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. Written permission must be secured rom the publisher to use or reproduce any part o this boo!, e"cept or brie #uotations in critical revie$s or articles. Published in %ashville, &ennessee, by &homas %elson, Inc. 'nless other$ise noted, (cripture #uotations are rom the %)W *I%+ ,A-)( .)/(I0% o the 1ible. Copyright 1929, 1934, 1935, &homas %elson, Inc., Publishers. Printed in the 'nited (tates o America. (cripture #uotations noted *,. are rom the *I%+ ,A-)( .)/(I0% o the 1ible. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data 6inn, 1enny. 7ord, I need a miracle8 1enny 6inn. p. cm. I(1% 493:429;5<193 =hard> 1. -iracles?Case studies. I. &itle. 1&92.5.6<; 1993 531.2@3?dc54 959::252 CIP Printed in the 'nited (tates o America 5 3 : < ; 2992 9; 9< 9: 93
Contents
Aore$ord.........................................................................2
Part One: The Miracles Needed 1 BCou@ve +ot &hirty DaysB.....................................11 5 *athie@s )nvironmental Attac!s..........................1< 3 Aorever 1lindE....................................................51 : 6and in 6and.....................................................5< < -arsha %eeded a -iracle....................................31 ; Charlie 6ad Another Plan...................................3< 2 %o /elie in (ight................................................39 3 Is &here 6ope or &imothyE.................................:1 9 BI@ve +ot to &al! to +od@@......................................:< 14 &oo Arightened to (pea!...................................<1 Part Two: The Bible's Teaching 11 15 13 1: 1< 1; 12 13 19 54 51 55 53 5: 5< 5; bout Miracles &he (tart o Cour -iracle..................................;1 It@s +od@s Will....................................................21 Cour Wall o Protection.....................................29 A 6arvest o 6ealing.........................................3< Claim Cour Inheritance.....................................91 Aare$ell to Aear..............................................149 Aorever 6ealed................................................11< Part Three: The Miracles !od Pro"ided I@m (oaring %o$..............................................153 B6ere, /ead &his@@............................................131 BCou@re +oing &o Alorida8B...............................13< A %e$ -arsha.................................................139 BCharlie8 7oo! at -e8B.....................................1:3 It 6appened in a Alash....................................1:2 &imothy@s &rans ormation...............................1:9 &he )nd o the /oad.......................................1<3 Celebration o a -iracle..................................1;1
FOREWORD
I do not understand $hy some people are healed and others are not. &hat is a mystery that $ill remain until the 7ord returns. 1enny 6inn is a man $ith an e"traordinary gi t at encouraging other people@s aith, and he also has a very uni#ue anointing o the 6oly (pirit. 6e $ould be the irst to tell you that he can heal no one, but it is through the po$er o the 6oly (pirit that people are healed. &he viability o the medical iles I have revie$ed on each o the stories included in this boo! are e"tremely impressive. David 7ane, in particular, $ith the diagnosis o adenocarcinoma o the rectum $hich $as proven by rectal biopsy, $as ound to be ree o all cancer $hen he $ent in or an emergency appendectomy. &his in ormation is documented by -r. 7ane@s colorectal surgeon. I have tal!ed at length $ith -r. 7ane regarding his testimony and revie$ing the medical reports concerning him and am over$helmed in ho$ the 7ord too! a man $ith less than thirty days to live and per ormed a great miracle. I have also personally tal!ed $ith -arsha 1rantley $ho $as su ering rom lupus, /aynaud@s, (Gogren@s and an!ylosing spondylitis. -rs. 1rantley related to me the many years o pain and su ering that she e"perienced due to her lupus and other ailments. (ince she received her dramatic healing on 0ctober 13, 1991, through the $ord o !no$ledge at the 1enny 6inn crusade, her medical doctor documented that her physical e"am $as normal e"cept or some increased pigmentation $hich $as a
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result o one o the medicines she had ta!en. &his is #uite a dramatic healing since lupus is medically an incurable disease. A ter tal!ing at length $ith both -r. and -rs. 1rantley and discussing the many signs and symptoms o her diseases, it is truly a miracle to see this lady standing totally trans ormed by the po$er o +od. &he other miracles that you $ill read in this boo! are care ully documented by the patient@s physicians and each testimony documents a dramatic change in the patient@s condition. &his dramatic change in their conditions can only be e"plained as a miraculous touch rom +od. &his boo! $ill certainly inspire one@s aith to believe +od or their miracle. With +od, all things are possible to him $ho believes. In the testimonies that ollo$ I believe that your aith $ill soar as the 6oly (pirit encourages you to believe in miracles. D0%A7D C071)/&, -.D. D)C)-1)/, 1995
Part One
Part 0neF
Chapter 1
BCou have t$o choices,B the doctor told Dave 7ane. BI $e do the surgery no$, you $ill survive about three months. Without it, you@ve got thirty days to live.B &hose $ords came as a total shoc!. At nearly si" eet tall, $ith dar! blac! hair and a blac! beard, Dave $as the picture o health. 6e $as orty9one years old, but elt li!e t$enty. BI loved li e more than anything,B he said. It $as the summer o 1994. Dave 7ane and his $i e, /ebecca, had spent more than a decade developing a success ul Arabian horse arm near Coo!eville, &ennessee. &heir arm is home to B-uscats,B a $ell9!no$n champion stallion, and over t$enty purebred Arabian horses. &hen one day Dave@s body began telling him that something $as not right. BI elt an unusual s$elling in my stomach. &here $as a lot o pain. And I $as passing blood.B
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7ane, I need to call the hospital and schedule more e"tensive tests. I@d li!e to do it right no$.B Dave 7ane $ill never orget that day. BWhen $e got to the hospital my physician introduced me to a surgeon, and they prepared me or a complete e"amination o my colon.B B-r. 7ane,B one o the doctors told him, Bit doesn@t loo! good.B &he physicians ound a tumor so large they could not get past it to e"amine the rest o the lo$er colon. &hey rushed the biopsy through the lab. &he results con irmed their greatest ear. 0n his surgical pathology report the inal diagnosis readF B7arge mass =biopsy>H Adenocarcinoma o Colon.B &hat@s the technical name or a malignant tumor. (ays Dave, B&hey e"pressed their concern about the considerable siIe o the cancerous gro$th and the length o time it had been there.B &he tumor the doctors ound $as a little larger than a baseball. What they hadn't ound concerned them even more. &hey had to be honest $ith Dave and e"plain that there could be additional tumors past the bloc!age, in areas they could not see. It $as Ariday and one o the physicians had planned to be out o the city that $ee!end. 1ut he $as ready to rearrange his schedule because o the urgency o the situation. BWe need to remove the tumor as soon as possible,B the doctor told Dave.
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(ays Dave, BI $as told that i I did nothing about the cancer it $ould invade other vital organs o my body.B &he doctors $ere especially concerned about it spreading to his liver and causing cell reproduction to stop. &he more Dave tal!ed $ith physicians, the more distressed he became. 6e learned that because o the e"tensive surgery he $as acing, and the tumor@s possible involvement $ith his spine, he could be paralyIed rom the $aist do$n. 6e $as also told that he $ould li!ely lose all bo$el and bladder unctions. &he prognosis $as poor, and he $as completely over$helmed by $hat he aced. B0ne day I visited my doctor $ith $hat I considered a minor problem, and I $as told the a$ ul truth that I had cancer and $as going to die,B he said. &he $ords o the doctor !ept ringing in his ears. BCou@ve got thirty days to live. Cou@ve got thirty days to live.B
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possible. Cancer o the rectum is a serious, potentially atal disease i le t untreated, and you can e"pect it to spread to other parts o the body i it is not removed. I it is le t unattended and spreads, then it is unli!ely that you $ill recover,B the doctor $rote. &o Dave 7ane, there $as only one hope or survival. It $as something he $as certain the physicians and surgeons $ould never understand. )arly in his li e, Dave had become a Christian. 6e $as active in his church. Aor the past year Dave had been serving +od aith ully in a prison ministry. As a result o their meetings in local Gails and area penitentiaries, he had seen scores o inmates trans ormed by the po$er o +od. &he church in $hich Dave $as raised, ho$ever, believed that +od@s po$er to heal $as limited to %e$ &estament times. 1ut the more he read the Word, the more convinced he became that the 7ord is the same Byesterday, today, and orever.B %o$, there $as no$here else to turn. &he doctors had pronounced a death sentence. B7ord,B he prayed, BI need a miracle.B
Chapter 2
0n -ay 19, 1934, -ount (t. 6elens erupted in the state o Washington. It spe$ed enormous volumes o ash, dar!ened the s!ies, and polluted the environment or hundreds o miles. *athie -c+ahuey remembers it $ell. At the age o thirty9three, she lived $ith her husband and children in -il$au!ee, 0regon, a suburb o Portland. *athie doesn@t blame her problems on the volcano, but she mar!s that date as the time she began to !no$ that something $as drastically $rong. BAll o a sudden $hen I $ould eat, I $ould get very ill,B she said.
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1y the time she reached the emergency room, the symptoms $ere subsiding, and the doctors ound it impossible to diagnose or document her condition. Ainally, the ourth time she had one o her unusual attac!s, the reaction $as severe enough that the physicians $ere able to diagnose her problem through testing her blood and monitoring her heart. *athie $as told she had Banaphylactic shoc!,B a rare, severe, rightening, and li e9threatening allergic reaction. In most people this reaction occurs most commonly a ter an insect sting or in response to a particular drug li!e penicillin. In *athie@s case, the doctors had no idea o the underlying cause. &he -c+ahuey@s amily physician, a general practitioner $ho had seen her since childhood, did not !no$ $hich $ay to turn. B6e $as a $onder ul doctor, and I $ill never orget the day he $ept $ith me because o my condition,B says *athie. (he $as re erred to an outstanding allergist, but because so many antidotes caused a severe reaction he $as e"tremely cautious. 6e $as ear ul she $ould die rom the tests. It seemed that almost everything the doctor tried made her condition $orse because =as he $ould later learn> o the dyes and the chemicals. BI $as told I am a universal reactorH I am allergic to almost every stimulus,B she says.
!ears of "rustration
Aor the ne"t several years *athie, her amily, and her doctors $or!ed diligently to ind an ans$er. It $as a matter o trial and error as they searched or the cause o her &ype I hypersensitive reaction. Was it tree pollenE 6ouse dustE CeastE (peci ic oodsE &hey tried gradually increasing the doses o various allergens to promote the ormation o antibodies to bloc! certain reactions. %othing $or!ed. A ter countless tests, the
1.
medical community $as still puIIled about the cause o her symptoms. 0ne allergist said, B*athie, you are the one9in9a9hundred that $e cannot help.B 0n some days, ollo$ing an attac!, she $ould have huge lumps in her throat. (ays *athie, B-y throat $ould slam shut, and I $ould have that terrible reaction that causes the muscles around your heart to spasm. I also e"perienced severe o"ygen loss to my brain. I $ould simply blac! out.B *athie became con used and discouraged about her condition. BI it $as caused by something I $as eating, $hy couldn@t they tell meEB she $ondered. BI simply didn@t understand.B 7ater she learned that part o $hat she $as reacting to $as not necessarily the ood, but $hat $as on the ood. 1ut that $as only a part o her problem. In documenting her condition, one o her doctors $rote, B&his patient has su ered rom e"treme environmental illness, or chemical hypersensitivity syndrome or several years. (he had anaphylactic reactions a ter e"posure to certain substances and has re#uired emergency hospitaliIation on numerous occasions.B &he report continuedF B(he has had ood allergies and sensitivities so e"treme that her diet $as reduced to potatoes =all other ood caused a reaction>. (he could not tolerate soaps, detergents, per ume smells, synthetic clothing, vinyl, city tap $ater, diesel smo!e, and numerous other allergens. &here $ere residues o viruses in her system rom previous illnesses that her $ea!ened immune system could not eradicate $hich led to lare9ups in various organs.B
18
metabolic brea!do$n. BWhen most o my vital organs ?liver, !idneys, spleen, and adrenal glands?began to shut do$n,B she said, Bthe doctors believed I $as dying.B 6er condition became so severe that her s!in peeled o in sheets rom head to toe. BI $as li!e a sna!e shedding its s!in,B she says. BPeople $ould see me and turn their heads. AID( $as becoming a household $ord during this time and people $ere obviously thin!ing the $orst.B &he trauma *athie $as e"periencing $as e#ually di icult or her husband, *enneth, $ho $as pained to see her in this condition. BAt irst he didn@t understand and $anted to run rom the reality o it,B she says. B1ut as my problems gre$ more critical, he became a to$er o strength.B As time progressed, *athie became reclusive. (he learned that i she controlled her environment, the reactions $ould not be as re#uent. BI literally had to loc! mysel in and stay a$ay rom the things that I elt $ould bother me.B Any $or! she did $as con ined to the home. BI had to learn that I could not live li!e the rest o the $orld,B she said. BPeople don@t understand $hat it is li!e to be in a location $here there are cleaning chemicals, ood and other odors,B says *athie. BIt@s li!e the entire environment attac!s you. )verything you smell, or touch, or eat, ma!es you sic!. It $ould be easier to die than to live.B
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concerned about her problem and did everything possible to create a healthy environment. B&hey $ere a $onder ul group o people $ho provided tremendous emotional and spiritual support,B she says. 6er riends $atched *athie@s condition go bac! and orth li!e a pendulum. B&hey sa$ me become gauntly thin and then all o a sudden s$ell up because o an attac! o gout.B &hree di erent times *athie lost her hair. BIt $as as i my body $as going through chemotherapy,B she e"plains. When her hair did gro$ bac!, it $as totally gray. As a Christian, *athie believed that it $as not +od@s $ill or her to die, but she admitted, BIt $ould have been easier or me to die than to live. It@s di icult $hen you have been battling an illness or so many years.B *athie -c+ahuey is a $oman o aith, but it $as di icult or her to continue to say, B1y ,esus@ stripes I am healedB and have other people loo! at her and say, B&here must be something $rong. It@s ta!ing too long.B *athie $ondered, BWill the 7ord ever ans$er my prayerE Will I ever be healedEB
Chapter '
Aorever 1lindE
Aor over t$o years, 7ynn Whitmore su ered $ith migraine headaches. B&he pain $as almost unbearable,B she recalls. BAnd they $ere becoming more re#uent and severe.B 7ynn had lived in east &ennessee or only three years and didn@t !no$ $here to turn. (he had a college degree in music and planned a career as a concert per ormer. In 1939 7ynn $as admitted to the )ast &ennessee 1aptist 6ospital in *no"ville or e"tensive tests. While she $as lying in her hospital bed $ith another o her terrible headaches, she suddenly called out to the nurse on duty. BPlease get a doctor,B she cried. BI Gust $ent blind in my right eye.B &he doctor came immediately, and he chec!ed the platelets and the dis!s in the eye. &he dis!s in the right eye $ere s$ollen and pu y, indicating e"cessive pressure on the optic nerve. 6e also !ne$ that serious damage $as ta!ing place.
