The Heresy Hunter

Should We Be Rebuking Sicknesses?

Word of Faith advocates frequently appeal to Luke 4:39, "So he bent over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. She got up at once and began to wait on them," to justify rebuking illnesses. However, there are only a limited number of instances in all of Scripture where anything other than people are rebuked. Let's check them out:

2 Sam. 22:16 "The valleys of the sea were exposed and the foundations of the earth laid bare at the rebuke of the LORD, at the blast of breath from his nostrils."

Job 26:11 "The pillars of the heavens quake, aghast at his [God's] rebuke."

Pslam 18:15 "The valleys of the sea were exposed and the foundations of the earth laid bare at your rebuke, O LORD, at the blast of breath from your nostrils."

Pslam 104:7 "But at your [God's] rebuke the waters fled, at the sound of your thunder they took to flight;"

Psalm 106:9 "He [God] rebuked the Red Sea, and it dried up; he led them through the depths as through a desert."

Isaiah 50:2 "By a mere rebuke I [God] dry up the sea, I turn rivers into a desert; their fish rot for lack of water and die of thirst."

Nahum 1:2 "He [God] rebukes the sea and dries it up; he makes all the rivers run dry."

Matthew 8:26 "He replied, 'You of little faith, why are you so afraid?' Then he [Jesus] got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm."

Mark 4:39 "He [Jesus] got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, 'Quiet! Be still!' Then the wind died down and it was completely calm."

Luke 4:39 "So he [Jesus] bent over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her."

Luke 8:25 "He [Jesus] got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm."

Jude 1:9 "But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not dare to bring a slanderous accusation against him, but said, 'The Lord rebuke you!'"

You will notice a few things here.

First of all, for those who hold that in Luke 4:39 Jesus was rebuking a spirit that caused the sickness, if that is the case then one would have to hold that when God rebuked the Red Sea, it was also a demonic spirit, or that the pillars of heaven are a demonic spirit. I don't think that argument can be made. God spoke and the world came into existence and all a rebuke means is that God has control over everything, including illnesses.

Secondly, notice that ONLY God rebuked objects. There are no instances in Scripture of ordinary people rebuking inanimate objects like the sea, illnesses, or the wind.

Thirdly, for the benefit of those who might doubt the Deity of Jesus Christ, notice that in the New Testament Jesus rebuked the wind, the waves and a fever. Jesus IS God.

And lastly, notice in Jude that even the angels will not rebuke Satan, but Michael told Satan that God Himself would rebuke him. What makes people think we have the authority to rebuke Satan or any other demons?

posted by Bob Hunter @ Friday, June 23, 2006