“I am the LORD who heals you.” Exodus 15:26 (NKJV)

Since the beginning of our world, our Heavenly Father constantly reminded us that He is the One “who heals us”. In this series, we are taking a trip back into the past to explore the healings and promises from our Father. We will be pondering yet again how much our Father truly cares for each one of us. We will explore both miracles form the Old Testament as well as more modern miracles, starting with the first century. All testimonies are authentic, and through them, we will discover that our Heavenly Father has been a Healer through the centuries.

To begin our series, we look to the first century. After the apostles died, healing continued through the ages. Justin Martyr (ca. 100-165) experienced fully how believers were healing those who were sick. There is no doubt about it! After all, the supremacy of our Heavenly Father is way more powerful than the one in our world! “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” (1John 4:4, NIV2)

Here are his testimonies:

“For numberless demoniacs throughout the whole world, and in your city, many of our Christian men exorcising them in the name of Jesus Christ, who was crucified under Pontius Pilate, have healed and do heal, rendering helpless and driving the possessing devils out of the men, though they could not be cured by all the other exorcists, and those who used incantations and drugs.” — Justin Martyr, c.155 (ANF 1.190)

“We call Him Helper and Redeemer. Even the demons fear the power of His name at this day, when they are exorcised in the name of Jesus Christ, . . . They are defeated.” — Justin Martyr (ANF 1.209)

“He said, ‘I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions.’ . . . And now we have all the demons and evil spirits subjected to us, when we exorcise them.” — Justin Martyr (ANF 1.236)

Another one named Tertullian (ca. 160) wrote:

“All this might be officially brought under your notice, and by the very advocates, who are themselves also under obligations to us, although in court they give their voice as it suits them. The clerk of one of them who was liable to be thrown upon the ground by an evil spirit, was set free from his affliction; as was also the relative of another, and the little boy of a third.

How many men of rank (to say nothing of common people) have been delivered from devils, and healed of diseases! Even Severus himself, the father of Antonine, was graciously mindful of the Christians; for he sought out the Christian Proculus, surnamed Torpacion, the steward of Euhodias, and in gratitude for his having once cured him by anointing, he kept him in his palace till the day of his death.” Ante-Nicene Fathers, Vol III: Tertullian: Part I: Chapter IV.

Now a testimony from Hilarion (ca. 291-371):

“A certain woman of Eleutheropolis who found that she was despised by her husband on account of her sterility (for in fifteen years she had borne no fruit of wedlock). He had no expectation of her coming when she suddenly threw herself at his feet. Forgive my boldness, she said: take pity on my necessity. Why do you turn away your eyes? Why shun my entreaties? Do not think of me as a woman, but as an object of compassion. It was my sex that bore the Saviour. Luke 5:31 They that are whole have no need of a physician, but they that are sick. At length, after a long time he no longer turned away, but looked at the woman and asked the cause of her coming and of her tears. On learning this he raised his eyes to heaven and bade her have faith, then wept over her as she departed. Within a year he saw her with a son.”

Nothing is too difficult to our Father. He cares for each one of us!

Do you believe?

Rob Chaffart

(To view the entire “Miracles From the Past” devotional series, please click here.)