Over the years, a phenomenon of faith healing has all but engulfed Christianity, and because scriptural laws on health are being disregarded for the most part the services of these professed miracle workers have become all the more popular and in demand.
As with any violation of physical laws, there will be consequences that would follow, and rather than make the needed changes, some turn to a quick fix from the multitude of faith healers that have now overspread the land. But the question is, could it be that there are fake healers, as well as genuine faith healers?
The Bible study for this evening will seek to clear up this issue once and for all, so that those who may be sincere-hearted would be able to clearly distinguish between the true and the false, and thus, not fall a prey to the devices of devils.
To be clear, a fake healer is one who is not sent by or from God, and through whom the devil works to deceive souls. This does not necessarily mean that every miracle they do will be fake; it just means that the source of their healing is a counterfeit to that which comes from God.
This is an important point because some persons have the tendency to write off all miracles done by false prophets as being spurious. There will be times when real healing might occur through these agents but that does not make their work more authentic. The main difference between the fake, and genuine faith healers is the source of their power not merely the miracle itself.
For the record, the gospel commission includes the working of miracles for purposes of healing, when a situation might warrant God’s intervention. In such circumstances, prayer must be made according to God’s will, and if the particular individual is known to have contributed in any way to his/ her sickness, then confession of sin, and a turning away from the wrong course of action is required. Let’s read:
James 5: 14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.
15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he has committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
There are also instances in which God might move upon one of His servants to offer healing to folks in need, as He sees fit, but in such situations, those under the guidance of God never presume to take it upon themselves to decide or to single out who to heal. The Holy Spirit is The One who is to decide in such matters, never the human agent.
Thus, in harmony with the gospel commission, the disciples went out, preaching and healing, as they were led by God, and the Bible records several of these miracles as proof that the gospel includes the restoration of both the spiritual, and the physical aspects of man’s being. Let’s read:
Matthew 10:1 And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.
5 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not.
6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.
Acts 19:11 And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul.
12 So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.
Acts 3:2 And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple, which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple;
3 Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked for alms.
4 And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.
5 And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.
6 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.
7 And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.
8 And he, leaping up stood and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.
9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God.
But, because for every good thing God has given us, satan has a counterfeit, we must ask ourselves this question: Can satan work miracles too? We know from the story of Job that devils can inflict diseases but are they also able to heal? Unless we have very clear and concise answers to these questions, it will be quite difficult to tell the difference between fake and genuine faith healers.
Thus, we must let the Bible speak for itself on this point, before we proceed, so that the study may be established on the word of God alone. “Can satan work miracles?” Answer: Yes, he absolutely can. Let’s read:
Matthew 24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
2nd Thessalonians 2:8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming.
9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
2nd Corinthians 11:13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
Revelation 13:13 And he doeth great wonders, so that he makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,
14 And deceives them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.
These miracles referenced in the previous passages also include miracles of healing, done through the human agent, similar to how holy men of God were used as agents of healing under the auspices of The Holy Ghost. In both the genuine, and the false, the human agent becomes the vessel, through which either satan or The Holy Spirit works, and therefore it is imperative that we know the difference.
The following experience of an encounter with one fake healer is recorded in the Bible for our benefit, and it is the will of God that we should study it very closely, because as we near the close of time, it will become increasingly difficult for persons to discern between the fake and the genuine. Let’s read:
Acts 8:9 But there was a certain man, called Simon, which before-time in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one.
10 To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God.
This obeah man, Simon, could not have had such a reputation among the people if he wasn’t delivering the goods. The above phrase “From the least to the greatest” means that it was not only your ordinary John Doe that went for healing.
His clientele ran the entire gamut, and included the prominent members of society, such as politicians, sheriffs, clergy and ordinary people. Apparently, this man had spent many years building his reputation among the people for being a reliable source of the miracles referenced, hence the reason why the Bible says they “all gave heed”.
But the sources he used stinks to high heavens and savors of something counterfeit, to those genuine miracles wrought by God’s servants. He’d employed witchcraft, as well as sorceries, the two branches of alternative medicine used by devils, and these two are still prevalent today, being used by those fake healers across the land. Let’s read:
Acts 8:11 And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.
