Modern Faith Healers vs. Genuine Biblical Miracles: 7 Standards for Today
- Ray Reynolds, Ph.D.
- 13 minutes ago
- 6 min read
Sunday morning I preached on Ephesians 4:11-16 and discussed the need to grow in Christ. In our Sunday evening men's class we discussed the roles of apostles and prophets, mentioned in the first part of this text. This discussion included the "miracles and wonders and signs" that were preformed by Jesus and the apostles (Acts 2:22, John 2:11). While supernatural spiritual gifts could be given to any believer at any time, these roles represent people who were themselves "gifts" to the Body of Christ for leadership.
Apostles: Those sent out to establish new works and oversee the church.
Prophets: Those who speak forth God’s truth and provide divine direction.
Evangelists: Those specifically gifted at sharing the Gospel with the lost.
Pastors: The shepherds who care for, protect, and guide the local flock.
Teachers: Those who explain the depth and doctrine of Scripture.
We had a very healthy discussion about how Jesus sent the apostles out 2 x 2 (Mark 6:7) and gifted them the Holy Spirit to preform miracles (Matthew 24:24, Mark 13:22, John 4:48, 20:22). This leads us to the book of Acts where the apostles were gifted the tongues. Our discussion challenged me to address the reason why no one is qualified to fill the roles, or hold the titles, of apostles or prophets today. These gifts were never meant to be permanent and often called "sign gifts." They are supernatural demonstrations of the Spirit's power meant for the "profit of all."
The Word of Wisdom & Word of Knowledge: Supernatural insight into God’s will or specific facts about a situation.
Faith: A unique, heroic trust in God for the impossible.
Gifts of Healings & Working of Miracles: Divine interventions in the physical and natural world.
Prophecy: A spontaneous word from God to encourage or convict.
Discerning of Spirits: The ability to distinguish between holy, demonic, or human spirits.
Tongues & Interpretation of Tongues: Speaking in unlearned languages and the ability to translate them for the church.
Many people today still believe in the miraculous. We see religious leaders on TV and social media claiming to possess miraculous powers, often promising healing to those who follow them. While there is no doubt that God is still at work in our world and has the power to do anything He wills, we must ask ourselves: Are these modern miracles real? When we look at the Bible—specifically I Corinthians 13:8, 14:21-22—there is a strong scriptural basis to believe that the specific "gifts" of miracles have ceased. To help us discern the truth, let’s compare the claims of modern "healers" against the seven biblical standards set by Jesus Himself.
1. Jesus Healed Boldly
In Matthew 8:11-13, we see Jesus healing without requiring the recipient to have "enough faith" beforehand. He didn't turn people away because of a spiritual deficiency. Today, many healers claim that if you aren't cured, it’s because your faith is too weak. Jesus simply used a word or a touch. His authority was not dependent on the mindset of the sufferer, but on His own divine power. This bold approach proved that He was the Master over all creation, requiring nothing from man to perform His will.
2. Jesus Healed Instantly
When Jesus performed a miracle (Matthew 8:13, Luke 5:13), there was no waiting period. The healing was immediate. Instantaneous. Modern healers often suggest that a miracle will "take place over time," but this contradicts the instantaneous nature of the miracles recorded in the Gospels. In the biblical record, there was no need for a "recovery process" or physical therapy after His touch. The blind saw and the lame leapt for joy the very second He spoke the word.
3. Jesus Healed Totally
In Luke 4:39, we see that when Jesus healed, the problem was gone for good. There were no "re-occurring problems." Today, many people who claim to be healed find themselves needing to return to the healer time and time again for the same issue. A miracle from Christ was not a temporary fix or a placebo effect that wore off once the adrenaline subsided. His work was perfect and complete, leaving the person entirely whole and free from their former affliction.
