By
Ralph W. Harris
Because the
Assemblies of God was founded on the premise that all
that occurred in the first-century church is available
to 20th-century believers, faith for healing and miracles
was exercised and rewarded.
Preachers and
teachers often referred to healing along with other basic
doctrines. Evangelists often made healing and other miracles
the main thrust of their ministry. Churches sprang into
existence because of such a ministry.
I was healed
by the power of God of a brain tumor — more than
30 years ago. As a pastor, when a neighbor’s eye
had been pierced by a scissor point, I prayed for her
over the phone and she was instantly healed.
Healings and
miracles still occur. My recent book, Acts Today,
records many marvelous acts of God. However, they seem
scarcer than in the past, except when a church has a divine
visitation.
Why? Not because
God stopped responding to earnest prayer. Not because
the healing ministry has ceased. Not because it is no
longer necessary. Following are some possible reasons:
1. Higher living
standards. When people could not afford a doctor, a hospital
or medicines, they had to trust God.
2. Improved
health through better diets and vitamin-packed supplements.
3. Medical
advances, such as transplants.
4. Increased
medical insurance for doctor visits and prescriptions.
Though there
is prayer for the sick in churches and some healings,
there is less emphasis on the subject. What can be done?
Continue to
stress these doctrines in our Bible colleges and Sunday
school curriculum.
Encourage those
who need a miracle to call out to the Lord first —
before consulting a physician.
Ralph
W. Harris was editor in the Sunday School Curriculum and
Literature Department at the Assemblies of God Headquarters
and later editor for the Complete Biblical Library.
