Jess Whitlock
“Let no man deceive you by any means” (2 Thess. 2:3a). No faith healer of the 21st century has restored life to a dead person. “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1). No faith healer of modern times has ever restored sight to one certified to be blind.
Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name? and in Thy name have cast out devils? And in Thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you; depart from Me, ye that work iniquity (Matt. 7:22-23).
No faith healer of our age has ever restored a person with a missing let, arm, hand, foot, toe, finger, or hair! Modern day “faith healers” cannot heal chapped lips! When one of these frauds is exposed for his puny power…they all use the same way out. Well, he simply did not have enough “faith” in order to be healed.
It is true that many miracles recorded in the New Testament were done on the basis of one’s faith. Consider the miraculous cure of the leper (Matt. 8:2-4); the man who had been infirmed for 38 years (John 5:1-9); the woman with an issue of blood for 12 years (Matt. 9:20-22); the man with a withered hand (Matt. 12:10-13); a damsel possess of a spirit (Acts 16:16-18); a man born crippled (Acts 3:2-9); and the man sick of palsy for 8 years (Acts 9:32-35). Compare all of those actual healing with what takes place in modern day performances of “faith healers” that cannot heal chapped lips.
There were those who were healed in the first century on the basis of the faith of some other. Consider the nobleman whose son was sick (John 4:46-54); the centurion’s palsied servant (Matt. 8:5-13); Peter’s mother-in-law (Luke 4:38-39); the sick of the palsy in bed (Matt. 9:2-8); Jarius’ little daughter (Luke 8:41-55); the man who was dumb then enabled to speak (Matt. 9:32-33); the woman who had a daughter vexed of a devil (Matt. 15:22-28); one who was deaf and had a speech impediment (Mark 7:32-37); and a blind man (Mark 8:22-26). Will the followers of modern day “faith healers” claim their own followers do not have enough faith?
In several instances of New Testament healing there was no faith in the one healed! Recall the man with an unclean spirit who said to Jesus “Let us alone” (Mark 1:23-26). Yet, Christ cast out the unclean spirit. Another man was dead, but Christ had compassion on that man’s mother, and restored him to life (Luke 7:11-17).
Tabitha became sick and died (Acts 9:36-42). How much faith does a dead corpse have that they can live again? Remember the man possessed by a legion of devils (Mark 1:2-20)? That man was naked and had to be bound. That man had no faith in the Lord Jesus. Still, Christ cast out the evil spirits. Lazarus had been dead for four days, and Jesus spoke the words: “Lazarus come forth…” (John 11:35-45). Just how much faith did dead Lazarus have that he would overcome death? Eutychus is the name of a young man who fell asleep during a preaching service. He fell from a third story window to his death. (Acts 20:8-12). Paul fell on him and embraced him, and the young man came to life! How much faith did that dead corpse possess? These are questions that deserve an answer!
The apostles could raise the dead (Acts 9:36-42). Modern day “faith healers” cannot! The apostles could instantly heal the sick (Acts 9:33-34). The modern day “faith healers” cannot! The apostles could strike false teachers blind (Acts 13:8-11). Modern day “faith healers” cannot! If modern day “faith healers” have what the apostles had, then they should be able to do what the apostles did! If not, why not? May I say one more time that the “faith healers” of our day cannot heal chapped lips?
