Beware of Charlatans

# 380 - Today's Living Word comes from Mr 5:27,28 “When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment. For she said, "If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well."

This woman was so convinced of Jesus' connection with God that she sincerely believed just touching His robe would bring healing to her body. She is not alone in the Bible in this regard. Remember the Apostle Paul and how God used him for healing others?

People believed that he was so connected to God that they brought handkerchiefs and aprons to him, so that he would just touch them. When they brought them back to their loved ones who were afflicted, they were not only healed but delivered of evil spirits!

Ac 19:11 Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul,
12 so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them.

People believed that Peter was so connected to God that just coming into contact with his shadow brought healing.

Ac 5:15 so that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them.

God used these miracles to prove to people that His apostles were indeed connected to Jesus. This was vital at this point in the history of the church, but is it all that necessary today?

Can God still heal in this manner? Of course. Will He? Well, that's His prerogative. But beware of anyone who would use such healings for their financial gain.

Jesus, Peter, and Paul, never sent a piece of cloth in the mail claiming it would heal. They never attached a financial appeal to their robes or handkerchiefs. Peter didn't sell seats for his shadow. (Noontime seats would've been rather pricey due to the short length of the shadow)

No! Peter and Paul were simply connected and yielded to Jesus by faith. The clothing and the shadow were just a means of delivering the grace of God to others. It was not faith in the shadow or the kerchief, not faith in these men, but faith in God that wrought these miracles.

I'm Duane Matz and that's Today's Living Word.