22
the condition by creating spinal luid pressure. In 7ynn@s case, the orce $as three times $hat it should have been. &he pressure $as on the optic nerve that goes to the eye. As the doctors e"plained it, the body $as trying to get rid o something it elt $as there. In the process, it $as creating a ar greater problem. B&hey rushed me into surgery and put a lumbar shunt in the lo$er spinal cord to relieve the pressure and to !eep me rom losing my sight in the other eye,B says 7ynn. (he had hoped that her sight $ould return a ter the operation, but she still could not see anything $ith her right eye. B)ven $ith a bright light shining in my eye I had no vision at all,B says 7ynn. &he shunt, she soon learned, $as unsuccess ul. &he doctors e"plained to her it $as not the eye itsel that had been damaged. &he damage $as in the optic tract connected to the brain. Actually there are t$o separate optic tracts, one or the le t eye and one or the right. In 7ynn@s case, the pressure on one o the tracts $as so great that it $as destroyed and she lost her vision. &hen came the saddest ne$s o all. BI $as told by the doctor that the damage $as irreversible,B said 7ynn, sha!ing her head. &he tract $ill not regenerate.
Fore#er 1lind2
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6er physician $rote in her medical reportF BCesterday she had the onset o acial t$itching. (he has undergone a lumboperitoneal shunt. (he su ers rom persistent headaches. (he also has visual loss secondary to pseudotumor cerebri $hich involves the right eye only. (he subse#uently lost vision in the le t eye this $ee!end. (he has light perception in the le t eye, but could not see orms. (he has numerous medication allergies.B &hen came a laundry list o medical problemsF B(ystemic lupus erythematosus, cortical blindness, pseudotumor cerebriJstatus post lumboperitoneal shunt, right occipital neuralgia, oral moniliasis, hypo!alemia, urinary tract in ection.B 0n -arch 53, 1994, 7ynn@s report rom the neurology clinic noted, B0ur patient@s headaches have gotten $orse. 6er le t eye seems to be ading in and out more than be ore. (he has diIIiness, particularly $hen she stands up. (he has no light perception o the right eye.B -any nights 7ynn $ould cry hersel to sleep. B7ord, please don@t let me become totally blind,B she prayed. BPlease help me8B
Chapter (
6and in 6and
Dic! and ,udy +add $ere on their second honeymoon. A ter years o ta!ing their children on vacation to -yrtle 1each, (outh Carolina, they decided to sell their small business in )l!ins, West .irginia, and move there permanently. 0ne night, $al!ing hand in hand along the beach, Dic! s#ueeIed his $i e@s hand and said, BCou !no$, li e doesn@t get much better than this.B &hen in ,une 1991, something happened to shatter the dream. Dic! noticed that he $as passing blood. Immediately he $ent to a local doctor or an e"amination. BI $as told there $ere suspicious gro$ths in my bladder,B says +add. B&he doctor $anted me to see a urologist or a second opinion.B &he indings $ere con irmed. In ,uly 1991, biopsies sho$ed numerous malignant gro$ths. (ome o them had already penetrated the muscles and $all o the bladder. Again, the physician recommended that +add get other opinions be ore discussing his options. Dic! says, BI $as told that my bladder must come out as $ell as the prostate. I hoped to avoid having an ostomy bag.B Dic! and ,udy, -ethodist and 1aptist by amily bac!ground, summoned all the aith they could muster. ,udy loo!ed at the doctor and said, B6e $ill be healed. -aybe not by your hands, but he $ill be
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healed.B
The ,rognosis
&he couple drove bac! to West .irginia to visit $ith a urologist the amily !ne$ #uite $ell. 6e agreed $ith the doctors@ indings. At the advice o several doctors, Dic! $ent to the Du!e 'niversity -edical Center in Durham, %orth Carolina. &he doctors concluded that Dic!@s bladder, prostate, and appendi" must be removed. BI all goes $ell,B they told him, B$e can reconstruct a ne$ bladder rom a portion o your intestines.B &his $ould mean that he could avoid having an ostomy bag. In (eptember 1991, +add returned to Du!e or surgery. 0n the evening o the operation, an intravenous eeding tube $as inserted into his $rist. B(omeho$ the I. damaged a nerve and in used into my arm,B he says. B-y entire le t hand and arm $ere s$ollen. &hey loo!ed as though they $ere going to e"plode.B 0rthopedic surgeons $or!ed on Dic!@s arm $hile he $as in the operating room. Aor nine hours surgeons per ormed the removals and did reconstructive surgery. B&hey too! t$o eet o my intestines and constructed a ne$ bladder,B +add says. B&hen they installed a catheter.B &he surgery $as ruled a success. When the pathology reports came bac!, the doctors told Dic!, BCou@re home ree. &here is no more cancer.B 0n the day Dic! got the good ne$s, his body suddenly told him something entirely di erent. B-y temperature spi!ed to 14<, and I began to e"perience e"treme pain,B says Dic!. B&he doctors rushed me to "9ray thin!ing I might have pneumonia.B &he test did not reveal the cause o the ever or
3and in 3and
2.
the pain. B&he high temperature continued, and I elt as i all the energy had been drained rom my body,B says +add. Ainally, the medical team diagnosed the problem as Candida, a yeast in ection that developed rom the surgery. It had a ected his entire blood stream. B&he physicians in ormed me that the in ection $as li e9threatening since it could shut do$n a vital organ at any time,B +add says. B&hey gave me a po$er ul medication that produced many side e ects. I had severe chills, my body $as sha!ing, and my ever continued.B &o Dic!, the ne$ problems $ere much $orse than the surgery. BI elt I $as $asting a$ay in a hospital bed and $as begging the doctors to allo$ me to go home.B Ainally, the physicians gave their approval or +add to return to -yrtle 1each. &hey arranged or home health care and a doctor to monitor his serious condition. Dic! continued to ta!e intravenous medication, but the su ering $ould not subside.
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temperatures continued. (ays ,udy, BAor several months he $as either in bed, on the couch, or in a recliner.B In Aebruary 1995, $hen Dic! returned to the hospital or a scheduled chec!up, there $as no improvement in his hand, and he continued to e"perience e"cruciating bac! pain. BIt $as almost impossible to use my hand. I $as told that most li!ely it $as permanently impaired,B +add recalls. During that visit, the medical specialists conducted one inal test?a chest " ray. &hen, t$o days later, Dic! received a phone call. B-r. +add, $e need you to have an -/I as soon as possible.B When he #uestioned the urgency, Dic! $as told that he could be totally paralyIed at any moment. &he specialists e"plained that his vertebrae $ere compressed, but they did not !no$ the cause o this problem. B1e e"tremely cautious, and have the test immediately,B they said. A ter the -/I, a second identical test $as ordered the ne"t day. B-r. +add, $e $ant you to return to Du!e as soon as possible or additional e"aminations and to see a cancer specialist,B he $as told. +add returned to the medical center, and or t$o ull days he had test a ter test. &he diagnosisF a malignant mass in the bac! that had crushed the eighth and ninth thoracic vertebrae. 6e $as told, BWe need to start si" $ee!s o radiation treatment immediately. We $ill ollo$ that $ith chemotherapy.B Dic! $as told he could stay at a local motel and go to the hospital or his treatments. 6e told the doctors, BI can@t do that. We have a teenage son at home, and I need to be $ith him.B &here $as another problem. &he +adds@ insurance had e"pired, and they already o$ed nearly K<4,444 in medical bills.
3and in 3and
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Dic! and ,udy returned to -yrtle 1each. BI $as determined that any treatment I got I $ould get close to my home,B Dic! says. ,udy told the doctors, BCou don@t understand ho$ much aith $e have. Dic! is going to ma!e it.B As she had done so many times, ,udy reached out to hold Dic!@s hand. &his time it $as dis igured, but that didn@t matter. BIt@s going to be all right,B she $hispered.
Chapter 4
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-arsha 1rantley, rom 7a$ton, 0!lahoma, had been sic! or as long as she could remember. B(ince I $as eighteen months old I have e"perienced severe pain in my legs, bac!, and Goints. -y mother recalls that I $ould constantly cry because the pain $as so intense,B she says. BI lac!ed the energy to participate in activities $ith other people. I simply learned to live $ith the chronic pain and atigue.B &he doctors $ere unable to diagnose -arsha@s illness or thirty years.
'2
BI didn@t even !no$ $hat lupus $as $hen they told me I had it,B says -arsha. -arsha@s condition deteriorated rapidly. BI Gust couldn@t unction. I $as trying to inish my degree but had to drop out o classes.B
A Trio of I%%nesses
As the medical testing continued, she $as eventually diagnosed $ith /aynaud@s disease, (Gogren@s syndrome, and an!ylosing spondylitis, $hich are all related to connective tissue disorders. /aynaud@s disease is a condition o the blood vessels in $hich e"posure to cold causes the small arteries that supply the ingers and toes to contract suddenly. When this happens blood stops lo$ing to the digits, causing them to become pale. &hat is $hy -arsha@s hands, eet, and nose $ould turn blue, cold, and numb. &hen as the circulation $as restored, these areas $ould be #uite pain ul. (he also had (Gogren@s syndrome, a malady that causes the moisture9producing glands o the body to atrophy, resulting in limited and sporadic production o saliva and tear secretion. An!ylosing spondylitis causes bones and ligaments to use and become sti . It can lead to a permanent curvature o the spine. B-y hips and shoulders $ere slo$ly using solid8B she says. BAnd lupus $as causing severe pain and s$elling o the rest o my body. Additionally, it had le t me allergic to bright light, causing me to run high temperatures.B
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BI had to spend rom si"teen to eighteen hours a day in bed,B she recalls. BI could not ta!e care o mysel . -y hair $as once very long, but it had to be cut $hen I could not even hold a hair dryer a ter $ashing it.B When she could no longer hold a purse, she began $earing a belt pac!. BI $al!ed $ith a cane because my right !nee and my right hip could hardly move. It $as not long until I regressed so severely I had to use a $heelchair, i I got out o the house at all,B she says. B-y doctor said it $ould only be a matter o time be ore my hips used completely, and I $ould have to use a $heelchair all o the time.B &he doctor also elt that the lupus had involved the connective tissue in the brain, a ecting her memory. BIt $as li!e I $as being tortured daily, not !no$ing ho$ severe the pain $ould be or $hat part o my body $ould not $or!.B &he doctors had done all they could. 6er amily and riends had done all they could. Despite their love and compassion, -arsha elt helpless and alone. B&here $as only one place le t to turn,B she says. BI placed my uture in the hands o the 7ord.B -arsha needed a miracle.
Chapter )
Charlie -c7ain believed that $hen he $on his battle $ith cancer, he $ould never again have to ace such an enemy. 1ut he didn@t !no$ $hat $as $aiting Gust ahead. In 193: the &ulsa, 0!lahoma, mortgage and loan o icer $as diagnosed $ith 6odg!in@s disease, a malignant disorder o the lymphoid tissue. 6e began a t$o9year ordeal $ith the cancer that included three surgeries and massive chemotherapy and radiation treatments. BWith the help o some marvelous physicians, the 7ord brought me through,B says Charlie. 6is 6odg!in@s disease $as diagnosed as :9A, $hich rarely goes into remission. When it did, he thought his health problems $ere over. A ter ive years $ithout a recurrence o cancer, Charlie $as enGoying the best health o his li e. &hen, in the irst $ee! o December 1994, -c7ain suddenly elt very ill. BI $as unable to eat and had severe pain in my stomach,B he says. &he condition appeared $ithout $arning. 6e hoped the pain $ould subside, but it didn@t. 6e !ne$ something $as $rong.