Here is Strong's Concordance on the meaning of the word “Sorceries”
Pharmakeia: the use of medicine, drugs or spells
Original Word: φαρμακεία, ας, ἡ Transliteration:
Definition: The use of medicine, drugs or spells
Usage:magic, sorcery, enchantment.
pharmakeía (from pharmakeuō, "administer drugs") properly, drug-related sorcery, like the practice of magical-arts, etc.
Acts 8:12 But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
13 Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.
Verse 13 reveals to us unmistakably that Simon, the obeah man actually joined the Christian church, and became a nominal Christian, at the very least, which then raises the prospect that there might be other
fake healers parading under the name Christian.
This is not merely a prospect, or an assumption, it is what the Bible says unequivocally in one verse that we read previously. Satan has Christian ministers as well as fake healers, who are scattered throughout Christendom teaching erroneous doctrines that are dangerous to the soul and who perform counterfeit works of healing on the masses of people.
But what is even more disturbing is that Simon had proposed to purchase The Holy Ghost, so that his diabolical combination of the powers of good and evil would render him even more potent. Thus, it is that the great adversary has always sought a hybrid of truth and error, of light and darkness, so that his work may become too difficult to detect. Let’s read:
Therefore, the following pointers from the Bible are to be used in detecting the true from the false, the fake from the real thing. Under the guidance of The Holy Spirit, and the word of God, every stone must be turned over and every fake healer exposed as we apply the litmus tests.
[1] Any healer or preacher who pushes people down to the ground is a fake, period!
You read the Bible from cover to cover, and you will not find a single instance in Christ’s ministry where He pushed down anybody to the ground. Instead, we will read often where He took persons by the hand and lifted them up.
But pushing people down on the ground, with them lying on the floor, is an unmistakable sign that the supposed healer, or preacher is a total fake. And thus, regardless of his or her claims, they are being driven by satanic forces. The general tenor of the gospel is to lift persons, up never to push down.
There is a term that has become quite popular in Christian circles: “Slain in the spirit” by which folks would be seen collapsed on the ground around some preacher or healer. This again is unmistakable evidence that a counterfeit spirit is at work because Christ did not give His Spirit to slay anyone. Let’s read:
Luke 4:18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
Mark 1:30 But Simon's wife's mother lay sick of a fever, and they tell him of her.
31 And he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up; and immediately the fever left her, and she ministered unto them.
[2] Money and materialism often stands front and center of miracles performed by fake healers. Let’s read:
Acts 8:18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money.
The incessant solicitation of money is in many cases a sure sign that a fake healer or preacher is at work. According to the scriptures, the miraculous works of healing, performed by false prophets, are closely associated with the love of money.
It is important for that link to be observed because in our day the same is true. It is too often the case that satanic works of healing, as done by fake these healers, are accompanied by what we describe as “stop and frisk” where congregations are too often shaken down for their personal funds.
These fake healers are often to be found badgering their congregants, and laying heavy burdens upon the conscience, so that folks are almost forced into returning their offerings, more from a sense of guilt, rather than from the willing heart, as the scriptures stipulate.
The constant solicitation of money is a definite red flag of the fake healers in our day, for wheresoever finances and donations seem to be front and center of their activities, and appeals, there you will most likely have Simon the sorcerer, operating in real time. Let’s read:
2nd Corinthians 9:7 Every man according as he purposes in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly or of necessity, for God loves a cheerful giver.
Micah 3:11 The priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money: yet will they lean upon the Lord, and say, Is not the Lord among us?
Acts 8: 18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,
19 Saying, Give me also this power that on whoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.
20 But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.
21 Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.
The above verses are even more disturbing than the rest, because Simon is proposing to pay for The Holy Ghost. When Christ in the parable of the ten virgins, stated that the five foolish were found destitute of oil, which represents The Holy Spirit they went out to buy, and apparently they found some oil for sale, because they later came back and requested entry. Let’s read:
Matthew 25:1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3 They that were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them.
4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
7 Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps.
8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.
9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
These five virgins who became destitute of The Holy Ghost, represent Christians, who like Simon, have believed, for they also espouse the word of God, as represented by their lamps. But the truths of God’s word were never synthesized with a daily practice, and for this reason, their lamps and their oil were brought to naught.
Thus, with a noticeable void in their lives, they seek to make up the difference by paying for counterfeits too readily supplied by fake healers and preachers. That’s why in Christendom you will hear so much of the “Anointing” referring to persons having the Holy Ghost.
