Text: Acts 28:7-10, Title: Does God Still Heal? Date/Place: NRBC, 10/4/09, AM
A. Opening illustration: Ronnie Owens’ testimony, The 276 shipwrecked mariners are still experiencing unusual kindness at the hand now of Publius, who was probably the Roman governor of the island. And after the snakebite miracle, God does another string of miraculous healings that exalt Him as the God of gods. Let me say and acknowledge that all healing is from God, whether supernatural or under a doctor’s care.
B. Main thought: Some truths about biblical healing from this text
A. Purpose
1. So that brings to the first point. The purpose of all miracles, but especially healings is to authenticate the gospel message. They were signs—something that points to another bigger thing. In this culture, miraculous events would have immediately drawn onlookers to think of the divine and ask questions about the God of the miracle worker. Not so much so in our day, we are much more cynical, and have seen too many charlatans. Compassion and mercy could have something to do with it, especially with the ministry of Jesus, but mainly to glorify God, and point people to him. And even though Luke didn’t specifically record Paul preaching the gospel in this instance, we can safely assume that this took place. God was looking for an opportunity to expand the fame of His name in Malta. And church tradition states that the church at Malta was founded about this time, and Publius was its first pastor. Waffle iron-CP again!
2. 2 Kings 5:15, Ps 103:3, Mark 5:13, Matt 4:24, 15:31, Acts 3:16,
3. Illustration: Max Lucado tells a story in a book called “It’s Not About Me” about a friend of his who had cancer. Some well intentioned Christians had told him ‘If you have faith, then you will be healed”. But, no healing came, only a crisis in faith in that man’s life. Max suggested another answer to him, “It’s not about you”, I told him. “Your hospital room is a showcase for your Maker. Your faith in the face in suffering cranks up the volume of God’s song.”
4. If you don’t intend to make God’s name great when you ask for healing, don’t expect it to come. That is God’s primary goal on this earth is glorification of His name. When any healing takes place, we are to acknowledge thankfulness, and attribute to Him all credit and glory. Again healings in the NT were accompanied with a gospel message. So if you expect to be healed or God to heal someone else, have a gospel presentation ready. This is not to put limits on God, for He can heal whenever, wherever, however, and whoever He wants. And He is also free to not heal when He wants.
B. Practice
1. One thing that we notice about the practice of healing in the NT is that there is not really a pattern. Sometimes it happens in the temple, sometimes not. Sometimes it is will mud, or a touch, or the hem of a garment, or just a word, or a handkerchief. Sometimes it’s one person healing, and sometimes it is plural. Sometimes they lay hands, or anoint with oil, sometimes not. But even though there is no established pattern, we still must be biblical. But in general it was not in church worship (except when Eutycus fell out and died). The main question debated in evangelical circles is not whether or not God heals, but rather are individual Christians given the spiritual gift of healing. We see individuals (some of which are not apostles, like Philip) who have a propensity to heal, but with the exception of Jesus, we don’t have any that heal all everywhere they go. When healing is spoken of in the NT, both words are usually in the plural, “gifts of healings.” This teaches that each healing is a gift in and of itself, and that people who healed in the NT were given specific instances to heal, rather than the gift to heal all that they wanted to.
2. James 5:13-16, Luke 10:9,
3. Illustration: Bro and Sis David Terrell’s tent over here at the fairgrounds. The lady at the charismatic church in Tazewell, TN who prophesied that “there’s healing in these hands.” Story about the Dr healed.
4. There are a number of you who are already convinced of God’s power to heal and His activity to use it. And some of you will never be convinced. But as NT believers we can expect God to use us to heal, without having the “gift of healing.” We are to pray expectantly, with the purpose in mind to glorify God through a healing. We are not commanded to heal at the end of worship services, but to call for the elders of the church to come and anoint with oil and pray for sick individuals. I have a bottle of oil, and I am not afraid to use it. Wish I had some elders to go with me. Note that James also links repentance of sin for healing of believers. If you want to be healed, get right with God and each other. If I come, I will give you a chance to confess sin before we anoint and pray. Studies have been done that show most of the healing ministries to be fraudulent. And at the same time, you and I both know lots of people who were healed by God in the face of terminal illness.
C. Lingering Questions
1. What role does faith play in NT healings? Faith plays a major role in being a vehicle, but it is not determinative. We have ample biblical evidence that some that were healed had no faith, like Naaman, or Lazarus, nor his sisters. Sometimes it was faith of others that was in question like the disciples, or the father of a child, or the friends of the lame man. But again, not determinative; God may heal when he wants regardless of faith. Publius, nor his father, were believers. What do we make of things when God doesn’t heal? Everyone has an appointment with death, and so God doesn’t always heal or deliver. David experienced this, Paul, even Jesus when God would not remove the cup of suffering. Do we imagine that God was short on compassion that day? God forbid! Do we condemn the sick by telling them their lack of faith kept God from working? God forbid. Know that along with sovereignty God is also absolutely wise and all-knowing. And He knows what is best in every situation.
2. Ps 41:3, Matt 15:28, 17:20, Mar 5:34, 6:5-6, 9:24, Luke 5:20, 2 Sam 12:23, 2 Cor 12:8-9,
3. Illustration: Shortly before midnight, this church group began to pray, and as midnight rolled around, nothing happened. Then another prophecy came forth stating that it would happen at 1 am. Again, nothing. Finally at 1:30 am, the TV crew left as did many others. At 2:00 am, another prophecy came forth stating that God would not heal her because of her lack of faith. Judy Calsing’s testimony, Howard’s not exempt
4. I’ll stop short of saying that faith is a requirement to see healings, but we can say with assurance that the lack of faith is a hindrance. Remember, that the point of healing is to bring glory to God. And one of the things that brings God glory is to continually remind others that God is absolutely sovereign over all events, all sickness, all disease, all circumstances, and does whatever He pleases in heaven and earth. But do not short sell or underestimate the power of believing God, of wholly trusting in Him for deliverance. God is never short or lacking in anything, especially character traits. The sick are never wholly responsible for their own lack of healing. God is doing 1000 things through healing, and maybe 10,000 things through the lack of healing. We can and must trust His wisdom. We must never question His integrity, motives, or ability. We can ask, but are not promised answers. We are promised grace to bear up under heartache and suffering and loss. Remember that believers are not exempt. Also remember that just because we cannot think of a reason or explain a situation, doesn’t mean that there is not an explanation in the mind of God. In fact, I would argue that there is always a reason in the mind of God, for He is not a whimsical God, who does things at random.
A. Closing illustration: The added benefit of winning souls is strength. The joy of the Lord gives us strength. The greatest joy next to the joy of your own salvation is winning another soul to Christ. Of the 43 years of missionary evangelism we have seen many answers to prayer with the healing of many. However, I do not believe that a blind eye that is opened, a cancer healed or any other physical healing brings great joy in heaven. I am sure it does not make the Lord sad, but the Bible teaches us that there is GREAT JOY in heaven over one sinner that repents. Many times my wife Marge and I are asked how do you keep going year after year to a point that some people think your address is on the airplane? We tell them winning souls to Christ is the answer. God gives us some of that heavenly joy He has when a sinner come to Christ. We rejoice in our meeting if there is one or when we have led up to 4,000 in a since service to Christ. Great joy, great strength. "Christ’s method alone will give true success in reaching the people. The Savior mingled with men as one who desired their good. He showed His sympathy for them, ministered to their needs, won their confidence. Then He bade them, ’Follow Me!’"
B. Recap
C. Invitation to commitment
Additional Notes
• Is Christ Exalted, Magnified, Honored, and Glorified?
