Rev. Cyril A. Stevens – Sermon 0084A recorded on August 26, 1979 teaching from James 5:10-20 – Does God Heal Today?
Pastor Cyril A. Stevens explores the theology of divine healing, arguing that while God still heals today, it is not a guaranteed result of human demand or individual faith. He structures his teaching around the necessity of discerning God’s specific purpose for an illness, which he categorizes as either a summons to repentance for sin, a means of displaying God’s glory through a miracle, or a providential “sickness unto death.” Stevens emphasizes that prayer should be the first response to any affliction, serving as a tool for spiritual reflection rather than just physical relief, and he maintains that seeking medical and surgical aid is a God-given resource that remains entirely compatible with a life of faith. Ultimately, Pastor Stevens seeks to comfort the suffering by teaching that divine grace is sufficient even when physical restoration is denied, placing the outcome of every trial within the compassionate sovereignty of God.