I wrote this email to a couple of church leaders, in a diminishing attempt to dissuade “The Elijah Challenge” being conducted in our church towards the end of the month.
Brothers
Just so that we are on the same page and there is no confusion about my understanding, the following is how I understand the Elijah Challenge. I want to know if you are both comfortable with the below, ie whether you agree, you think I’m wrong or where my understanding is inaccurate.
Again, I attach a document written by William Lau, downloaded from The Elijah Challenge website. The below points are based on this document.
1. In 1 Kings 18, Elijah challenged the followers to Baal to consider who was God. If Baal was, then worship him but if God was, then they ought to follow/worship God.
2. William Lau takes this account and used it to suggest we ought to be taught how to heal in order to bring the gospel to others.
3. He brings you from the first point to the second point in the following way:
a. Elijah’s ministry (as was John Baptist’s) was to backslidden Christians (God’s people).
b. Many aren’t really disciples of Jesus because we are only hearers, but not doers of the Word
c. To be doers of the Word, we need to be like Jesus and do what he did
d. The reason we are not doing what Jesus did, was that we received a “compromised gospel”
e. So we should receive an uncompromised gospel by doing what Jesus did.
f. This to William is the Elijah Challenge. We must repent for believing in a compromised gospel (ie Baal) and must receive an uncompromised gospel (ie God)
g. The key is to do what Jesus did – ie healing, signs and wonders
h. So we must be taught how to heal.
i. When we do, we can do what Jesus did and therefore return to an uncompromised gospel
j. Then we can effectively preach the gospel
If you think the above accurately reflects what he wrote, do you have a problem with it – ie do you see any flaws in this?
Am I seeing shadows where there aren’t any?
Ante 
Dear Brother,
The Elijah Challenge is just ONE OF THE WAYS by which God uses to restore the Church to her effectiveness in the Last Days.
We teach that every Christian has his or her God-given authority to heal the infirm when sharing the Gospel (Luke 9 and 10).
During the teaching, 90% of the training slides are scripture verses.
We are not saying that just because the Christians do not heal the sick then they are of “baal” or the compromised Gospel. That is not accurate.
We do not condemn any church but just like to challenge them to a higher height in service and ministry.
The only best way is to attend one of our training seminars and then evaluate what we are doing more accurately.
Thanking you in advance for making the time to listen to us.
God bless,
Pastor Albert
Coordinator
Elijah Challenge Asia
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Thanks Pastor for your comments
1. What then is the relevance of the Mt Carmel incident to a healing rally?
2. What is the basis for saying Luke 9 (and 10?) applies to all Christian when the context clearly suggests it was Jesus’ instructions to his disciples at that time?
3. What then is the difference between an uncompromised gospel and a compromised gospel? If it is discipleship, then does healing make up that elemement of discipleship? Otherwise, why resort to healing as an element? If healing is based on a normative interpretation of Luke 9 then again, what is the relevance of the Mt Carmel incident?
4.Would William Lau or you care to then clarify the inaccuracy you refer to, because the above is based on a May 2009 article by William downloaded from the website?
5. Scripture must be used in context and rigorously applied. A proliferation of scripture references alone doesnt render something right or accurate.
6. Why attend a seminar based on an introductory article which (to me) lacks coherence or cogency?
There must be consistency. If the seminar is other than what the May 2009 article suggests, either the seminar or the article is inaccurate. Until either is corrected, I have to politely decline participation.
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Dear Brother Ian,
Thank you for your email.
First and foremost please know that I do not represent Pastor William and I trust that he will give you his answers when I forward your email to him. If he is busy then you may have to catch him at the seminar.
Second, I do not know if I can answer all your questions but here are my opinions and they are mine alone
1. The Mt Carmel incident is used as an example of how the faith of the people can be encouraged by the miracle they see. Personally, I find it easier to share the Gospel after the person is miraculously healed in the name of Jesus.
Therefore, in the context of evangelism, it would be a lot easier to convince the Pre-Christians by healing them in the name of Jesus than to argue or debate with them about which belief systems or religions are better.
2. Luke 9 and 10 do apply to the modern disciples. It is not a one-time instruction because if it is, then we will not be able to exercise the same authority and power to heal the sick today.
Any way, Luke who writes about Christ as the Man of the Spirit and what He does in the Gospel, also writes about the Christians as the Church of the Spirit.
