Expository Sermon No.

18 on Acts of the Apostles Preached in Shaddai on 13th June 2004 Prepared by Chan Wei Guan 1 THE THEOLOGY OF MIRACLE HEALING (Text - Acts 9:32-43) Introduction 1. The church rested from persecution shortly after Saul was converted. The narrative in Acts takes us back to the Apostle Peter. At this juncture, we see him ministering to the people in the cities at the coast of Israel. 2. In a short time, we will see two miraculous healing done by Peter in the passage. This morning, I want to preach on miracle healing. This is a subject which has misled and confused a large segment of Christendom, notably the PentecostalCharismatic Movement. 3. The subject itself is not confusing but the lack of in-depth bible understanding and ignorance of basic principles of biblical interpretation lead to much confusion and hurt. 4. In the United States, it is very normal for so called faith-healers to appear on Christian TV programs and appeal for personal belongings like handkerchiefs and clothes to be sent, preferably with some money stuffed in between, to the faithhealers for prayer. After praying over the belongings, it will be sent back to the sender for healing but this time without the money, of course. The healers do not care whether you get healed or not. Their job is considered done when the prayedover belongings are returned to the owners. There is no such thing as money-back guarantee if it does not work. You may say that it is foolish but hundreds of millions of dollars have gone into the pockets of these quack healers. And this is all done in

the name of Christianity. 5. This morning, I am preaching on The Theology of Miracle Healing. Main Points

I. The Recipients of Miracle Healing (32-33; 36) Act 9:32 And it came to pass, as Peter passed throughout all [quarters], he came down also to the saints which dwelt at Lydda. 33 And there he found a certain man named Aeneas, which had kept his bed eight years, and was sick of the palsy36 Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did. Expository Sermon No.18 on Acts of the Apostles Preached in Shaddai on 13th June 2004 Prepared by Chan Wei Guan 2 a) I want to start off by looking at the recipients of miracle healing and I am going to use the passage which we have just read to make a comparison of the two persons who were healed through Peter. b) The comparison between Aeneas and Dorcas is shown in the table below. of Healing Aeneas Dorcas i The Objects Called a certain man (v33a) probably an unbeliever Called a certain disciple (v36a) a believer ii The Sickness Suffered from paralysis for 8 years.(v33b) Suffered ailment and died. (v37b) iii The

Background Nothing was mentioned of him except for his ailment. (v33) A believer full of good works and almsdeeds. (v34c, 39) iv The Plea Peter did not pray. (v33) Peter prayed. (v40c) v The Result He arose from his paralysis. (v34f) She arose from death. (v40g) vi The Subject God healed through Peter. (v34c) God healed through Peter. (v40c) vii The Criterion The healing was not dependent on his faith. (No mention) The resurrection was not dependent on her faith. (Shes dead anyway!) i The Objects - Though it says that Peter came down also to the saints which dwelt at Lydda and found Aeneas there, it does not necessarily mean that he was one of the saints i.e. a saved man. On the other hand, it is certain the Dorcas was a born again believer. She was called a certain disciple. She was not only a disciple of professing Christianity; she was a disciple of practical Christianity. She literally lived out what the Epistle of James exhorted: Jam 2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. ii The Sickness - Aeneas was a paralysed man. For eight years, people around him had to make his bed for him. We do not know the cause for his paralysis just as we do not know the cause of Dorcas sickness. The Holy Spirit is not concerned with the causes of their sicknesses here; the passages emphasis is on the One who healed. iii The Background - Nothing is mentioned of Aeneas background. As for

