FAITH HEALING.

Matamata Record, Volume VI, Issue 475, 27 September 1923, Page 4

FAITH HEALING.

A CHRISTIAN PRINCIPLE. Authority of the Bible. A poignant acvraon on the subject of -faith healing was given by the Rev. Colin Scrimgeour at Methodist services in the Putaruru district on Sunday. Speaking- on the second verse of the ninth chapter of St. Luke's Gospel, "And He sent them to preach the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick." he said:— "Although some seventeen years of Christ's life are completely hidden from view the three years of His public ministry as recorded in the Gospels are quite sufficient to convince even those of sceptical mind that He not only came to save the souls ot men but also to heal the body. 1«dav one hears many divers opinions on the of the healingby .T«us Christ in His church. I think that when we —poor mortals that we are—begin to limit the power of the Creator over His creation we are nutting our hoards as it were against Se proverbial stone wall. It seems ridiculous in the extreme to think that he One who could cause the putrifyiig form of the dead Lazarus to issue fottli into life, and who said to the poo sinful cripple.'Thvsns are lm- ; thee: take up thy bed and walk cannot or will not heal in bod> ?s we™ as in spirit all that come unto Him. Who would cut out or even lessen the miraculous element of out having sight restored, the deal rteai U. touch of His hand.

THE GOOD PHYSICIAN. "How is it then that this world, is , 0 £u of sin ancL disease and the healing powers so lacking I Is> « P°f ibletiit Christ has >een f useJJ D,'twers that Jesus ■" r*e*tcv works disomies, but He said G * cat " T San these shall ye do because I go jngs ot 111,5 ..r^f Tl Vitself amongst us that is manitest mg itseu a t, more ro every clay. lam £ we need 3?*™f.™ £g* before, more so to-day than cvci

When we stop a moment to consider the tremendous amount of sin, suffering, and disease existent in the world there is need for great alarm. Take, for instance, a few of the most prominent infectious or hereditary diseases. Doctors and scientists have made many noble sacrifices in the way of spending a great amount of time, money and effort in searching for cures for these terrible diseases, and yet they have failed to place anything tangible in the hands of the multitude that is continually crying out to them for aid. I do not wish to convev the impression that I condemn doctors and those who deal with the physical in life. Nay; every man who takes up a self-sacrificing taskfor the betterment of poor ialien mankind is rendering service to God. Paul tells us that there are diversities of gifts, but of the same spirit. Doctors, chvropractics and others all have their definite purposes in life, and well may the critic, say Enter Mr. Hickson and others with their minion.' Spiritual healing does not moan that we must be rid of the denlist or optician, but it means that we are going to begin now in a worldwide mission in destroying the root cans-, of all disease-Sin. There are neonle who say 'lf disease is not God's will for men why does He not heal all?' Why? Because the creation of man in the image of God necessarily includes the noble heritage of free'will. God will not reign as a tvrant over slaves, but as a God ol love over obedient subjects: and while man's will follows along the road or blind materialism there is little hope of God's great gift of healing reaching him. APOSTOLIC CHRISTIANITY. "[ think to-day there are unmistakeable signs that the church, after many vears of bitter sectevianism, is returning to the Apostolic Christianitv, and the black forces ot materialism are being slowly driven back, the healing power that Jesus bequeathed to His Apostles, which has lain tpi ages under the debris of materialism, is being discovered and given a prominent'place in the Church. So soon as we get together united in prayer ful effort and bring forth some of the greater truths of Christ's teachings the better it will be for ourselves and the Kingdom of God. FAITH THE ESSENTIAL. " Whv have not more preachers ol the Gospel of Christ ;receivec thu power of healing he sick? This i another question that is being asked bv many. The answer is simple and e fee fve. Do you think that for one moment God is going to trouble our stagnant hearts with the great gift of healing power while we are chrectv insulting Him by our unbelief. What we must da if we wish to rerain this great gift is to prepare ourselves in the way of Faith, and when we are ready to obey His command. < Heal the sick.' He will give us power to do so. And so it is with those who are sick and desire God hplp; they, too, need faith in bod h Sises'. Take, for instance, the case of. the poor sinful beggar a Bethesda who had been parahsecl ioi thirtv-eight vears. Christ's command 's 'Stand 'up!' What? On those 5Sk and witied limbs? Yes and the moment he obeys and makes an honest attempt, a new power shoots through his nerves and muscles and hcSes up on these self-same limbs. Jesus furnished the strength. lhfi man's part or the happy transaction was Faith. Christ's part was Grace. Put these two together and you have the history in every instance of faith healing that ever took .place. Ihe time has come when we can no longer through our own faithlessness disobey Christ's command to preach the Kingdom of Cod and heal .the sick The church is slow y regaining the nower of healing, which Mr. Hickson likens to a long disused need, oveiLrown with the thorns and briars o our long neglect. Awake! Preachers and people alike. ■, " Put awav thy needless fears, And doubts no longer thine; A new ray of light appears, In the Message so Divine.