Two /nsu
essfu% Surgeries
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0n Wednesday evening, December 15, 1994, -c7ain $ent to the emergency room o (aint Arancis 6ospital in &ulsa and $as admitted $ith abdominal distress. &he diagnosis $as an intestinal bloc!age o the small bo$el. &hree days later -c7ain had surgery, but the surgeons could ind no bloc!age so they closed him up thin!ing everything $ould resolve itsel . It didn@t. B%othing $ould pass through my system,B he says, remembering it as i it $ere yesterday. Aollo$ing an e"haustive battery o tests, they inally ound the bloc!age in an e"tremely unusual location. &he emergency surgery $hich ollo$ed $as assumed to be success ul. &he physicians discovered substantial a tere ects o the massive amounts o radiation rom his earlier bout $ith cancer. &hese large doses had caused massive internal damage. 6is intestines $ere ull o adhesions. As one o his doctors described it, B&he radiation treatments rom his lymphoma had le t his intestinal $alls scarred and thic!ened, causing them to stic! to each other and t$ist and turn.B Charlie calls it being B ried.B &hat surgery, too, had been a ailure. Charlie still had a bloc!age. 6is ever climbed to 14:, then 14;. 6is lungs began illing $ith luid and his !idneys began to shut do$n. 6is bo$els no longer unctioned. BChristmas )ve is not the ideal time to have surgery,B says Charlie, Bbut that is $hen they opened me up again.B &he surgeons did not li!e $hat they sa$. (aid one o them, B&he bo$el $as so thic! and in lamed $e Gust couldn@t do the bypass, $hich $as pretty rare. I $as very concerned he might not ma!e it.B &hey !ne$ Charlie $as an e"tremely sic! patient.
'.
6is team o medical e"perts included an oncologist, a gastroenterologist, t$o nephrologists, and surgeons. (ays Charlie@s $i e, Cyndii, BAt that point $e !ne$ he $as close to death.B Airst, they used a balloon catheter to enlarge the intestines to their normal siIe. &hen they inserted a eeding tube and a $aste drainage tube. &he physicians hoped Charlie $ould become strong enough or another surgery. &hey !ne$ they could not do it immediately, or he $ould not survive. (aid an attending physician, BWe hoped to do the ne"t surgery in a couple o months i humanly possible.B
'8
their home in south &ulsa. Instead o $eighing his usual 553 pounds, Charlie no$ $eighed only 124 pounds. BI $as e"tremely $ea!,B he recalls. BI couldn@t raise my arm above my shoulder. It $as almost impossible to comb my hair.B At home, Charlie $as hoo!ed to an I. or i teen to eighteen hours a day. BI $as than! ul that during the last operation they had hoo!ed up a eeding tube to my intestine and placed a gastric tube in my stomach. &he bloc!age $as bet$een the t$o.B -c7ain doubts that the doctors paid much attention $hen he said, B+et me home, and I@ll be healed.B 1ut Charlie believed that $as about to happen.
Chapter .
%o /elie in (ight
B&hey said the problem $as in my head, but I !ne$ it $as in my arm,B says (arah *napp, a licensed practical nurse rom ,ohnston City, a small community in southern Illinois. )very day, as part o her Gob, (arah li ted heavy people and pulled heavy e#uipment. &hen one day she told her husband, Donald, that she $as beginning to eel unusual pains in her shoulder and arms. &he pains got progressively $orse. BI remember the time I $as helping li t a patient in bed $hen my hand started s$elling,B she says. It too! nearly nine months or doctors to determine $hat $as $rong. (he $as diagnosed $ith thoracic outlet syndrome, a condition in $hich the nerves going out o the arm soc!ets are pinched by the bones and ribs. It causes severe pain and a Bpins and needlesB eeling in the ingers. 0ne@s grip becomes $ea!, and other hand movements are a ected. (he $as told that the maGor cause o the disease $as the repetitive nature o her $or!.
(5
shoulder blade. 0ne side o my chest $as s$ollen nearly hal again as big as my other side. I couldn@t lie on my bac!, or on my right side.B (arah $as not able to hold a or! to eat. (he $as not able to sha!e hands. At the ,e$ish 6ospital in 7ouisville, *entuc!y, (arah had surgery or the problem. &he surgeons removed her top rib, removed muscle rom her nec!, and per ormed a nerve release on her arm. &he surgery did not relieve her condition. B&he pain !ept getting $orse, and I continued to lose strength in my arm. &he muscle in my right arm $as deteriorating, and my hand began to curl up and lose its use ulness,B she says. B&he doctor told me I $ould probably never get better.B A ter (arah returned home rom the hospital, she elt more pain and increased numbness in her arm. BDay a ter day I $ould sit and hold my arm and cry.B (arah $ondered, BWill I have to spend the rest o my li e in this conditionE (urely, there must be an ans$er.B
Chapter 8
&imothy -ichael -ercer $as not supposed to live. 6e $as born on ,uly 11, 1994, our $ee!s premature at Alorida 6ospital. Doctors diagnosed his condition as Bhypoplastic lungs $ith persistent pulmonary vascular hypertension.B &imothy@s medical chart listed several additional problemsF bilateral pneumothora" =a condition in $hich air lea!s into a space bet$een the lining o the lungs and the chest $all>, bilateral hydronephrosis =the !idney becomes distended $ith urine due to a bloc!age or narro$ing o the tubes that carry urine rom the !idneys to the bladder>, and distended urinary bladder.
(2
When he $as born, they $ere so small that the L ray $ould not pic! them up. 1ecause o an e"tremely high mortality rate in in ants $ith hypoplastic lungs, not to mention all o his other complications, the doctors had virtually no hope or his recovery.
A ,ossi-%e So%ution
When a doctor rom another hospital became a$are o &imothy@s condition, he suggested that &imothy be ta!en to Arnold Palmer 6ospital and placed on a machine called )C-0 =)"tra Corporeal -embrane 0"ygenation>. It is essentially a heart and lung bypass machine, very similar to those used in heart bypass surgery. &he amily members decided to move him, but his condition $as not stable enough or the trans er. Doctors placed &imothy on a respirator in an attempt to e"pand his lungs. 6o$ever, the respirator $as set too high or his little body and his lungs su ered urther damage. Within a short time, ho$ever, the trans er $as made. When &imothy arrived at Arnold Palmer 6ospital, a baby had Gust been ta!en o the machine that &imothy needed ma!ing it possible or him to be evaluated. &he amily listened as the doctor listed several criteria the baby must meet to be placed on the machine. &he physician told them, BWe $ill let you !no$ in a couple o hours.B &imothy met only one o the criteria, but the doctors decided to try the machine any$ay. At 14F44 p.m. Ann -ercer $as standing beside her grandson@s bed. B(uddenly his heart stopped, and he #uit breathing,B she recalls. BI $as hurried out o the room.B Immediately, they began CP/. &hey $ere able to resuscitate him. &imothy $as stabiliIed and put on
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the machine. &he doctor told the amily that blood thinners $ere used on babies on )C-0, and i the brain, !idneys, or lungs started to bleed, he $ould have to suspend treatment. 6e also said that &imothy could only be on the machine or t$enty9 one days ma"imum. When &imothy $as on the )C-0 unit, there $ere t$o large tubes that came out o his Gugular vein. &he blood $as brought out o his body into an arti icial !idney, up through an arti icial heart, through an arti icial lung, bac! do$n to a $arming process, and bac! into his body. It did the $or! o his lungs. )very day, it seemed a ne$ and more challenging problem developed. 0n day ive &imothy e"perienced a level one brain bleed. 6e survived that complication. 6o$ever, the amily $as given no hope or &imothy@s survival or $ell9being unless his lungs gre$.
((
condition. At the end o 0ctober 1994, &imothy $as in the hospital again. &his time the doctors $ere going to return him to the respirator. In %ovember 1994, ollo$ing release rom the hospital, one o the doctors told his mother, B&a!e &imothy home and enGoy him as long as you can. I he goes into respiratory ailure again, I doubt that his lungs are strong enough or him to pull through.B At that moment they had no idea $hat $ould happen to &imothy in the ne"t e$ days. It $ould orever re$rite the medical history o his li e.
Chapter /
In %ovember 1932, she $ent to the doctor because o an eye in ection. As part o her e"am he did a routine electrocardiogram =)*+> and $hat it revealed $as startling. BI don@t li!e $hat I see,B said the doctor. BIt loo!s as though you have had a silent heart attac!.B Doreen, $ho lives in Willo$dale, a suburb o &oronto, 0ntario, couldn@t believe the report. BIt $as a shoc! or me because I had rarely had a sic! day in my entire li e,B she says.
A "a'i%y Trait
6er irst thought $as that she had been misdiagnosed. BI remembered that the machine had stopped once. &hey had to reload it and paste the pages bac! together,B she recalls. Doreen had once been a medical lab technician and !ne$ that mista!es could be made. BActually, I too! the ne$s very lightly,B recalls Doreen. BI even had a stress test, and it did not sho$ anything unusual.B A ter the original )*+, her doctor gave her a
:<
()
prescription that he $anted her to continue to ta!e. (he told him, BWhy should I spend my money or medication $hen I@m not sic!EB 6er physician, ho$ever, believed she should have additional tests. In December 1932, she had an angiogram, a procedure that enables blood vessels to be seen on ilm a ter the vessels have been illed $ith a substance that is opa#ue to L rays. &he angiogram sho$ed that Doreen had coronary artery disease. BAgain, my reaction $as one o unbelie , but it should not have been,B says Doreen. BI came rom a amily $ith a history o heart disease on both sides. &he average age o death $as i ty9eight.B (he had Gust celebrated her i tieth birthday. Coronary artery disease a licts the arteries that supply blood =and thus o"ygen and ood> to the heart muscle itsel . &he disease =atherosclerosis> causes the arteries to become laden $ith atty deposits, harden, and become partially obstructed. &his reduces the amount o blood that reaches the heart muscle and can lead to chest pain called angina pectoris, or $orse, a heart attac! that !ills part o the heart muscle.
A "rightening &12erien e
Doreen and her doctors believed she could live $ith the disease. &he physicians prescribed light medication and told Doreen to avoid e"cessive physical activity. &he ne"t month she too! a trip to Israel $ithout incident. In 0ctober 1933, she traveled $ith a group to %e$ Cor! City. B0n that trip my body began to tell me I had a serious problem,B she remembers. BI $as $ith people $ho $ere eighty years old, and I couldn@t !eep up $ith them.B Doreen $as rightened that she $as not going to
(.
ma!e it bac! to &oronto. 0n the $ay home rom the airport she $ent to a medical clinic or an e"am. Within a month she $as rushed rom her Gob to the emergency room o the hospital $ith unstable angina. Doreen spent the ne"t i ty9t$o days in a coronary care unit and in intensive care. &he ne"t year she $as under constant medical supervision. BI $as told I $ould never be able to $or! again,B she says.
"Lord3 )e%23"
&he $aiting list or bypass surgery $as so long the doctors decided to do an angioplasty on t$o o her arteries. Angioplasty is a techni#ue or treating the narro$ing or bloc!age o an artery by introducing a balloon into the constricted area to $iden it. Within three months her doctors had to per orm the same procedure on other bloc!ed arteries. 6er condition became serious enough that in 0ctober 1939, Doreen had a single bypass operation, because the other arteries $ere too small to be bypassed. &he doctors $ent into her leg to ind a small artery to bypass the others, but could not ind a suitable one. Coronary artery bypass gra t surgery is an operation in $hich a section o vein is removed and se$n onto the aorta, the large artery leaving the heart. &he other end o the vein is then attached to a branch o the coronary artery. In e ect, this procedure detours the blood around the damaged or bloc!ed areas o the coronary arteries to increase the blood lo$ to the heart. B&he surgery $as the scariest thing I had ever e"perienced,B says Doreen. BI $o!e up to a machine pumping my heart, and I $as hardly able to spea! or thin!. I tried to pray but could not seem to say more than one $ord at a time. I said, @7ord8 6elp8@B
(8
A Deteriorating Situation
&he ne"t year Doreen $as rushed to the hospital $ith severe breathing di iculties. BI $as al$ays short o breath and ound it getting more and more di icult to shop or Gust one small bag o groceries,B she said. When the cardiograms sho$ed a lac! o o"ygen in the bypassed areas her doctors ordered a &hallium (tress &est. In this procedure, radioactive metallic elements reveal areas o heart muscle that have poor blood supply or that have been damaged. 6er condition seemed to stabiliIe, but in -ay 1995, Doreen had to call 911 and $as again rushed by ambulance to the hospital. &ests sho$ed that her heart condition had deteriorated. &he doctor@s report statesF B-rs. -addeau" has serious coronary artery disease. 'n ortunately she has not done particularly $ell $ith bypass surgery and $ith angioplasty. Certainly her problem at this moment could not be solved by angioplasty, and she $ould re#uire bypass.B 6e also $rote, B(he had a very bad stress test suggesting a limited e"ercise tolerance and o course this is happening in her day to day li e.B (he had only one narro$ artery being supplied by small collateral arteries eeding the heart. Another cardiac surgery seemed to be the only hope, but the doctor le t that decision to her. Doreen dreaded the thought o another operation, but she didn@t !no$ $hat else to do. BI $as turned do$n by t$o e"cellent surgeons,B she says, Bbecause they didn@t $ant to ta!e the ris!.B (he inally sa$ a surgeon $ho believed the surgery could be accomplished, but he told her, BWe cannot guarantee ho$ long it $ill stay e ective.B In ,uly 1995, she $as again ta!en to the emergency room because o a lac! o o"ygen. BI lost
(/
my ability to spea!,B says Doreen. 6er cardiogram sho$ed trouble. (he $as put on morphine and nitro drip and sent to the coronary care unit. B&he doctor begged me to consent to the operation right a$ay, but I said, @%o.@B
45
6e said, B&al! to +od here.B (he responded, BI can@t. I@ve got to get out.B Doreen -addeau" couldn@t possibly tell him $hat she $as about to do.