Dorcas, she is believer full of good works and almsdeeds. iv The Plea - There is no mention that Peter offered prayer to God before Aeneas but I am not going to argue from silence. When it came to Dorcas, he offered prayer to God to raise Dorcas as it could be his first miracle of the resurrection of the dead v The Result - Eventually both were completely healed. Aeneas rose from his bed and Dorcas rose from the dead. Expository Sermon No.18 on Acts of the Apostles Preached in Shaddai on 13th June 2004 Prepared by Chan Wei Guan 3 vi The Subject - In both cases, God was the Divine Healer. Peter was just an agent. Peter had nothing to boast about. He claimed no credit at all. vii The Criterion Now, we come to the important point. There is no indication that the faith of the sick person is an absolute criterion for successful healing. This is evident in the healing did by Jesus in the Gospel accounts. Faith is not required on the part of those who were healed. For example: 1. The raising of the son of the widow of Nain. (as well as Lazarus because dead person cannot exercise faith at all) Luk 7:11 And it came to pass the day after, that he went into a city called Nain; and many of his disciples went with him, and much people. 12 Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her. 13 And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not. 14 And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare [him] stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. 15 And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother. 16 And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is

risen up among us; and, That God hath visited his people. 2. The healing of the man impotent at the feet. Jn 5:1 After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 2 Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep [market] a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches. 3 In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water. 4 For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had. 5 And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time [in that case], he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole? 7 The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me. 8 Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk. c) You can find more examples in the Bible. What about the demoniac at Gadarenes out of whom Christ exorcised the Legion? (Lk 8:26-39) He could not exercise faith when he was possessed. The demons were controlling his body and his will then. Let me sum up this point concerning the recipients of divine Expository Sermon No.18 on Acts of the Apostles Preached in Shaddai on 13th June 2004 Prepared by Chan Wei Guan 4 healing. All the biblical evidence points to the fact that Gods healing is not dependent upon the faith of those who were healed. By this, I do not mean that none of these people exercised faith in trusting Jesus ability to heal. On the contrary, many in fact did believe that Jesus could heal and the successful

healing by Christ eventually led them to believe that Jesus is the Christ He is God. However, the Bible did not make it a requirement that God must heal when the sick exercised faith by trusting Him.

II. The Success of Miracle Healing (9:34; 40-41) Act 9:34 And Peter said unto him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole: arise, and make thy bed. And he arose immediately40 But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning [him] to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up. 41 And he gave her [his] hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive. a) The success of divine healing is simply this The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up (Mt 11:5) b) All the sick were healed when God exercised His power. The healing is complete and permanent as long as they live. There was no mention of people going back to Christ or His Apostles for a remedial or make-up healing of the same problem. c) Aeneas was commanded to rise up and made his bed, a chore which was done by the people around him for the past eight years. Dorcas was presented alive before the saints and the widows. As far as the Bible is concerned, the failure rate for Christs and the Apostles healing is 0%. However, this is not the case with Pentecostal-Charismatic healing. (Illus. An eyewitness account reported by a medical doctor who attended a miracle healing session of Kathryn Kuhlman. Healing: A Doctor in Search of a Miracle, Dr William Nolen) 1 d) Divine healing will not fail because its Author is God. If the healing fails, then it is not from God. Its as simple as that!

III. The Author of Miracle Healing (9:34; 40) Act 9:34 And Peter said unto him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole: arise, and make thy bed. And he arose immediately40 But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning [him] to the

1 Quoted by David Cloud, Is Healing in the Atonement? p.29-32. The quotation is attached as Appendix A Expository Sermon No.18 on Acts of the Apostles Preached in Shaddai on 13th June 2004 Prepared by Chan Wei Guan 5 body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up.

a) In Aeneass and Dorcass case, God was the one who healed. It cannot be otherwise, the Author and source of miracle healing must be God. Peter was just an agent. He called upon the name of Jesus Christ when he healed Aeneas (just like what he did in Acts 3 when he healed the lame man at the Temple 2 ). Before he raised Dorcas, he prayed to God (v40c). To raise the dead was certainly more difficult a task to him than raising a paralyzed man and therefore he knelt and prayed. b) There is no doubt that divine healing must be from a Divine Healer. Can any man do it without God? Certainly not. Psa 103:2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: 3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; c) God can heal all sicknesses but God did not promise to heal everyone believer

or unbeliever of sicknesses. d) First of all, we must acknowledge that the Bible teaches that God is sovereign. If He is not sovereign, He cannot be God. In fact, it is said that To say that God is sovereign is to declare that God is God. 3 i God is sovereign in election. Rom 9:17 For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth. 18 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will [have mercy], and whom he will he hardeneth. 19 Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will? 20 Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed [it], Why hast thou made me thus? 21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to

2 Act 3:12 And when Peter saw [it], he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk?... 16 And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all. Act 4:9 If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; 10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, [even] by him doth this man stand here before you whole.