The miracles that happen in the Gospel through Jesus and the Disciples continue to happen in the Book of Acts through the Disciples and other new disciples.
Today, it is not just the didactic portions but the narratives are also considered as part of the normative theology.
In our seminars, we explain quite clearly as to the continuity of this specific instruction of Christ and how it is still relevant for us today to share about the kingdom of God by revealing the power of God to heal the infirm.
At the conclusion of the each session, we will also demonstrate this authority and power to heal. That cannot be fabricated or faked. Either God is going to honour our faith and heal the infirm or nothing will happen.
Oh, btw, you must have read that the ‘authority to heal’ is different from the ‘gift of healing’.
We are NOT teaching about the Gift of Healing.
In the New Testament, the Disciples of Christ share the Gospel with signs and wonders.This is not only mentioned in the bible but in early church history.
Why attend a seminar that you feel that it lacks coherency and cogency?
Well, I can only say that until you listen to all of our theological premises and experience the tangible miracles that happen in the seminar and rally, how are you going to really know?
For 21 years of my ministry, I experienced no more than ten miracles.
Yes, I spent years and earned my Master of Divinity from an AG seminary.I believed in miracles but it was just that miracles seldom happened in my ministry.
You see, I did not realize that the “Gift of Healing” was different from the “Authority to Heal”. The former was given after Pentecost while the latter was obviously even before the Paraclete was given.
Like you, I was reluctant to attend. Was I wrong for 21 years as a minister? At that time (2005), my argument was that since I did not have the gift of healing then all these healing training stuffs were not meant for me.
How could any one teach me how to heal? This was just not possible. My wife was the one who encouraged me to attend and like I said, I did it reluctantly.
The place was stuffy and crowded. I told myself that I had made a mistake in coming. However, when Pastor William went through the session, verse by verse – you know what went through my mind – well, I could fight his theology but I could not fight the scriptural verses because they were not randomly pulled out. Every portion was explained within its context.
Since then, I have experienced and seen literally thousands of healing miracles. Yes, they never taught us how to heal the infirm in Bible Seminary. There are certain exegetical and hermeneutics rules that I have to re-evaluate too. But seeing how the Lord heals so many and saves the lost is indeed priceless.
I encourage you to at least attend one evening and listen to what Pastor William got to say. Apparently, you are theologically grounded and you should definitely have no fear of being led astray.
After attending and if you still feel that we are irrelevant and wrong, then you will have a very strong case. You would be able to tell others that you have attended, listened and found us to be hopelessly wrong and that you have been right all along.
That was what I did with the ‘Da Vinci Code’ before I preached against it in my church. I read and understood it thoroughly so that I could be honest to myself that I was right and Dan Brown was wrong. Then when I taught my church, my conscience was clear.
What if you were wrong? What if in your own persistent way, you miss out on what God has intended for you? Therefore, most importantly, if you do attend, do it for yourself and the people you are guiding or leading.
Once again, thank you for writing and for reading.
God bless,
In Christ alone,
Pastor Albert
Coordinator
Elijah Challenge Asia
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Dear Brother Ian,
I am including the answers given by Pastor William.
God bless,
Pastor Albert
—————–
Ian’s understanding on what we are teaching is inaccurate. He has misunderstood us. Below are some clarifications
Here there is fundamental misunderstanding. The “compromised gospel” I am referring to is the failure of the Church to teach believers not only to believe on Jesus, but to obey His commands.
First and foremost, we must be like Jesus in his character and holiness. Many Christians lack holiness. And without holiness, no one will see the Lord. Not a few in the Church teach that the moment we repeat a sinner’s prayer, we have a guaranteed one-way ticket to heaven regardless of what we do or how we live the rest of our lives on earth as long—as we “truly believe.”
This comprises most of the compromised gospel to which we are referring. This false gospel is also called the gospel of “cheap grace” and “easy believism.”
Most of the Church also encourages believers to concentrate on what God can do for us on earth and how to receive His blessings, and not on what we should do for Him on earth to fulfill the Great Commission. Although this is a grievous state of affairs, it is essentially not the false gospel to which we refer.