Chapter 15
14
BIt@s all right,B the teacher said. B,ust ta!e your time.B &he little boy standing in ront o the class $as having a horrible time reading a story to his classmates. B&he h9h9house $as p9p9painted $hite,B he read rom his schoolboo!. 6e su ered rom a stuttering problem that $ould lare up $hen there $as the slightest amount o tension or pressure. And standing be ore his classmates $as humiliating. A ter school, the children $ould moc! and taunt him until he $anted to run and hide. &hat boy $as me.
A ,ainfu% &12erien e
I $as born and raised in the historic -editerranean city o ,a a, Israel. -y parents $ere o +ree! and Armenian ancestry, and I $as taught by mon!s and nuns in Catholic schools. At the age o ive or si" it $as apparent to me, and to those around me, that I had a serious problem. When I $as calm, or $ith a riend I !ne$
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42
very $ell, I could spea! or a period o several minutes $ithout stammering. &hen, $hen ear or tension came, the condition $ould be triggered again. &he stuttering $as especially pronounced $hen I $as in the presence o an authority igure or in a public place. 'sually, I $ould stutter over one or t$o $ords. 1ut there $ere times $hen it seemed to ta!e me orever to say a complete sentence. As a young boy, $hen people $ould come to see my ather, I $ould hide under a table or under the bed so people $ould not ma!e un o me. I couldn@t bear the thought o having them laugh at me because o my impediment. In school, as the years $ent by, I rarely ever volunteered to ans$er a #uestion. When I $as re#uired to ma!e an oral presentation, it $as a pain ul e"perience. It $as especially di icult during e"am times. I remember ho$ the teachers $ould threaten the students $ith punishment i they laughed at me $hen I spo!e. I got through it, and so did my classmates. 1ut a ter class one or t$o o them $ould pass by and moc! me, pretending to stutter. &he children didn@t !no$ ho$ deeply they $ere hurting me. I@m sure they did not mean any harm. At times I elt so angry I $ished I could retaliate. -y teachers, especially the nuns, $ere supportive and understanding. 0ne day some o the sisters placed their ingers on my ears, thin!ing that i I didn@t hear any e"ternal noise I might be able to spea! $ithout stuttering. I it helped at all, it didn@t last long. &he most devastating aspect o stuttering $as $hat it did to my sel 9image. &o me, it $as as crippling as a physical problem. I could almost eel my personality being destroyed.
4'
"!es. Sir3"
As a child, or even as a teenager, there $as never a time $hen I could sit do$n and have a conversation $ith my ather. People $ho have been raised in a -iddle )astern amily $ill understand $hat I am saying. 6e $as the ultimate authority igure in my li e. Aather $ould say BDo this8B or BDon@t do that8B I $ould only say, BCes, sir8B or B%o, sir8B When I needed to approach my ather about something, I became roIen $ith ear. 6e $ould usually say something li!e, B(pea! it out, son.B 6e $as not the type o person $ho $ould as!, BWhat happened in school todayEB or B&ell me $hat you have been doing.B
(ha'3 It )it Me
In 19;3, one year a ter Israel@s (i" Day War, our amily emigrated to &oronto, Canada. As a teenager at +eorges .anier (econdary (chool, my stuttering continued. &hen in Aebruary 1925 my li e $as trans ormed by an encounter $ith Christ at a morning prayer meeting conducted by students at the school. 7ater that day I opened the pages o a big blac! 1ible that had not been used in our home or years. A ter reading the +ospels nonstop or several hours I ound mysel saying out loud, B,esus, come into my heart. Please, 7ord ,esus, come into my heart.B I than! +od 6e did. 7ater that $ee! I $ent $ith my ne$ ound Christian riends to their church. It $asn@t a typical church. &he people $ho attended $ere an e"uberant throng o Christians $ho met every &hursday in (t. Paul@s Cathedral, an Anglican church in do$nto$n &oronto.
4(
As a teenager, I ound clever $ays to disguise the act that I stuttered. (ometimes I tried to use mind over matter. I had discovered that i I didn@t d$ell on my problem I could spea! #uite a $hile $ithout stuttering. 1ut $hen the stammering hit me, it $as out o my control. I did everything possible to avoid conversing $ith people $ho might cause this nervous reaction. Public spea!ing, o course, $as out o the #uestion. As a ne$ Christian I became totally involved in the services. I even Goined the large singing group on the plat orm. When you sing, you don@t stutter. 0ne night, the pastor@s $i e, as!ed me to ta!e part in the service. B1enny,B she said, BI@d li!e you to read the t$enty9 irst chapter o /evelation.B (he had no idea that I had a severe stuttering problem. &here $ere more than t$o thousand people in the service that night. I $anted to say B%o,B but didn@t $ant to disappoint her. -y eyes closed and I thought, B0h, dear +od, I am going to get up there and ma!e a ool out o mysel .B &hat evening I $al!ed to the microphone and began to read aloud. A ter about t$o or three lines, BWham8B It hit me. &ears began to ill my eyes, and I $as paralyIed $ith panic. )verything seemed to all apart. Aortunately or me this $as a very sensitive $oman and she recogniIed my plight. (he #uic!ly began leading the audience in singing rather than let me stand there any longer. I $al!ed bac! to my seat totally humiliated. &hey didn@t as! me to read (cripture again. During those days I attended a 1ible study that met every (aturday morning. &here $ere about t$enty o us $ho attended. As part o the teaching, the group leader $ould start on one side o the room
44
and as! each student to read a verse or t$o o (cripture. &hen he $ould comment on it, and move to the ne"t person in the circle. ,ust about the time it $as my turn to read, I $ould #uietly get up and go to the restroom. Wee! a ter $ee!, or nearly a year I used the same routine. I $ould $ait outside the door o the classroom until I !ne$ my turn had passed. &hen I@d return to the group. Ainally, the teacher too! me aside and tal!ed $ith me. I could tell he $as a little upset. 6e said, B7oo! 1enny, this is a class. Cou@re al$ays going to the bathroom at the same time.B 6e said, B%obody cares about your stuttering.B 6e !ne$ $hat I $as doing. &hey all !ne$.
4)
192:, I could no longer avoid the subGect. I said to the 7ord, BI $ill preach the gospel on one conditionF that Cou $ill be $ith me in every service.B And then I reminded 6im, B7ord, Cou !no$ that I can@t tal!.B I $orried constantly about my speech problem and the act that I $as going to be an embarrassment. &hen one a ternoon, the irst $ee! o December, I $as visiting the home o some riends. It $as the irst time I elt led to tell anyone the ull story about my encounters $ith the 6oly (pirit. (ince these people $ere my riends, and I $as totally rela"ed, there $as little trace o my stuttering. )ven be ore I had inished, one o them said, B1enny, tonight you must come to our church and share this.B &hey had a ello$ship o about a hundred people $ho met in a local church. &hat night I $as introduced to the group, and or the irst time in my li e I stood behind a pulpit to preach. &he instant I opened my mouth, I elt something touch my tongue and loosen it. I began to proclaim +od@s Word $ith absolute luency. &$o o my riends $ho !ne$ o my stuttering problems $ere at the service. A ter church they both said to me, BWe couldn@t believe ho$ $ell you tal!ed. Cou didn@t even stutter once.B I !ne$ $hat they meant. 7ater that night in my room I thought, B&he stuttering must have le t because the presence o the 7ord $as on me tonight. (urely it $ill come bac!.B 1ut it didn@t. Arom that moment the stuttering $as gone. All o it.
4.
practically diso$ned me $hen I gave my heart to the 7ord almost three years earlier. )ven my brothers and sisters $ere orbidden to tal! to me. -y mother $as the only person I had limited conversation $ith, but I rarely stuttered in her presence any$ay. Arom the moment I irst began to preach I started to receive invitations to minister. Wee! a ter $ee! I $as spea!ing at churches and special meetings. I my parents had !no$n $hat $as happening, I@m sure they $ould have thro$n me out on the street. (everal months later, in April 192<, my mother and ather someho$ sa$ an advertisement in the %oronto 8tar that I $as preaching in a Pentecostal church on the $est side o to$n. I $as sitting on the plat orm that (unday night $hen suddenly I loo!ed up during the song service. I could hardly believe my eyes. &here $ere my mother and ather being ushered to a seat. I thought, B&his is it. I@m going to die.B &hat night I preached under the po$er o +od@s anointing, but I couldn@t bring mysel to loo! in the direction o my mom and dad. ,ust be ore the end o the service they stood up and $al!ed out the bac! door. I drove around the city until t$o in the morning, hoping my parents $ould be in bed $hen I got home. As I #uietly unloc!ed and opened the ront door, I $as startled to see my mother and ather seated on the couch in ront o me. I $as stric!en $ith ear and loo!ed or a place to sit do$n. -y ather $as the irst to spea!. B(on,B he said, Bho$ can $e become li!e youEB -y mother began to cry. And or the ne"t t$o hours I shared the plan o salvation $ith them and $as able to lead my parents to Christ. -y daddy said, B1enny, do you !no$ $hat
48
convinced meEB 6e told me that $hen I began preaching, he turned to my mother and said, B&hat@s not your son. Cour son can@t tal!8 6is +od must be real.B 6e didn@t !no$ that I had been totally healed o stuttering.
Part %9o
Part &$oF
Chapter 11
11
Arom the moment I $as healed o stuttering, +od gave me an un#uenchable appetite or the Word. I had a hunger to !no$ everything possible about the 7ord@s miracle po$er. Day a ter day, night a ter night, I devoured (cripture. &he more I read, the more I realiIed that +od did not intend or 6is children to live $ith in irmities. 6e $anted them restored, made $hole. &he day came that I prayed, B7ord, Gust as Cou healed me, I give Cou my li e so that others may !no$ Cour salvation, Cour (pirit, Cour anointing, and Cour miracle9$or!ing po$er.B Did I have #uestionsE Ces. &here $as much I needed the 7ord to reveal through 6is Word.
6o$ did disease irst enter the $orldE What is the relationship bet$een sin and sic!nessE Is it +od@s $ill or us to be healedE What happened on the cross or healingE What is the role o healingE the blood o Christ in
Why did Christ@s body need to be bro!enE Can a person lose his miracleE
;1
)2
Is orgiveness re#uired or healingE What is the relationship bet$een our soul and our healthE Does the 7ord have any conditions miracleE or a
What is the connection bet$een healing and $orshipE What is the role o aithE What does the Word say about !eeping our healingE
&he story o creation leaves no doubt that +od ormed a beauti ul $orld that $as ree o sic!ness and disease?even death. %hen $od sa9 e#er&thin7 that 3e had +ade, and indeed it 9as #er& 7ood =+en. 1F31>. 6o$ did sin enter the $orldE (cripture ma!es it clear that $hen +od created Adam he $as not a sic! man, but $as ull o health and li e. 1ut because Adam sinned every man and $oman is a parta!er in that original sin. Adam@s actions brought both sic!ness and death to the human amily. %here6ore, :"st as thro"7h one +an sin entered the 9orld, and death thro"7h sin, and th"s death spread to all +en, 0eca"se all sinned =/om. <F15>. (in brought sic!ness and death. And since that moment o Adam@s transgression there has been a penalty associated $ith man@s ailure to obey +od. Israel, or e"ample, su ered sic!ness because o their sins. +od said through the prophet -icah, %here6ore I 9ill also +a-e &o" sic- 0& stri-in7 &o", 0& +a-in7 &o" desolate 0eca"se o6 &o"r sins =-ic. ;F13>.
