One thing that churches have failed to do
according to Christ Jesus command is to only partially obey God's
commands; and partial obedience is actually total disobedience.
I was teaching on the importance of making
disciples as the Lord Jesus commanded. I felt there was a lack of
maturity in Christian circles simply because we are not making disciples
who will be faithful to reproduce others. As I was teaching, I was
illustrating the importance of applying the Words we read to our lives.
I quoted the Gospel of St Mark 16:17-18: "In
my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they
will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison,
it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick
people, and they will get well."
Some time later I went
to the hospital where I met a patient who had fallen from a baobab tree
and ended damaging his spinal column. For six months this guy was bed
ridden, and the hospital concluded that they could not operate him. He
was in deep pain since he had not walked for six months. The siuation
was worse than pathetic, and when I visited this hospital bed, I was
gripped with sadness; but the Spirit of the Lamb of the Lord God
Almighty Christ Jesus inspired me to lay my hands on him. I did so,
saying, "Lord God Almighty, You have said in Your word that we shall lay
our hands on the sick and they shall recover, and in Jesus' name, let
there be recovery!Amen."
The man started
rolling his eyes all around in amazement. He began turning from side to
side, to the left and to the right, and then up to the ceiling; then
slowly, very slowly and in pain and anguish, he started rising up. Other
patients were observing and we were all silent as he got up from the
bed. He stood still for awhile, then he whispered in my ear: "I am
feeling fine!" Then he raised his voice, saying: "Let me go home now!"
The doctor was called, and he was taken to X-Ray for another
radiography. It was amazing how the two pictures were different. He was
healed, and he was discharged immediately from hospital, because that's
what the Lord Jesus does!
The other five
patients in the ward asked for prayers then, and I laid my hands on them
and I assured that they will be discharged within 24 hours. Sure enough,
it was done.
What am I saying? When we take the Lord Jesus
Christ at His word, all things are possible indeed!
May the Lord God
Almighty keep you always,
MacGeofrey Mwale