|
The Day of Divine
Healing Is Not Past
I want to give a clear testimony of how God heard prayer and healed
me in 1935. For many years, I had suffered terribly with asthma, and
it seemed I got worse as the years went by. Many times I called for
prayer, and God would give definite relief but later another attack
would come to me. Every year all during the cold season I would have
repeated attacks and such very hard ones that at times it seemed I
could not endure it longer. Then in mercy God would again answer
prayer and give help, but I lived in fear of the next attack. Anyone
who has never suffered with this disease knows nothing of the agony
and sore distress. This condition had gone on for years but thank
God at last a day came when my faith was actually lifted up and the
work was definitely done, the disease was gone, never to return.
At last while in a very severe attack we called the brethren and
they came out to our home and obeyed the word of God (James
5:14-15). As they prayed, my faith took hold in a definite way and
prayer went through. The work was done. Thank God from that very
hour, I have had no return of this disease. All who knew me then,
know now of a truth that the Lord healed me. Brethren, His word is
true, and let us trust Him at all times. He will give the answer.
Another Case of Healing in Our Family
In the year 1944, we moved from Havana to the other end of the
island to open the work of the Lord there. Shortly after moving my
family to that place (Guantanamo), Oriente, one of our boys took
very ill with fever. Each day he grew worse. Naturally, we were
praying because for many years we have definitely trusted God alone
as our healer, and he seemed to have a change for the better. As I
was then working for an American construction company some little
distance away from home, thinking the boy would be all right, I
returned to my work. On my return home at the end of the week, to
see the family and attend to the services on Sunday, my wife told me
that the boy had been bad all the week with a very high fever. That
Sunday morning a friend came to the house and began talking hard to
me, saying something had to be done as the chills from which the boy
was suffering had worsened. He had been burning up with fever for
eight days. My friend left at mid-night and many other friends came
and tried to force us to do something. Later, one of these friends
sent a woman there (a spiritualist) to anoint the child. My daughter
met her at the door and on learning what she had come for, told her
we did not believe in anything connected with spiritualism, and
could not allow her to enter the house. Our friends did not even ask
what we wanted but sent whom they chose. While these people were
around trying to insist on us doing something, we were quietly but
firmly trusting that God would intervene.
I called my wife and told her I was sending a telegram to Havana to
Brother Barnes, asking the Brethren to get hold of God with us, for
Lloyd's healing. On Monday morning I left and returned to my work
with a burdened heart. I went to the overseer's office and told him
my son was very ill and I wanted a leave of absence. It was granted
and I returned at once to the bedside of the child. I took my place
at his side, and told my wife I was not going to let many people in.
I was just staying right there to hold onto God. Tuesday he was in
the same condition but we continued trusting in the Lord. Our faith
was strengthened by a telegram from Havana saying the Church was
praying with us, and for us to hold right on. Wednesday morning
still brought no change. My wife and I were determined to take God
at His word and stay right there. Thursday the touch came and his
body cooled, and Friday he sat up and on Sunday, three days after
God touched him, he was up to stay; healed by God's divine power. He
has never had a touch of the disease from that day to this. Thank
God, it pays to hold still with fervent prayer, while the test lasts
and hold right on for victory. Jesus healed in Galilee, and He is
just the same today. I could write a book on the experiences we have
had of God healing in our family and healing others too, by prayers
we offered for them. Read Hebrews 11:6 and 2 Kings 20:8.
Yours in the One Body in Christ,
Signed: Thomas S. French,
Guantanamo, Oriente, Cuba
Marvelous Healing of Tuberculosis of the Spine
Dear Sister Stewart,
I am so glad to write to tell you of little Frankie's healing. I
really thought someone had done so long ago. In the autumn of 1944,
Frankie was sitting on the arm of a porch glider. He fell off
backwards and struck his little back across the edge of the cement
porch. However, we did not think he was seriously injured until
about six weeks later when a lump formed on his spinal column. Soon
he began to have great difficulty in walking. We then became alarmed
and took him to a baby specialist who ordered him to be X-rayed. The
X-rays revealed tuberculosis of the spine, and the doctor said it
was caused from that fall. They placed him on a board frame, lying
on his back, so he would have to lie there quietly so the T. B. germ
could not work. For two long years he showed no improvement at all,
then he seemed a little better and in December of 1947, they
operated on his spine. In this operation the doctors took pieces of
bone from the shinbone and placed them on his spine bone, to
strengthen it so it would not bend. But after the operation, he was
worse. Then in the spring of 1948 they said he would be down on his
back on that frame for two years more at least, and that it was
possible little Frankie would never walk again. I thought I simply
could not take two more years of it, although Frankie lad been quite
cheerful all the time.
