For the record, I personally believe that God can, has, and does heal people according to His discretion, and I don’t know any born-again followers of Jesus who would say that God can’t, doesn’t, or won’t heal whomever He chooses to heal.

From my interaction with Cessationists, they don’t categorically discount the possibility that God still heals people in the 21st century; they rightly question the deceptive and manipulative methods employed by far too many people who claim to use the gifts of the Holy Spirit — rather than the Holy Spirit using them as humble servants to display God’s love, mercy and grace.

The Holy Spirit isn’t a circus performer or a carnival act, and He isn’t subject to the commands, Decrees, Declarations of anyone. And lest we forget, Jesus rebuked the religious leaders who asked to see “a sign,” and instead referred them to the Scriptures; which was, is, and should always be our definitive and final authority concerning biblical doctrine and application. (See Matthew 12:38-40)

Simply stated, subjective experiences should always be tested by the written Word. If there’s a disparity between the two and someone’s experience contradicts the clear teaching of the Scriptures, it’s the experience that should be rejected.

A few simple and obvious questions should be addressed to anyone who claims to have the gift of healing. (And by the way, there are many pagan, wiccan and occultic groups and gnostic/metaphysical religions like Christian Science, which is an oxymoron because it’s neither Christian nor Science), Religious Science and numerous other “Mind Science” groups claim to experience “divine healings,” — which presents a dilemma for Charismatics who rely on subjective experiences and personal testimonies when people who reject the Bible claim to have the same experiences that they have.

Regarding the kind of miracles that Jesus performed, I’m not aware of anyone who has been able to duplicate the kind of miracles that are even remotely similar to His.

A few examples should suffice.

• Has anyone been able to document someone turning water into wine?
• Or someone who multiplied a few loaves of bread and a few fish that fed thousands of men, women and children?
• Or someone who cleansed a leper?
• Or a charismatic who calmed a raging storm and walked on water?
• Or opened the eyes of a man born blind?
• Or raised anyone from the dead who had been dead for FOUR DAYS?

Also worth pointing out…

People who claim to have or possess the gift of healing and/or prophecy are subject to the same human condition as everyone else: They get old and gray like everyone else; their eyesight diminishes, and they need to wear glasses; their hearing is often diminished and they need to wear hearing aids; their bones and joints are subject to aches and pains and arthritis and hip, knee, and joint replacements; their hair thins and vanishes; their teeth often need to be replaced; they get sick with debilitating diseases and can’t even heal themselves or their loved ones — who often die of the same diseases as everyone else.

So why would anyone believe they have the power, authority, or ability to heal you or anyone else?

And if they WERE able to perform miracles like healing the infirmities mentioned above, they should follow the example of Yeshua and His apostles — who didn’t CHARGE MONEY to alleviate the pain and suffering of someone who could or couldn’t afford to pay for their services.

And they would be humbly serving in hospitals and clinics around the world without charging exorbitant sums of money to see them “perform” in large venues and stadiums in America.

BEWARE:

People who claim to “impart” miraculous powers that are ascribed solely and ONLY to the Holy Spirit and are subject to His discretion are nothing more than charlatans, frauds, and hucksters.

Hyper-charismatic salesmen and saleswomen who charge money to “train” people how to “heal and/or prophesy” in their schools of “Supernatural Ministry” are no different from Simon, the sorcerer in Acts 8:4-24. He was quite willing to pay money to receive the miraculous gifts. And Peter’s response was quick and direct:

“May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! You have no part or portion in this matter, for your heart is not right before God. Repent, therefore, of this wickedness and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intention of your heart may be forgiven you. For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bondage of iniquity.”  (Acts 8:20-23)

But Simon did what was right and should be an example to the marketers of miraculous gifts. They should do what he did and repent.

Simon answered:

“Pray for me to the Lord, that nothing of what you have said may come upon me.” (Acts 8:24)

My hope is that the charlatans of the hyper-charismatic movement will repent before they experience the judgment that Simon desperately wanted to avoid.

The Scriptures are clear and unequivocal on what is to be our central faith focus and what we are to shun. The following is a small sample:

“Two things I have asked of You; do not refuse me before I die: Keep deception and lies far from me, give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is my portion, so that I will not be full and deny You and say, “Who is the Lord?” And that I will not become impoverished and steal, and profane the name of my God.” (Proverbs 30:7-9)

“For we are not like the many, peddling the word of God, but as from sincerity, but as from God, we speak in Christ in the sight of God.” (2 Corinthians 2:17)

“If anyone advocates a different doctrine and does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness, they are conceited and understands nothing; but have a sick craving for controversial questions and disputes about words, from which come envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions, and constant friction between people of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of financial wealth. But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment. For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it, either. If we have food and clothing with these we shall be content. But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap, and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by lusting after it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

But flee from these things, you man of God, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and for which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” (1 Timothy 6:3-12)

“Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found spotless and blameless by Him, at peace, and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation; just as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you, as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things, in which there are some things that are hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction. 

You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unscrupulous people and lose your own firm commitment, but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.” (2 Peter 3:14-18)Ω

Steven Mark is a Messianic Jew with a heart for sharing Yeshua the Messiah with Jewish people, and all people. He is a longtime researcher on issues pertaining to biblical faith, apologetics, and sharing the truth of the Gospel with people who are involved with cults and false religions. He is also a musician.

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