostals will say this is normal, but I want to hear what other Christians will think of this.

Below is an excerpt from an article I found on the web about a missionary who witnessed mass healings in India after preaching a sermon. Personally, I believe the signs and wonders ministry was for the Jews in a particular time to demonstrate that the disciples who performed then really were filled with the Holy Spirit. It was a demonstration of God's power and grace. I believe that time of demonstration is past.

However, what if in places like India and other countries where there are people who have never heard of Christ. Would God choose to denomstrate in these places like he did in New Testament times?

Here is the excerpt...

After preaching on this subject, I invited people who weren't sure if they were forgiven by God, who would like to receive Jesus as Lord, King and Savior, to come forward to pray. One by one they came, and in the end about 8 people prayed to receive Christ. I had first explained to them that Jesus had taken all their sins at the cross, and all the curse, so they could have God's blessings. They really believed that Jesus came into their lives. My simple instruction for them was to keep coming to the assembly so they would learn how to grow in Christ.

After this, sensing the peace of God, I explained that healing should follow the preaching of the message of the Kingdom. I asked those who had pain in their body to stand. Of the 40-50 people present, a number immediately stood. As I mentioned other physical conditions more people stood until virtually everyone except my wife was standing. The brother who came with me wanted to anoint the people with oil, one by one, but the Lord gave me a different approach. I led the people in a very brief prayer, "Jesus heal me". I then bound the spirits of infirmity, commanded them to go in Jesus name, commanded body parts to be made new, bones to move into place and so on. This was done through one prayer for all the people at the same time.

After that I asked people to do what would have been painful before. They did, and then I asked for testimonies. So many people testified to being healed! Praise the Lord! One lady told of feeling a fire going through her body and all the pain inside going. A number were healed of back pains, head aches and so on. People were healed of problems with internal organs. All glory belongs to God, who truly did confirm the message of the Kingdom of God that evening. Its such a joy to be able to use the authority in the name of Jesus to destroy the ugly works of the devil through faith in God and through the power of His Word.

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Ok, so what do you think?

I believe that God can do miracles at any time. I am generally skeptical of so called mass healings. I have watched people like Benny Hinn in the United States claim that thousands of people have been healed as a result of his ministry.

He cannot produce a single healing like the one described in Acts.

Acts 3:2 And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple;

Acts 3:3 Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms.

Acts 3:4 And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.

Acts 3:5 And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.

Acts 3:6 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.

Acts 3:7 And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.

Acts 3:8 And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.

This man was over 40 years old and had never walked a day in his life.

Now, this is a true healing and a miracle.

Movie Star Clint Walker went to Benny Hinn to hoping for a miracle and Benny couldn't pull it off. Benny Hinn could not restore Clint Walkers sight. Men like Benny convince people that their "arthritis or back pain is gone through suggestion. I don't believe this charlaton has any power to heal at all.

I am not impressed with the "healings" I hear about but that no one can confirm.

I am not saying God won't answer prayer but the conditions that were present in the church during the time of the apostles are not present today.

A careful study of scripture will show that as the New Testament was being written the "sign gifts" such as healing began to pass away.

The purpose of the sign gifts were to confirm the authority of the apostles and convince non-believing Jews that the Messiah had come.

Arben, You are within reason and not at all out of line to ask to hear only from non-Pentecostals. However, to be realistic they won't keep out as this is an open forum.

God bless,

Robert

[MrLuke]

A careful study of scripture will show that as the New Testament was being written the "sign gifts" such as healing began to pass away.

The purpose of the sign gifts were to confirm the authority of the apostles and convince non-believing Jews that the Messiah had come.

Are you trying to say that healings don't happen today? That we as believers can't lay hands and pray for someone to be healed, as the scriptures say we should?

What of all the non-believing Jews still around today? Not to mention all the other non-believing people in other religions or no religion at all...

[yomotalking]

People ARE being healed today.

Look at the stories.

I was healed in 1996.

[Rober H]

A careful study of scripture will show that as the New Testament was being written the "sign gifts" such as healing began to pass away.

The purpose of the sign gifts were to confirm the authority of the apostles and convince non-believing Jews that the Messiah had come.

Are you trying to say that healings don't happen today? That we as believers can't lay hands and pray for someone to be healed, as the scriptures say we should?

What of all the non-believing Jews still around today? Not to mention all the other non-believing people in other religions or no religion at all...

The Jews at the time of the apostles were still be given a chance to receive Christ as their King and Messiah. The Jews today are under a curse until as a nation they call upon their Messiah as Jesus told them.

Luke 13:35 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, Ye shall not see me, until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.

Remember in Acts 2 Peter was calling upon the nation of Israel to repent.

Acts 2:36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.

Acts 2:37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?

Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Acts 2:39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

The Jews and the non believing world today need to hear the gospel to be saved.

What pleases God?

1 Corinthians 1:21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

1 Corinthians 1:22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:

1 Corinthians 1:23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;

If you carefully read my post you would see that I started off by saying that I believe God can do miracles at any time. Miracles were not and are not commonplace events either in the OT are NT. There were periods in the bible and for various reasons that God did many signs and wonders.

Miracles and supernatural intervention by God did not seem to produce faith or trust in the Hebrews that left Egypt did it?

Miracles and healings don't always produce the type of faith which leads to salavtion.

John 12:37 But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him:

TBN's Hinn and his theatrics do nothing but cast Christianity in a bad light.

Peter warned us of these men.

2 Peter 2:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

2 Peter 2:2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.

2 Peter 2:3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

I have the bible. I love God's word and have faith in Him. I personally don't care if I ever see a miracle. I know where I am going and in whom I have believed.

Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

In His word,

Robert

[Rober H]

There have been people who have claimed to be healed by praying to "Mary" or Hindu's praying to their gods. I am not too impressed by alleged miracles and healings.

No offence to anyone here. I am not questioning your honesty nor your love of God. I am saying that being healed of an illness can happen to anyone regardless of what or whom they choose to believe in.

[Arben]

Thanks for the support, Robert. I have refrained from this conversation. I will not debate with those who simply do not understand Dispensational Theology . I have been where they are, and I know that no matter what we say, it will not change their views. I know they mean well, but as you seem to know, the signs and wonders ministry was for the Jews in that dispensation. If one reads the book of Acts with an open mind, it is so easy to see the transition from law to grace. May God bless you, brother.

[MrLuke]

So what about the times where people have been healed by the laying of hands in the name of Jesus? Times where prophecies have been spoken accurately into peoples lives? Demons cast out? Are you putting all these to other means like praying to Mary or Hindu gods or whatever else, as "coincidences" or some kind of "phenomenon"? Or does God still work in these ways during this time of "dispensation"?