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salvation. 1ut $hat happened at Calvary $as even +ore; As $e $ill discover, Christ not only brought redemption but provided or our healing. Cou may as!, B(ince sic!ness came to the earth through Adam, doesn@t that mean that every person must e"perience illnessEB %ot at all. (ic!ness may be all around us, but it is not +od@s $ill or 6is people to live in sic!ness. &he Cross made provision or both our salvation and our healing. ,esus shed 6is blood or our sin, but 6is body $as bro!en or our sic!nesses. &he prophecies o the 0ld &estament $hat Christ $ould endure or our healing. oretold
Who has 0elie#ed o"r report2 ,nd to 9ho+ has the ar+ o6 the Lord 0een re#ealed2 For 3e shall 7ro9 "p 0e6ore 3i+ as a tender plant, ,nd as a root o"t o6 dr& 7ro"nd; 3e has no 6or+ or co+eliness< ,nd 9hen 9e see 3i+, %here is no 0ea"t& that 9e sho"ld desire 3i+; Isa; 4'=1>2
,esus, the Barm o the 7ord,B $as to come out o a spiritually dead Israel?as a Broot out o dry ground.B 1e ore the cruci i"ion the 7ord $as $hipped and beaten. As $as prophesied in Isaiah <4F;, 6is beard $as torn rom 6is ace. 6is orm $as so dis igured and 6is ace so distorted the people could not recogniIe 6im. Psalm 159F3 goes on to say, %he plo9ers plo9ed on +& 0ac-< %he& +ade their 6"rro9s lon7; (o $e can see rom this description ho$ badly our 7ord $as beaten. &hat is $hy -ary -agdalene did not !no$ 6im in the +arden. &he last time she sa$ 6im 6e had been beaten so badly she could not believe it $as the same person. &he prophet $roteF
3e is despised and re:ected 0& +en, , +an o6 sorro9s and ac?"ainted 9ith 7rie6; ,nd 9e hid, as it 9ere, o"r 6aces 6ro+ 3i+< 3e 9as despised, and 9e
)(
Lord, I Need a Miracle did not estee+ 3i+; 8"rel& 3e has 0orne o"r 7rie6s ,nd carried o"r sorro9s< !et 9e estee+ed 3i+ stric-en, 8+itten 0& $od, and a66licted; Isa; 4'='>(
-any people ail to comprehend $hat really happened at Calvary. When $e tal! about salvation, $e cannot ignore that +od also provided or our healing. &he great ransom that $as both prophesied and ul illed $as or more than spiritual salvation. (cripture tells us in ,ob 33F5: KJVF
%hen 3e is 7racio"s "nto hi+, and saith, 'Deli#er hi+ 6ro+ 7oin7 do9n to the pit< I ha#e 6o"nd a ranso+'
(o, +od sent 6is (on to be a ransom and to deliver us rom the pit o sin. 1ut there@s more8 7oo! at ,ob 33F5< KJV $here $e are also promised healing through the same ransomF
3is 6lesh shall 0e 6resher than a child's= 3e shall ret"rn to the da&s o6 his &o"th;
)4
righteous li e. When ,esus healed the man at the pool o 1ethesda $ho had an in irmity or thirty9eight years, ,6ter9ard @es"s 6o"nd hi+ in the te+ple, and said to hi+, '8ee, &o" ha#e 0een +ade 9ell; 8in no +ore, lest a 9orse thin7 co+e "pon &o"' =,ohn <F1:>. Cou may say, BPlease 7ord, I desperately need a miracle8B 1ut are you prepared to live according to 6is WordE When Christ heals you, 6e as!s that you $al! uprightly. (hould $e e"pect to remain healed i $e continue in our sinE I recall the story o a $oman in 7os Angeles $ho $as healed o dea ness. +od opened her ears in a healing service conducted by Aimee (emple -cPherson during the earlier part o this century. (everal $ee!s later the dea ness returned and the $oman came bac! to one o the evangelist@s meetings. &hrough a riend she as!ed, BWhy is it that I only heard or a e$ $ee!sEB Aimee as!ed the person $ho $as $ith her, BWell, $hat did she do a ter she $as healedEB B0h, she ans$ered. $ent bac! to $or!,B the riend
BWhere does she $or!EB the evangelist $anted to !no$. B(he is a barmaid in a local tavern,B $as the reply. (aid Aimee, BDo you thin! +od opened her ears to go bac! and listen to ilth againEB We should never orget that a ter Christ met the $oman caught in adultery, 6e told her, $o and sin no +ore =,ohn 3F11>.
(ho Is to B%a'e*
))
When $e say that sic!ness came into the $orld because o Adam@s all, $e should also realiIe that not all illness is the result o sin. I have met many people $ho became sic! because o their oolishness?and blatant disregard or the basic la$s o health. &hey $ere ill, not because they had sinned, but because they did not treat their bodies properly. &his is true o Christians and sinners ali!e. Cour physician, or e"ample, may tell you to avoid atty oods because your arteries are being clogged. I you ail to heed the $arning, don@t blame (atan or causing a heart attac!. 1y the same measure, a person $ho !no$s that smo!ing causes lung cancer should not be smo!ing three pac!s a day. It has al$ays seemed rather presumptuous to me that people e"pect +od to heal them $hen their o$n disobedience $as the cause o their problem.
,rere4uisites to )ea%ing
I am al$ays thrilled to read aith9building (criptures that tal! about our healing. 1ut many people ail to recogniIe that there are prere?"isites to healing. In other $ords, the 7ord $ill do 6is part $hen $e do ours. 6o$ can $e become ready to receive a miracleE 6ere@s $hat the Word says.
1less the LORD, O +& so"l< ,nd all that is 9ithin +e, 0less 3is hol& na+eA 1less the LORD, O +& so"l, ,nd 6or7et not all 3is 0ene6its= Who 6or7i#es all &o"r ini?"ities, Who heals all &o"r diseases;;;; Ps; 15'=1>'
%he 8tart o6 !o"r Miracle Who redee+s &o"r li6e 6ro+ destr"ction, Who cro9ns &o" 9ith lo#in7 -indness and tender +ercies, Who satis6ies &o"r +o"th 9ith 7ood thin7s, 8o that &o"r &o"th is rene9ed li-e the ea7le's; %he LORD eBec"tes ri7hteo"sness ,nd :"stice 6or all 9ho are oppressed; Ps; 15'=(>)
).
When does your miracle startE When you begin to 0less the Lord rom the depths o your soul? rom all that is $ithin you. It is understandable that $hen $e are in the midst o a personal crisis, $e can only thin! about crying out or help. (ome people call on the 7ord as i they $ere dialing B911B in an emergency. &hey approach the 7ord by ocusing on their problem. B0h 7ord,B they say, BI !no$ I am not $orthy, but I desperately need you no$.B Instead, $e need to spend time praising and $orshiping +od or $ho 6e is. We should be saying, B&han! Cou 7ord or shedding Cour blood on the cross. &han! Cou 7ord or redeeming my li e rom destruction. I praise Cou or Cour healing po$er.B A ter blessing 6im, (cripture tells us to 6or7et not all 3is 0ene6its =v. 5>. 7oo!, there are seven bene its remember8 We serve a +od $hoF 1. Aorgives our ini#uities =v. 3> 5. 6eals our diseases =v. 3> 3. /edeems our li e rom destruction =v. :> :. Cro$ns our li e $ith loving !indness and tender mercies =v. :> <. (atis ies our mouth $ith good things =v. <> ;. /ene$s our youth li!e the eagle@s =v. <> 2. De ends us =v. ;> $e are to
)8
As the Word ma!es so obvious, the bene its not only deal $ith our salvation, but $ith our health. And $e are told to remember all o them. When people orget $hat +od has done, they limit 6is blessing. &he children o Israel learned that lesson.
!es, a7ain and a7ain the& te+pted $od, ,nd li+ited the 3ol& One o6 Israel; %he& did not re+e+0er 3is po9er= %he da& 9hen 3e redee+ed the+ 6ro+ the ene+&; Ps; .8=(1>(2
Don@t let another moment pass $ithout pausing to bless the 7ord and to remember 6is bene its.
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6aith co+es 0& hearin7, and hearin7 0& the 9ord o6 $od =/om. 14F12>. 8econd= When &o" see- 6or a +iracle, as- in 6aith; We need to remove the Bi B rom our prayer. &he Word saysF
1"t let hi+ as- in 6aith, 9ith no do"0tin7, 6or he 9ho do"0ts is li-e a 9a#e o6 the sea dri#en and tossed 0& the 9ind; For let not that +an s"ppose that he 9ill recei#e an&thin7 6ro+ the Lord; @a+es 1=)>.
I you $aiver, don@t e"pect to receive much rom the 7ord. Instead, as! in aith !no$ing it is 6is per ect $ill to heal you. %hird= %"rn &o"r 6aith loose; -any times $hen I@m ministering I can actually see people@s aith. I can see it in their eyes?they are about to ta!e some action to release their aith. 0ne night at a crusade I $as in the middle o the message $hen suddenly my attention $as dra$n to a young man seated in the ront ro$. 6e had a brace on his leg and a crutch leaning on his chair. 1ut I could see a man $hose aith $as so alive that his countenance seemed to be bubbling. I stopped my message and said, B(ir, I $ant you to stand up in the name o the 7ord ,esus.B %ot only did he stand, he tore o the brace and began to run around the ront o the auditorium. &he moment he heard the $ords Bstand up,B he turned his aith loose. &hat@s e"actly ho$ it happened in %e$ &estament times. 0nce $hen the apostle Paul $as preaching in 7ystra, there $as a man present $ho $as a cripple 6ro+ his +other's 9o+0, 9ho had ne#er 9al-ed =Acts 1:F3>.
.5
Do you recall the story o the ten lepers $ho met ,esus as 6e $as traveling through their small villageE (tanding at a distance, they li6ted "p their #oices and said, '@es"s, Master, ha#e +erc& on "sA' =7u!e 12F13>. When the 7ord ,esus sa$ them, 6e said, ' $o, sho9 &o"rsel#es to the priests;' ,nd so it 9as that as the& 9ent, the& 9ere cleansed =v. 1:>. When $ere they cleansedE As they 9ent; &hey turned their aith loose. I I $ere to as! you to tell me your greatest need, $hat $ould it beE Whatever the problem, it is vital that you come to the 7ord $ith praise, $ith than!sgiving, and $ith aith that is alive. It@s the start o your miracle.
Chapter 12
15
As a minister o the gospel $ho ta!es +od at 6is Word, I have spo!en $ords o aith and healing hundreds o times. Arom ($eden to (ingapore, rom 1ogota to 1altimore, I have seen people in pain and despair receive miracles rom the 7ord. Instantly, they $ere healed as they believed. I believe it is not only +od@s $ill or you to be healed, but it is 6is $ill that you live in health until 6e calls you home =see ,ob <F5;>. I you are loo!ing or a boo! to help you rationaliIe and Gusti y your in irmities, this volume is not or you. I am not one $ho prays, BI it be your $ill, 7ord, grant healing to this person.B It is 6is $ill8 Cou $ill never hear me pray such aith9destroying $ords as BI it be Cour $ill, 7ord, heal them.B +od intends or you to rise and be healed. &oday. &omorro$. Al$ays8 What the 7ord desires or you has not changed rom the time 6e held the greatest Bmiracle serviceB recorded in the 0ld Covenant. When +od called 6is people, Israel, out o )gypt, they $ere sic! and a licted $ith in irmities. &hey $ere slaves $ho $ere undernourished and had been cruelly treated. 1ut $hen +od visited 6is people, something marvelous happened. 6e brought them out o bondage and instantly, there 9as not one 6ee0le person a+on7 their tri0es
21
.2
=Ps. 14<F32 KJV>. I believe this verse clearly states that +od@s people $ere healed by one touch o 6is mighty hand at that moment. +od has not changed. -illions today are leaving their bondage and sin to ind ne$ li e $ith Christ. +od $ants 6is children not only to come out o dar!ness, but also to come out o sic-ness; When +od delivered the children o Israel rom )gypt, they $ere a healed people. And something more. &he irst covenant +od made $ith them $as a covenant o healing. A ter the total healing o the multitude, the irst message they heard rom +od as they crossed the /ed (ea $asF "I a+ the LORD 9ho heals &o" =)". 1<F5;>.
&hey came out o )gypt healed8 1ut they began murmuring and complaining about their circumstances. +od gave them a $arning and said that murmuring $ould produce sic!ness. What 6e
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meant $as Bi you $ill not murmur, I $ill not permit sic!ness to come on you,B $hich means the& 9ere alread& healed; &he symbols ound in this story carry an e"citing message. When -oses cried out to the 7ord, +od sho$ed him a tree. I believe it $as because the tree represents the cross. +od commanded him to cast the tree into the $aters and immediately the $ater became s$eet, no longer bitter. In (cripture, $ater sometimes represents people. B($eetnessB spea!s o healing and health. It $as as i +od $as saying, B&a!e the cross =tree>, cast it upon the people =$aters>, and they $ill be healed =made s$eet>.B &oday, $ithout the cross, there can be no healing. 1e ore +od Almighty healed the $aters, 6e sho$ed them the tree. 1e ore $e can receive our healing, $e must loo! at the cross. Did sic!ness ever return to the IsraelitesE Ces. 1ut it $as not +od $ho sent it. (ic!ness $as caused by their sin. In %umbers 51, the 1ible says that $hen they turned their bac!s on righteousness, they $ere bitten by serpents. &he story o the Cross contains great symbolism. I believe +od sent 6is (on to Calvary or both the healing o your soul and the healing o your body. As the cro$n o thorns $as placed on 6is head, 6e bled or the healing o your mind and or your thought li e. As 6e $as $hipped, 6is bac! $as torn or your diseases. I 6e bore, or carried a$ay, our sic!ness, $hy should $e attempt to carry $hat has already been placed on 6imE It is gone. 6e has ta!en it a$ay. 0 ten, in (cripture, $hen salvation came to a man or $oman it $as accompanied by healing. Do you remember the 7ord ,esus saying to %icodemus, ,nd as Moses li6ted "p the serpent in the 9ilderness, e#en so +"st the 8on o6 Man 0e li6ted "p =,ohn 3F1:>E 6e $as re erring to an important
.(
story in the 0ld &estament that establishes this principleF When sin enters, 9ith it co+es sic-ness; And something moreF When sin departs, it ta-es sic-ness 9ith it;
When you and I disobey the 7ord, $e can e"pect the serpents to bite =)ccl. 14F3>. What +od $as saying, centuries be ore Calvary, $as that even i you are bitten by the serpent, all you need to do is loo! again to the cross. Airst, in )"odus 1<F53, +od sho$ed him a tree. &he second time in %umbers 51F3 the 7ord told -oses to ma!e a iery serpent and set it upon a pole. %hen the LORD said to Moses, 'Ma-e a 6ier& serpent, and set it on a pole< and it shall 0e that e#er&one 9ho is 0itten, 9hen he loo-s at it, shall li#e;' )ach time, healing came by loo!ing at the cross. Do you $ant to be healedE Do you $ant to !no$ +od@s divine po$er that can give you li e and healthE &urn to Calvary. &he longer I study +od@s Word, the more convinced I am that a Christian should not be sic!. I it is the $ill o +od or me to be sic! then ,esus
.4
too! my sic!nesses in vain. Is it the 7ord@s $ill or me to live in sinE 0 course not. Aor me to say, BIt is +od@s $ill or me to be sic!,B $ould be li!e saying, BIt is +od@s $ill or me to live in sin.B 1ut that@s not 6is plan. I believe 6is per ect $ill or me is health and healing or the rest o my days Gust as I am con ident 6e $ants me to $al! righteously. %o$, do I al$ays $al! righteouslyE %o, I ma!e mista!es, repent and 6e orgives me. Do I enGoy complete and per ect healthE %o, I get sic!, go to the 7ord as!ing or 6is healing touch and 6e heals me.
