The year was 1996, and I was home alone in my Colorado Springs apartment. I moved to the area with a friend to attend Bible College. The sun filled our living room, and I glanced outside to witness a group of children playing. Bursting with energy, the boys and girls danced in the springtime sun. As I watched them, I noticed twelve-year old, Fadre. She lived in one of the first floor apartments. The young girl’s knee was encircled with a beige orthopedic wrap. Immediately in my heart, I felt a desire to lay hands on and pray for Fadre. With that impression came a knowing that she would be healed.
I marched downstairs to the first floor, and one of my neighbors looked inquisitively into my eyes and asked, “What are you doing?” I paused and wondered what to say. I responded, “I am going to pray for Fadre’s knee, and God will heal her.” The answer I gave surprised me, since I am normally not so blunt. I walked outside and joined the children and asked them if they would pray with me for Fadre’s knee. I explained that Jesus Christ still heals the sick, and He still answers our heartfelt prayers. They welcomed the suggestion to pray for Fadre. I led a prayer for God to heal her, but nothing happened. Instead Fadre, who had dislocated her knee the day before, said it still hurt.
I remembered a story in the Bible where Jesus prayed for a blind man. The first time He prayed, the man’s vision restored only partially – he saw people as trees. Jesus prayed a second time, and the man’s sight came into focus. I shared this story with the children, and then we prayed a second time. Fadre’s eyes filled with joy. She tested her knee by walking slowly and then began to jump up and down. She declared, “I’m healed! I’m healed!” We bubbled with excitement, and I carefully gave all the glory to the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the source of all health and healing. Apart from Him we can do nothing. And I am thankful that Jesus still heals.
A Supernatural Surgery
I remember another true story when a friend of my wife and I needed to have surgery. The surgeon informed him that it was time for him to have a kidney transplant. We laid hands on him and prayed for the surgery to go well and for him not to experience pain. A miracle took place. Our friend did not have any pain from the procedure, and the surgery was a success. Thankfully, Jesus still heals.
Healed to Serve Him
I also prayed for a man in my church who injured his hand in a motorcycle accident. He said he could no longer play the electric bass on our worship team because of it. I asked him if I could pray with him. He said yes. So I lightly touched his hand and prayed. He later told me he could now play the electric bass, and he cheerfully joined the praise band again. I am grateful that Jesus still heals.
Commissioned by God
The Master commissioned believers to lay hands on the sick and to see them recover (Mark 16:18). Healing is one of the signs that should follow them that believe. It also says in Mark 16 that after Christ ascended into heaven, the believers in Jesus preached the word with signs following, and Jesus commissioned us to do the same thing. Jesus still heals through His children.
When we pray, sometimes the individual receives instant healing. At other times, the person heals gradually. Ultimately, every Christian, who suffers with sickness, will find complete healing when he or she meets the Lord. It is also important to realize that God often uses doctors. Luke in the Bible was a physician. There are also many natural remedies that can help us.
If you are sick, draw near to God and ask Him to heal you. It says in the scriptures that He is the Lord who heals us. Christ’s suffering on the cross 2000 years ago was for our physical and spiritual healing. By Jesus’ stripes we are healed (see Isaiah 53 and 1 Peter 2:24).
You Can Do It
The book of Acts shines with miracles that the disciples performed. If you are a disciple of Jesus, you can do the same. It simply takes faith and obedience. We can see the sick recover. This is a glorious way that Jesus confirms his word. We are not responsible for the results of our prayers. We are only responsible to believe. God is the Healer not us, but He desires to flow through us.
We have the Holy Spirit living on the inside of us. He desires for His power to flow freely through us so that we can be a blessing to others. Will you lay hands on the sick and see them recover? If you are a child of the Father, you can because Jesus still heals, and He desires to heal others through you.