The Church must be active in obeying the Great Commission given to us by the Lord. Part of the Great Commission is healing the sick and proclaiming the kingdom of God. Our job is to encourage and equip believers to share the gospel more effectively by teaching them to heal the sick as Jesus taught and commanded his disciples.
We are not saying that if believers are not healing the sick, that they are not saved. But we are teaching believers to serve the Lord more scripturally and fruitfully.
The compromised gospel I am referring to does not include the failure to teach believers how to heal the sick as Jesus commanded his disciples when he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God.
e. So we should receive an uncompromised gospel by doing what Jesus did.
Again, it should be clear from what I wrote above that I am not saying that by doing what Jesus did, we have received an uncompromised gospel. Rather I am saying that by doing what Jesus did, we are fulfilling his words in John 14:12 and becoming more effective witnesses for him.
John 14:12 I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing.
f. This to William is the Elijah Challenge. We must repent for
believing in a compromised gospel (ie Baal) and must receive an uncompromised gospel (ie God)
Again, what Ian wrote above is not The Elijah Challenge. Included in The Elijah Challenge is challenging the false prophets and false Christs which have arisen in Christianity during these last days (Matthew 24:4-26 & Matthew 7:15-23).
Some of these will perform false signs and wonders and deceive many. Certain circles of the Church need to repent from following these false prophets. But the greater emphasis of The Elijah Challenge at this time is to demonstrate to Buddhists, Hindus, and Muslims through miraculous healings that our God is the only true God and that Jesus is the only way to Him.
g. The key is to do what Jesus did – ie healing, signs and wonders
Again, this is not what we are teaching. Although we do teach disciples to do what Jesus did in terms of healing the sick—because that is what the Lord has entrusted to us to do—we certainly do not teach that it is THE key.
More important is to be holy as Jesus is Holy. More important is the message of the gospel. Healing the sick is but a tool the Lord has graciously given to us to confirm the great message of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
h. So we must be taught how to heal, because Jesus commanded us to do it as we proclaim the kingdom of God to the lost. Jesus did command his disciples:
Matthew 28.19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.
What—among other things—did Jesus command his disciples? He commanded them to “heal the sick, and tell them, ‘the kingdom of God is near you.'” (Luke 10:9)
Therefore if we believe that the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-10) is for us today, we must among other important things—teach disciples today to
obey Jesus’ command to heal the sick and proclaim the kingdom of God as He commanded his disciples. Jesus said to teach them everything I have commanded you—which includes healing the sick and preaching the gospel.
i. When we do, we can do what Jesus did and therefore return
to an uncompromised gospel
Again, Ian misunderstands what I mean by a compromised gospel.
j. Then we can effectively preach the gospel
I am not saying that we cannot preach the gospel effectively without healing the sick and casting out demons. But I am saying that we can likely preach the gospel more effectively when we heal the sick and cast out demons as Jesus commanded his disciples. This is especially true when preaching to the gospel to non-Christian people groups like Muslims, Buddhists, and Hindus and those who practice witchcraft. I have had quite a bit of experience in these areas.
If you think the above accurately reflects what he wrote, do you have
a problem with it – ie do you see any flaws in this?
What Ian wrote above does not accurately reflect what I think and teach. Perhaps my writing was deficient and unclear in some ways, thus causing Ian unfortunately to misunderstand. For that I certainly apologize, and will make an effort to write more clearly in the future!
I think I have spent enough time dealing with Ian’s objections. Thank you for your kind patience with us in this matter.
Please feel free to forward this message to the leadership if you feel it is needed.
—Pastor William
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1. Jesus himself said an evil generation looks for a sign/miracle, and said the only miracle which will be provided will be that of Jonah – ie Jesus resurrection. His death on the cross and resurrection is what should bring people God. Nothing more, and nothing less.
2. When the rich man was burning in hell and asked God to send either the beggar or a prophet back to his relatives to warn them – saying this will be more convincing – God said everyone has enough warning already. Again, the death and resurrection of Jesus is sufficient message, or don’t we have faith that it is?
3. Luke 9 and 10 was intended for the 12 and 72 and it was to authenticate. There is nothing in those passages to suggest it is a general instruction for everyone.
4. Does it mean once we are taught to exercise the authority to heal, healing will follow as a matter of course? Where is the sovereignty of God then? Can God choose not to heal under these circumstances – ie even when we exercise the authority?
