Miracle Healing and Christian Deliverance

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Miracle Healing and Christian Deliverance

The nineteenth century was a time of great excitement for Christians and the revival of Christianity spread across many continents. Most of these new Christians reported experiencing a “new birth,” or forgiveness from sin, and experiencing the “second blessing” of sanctification, the infilling of the Holy Spirit, which brought freedom from the pollution and power of sin. In addition, some Christians believed that being born again brought healing from various illnesses.

The healing of the sick was a common practice of early Christians, but the practice became rare over time as church leaders restricted the practice of praying for the sick and exorcising demons. The focus of healing moved from compassion for the sick to proving one’s holiness. During the Middle Ages, the anointing of the sick with oil became a sacrament. Though it was not a miracle, it was still considered a powerful way of spiritual preparation for heaven. However, this practice was only permitted for people in immediate danger of death.

The Bible is filled with miracles. While some miracles are specific to the ministry of Jesus, others are more general and cannot be attributed to his name. For example, in Matthew 12:27, Jesus endorses a man who casts out demons without his knowledge. In the same way, the Bible says that Jesus’s work does not depend on the ability to cast out demons, but rather upon the power of the Holy Spirit working in the lives of Christians.