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Today's Little Lift
by Jim Bullington
The tragedy of false prophets and false teachers is all about us. Every “Christian denomination” is but a silent witness to error! Most of the teaching that one hears and sees today via television is fraught with error and bears testimony to the fact that strong delusions await those who do not receive The Love of the Truth (see 2 Thessalonians 2.8-12). Jesus did not come to create confusion and conflicting doctrines; He came to deliver truth and set man free from the shackles of sin and false religions
On several occasions I have heard false teachers “blame” their failure to heal someone on the lack of faith resident in the heart of the one who desired healing. It is tragic that such blatant error exists, but it is even more tragic that otherwise good people fall for such spiritual tripe! The plain truth is this: Jesus healed everyone whom He desired to heal regardless of the condition of their heart or the presence or absence of faith. Those who claim to speak for God apart from that which is written [the Bible] are purveyors of error and seek to delude others with their lying signs and wonders. There are few exceptions to this rule!
“When they [Jesus and the disciples] had crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret. And when the men of that place recognized Him, they sent out into all that surrounding region, brought to Him all who were sick, and begged Him that they might only touch the hem of His garment. And as many as touched it were made perfectly well.” (Matthew 14.34-36). Carefully consider the facts as stated in this inspired passage and compare them with the actions and claims of today's “healing charlatans.” I beg that you also consider what this text does not say as regards the actions of Jesus.
First, notice who initiated the actions that resulted in the mass healings that occurred in Gennesaret. It was the “men of that place” who recognized Him that took the initiative to summons up the mass of people involved in these events. The Bible does not say that scores of front men working for Jesus spent months selecting and preparing the crowd as normally happens in today's “healing campaigns.” Note also that the men “sent out into all the surrounding regions” to obtain the crowd of those to be healed. The Bible does not say that there were any pre-qualifications required in order to be healed. Consider the fact that they “brought to Him all who were sick.” The Bible does not say that some were screened out due to a lack of faith or because their particular illness was too difficult to deal with or to heal. Further note the process involved with the healings; “And as many as touched it [the hem of Jesus' garment]” were healed. The Bible does not say that there was any ostentatious ceremony, crescendo of organ music, or forehead slapping by Jesus; they touched and were healed. Last but not least, notice that the sick and infirmed who touched the hem of His garment “were made perfectly well.” There is absolutely no evidence that there was any time lapse involved between the touch and the healing. The Bible does not say that some were told to “go home and get better,” or that their “healing will become obvious” in the days to come; they were just made perfectly well!
Today the identification and marking of false prophets is easier than it has ever been. The ability to gather facts and consider them analytically is at an all time high. Yet, sadly many people still wish to be duped by the barrage of televangelists who assault the airways and deliver their truth-barren messages to unsuspecting and needy people! In the outset of this message I stated, “Those who claim to speak for God apart from that which is written [the Bible] are purveyors of error and seek to delude others with their lying signs and wonders. There are few exceptions to this rule!” This point will be continued!
Questions:
1. Who initiated the actions which led to the mass healings in Gennesaret? What evidence is there that Jesus or one of His disciples sanctioned or participated in the planning of the event?
2. What evidence is there that there was any show, pomp and splendor, or ceremony connected with these healings?
3. How many were healed? When were they healed? To what degree were they healed?
4. If the final quote in today's message (the one taken from earlier in the devotional) is true, how difficult is it to detect a false teacher among self-proclaimed faith healers today?
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