Babu of Loliondo & Basics of Biblical Healing

Dear Friends,

I have just been to Loliondo. Out of that trip I have written three articles for secular newspapers. They can be accessed at http://udadisi.blogspot.com/. At the moment I am thinking of writing an article that is only focused on a Biblical analysis of what is happening in Loliondo. But in the meantime it may be a good idea to read the following responses as presented by my fellow Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) Christians - Brother JN and Brother NL respectively.

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A quick one, why do you think or why didn't you ask Babu as to why he does not associate his "Kikombe" openly with Jesus Christ rather than through inferences of the "Word" that for those who do not truly know the Word as in John 1:1-4 will never acknowledge the healing as from Christ who is the Word and the Creator of all trees! Au Babu anaogopa kuharibu soko kwa vile kutumia neno Mungu is very politically correct kuliko Yesu which is very specific of a particular God.

Nashukuru kwa insight hiyo ambayo inakubaliana na commentary za Mama White kuhusu Matthew 7:21-23:

" A number of false prophets and religions today are getting people healed but their deceived followers never get to know the true source of their healing. Without exception they do not lift up Christ the Messiah, they deny the new birth, the bodily death and resurrection of Christ, the priesthood of Christ in the heavenly sanctuary, God's ten commandments and the 7th day sabbath which acknowledges Christ as the creator of the whole universe; hence they hide the essentials of the gospel that saves eternally and gives them temporal cure!"

The devil backs up such version of the "gospel" by providing true physical healing by taking away what he has planted in the first place, as he is the author of sickness and diseases, and at the same time convinces our minds that it's only God who can remove diseases and sickness and hence healing must always come from God!

Jamani shetani anatibu na kuponya magonjwa! Na ambaye haamini hilo ajiulize kwa nini Yesu alisema kuwa waliponya, kutabiri na kufukuza pepo kwa jina la Yesu ingawa Yesu mwenyewe hawatambui. Sasa kama Yesu amekukana kuwa si wake, je wewe ni wa nani? Kupona kwa kikombe siyo hoja na pia siyo issue ya kubishania uwezo wa Mungu kwa vile neno la Mungu liko wazi kuhusu uwezo wake na pia miujiza ya Yesu haikuwa na ubishi na kwa kila muujiza watu walizidi kumtukuza Mungu. Je, ni nani anayetamkwa kwenye ndimi za watu sasa hivi kuhusu tiba ya Babu? Babu mwenyewe ana kigugumizi kumtaja Yesu Kristo waziwazi kwamba ndiye Neno ndani ya kikombe, badala yake anatumia neno Mungu ambaye kila mmoja anaye wake!

The bottom line is this.

Does God heal sickness? YES

Does the devil heal sickness? YES

Is healing a criteria of God's power NO! Not always

The following text are so clear as to what is happening at Loliondo.

Isaiah 5:20-21; 30:1-3
Proverbs 14:12-14
Mathew 24:24-25
2Corinthians 11:13-15
Ephesians 4:14-15
Colossians 2:8
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Provision for Gospel Medical Missionary Work

The way in which Christ worked was to preach the word, and to relieve suffering by miraculous works of healing. But I am instructed that we cannot now work in this way; for Satan will exercise his power by working miracles. God's servants today could not work by means of miracles, because spurious works of healing, claiming to be divine, will be wrought. {MM 14.2}

For this reason the Lord has marked out a way in which His people are to carry forward a work of physical healing combined with the teaching of the word. Sanitariums are to be established, and with these institutions are to be connected workers who will carry forward genuine medical missionary work. Thus a guarding influence is thrown around those who come to the sanitariums for treatment. MM 14.3; MM 14.2; 2SM 54.2; LDE 169.