But persons who have The Spirit of God dwelling on the inside, do not usually brag to others about their state. Instead, they are to be found with a humble spirit that avoids the flashy and the eccentric which often characterizes the fake healers and preachers of our day.
[3] Fake healers and preachers almost never ever ask the reason for a person’s sickness. Healing is often offered en masse without any reference or mention of root causes.
If a person goes to their doctor, and he was to offer healing and medicines without him first ascertaining what the one is suffering from that doctor would be considered crazy at best and ludicrous at worst. But in the Christian world individuals are being offered healing with no reference to root causes, which will call for a change in habits and lifestyle if warranted.
Therefore, if the counsels given in the Bible are not being followed, persons will need to be very wary, lest the fake be mistaken for the true. In the days of Christ, the wealth of knowledge we now have was not available, and so the links between habits and consequences were not so clearly discernable.
But with the increase of knowledge we have, folks are required to do their homework in studying the relation of diets and foods to diseases, and where necessary, make appropriate changes in harmony with the restorative power of God. Let’s read:
James 5:14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:
15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
John 5:5 And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years.
6 When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole?
7 The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me.
8 Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.
9 And immediately the man was made whole.
14 Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.
[4] Presenting private interpretations and other distortions of the gospel.
Closely associated with fake healers and preachers is the dissemination of false doctrines, for the word of God reproves their practice and thus, in order to avoid the needed reforms and changes, they resort to modifying the scriptures to confirm themselves in a wrong course of action, and also to quiet a seared conscience.
For instance, the very popular false doctrine of the natural immortality of the soul, seeks to accomplish two main things: [1] To remove any need for change and repentance. [2] To grant to the deceived a false sense of security outside of that which Jesus and His word require. The gospel, as taught in the Bible calls for a change of heart by the renewal of our minds, through the power of God’s Holy Spirit.
Fake preachers and healers beg to differ, and state that a change in habits and lifestyle are not needed, since God accepts persons as they are. This is the reason why, when persons go for healing by a fake healer, no mention is made of contributing factors on the part of the sick, if any.
And thus, a person who may have become sick with lung cancer because of smoking, is offered healing without addressing the root cause, only to return to their old ways which caused the problem in the first place. These offers of healing are a part and parcel of the deceptions that the Bible warns about in the last days. Let’s read:
2nd Corinthians 11:3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
4 For if he that cometh preaches another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.
As we near the close of time, and diseases, cancers and pandemics of all sorts continue to proliferate across the world, these counterfeit healings offered through satanic agencies, operating under a veneer of Christianity, will seem more and more as a viable option, and will soon culminate in the ultimate fake healer taking the stage of action to heal the many diseases of the people. Let’s read:
[Maranatha pp 276] As the crowning act in the great drama of deception, Satan himself will personate Christ. The church has long professed to look to the Savior's advent as the consummation of her hopes. Now the great deceiver will make it appear that Christ has come.
In different parts of the earth, Satan will manifest himself among men as a majestic being of dazzling brightness, resembling the description of the Son of God given by John in the Revelation. The glory that surrounds him is unsurpassed by anything that mortal eyes have yet beheld.
The shout of triumph rings out upon the air: “Christ has come! Christ has come!” The people prostrate themselves in adoration before him, while he lifts up his hands and pronounces a blessing upon them, as Christ blessed His disciples when He was upon the earth.
His voice is soft and subdued, yet full of melody. In gentle, compassionate tones he presents some of the same gracious, heavenly truths which the Savior uttered; he heals the diseases of the people, and then, in his assumed character of Christ, he claims to have changed the Sabbath to Sunday, and commands all to hallow the day which he has blessed.
We are now getting dangerously close to that time, and therefore, it behooves every sincere-hearted person to be on full alert, lest they be swept away with the incoming tsunami of counterfeit miracles which will take the world by storm.
It’s not a mere knowledge of these things that will save anyone, it is the conscientious obedience and surrender to the word, and will of God that would enable persons to discern the difference, and thus, be enabled by The Holy Spirit to avoid those deadly snares that will be set for the feet of the unwary.
We therefore end with a passage of scripture that should encourage us to make thorough preparation while we still have the opportunity to do so, for God is still in the business of saving to the uttermost, if we will believe and obey His every word. Let’s read:
Romans 13:11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.
12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness and let us put on the armor of light.
13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.
14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
God Bless!