Again, $hen the 7ord orgives sin, 6e al$ays includes healing. &hat is $hy ,ames said,
Is an&one a+on7 &o" sic-2 Let hi+ call 6or the elders o6 the ch"rch, and let the+ pra& o#er hi+, anointin7 hi+ 9ith oil in the na+e o6 the Lord; ,nd
.)
Lord, I Need a Miracle the pra&er o6 6aith 9ill sa#e the sic-, and the Lord 9ill raise hi+ "p; ,nd i6 he has co++itted sins, he 9ill 0e 6or7i#en; @a+es 4=1(>14
It is simultaneous. ,ust one touch, one breath, rom the 7ord is all you need. $od sa#es and 3e heals; $od 6or7i#es and 3e heals; We need to personaliIe the $ords o the psalmist and repeat them again and againF B6e orgives all my ini#uitiesH 6e heals all my diseases.B 6e promised that the inha0itant 9ill not sa&, 'I a+ sic-'< the people 9ho d9ell in it 9ill 0e 6or7i#en their ini?"it& =Isa. 33F5:>. And 6e does not intend or the problem to return. +od has also promised that 6e $ill actually remove sic!ness rom our presence. 8o &o" shall ser#e the Lord &o"r $od, and 3e 9ill 0less &o"r 0read and &o"r 9ater; ,nd I 9ill ta-e sic-ness a9a& 6ro+ the +idst o6 &o" =)". 53F5<>.
M& son, 7i#e attention to +& 9ords;;;; For the& are li6e to those 9ho 6ind the+, ,nd health to all their 6lesh; Pro#; (=25,22
(cripture clearly teaches that your body belongs to +od, and it $as designed to glori y 6im. For &o" 9ere 0o"7ht at a price< there6ore 7lori6& $od in &o"r 0od& and in &o"r spirit, 9hich are $od's =1 Cor. ;F54>. 6e $ants to ma!e you $hole in every $ay. 7et me as! againF Is it the $ill o +od that you $al! in healthE &hat@s $hat the man $ith leprosy $anted to !no$.
,nd there ca+e a leper to hi+, 0eseechin7 hi+, and -neelin7 do9n to hi+, and sa&in7 "nto hi+, FI6 tho" 9ilt, tho" canst +a-e +e clean;G ,nd @es"s, +o#ed 9ith co+passion, p"t 6orth his hand, and to"ched hi+, and saith "nto hi+, FI 9ill< 0e tho" clean;G Mar- 1=(5>(1 *@I
..
Chapter 1'
13
Wouldn@t it be $onder ul i $e could build a barricade that $ould shield us rom sic!ness and diseaseE What you are about to discover is that a $all o protection has already been constructed. &he provision has already been made. As a young man in &oronto, I !ne$ I had been converted and called to the ministry. 1ut I had no !no$ledge o $hat I am teaching you no$. Actually, I did not believe it. I thought that to be sic! $as to be saintly, that i you lie in a bed o a liction, +od $ill use you or 6is glory. I soon discovered, ho$ever, that our bodies $ere created to e"alt and honor +od Almighty. For &o" 9ere 0o"7ht at a price< there6ore 7lori6& $od in &o"r 0od& and in &o"r spirit, 9hich are $od's =1 Cor. ;F54>. &his discovery leads me to believe that i the 7ord ,esus $as bruised and bro!en or my healing, then $hy should I carry that burdenE
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message begins to stir $ithin your soul, sic!ness $ill have to lee.
I6 &o" dili7entl& heed the #oice o6 the Lord &o"r $od and do 9hat is ri7ht in 3is si7ht, 7i#e ear to 3is co++and+ents and -eep all 3is stat"tes, I 9ill p"t none o6 the diseases on &o" 9hich I ha#e 0ro"7ht on the E7&ptians; For I a+ the Lord 9ho heals &o"; EB; 14=2)
Aor the irst time in (cripture, +od here introduces 6imsel as our healer, and 6e presents us $ith the our conditions $e must meet to be healed. Condition %umber 0neF 3eed; Cou must Bhear!enB to the voice o the 7ord. In 6ebre$, the $ord means both to Bhear and declare.B Cou must hear it, spea! it, and con ess it. &he importance o this irst step cannot be overloo!ed. Condition %umber &$oF Do; &he 7ord demands that you do $hat is right in 6is sight. &he $ord do in 6ebre$ means Bto ma!e, to become, and to have charge o .B (o, dear riends, the 7ord demands action on our part. And healing begins to happen as $e obey the Word. Condition %umber &hreeF $i#e ear; &he meaning in the original language is Bponder.B +od re#uires
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commitment on your part to meditate upon 6is commandments. Condition %umber AourF *eep; &he 6ebre$ says Bto guard, protect, and preserveB 6is Word. &his is a prere#uisite to healing. What does +od promise as a result o meeting these conditionsE 6e says that 6e $ill heal you. I you hear the Word, con ess it, commit ully to 6is la$s, protect the Word, and ma!e it your o$n, +od says you $ill live in complete health. +od has o ered a covenant o healing, but 6e gives you this $arningF Whoe#er 0rea-s thro"7h a 9all 9ill 0e 0itten 0& a serpent =)ccl. 14F3>. What is +od sayingE A $all spea!s o protection. &he 1ible says i protection is bro!en, a demon $ill bite. What is your protectionE &he Word o the living +od8 Do you $ant +od@s healingE 7et the Word saturate your being. 7et it dominate your heart, your mind, and your emotions. 7ove it, con ess it, and obey it. I the Word becomes your $hole li e, it $ill totally surround you?on the le t and the right, on the ront and the bac!. &he Word $ill be your protection and no serpent can bite you. 1ut i that hedge is bro!en, (atan and his demons $ill stri!e. And sic!ness is one result o that attac!. (cripture declares that 9hoe#er has no r"le o#er his o9n spirit is li-e a cit& 0ro-en do9n, 9itho"t 9alls =Prov. 5<F53>. I you don@t rule your li e $ith the Word, there are no $alls o protection surrounding you.
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evangelists, William 1ranham, a man $ho had prayed or the deliverance o thousands, became sic!. 7ying there $ith a high ever, he cried out, B7ord, $hy am I sic!E I have a meeting tonight and here I am lying on a bed o a liction. 7ord, Cou are using me to bring healing to others. 6o$ embarrassing that I should $al! on the plat orm a sic! man. 6eal me, 7ord8B &he 7ord $ould not ans$er. B6eal me, 7ord8B he said again. (till no ans$er. (uddenly, the 6oly (pirit spo!e and said, B&he Word is health to all your lesh. &he Word is health to all your lesh.B 1ranham began to recite Proverbs :F55, but no$ he personaliIed the $ordsF B&he Word is health to all +& lesh8 &he Word is health to all +& lesh8B &hen he said, B7ord, i the Word is health to all my lesh, I $ill stand on Cour Word that says 'concernin7 the 9or- o6 M& hands, &o" co++and Me' B =Isa. :<F11>. &he 7ord did not say to Bas!,B 6e said Bcommand -e.B And that is $hat 1ranham did. +od promised it and the evangelist commanded 6im to do it. 6e said, B-y +od, I command in the name o ,esus that the Word $ill $or! or me8B And as he began commanding the Word to $or!, he arose rom that bed and claimed his healing. 6e said he still elt sic!, but he re used to pay attention to the symptoms. 6al an hour later the ever had gone, strength had poured into his being, and he $al!ed to the plat orm that night a healthy man.
8'
people2 =,er. 3F55>. &his (cripture contains a marvelous truth that holds a !ey to your healing. ,eremiah as!s, Is there no 0al+ in $ilead2 &he $ord 0al+ in 6ebre$ spea!s o healing. And the $ord $ilead spea!s o $orship. 6e is as!ing, BIs there no healing in $orshipEB 0 course there is. And you need to act upon the !no$ledge that your $orship brings healing. I you con ess the Word and nothing seems to happen, begin to $orship the 7ord +od o heaven. Worship 6im or 6is promises. Worship and say, B,esus, Cou bore my sic!ness. I $ill not bear it. &han! Cou because Cour Word says, @1y Cour stripes I am healed.@B As you begin $orshiping the 7ord, you $ill $atch healing come into your being. What happened at Calvary can even protect you rom pain. In 0ld &estament times, i a person $as sic! he received a pain !iller?myrrh. , 0"ndle o6 +&rrh is +& 0elo#ed to +e, %hat lies all ni7ht 0et9een +& 0reasts =(ong 1F13>. When Christ $as on the cross, 6e $as o ered myrrh. %hen the& 7a#e 3i+ 9ine +in7led 9ith +&rrh to drin-, 0"t 3e did not ta-e it =-ar! 1<F53>. It $as customary to give such a drin! to a person being cruci ied so that he $ould not eel the pain. Why did the 7ord ,esus re use itE Christ reGected the myrrh because 6e did not $ant to die $ithout pain. 6e $ould die receiving all our anguish and torment. Christ is your Bpain !iller,B the one on $hom you call or assistance in your time o need. 6e $ill lie beside you in your dar!est hour to stop the hurt and bring you healing. &he 7ord is your shelter and your shield. 6e is your $all o protection.
Chapter 1(
1:
A 6arvest o 6ealing
+od@s la$ regarding so$ing and reaping is clear. Cou $ill never celebrate the harvest unless you have care ully planted the seed and cared or the crop. &his also applies to healing. I you so$ seeds o doubt and unbelie , your crop $ill be a ailure. &hat is $hy your mentality must change. +od $ants you to plant $ith aith, hope, and love. In the %e$ &estament $e read that $od anointed @es"s o6 NaHareth 9ith the 3ol& 8pirit and 9ith po9er, 9ho 9ent a0o"t doin7 7ood and healin7 all 9ho 9ere oppressed 0& the de#il, 6or $od 9as 9ith 3i+ =Acts 14F33>. Again, the devil in this verse brings sic!ness, not +od. Instead o so$ing seeds o doubt, loo! up to the Aather and say, B+od in heaven, Cou promised that healing is mine i I obey Cou. %o$ 7ord, Cou !no$ that I am not per ect, but the Word says that through Christ I am righteous.B Cou see, the la$ could never be totally obeyed under the 0ld Covenant. It $as impossible. ,esus too! your disobedience and ul illed the la$. Aor that reason, you and I can obey the la$s o +od. &hat is $hy you can pray $ith assurance, BAather, Cour Word says that ,esus too! my pain, my sic!ness, my sorro$s, and my sin. Cour Word says that I am the righteousness o +od, despite my shortcomings, and
3<
8)
, 3ar#est o6 3ealin7
8.
crossed over the line. Cou have entered the area $here +od can begin to do 6is $or!.B (he said, BPastor, you !no$ that I should be dead by no$. -y doctors are amaIed that I am still alive.B I told her, BCou are alive because your aith is alive. Cou are trusting 6im $ith every part o your being. /emember that '6aith is the s"0stance o6 thin7s hoped 6or, the e#idence o6 thin7s not seen;' %o$ give your body a chance to ollo$ and allo$ the healing to be mani est. Don@t give up8 Cour miracle is getting closer every day.B
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6o$ does health comeE Cour healing comes through the Word. 1ut it@s not al$ays automatic. (cripture tells us sometimes $e have to ind it. And ho$ does that happenE &hree $ays. Airst, by being attentive. (econd, by having a stead ast loo!. And third, by !eeping the Word in your heart. Cou $ill ind, or Bcatch,B the Word by having your ears open, your eyes open, and your heart open to it. (cripture does not say you $ill ind healing $ith a little $hisper, or $ith a glance, or $ith a little eeling rom your heart. It ta!es bold, decisive action8 Paul $rote to the church at /ome, Faith co+es 0& hearin7, and hearin7 0& the 9ord o6 $od =/om. 14F12>. 0ne person said it this $ayF Aaith comes by Bhearing and hearing.B In other $ords, $e need to !eep on hearing $hat +od is saying and not rest on $hat $e read or heard yesterday. Cou $ill never absorb the Word into your li e by hearing it once. Cou need to hear, and hear, and hear again. Cou also need to have a stead ast loo!. *eep loo!ing, and loo!ing, and loo!ing. &hen your heart must love it, and love it, and love it. &his is ho$ you $ill ind?and so$?your healing. +od $ants you to sho$ diligence so that &o" do not 0eco+e sl"77ish, 0"t i+itate those 9ho thro"7h 6aith and patience inherit the pro+ises =6eb. ;F15>. When the Word is so$n, it@s time or B aith and patience.B When you plant the seed you have discovered, don@t al$ays e"pect it to bring orth li e in t$enty9 our hours. 6ave both ass"rance and end"rance; %here6ore do not cast a9a& &o"r con6idence, 9hich has 7reat re9ard =6eb. 14F3<>.
