Volume  III    Issue   XLVIII   October 5th, 2003

A publication of the:
Butler church of Christ

Our meeting location is:
201 5th Ave.
Butler, PA 16001
724-287-0628 (building) / 724-282-9417 (home/office)

Assembling Times:
Sunday Bible Class - 9:30 AM
Sunday Worship – 10:30 AM
Wednesday Bible Class – 7:00 PM
 

Editor / Preacher –
Brian A. Yeager
 

Check out the web site:

http://www.wordsoftruth.net

Welcome to a place where only God is glorified and only the Bible is taught!

(I Corinthians 10:31 and I Peter 4:11)

Fake Healers
By: Brian A. Yeager

    Friday August 22nd, 2003 marked the end of the life of an eight year old boy named Terrance Cottrell Jr. of Milwaukee, WI.  The story caught my attention for numerous reasons.  First of all, it was a story involving an autistic child.  Since Taylor is autistic, almost any news story with that headline catches my attention.  Second of all, the story involved a religious group, a prayer service, and a thought that this boy was demonically possessed.  A news report said this:

“Members reportedly wrapped Terrance up in sheets, held him down and then prayed over him for more than hour. Police sources said Terrance was dripping in sweat and had marks on his arms. Members said they were trying to heal Terrance by getting rid of evil spirits. ‘Why are they claiming my son was demonic. I think that it was evil and demonic what they did to him,’ T. Cottrell Sr. said. The medical examiner's office Monday said Cottrell died of mechanical asphyxia due to external chest compression.  …This case could get complicated when and if it goes to trial. Wisconsin is one of the most protective states when it comes to religious freedom.” - http://www.themilwaukeechannel.com/news/
    So many people, like the mother of Terrance Cottrell Jr., are led to believe that men today can cure illnesses as did Jesus, the Apostles, and other Christians in the New Testament whom were given the gift of the Holy Spirit.  So many “T.V. Evangelists” proclaim that they have the power to heal.  These fake healers prey on the emotions of people who feel hopeless.  They take money, they put on a show, and no one is healed.  If Terrance Cottrell Jr. was in the hands of a true miracle worker 911 would not have had to be called.  The boy could have been brought back to life.  Jesus said: (Matthew 10:8) “Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.”  The reason why they could not cure Terrance of autism or raise him from the dead after murdering him, is that the ability to perform miracles ceased a long time ago, making those proclaiming to heal today “fake healers”.

Miracles by the Hands of Men Ceased When…

    As one reads through the New Testament they will find a promise made to converts: (Acts 2:38) “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”  The promise on the Day of Pentecost is similar to that of what Jesus said in giving the Great Commission: (Mark 16:15-20) “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.  And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.  So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.  And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following.”  In reading Mark’s account of the Great Commission we see that these signs were for a purpose “confirming the word with signs following.”

    Understanding that miracles through the hands of men were for a purpose, helps us move on to understand fully when and why they ceased.  An Apostle teaching about Christ in New Testament times did not have a New Testament to open and show to someone.  They had the Holy Spirit working and speaking through them (John 16:13 and I Corinthians 2:9-13).  To someone who had never seen or heard of Jesus Christ, the Gospel of Jesus Christ could have been called a false doctrine.  Thus, men of God used the various gifts given by the Holy Spirit to confirm that God was truly speaking through them (Hebrews 2:3-4).  Thus, when the word of God was completed in written form, there was no longer a need to confirm what was confirmed already through inspired writings that fully equip the Christian unto every good work (I Corinthians 13:8-10 and II Timothy 3:16-17).

    Outside of the fact that spiritual gifts lasted long enough to confirm the spoken word, we can also see that they cannot exist today because those whom passed them on do not exist today.  When one studies the New Testament they find that the gift of the Holy Spirit was given through the laying on of Apostles hands (Acts 8:12-18, Acts 19:1-7, and Romans 1:11).  Obviously, there are no two thousand year old men walking the earth today.  Thus, the cessation of spiritual gifts is not only marked by the end of their purpose, but also by the end of the age in which the Apostles lived on earth.  One must realize that those who are proclaiming such today are proclaiming something false.

The Bible Warns of the Fakes

    (Matthew 7:15; 20) “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.  Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.”  (II Corinthians 11:14-15) “And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.  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.”  (II Peter 2:1) “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.”  (I John 4:1) “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.”  What more could be said?

Conclusion

    When I think of Terrance Cottrell Jr. my stomach begins to be upset.  The fact that his mother stood by why adults covered him, held him down, and asphyxiated him.  I begin wondering what would happen if some of these nut cases grabbed my daughter and claimed she was possessed by a demon.  I think of what the boy must have been going through as I think of the characteristics of an autistic child.  I can almost see the struggle of these people gathering over a defenseless child.  This boy had no idea why he was being wrapped up and held down.  This boy could not have communicated what was happening to his body as he was being murdered.  Christians today need to educate the world on the Bible doctrine of miracles.  Maybe then we may just be able to save the next one who believes the lies of a fake healer.





Quick Notes

Those Serving Today:
Announcements – Brian Yeager
A.M. Song Leader – Terry Nannie
Lord’s Table – George Papp
Assisting – Bill Graham and Young Jay Wagner
First Prayer – Jay Wagner
Closing Prayer – Steve Burgoon

Those In Need of Our Prayers:
Tony Sassano (going through testing), Joan Croyle, Marie Glunt (a friend of the Papp’s who is suffering from cancer), and Julie Rado (a friend of the Graham’s who has been diagnosed with breast cancer.
 
 


What must one do to be saved (Acts 2:37)?  Hear and believe the Gospel (Mark 16:15-16), repent of their sins (Acts 3:19), confess Christ (Acts 8:37), and be baptized (immersed) for the remission of sins into the church (Acts 2:38, I Corinthians 12:12-13, and Galatians 6:3-5).  One must then remain faithful (Revelation 2:10).