5. Will healing meetings be willing to engage an independent medical doctor to verify a before and after scenario? So many purported healings turn out to be untrue I think we need this element. John Wimber himself acknowledged he could not heal many diseases, including (especially) diseases not subject o psychosomatic causes. I myself have seen purported healing which “relapsed” in a hurry. Jesus and his disciples never had such success rate (or lack of it).
Get an independent doctor in The Elijah Challenge meetings?
6. Experience must be validated by truth as taught in the scriptures. If we choose to read scriptures through certain screens, experiences can be validated as one chooses. Buddhism has claimed many healings too. Does this validate Buddhism as a way to God? Jesus death and resurrection alone is sufficient.
7. I am not missing out on anything. I have the fullness of Christ and the Spirit dwelling in me because He has promised me He would. You and I would not be disease free for the rest of our lives. But we will be forgiven and reconciled with God as long we continue to believe in the death and resurrection of Jesus and live a life of obedience.
8. If the difference between a “compromised gospel” and an “uncompromised gospel” is in the holiness and character of Jesus, then why resort to healing? Where is the place of healing in bridging this gap? If it doesn’t, why resort to this as an element of evangelism? Shouldn’t we instead be emphasising on being holy in and through Jesus so that God may accept us back into His fold?
The good old concept of repentance comes to mind.
9. John 14 is about Jesus instructions of God’s plans for the world to be reconciled to Him through Jesus. His disciples will progress that work – the work of sharing Jesus as the way to God. His disciples would do that in a much greater scale – greater things. That is the context. (As read by a lowly lay person of course).
10. So what is the connection between the Mt Carmel incident and a healing rally again? Isn’t the death and resurrection of Jesus in itself the power of God for salvation? Didn’t Paul say this – was it in Romans? Possibly in many epistles as well? Again, this is as read by a lowly lay person.
11. If a compromised gospel relates not to healing (or any signs and wonders) but on a lack of holiness and character of Jesus, then that is what gospel rallies should have. Repentance and obedience is what Jesus was all about. That is more important – eminently so – than healing.
12. The Great Commission is about preaching Jesus’ death and resurrection so that people may give their lives to God – as understood by a lowly lay person. It wasn’t to make healers – or authority claimers.
13. Effective preaching doesn’t require healing. It requires the Word of God and the Spirit to convict.
I don’t recall Billy Graham doing much healing. I think he was pretty effective. As was may other evangelists before the advent of Pentecostalism.
14. We shouldn’t be at pains to read scriptures in a way to fit our propensity for certain modes of preaching or practice. If the plain reading of the text doesn’t admit that interpretation, chances are that interpretation wasn’t available. We should then not be afraid to trust that the death and resurrection of Jesus alone is sufficient to bring men and women back to God. Of course, and again – this is from a lowly lay person.
I agree with William on this – this has probably taken up more time and space than it deserves. I will close this thread/comments whatever the last word is sometime this weekend.
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The thing that bothers me, is that the website basically says if we don’t heal people or are backslidden, then we aren’t saved. (From what I understand) If that’s so, then how can God give me and other preachers, words to preach that are confirmed by other sources time and time again, but I don’t exercise healing that often? How come I witness miracle after miracle in my life, if I’m not saved? I’ve also noticed that there are 4 keys to healing- God’s Glory, God’s Command, Our Faith, and Our Obedience. Note, GOD’S COMMAND.. He’ll tell you who to go to, and who not to go to. We should not tempt the Lord. I’ve personally been a part of 1 healing miracle (in the short time since I was called to preach), and that was because the Lord told me to! I do believe alot of Christians don’t exercise the gifts of the spirit as often as they should- but I don’t believe that makes them lost.
Everyone has the gifts of the spirit, but each one has a strong point, and mine is the spirit of truth. I’m not really buying this. I would attend a seminar if one were local, but I don’t see any reason to support anyone that is after their own money and glory. It just doesn’t seem right.
The other thing that bothers me is the money issue and the extravagant demands to learn this stuff. The Bible plainly says there will be many false prophets doing great miracles and that you’ll know them by their fruits. It also says that money is the root of all evil, and I see it everywhere in the world today. There are several preachers on the TV that use the “Horned Hand” sign, and constantly talk about how God will give you a bunch of money. It’s false, and setting people up for a big disappointment. If this teaching is from God, then why can’t you just put the material on the website for people to learn themselves for free?! If you supposedly learned this from the Bible, then you should be able to type up something.