, 3ar#est o6 3ealin7
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Continue to $ater your aith $ith the Word and never, never give up. Ces, +od $ants you healed. 1ut remember, it too! a long time or you to become as you are. And it may ta!e time or you to become a totally changed person. &he 7ord cleanses your heart in an instant at salvation, but being trans6or+ed 0& the rene9in7 o6 &o"r +ind can be a longer Gourney. In the same $ay, your healing may ta!e place over a period o time. 6ave you crossed the lineE Are you in a position or +od to per orm a miracle in your li eE Don@t give up on +od. (ome people li!e to pic! a avorite verse rom (cripture and say, BI I@ll Gust use that, +od $ill heal me.B &hey may #uote again and again,
3e 9as 9o"nded 6or o"r trans7ressions, 3e 9as 0r"ised 6or o"r ini?"ities< %he chastise+ent 6or o"r peace 9as "pon 3i+, ,nd 0& 3is stripes 9e are healed; Isa; 4'=4
It is a po$er ul verse, but don@t try to base +od@s healing po$er on Gust one (cripture. +od says the Word must sat"rate you. 0nly then $ill health co+e to &o"r 6lesh; &he Word o +od rom +enesis to /evelation needs to permeate your li e. /emember, you@ve got to hear it and !eep hearing it. (ee it and !eep seeing it. 7ove it and !eep loving it. &he Word has the po$er to bring the healing or $hich you have prayed so long. &he Word $or!s $onders. Paul said,
When &o" recei#ed the 9ord o6 $od 9hich &o" heard 6ro+ "s, &o" 9elco+ed it not as the 9ord o6 +en, 0"t as it is in tr"th, the 9ord o6 $od, 9hich also e66ecti#el& 9or-s in &o" 9ho 0elie#e; 1 %hess; 2=1'
/5
Chapter 14
1<
/eceiving a miracle is not something you earn by good $or!s. %or is it a gi t to sho$ love and appreciation. 6ealing belongs to you. It@s your inheritance DEB;; 1<F5;>. Cour road to health and recovery is clearly mar!ed. (cripture says that the Word must irst be BbuiltB in you. And $hen that happens, you are ready to receive $hat is right ully yours.
,nd no9, 0rethren, I co++end &o" to $od and to the 9ord o6 3is 7race, 9hich is a0le to 0"ild &o" "p and 7i#e &o" an inheritance a+on7 all those 9ho are sancti6ied; ,cts 25='2
In an age o ast oods, instant photography, and computer chips, people $ant everything no9; And they e"pect the 7ord to respond in the same $ay. 1ut +od@s !ingdom does not unction $ith a micro$ave mentality. &he Word irst builds, then it gives. 1uilding ta!es time, and +od@s Word is $hat puts the pieces together. &he $ord 0"ild as used here is the +ree! $ord or Bconstruction.B It begins $ith a solid oundation at conversion and gro$s bric! by bric!, layer upon layer, until the structure becomes
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a masterpiece. %one o us li!e to $ait. 1ut i a armer ma!es a meal rom his seed, there $ill be nothing le t to sustain him in the days ahead. 6e doesn@t eat his seed. It is by planting the seed o truth that you $ill be set ree. Cou may be saying, BI@m still sic!. I@m still miserable and de eated.B Perhaps you $onder, B7ord, $here is my healthE -y legs are hurting, my head is aching, my body is in constant pain.B Cou may even conclude that the only thing $orth reGoicing about is that you have been born again. Physically, you are in dire need. Don@t panic. Cou are on the right trac!. 1y being built up in the Word, you are planting seeds that $ill bring healing rom your head to your toes. As you $al! the road hearing, seeing, and loving the Word, the process o building continues. (teady progress is being made day a ter day. (ince you are so close to $hat is happening, you may not be able to measure your gro$th. Cour spirit has been changed. Cour soul is being changed. In /omans 15F195, the (criptures tell us,
I 0eseech &o" there6ore, 0rethren, 0& the +ercies o6 $od, that &o" present &o"r 0odies a li#in7 sacri6ice, hol&, accepta0le to $od, 9hich is &o"r reasona0le ser#ice; ,nd do not 0e con6or+ed to this 9orld, 0"t 0e trans6or+ed 0& the rene9in7 o6 &o"r +ind, that &o" +a& pro#e 9hat is that 7ood and accepta0le and per6ect 9ill o6 $od;
(o, in the ne$ birth your spirit $as saved, your soul is being saved, and the body $ill be saved. In the same $ay, your spirit $as healed at the cross, and your soul =emotions, intellect, and $ill> is healed as the Word develops in you. And one day you $ill see the trans ormation ta!ing place in your body. (uddenly you@ll say, BIt@s happening. I eel better and di erent than I elt three $ee!s ago8B &he
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trans ormation o the inner man ta!es place in an instant, but out$ard signs may ta!e longer. &he Word begins to present you $ith your inheritance deep on the inside. 1e ore long your emotions are healed, and your mind begins to thin! as the Aather thin!s. It is a la$ o +od and o nature that $hat happens on the inside $ill eventually a ect the outside. &he e"terior $ill be touched by the over lo$ rom the interior.
A 6uestion of "aith
+ive the Word time to pour its li e into you and lood your body. Wal! li e@s road saying, B&he Word is being built $ithin me. &hrough aith and patience I inherit the promises.B 6is Word $ill give you strength and endurance, even $hen your spiritual legs are aching and you eel li!e giving up. Allo$ the seed time to ta!e root, to bring orth li e, and to bear ruit. As you Gourney, +od is loo!ing or t$o important elementsF aith and con ession. Is aith essential to healingE Absolutely. Cour aith must gro$ and increase daily i you $ant to receive your inheritance. &he 7ord o ten healed $hen men and $omen approached 6im in aith. At other times, being moved by compassion, the 7ord ,esus healed $ithout speci ically being as!ed. And there $ere other times in the ministry o our 7ord ,esus $hen it $asn@t +od@s timing to heal. I $as recently as!ed, BWhy didn@t ,esus heal everyone $ho came near 6imE 6e only healed certain ones and le t many sic!.B &hat is a good #uestion. I the 7ord $al!ed through the +ate 1eauti ul many times, $hy did 6e not heal the man $ho had been sitting there $ho Peter and ,ohn healedE And $hat about the others at the gate $ho $ere crippled or blind and begging almsE Why $as only one o them healedE
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I you remember Acts 3F5, the 1ible tal!s o this man sitting at the gate as!ing or alms. .erse ; tells o the man@s healing and, as a result, ive thousand men $ere born again =Acts :F:>. I believe the glorious result o this miracle is the reason the man $as healed at this time rather than earlier. +od is the +od o per ect timing, and this is a great e"ample o 6is per ect $ill at $or! but also remember that +od declared through Isaiah that 6is $ays are not man@s $ays =Isa. <<F3>. &here $ill al$ays be something $e, as humans, $on@t !no$ or understand. &here $ill al$ays be secret things that belong to +od =Deut. 59F59>. In services o my o$n ministry, repeatedly the 6oly (pirit has let me !no$ that an individual has Gust been healed. 6o$ did it happenE I did not go to him and pray the prayer o aith. &he 6oly (pirit, !no$ing he $as ready, touched him.
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Pastor 1enn& 3inn, c"red o6 his st"tterin7, no9 shares a +essa7e o6 $od's lo#e aro"nd the 9orld;
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,6ter t9o "ns"ccess6"l intestinal s"r7eries, in 1//1 Charlie McClain 9as told 0& his doctors that 9e can't do an&thin7 else;
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Marsha 1rantle& o6 1ro-en In 1//5, Da#e Lane o6 ,rro9, O-laho+a s"66ered 9ith Coo-e#ille, %ennessee 9as told l"p"s 6ro+ in6anc&; &o"'#e 7ot thirt& da&s to li#e;
In 1//2 Da#e and Re0ecca Lane share their testi+on& o6 #ictor& o#er cancer at a Miracle Cr"sade;
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In @"l& o6 1//1, Dic- $add o6 M&rtle 1each, 8o"th Carolina 9as dia7nosed 9ith cancer;
Dic- and @"d& $add 9ith their 7randson, @"stin, 9ho 9as 0aptiHed on Easter 8"nda&;
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8arah *napp o6 @ohnston Cit&, Illinois 9as disa0led 9ith se#ere +"scle and ner#e da+a7e;
%i+oth& Mercer o6 Orlando, Florida 9as 0orn 9ith h&poplastic l"n7s and a -idne& disorder;
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*athie Mc$ah"e&, sho9n 9ith her 6a+il&, 9as constantl& 0edridden 6or &ears 0& li6e>threatenin7 aller7ic reactions;
*athie and hair dresser re:oicin7 to7ether o#er her healin7 and the ret"rn o6 her hair; *athie and *en health& a7ain;
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,6ter 0ein7 dia7nosed 9ith heart disease in 1/88, Doreen Maddea"B too- a trip to Israel;
In 1//2, 9aitin7 6or the train ho+e, Doreen is 0ea+in7 a6ter her healin7 in a Lansin7, Michi7an cr"sade;
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&he element o aith as a !ey to healing is beyond e"planation. )ven though there $ill al$ays be #uestions about healing and aith, $e can be certain that aith is a !ey in +od@s healing process. What $e do !no$ is that it is necessary. /epeatedly, be ore Christ e"tended healing, 6e observed the person@s aith?3e sa9 it; In the %e$ &estament, aith is o ten seen rather than heard. At Capernaum, the& 0ro"7ht to 3i+ a paral&tic l&in7 on a 0ed; ,nd @es"s, seein7 their 6aith, said to the paral&tic, '8on, 0e o6 7ood cheer< &o"r sins are 6or7i#en &o"' =-att. 9F5>. 6e sa$ the aith o those men carrying the paralytic, and 6e $as moved $ith compassion. -oments later, the man $as totally healed but only a ter the man@s sins $ere orgiven. Aurthermore, $e have e"amples in (cripture $here $e ind individuals approaching ,esus determined to be healed. &he $oman $ith the issue o blood $as aced $ith the opposition o the cro$ds around ,esus. Cet she $as so set on being healed, she released her aith, ought her $ay into ,esus@ presence, touched 6is garment, and received her healing. In the early days o my ministry, +od opened my eyes to this actF People can receive miracles because they are determined to receive their inheritance.
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$hat I am teaching you no$, and I thought, B&hat lady is going to all and inGure hersel .B Immediately, I spo!e to her rom the plat orm and said, B7ady, sit do$n because +od is not healing you.B As I continued my message, I glanced do$n and sa$ that once again she $as trying to move her legs bac! and orth. It seemed she $ould not stop. I repeated BPlease ta!e your seat.B At the end o the service, $hile doIens o people came or$ard or salvation, I sa$ her again?out o her $heelchair, moving her legs, and no$ the $heelchair began to move rom its position. As I $as concerned that she might all and hurt hersel , I decided to get her bac! in that chair even i I had to orce her to be seated. 1y this time I $as a little upset at all the distraction she had caused throughout my message. I $al!ed over to her and said, B7ady, I told you during the entire service to stay in your $heelchair. Cou could all and really hurt yoursel .B (uddenly, $ith great e"citement, she began to tal! to meH every $ord $as in (panish. BDo you spea! )nglishEB I as!ed. 1ut she continued to respond in her o$n language. (he hadn@t understood a $ord I had said that night. (he probably thought I had been telling her that +od $as going to per orm a miracle. I called or an interpreter and said, B&ell her to sit do$n because +od hasn@t healed her. When she is healed, she can get up.B (he got my message, and I got her response. &hrough the interpreter she said, BCou tell that preacher that I am going to get healed tonight $hether he li!es it or not8B I $as stunned. I sa$ aith as I had never seen it. Immediately I too! her by the hand and said, BIn
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,esus@ name8B &he moment I spo!e 6is name the $oman began to shout in (panish8 I didn@t understand a $ord she said, but I elt +od@s presence as she spo!e. Instantly, she Gumped out o that $heelchair and too! o . All I could do $as to stand there loo!ing at her in amaIement. Across the entire auditorium people began to praise the 7ord $ith a mighty voice. It $as a great lesson or me. &he poor lady $as trying to get a message to me, and I $as too dense to see it8 What $as she doingE 8he 9as eBercisin7 her 6aith; I sa$ it and could not recogniIe it. 1ut ,esus sa$ it. I am certain that the (panish lady had been convinced through the Word that +od $ould heal her. I believe she had been built up through aith and patience, and this $as her moment to reap the results. (he e"ercised her aith and $as $aiting or me to e"ercise mine. When you reach that place o readiness, you $ill hear the $ords o ,esus saying, ,s &o" ha#e 0elie#ed, so let it 0e done 6or &o" =-att. 3F13>.
(ords of ,ower
Aaith plays a vital role in healing, and so does con ession. Cou as!, BWhy must I a irm the promises o +odE Why is it so importantEB Con ession $ithout the 6oly (pirit is merely empty $ords. In +enesis 1F5 it declares %he earth 9as 9itho"t 6or+, and #oid< and dar-ness 9as on the 6ace o6 the deep; ,nd the 8pirit o6 $od 9as ho#erin7 o#er the 6ace o6 the 9aters; .erse 3 goes on to say %hen $od said, 'Let there 0e li7ht'< and there 9as li7ht; Imagine, +od 6imsel didn@t spea! until the 6oly (pirit moved. (pea!ing the Word o +od $ithout the movement o the 6oly (pirit is useless. Psalm 91F195 spea!s again o the importance o con ession.
