The great commission....healing?

  • Welcome to Christian Forums, a Christian Forum that recognizes that all Christians are a work in progress.

    You will need to register to be able to join in fellowship with Christians all over the world.

    We hope to see you as a part of our community soon and God Bless!

setfree

New Member
Oct 14, 2007
1,074
1
0
63
Mark 16:15-18: "He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well."" Mark 16:15-18 says to go into all the world. This is for today. Mark 16:15-18 says to preach the Good News. This is for today. Mark 16:15-18 says that those who believe and are baptized will be saved. This is for today. Mark 16:15-18 says that those who do not believe will be condemned. This is for today. Mark 16:15-18 says that signs will accompany those who believe. This is for today. Since the above points are all for today, this must be also. Otherwise we're being inconsistent in the way that we interpret Scripture. Mark 16:15-18 says that those who believe will cast out demons. This is also for today, and there are many passages in the New Testament which teach us about casting out demons. Mark 16:15-18 says that those who believe will speak in new tongues. This is also for today, and there are many passages in the New Testament which teach us about speaking in tongues. Notice in this passage that according to Jesus, speaking in tongues is not a subject of controversy, it is for every person who believes in Him. Mark 16:15-18 says that those who believe can experience divine protection. This is also for today. Here's how The Bible Knowledge Commentary (Dallas Theological Seminary) describes Mark 16:18: "In the Greek the first two clauses in Mark 16:18 may be understood as conditional clauses with the third clause as the conclusion. An interpretive rendering would be, "And if they be compelled to pick up snakes with their hands and if they should be compelled to drink deadly poison, it shall by no means (ou me, emphatic negative; cf. 13:2) harm them." This promise of immunity by divine protection in either situation refers to occasions when persecutors would force believers to do these things. ... the New Testament records no actual instance of either of the experiences described here." (p.196, emphasis added). As this prominent commentary points out, there are no examples in the New Testament of people picking up snakes (notice that Paul did not pick up the viper on purpose in Acts 28:3-6) or drinking deadly poison, so we have no Scriptural support for interpreting these as commands for Christians to follow. Instead, these two things describe divine protection which is available to us as we obey the Great Commission. The promises in Mark 16:15-18 all require faith, including the promise of divine protection. Mark 16:15-18 says that those who believe will heal the sick. This is also for today, and there are many passages in the New Testament which teach us about healing the sick.
 

Christina

New Member
Apr 10, 2006
10,885
101
0
15
No I never said that ,Im saying the great commision was to Start Christianity to teach 'The kingdom of God is near you. To Preach the Gospel around the World the fact these were sent out to heal was to convince those that saw it that the Kingdom of God is near and real ... Healing was the tool used to do this healing was not the great commision... And Where do you get these were ordinary people it doesnt say that ... "After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others" he gave them a mission we do not know what knowledge he had given them but obviously they had great faith ... You seem to missing the point ... Those that had to begin this Christain Faith required tools the gifts were these tools they were not the commision .... They were used to teach 'The kingdom of God is near you follow the command Preach the Gospel Around the World. Where do we find our tools today to preach the Gospel around the World ??where do we find God/ Christ ?Psa 40:7 Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book [it is] written of me, Hbr 10:7 Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. But we are almost at the End of that Mission
 

setfree

New Member
Oct 14, 2007
1,074
1
0
63
If the Great Commission involves preaching the Gospel, healing the sick, casting out demons, speaking in tongues, and demonstrating the power of the Holy Spirit, then we should expect to see all of these things happening after the cross, right? In fact, that is exactly what the New Testament describes! The apostles interpreted the Great Commission to mean that Christians should preach the Gospel and set the captives free, just as Jesus did. This is why throughout the book of Acts we find numerous examples of the Gospel being preached, people being healed, spirits being cast out, tongues being spoken, and the power of the Holy Spirit being demonstrated, just as the Great Commission says to do. The apostles and early Christians were continuing Jesus' ministry until He returns, which is what Jesus commissioned the Church to do. Jesus has not returned yet, so we should be continuing His ministry as well! Some of the healings in the New Testament were done by ordinary disciples, demonstrating that the mission of the New Testament Church extends to all of Jesus' disciples, including us modern Christians. For example, in Acts 6:2-5, 8:1, 4-5 the Bible indicates that Philip was not an apostle, he was an ordinary Christian just like you and me. Yet Acts 8:6-7 says that Philip preached the Good News, healed the sick, and cast out demons, which means that He was continuing Jesus' ministry in obedience to the Great Commission: Acts 8:6-7: "When the crowds heard Philip and saw the miraculous signs he did, they all paid close attention to what he said. With shrieks, evil spirits came out of many, and many paralytics and cripples were healed." Evangelism, healing, and deliverance were never meant to be just for the apostles.
 

