Spirit and Truth Ministries
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DON'T GIVE UP YOUR HEALING
Don Hawley
February 13, 2002
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Of course you first have to have a healing before you can give it up. I want to tell you what happened last night, but first allow me to quote from the chapter "Does God Heal Today?" in my book THE FINAL TEST--For the Final Generation.
"I had suffered with the problem on and off for years; now it was with me virtually all the time. Not an excruciating pain, but still a constant aching in my hip joints. A number of friends had gone through surgery for hip socket replacement, and it appeared I soon would be a prime candidate. Walking was getting increasingly difficult, and trying to sleep was a nightmare. I'd lie on one side until the pain woke me up, and then roll over on the other side until that too became unbearable.
"It was at this time I first became knowledgeable about spiritual gifts. One that especially caught my attention was the gift of healing, a blessing exercised again and again by Christ and his followers. Since my problem wasn't something dramatic like a brain tumor, I'd decided I could live with it. Now I began to wonder.
"One day I walked the two or three blocks from my office to the local post office. On the way back I winced at each step due to the nagging pain in my hips. Suddenly I experienced a moment of boldness. I said, 'Lord, I have a lot of walking I want to do for you before I die. I'd like it to be without continuous pain. Please heal me.' The very next step I took was pain free!
"Frankly, I prefer such healing to constant pain, or even hip-replavcement surgery Jesus is alive! He's still the great Healer.
DON'T LOOSE YOUR HEALING
"There are few things to compliment the devil about, but I know one one--he's very persistent. Since he's the author of disease and death (not God, as some confused people think), he's very unhappy when one of victims gets healed. Upon losing a case, he's bound to lay plans to get his client back again.
"After only two or three weeks of basking in my new-found freedom from discomfort, one of the devil's henchmen paid me a visit. Suddenly I once again sensed a twinge of pain in my hip joints. Although new to the matter of divine healing I fortunately figured out what was happening. The author of sickness was checking to see if, through unbelief, I might be willing to give up my miraculous cure. Instead of cooperating I replied by proclaiming, 'No! The Lord has healed me of this problem.' Instantly, the pain disappeared.
"I've already mentioned the devils persistence. During the next few months he tested me three or four times. On each occasion I resisted his attack by declaring afresh my healing in Christ. As a result, the probing became less and less frequent, finally ceasing altogether."
OR SO I THOUGHT
As I mentioned, the author of disease and death is very persistent. It's now been several years since I received the healing recounted above, but last night one of the devil's minions made a house call.
After only a couple of hours in bed, I found myself unable to sleep due to pain in one hip joint. It didn't make any difference what position I assumed, the pain wouldn't let up. Finally, my tossing and turning awakened Bunnie and she too was unable to sleep.
Although I have an innate dislike of leaning on medications, I decided I should get up and take a pain pill and a sleeping tablet. Fortunately, I determined to talk to God about it first.
I reminded the Lord (myself, actually) about his taking care of my hip joint pain some years earlier. Then I asked him to rebuke the devil's present attack, and give me back my healing. Instantly, the pain left and I had a good night of deep sleep.
GREAT FAITH?
That probably sounds rather simple, and in a way I guess it is. When God tells the waters of the Red Sea to part, they just do it. Simple, by very profound. I'd like to say that this healing was the result of my great faith, but that woudl be a lie. I'd rate my faith at about half a mustard seed.
Faith encourages God to move on our behalf, but faith itself doesn't heal; God does. It's not that we need great faith in god, what we need is faith in a great God.
Dare to ask God for healing , and if he chooses to move miraculously in your life at that time give him lavish praise. And refuse to give up your healing when the devil makes his inevitable house call.
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