4. Jesus Healed Without Prejudice
Passages like Matthew 12:15 and Luke 6:19 show that Jesus never turned anyone away. He didn't cherry-pick cases or exclude those with the most serious illnesses. Most modern healers will admit they cannot heal everyone, a stark contrast to the ministry of Christ. He healed everyone who came to Him. There was no screening process to filter out the most "difficult" cases before they reached Him. Whether the crowd numbered in the dozens or the thousands, His power was sufficient to meet every single need without exception.
5. Jesus Healed ALL Diseases
Jesus didn't just heal invisible ailments; He healed visible, organic conditions. He cured lepers, restored sight to the blind, opened deaf ears, and restored withered limbs (Matthew 9:2, Mark 8:25, John 9:7). Modern healers struggle to duplicate this, often focusing on ailments that cannot be visually verified. His miracles involved the undeniable restoration of flesh, bone, and sensory organs. There was never any doubt that a physical transformation had occurred, as the evidence was plain for all to see.
6. Jesus Raised the Dead
The most undeniable sign of Jesus' power was His ability to raise the dead (John 11:38-44, Luke 7:10-17). While some modern men claim to have done this, these events almost always happen in remote areas without cameras or witnesses. If no one can duplicate this today, can they truly be called a "healer" in the biblical sense? Jesus raised people who had been dead for days and were already undergoing the process of decay. This ultimate display of authority over death served as the final proof of His identity as the Son of God.
7. Jesus’ Miracles Were Undeniable
A key standard of biblical miracles is that they were so obvious even those who hated Jesus could not deny them (John 11:45-47). Modern "miracles" are often vague or happen behind closed doors, or in foreign lands without video evidence, but Jesus worked in the open. Even His enemies could not deny His works. The Pharisees did not argue that the miracles weren't happening; they simply tried to find ways to stop Him because the evidence was so overwhelming. His works were performed in the light of day, leaving no room for skeptics to claim trickery or fraud.
It appears that modern "healers" cannot duplicate the methods practiced by Jesus. Christ healed by a word, healed instantly, healed totally, healed everyone, cured organic disease, and raised the dead in such a way that no one could deny it. As you navigate the claims of modern religious figures, I encourage you to use these biblical standards. Put your faith in God, not in men. He is the one who will truly lead you, guide you, and heal you.
Consider the gift of speaking in tongues (foreign languages). If this gift were active today, the rigorous language schools attended by missionaries would be unnecessary. Like the apostles in Acts 2, missionaries would simply travel to foreign lands and speak the local languages fluently through the Holy Spirit. We see a similar pattern with the gift of healing. This power was specifically tied to the ministry of Jesus and His apostles to validate their message (Luke 9:1-2). It would cease when a more "excellent way" led the church to maturity. This is why the natural fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) proves to be far superior! They are the only evidence needed.
As the apostolic era ended, these miracles became notably less frequent in the historical record. Even the Apostle Paul, who once raised Eutychus from the dead (Acts 20:9-12), later left Trophimus sick in Miletus (II Timothy 4:20). He did not heal Epaphroditus (Philippians 2:25-27), he advised Timothy to use medicinal wine for his stomach (I Timothy 5:23), and he was not granted healing for his own "thorn in the flesh" (II Corinthians 12:7-9). This is evidence that the gift of healing was never intended to ensure the physical health of every believer; rather, it was meant to authenticate the apostles as God's true messengers (II Corinthians 12:12, Hebrews 2:4).
Once the authority of the apostles was sufficiently demonstrated and the New Testament was completed, the need for these miraculous signs passed away. With the authoritative word of God (II Timothy 3:16-17) we no longer need apostolic evidence, prophetic words or miracles to be convinced that Jesus is the Christ. It is easy to get caught up in the "power" of the gifts, but Paul reminds us of their true purpose: the edification of the church. Furthermore, the Bible is clear that gifts without Love are meaningless. In I Corinthians 13, Paul explains that if we speak with the tongues of angels but have not love, we are just "noisy gongs."
You have a unique role to play in the Body of Christ. People can see the power of a changed life in you. They can read the Bible for themselves. Men do not need to wield miraculous power. God deserves all the praise, honor and glory.
You are loved.
Ray Reynolds
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