I was later asked to bring Frankie to the Church of God, as you were
going to be there, and that you would pray for him. As you know I
did take him and you prayed for him, and right after that he wanted
to get up, and said he was healed, but we followed the doctor's
advice and kept him on the board frame. But we saw a great change in
him from the very time he was prayed for. He began to move more, his
appetite increased and his general health was so much improved. You
prayed for him in June and the next time he was X-rayed which was in
September following, the doctors ordered him up off the frame, after
having said plainly that it would be at least two years before he
could get up. They saw the remarkable change in his spine and it was
easy to see what God had done, just by looking at the X-rays. This
is very marvelous in our eyes, and we are praising God for putting
Frankie on his feet again, so he could play with other children. He
was on that frame just four years and four months. That was surely
one test. But today our boy runs and plays just like other children
and is enjoying life, all through God's goodness to him and to us.
If we only believe, God will never fail us. Pray for us that we may
always do God's will and be faithful.
In deep gratitude,
Signed: Mrs. Berniece Watson,
Kirkland, Indiana
Dear Sister Stewart,
Enclosed you will find a testimony of little Frankie Watson's
wonderful healing as written by his Mother, who is now SISTER
WATSON. The reason I say she is NOW Sister Watson is because at the
time of Frankie's healing neither she nor Frankie's stepfather were
Christians. But thank God, now through the influence of this
wonderful healing, they are both converted and on fire for God.
I would like to make some additions to Sister Watson's letter. The
night that we all agreed in prayer for the healing of Frankie, after
prayer he wanted to get right up off the canvas board and stand up,
but due to the fears of the Mother who was then still a sinner, she
would not let him. But on the following Saturday (it was on Thursday
night that you prayed the prayer of faith for the child) he was
taken to the hospital for an examination and X-rays, but the doctor
would not examine him as it was three months before the appointed
time for them to give him an examination. When asked why they wanted
him examined so soon, Mrs. Watson told them frankly that she thought
Frankie was healed because he had been prayed for. The doctor then
told her that this was rank foolishness and he definitely would not
examine him then.
As Sister Watson has said--Frankie was kept on that board and in a
plaster paris cast for another three months; all the time wanting to
get up and walk, as he believed God had healed him. But this
privilege was denied him until he was taken to the hospital again at
the appointed time. X-rays were then taken and to their surprise
they found NO signs of any defect in little Frankie's spine. Praise
God his spine was perfect! This was to the surprise of the doctor
because at the time of the last examination before this, he had told
them that tit would be at least two years before Frankie would be
up, and that it was possible he would NEVER walk again. This was
just six months after the doctor had made that statement. After the
X-ray pictures were developed and brought in the doctor looked at
them with surprise, and then he would look at the child and then at
the mother. He could not figure out what had happened. But thanks be
to God, we know what had happened. God had marvelously healed
Frankie's spine. He is now running and playing just as other
children do, and is becoming stronger every day. What a mighty God
we do serve.
I am enclosing a picture of Frankie taken while he was in the cast
and laying on the board, and another one taken as he is now.
Signed Matt and Edna Cook, Pastors,
Church of God, Kirkland, Indiana
A Definite Healing of Appendicitis
On February 16, 1948, God marvelously healed Earl Davis, son of Mr.
and Mrs. John Davis, of Farmland, Indiana, of a serious case of
appendicitis. Earl, then 13 years old, was very sick all night on a
Sunday, and on Monday morning the parents took him to Muncie to be
examined. Three doctors examined him and were definitely agreed in
their decision. They all said to get him to the hospital AT ONCE; as
he had a very serious case of appendicitis and that they would
operate on him at five p. m. that same day.
The father was away working at the time, but was called and came at
once, and they hurried the boy to the hospital. But while there
waiting for him to be admitted they called me by telephone and asked
me what I thought they should do in an emergency like that. (At this
time I was their pastor.) I told them that he was their child, and
naturally they were the ones who would have to decide what to do;
but that I knew full well just what I would do under similar
circumstances. I would definitely trust God. But they were the ones
who must make the decision for this child. The father told me that
after having talked with the boy himself, and knowing how Earl felt,
he just felt he could not force him to go through the operation. I
then told them that if they decided definitely to leave the boy in
the Lord's hands, to bring him out to our house and we would have
prayer for him there. So in a short time here they came, bringing
Earl out for prayer, having left the hospital.