tomwebster

New Member
Dec 11, 2006
2,041
107
0
76
(setfree;66941)
...Evangelism, healing, and deliverance were never meant to be just for the apostles.
So, Setfree, what are YOU doing to carry out the Great Commission?
 

setfree

New Member
Oct 14, 2007
1,074
1
0
63
(tomwebster;66942)
So, Setfree, what are YOU doing to carry out the Great Commission?
I have been in the process the last two years learning what the truth is about the Great Commission...I have been taught so many lies. I am in search of the truth!The great commission...is given to the church...the called out ones..to go and teach all things as Christ taught.
 

setfree

New Member
Oct 14, 2007
1,074
1
0
63
Acts 9:10-18 tells us that Ananias was not an apostle, he was an ordinary Christian just like you and me, yet he healed the apostle Paul by the laying-on of hands. This means that an apostle was healed through a non-apostle! Acts 9:10-18: "In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, "Ananias!" "Yes, Lord," he answered. The Lord told him, "Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul [i.e. the apostle Paul], for he is praying." ... Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord--Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here--has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit." Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he could see again." Healing the sick was never meant to be just for the apostles.
 

Christina

New Member
Apr 10, 2006
10,885
101
0
15
Set free look closely at what is said what dis these 72 report when they came back ?????????"And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, "Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through Thy name." Christ has given us power or the devil and evil spirits it never says we healed people of cancer ... healing those afflicted by evil spirits is something we can now all do who have faith in Jesus Christ we but order them away from us in Jesus name we do need someone behind a pulpit to do it for us. In the same vain we do have the same gift from Christ we have power over evil.
 

setfree

New Member
Oct 14, 2007
1,074
1
0
63
(Christina;66947)
Set free look closely at what is said what dis these 72 report when they came back ?????????"And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, "Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through Thy name." Christ has given us power or the devil and evil spirits it never says we healed people of cancer ... healing those afflicted by evil spirits is something we can now all do who have faith in Jesus Christ we but order them away from us in Jesus name we do need someone behind a pulpit to do it for us. In the same vain we do have the same gift from Christ we have power over evil.
First off WE do not heal any one! God uses us but the healing is done by Him! We are His body and represent Him on earth. Mark says those that believe can lay hands on the sick and they will recover. I believe! Notice this verse....In Mark 9:38-40, the apostles were upset because they saw a man who was not an apostle casting out demons in Jesus' Name. Jesus told them not to stop anyone from doing miracles in His Name: Mark 9:38-40: ""Teacher," said John, "we saw a man driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us." "Do not stop him," Jesus said. "No one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, for whoever is not against us is for us."" Miracles, healings, and deliverances were never meant to be just for the apostles.
 

Christina

New Member
Apr 10, 2006
10,885
101
0
15
Exactly These were spiritual healings and I didnt say anyone other than God does heal ... I said we have been given authortity over evil spirits by the power of Jesus Christ. He tells us to order them away from us in his name of course its him that does the spirtual healing. These are spiritual healings you give examples of and that the 70 spoke of ...
 

setfree

New Member
Oct 14, 2007
1,074
1
0
63
so you believe only part of Mark 16?.....You do not believe the part where it says those that believe will be able to lay hands on the sick and they will recover?look at this one again....In Luke 9:1-10, Jesus sent the apostles out on a short-term missions trip to preach the Gospel, heal the sick, and cast out demons. Then in Luke 10:1-17 Jesus sent out dozens of ordinary believers to do the same: Luke 10:1,9,17: "After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. ... [He said,] "Heal the sick who are there and tell them, 'The kingdom of God is near you.'" ... The seventy-two returned with joy and said, "Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name."" Evangelism, healing, and deliverance were never meant to be just for the apostles.
 

