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Jesus Breaks Every Fetter, Jesus Sets Me Free
By Rev (Dr) Timothy Tow
(Preached at Life BPC, 10.30 am service, 6 May 2001)
Text: Matt 8:28-34
After giving the Great Commission to His
disciples to go into the world and preach the Gospel to every
creature, Jesus added, "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" (Mk 16:17-18). It is to be noted that
these are special powers conferred on the Apostles as recorded in
Acts 5:12, "And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and
wonders wrought among the people . . ." For further confirmation
miracles of healing and casting out devils are mentioned together
with the names of Peter and Paul.
These miraculous powers were given indeed for
the confirming of the Word they preached (Mk 16:20). As the Gospel
was established, these miracles were being withdrawn, so that they
are little mentioned in the latter part of the Acts of the Apostles.
This fact was observed by St Augustine, an eminent Church Father of
the 5th century.
With the rising of the Charismatic Movement at
the beginning of the 20th century, the seeking of signs and wonders
by their advocates has resulted in the practice of tongues-speaking,
healing the sick, even casting out devils. Satan, the Deceiver, is
quick to mislead them into misleading themselves. So, what happens
today in Charismatic circles are counterfeit tongues, counterfeit
healings, counterfeit casting out devils. The so-called healing
campaigns are totally ineffective.
In the Reinhard Bonke campaign in Singapore many
years ago it was advertised he would open the eyes of the blind and
make the lame to walk but he could do nothing of the sort. Today
Benny Hinn heads the healing and casting out devils of the
Charismatics but because he is powerless he sidetracks into "the
slaying of the spirit." In this "slaying of the Spirit" the TV
revealed how he failed when two tall and muscular men stared back at
him, standing their ground. Slyly he avoided them and turned on the
girls. . . (I saw this in Perth, June 2000.)
It was observed at the beginning of this sermon
that the special powers of healing and casting out devils was given
to the Apostles for the purpose of confirming the Word (Mark 16:20).
But when the church was established these miracles were withdrawn as
observed by St Augustine. It is therefore vain for the Charismatics
to try to revive these miraculous gifts.
Now what a totally different picture is
presented before us when Jesus, the Son of God, appears on the
scene. The devils cringe before Him, like darkness fading before the
light. The devils which possessed the two men cried out for mercy,
"What have we to do with Thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come
hither to torment us before the time?" The devils begged Jesus to
let them leave the two men they possessed and send them into a herd
of pigs. This Jesus allowed, to further manifest His power. He is
the Lord of creation and governs every creature. He had just stilled
the storm which almost sank the boat His disciples were in and
calmed the sea and the waves.
Jesus is the same, yesterday, today and forever.
Jesus can and He will save us, according to His good pleasure, and
according to how we approach Him.
Why are the Charismatic healers totally helpless
in their methods? They are become the victims of their bombastic
actions. They, being puny men, want to play God! If they succeed, I
have commented before, Jesus would lose His job! Some Charismatic
healers are practising as their trade, for gain, and many instances
of rigging up their claims are reported in American circles. Some
use psychology to cover up their inability.
This is one unforgettable experience we had with
an American doctor, Dr Gray. At the healing meeting he "scared" us
with the announcement he would tell us what sickness we had. Then he
pointed to some ladies in the audience. And he began to widen the
circle of his pointing, to include 30 or 40 of them. Then he said
one of them was suffering from diabetes. I immediately sensed his
trickery. I wrote him off as a charlatan.
Does Jesus heal today? I know of one He gave
power to heal. It is Dr John Sung during his campaign in Singapore
in 1935. John Sung confessed he was reluctant to do this. By the
entreaty of a British missionary to China where medical care is
about non-existent in rural areas, he took up the ministry of mercy.
His healing ministry is one fortieth of his preaching ministry.
After 40 sermons, he took one afternoon to heal.
Two testimonies will suffice to prove my point.
My father was a chain smoker. I was his "cigarette boy." He sent me
to buy cigarettes for him. Before John Sung came my father tried to
stop smoking, but in vain. After hearing John Sung for a few times
he came home one night and gathered the whole family. He brought out
all his cigarettes including Chinese tobacco and burnt them in the
open air. God had snapped his habit that day.
Another testimony comes from Elder Sim Eng Khoon
of Lim Chu Kang Presbyterian Church. He was delivered not only from
chain-smoking but also from drinking, snap, during the John Sung
campaign. He told me how he threw all his cigarettes and wine
bottles into the drain.
Does Jesus heal today? Our greatest problem
today is drug addiction. Yes, when we approach Him in humility and
exalt Him to the addicts as the Son of God and only Saviour, He will
work. At FEBC we have received at least 10 rehabilitated drug
addicts from the Helping Hand, and these have made good, after they
graduated from FEBC. One Singaporean is now heading the House of
Hope in Cebu, Philippines. Another heads another Rehabilitation
House in Batam. A third is a missionary to Thailand. They are not
those whom Charismatics claim to be delivered by a touch, but
painstakingly brought up in the School of Christ.
If you need healing, and whatever may be your
problems, you must come to Jesus like the two possessed,
surrendering all and casting yourself down before His mercies. If He
has pity on you and you have believed with your whole heart,
confessing your sins, you also can be healed. If not, you cannot
complain. "I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will
have compassion on whom I will have compassion" (Rom 9:15)." Let us
therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain
mercy, and find grace to help in time of need" (Heb 4:16).
Jesus breaks every fetter
Jesus breaks every fetter
Jesus breaks every fetter
Jesus sets me free
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