DIVINE HEALING

Divine Healing -- Hit in the Face while Preaching -- Billiard Player Enters the Ministry -- Case of Typhoid Fever Healed -- Infidel "M. D." Has More Faith Than the "D. D."

Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases. Ps. 103:3.

     The philosophy of healing is plain. It is simply the short cut to health. The God of nature has imparted healing properties to certain plants, minerals, climates, etc. Now, if we were innocent and knew as much as dogs and cats, our intuition would tell us how and where to find relief. But since we do not know what to take, God has mercifully made provision whereby we can come to Him and, like the woman spoken of in Mark 5: 28, get the virtue direct, rather than by the way of the drug-store. Doubtless Christ could have told this woman of a natural remedy, but since He was the embodiment of "every good and perfect gift," He permitted her to get all she needed by touching Him.

     On another occasion He turned water into wine. You have seen Him do this many times, but by the slow process of nature it usually takes about six months instead of six minutes. The rain falls upon the earth, the vine drinks it up, there are green, then ripe grapes, and in the end water is turned into wine. In times of emergency Christ can either hurry up natural law or set it aside and impart His life-giving virtue, which is as good or better. Hence, these natural or manufactured remedies may be allowable to those without faith (provided they can hit on the right thing), but God has provided "a more excellent way" for those who will implicitly trust Him. Of course, this does not imply that we act the fool and carelessly disregard the laws of health; but it does mean that when we do all in our power, the Omnipotent God stands ready to do for us what we cannot do for ourselves. Hallelujah!

     There is a vast difference between praying "in faith" and praying the prayer "of faith." James speaks of both. We pray "in faith" every time we approach God. Sometimes we get happy as we anticipate this or that victory. And yet it may not be the real victory. But when one prays the prayer "of faith" this "saves the sick," so James declares. The fact is, no one can pray this prayer in himself. The Holy Ghost must "groan" or pray this prayer through us. When He does, He is not mocking Himself. An answer is sure to come, sooner or later.

     At Leechburg, Pa., we were preaching in the opera house. Souls were now being saved at the same spot where the devil had previously performed. Here we had some interesting street meetings. One evening I was speaking from a large stone in front of the post office. I realized that Satan was disturbing the elements in the form of rocks, mud balls and other things. Presently a mud ball hit me square in the face, but did not stick. When the anointing is upon us, we can plow through this old world without anything (spiritually, and many times literally) sticking to us, or impeding our progress.

     Another street meeting held in front of a billiard hall brought out some of the players, one of whom was convicted, and converted, and went to preaching.

     A woman who was down with typhoid fever heard of our healing meetings and sent for me to come and pray for her. Her neighbors declared they would never have me pray in their homes, especially a sick room, for they said I prayed so loud it would disgrace them. But she insisted, so her husband came to invite us. As we entered the house the doctor was leaving. He had left eighteen fever powders with strict orders not to eat one morsel, lest it produce death.

     It was then seven days since she had taken any nourishment, excepting a little boiled milk. I began talking to her about her Christian experience, and found it unsatisfactory. At one time they both enjoyed religion, but fashion and money-making drowned it out until God had to permit a fire to sweep away their business property with no insurance. They owned their own home, but were now again considered among the common people. I asked her, if, in case she got well, it was her full purpose to renounce the world, give herself wholly to God and again erect the family altar. She replied that it was.

     I then read some Scripture and knelt at her bedside to pray. As I rehearsed her former life with present vows to God, I heard her throw her large gold ring on the chair, and the next moment she sat erect in bed praising God and clapping her bony hands together. I then anointed her with oil in the name of the Lord for the healing of her body. Her husband looked on in amazement, and as soon as I left the room she called for her clothes and arose, went downstairs, and ate such things as the rest of the family had for dinner. That afternoon she went out on the street to tell her neighbors what the Lord had done for her, and met her pastor, who had previously been to see her and prayed for her "speedy recovery." By this time he had heard of her healing and said, "Woman, you are all excited and under the influence of that fanatic and as soon as this spell lifts, you will fall prostrate on the street. Go home and go to bed." She praised God and told him she felt as well as ever in her life, and though poor in body, she believed she would soon gain in flesh. Another preacher denounced us and preached a sermon against Divine Healing, saying, "The days of miracles and supernatural events ceased with the Apostolic age." But what good did it do these D. D.'s ("Dumb Dogs," Isa. 56:10, 11) to bark like this? Here was a living example, right in their midst. The infidel doctor manifested more honesty than they, for he declared it was supernatural and desired to read up on the subject.

     It is fitting to remark that the woman did not take a relapse but rather grew stronger, joined our society and was made class-leader. Her husband was reclaimed and did some good preaching. Their home became a home for ministers. Their well-to-do relatives far and near heard of it, sought salvation, and, as a result, other classes were organized that never would have been, had it not been for this incident. The loss of property and a case of typhoid fever were blessings in disguise.

     Many more cases of healing during forty years of preaching could be mentioned, but space forbids. Read our book, "How to Get Healed and Keep Healed."

      "God moves in a mysterious way

     His wonders to perform;

     He plants His footsteps in the sea,

     And rides upon the storm.

 

      "Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take;

     The clouds ye so much dread

     Are big with mercy and shall break

     In blessings on your head.

 

      "His purposes will ripen fast,

     Unfolding every hour,

     The bud may have a bitter taste,

     But sweet will be the flower."