He was very pale, and was suffering intensely. We anointed him with
oil, as God's Word tells us to do, and prayed for his complete
healing, and God gave the healing touch instantly and did a mighty
work in his body. However, according to the father's own words,
others in the family were not satisfied with this, and just could
not believe it was really done. So the next day they took Earl to
another doctor in Farmland, and had him give a thorough examination,
just as the other three doctors had done the day before. But this
doctor said to the parents after the examination, "Friends, I cannot
find any symptoms of appendicitis." And then they told him a bout
the decision of the three other doctors. At hearing this the doctor
said, "Well, this puts me on the spot--so bring him back tomorrow at
2 P. M. and I'll give him another check up." This was done, and at
the end the doctor said, "I still say I cannot find any symptoms of
appendicitis, and he may go back to school tomorrow." Thursday night
Earl was out at prayer meeting, and again the next Sunday, and he
has been perfectly well ever since. There is nothing too hard for
OUR GOD.
Another Healing in the Same Congregation
Sister Mary Coun, one of the members of the Smithfield congregation,
was so sleepy after eating her dinner on July 7, 1948, that she lay
down and slept so soundly and so long that her daughter who lived
with her became alarmed and tried to awaken her, but found it almost
impossible. All that night the daughter watched her, trying at
different times to awaken her, but could scarcely arouse her at all.
The next morning they called a doctor to learn what her trouble was.
On examination the doctor told the daughter that the mother had the
"Sleeping" disease and that nothing could be done for her.
Sister Coun had trusted the Lord for her healing for many long
years. She was a faithful child of God and that night we stopped at
her home on our way to the prayer meeting, as she and her mother
usually came over with us. As we stopped in front of their home, the
daughter came running out to us, weeping, and telling of the sad
condition of her mother. She was much wrought up, because they had
lived together so long, and meant so much to each other. I was late
and we had to hurry on, but we promised to return after the service
was over. This we did, and Brother and Sister George Lykins, Sister
Bertha Smith and others went with us. In the service that night we
had definite prayer for the sister, and the daughter told us that
she aroused some for a time. Then we again had earnest prayer,
asking God for her complete healing. The dear Lord answered prayer,
and when I went to see her the next day she was much better, and on
Sunday, July 11th, she sat out on the porch with friends and even
walked around in the yard. That weekend she was back in the Church
services with us; healed by the mighty power of our God. Again our
hearts were made to rejoice in His great love and in His wonderful
care.
Signed: MRS. ELIZABETH VANNATER
Saved and Healed
I desire to give my testimony as to how I first was brought in touch
with the blessed Gospel of Christ, and oh, how He worked in my
heart! I consider it a privilege and an honour to do this. I was
born of Catholic parents and carefully reared in a good home, but I
knew nothing of the Gospel until less than four years ago. I trust
that this testimony of my experience with the Lord may serve as a
blessing to some who, like myself, did not have the privilege of
knowing Him as their Saviour early in life.
I had known of Sister E. Faith Stewart, and of the Children's Home
she had at the time some distance from my home, but never had any
personal contact with her or Christianity until in 1944 when the
terrific cyclone passed over this end of Cuba. I first entered the
Home during those hours of terrible suffering and danger, with a
group of Red Cross men as we were out doing what lay in our power to
help relieve suffering humanity at that time. Seeing a large group
of helpless children in the condition they were plunged into through
the cyclone, I could do no less than serve them to the best of my
ability. But little did I know what that touch with Christian people
was going to mean to me in the future. My visits to this Institution
did not end with the ending of the problems created by the cyclone,
but I continued to visit there frequently, as something had made a
deep impression one way or the other on me. I found myself with a
deep realization of the lack of something that I saw in the workers
at the Home. I often wondered if I ever could be like they are. The
spiritual work I saw being accomplished there interested me as the
days passed, and the shining faces of the workers were an
inspiration. The daily life of these Christians and their treatment
of all who went there, was distinct from what I had been accustomed
to seeing. I did not then understand that the thing that made them
so different was the experience they had of Christ reigning in their
hearts. Today I see it clearly, because He is reigning definitely in
my heart also. During my first several months of contact with the
Gospel, I went day after day to the Home just to watch, and as I saw
them happily serving the Lord and the people, I longed to know
Christ myself. Sister Stewart was constantly talking with me of
God's love and His power, and of His plan for our salvation. She
gave me tracts to read and these gave me more light and truth. The
more I read and heard of God's plan, the better I understood what
caused the vacancy in my heart. I lacked Christ in my heart and
life. When it came time for the annual Convention, the following
April, I attended and there I surrendered my heart to God and
definitely sought His pardoning grace. Since that night I have never
lacked His divine help or direction.
|
