Many Word Faith teachers teach that every christian should be without sickness of any type.  They preach that we can name our healing and then claim it by faith, hence the "Name it, Claim it," nickname. 

Are there any instances of believers in the Bible that asked God for a healing and were refused?  Are there any instances of believers in the Bible that remained sick or died from a sickness?  If so, this would contradict the Name it, Claim It, construct.

Some of these false teachers due to this false construct go so far as to say to never pray to God, "Thy will be done!"  They believe that if you pray, "Thy will be done," that this shows a lack of faith.  Benny Hinn, Rod Parsley, Paul Crouch, Fred Price, Ken Hagin, and Robert Tilton all have taught this blasphemous doctrine. 

Creflo Dollar goes so far as to teach that we can actually stand before God and tell Him [God] what He is going to do!  Fred Price teaches that if you pray, 'Thy will be done,' you are calling God a Fool!  Paul Crouch has this to say about the way that Jesus taught us to pray, "Quit this old cop out prayer, 'if it be thy will' it's bunk!"   Benny Hinn calls 'Thy will be done' faith destroying words. 

Remember, it is the Lord's will not ours.  Even Jesus in his great struggle in the garden to the point of sweating great drops of blood he declared, "And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt," Matthew 26:39.

Jesus taught us to pray, "After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.  Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.  Give us this day our daily bread.  And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen," Matthew 6:9-13 (See also: James 4:15, 1 John 5:14).

The Apostle Paul:

The Apostle Paul had a thorn in the flesh that was particularly troublesome.  He asked the Lord three times to take it away but God said, "no."  Despite God's refusal to heal him, Paul rejoiced because of his infirmities:

"For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.  Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong," 2 Corinthians 12:8-10.

From this passage of scritpure it is crystal clear that a sickness can lead us to a deeper love of God.  It can lead to spiritual growth and our better serving and honoring Him.  To say that God wants everybody healed contradicts the clear teachings of His Word. 

Charles Spurgeon said this about his battle with gout: "I am certain that I never did grow in grace one-half so much anywhere as I have upon the bed of pain."

King David said this about his afflictions: "It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees...I know, O Lord, that your laws are righteous, and in faithfulness you have afflicted me," Psalm 119:71, 75.  "The LORD hath chastened me sore: but he hath not given me over unto death," Psalm 118:18.  "Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word," Psalm 119:67.

The Great Prophet Elisha:

Elisha had a double portion of the annointing of Elijah.  He raised people from the dead and God did many other miracles through him as well.  Despite this double annointing Elisha himself died from sickness and was not healed by God.  Here is the scripture:  "Now Elisha was fallen sick of his sickness whereof he died," 2 Kings 13:14.

Timothy: 

Timothy's spiritual father was the greatest of all the apostles, Paul.  He spent alot of time learning from Paul's life and doctrine.  Surely, if it is God's will for every sick christian to be healed Paul would have healed Timothy's stomach condition.  Instead of a miraculous healing, Paul advised him to take that days solution for that particular ailment: "Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities," 1 Timothy 5:23.

Trophimus:

Again we have a friend and companion of the great Apostle Paul that he could not or would not heal.  Do you honestly think that if Paul could have healed his friend that he would have refused to do so?  At the very least Paul could have left an apron or handkerchief to heal his friend (Acs 19:11-12). 

God himself refused to heal Paul of his thorn in the flesh.  Here is the scripture where Paul speaks of his friends sickness: "Erastus abode at Corinth: but Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick," 2 Timothy 4:20.

Let me be clear, God is not the author of evil, but He will send judment for sin, "I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil (the Hebrew word ra (evil) here means calamity or judgment for sin): I the LORD do all these things," Isaiah 45:7.

Sin and sickness entered the world through Adam (Romans 5:12) and his disobedience to God.  God warned Adam the day that he did eat of the tree you will die (spiritually and physically).  "And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die," Genesis 2:16-17.

So please do not blame God for sickness and death, our disobedience through Adam brought death into the world.  Our bodies are prone to decay and sickness through the natural aging process.  It could be the result of a bad diet, lack of exercise or a variety of other reasons that happen over time to each and every one of us.  Whatever the case God will give you the strength you need to see you through your valley.