3 The Sovereignty of God, Arthur W. Pink, p.19. Grand Rapids, MI, Baker Book House Co. In page 21, Pink continues, The sovereignty of the God of Scripture is absolute, irresistible, infinite. When we say that God is sovereign we affirm His right to govern the universe, which He has made for His own glory, just as He pleases. We affirm that His right is the right of the Potter over the clayWe affirm that He is under no rile or law outside of His own will and nature, that God is a law unto Himself, and that He is under no obligation to give an account of His matters to any. Sovereignty characterizes the whole Being of God. He is sovereign in all His attributes. Expository Sermon No.18 on Acts of the Apostles Preached in Shaddai on 13th June 2004 Prepared by Chan Wei Guan 6 make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? 22 [What] if God, willing to shew [his] wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: 23 And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory, ii God is sovereign over the Creation. Rev 4:11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. iii God is sovereign over the spiritual realm. (both holy and wicked angels) Job 1:12 And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he (Job) hath [is] in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD. 2:6 And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he [is] in thine hand; but save his

life. 1Ch 21:15 And God sent an angel unto Jerusalem to destroy it: and as he was destroying, the LORD beheld, and he repented him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed, It is enough, stay now thine hand. And the angel of the LORD stood by the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite. 27 And the LORD commanded the angel; and he put up his sword again into the sheath thereof. (Also c.f. Ac 12:11; Mt 13:41)

iv God is sovereign over the Church. Col 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all [things] he might have the preeminence. Eph 1:22 And hath put all [things] under his feet, and gave him [to be] the head over all [things] to the church, (Also c.f. Mt 16:18) v God is sovereign over the wicked. Pro 16:4 The LORD hath made all [things] for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil. Expository Sermon No.18 on Acts of the Apostles Preached in Shaddai on 13th June 2004 Prepared by Chan Wei Guan 7 vi God is sovereign over the nation of Israel. Jer 18:1 The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, 2 Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words. 3 Then I went down to the potter's house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels. 4 And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make [it]. 5 Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 6 O house

of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay [is] in the potter's hand, so [are] ye in mine hand, O house of Israel. vii God is sovereign over the heathens. 2Ch 20:6 And said, O LORD God of our fathers, [art] not thou God in heaven? and rulest [not] thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen? and in thine hand [is there not] power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee? viii God is sovereign over all things. Job 9:12 Behold, he taketh away, who can hinder him? who will say unto him, What doest thou? 1Sa 2:6 The LORD killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up. 7 The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up. 8 He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, [and] lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set [them] among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth [are] the LORD'S, and he hath set the world upon them. Isa 46:9 Remember the former things of old: for I [am] God, and [there is] none else; [I am] God, and [there is] none like me, 10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times [the things] that are not [yet] done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: (Also c.f. Prov 16:1; 19:21; 21:1) Expository Sermon No.18 on Acts of the Apostles Preached in Shaddai on 13th June 2004 Prepared by Chan Wei Guan 8 e) Since God is the Sovereign over all things, then it is only logical that His sovereignty also extend to healing

4 . Remember this - God did not promise to heal everyone. God did not promise to heal all the Christians who are sick. i God did not heal the great Apostle Paul (not even after much prayers) 2Co 12:7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. 8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. ii God did not heal the young pastor Timothy. 1Ti 5:23 Drink no longer water, but use a little wine 5 for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities. iii God did not heal Pauls co-worker, Trophimus. 2Ti 4:20 Erastus abode at Corinth: but Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick. f) All these were believers but it was not Gods purpose to heal them. 6

g) Many great believers of the past were plagued with physical infirmities. i William Tyndale, the man whose influence was greatly felt in the translation of the King James Bible was suffering from sickness while doing his Bible

translation in an English prison cell. ii Almost every great hymn that came to us was written by sick men and sick women. Charlotte Elliot who wrote Just As I Am was bedridden at 30 years old until she died at 82. Fanny Crosby of Blessed Assurance and Saved by Grace fame wrote more than 8,000 hymns in her life. She was blinded in her