Last thing I’m concerned about, is that in the videos- I don’t see anything being done! I see a bunch of people worshiping, and then it tells us that some people were healed, yet I don’t see any healing taking place. I hafta agree with teetwoh, on all of this, but it’s really more simple than all of the good points he brings up. This really sounds alot like Benny Hinn.
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The purpose of Elijah Challenge Training is to train every believer to utilize his or her God-given authority to heal the infirm as they share the Gospel.
1. This approach means that we do not get invited back (Unlike Superstar healing preachers). After training, the believers in the church can organize their own evangelistic healing rallies. They have no need for us to come at all. Thus this means that we the trainers actually work ourselves out of a job… and that is our purpose.
2. If you were to check our websites, you will notice that we train believers from all types of churches. Big or small is not important. As long as the believers learn how to share the Gospel without fear of exercising their faith to show the pre-Christians the power of God and share the Gospel.
3. Like all preachers, we receive a love offering after we train or preach. In third world countries, we seldom receive love offerings and we have to pay our own fares and expenses. We live simply so that others might simply live.
4. To be fair to us, please do not include us with all the other ‘superstar’ preachers who have the gift of healing. You will notice that during any Elijah Challenge rallies, the local Christians are the ones doing the healing. Benny Hinn never does that. He is the superstar and we are definitely not ‘superstars’.
5. We only train the local believers and they are the ones who do the healing in the name of Jesus. We do not believe in a so-called “special anointing” on some individuals. We believe that the anointing is on the Body of Christ – all the believers in the Church of Jesus Christ.
6. We do not claim to have the gift of healing. We only know that Jesus has given His Church the authority and power to heal and preach the Gospel. When we point this out, believers who exercise their faith, would actually heal the sick in the name of Jesus.
7. Do all people get saved when you share the Gospel? No, not all. By expecting people to be saved, do you violate the sovereignty of God? No! In the same way, not all people get healed or saved when the trained believers minister. The key word is ‘obedience’.
We have to share the Gospel and people from other faiths will challenge our faith. However, when we heal the person in the name of Jesus, we actually earn the rights to share the Gospel with the healed person.
When the disciples of Christ could not heal the demon-possesed boy, Jesus said, “Because of your little faith. For truly I tell you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.”(Matthew 17:19-20)
We trust that as we learn to exercise our faith, we will be able to move ‘mountains.
8. Having said that, please understand that the purpose of the miracles is to share the Gospel. That is the reason why in the Book of Acts, the Church continues to heal and share the Gospel.
9. In the New Testament, after every miracle, the glory is given to Jesus our Lord and the end-result is salvation of souls.
10. We understand why you are skeptical about these miracles. However, before you experience them, try not to assign them to the work of the devil. If these miracles are from God, then wouldn’t you have committed the sin of blasphemy by doing so?
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Y’all should have a more easily found link on the site to the training, forreal. A friend sent me a link to the full training, and it actually makes alot of sense. God Bless!
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One good answer you gave is that you “work yourselves out of a job”. Satan seems to imprisoned us into going to these 40 hr workweek jobs instead of us doing God’s work. Money is most often a prison, and is the reason why there’s no community anymore.
I still feel it’s wrong to hint or say that some aren’t saved because they don’t heal. Real Christians have other ways of knowing that they’re saved, and if there were any perfect people in the flesh, we wouldn’t have needed Jesus to begin with. It’s up to the Spirit to judge, and real Christians do start recognizing the spirit at some point in their growth.
I know about love offerings, but why ask for round trip airfare, western-style hotel, etc..etc.. when God knows the evangelists’ NEEDS and will most definitely provide for them one way or another even if he has to make bread fall out of the sky?
You have some pretty good answers, just one really important question was missed. Since the Elijah Challenge is supposed to be learned from the Bible (which is text), then why is it that it can’t be taught online, or by a book? or why can’t I find a complete presentation on it anywhere? I honestly would like to check this out, but I don’t see why someone has to make a trip out here just for me, or me go there for it to be done. On the superstar note, if Pastor William has to go everywhere himself to teach this, then it’s still the same thing. If not, then great!
