Divine healing is an expression of God's love for us.
God is love. (1John 4:8)
Jesus declared, "The words I speak are not my own, but my Father who lives in me does his work through me...
I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father." (John 14: 10-12 NLT)
Most Christians are familiar with the stories of Jesus' healing people 2,000 years ago.
Some may also be aware of the healing that was administered through the apostles.
But sadly, few today seem to believe that God is still willing to heal us today!
I'll share with you about the first time God used me for healing someone else.
I had been a believer for just a couple of years, but trusted that divine healing was possible for today.
I was performing my duties as a computer technician for a client here in Charlotte, North Carolina.
My client was the corporate office of a local business franchise.
The franchise owner was casually talking with me as I worked.
She and I were alone in the office that particular summer morning.
As I worked, she told me how she had been suffering with a severe poison ivy rash for weeks.
She told me that the rash covered most of her body.
And that she had been to several area doctors about it, but nothing so far had helped.
Let me say here, this was obviously a successful woman, and seemed financially quite well off.
This fine city surely offers quality medical care, and I believe she could have seen the very best doctors.
But after two weeks, nothing they tried could alleviate her symptoms!
Now, I was a Christian then, sure, but still pretty young spiritually.
So, my first response to her was from my thinking in the natural, and not from my spirit.
I told her about a Cherokee Indian chief named Two Trees, practicing healing in Black Mountain, NC.
My wife and I had been to Chief Two Trees before, and he was well versed in alternative, natural medicine.
(I also discovered later that he was a Christian, and had experienced Jesus personally)
When I got home, I would look up the Chief's information and relay it to her.
She said that sounded great.
I finished up my work, and headed to my car.
As I got into my car, before I could get the key in the ignition, God spoke to my spirit.
This was not His audible voice, but it was very a clear and direct instruction.
He said, "I want you to go back up there and lay hands on her for her healing".
What, me? Are you serious???
I was pretty uncomfortable with doing what God was asking, I really was.
I suppose I thought this was something a pastor should be doing.
I had read the healing stories in the Bible, but never saw an average person do this kind of thing.
Well, God kept repeating the same request, and I kept resisting Him.
For twenty minutes this went on.
I was dripping with sweat from the hot sun.
I had been sitting in my car, arguing with God over this, and forgot to even start the car.
Finally, I agreed to do as he asked, really because I felt He would not let up until I did!
So, I headed back up to her office.
She was surprised to see me, and must have thought I had left something there previously.
I explained to her what had happened after I left, particularly about God's request toward me.
And I asked if she minded me praying and laying hands on her for healing.
She agreed earnestly.
I placed one hand on her right shoulder, and touched the top of her head with the other hand.
(I think I was making up this hand placement, and do not recall any discernible instruction here)
I admitted I did not remember much actual scripture, so I just prayed what I thought I remembered about healing.
It was a simple, 30 second process.
She seemed quite elated at the experience, and I was relieved that I had the courage to do what God asked.
Although, nothing appeared to have changed in her physical condition.
But, it did not seem to matter to either of us at that moment.
We had a sense of God's presence in that moment, which were happy to have experienced.
Of course, I was totally excited to get home that afternoon and share the experience with my wife Sheila.
She was as excited that God chose to work through me, and proud that I obeyed Him.
I told my wife that I would not let the lack of tangible results bother me.
I had done what God asked. The rest was up to Him and in His time.
The next morning around 9:30 my phone rang.
It was my client.
"David, I just had to call and tell you what just happened".
She excitedly described that she had been to breakfast with her daughter, and a friend.
She had told them the story of what had happened to us the day before.
And as she finished telling them the story, every sore suddenly dried up and fell off her body.
That was the first work of healing God used me for, but certainly not the last.
He continues to do His work through my life, as He does through the lives of others who are willing.
Daily, I commit to remain available for God's use, in any way, and at any time He chooses.
I declare over my own life what Jesus declared over His own.
For I am His body, I have His mind and I am the temple of the Holy Spirit.
"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me.
For he has anointed me to preach the Good News to the poor, to bind up the broken-hearted,
to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind,
to set free those who are bruised and oppressed,
and to declare the acceptable year of the Lord" (Luke 4:18)
Amen
God is love. (1John 4:8)
Jesus declared, "The words I speak are not my own, but my Father who lives in me does his work through me...