This is the provision the Lord has made whereby gospel medical missionary work is to be done for many souls. These institutions are to be established out of the cities, and in them educational work is to be intelligently carried forward.--Letter 53, 1904. {MM 14.4}

Miracles Not a Sure Evidence of God's Favor

The time is at hand when Satan will work miracles to confirm minds in the belief that he is God. All the people of God are now 15

to stand on the platform of truth as it has been given in the third angel's message. All the pleasant pictures, all the miracles wrought, will be presented in order that, if possible, the very elect shall be deceived. The only hope for anyone is to hold fast the evidences that have confirmed the truth in righteousness. Let these be proclaimed over and over again, until the close of this earth's history.--R.H., Aug. 9, 1906. {MM 14.5}

When Christ Refused to Work Miracles

The scene of Christ's temptation was to be a lesson for all His followers. When the enemies of Christ, by the instigation of Satan, request them to show some miracle, they should answer them as meekly as the Son of God answered Satan, "It is written, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God." If they will not be convinced by inspired testimony, a manifestation of God's power would not benefit them. God's wondrous works are not manifested to gratify the curiosity of any. Christ, the Son of God, refused to give Satan any proof of His power. He made no effort to remove Satan's "if" by showing a miracle. {MM 15.1}

The disciples of Christ will be brought into similar positions. Unbelievers will require them to do some miracle, if they believe God's special power is in the church and that they are the chosen people of God. Unbelievers who are afflicted with infirmities will require them to work a miracle upon them, if God is with them. Christ's followers should imitate the example of their Lord. Jesus, with His divine power, did not do any mighty works for Satan's diversion. Neither can the servants of Christ. They should refer the unbelieving to the written, inspired testimony for evidence of their being the loyal people of God and heirs of salvation.--4SG 150, 151. {MM 15.2}

Miracles Prove Nothing

Go to God for yourselves, pray for divine enlightenment, that you may know that you do know what is truth, that when the wonderful miracle-working power shall be displayed, and the enemy shall come as an angel of light, you may distinguish between the genuine work of God and the imitative work of the powers of darkness.--3SM 389 (1888). {LDE 169.1}

The way in which Christ worked was to preach the Word, and to relieve suffering by miraculous works of healing. But I am instructed that we cannot now work in this way, [MIRACLES WILL ACCOMPANY THE MINISTRY OF GOD'S PEOPLE UNDER THE LOUD CRY (SEE CHAPTER 14), BUT THEY WILL NOT HAVE THE SIGNIFICANCE THEY DID IN CHRIST'S DAY. THE PERFORMING OF MIRACLES WILL NO LONGER BE A PROOF OF DIVINE ENDORSEMENT.] for Satan will exercise his power by working miracles. God's servants today could not work by means of miracles, because spurious works of healing, claiming to be divine, will be wrought.--2SM 54 (1904). {LDE 169.2}

God's people will not find their safety in working miracles, for Satan will counterfeit the miracles that will be wrought.--9T 16 (1909). {LDE 169.3}

Miracles Cannot Supersede the Bible

If those through whom cures are performed are disposed, on account of these manifestations, to excuse 170

their neglect of the law of God and continue in disobedience, though they have power to any and every extent, it does not follow that they have the great power of God. On the contrary, it is the miracle-working power of the great deceiver.--2SM 50, 51 (1885). {LDE 169.4}

The Bible will never be superseded by miraculous manifestations. The truth must be studied, it must be searched for as hidden treasure. Wonderful illuminations will not be given aside from the Word or to take the place of it. Cling to the Word, receive the engrafted Word which will make men wise unto salvation.--2SM 48 (1894). {LDE 170.1}

The last great delusion is soon to open before us. Antichrist is to perform his marvelous works in our sight. So closely will the counterfeit resemble the true that it will be impossible to distinguish between them except by the Holy Scriptures. By their testimony every statement and every miracle must be tested.--GC 593 (1911). {LDE 170.2}

The Deception Is Almost Universal

There is now need of earnest, working men and women who will seek for the salvation of souls, for Satan as a powerful general has taken the field, and in this last remnant of time he is working through all conceivable methods to close the door against light that God would have come to His people. He is sweeping the whole world into his ranks, and the few who are faithful to God's requirements are the only ones 171

who can ever withstand him, and even these he is trying to overcome.--3SM 389 (1889). {LDE 170.3}

The forms of the dead will appear, through the cunning device of Satan, and many will link up with the one who loveth and maketh a lie. I warn our people that right among us some will turn away from the faith and give heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils, and by them the truth will be evil spoken of. {LDE 171.1}

A marvelous work shall take place. Ministers, lawyers, doctors, who have permitted these falsehoods to overmaster their spirit of discernment, will be themselves deceivers, united with the deceived. A spiritual drunkenness will take possession of them.--UL 317 (1905). {LDE 171.2} .

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Regards,

Brother CC