I know most Christians are missing out on a great potential within as far as miracles and healing goes. Personally, I’ve experienced 2 miracles just this week. Sorry if I’ve offended you- I’m trying to get to the root of this, and as with everything else I’ve been researching this past year, a person definitely has to try the spirits with absolutely everything. Satan’s got this giant spiderweb that he’s been knitting ever since Isaiah 14:12-17 or Luke 10:18 it seems.. Christians even have Idols in their churches that they pledge allegiance too. (I have a hard time picturing Daniel saying the pledge to a flag rather than God) There’s always something good mixed into satan’s traps to get us to fall into them, and the devil knows scripture just as good as anybody.
I have looked at the main website, and I feel that if this comes from God, then some of the things I’ve spoke of should be corrected. Evil always goes on about money and possessions, so alot of people might miss out on something good because of this stuff.
Thanks for your time
~Rob
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Hi ya all.
We have been ministering healing on the streets and in our church for several years now …we have tried several approaches, and different models based on the logos an the rhema. We started out using the authority model taught by the healing on the streets movement in the UK – we had very poor success, even though our expectations were high..very few healings over two years. But we attracted really sick people with serious illnesses like cancer – sadly most of them died with their diseases – we were not able to heal them. Oh yes – folks with headaches and sore backs got healed – but mostly we had very poor results! We knew there was something wrong with the teaching – WE DID NOT LACK FAITH OR BELIEF – but we found this was insufficient when faced with the dying or the seriously ill. We researched further, started using the Wimber 5 step model and had better results – but still nothing like the success of the apostles of early disciples. We came back round to the authority model via the Elijah Challenge because of its link with preaching the gospel…to the unsaved. We note a different ministry for believers in the church. And that is what we have found also – but fact is – we have discovered that this thing is much more complex than is presented by various models – we don’t have a difinitive line of teaching on this (I’ve watched ALL the EC videos and read the documents). I found the actual healing service video the most instructive, and we are impressed with the apparent results! We have yet to try this here in the UK. But as I said before healing the unsaved is easier than healing the saved – because of all the issues believers have in their lives with unconfessed sin, unbelief and unforgiveness – all the blockages to healing that one finds. What’s the botom line? The EC seems to work well in Asia, not so sure in the UK. But there is one thing that puzzles me: it assumes that since the 12 then the 70 were given authority – then ALL believers have this authority – simple truth though is that experience does not seem to back this up in our ministry! It’s not our lack of faith either – because we moved out in some real dire situations – it’s just that the thing hasn’t happened as we expected. We are more cautious now – we have learned that there is more to healing than just ‘commanding’. Now let me just add something from my own calling into the healing ministry, something that has perplexed me. I received a call into the healing ministry by a personal visitation of the Lord himself: I saw Him and He spoke to me: said ‘I would lay hands on the sick’. The visitation lasted less than a minute: He did not give me a model as how to do this? He did not say ‘now you have authority’. He did not explain to me in person, how I was to do this, and so began my journey into the various and myriad of ways that ‘people heal the sick’. I like the reults of the EC. But like lots of these models, if we monitor the actual results, we see that the so called healings, in many cases, are just illusions. If I could find a model that I could teach and it brought the results – I’d use it. But I have’nt found one yet. Simple fact is – some get healed – many don’t. We don’t claim a gift of healing in our ministry, and we will use authority when deemed necessary, based on the context, but we leave the results up to God – sometimes it happens, sometimes it doesn’t – but we do it anyway – we do not have a consistent theology on healing, what it is and how to do it. Next time I see the Lord, if he will let me, I’ll ask Him! If anyone can shed more light, please do – we are just simple foot soldiers in the front line of UK healing ministry.
Allan
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Hi ya, me again
just to add…you know you can read up on all those who have been used in healing in the past. Some, like the EC build their theology on their linked interpretation of scriptures (from the 12 to the 70 to ALL) but the simple fact is, we don’t see the ministry as it is described in the gospels. Can we, that’s us in the healing ministry, not all band together and ask the Lord for ‘revelation, knowledge and instruction’ on how to do this straight from the horses mouth so to speak, rather than us extraplotaing from scripture what our theology and practice should be. We need to ask the Lord to teach us, like he did the early disciples, how to do this ministry in His name, as effectively as they did it, when he was here. Anybody up for this.
