Rev. Cyril A. Stevens – Sermon 0032B recorded on March 25, 1979 teaching from James 5:10-20 – Does God Heal Today?.
Pastor Cyril A. Stevens explores the contemporary application of divine healing by examining the biblical mandates found in the Book of James. He argues that while prayer and the fellowship of elders remain vital practices for the sick, healing is ultimately subject to the sovereign will of God rather than the mere quantity of a person’s faith. Stevens identifies three primary purposes for illness—chastisement, the glory of God, or a transition to death—and cautions against the “cheap shot” of blaming a lack of recovery on insufficient belief. By validating the use of medical professionals and natural remedies alongside spiritual devotion, he presents a balanced theology where the Holy Spirit provides discernment for the specific needs of the afflicted. Ultimately, Pastor Stevens comforts believers by reframing sickness as an opportunity for spiritual rejuvenation and honest confession, trusting that God’s providential plan is always supreme.