I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father." (John 14: 10-12 NLT)
Most Christians are familiar with the stories of Jesus' healing people 2,000 years ago.
Some may also be aware of the healing that was administered through the apostles.
But sadly, few today seem to believe that God is still willing to heal us today!
I'll share with you about the first time God used me for healing someone else.
I had been a believer for just a couple of years, but trusted that divine healing was possible for today.
I was performing my duties as a computer technician for a client here in Charlotte, North Carolina.
My client was the corporate office of a local business franchise.
The franchise owner was casually talking with me as I worked.
She and I were alone in the office that particular summer morning.
As I worked, she told me how she had been suffering with a severe poison ivy rash for weeks.
She told me that the rash covered most of her body.
And that she had been to several area doctors about it, but nothing so far had helped.
Let me say here, this was obviously a successful woman, and seemed financially quite well off.
This fine city surely offers quality medical care, and I believe she could have seen the very best doctors.
But after two weeks, nothing they tried could alleviate her symptoms!
Now, I was a Christian then, sure, but still pretty young spiritually.
So, my first response to her was from my thinking in the natural, and not from my spirit.
I told her about a Cherokee Indian chief named Two Trees, practicing healing in Black Mountain, NC.
My wife and I had been to Chief Two Trees before, and he was well versed in alternative, natural medicine.
(I also discovered later that he was a Christian, and had experienced Jesus personally)
When I got home, I would look up the Chief's information and relay it to her.
She said that sounded great.
I finished up my work, and headed to my car.
As I got into my car, before I could get the key in the ignition, God spoke to my spirit.
This was not His audible voice, but it was very a clear and direct instruction.
He said, "I want you to go back up there and lay hands on her for her healing".
What, me? Are you serious???
I was pretty uncomfortable with doing what God was asking, I really was.
I suppose I thought this was something a pastor should be doing.
I had read the healing stories in the Bible, but never saw an average person do this kind of thing.
Well, God kept repeating the same request, and I kept resisting Him.
For twenty minutes this went on.
I was dripping with sweat from the hot sun.
I had been sitting in my car, arguing with God over this, and forgot to even start the car.
Finally, I agreed to do as he asked, really because I felt He would not let up until I did!
So, I headed back up to her office.
She was surprised to see me, and must have thought I had left something there previously.
I explained to her what had happened after I left, particularly about God's request toward me.
And I asked if she minded me praying and laying hands on her for healing.
She agreed earnestly.
I placed one hand on her right shoulder, and touched the top of her head with the other hand.
(I think I was making up this hand placement, and do not recall any discernible instruction here)
I admitted I did not remember much actual scripture, so I just prayed what I thought I remembered about healing.
It was a simple, 30 second process.
She seemed quite elated at the experience, and I was relieved that I had the courage to do what God asked.
Although, nothing appeared to have changed in her physical condition.
But, it did not seem to matter to either of us at that moment.
We had a sense of God's presence in that moment, which were happy to have experienced.
Of course, I was totally excited to get home that afternoon and share the experience with my wife Sheila.
She was as excited that God chose to work through me, and proud that I obeyed Him.
I told my wife that I would not let the lack of tangible results bother me.
I had done what God asked. The rest was up to Him and in His time.
The next morning around 9:30 my phone rang.
It was my client.
"David, I just had to call and tell you what just happened".
She excitedly described that she had been to breakfast with her daughter, and a friend.
She had told them the story of what had happened to us the day before.
And as she finished telling them the story, every sore suddenly dried up and fell off her body.
That was the first work of healing God used me for, but certainly not the last.
He continues to do His work through my life, as He does through the lives of others who are willing.
Daily, I commit to remain available for God's use, in any way, and at any time He chooses.
I declare over my own life what Jesus declared over His own.
For I am His body, I have His mind and I am the temple of the Holy Spirit.
"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me.
For he has anointed me to preach the Good News to the poor, to bind up the broken-hearted,
to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind,
to set free those who are bruised and oppressed,
and to declare the acceptable year of the Lord" (Luke 4:18)
Amen