Peter Sammons reviews ‘Heaven’s Dynamite’ by Mike Endicott (2003, Terra Nova).
Author Mike Endicott has a noted ministry in the field of Christian healing. At 128 pages this is a gentle but persuasive thesis, encouraging us to understand that gifts of healing are still for today.
Crisis of Confidence
The beginning of the book consists of testimonies – in the form of encouraging ‘thank-you’ letters - to the reality of miraculous healing. Endicott goes on to reflect on the “crisis of confidence” amongst so many Christians in Jesus’ ability and willingness to heal today. Yet the world of the 1st Century Church was not so different to our modern world:
The apostles ministered, as we do, in a multi-spiritual choice culture, where truth claims competed for attention. In such a challenging environment they were not afraid to put themselves in the firing line, and to express complete confidence in the power of God to heal, save and deliver as they preached the cross.
Endicott expresses sorrow that modern Christians have too small and timid a view of God. With low expectations, we are not disappointed at low ‘results’ in terms of healing, or even of salvation for the masses! Endicott is convinced that these gifts are for today, and his own ministry bears out his confidence:
Believers have a clear mandate from the Lord to heal the sick. Jesus’ instructions to the twelve were: ‘As you go, preach this message. The kingdom of heaven is near. Heal the sick, raise the dead. Cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons’ (Matt 7:10). The command to the disciples to heal the sick was never revoked, but was reiterated and reinforced.
This is a gentle but persuasive thesis, encouraging us to understand that gifts of healing are still for today.
Dynamite?
Why the title? Several times in the book Endicott expresses the firm conviction that when we move in faith, “heaven’s power explodes” in salvific action. “By his grace, says Endicott, “when we begin to move in expectancy, heaven explodes. Why? Because the preached word was, and still is, accompanied by miracles”. Endicott enthuses:
The power of God is moving amongst us even today. Every Christian, born again of the spirit of God, baptized and filled with the same Holy Spirit, has in himself or herself the power of the new creation; the same power that raised Jesus from the dead. To affirm that truth is not arrogant. On the contrary, it is to acknowledge that it is all by grace – the free gift of God.
So as we raise the expectancy of sufferers by declaring, like the apostles, the power and authority of Jesus, and as we persist in proclaiming the gospel of salvation, we shall see more of heaven’s ‘dynamite’. The Greek word ‘dunamis’ means power, and our God has the power to heal now – today! Miracles happen!
This is a really helpful introduction to the realities of healing in the name of Jesus. As a gentle and relatively easy read, this book does not ‘tax’ its readers, but it does provoke thought, prayer and excitement.
A minor quibble; it would have been helpful to have explored in more depth the difficulties we encounter on those sometimes inexplicable situations where healing either does not happen, or happens not in the way we expect. With that minor reservation, because this is a real issue that many have encountered, this is still a book that I am happy to recommend. Healing is still for today! Praise God!
‘Heaven’s Dynamite: God’s Amazing Power to Heal the Sick’ is available from CPI for £8.99 including P&P in the UK. Also available on Amazon.