Allan
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Hi Allan,
It is quite easy to check whether Luke 9 and 10 are paradigms or phenomena simply by doing exactly what the early disciples did. Mark 16 is clear that the ministry of the early church was accompanied by signs and wonders. Instead of debating on these scriptures, why not just test them. We tested them and found that they are more than just for the early disciples. The power and authority to heal in the context of sharing the Gospel are real! People do get healed and give their lives to Christ.
You can check our website to read the countless healing testimonies from all over the world. To simply say that all these healings are mere illusions may be a little unfair to the Lord. He has given us authority and power to heal and we should just simply obey.
Pastor Albert Kang
Coordinator, Elijah Challenge Asia
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Well, I just read all this stuff.
Before that, I just trawled through the EC website & downloaded all their training (for free). Written, Powerpoint, & about 10 videos. I don’t see them getting rich off others, I do see them freely giving. (that’s not saying it’s just given on a platter, any more than Jesus’s truth was). I’m still weighing them up. But presently, after hearing these points, I’m favouring William Lau’s communication.
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Thank you, Paul, for taking the time to check our website and download the free materials.
There are some questions about us making money out of this ministry. As the Coordinator of Elijah Challenge Asia, I do not draw a salary or receive any financial remunerations. My church also does not give me money to do this ministry. This is strictly a personal and voluntary commitment.
I have just returned from conducting EC Seminars in the Philippines. I have to pay for my own airfares and hotel bills. There is no strict demand or requirement on the churches to give me any monetary offerings for me to do what I am doing. All of us who conduct such seminars do hope that churches will help us so that we can continue our ministry without additional stress on our own livelihood.
In short, all Elijah Challenge Coordinators of different countries are non-paying volunteers who sense the urgency of the Time. We just like every God-fearing church to win many souls by sharing the Gospel with power and authority.
That is the primary reason why we are busy conducting seminars in different churches. All these seminars are NOT centrally coordinated. individual Coordinators receive invitations and we arrange our schedules to minister as best as we can.
Those who suggest that Pastor William is no different from other ‘superstar’ evangelists are mistaken. Pastor William is not the only one conducting the EC seminars. Anyone who has gone through the second training can conduct his or her own EC seminar. And there are literally hundreds who have gone through this training.
You have checked our website and found that everything is free for anyone to download. There are no costs or hidden charges. Can anyone learn directly from the website? Obviously! It’s just like anyone can read the Bible without listening to a pastor or a bible teacher. Yes, some people need to ask questions and that is whey they invite us to come and conduct seminars. In whatever ways, you learn to evangelize with power, the key is to do it.
Let’s win as many souls as possible while it is still day for when the night comes, no man can work.
God bless!
Pastor Albert
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This entry was originally made to seek answers to exegesis leading to a conclusion about the role of healing in salvation and how this relates to true or compromised gospel and the place of the Mr Carmel incident.
It has nothing to do with financial integrity or well meaning of the founders or participants of this movement. Buddhist monks here in Australia demonstrate a very high level of financial integrity too, and they mean as well as anyone I know. That wouldnt make Christians conclude that Buddhism is therefore validated.
In my mind none of the answers provided in the comments section are satisfactory. There isnt any cogent link between a healing ministry and its centrality to evangelistic work, to the mission of Elijah and his challenge in Mt Carmel. The basis of this movement is non-existent. Call it anything else if you like. William Lau may mean well but to be a good servant of the Lord but he should be more careful in the way he writes and teaches as bases for this claim of the role of healing in modern day evangelism.
As an owner of this site, I will henceforth not approve any comments regarding any aspects of this matter save and except for the theological basis for this ministry or acceptable exegesis of the scriptures.
Good intentions alone do not render a ministry true.