4 Exo 15:26 And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I [am] the LORD that healeth thee. 5 My personal conviction is that the wine in this verse refers to concentrated grape juice and not alcohol. It does not make medical sense to treat stomach problem with alcohol. 6 It was thought that Epaphroditus who was sick nigh unto death (Phil 2:27) received divine healing directly from God by virtue of the phrase but God had mercy on him. Paul might not have exercised miracle healing on him. Expository Sermon No.18 on Acts of the Apostles Preached in Shaddai on 13th June 2004 Prepared by Chan Wei Guan 9 infancy and she stayed blind for 95 years. William Bradbury who wrote He Leadeth Me; August Toplady who wrote Rock of Ages; Sarah Flower Adams who wrote Nearer My God to Thee and Philip Doddrige who wrote O Happy Day all suffered from tuberculosis in their lives and finally died of it.

William Cowper who wrote O for a Closer Walk with God and There is a Fountain suffered from chronic depression throughout his whole life and he even attempted suicides. The list can be prolonged. iii Then there were also the fiery Scottish reformer, John Knox 7 ; the man who wrote The Pilgrims Progress, John Bunyan; Robert Murray McCheyne and David Brainerd, two of the most holy men of their times. All these saints of God suffered from afflicting and torturous sicknesses but God did not even lift a finger to heal them. The only thing that God has given to them in their suffering was His wonderful grace. 8

h) However, Charismatics will contend, But didnt God promise healing in the atonement of Christ? By this, they are referring to the verse 1 Peter 2:24 which Peter quoted from Isaiah 53:5. 9 Lets take a close look at these passages. i) The Charismatic faith healers believe that healing is part and parcel of our salvation. In other words, Christians should not be sick at all. In fact, to those who carry this false teaching to the extreme, every sick Christian is a sinning Christian. Hear what the leaders of the Faith Movement believe about healing. i "Divine healing is an integral part of the gospel. Deliverance from sickness is provided for in the atonement, and is the privilege of all believers (Isaiah 53:4,5; Matthew 8:16,17; James 5:14-16)." Statement of Fundamental Truths, section 12, Assemblies of God. ii "For the knowledge of the truth look toward Jesus of Nazareth who himself took our infirmities and bear our sicknesses. If Jesus took our sicknesses we

need not bear them any longer. Sickness is part of the curse and Jesus came to destroy the curse. He suffered in our stead because he did not want us to suffer disease. He took our specific diseases and infirmities upon his own sinless, perfect body in complete payment for the penalty of sin." "I know it is God's highest wish for you to be in health." "Sickness is not part of God's plan and not devised by God's will."

7 The man whom Mary, the Catholic queen of Scots, exclaimed that she trembled when he prayed. 8 Adapted from Is Healing in the Atonement? by David W. Cloud, p. 47-49. 9 1Pe 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. Isa 53:4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 But he [was] wounded for our transgressions, [he was] bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace [was] upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. Expository Sermon No.18 on Acts of the Apostles Preached in Shaddai on 13th June 2004 Prepared by Chan Wei Guan 10 "One of the things I have always appreciated about physicians is that they are all against disease and they work to bring healing. You see, doctors are not hung up on theology. Yet some ministers and many Christians are not

