This morning we looked at the subject of miraculous healings in the book of Acts. As well as the lame man healed at the temple gates (Acts 3), there are many other examples of healing recorded by Luke, including the fact that people brought the sick into the streets and even Peter’s shadow seems to have been capable of bringing healing! (Acts 5:12-15) Other examples of healing include Aeneas (Acts 9:32-35), the raising of Dorcas and Eutychus from the dead (Acts 9;36-42, Acts 20:9-12), the father of Publius and others on the island of Malta (Acts 28:9) and the healing of many by Stephen and Philip. (Acts 8:6-7) Healing may be a controversial topic with many unanswered questions, but there is no doubt that God is Jehovah-Rapha, the Lord who heals us (Ex 15:26) and that He heals all our diseases. (Ps 103:1-5)
We see from these examples that healings brought relief from distress and suffering to individuals (both believers and those who simply came to be touched by God), great joy to all who witnessed God’s miraculous power and were valuable proofs of the gospel message preached. The result of these healings was often salvation: ‘more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number.’ (Acts 5:14) When Peter’s words of authority led to Aeneas being healed, ‘All those who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.’ (Acts 9:35) When Tabitha (or Dorcas) was raised from the dead, ‘This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord.’ (Acts 9:42) When a lame man was healed in Lystra, the people thought Paul and Barnabas must have been gods come to earth to be able to do such things and as a result of this, the gospel could be preached. (Acts 14:8-18) Miracles are God’s way of demonstrating to people who He is and what He can do and healings are one of the ways He underlines the truth of the message preached.
Jesus told us that ‘whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.’ (John 14:12) Miracles are not simply reserved for the super-spiritual; James reminds us, ‘pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.’ (James 5:16) As we believe God’s word and rely on the Holy Spirit living within us, God is still able to use us as He did those first followers to bring miracles of healing to others so that His name may be glorified and His kingdom increased.
