THE SPIRITUAL GIFT OF HEALING (PART 1)

Memorial Drive 7/5/20 THE SPIRITUAL GIFT OF HEALING (Part 1) Various Texts "For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues." (I Cor. 12:8-10) THE PRIMARY ARGUMENT AGAINST HEALING AND OTHER OF THE MORE MIRACULOUS GIFTS: Their Intended Purpose ... An Introductory Thought ... It's not that God CAN'T or DOESN'T do these things! The Issue At Stake ... What do we do with "desire earnestly the gifts"? A Gentle Warning ... Hard work is needed! Any church practice that lacks a strong, biblical, foundation IS at worst, deadly, and at best, will simply lack God's blessing! * The Primary Argument Against Healing and Other of the More Miraculous Gifts: THEIR BIBLICAL PURPOSE Belief of Some: These gifts fulfilled a specific purpose relative to the apostles and therefore are no longer needed. "The four temporary sign gifts [This teacher's designation, not the Bible's] were miracles, healings, tongues, and interpretations of tongues. These four sign gifts had A UNIQUE PURPOSE-TO GIVE THE APOSTLES CREDENTIALS, to let the people know that these men all spoke the truth of God. But once the Word of God was inscripturated, the sign gifts were no longer needed and they ceased." (Quoted by John Piper) * Is There Any Truth to This? There WAS a Special Ministry of Jesus as Well As the Apostles That WAS UNIQUE and AUTHENTICATED Their ABSOLUTELY AUTHORITATIVE Ministries! Acts 2:22 Jesus was "attested by God" through mighty works, wonders, and signs Acts 2:43 Signs and wonders were done through the apostles Acts 14:3 The Lord bore witness to the word through signs and wonders 2 Corinthians 12:12 The signs of an apostle authenticated Paul's apostleship through signs and wonders and mighty works RESPONDING TO THIS ARGUMENT ... * These four sign gifts had A UNIQUE PURPOSE-TO GIVE THE APOSTLES CREDENTIALS (Part of the earlier quote) The Argument: These gifts had a unique purpose specifically related to the apostles in a way that they were not related to the average believer. o But it Wasn't ONLY Apostles That God Empowered to Ministry In These Ways A Question: Does the fact that God SPECIALLY empowered apostles to minister in these ways DEMAND the view that God ONLY empowered apostles to minister in these ways? Luke 9:1-2 The TWELVE were empowered to minister in these ways Luke 10:1, 9 Seventy OTHERS were ALSO empowered to minister in these ways o Christ Establishes Continuity Between His (And the Apostles Ministries) and the Ongoing Ministry of His Body, His Church John 20:21 As the Father sent Me, so send I you! Matthew 24:14 The "gospel of the kingdom" (Attested by healing, etc.) will be preached until Christ returns John 14:12 He who believes (Not just apostles!) will also do the works I do o Paul Testifies to God's Present Work Among Galatian Believers As Including Miraculous Works Though Apostles Weren't Present Galatians 3:5 The Spirit was doing miracles among them in the absence of apostles o Paul Separates the Gift of Apostleship from the Gift of Healing I Cor. 12:29-30a God appointed apostles AND other gifts - Not connected to apostles o The Spirit Has Clearly Given These Gifts To Non-Apostles for the Building Up of the Church I Cor. 12:4-11 To each one is given, to one, to another, to each one individually I simply cannot come to I Corinthians and honestly conclude that Paul's instruction about miraculous gifts was relevant ONLY IN THAT DAY and ONLY CONCERNING APOSTLES! Acts 4:27-31 A powerful prayer ... Grant us to speak with boldness! Confirm our words with healing and signs and wonders! Do you really think that God's Spirit included these words in His precious Word ONLY to show us what He USED to do but DOESN'T DO ANYMORE? Are these words kind of a taunting reminder of 'the good ol' days in the church? 2