Friday, 29th March 2024
To guardian.ng
Search

Divine healing in the Bible – Part 14

By Emeritus Prof. Mercy Olumide
18 September 2022   |   2:36 am
Challenge Satan and his power directly by knowing and using the authority of Jesus’ name (Acts 16:16-18), God’s words (Eph 6:17), confessing the power of the cross and the efficacy

Emeritus Prof. Mercy Olumide

Challenge Satan and his power directly by knowing and using the authority of Jesus’ name (Acts 16:16-18), God’s words (Eph 6:17), confessing the power of the cross and the efficacy of Jesus’ blood (see Rom 3:25; Col 2:15; Heb 2:14-15; 9:12, 14; 10:12-14), praying in the spirit (Acts 6:4; Eph 6:18), fasting (see Mat 6:16) and by driving out demons (see Mat 10:1; 12:28; 17:17-21; Mark 16:17; Luke 10:17; Acts 5:16; 8:7; 16:18; 19:12).

• Pray, especially for the Holy Spirit to convict the lost concerning sin, righteousness and the coming judgment (John 16:7-11).

• Pray for and eagerly desire the manifestation of the Spirit through gifts of healing, tongues, miracles, signs and wonders (Acts 4:29-33; 10:38; 1 Cor 12:7-11).
Signs Of Believers: An overview
 
“And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name, they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover,” (Mk 16:17-18).

Scripture clearly teaches that Christ wants His followers to expect miraculous deeds as they announce the gospel of the kingdom of God (see Mat 10:1; Mark 3:14-15; Luke 9:2; 10:17 John 14:12).

• These signs (Gk Smeion), done by true disciples, confirm that the gospel message is genuine that God’s kingdom has come to earth in power and that the living and risen Jesus is present with His people and working through them (see John 10:25; Acts 10:38).

• Each of these signs occurred in the recorded history of the early church:
(a) Speaking in new tongues (Acts 2:4; 10:46; 19:6; 1 Cor. 12:30; 14.
(b) Driving out demons (Acts 5:15-16; 16:18; 19:11-12);
(c) Escaping death from snakebites (Acts 28:3-5); and
(d) Healing the sick (Acts 3:1-7; 8:7; 9:33-34; 14:8-10; 28:8-9). (e) Although “drinking deadly poison” is not mentioned in the NT as such, Eusebius (111, 39) does record a written report from Papias (early second century) that “Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus” (Acts 1:23) drank a deadly poison and was not harmed by it.

• These supernatural signs or manifestations are intended to continue within Christ’s churches until Jesus returns. Scripture never suggests that these signs were restricted to the period immediately following Jesus’ ascension (see 1 Cor 1:7; 12:28; Gal 3:5).

• Christ’s followers were not only to preach the gospel of the kingdom and bring salvation to those who believe (Mat 28:19-20; Mark 16:15-16; Luke 24:47) but were also to demonstrate the power of the kingdom, just as Jesus did (Acts 10:38), by driving out demons and healing the sick.

• Email:mercyolumide2004@yahoo.co.uk. www.thebiblicalwomanhood.com Mobile: +234 803 344 6614; +234 808 123 7987

In this article

0 Comments