In the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit was actively involved in healing. Not as
much as in the New Testament, perhaps, but active nonetheless!
Remember King Hezekiah? He was a godly king who prayed to do God's will. One day
he became deathly sick (See 2 Kings 20: 1-11). The prophet Isaiah confirmed that
his days were at their end. After all, all of us will one day meet our Maker
face to face. May this fill us with adrenaline!
King Hezekiah prayed and wept bitterly, and as Isaiah was leaving, God's Spirit,
"The Word of God", told him to go back to the king and give him this message: "I
have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will heal you. On the third day
from now you will go up to the temple of the LORD.I will add fifteen years to
your life. And I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of
Assyria. I will defend this city for my sake and for the sake of my servant
David." (2Kgs 20:5b-6, NIV2)
Here comes an interesting twist: Isaiah, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit,
prepared a plaster of figs to be put on the boil.
The king had a valid question: "How do I know whether this is of GOD and not
just the fig plaster? What confirming sign is there that GOD is healing me and
that in three days I'll walk into The Temple of GOD on my own legs?" (2Kgs 20:8,
MSG)
The prophet Isaiah gives him a choice: "Do you want the shadow to advance ten
degrees on the sundial or go back ten degrees? You choose." (2Kgs 20:9a, MSG)
This sign would take away any doubt. As it was easier to have the sun's shadow
advance, Hezekiah decided: "Make it go back ten degrees." (2Kgs 20:10b, MSG).
It did, confirming that it was God who healed him.
It's true that afterwards he made some bad choices (See 2 Kings 20:12-19). Still
God honored Hezekiah's request for healing. God cared for his people in the Old
Testament and He cared for them in the New Testament. Why would it be different
in our day and age? He either cares or He either doesn't, for "Jesus Christ is
the same yesterday and today and forever." (Heb 13:8, NIV2)
It was mid-December 2015. My nose started to run. There was no doubt: I had a
cold. I was heading for bed, and I eventually fell asleep despite my nose. I
woke up at 3 a.m., however, and I couldn't breathe. I got up, and eventually I
was able to breathe and sleep again. Nonetheless, I tossed and turned the rest
of the night.
The next night was about the same. My wife woke up about the same time I did,
and realizing what I was facing, she prayed that my cold would be instantly
healed. My nose stopped running right after her prayer. I was healed! Generally,
a cold for me lasts at least one to three weeks, but this time it lasted only
one day. I couldn't help but praise God. He cares even for the smallest things.
Interestingly enough, the cold came back with vengeance exactly a week later. We
realized, however, where this came from: the evil one loves to torment us. My
wife prayed again in the name of Jesus, ordering the evil one not to show up
again with his shenanigans. The cold was immediately healed, and this time, it
didn't come back.
If our loving Heavenly Father healed in the Old Testament, and He healed in the
New Testament. And if he healed me from just a simple cold, why would He not
want to heal you? After all, He cares: "For whoever touches you touches the
apple of his eye" (Zech 2:8c, NIV2).
Do you feel a tickle in your nose? Are you unable to breathe? Has the cold
dragon invaded your sinuses? Pray, and then anticipate with eagerness what will
happen next!
P. S. This is good for any illness! (See James 5:15)
Rob Chaffart
The Illustrator: This daily newsletter is dedicated to encouraging
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