quite sure where sickness comes from. I mean they are still asking the question, Is it God's will to heal? Some ministers are still praying, Father, if it be thy will, heal. I wonder if they could be sued for theological malpractice. Well, it's a thought" - Oral Roberts, "Why I know that God wants to heal you," Abundant Life, Sept. 1976. iii "Sickness is of the devil ... God has never used sickness to discipline His children ... I don't care how old we are, it's His will to take us home healed, well, whole, and delivered" - Kenneth Copeland, quoted in Calvary Contender, Sept. 15, 1989. iv "Like salvation, healing is a gift, already paid for at Calvary. All we need to do is accept it. All we need to do is possess the promise that is ours. As children of God, we need to realize that healing belongs to us" Kenneth Hagin, Healing Belongs to Us, p. 32. (All the quotations from i-iv are taken from Is Healing in the Atonement written by David W. Cloud, pp. 5, 8, 9) v Denial of Symptoms - I know that I am healed because He said that I am healed and it makes no difference what the symptoms may be in the body. I laugh at them, and in the Name of Jesus I command the author of the disease [Satan] to leave my body. E. W. Kenyon, The Hidden Man, p.99. vi Denial of Pain I have been attacked to such a degree, and been in such pain that I almost wished that I have never heard about faith and healing. Sometimes I would hurt so badly until I wanted to go to the doctors and let them give me a shot, and knock me out for six weeks, and that would have been easy. But I knew better.I refused to give into it. Fred Price, Faith, Foolishness or Presumption?, p.76-77. vii Believers should never die of disease I believe that it is the plan of God our Father that no believer should ever be sick. That every believer should live his full length of time and actually wear out, if Jesus tarries, and fall asleep in Jesus. It is not I state boldly it is not the will of God my Father

that we should suffer with cancer and other dread diseases which bring pain and anguish. No! It is Gods will that we be healed. Kenneth Hagin, Healing: The Fathers Provision, Word of Faith (Aug., 1977), p.9. Expository Sermon No.18 on Acts of the Apostles Preached in Shaddai on 13th June 2004 Prepared by Chan Wei Guan 11 viii Believers should never die before age 70 Your minimum days should be 70 years, thats just the bare minimum 10 . You ought to live to be at least 120 years of age. Thats the Bible. God out of his own mouth in the Old Testament said the number of your days shall be 120 years. 11 I didnt write it! God said it. The minimum ought to be 70 years, and you shouldnt go out with sickness and disease then. Fred Price 12 , Is Healing for All? p.104. (All the quotations from v-viii are taken from A Different Gospel written by D. R. McConnell, pp. 148, 152, 157, 158) j) So, did God promise healing in the atonement? The contexts of the two passages in 1 Peter and Isaiah demand that the healing be interpreted as the spiritual healing of the spiritual disease called sin. It does not refer to the physical healing of all human ailments. i Firstly, atonement in the Old Testament was always associated with sin (unless Isaiah 53 is the only exception) Even the New Testament supported it. 13

ii Next, Christ died for sins not sickness. (1 Cor 15:1-3; Eph 1:7) iii Christ was made sin for us not sickness. (2 Cor 5:21) iv Christ forgave sins, not sickness. (1 Jn 2;12) v Christ gave himself for sins and not for sickness. (Gal 1:3-4) vi A born again Christian cannot lose his salvation. If healing is in the atonement, then logically speaking, a Christian cannot lose his health and thus he should not die physically. (Heb 9:27) vii True believers have assurance of salvation but have no guarantee concerning the quality of physical life or health. God did not promise it. (Jas 4:13-14) (Arguments i-vii are taken from the journal article For What Did Christ Atone in Isa 53:4-5? by Richard L. Mayhue, Master Seminary Journal, MSJ 6:2 (Fall 95), pp. 125, 130-132) 14

10 A faulty interpretation of Psalm 90:10. Psa 90:10 The days of our years [are] threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength [they be] fourscore years, yet [is] their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away. 11 A mishandling of Genesis 6:3. Gen 6:3 And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also [is] flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years. 12 Price said in another place, The only reason people die before their time is because they do not understand how to exercise their faith according to the Word to prevent death, or they choose to die before their time. Ever Increasing Faith Messenger (Fall 1980), p.3.

13 Heb 9:11 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; 12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption [for us]. (c.f. Jn 1:29, 36; 1 Jn 2:2) 14 The other camp will be quick to use Matthew 8:14-17 to defend their position that Isaiah 53 does include healing in the atonement. Mayhue argued that Matthew used Isaiah analogically in this instance (just as he did in Mt Expository Sermon No.18 on Acts of the Apostles Preached in Shaddai on 13th June 2004

Prepared by Chan Wei Guan 12 IV. The Purpose of Miracle Healing (9:35, 42) Act 9:35 And all that dwelt at Lydda and Saron saw him, and turned to the Lord 42 And it was known throughout all Joppa; and many believed in the Lord.

