THE MIRACLE OF HEALING THE SICK
By E. E. A.
To Heal the Sick Is in the Gospel Commission — Healing Is One of the Gifts of the Spirit — Promise of the Prayer of Faith AS Jesus sent forth His twelve disciples, "He gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease." As they departed, He said to them: "As ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give." Matt. 10: 1, 7, 8. Luke tells us that Jesus sent forth the twelve "to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick." Luke 9: 2. Again, in sending forth the seventy, Jesus said, "Heal the sick." Luke 10: 9. In the Saviour's parting instruction to His disciples before His ascension to heaven, as He gave them their final commission, sending them into all the world to preach the gospel, He said, "They shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover." "And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following." Mark 16: 15-20. The healing of the sick was an important feature of the gospel commission, and was one of the signs that God was working with them; and by that means the word was confirmed. After Peter had healed the impotent man at the beautiful gate of the temple, he declared to the multitudes, "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." THE INFLUENCE OF THE MIRACLE
Because of the influence of this wonderful miracle upon the people, the rulers durst not thrust the disciples into prison — though they greatly desired to do so — "for all men glorified God for that which was done." After being released, Peter and John returned to their company, and reported what had occurred. Then all united in prayer, saying: "And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto Thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak Thy word, by stretching forth Thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of Thy holy Child Jesus." Acts 4: 21, 29, 30. "Gifts of healing" are found among the gifts of the Spirit that were placed in the church, of which gifts, says Paul, "I would not have you ignorant." 1 Cor. 12: 9, 1. In writing to the Ephesians, the apostle says: "Wherefore He, saith, When He ascended up on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men." The object of the gifts is stated thus: "For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ." The time for their continuance in the church is stated as follows: "Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ." Eph. 4: 8, 12, 13. We have not yet reached the time when this scripture has met its complete fulfilment, hence the gifts of the Spirit should be in the church still. THEY ATTEMPTED TO COUNTERFEIT
Undoubtedly many have attempted to counterfeit the genuine gift of healing. Every good thing has been counterfeited. But that does not prove the absence, from the church, of the genuine gift. Instead it would be a very good testimonial to the presence of the true gift of healing. No effort is ever made to counterfeit a thing that does not actually exist. The following counsel to the church is found in James 5: 14-16: "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: 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. 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." The sick are instructed to call for the elders of the church, who are to pray over the patient, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the promise is, "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." It seems that the apostles followed this method in their work of healing, at least in some instances. We read, "And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them." Mark 6: 13. I do not understand that the instruction given to the sick by the apostle James was intended simply for the church in his day. In fact, it would seem that if it was intended for any one particular time more than another, it was for those living near the second coming of the Lord; for the apostle, in this same chapter, speaks of certain conditions that would prevail in the world "in the last days" (R.V.), when "the coming of the Lord draweth nigh." Verses 1-8. This is one of the many prophecies that are to-day fulfilled before our eyes in a most striking manner, showing clearly that we are nearing the glorious morning of deliverance. If ever it was the privilege of the children of God, in time of sickness, to call for the elders of the church to pray that they might be healed, with the expectation that such a prayer would be answered in the healing of the body and the forgiveness of sin, it surely is so now. It should be understood, however, that we ought ever to pray, "If it be Thy will." There are some things concerning which God has made known His will; for instance, the forgiveness of sin. When the conditions on our part are met, this promise is absolute, and we may with all assurance claim its fulfilment. But God has not made known His will in each case regarding physical healing, hence it is always proper to leave the case in the hands of the great Physician, knowing that "with God nothing shall be impossible" (Luke 1: 37), and that if it will glorify Him, and be for the good of the sick one, He will restore him. "But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord." James 1: 6, 7. Perfect faith in God leads to perfect trust in the infinite wisdom and tender love of our kind heavenly Father. The trusting child will not presume to dictate to the great Physician how his case or the case of a loved one shall be treated, or what shall be the immediate result of his petition; but with implicit confidence in His wisdom, His power, and His love, the case will be left in the hands of his Elder Brother and his affectionate Father, knowing They will do all things well. Such faith is intelligent, and will always bring the very best results.