pop-- Yes Christ, commanded them to be healed, but sometimes He prayed prior to healing as well (a nice ex John 11:41-44)
But just because Christ did it does not mean we can. Christ walked on water, He told His Apostles to come out and walk on the water as well. Does this mean I'm able to walk on water? No, nor would I attempt it. So it is with this. As LoJ pointed out, Christ did give the Apostles the power to heal, given for certain ministry tasks ( Luke 9:1; 10:8-9 ), but that does not mean I automatically have the ability to heal.
While this is all said and good, you must also remember that healing is a function of the Holy Spirit, and not all have the same gifts (1 Cor. 12 1-30)
Now to go onto the concept of other's having the power to command healing. Paul did both. Acts 14:9, Paul ordered someone to get up, and the man in doing so was healed, but imo, Paul was prayed up, and actively seeking a miracle for a witness to the preaching he had just finished. Later in Acts 28:8 Paul, prayed, then healed. Who is to say which is the correct way? There is no true evidence which is the correct way, since those whom we look toward for reference in how gifts are used did both. Yet in my opinion, we should always pray prior to healing. Why? Due to what happened to Paul in Acts 14:9. After healing they were declared to be Roman gods, and the people of the city were going to make a sacrifice to Paul and Barnabas. Using Prayer to initiate healing, means that you are publicly giving the person who is actually doing the work the credit (which is why Christ prayed before raising Lazarus from the dead, to show God's glory). If we do not pray, and we just command, how long until we get conceited and believe that it's US that's doing the healing, or worse yet, others attribute the healing to us rather than to God.
I'm with SSqaured on the issues of seperating, what consitutes a sickness and what consitutes a condition? Christ healed both (Blindness often, the woman with the bleeding disorder , is that a sickness or condition??, leperosy, etc.). Paul healed both (a lame man in Acts 14:9, a some form of fever, in Acts 28:8). Again, this is just labeling the same thing. For whether you call it a sickness or a condition, it is something that keeps the human body from functioning at the usual 'Normal' conditions (not blind, not deaf, with full facilities, both mental an physical, and in good overall health).
LoJ-- btw, why did you bring the Apostles into this? and no we're not Apostles, we're disciples. An Apostle is someone who saw Christ in the flesh, and the last one died about 1900 years ago
. While yes, Christ gave them the power to heal and cast out evil spirits, the power and gifts we receive with the baptism of the Holy Ghost are greater, and we are able to do both of those, as well as even more things.
Now to bring to attention a VERY disturbing thought
[b said:
Quote[/b] ]however i never have to die of cancer because me having cancer isnt doing anything for God so cancer is just a name.
How do you know this? Are you CERTAIN that you having cancer would do nothing for God's kingdom?? I know that if it would save 1 soul, I would willingly submit to having cancer.
Just because we don't see the current potential of what happens to us, does not mean it would do nothing for God's kingdom. To say that 'having cancer isn't doing anything for God' is the height of arrogance. You said that it's logical for God to allow us to have Kidney Stones and what not, but in the end, what is the difference? Why is it logical to have kidney stones, but not cancer?
Remember, the what or why things happen (be it kidney stones or cancer or anything else) DOES NOT MATTER. What matters is, and always will be, how does it affect me and my relationship with Christ. Have I used what happened to help others come closer to Christ? Have I used what happened to help myself come closer to Christ? These are the qeustions you should ask, never should it be 'Why did this happen to me?'
If I found out tomorrow I had a terminal cancer, I would not say 'Why God, I'm still young, why would you do this to me?' I would say 'It's your will Lord, How can I use this to further your Kingdom?'