Our faith is God is not dependant upon our circumstances.  We are pilgrims and seek a kingdom that is not of this world.  We seek a heavenly habitation, where there will be no more tears, death, or pain.  God describes what heaven will be like, "And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away," Revelation 21:4.  

If we experience sickness and death we must say with Job:

"And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD...Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity?  Curse God, and die.  But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh.  What?  Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil (Calamity)?  In all this did not Job sin with his lips...Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him," Job 1:21, 2:9-10, 13:15.

Meditate on this moving statement from Habakkuk in which he puts his joy in God despite any wickedness or trouble that may happen to him.  His joy comes from knowing and serving God not from his circumstances:

"Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation," Habakkuk 3:17-18.

Sick Miracle Worker's: Sick Faith Healer's

A common Word Faith teaching is that it is your own fault for being sick.  They teach that it is because of your lack of faith and/or knowledge if you are sick or poor.  They teach a Christian should not be sick and that we can claim our healing by faith and God will always heal us.  This cruel and unbiblical teaching does nothing but heap guilt upon those that are ill and infirmed. 

Can you imagine the gall to tell a person to their face that the reason they are sick with cancer is because of their lack of faith?  Can you imagine the cruelty in telling a person bound to a wheelchair that if they had enough "faith" they would "Rise and be healed?"

What if this Word Faith teacher that is telling you that every Christian should live in "Divine Health" was looking at you through a pair of glasses?  What if this Word Faith teacher that is telling you that you can "Speak" to your sickness and it will leave has weak eyes that need glasses to read her bible?  What if a miracle worker has had numerous people that were close to him die of sickness?  What if this same healing evangelist has had numerous people die at his crusades?  What if this Word Faith teacher that is telling you that medicine is for weak Christians and that he does not allow sickness in his home "allowed" his wife to get cancer and then medical treatment? 

Would you still follow these people that teach these things when their eyes are sick and they need glasses to see and have cancer and sickness in there house?  Would you still follow this healing evangelist that cannot even heal the people that are killed at his "healing" crusades?

I have always wondered why these healers don't clear out hospitals, cancer wards, schools for the blind, and disaster areas.  Why don't they do these things?  They could get the local television station to follow them and have it shown all around the world.  Why aren't they in Iraq healing our wounded soldiers and raising them from the dead?  Think about these things my friend, don't be deceived.

The only man to follow through on these beliefs was Hobart Freeman, he and over 100 of his followers died as a result of refusing medical care.  Most of this information is from the article by the PFO Ministry,"Can You Be Deceived."

For biblical proof that if you wear glasses that your eyes are sick let's look at Mark 8:22-25.  A blind man seeks Jesus for healing and after Jesus had spit on his eyes the man said, "I see men like trees walking."  After this Jesus again put his hands on his eyes then the man saw "Every man clearly." 

If the average person that wears glasses took them off they would see "Men like trees walking."  If these men believe in divine healing for all and that they will do greater "Miracles" than Jesus (John 14:12), why are their eyes sick?  If they had faith they would be healed and see "Every man clearly," right?    

Miracle Worker's and Faith Teachers That Refused To Trust In God Alone For Healing:

1) Pat Robertson: Prostrate cancer and he wears glasses.  (Article: "Evangelist Pat Robertson has prostate cancer," CNN)

2) Jan Crouch: Cancer.  Are you telling me that the head of TBN could not find one prophet to heal her?  Why did she get surgery?  Where was her faith in God to heal her?  I thought her husband teaches that we are little god's and all we need to do is claim our healing and speak faith filled words of health?  If this is not an eye opener I don't know what else to say to you.

On September 29, 2004 during the TBN Behind the Scenes program Paul Crouch said that Jan was in the hospital getting surgery to have her gall bladder removed.  Why didn't Paul Crouch sow a seed for the miracle that he needs?

3) Betty Price (Wife of Fred Price): Cancer.  She got chemotherapy as well.  Fred Price teaches that he does not allow sickness in his home.  (Article: "E. W. Kenyon and the Twelve Apostles of Another Gospel," Hank Hanegraaff).

