But the greatest examples of divine healing happened through the earthly ministry of Jesus. When John the Baptist sent messengers from prison to ask if Jesus really was the Messiah, Jesus answered and said to them, "Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: the blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them." (Matthew 11:4,5).
This ministry was continued in the early church through the apostles and evangelists. "so that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them. Also a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed". (Acts 5:15,16).
If the Bible speaks truly then it is clear that God did heal.
Furthermore, one finds references to the ongoing ministry of divine healing and exorcism in the writings of the early church fathers, as late as the 5th century after Christ. Various "saints" during the time of the Dark and Middle Ages were reputed to exercise ministries of divine healing - for example, St. Francis of Assissi. The success of the gospel in overcoming paganism in the early centuries of Christianity was in large part due to the demonstration of power over sickness and demons which the early missionaries demonstrated.
Does God heal today?
Multiplied tens of thousands of people in the 20th century and in our generation have testified of being divinely healed by God of serious conditions, without the aid of medical science. There have also been many cases of divine healing down through the centuries.I have witnessed God work divine healing through my hands in a very tangible way. Added to this, I have heard and received testimonies of divine healing from many. Some of these testimonies can be viewed on this site. At this stage I have not been able to independently verify these testimonies - but I encourage skeptics to investigate by seeking out references from those who claim to have been divinely healed, and whose story appears on this site. If you give me an good reason to believe that the story is false - e.g. their doctor or family say its a lie - I will remove it from the site, as I am only interested in publishing stories which can stand up to independent scrutiny.
What about the teaching that "the age of miracles is past"?
If the age of miracles is truly past, as some Bible teachers assert, then no one can be born again of the Spirit of God today, since that is the greatest miracle of transformation that God ever does. Furthermore, since any answer to prayer represents a divine intervention in the course of events, every true answer to prayer represents a miracle. But if the age of miracles is past, then God no longer intervenes in response to prayer. But this denies the teaching of Jesus, "If you ask anything in My name, I will do it." He did not say, "If you ask anything in my name, except a miracle, I will do it." Such a statement would be nonsense, of course, but that is how we must read our Bibles if indeed, "the age of miracles is past".Even if God acts to change the activity of someone's mind, that involves a physical miracle, since it involves changing the patterns of electrical signals in the brain. To deny God's activity in this realm is practical atheism, just as to deny miracles is to mock prayer today.
Are there any good Biblical reasons to believe God still heals today?
Yes - plenty. For further information read here.What About Paul's Thorn?
"And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong."(2 Corinthians 12:7-10)
Many of those who have been brought up in traditional churches have been taught that Paul's thorn was a painful sickness that God was unwilling to take away from Paul. However, this position cannot be harmonised with the rest of Scripture, and it is by no means the only possible interpretation of the text. In fact, Paul tells us what the thorn was - it was a messenger of Satan.
It is true that God allows Satan's demons to attack us that we may learn
to depend upon God for strength, and that we may learn to fight. The Kingdom
of darkness is in perpetual warfare with true Christians. The warfare is
real, casualties exist, and suffering must be endured. The messenger of
Satan caused Paul much trouble a
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