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Not sure if this discussion is still going but I would like to state my concerns about the EC teachings. I am close to completing the entire basic training manual where I was told I would find the base for these teachings. I have several concerns as a pastor and a student of the scriptures. 1. It is obvious that some people are “cessationists”. They do not believe in the miracles of scripture or that the gifts of the Spirit ect are for us today. For those that believe that way they should not really expect to see “miracles” or the “manifestations” of the Spirit in ways that we see in the gospels and the Book of acts. One of my problems with what William teaches is that you can be a “cessationist” when it comes to the “Gifts of the Spirit” and yet still access the healings by “Authority” (training manual pg 52,64) I find it disingenuos to say that you can believe the “Gifts of the Holy Spirit” (Healing, Faith ect) are no longer valid or available and still accept the “authority” given to the 12 in the Gospels! I feel he is trying to reach out to non-charismatics or pentecostals by saying you can have your cake and eat it too. Sorry but if you reject the operations of the “Gifts of the Spirit” in the church today how can you possibly believe there is supernatural “authority” to heal for the lost or anyone else? Those of us who do believe that God is still a “miracle” worker and that healings are still for today vary on how “healings” take place. I have always looked at healings in the same way that I look at salvation; that it is a work of God not me. I have prayed for the sick for many years, during that time I have seen miracles take place, and then at times those that were not healed. I don’t take “credit” when they are “healed” and I don’t take “credit” when they are not healed. (he strongly rejects this idea) William leaves very little room for “non-healings” (see pg.75 in manual)
His “basis” for these teachings on authority are based (in my reading thus far) on 2 premises. #1 the priestly, prophet and kingly roles of believers. #2 his interpretation of Mark 11:22
#1 I do not see the “kingly” role of believers taught in the N.T. and strangely he does not mention ANY scripture to validate this claim. The only mention of us functioning as “kings” is in Rev 1:6, Rev 5:10 where it seems obvious the song of the 24 elders is about our preparation to “rule and reign” with Christ.
He goes to length to show that the “anointing” is not shown on a disciple to heal ect but fails to understand that ALL Priests and “Kings” were anointed. So we must function in a “kingly” role without an “anointing”? I see in scripture that the prevailing idea is that we are “ambassadors” of the one and only True King. We are “stewards” and I see NO WHERE where we are taught to use “kingly” roles until the Millenium reign.
#2 His mis-tranlation of Mark 11:22 is common among the “Word of Faith” crowd (which he seems to reject on most fronts but comes dangerously close to identifying with here) He takes “Have Faith in God” as meaning “Have the faith of God”. No Bible tranlation that I could find renders this verse this way because the Greek simply does not support this idea. It was introduced by Word of Faith teachers to get the focus off of “faith in God” and onto “faith like God” or “faith in your faith” or “faith in your words” or in his case “faith in your authority” (pg. 79,81) God does not have the ability to doubt therefore He does not Create by “faith”. FAITH MUST HAVE AN OBJECT Who would God put faith in? “Faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen” (Heb 11:1) So what is it that God hopes for? What is it that God does not see? Paul said if we see it why do we yet hope for it? (Rom 8:24)
He prefers to call it “Mountain Moving Faith” but also interchangably calls it “Faith of God”. He takes liberty to distinguish Mark 11:23 (moving mountains by faith) “kingly” action and Mark 11:24 (praying in faith) with a priestly action so that the focus of “authority” can remain in our hands instead of “Gods hands” (pg 91)
In addition to these things he puts a BIG emphasis on things that in my opionion are so trivial such as to whether your eyes are open or closed when commanding. He goes to great lengths to show that “praying for the sick” is not effective (proof?) but only “commanding by authority”. Pentecostals or Charasmatics that would venture to “pray in the Holy Spirit” would manifest to demons a spirit of doubt and fear and hence they would not yield to their authority. (Pg 89)
That we should never couple “worship” or “prayer” with any “commanding” never participate in “warfare” and “prayer” at the same time since one is “priestly” and one is “kingly”.
I think the manual wants to make it crystal clear that the “authority” method is basically the only way to go even though he does admit that praying for the sick can be used if it is in a church setting with the “gift of healing” or “faith” in operation.
I wonder if in response to an earlier post if we (those who do believe in divine healing) have sought out a “method” a “technique” that will be a “ticket” to healing? Are we along with EC trying to come up with a “brass serpent” that though used for good could take our focus off of “Christ” and onto ourselves or our “authority”. Not all were healed by Christ, not all were healed by the disciples and not all are healed today, God is still mysterious and His ways past finding out. I hope we can all come to a place where we realize that He cannot be placed into a “box” to be “figured out”. In closing there really is much good to take away from Pastor Williams desire to see the infirmed healed and saved. It should ignite a passsion in all of us to carry the good news into all parts of the world and not be afraid of “signs following”.
God Bless,
PK
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