4) R.W. Schambach: Quadruple bypass surgery.  "When you need help physically you don't need to run off to the arm of flesh..."  R. W, Schambach June 18, 2004, Daystar. 

5) Kenneth Hagin: Wore glasses and had heart problems.  His sister died of cancer and his wife was operated on.

6) Creflo Dollar: Wears glasses yet he teaches: "I speak to fig tress!  I speak to mountains!  I cast out demons!  Hallelujah!  I raise the dead!  Hallelujah!  If need be I walk on water!  I'm a god of the Most High God...I'm trying to tell you that you are god's and you keep wanting to disagree with me...A son of God, they are those through a understanding of their divine nature, they can operate like God on the earth...The sons of God,  will stand up in front of sickness and disease and run it out...I don't have to tolerate sickness," Creflo Dollar.

What kind god cannot heal his own eyes?  Are you telling me that this man that claims to walk on water, cast out cancer, and raise the dead cannot heal his eyesight?

7) E. W. Kenyon: Died as a result from a tumor.

8) Joyce Meyer: Breast cancer and plastic surgery.  Why did she not claim her healing from cancer?  Why did she get her cancer surgically removed if she heals people all of the time?  Why did she get plastic surgery?  Are you telling me that the God that created the heavens and the earth cannot tighten her skin?  Where was her faith?  Why did she not claim tight skin?  Why did she not speak it forth?  Either she does not have enough faith or what she preaches is not true.  She also claims to have caps on most of her teeth from chewing ice, Joyce Meyer June 18, 2004, Daystar. 

9) Rod Parsley: Has back problems and at times says that this has kept him out of the pulpit for weeks at a time (He stated this at TBN's Spring Telethon 2004 and other times as well).  Yet, hear what Rod teaches, "Let's settle the matter once and for all, God doesn't want you sick."

10) Casey Treat: Casey Treat is battling hepatitis C.  “This seemed like a battle I could overcome to continue my vision,” said Treat, who was diagnosed a year ago and revealed his illness during services at SeaTac’s Christian Faith Center last month.  “I believe in healing.  It was never an option of dying young. It was more of a fight of faith.”  In December, Treat started a rigorous nine-month chemotherapy program through the University of Washington Medical Center.  (Article Seattle Times)

11) Benny Hinn's crusades: It can be proven by empirical evidence that more people have died at his crusades that have been healed.  See article: Four die at Hinn crusade. 

Sydney Williams a man that would take care of Hinn's children died from a heroin overdose in 1998.  Hinn's close personal aide and travel companion David Delgado died from complications of heroin abuse in 1998.  Are you telling me that Hinn's close companion was not healed and died from complications from heroin abuse?  Why wasn't he delivered?  Why wasn't he healed by Hinn?  A man that close to Hinn dies from sickness, I hope this helps to open your eyes, (WKMG Channel 6 T.V. Orlando, Florida, December 1998.  "Many Faces Of Benny Hinn DVD")

In Oklahoma City a woman attending a Hinn crusade was not merely crushed, she was killed.  Ella Peppard died from complications she suffered after someone was slain in the spirit right on top of her.  The ensuing lawsuit was settled out of court.  (Hank Hanegraaff, "Counterfeit Revival," page 189)

12) Buddy Harrison: Ken Hagin's Son in law died of cancer.  (Article: WORD-FAITH PUBLISHER HARRISON DIES)

13) Aimee Semple McPherson: Died from an drug overdose.  (Hank Hanegraaff, "Counterfeit Revival," page 184)

15) A.A. Allen: Died from cirrhosis of the liver.  (Hank Hanegraaff, "Counterfeit Revival," page 150)

16) Jack Coe: Died from bulbar polio.  (Hank Hanegraaff, "Counterfeit Revival," page 154)

17) Dr. Hobart Freeman: He and 90 of his followers died after refusing medical attention.

18) Kenneth Copeland: "Much to my deep regret I must postpone our meetings in Australia, Singapore, Korea and Hawaii. A few days ago I injured my back badly enough that even though my healing has already started, so many hours of flying would be too much.  Let's face it.  I let this situation in my back go on for too long," Ken Copeland, website.

Yet he teaches: "God intends for every believer to live completely free from sickness and disease.  It is up to you to decide whether or not you will...I ain't never stood for anything in my own life that didn't come to pass."