Jordan

Active Member
Apr 6, 2007
4,875
6
38
Luke 18:8 - I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?There is like almost no faith in today's world... too many doctrines of devils that has become a brick wall and a stumbling block to Christians, and the Trutth is some people will never get past their church's teaching.
 

setfree

New Member
Oct 14, 2007
1,074
1
0
63
(jordan;66952)
there is like almost no faith in today's world... Too many doctrines of devils that has become a brick wall and a stumbling block to christians, and the trutth is some people will never get past their church's teaching.
amen!
 

setfree

New Member
Oct 14, 2007
1,074
1
0
63
The apostle Paul made it clear that as he carried out the Great Commission, he did not do it merely with persuasive words but instead he demonstrated the power of God in order to convince people: 1 Corinthians 2:4-5: "My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power." In fact, Paul said that the Kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power: 1 Corinthians 4:20: "For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power." Paul emphasized to the church at Thessalonica that he and his companions did not simply use words to proclaim the Gospel, but instead they demonstrated the power of the Holy Spirit when they shared the Gospel: 1 Thessalonians 1:5: "because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction." In another letter, Paul made the same point that he used miracles through the power of the Holy Spirit in order to fully proclaim the Gospel: Romans 15:18-19: "I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God by what I have said and done-- by the power of signs and miracles, through the power of the Spirit. So from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ." The apostle Paul was highly intelligent and highly educated (see Acts 22:2-3 and Galatians 1:13-14, for example), and he received amazing revelations directly from Christ (Galatians 1:11-12). If anyone could win people to Christ through wise and persuasive words, Paul certainly could have done so! But he didn't. If the great apostle Paul did not rely on "witnessing" (as we call it) but instead he demonstrated the power of the Holy Spirit to win people to Christ, are we really going to be as effective as possible with nothing but words? While it is true that many people are being saved through witnessing, just think of the multiplied millions of people who would escape eternal agony in hell if every Christian would begin demonstrating the power of the Holy Spirit every day in malls, supermarkets, gas stations, airports, and wherever we happen to be, just like Paul did! When one person is miraculously healed, it can bring numerous people to Christ. For example, when Peter and John healed the lame man, the Bible says that "all the people were astonished and came running to them" (Acts 3:11), and many people were saved (Acts 4:4). When Philip (who was not an apostle) healed people and cast out demons, the crowd of people listened closely to what he said, and all the people, both high and low, were saved and baptized (Acts 8:5-12). When Peter healed a paralyzed man, all those who lived in Lydda and Sharon turned to the Lord (Acts 9:33-35). When Peter raised Tabitha from the dead, this became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord (Acts 9:36-42). When Paul and Barnabas healed a lame man, the crowd thought that they were gods and wanted to offer sacrifices to them (Acts 14:8-13). When you do the supernatural in the course of your everyday life, it will get people's attention and many people will be saved!
 

Christina

New Member
Apr 10, 2006
10,885
101
0
15
(Christina;66947)
Set free look closely at what is said what dis these 72 report when they came back ?????????"And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, "Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through Thy name." Christ has given us power or the devil and evil spirits it never says we healed people of cancer ... healing those afflicted by evil spirits is something we can now all do who have faith in Jesus Christ we but order them away from us in Jesus name we do need someone behind a pulpit to do it for us. In the same vain we do have the same gift from Christ we have power over evil.
(setfree;66951)
so you believe only part of Mark 16?.....You do not believe the part where it says those that believe will be able to lay hands on the sick and they will recover?look at this one again....In Luke 9:1-10, Jesus sent the apostles out on a short-term missions trip to preach the Gospel, heal the sick, and cast out demons. Then in Luke 10:1-17 Jesus sent out dozens of ordinary believers to do the same: Luke 10:1,9,17: "After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. ... [He said,] "Heal the sick who are there and tell them, 'The kingdom of God is near you.'" ... The seventy-two returned with joy and said, "Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name."" Evangelism, healing, and deliverance were never meant to be just for the apostles.
And no one said it was except in your mind but you will squirm out of addressing what the scripture really says rather than address it. Same ole tactics never face the facts you do not want to see. change subjects, make false statements, come up with off the wall statements like above whatever you have to do to avoid adrressing whats being said.Be my guest believe whatever suits you .........
 

