PROF. BEN ONYEUKWU (REV.)
NCE (English); Dip (Computer Studies); ND/HD
(Journalism); Dip, BA (Theology) MA, PhD.
Call: +2348037346939 E-mail: professorbenonyeukwu@yahoo.com
THE BIBLE AND HEALING MINISTRY (PART 2)
Healing in the New Testament
Presenter: Nightengale Ben-Onyeukwu
Devotional Text: Matt.
8:5-17
INTRODUCTION:
Healing method and means in the New Testament
are the same in the Old Testament, apart from the mirror innovation of laying
on of hands on the sick, which JESUS CHRIST our BLESSED SAVIOUR is known for.
In this connection, the Scripture notes that, “when the sun was setting, all
those who had any that were sick with various diseases brought them to HIM, and
HE laid HIS HANDS on every one of them and healed them,” {Luke 4:40}. And, by
way of rehearsal, “healing is the restoration of health to the body of an individual
who had been sick,” which GOD’s WORD was the means in the Old Testament {Psalms
107:20}, as well as the means in the New Testament, {Matt. 8:8-13}
GENERAL
REMARKS
(1) The New
Testament healing is based on faith on the WORD of GOD,{Matt. 8:8-13}
(2) In the New
Testament healing, JESUS CHRIST our BLESSED SAVIOUR introduced the laying
on of
hands on the sick, {Luke 4:40; Mark. 16:18}
(3) In the New
Testament, also, people came to hear the WORD of GOD and to be healed, {Luke
5:15; 6:17}.
(4) Equally, in
the New Testament, the Scripture shows that in some instances, JESUS CHRIST our
LORD
healed all those who came
to HIM for healing, {Matt. 12:15}
NEW
TESTAMENT HEALING AND FAITH ON THE WORD OF GOD
The Apostolic
Era of the New Testament believers are known for their implicit faith on JESUS
CHRIST our BLESSED LORD and SAVIOUR and HIS WORD, which demonstrates the fact
that they believe in DIVINE healing. There are other forms of healing, the NATIURAL
and MEDICAL. By way of analysis, the
Natural Healing is the healing obtained through balanced diet. Human body
breaks down when it lacks some level of nutrition, resulting in certain degree
of ill-health, which can be remedied through the consumption of foods seasoned
with rich nutritional contents, as way of re-enforcing the antibody system
weakened by lack of nutrition. But when the cited measures are not fast taken,
the affected body totally breaks down in health that may require Medical
Healing, which is the type of healing obtained through medical means, as DIVINE
healing is that healing obtained directly from the LORD, and this is the type
of healing the Apostolic Christian era absolutely endorsed. Thus, the believed
that:
(i)
Healing comes by the STRIPES of JESUS, {1 Peter 2:24}
(ii)
Prayer of faith brings healing to the sick, {James 5:14-15}
(iii)
Prayer and laying on of hands on the sick results in DIVINE
healing, {Acts 28:8}
NEW
TESTAMENT HEALING AND THE LAYING ON OF HANDS
The Apostle Paul’s
laying on of hands on the father of Pubilus for healing as cited in the above
section of this lesson authenticates the fact that JESUS’ Method of healing was
well known and practised in the Apostolic Era of the New Testament Christianity,
{Acts 28:7-8}. Now, recall that our LORD and BLESSED SAVIOUR, JESUS CHRIST had
earlier demonstrated this healing method, as the Holy Scripture narrates that,
“when the sun was setting, all they that have any sick with divers diseases brought
them unto HIM, and HE laid HIS HANDs on every one of them, and healed them,”
{Luke 4:40}. Observe also, that both JESUS’ and Paul’s laying on of hands on
the sick were their simple acts of faith, without the application of any form
of religious object or fluid, and, therefore, shows that certain unbiblical practices
have been smuggled into the healing method of laying on of hands in the present
day Christian Church. In line with this above, this lesson brings to the fore
that:
(i)
The laying on of hands method of healing was introduced by JESUS
CHRIST our LORD and BLESSED SAVIOUR, {Luke 4:40}
(ii)
This method of healing was used in the Apostolic Era of Christianity,
as demonstrated by the Apostle Paul, {Acts 28:7-8}
(iii)
There was no application or attachment of any religious ornament
or fluid {water, oil, apron, bead, etc} in that era,
when the method was
employed, but was just a simple act of faith, {vs. 7-8}
NEW TESTAMENT
HEALING AND HE ROLE OF THE BELIEVER
The
Scripture, “These signs shall follow them that believe; in MY NAME they shall
cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up
serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they
shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover” {Mark 16:17-18}, introduces
believers of all ages, to the only AUTHORITY in the Healing Ministry of the
LORD, which is the NAME of JESUS. Every method of healing in the ministry of the
LORD, whether, the speak-the-word method, or the laying on of hands {Acts 28:8}
can only be efficacious when the POWER in the NAME of JESUS is released by
verbal pronouncement. Thus, our LORD says,... “In MY NAME... they shall lay
hands on the sick and they shall recover,” {Mark 16:18}. Here lies the secret
of the infallible healing successes in the ministries of the Apostolic Age
believers of the New Testament, which Apostle Peter demonstrated at the
Beautiful Gate {Acts 3:16}. To this end, this lesson states that:
(i)
The NAME of JESUS is the only AUTHORITY that evokes DIVINE healing
{Mark 16:18}
(ii)
The New Testament believers did not use the NAME together with the
names of any of their
religious leaders in healing ministrations,
{vs. 18}
(iii)
The Apostle Peter’s use of only the NAME of JESUS for healing at
the Beautiful Gate {Acts 3:16} demonstrates the fact that it is an aberration
to employ the name of any religious leader {Mouka, Kumuyi, Adebayo, Oladepo,
etc} together with the NAME of JESUS in healing prayer.
In
conclusion, this lesson is a picture of the biblical truth that the New
Testament Christianity had uncompromised faith for DIVINE healing, with practical
evidences that demonstrate that they received healing from the LORD. It also
shows that in the era under review, two methods of healing were in use, namely;
the speak-in-word method {Matt. 8:16}, and the laying on of hands on the sick
{Acts 28:8}, as well as strong believe that the NAME of JESUS alone is the
AUTHORITY that enforces healing {Acts 3:16}, and anything short of the
foregoing in the Christendom of today remains an aberration. SEARCH THE SCRIPTURE!
