Festus Akinnifesi: Divine Healing
Festus Akinnifesi, Divine Healing: A Biblical Solution to Sound Health (Longwood, FL: Xulon Press, 2005), 344 pages.
When it comes to the subject of divine healing, there is too much fear, a lack of knowledge, and a tendency toward extremes, according to Dr. Festus Akinnifesi. But the day is coming, he believes, when the church will not only find balance on the issue, but it will hold its rightful place and the church experience a move of God that is greater than it has ever witnessed before.
Akinnifesi, who holds a Ph.D. in Agronomy, is the author of Divine Healing: A Biblical Solution to Sound Health. When he’s not traveling as a senior scientist for an international research organization (based in Malawi), he serves as a preacher and teacher for various churches and conventions in Africa and Latin America. As a staunch believer in divine healing, he often prays for the sick and frequently teaches on healing and deliverance.
Like many popular teachers on the subject, Akinnifesi believes it is always God’s will for the sick to be healed and that healing will always come to the person who believes and is obedient to the word of God. Even more, he argues, it is God’s will for the believer to reign in life as a conqueror over Satan, sickness, disease, sin and poverty.
An Overview
Divine Healing is a passionate work that was written to convince the church that divine healing still exists. It seeks to provide hope for the sick and help for the church and society. In addition to showing the individual believer how to appropriate the promises of God for personal healing, the book challenges Christians to walk in divine health. It also calls on the church to be bold in exercising the ministry of healing to reach the lost.
Akinnifesi’s work is essentially a collection of 18 messages that focus on the fundamentals of divine healing as understood in a Pentecostal/Charismatic context. The work is written in a personal, down-to-earth style that makes it suitable for a wider audience. In addition to Scripture, which is often presented with different modern translations, and his personal experience, Akinnifesi relies on testimonies and the works of other well-known leaders, such as Benny Hinn, Kenneth E. Hagin, John G. Lake and Reinhard Bonnke, among others.
Akinnifesi begins his work with a look at divine healing as a Christian doctrine. He believes that while the average believer today knows much about repentance, baptisms, faith and resurrection, the believer knows very little about divine healing and health (p. 15). Challenging the views of cessationists, he calls on the church to understand its authority and the dominion it has over the power of darkness.
Although some writers deliberately avoid political and social topics when discussing divine healing, Akinnifesi takes them head-on. For instance, he talks about the short-comings of various welfare programs and the lack of healthcare and medical insurance for many who are ill. Of course, Akinnifesi carefully notes that he has medical insurance for himself and his family. The point, however, is to put all trust in Christ and not the insurance, he writes.
Akinnifesi moves on to discuss the nature of sickness. He notes that while sickness came as a result of sin in the Garden of Eden, it may originate in a person’s life because of a number of factors, including personal sin and demonic oppression. He explains that sickness may also be self-inflicted.
In Chapter 4, where he writes about “Sin, Righteousness and the Healing Power of God,” Akinnifesi uses Paul’s “thorn in the flesh” to explain why some Christians are sick. “There are afflictions and sicknesses that will come to everyone during their lifetime for the purpose of keeping him humble and closer to God,” he writes. “Most of the time it may not be a sickness, but a ‘storm of life’” (p. 73).
One of the most interesting aspects of the book is Akinnifesi’s discussion of the HIV/AIDS virus. For some authors, this incurable disease is rarely mentioned with any detail, however Akinnifesi devotes an entire chapter to the issue. He explains the nature of the disease and notes its impact on a global scale. He also cautions the church about relying on the world’s method to effectively deal with the disease. He goes a step further to describe how one woman was healed of the disease in answer to prayer.
In an attempt to cover all the doctrinal bases, Akinnifesi outlines the many ways in which a person can be healed. He points to the cross and the need to keep Christ as the focal point; he talks about the importance of faith, fasting and confession; he also discusses the use of the name of Jesus and the power released through praise. The use and misuse of anointing oil is also featured.
Akinnifesi wraps up his teachings with a call for balance. Such is especially needed, he writes, because “some have seen healing as opportunity for personal gain and exalting of egos, thereby creating more havoc in the body of Christ” (p. 334). Citing Midas Touch by Kenneth Hagin, Akinnifesi warns that present-day teaching is not balanced with scriptural accuracy and that many leaders have gone too far with the prosperity message.
In his closing chapter, Akinnifesi reminds the church that the best is yet to come. He cites some of the latter rain prophecies of the past that predict a great move of God in the last days.
An Analysis
Divine Healing is undoubtedly a sincere effort that offers much by the way of helpful instructions on the subject of healing. However, it is not without a few concerns, which may be minor when viewed in the context of his overall discussion.
First of all, it is surprising that Akinnifesi writes as if his message is new and not widely known by the church. After all, much of what he shares is indeed widely known by Pentecostals and Charismatics. The information can be heard in churches, over the radio and television airways, as well as in many books on divine healing. One might say, “He’s preaching to the choir.” Even so, the book has merit. Like T.L. Osborn’s Healing the Sick, the book includes the ideas and teachings of many popular writers on the subject of divine healing.
Noticeably absent from the book is a bibliography. It also omits the use of a solid reference section, a feature that would make the book more reader-friendly, useful for researchers. An area that is sure to raise questions is Akinnifesi’s view of doctors and medicine, which appears to be contradictory. While he goes to great length to say doctors and medicine are gifts of God, and that it is not a sin to consult with a physician, he also suggests it is not the preferred method for Christians seeking healing. Even more, he argues that the use of medicine is a sign of unbelief and lack of spiritual power.
Conclusion
Overall, Divine Healing is a well-written book that serves its purpose. Readers who are well versed on the topic might find it refreshing as a passionate reminder that reinforces their beliefs. For them, the book may also serve as a tool for defending this important doctrine. Readers who have been taught that miracles are not for today will find a strong argument for divine healing, as well as an antidote for unbelief.
Reviewed by Roscoe Barnes III
Preview Divine Healing: http://books.google.com/books?id=eK91MjT78uMC