a) God heals that He may be glorified. Joh 9:2 And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? 3 Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. Joh 11:4 When Jesus heard [that], he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby40 Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?

b) God heals that His messengers and messages may be authenticated. Heb 2:2 For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; 3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard [him]; 4 God also bearing [them] witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will? (c.f. Jn 20:30-31; 5:36; 10:37-38; 14:11-12; Ac 2:43) c) God heals that He may convict men of their sinfulness. V. The Reality of Miracle Healing Today a) Is miracle healing still possible today? Of course it is possible if God so will to perform it. Is miracle healing a norm today? No, it was not the norm in the past and it is not a norm now. There are 3 periods in the Bible where miracle healings were rampant the time of Moses; the time of Elijah & Elisha; the time of Christ and the Apostles.

2:14-15 when he quoted Hos 1:1) by analyzing the different Greek word used in this passage and the LXX. He concluded that there is no more basis for believing that because Christ cared for physical affliction at Calvary there is now no sickness in the believers life experience, then there is to suggest that because Christ bore our sins at Calvary sin has now been fully eliminated from the believers life. As long as sin exists, the moral basis for sickness and physical debilitation will continue. -MSJ 6:2 (Fall 95) p.136 Expository Sermon No.18 on Acts of the Apostles Preached in Shaddai on 13th June 2004 Prepared by Chan Wei Guan 13 b) Whenever we say miracle healing, we expect the healing to be something

spectacular. Even though God may not heal in a spectacular way today, I do believe that divine healing is possible today. In fact, there are testimonies of miracle healing today which requires no faith-healer. c) What should Christians do now when they are sick? The Epistle of James prescribes this: Jam 5:14 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. 16 Confess [your] faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. i Take note of a few things here. The sickness referred to here is a serious one. 15

ii The initiative for any gathering of elders for prayer and anointing is upon the one who is sick. iii Those who are called to the bedside are matured Christians (elders) from the church and not any itinerating and campaigning faith-healers. iv The promise of healing is not based upon the anointing oil but upon the prayer of faith. 16 v When the prayer of faith is offered up, it is certain that the sick will be healed as indicated by the future tense though it is not said when healing would take place. vi The last two phrases of verse 15 and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. indicates that sin may or may not be related to the sickness.

15 The Greek word translated into sick is which means seriously ill. It literally means without strength. 16 That the prayer of faith is something very specific is indicated by the presence of the definite article. Literally it is the prayer of the faith. Many regard this faith as a special enduement from the Lord upon those who are praying when it pleases Him to miraculously heal. Divine Healing according to James 5 by E. William Male, (Grace Journal 1:2 (Fall 60)) p.30 Expository Sermon No.18 on Acts of the Apostles Preached in Shaddai on 13th June 2004 Prepared by Chan Wei Guan 14 Conclusions 1. I believe in miracles. I believe in the miracles of the Bible. I believe that God can do miracles yesterday, today and forever. The gift of healing was gone but God continues to heal. However, I ask myself this question, Will I still rest my faith in God if He withholds miracles from me today? This is the test: Are our faith anchored in God or in miracles? Paul said that Christians ought to walk by faith, not by sight. (2 Cor 5:7) 2. The greatest miracle healing that this world needs today is the healing of our sins and the healing of the rift between sinners and God. Man need to be reconciled to God. Only Christ can provide the healing. Would you go to Christ for the healing? Expository Sermon No.18 on Acts of the Apostles Preached in Shaddai on 13th June 2004 Prepared by Chan Wei Guan