19) Dave Meyer (Husband of Joyce Meyer): Had a blood cot in his leg and laid on a couch for a month.  He also took blood thinners medication. According to Joyce Meyer on her tape series, "Mind, Mouth, Moods, and Attitudes," Tape 1, the "Mind."

20) Katherine Khulman: Died from heart disease.

21) Ruth Ward Heflin: Died from cancer.  (Article: "The Life and Times of

Golden Girl and Globetrotter Ruth Ward Heflin," G. Richard Fisher)

22)  Paul Crouch: On "Behind The Scenes" May 7, 2004 Paul Crouch jr., hosted in place of Paul Crouch sr.  He said that his dad was at a doctor's appointment.  Why would Paul Crouch need to go to a doctor's appointment?  Why didn't he claim his healing?  Where is his faith?  Why didn't he get a word of knowledge to tell him what's wrong with him or his wife?  Why does he wear glasses?  Where is his faith to heal his vision?

23) Finis Jennings Dake (The Dake Annotated Reference Bible): Died as a result of Parkinson's disease (CRI Journal Vol. 27/ No. 05/ 2004, page 30).  Yet he taught, "Failure to be healed reflects willful unbelief and disobedience to the laws of God and Nature," (CRI Journal Vol. 27/ No. 05/ 2004, page 30).

24) Kenneth Hagin jr.: Wears glasses.

25) Oral Roberts: Wears glasses and has heart problems.

26) Marilyn Hickey: Wears glasses yet teaches: "Say to your body, 'You're whole, body!...Or speak to your leg, or speak to your foot, or speak to your neck, or speak to your back; and once you have spoken and believe that you have received, and don't go back on it."  Why doesn't she speak to her eyes?

27) Dr. Michael Brown (Brownsville Revival Fame): Wears glasses.

28) T. D. Jakes: Wears glasses yet teaches: "We believe that it is God’s will to heal and deliver His people today as He did in the days of the first Apostles.  It is by the stripes of Jesus that we are healed, delivered and made whole. We have authority over sickness, disease, demons, curses, and every circumstance in life."

29) Tommy Tenney: Wears glasses.

30) David Hogan: Wears glasses.  This guy claims to raise the dead and heal people by giving them new eyes.  Yet, he wears glasses.

31) Peter Doseck: Wears glasses yet believes: "The redemptive work of Christ on the cross provides healing of the human body in answer to the believing prayer of faith."

32) John G. Lake: Died of a stroke.

33) Brian Zahnd: Wears glasses yet teaches christians should live in divine health.

34) Jesse Duplantis: Wears glasses and he teaches: "Did He heal in the Bible?  Then why are you accepting that sickness?  Why are you content to live with it?"  Why is Jesse living with bad eyesight?  Why is he accepting it?

35) Kerney Thomas: This guy claims to be the next Elijah and Moses sent by God because of our prayers.  He sends out his anointed prayer cloths that will heal you, yet he wears glasses.  Why doesn't he rub the miracle cloth on his eyes to heal them?

36) Rick Joyner: Wears glasses.

37) John Hagee: Wears glasses yet teaches "..divine health is His [God] desire for us..."

38) Robert Tilton: Plastic surgery. (Article: "The Resurrection of Robert Tilton," Miami New Times)

39) John Wimber: Died from complications from heart trouble and cancer.  His son Chris, died of cancer as well.

40) Dodie Osteen (Wife of John Osteen): Cancer. 

41) John Osteen: Was hospitalized with kidney problems and received dialysis.  John also got heart surgery to have a pacemaker put in his chest. (PFO Quarterly Journal, "The Leaven of Lakewood," October-December 2004, page 14)

42) Larry Huch: Wears glasses.

43) Earl Paulk: During his television broadcast on July 18, 2004, he admitted to taking medication and getting surgery for his cancer.  Earl Paulk claims that christians are little gods.

44) Marcus Lamb (President of Daystar): During the Celebration broadcast on July 21, 2004 Marcus said that he needs glasses to read.  Why can't his frequent miracle working guests heal his vision?  Rod Parsley, T. D. Jakes, Joyce Meyer, Benny Hinn, Marilyn Hickey, Rodney Howard Browne, John Arnott, Mike Bickle, Morris Cerullo, Jesse Duplantis, and Larry Huch have all been in-studio with him.  Why did they not heal him?