setfree

New Member
Oct 14, 2007
1,074
1
0
63
Christina,I am not squirming out of addressing what the scripture really says ...I have address them with scriptures...the tactics.. never facing the facts can be said to you as well, You seem to ignore that He said HEAL THE SICK.There is more......in scriptures...The apostle John used miracles for evangelism as well. For example, he said that he had recorded Jesus' miracles specifically so that people would believe that Jesus is the Son of God: John 20:30-31: "Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name." Notice that even Jesus did not rely on "witnessing" to convince people. He repeatedly told people that if they did not believe His words then they should believe because of His miracles: John 10:25: "Jesus answered, "I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father's name speak for me"" John 10:37-38: "Do not believe me unless I do what my Father does. But if I do it, even though you do not believe me, believe the miracles, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father." John 12:37: "Even after Jesus had done all these miraculous signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him." John 14:11: "Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves." Are we better at sharing the Gospel than Jesus was? Obviously not! Jesus and the apostles did not rely on "witnessing," but instead they used healing miracles to convince people and to save them from eternal agony in hell. Jesus also commissioned us to use healing....
 

Christina

New Member
Apr 10, 2006
10,885
101
0
15
Whatever you say anyone can read what I wrote and understand what I said... except one who refuses to see Except for Jesus and the disciples the examples you give are of spiritual healing .. casting out evil spirits and we all have been given that ability in if asked in Christ name we have power over serpents and evil spirits thats what scripture says. Its Christ that does this. All we need do is ask in his name.
 

setfree

New Member
Oct 14, 2007
1,074
1
0
63
Again.....Mark 16:15-18: "He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.""Healing is part of the great commission...Notice that if you believe in Jesus then John 14:11-15 applies to you: John 14:11-15: "at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves. I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. If you love me, you will obey what I command." If you believe in Jesus then He is talking about you in the above passage. In the above passage, Jesus said that anyone who believes in Him will do the same miracles that He did! If we don't believe this then we're calling Him a liar!
 

tomwebster

New Member
Dec 11, 2006
2,041
107
0
76
(setfree;66944)
I have been in the process the last two years learning what the truth is about the Great Commission...I have been taught so many lies. I am in search of the truth!The great commission...is given to the church...the called out ones..to go and teach all things as Christ taught.
So are you called out ...to go and teach the things Christ taught? Doesn't the Great Commission tell all of us to do that?
 

setfree

New Member
Oct 14, 2007
1,074
1
0
63
(tomwebster;66963)
So are you called out ...to go and teach the things Christ taught? Doesn't the Great Commission tell all of us to do that?
Yes! Remember, every time Jesus commissioned people to preach the Good News of the Kingdom, He also commissioned them to heal the sick and cast out demons. Every single time! When Jesus sent the Twelve out on their first missionary journey, He commanded them to cast out demons and to heal all the sick (Luke 9:1-6). When Jesus sent out the 72 ordinary believers to preach the Good News of the Kingdom, He gave them power and authority to cast out demons and to heal all the sick (Luke 10:1, 9, 17-19). In the same way, when Jesus gave us the Great Commission, He commanded us to preach the Good News, to cast out demons, and to heal all the sick (Mark 16:15-18). Not once did Jesus ever place any conditions on who was to be healed and who was not to be healed. Healing is for everyone, both then and now, as the Great Commission demonstrates.
 

setfree

New Member
Oct 14, 2007
1,074
1
0
63
Divine healing is for today and it is for you. It is part of the ministry which Jesus began while He was on the earth and which He turned over to the Church in the Great Commission. It is part of your "job description" (so to speak) as a New Testament disciple of Jesus Christ. In all of the examples of healing that God has provided in the New Testament, notice that: There is not a single case where a person was told that his sickness was for the purpose of building character or patience in him. There is not a single case where a sickness was called a "blessing." There is not a single case where a sickness was left unhealed for the glory of God (this includes Lazarus, because Jesus resurrected him back to life and health). There is not a single case where God used a sickness to bring one of His children Home to heaven. There is not a single case where a person was told that it was not God's will for him to be healed. There is not a single place in the entire New Testament which says that an "Age of Miracles" will end before Jesus returns. There is not a single place in the entire New Testament which says that healings or miracles will ever "die out" before Jesus returns. Isn't it strange that none of these things appear in the Bible, yet these things are taught in churches today?