15 APPENDIX A: An eye-witness report by a medical doctor who attended a miracle healing session of Kathryn Kuhlman. (Healing: A Doctor in Search of a Miracle, Dr William Nolen) Dr. Nolen writes in his book: Occasionally Miss Kuhlman would turn and say, Someone with a brace... a brace on your leg ... you don't need that brace any more. Take it off, come to the stage, and claim your cure.' The first time she called for a brace there was a delay in the proceedings. No one came forth. The audience began to grow restive; you could sense that they all felt this was most embarrassing for Miss Kuhlman. Finally, after what was probably a minute but seemed an hour, a very pretty young girl limped up the stage. She waved her leg brace in the air and stood, with her pelvis tilted badly, on one good leg and one short, withered leg. Kathryn Kuhlman questioned her. How old are you?' Twenty.' How long have you worn the brace?' Thirteen years. Since I had polio at seven.' And now you've taken it off.' And,' she said, I believe so much in the Lord, I've prayed and He's curing me.' Everyone applauded. The girl cried. This scene was, to my mind, utterly revolting. This young girl had a withered leg, the result of polio. It was just as withered now as it had been ten minutes earlier, before

Kathryn Kuhlman called for someone to remove her brace. Now she stood in front of ten thousand people giving praise to the Lord--and indirectly to Kathryn Kuhlman--for a cure that hadn't occurred and wasn't going to occur. I could imagine how she'd feel the next morning, or even an hour later, when the hysteria of the moment had left her and she'd have to again put on the brace that had been her constant companion for thirteen years and would be with her the rest of her life. She was emotionally high right now; soon she'd be emotionally low, possibly despondent. This case shook severely what little hope I had left that Kathryn Kuhlman was, truly, a miracle worker.' Expository Sermon No.18 on Acts of the Apostles Preached in Shaddai on 13th June 2004 Prepared by Chan Wei Guan 16 I had accepted as a misunderstanding the deception that went with Not yours, surely?'-referring to the wheelchair--even though I knew the man hadn't been in a wheelchair until that afternoon; I had chalked it up to innocent error when the ability to take a deep breath was passed off as evidence of a lung-cancer cure (even though I knew most patients with lung cancer can breathe deeply); I had assumed that it was simple overenthusiasm that enabled Kathryn Kuhlman to call a multiple-sclerosis patient cured,' even though she obviously still walked with the multiple-sclerosis gait; but this episode involving the girl with the brace was pure, unadulterated, flagrant nonsense. For Kathryn Kuhlman to really

believe that the Holy Spirit had worked a miracle with this girl, it seemed to me that Kathryn Kuhlman would have had to be either blind or incredibly stupid, and she was obviously neither. Was she, then, a hypocrite or a hysteric? I didn't know, but I had begun to seriously question her credibility and that of her organization. Not once, in the hour and a half that Kathryn Kuhlman spent healing, did I see a patient with an obvious organic disease healed (i.e., a disease in which there is a structural alteration). At one point the young man with liver cancer staggered down the aisle in a vain attempt to claim a cure.' He was turned away, gently, by Maggie. When he collapsed into a chair I could see his bulging abdomen--as tumor-laden as it had been earlier. One desperate mother managed to work her child's wheelchair down to the front of the auditorium. The little girl in the chair, about five years old, glassy-eyed, hydrocephalic, could barely sit upright. The mother, weeping, lifted her daughter out of the chair and attempted to get her to walk to the stage. The child, with the mother holding her, made two pitiful attempts to walk, both times nearly collapsing on the floor before the mother could catch her. Finally, weeping, the mother put her imbecilic child back in the wheelchair and pushed her away down the aisle. ... Before going back to talk to Miss Kuhlman I spent a few minutes watching the wheelchair patients leave. All the desperately ill patients who had been in wheelchairs were still in wheelchairs. In fact, the man with the kidney cancer in his spine and hip, the man whom I

had helped to the auditorium and who had his borrowed wheelchair brought to the stage and shown to the audience when he had claimed a cure, was now back in the wheelchair. His cure,' even if only a hysterical one, had been extremely short-lived. As I stood in the corridor watching the hopeless cases leave, seeing the tears of the parents as they pushed their crippled children to the elevators, I wished Miss Kuhlman had been with me. She had complained a couple of times during the service of the responsibility, the enormous responsibility,' and of how her heart aches for those that weren't cured,' but I wondered how often she had really looked at them. I wondered whether she sincerely felt that the joy of those cured' of bursitis and arthritis compensated for the anguish for those left with their withered legs, their imbecilic children, their cancers of the liver. I wondered if she really knew what damage she was doing. I couldn't believe she did (Nolan, Healing: In Search of a Miracle).