45) John Avanzini: Wears glasses and during the LeSea Miracle Telethon he was coughing.  I guess he forgot to claim his healing for his cough and his vision.  This is kind of ironic seeing that he was on television selling miracles. He teaches that you can speak to sickness and it will leave.

46) Bill Winston: Wears glasses.  He is a Word Faith teacher and guest on Kenneth Copeland's television show.

47) Bishop Clarence McClendon: Wears glasses.

48) Charles Cowan: Wears glasses yet believes: "In this series, you will learn how to receive your healing.  You will learn, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that healing is for all," (Is Healing For All?).

49) Dennis Leonard: Wears glasses.  Bishop Eddie Long was preaching at his church and layed hands on Pastor Dennis and he was "slain" in the spirit for over ten minutes on national television (Daystar, July 2004).  Why wasn't his vision healed?

50) Perry Stone: Wears glasses yet he and Paula White are selling a "Meal That Heals" for $39.  It is a communion set that they claim will heal you physically when you partake of it two times a day.  If it heals why does Perry Stone wear glasses?

51) Smith Wigglesworth: "He and Polly agreed never to seek the help of doctors or take medicine but to trust Christ as their Healer.  Suffering had no place in God's plan for the believer...Though Wigglesworth believed mightily in God's promise to heal, he himself mourned the early deaths of his wife and a son.  He prayed frequently for his daughter Alice Salter to be healed of deafness but to no avail.  To add to his frustration, he endured excruciating pain for 3 years from a "thorn in the flesh"--kidney stones.  Like others, he could only deduce that he hadn't mustered sufficient faith," ("The Revival Legacy of Smith Wigglesworth," Enrichment Journal, Assemblies of God USA Article)

52) Wendy McDonald (Wife of Pastor Neville McDonald): Wears glasses yet her husband teaches "There is no need for you to have sickness in your body," Daystar August 10, 2004.  He even encouraged the audience to literally lay their bible on them to heal them.

53) Charles and Frances Hunter: Frances wears glasses yet they advertise healing schools on their website: "In Bogotá, Colombia, they saw 100 people get out of wheelchairs in one service...They have had thousands of people healed of back problems of all kinds...They have an incredible anointing in the area of healing and the baptism with the Holy Spirit!"  Why don't they heal her eyes?

54) Jim and Kathleen Kaseman: They both wear glasses yet Jim teaches, "Many Christians are SICK, POOR and DEFEATED in many if not all areas of their lives!  In spite of what the Lord Jesus Christ did for them at Calvary's cross where God provided redemption for ALL MANKIND.  REDEMPTION from SIN, POVERTY, SICKNESS and DEATH!"

55) Rev. Jeff McLaughlin: Wears glasses yet teaches, "Healing is provided for in the atonement of Christ, & it is the privilege of every believer who will accept."

56) T. L. Osborn: Wore glasses but according to his website he "is best known for his mass-miracle ministry to millions."

57) Loren Schlomer: Wears glasses yet teaches, "DIVINE HEALING - Healing is for the physical ills of the human body and is wrought by the power of God through the prayer of faith and by the laying on of hands.  It is provided for in the atonement of Christ, and is the privilege of every member of the Church today ( Mark 16:18; James 5:14-25; I Peter 2:24; Matt. 8:17; Isaiah 53:4-5)."

58) David J. Gonzalez: Wears glasses yet teaches, "Since we are made in God's image, we also believe that we are to do the works that Jesus did, and greater works...We Believe that Christians today should have miracle working power..." 

59) Lester Sumrall: Wore glasses.

60) Reinhard Bonnke: Wears glasses yet the Taippei Times reports, "Bonnke reportedly healed 27 people on his first night -- the deaf, blind and those crippled by other ailments were wheeled, carried and stretchered to the national stadium to experience the miracle crusade," (Faith healer stirs up a storm in Fiji with miracle show).

61) Bishop Bobby Hilton: Wears glasses yet one of his tape series describes "...How to speak forth the promises of God, including miracles, healings, and all His riches..."  Why does he not speak forth healing for his eyes?

62) Brenda Stewart (Wife of "Healing Evangelist" Don Stewart):  Wears glasses.

63) Rev. Herman L. Murray jr.: Wears glasses yet believes, "Divine healing is provided for all in the atonement."

64) Dr. Ross Collete: Wears glasses yet he is the man that reads the "Miracle" testimonies for healing evangelist Leroy Jenkins.

65) Steve Munsey: Wears glasses yet believes, "We believe that divine healing through the redemptive work of Christ is available for every believer (James 5:14, I Peter 2:24)."

66) Keith Grayton: Died from Aids.  (Article: Discernment Ministry International)

67) Daisy Osborn (Wife of T. L. Osborn): Died from cancer.

68) Steve Brock: Wears glasses yet he is a close friend of Benny Hinn and a frequent guest at his "Healing" crusades!

69) Bishop Eddie Long: Wears glasses yet preaches, "You have the power to save folk in sin, I need you to understand that.  If you declare a thing it shall be established."  Why does he not declare that his eyes are healed?

Moses was 120 years old yet his eyes were not dim.  Could not these faith healers heal their own eyes?  Either they do not have enough faith to heal themselves or what they teach is false.  Whatever the case, you need not listen to them or fear them.  Can you see the irony in all of this? 

"And Moses was an hundred and twenty years old when he died: his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated," Deuteronomy 34:7 (See also Joshua 14:7-13).

Do you truly love God with all of your heart and soul or do you follow man?  Is the bible your final authority or man?  These are some questions that you might have to wrestle with.  I pray that you choose God over man.

The Bible warns us not to follow men (Jeremiah 17:5, Psalm 118:8), but to test what all leaders teach with scripture (1 John 4:1, Acts 17:11).  In Deuteronomy 13:3, God says that He will test us with false prophets to see if we truly love Him, "You shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams; for the LORD your God is testing you to find out if you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul."

God even says that some of these false prophets will have signs and wonders that come to pass, thus emphasizing the importance to prove all things with scripture.

PHILIPPIANS 2:25—If Paul had the gift of healing, why couldn’t he heal his coworker, Epaphroditus?

MISINTERPRETATION:

Word-Faith teachers say that full physical healing in this life is guaranteed in the atonement and that it is God’s will for every single person to be healed of all physical afflictions (cf. Hagin, Word of Faith, August 1977, 9).  In the Book of Acts, Paul healed the sick and raised the dead (20:9–10).  On one occasion he even healed everyone in an entire city (28:9).  But here, he apparently could not even heal a needed coworker.

CORRECTING THE MISINTERPRETATION:

Some believe that possessing the gift of healing did not guarantee that one could always heal everyone.  On one occasion the disciples could not heal a demon-possessed young man (Matt. 17:16).  They insist that the gift of healing did not make a person 100-percent successful, any more than the gift of teaching makes one infallible.

Others insist that the gift of healing was always successful, noting that Jesus healed the young man (Matt. 17:14–20) and rebuked the disciples for not exercising their God-given power to do it (vv. 17–18).  They claim that the gift of healing was 100-percent successful, in the same way that no one with the gift of prophecy ever uttered a false prophecy.  For a false prophecy was a proof that someone did not possess the true gift of prophecy (cf. Deut. 18:22).

The reason Epaphroditus was not healed is not stated in the text.  But neither does it say Paul attempted to heal him and failed.  Since no exercise of the gift of healing is recorded past about a.d. 60 (Acts 28:8), it may be that the special apostolic gift of healing (cf. 2 Cor. 12:12; Heb. 2:4) had passed away by this time (c. a.d. 61).  It is not listed in the much briefer list of gifts in Ephesians 4, as it was earlier in 1 Corinthians 12:28.

From any perspective the Word-Faith claim that full physical healing (in this life) is guaranteed in the atonement is incorrect.  We will be ultimately healed when we receive our resurrection bodies—and that is guaranteed in the atonement.

(Geisler, N. L., & Rhodes, R. 1997. When cultists ask : A popular handbook on cultic misinterpretations . Baker Books: Grand Rapids, Mich.)