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3e 9ho d9ells in the secret place o6 the Most 3i7h 8hall a0ide "nder the shado9 o6 the ,l+i7ht&; I 9ill sa& o6 the Lord, F3e is +& re6"7e and +& 6ortress< M& $od, in 3i+ I 9ill tr"st;G
6ere $e see that $e must rest in +od@s presence to a irm 6is promises. I have discovered that con ession gives the lordship to your human spirit over your body and your mind. (cripture $arns us, ho$ever, that &o" are snared 0& the 9ords o6 &o"r o9n +o"th =Prov. ;F5>. Cou are ta!en captive and dominated by your $ords, and so is your spirit. It is important that the right $ords ta!e authority in your li e. Cou are to spea! +od@s Word in total accord $ith the Aather. &o con ess 6is promises is simply to agree aloud $ith 6im. Cou say, BI@ve tried that, but I haven@t seen the results.B We need to grasp our con ession tightly and not let go. 8eein7 then that 9e ha#e a 7reat 3i7h Priest 9ho has passed thro"7h the hea#ens, @es"s the 8on o6 $od, let "s hold 6ast o"r con6ession =6eb. :F1:>. &he Word tells us to hold 6ast the con6ession o6 o"r hope 9itho"t 9a#erin7, 6or 3e 9ho pro+ised is 6aith6"l =6eb. 14F53>. In /omans 14F14 $e read, With the +o"th con6ession is +ade to sal#ation; And that is $here many people stop. &hey believe it is only meant or the time you pro ess that ,esus is 7ord. We are instructed to ac-no9led7e o"r 6aith, con6ess it, and hold it 6ast; )ven the psalmist tal!ed about it. Whoe#er o66ers praise 7lori6ies Me< ,nd to hi+ 9ho orders his cond"ct ari7ht I 9ill sho9 the sal#ation o6 $od =Ps. <4F53>. Cour conversation must be in line $ith the Word. And $hen it is, you $ill see 6is salvation. 6o$ever your $ords alone, apart rom the moving
15.
o the 6oly (pirit in your heart, $ill not in themselves produce your inheritance. Con ession gives +od@s authority to your spirit and you $ill !no$ +od@s healing po$er. Why should you !eep con essingE 1ecause +od is aith ul to 6is promises. When you see the promise ar ahead, that is the time to con ess it, believe it, $al! it, see it, and love it. 7et the Word ill you and build you. And one day soon you $ill receive your inheritance.
Chapter 1)
1;
Aare$ell to Aear
+od does not promise that the road to your miracle $ill be smooth. &he path is illed $ith roadbloc!s and detours o every description. Without #uestion you $ill ace one o hell@s most destructive orces. It came against the disciples and the ollo$ers o ,esus. And it $ill come against you. What $ill become your greatest challengeE FearJ (atan@s greatest tool. &he moment you begin living and acting on aith and on the Word, you $ill be a target or attac!. Aear $ill come as surely as the sun $ill rise. Cou can count on it. &he #uestion is not $hether it $ill come, but ho$ you $ill deal $ith it. &he devil has no intention o leaving you alone, especially $hen you $al! by aith. 6e $ill try to stri!e at you $ith every ounce o his evil energy. &he more you do or +od the more (atan $ill attac! you.
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0lessin7; I 9ill 0less those 9ho 0less &o", ,nd I 9ill c"rse hi+ 9ho c"rses &o"< ,nd in &o" all the 6a+ilies o6 the earth shall 0e 0lessed; $en; 12=2>'
Abraham, the B ather o aith,B came ace to ace $ith the destructive orce $e are tal!ing about? ear. 6e collapsed $ith right, and +od had to correct him. &he 7ord said, Do not 0e a6raid, ,0ra+; I a+ &o"r shield, &o"r eBceedin7l& 7reat re9ard =+en. 1<F1>. Aear can th$art +od@s protection. &he 7ord $as saying BI you ear, I $ill not be your shield.B What $as he earingE +od promised Abraham that he $ould have children and be the ather o many nations. %o$ he $as $orried that he $ould have no children. Lord GOD, 9hat 9ill !o" 7i#e +e, seein7 I 7o childless2 ;;; !o" ha#e 7i#en +e no o66sprin7 =vv. 593>. Aear, li!e aith, is something you see. It@s a picture. Abraham sa$ himsel childless and became rightened. &hat is $hy +od corrected him. Abraham $as in his tent, gripped $ith an"iety and ear. +od told him to get up and go outside. It $as night and the 7ord told him, M@ Loo- no9 to9ard hea#en, and co"nt the stars i6 &o" are a0le to n"+0er the+;' ,nd 3e said to hi+, '8o shall &o"r descendants 0e'G =+en. 1<F<>. +od $anted Abraham to start counting stars because 6aith is a pict"re; &hen the 7ord changed the picture or Abraham rom stars to children. 6e $as saying, B(top seeing yoursel $ith nothing, and see yoursel $ith a multitude. (ee your o spring. (ee your uture8B When Abraham $asn@t counting stars, he $as counting grains o sand. +od told him, I 9ill +"ltipl& &o"r descendants as the stars o6 the hea#en and as the sand 9hich is on the seashore< and &o"r
Fare9ell to Fear
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"5ee2 on $ounting"
I believe it is much more di icult to count stars and sand or ourteen years than to believe +od or the healing o your body. People must have called Abraham BcraIy.B 1ut $hen his son $as born, +od said, B&hat@s one8 *eep on counting.B &oday, Abraham must loo! do$n rom heaven and say, B7oo! at that multitude. It is still gro$ing. (tars are still being added.B (top considering the barriers that surround you. (tart believing the Word. (tart seeing and counting the stars.
Fare9ell to Fear
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,nd 9hen the disciples sa9 3i+ 9al-in7 on the sea, the& 9ere tro"0led, sa&in7, FIt is a 7hostAG ,nd the& cried o"t 6or 6ear; #; 2)
&he 7ord called to them, saying, 1e o6 7ood cheerA It is I< do not 0e a6raid =v. 52>. 1ut Peter $asn@t sure it $as ,esus. 6e said,
FLord, i6 it is !o", co++and +e to co+e to !o" on the 9ater;G 8o 3e said, FCo+e;G ,nd 9hen Peter had co+e do9n o"t o6 the 0oat, he 9al-ed on the 9ater to 7o to @es"s; ##; 28>2/
I don@t believe Peter tested the $ater. 6e stepped out o that boat and started $al!ing. What he $as $al!ing on $as not the $ater. I believe he $as $al!ing on the Word that said, Co+eA 1ut as Peter $as $al!ing to$ard the bright glo$ o Christ, suddenly he elt a $ind pass by him. 6e panic!ed $ith ear. &he 1ible says, When he sa9 that the 9ind 9as 0oistero"s, he 9as a6raid< and 0e7innin7 to sin- he cried o"t, sa&in7, 'Lord, sa#e +eA' =v. 34>. It $as dar! and he probably could not see the $ater too $ell. 6o$ could he BseeB the $indE 6e sa$ it in his mind. It $as a 6ear pict"re; 6e had been $al!ing in aith, but he elt the $ind and visualiIed disaster. What happenedE Peter began to sin!. 6e cried,
FLord, sa#e +e;G ,nd i++ediatel& @es"s stretched o"t 3is hand and ca"7ht hi+, and said to hi+, FO &o" o6 little 6aith, 9h& did &o" do"0t2G ##; '5>'1
Peter $as so sha!en that he did not ans$er. &hey stepped into the boat, the $ind ceased, and they crossed sa ely to the other side. &he 7ord taught Peter a po$er ul lesson.
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Anything is possible $hen aith is e"ercised. 1ut $hen Co+eA $as replaced by the $ind and the storm, he began to sin!. Instead o having an an"iety attac!, start counting your stars, con essing 6is promises, and $al!ing to$ard the 7ord ,esus. (ay BAare$ell8B to ear.
Chapter 1.
12
Aorever 6ealed
I have re#uently been as!ed, BPastor 6inn, ho$ can I !eep my healingEB 0thers have $anted to !no$, BWhy do some people lose their healingEB &hese are both important #uestions because I irmly believe the 7ord $ants you to be healed completely, and permanently. What you have been reading should ma!e it clear that the Word o +od is the !ey that unloc!s the door to your healing. (ome may $onder, BDo I have to be a 1ible scholar to be a candidate or +od@s touchEB %ot at all. )ven a ne$ Christian can receive the 7ord@s healing po$er, and there are millions o testimonies that prove it. +od is sovereign. 6e can grant healing $hen, $here, and to $hom 6e chooses. 1ut the moment a person is healed, he should begin to immerse himsel in the Word $ithout delay. &he continuance o his healing depends on it. &he psalmist $rote, I 9ill ne#er 6or7et !o"r precepts, For 0& the+ !o" ha#e 7i#en +e li6e =Ps. 119F93>. +od@s Word #uic!ens you and !eeps you alive. &hat@s $hy it is vital or you to be constantly illed $ith the li e o the Aather, and not $ith the destructive orces o (atan. 3is di#ine po9er has 7i#en to "s all thin7s that pertain to li6e and 7odliness, thro"7h the -no9led7e o6 3i+ 9ho called "s 0& 7lor& and #irt"e =5 Peter 1F3>.
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6o$ do you get that !no$ledge o 6imE &hrough 6is Word. When +od@s !no$ledge permeates you, 6is divine po$er and li e leave no room or sic!nesses. &he Word remains alive as you read it, hear it, and associate $ith those $ho love it. &hat is $hy it is important to stay in the atmosphere o the Word. &here is a great di erence bet$een eating a hamburger and ries at a ast9 ood restaurant and enGoying a healthy meal $ith your amily around the dining room table. &he environment ma!es the di erence, not to mention the great improvement in nutrition. It is vital that you ind a church that gives you the meat o +od@s Word. 1oth your spiritual and your physical health are at sta!e.
!ours to 5ee2
&he 7ord not only $ants you to receive your healing, 6e $ants it to continue. 6ere are seven speci ic $ays you can !eep your healing. 1. %r"st in $od; C"rsed is the +an 9ho tr"sts in +an ,nd +a-es 6lesh his stren7th, Whose heart departs 6ro+ the Lord =,er. 12F<>. &hose are harsh and negative $ords, but they are true. &hen $e readF 1lessed is the +an 9ho tr"sts in the Lord, ,nd 9hose hope is the Lord =v. 2>. &hose $ords are ollo$ed by the promise o healing. For he shall 0e li-e a tree planted 0& the 9aters, Which spreads o"t its roots 0& the ri#er, ,nd 9ill not 6ear 9hen heat co+es< 1"t her lea6 9ill 0e 7reen, ,nd 9ill not 0e anBio"s in the &ear o6 dro"7ht, Nor 9ill cease 6ro+ &ieldin7 6r"it =v. 3>. +od says that i you $ill trust 6im, you $ill stay healed. 5. *eep 3is Word; &he advice ound in Proverbs
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11.
is $orth committing to memory. M& son, 7i#e attention to +& 9ords< Incline &o"r ear to +& sa&in7s; Do not let the+ depart 6ro+ &o"r e&es< *eep the+ in the +idst o6 &o"r heart< For the& are li6e to those 9ho 6ind the+, ,nd health to all their 6lesh =Prov. :F54955>. 3. Con6ess &o"r 6a"lts one to another; 6ealing re#uires more than an anointing $ith oil. &he $ords o ,ames ma!e it clearF
Is an&one a+on7 &o" sic-2 Let hi+ call 6or the elders o6 the ch"rch, and let the+ pra& o#er hi+, anointin7 hi+ 9ith oil in the na+e o6 the Lord; ,nd the pra&er o6 6aith 9ill sa#e the sic-, and the Lord 9ill raise hi+ "p; ,nd i6 he has co++itted sins, he 9ill 0e 6or7i#en; Con6ess &o"r trespasses to one another, and pra& 6or one another, that &o" +a& 0e healed; %he e66ecti#e, 6er#ent pra&er o6 a ri7hteo"s +an a#ails +"ch; @a+es 4=1(>1)
:. 8pea- $od's lan7"a7e; %here is one 9ho spea-s li-e the piercin7s o6 a s9ord, 0"t the ton7"e o6 the 9ise pro+otes health =Prov. 15F13>. I you e"pect to live in complete health, you must learn to spea! $hat +od spea!s. 3e 9ho 7"ards his +o"th preser#es his li6e =Prov. 13F3>. <. 8ta& in pra&er; 3e 9ho d9ells in the secret place o6 the Most 3i7h 8hall a0ide "nder the shado9 o6 the ,l+i7ht& =Ps. 91F1>. &he Bsecret placeB is prayer.
I 9ill sa& o6 the Lord, F3e is +& re6"7e and +& 6ortress< M& $od, in 3i+ I 9ill tr"st;G 8"rel& 3e shall deli#er &o" 6ro+ the snare o6 the 6o9ler ,nd 6ro+ the perilo"s pestilence; 3e shall co#er &o" 9ith 3is 6eathers, ,nd "nder 3is 9in7s &o" shall ta-e re6"7e< 3is tr"th shall 0e &o"r shield and 0"c-ler; ##; 2>(
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&he psalmist then presents a tremendous promise. No e#il shall 0e6all &o", Nor shall an& pla7"e co+e near &o"r d9ellin7< For 3e shall 7i#e 3is an7els char7e o#er &o", %o -eep &o" in all &o"r 9a&s =vv. 14911>. Prayer !eeps you in health. ;. Resist the de#il; %here6ore s"0+it to $od; Resist the de#il and he 9ill 6lee 6ro+ &o"; Dra9 near to $od and 3e 9ill dra9 near to &o" =,ames :F293>. 6o$ do you push (atan a$ayE 1y submitting to the 7ord. 2. O0ser#e the la9s o6 nat"re; Why should the 7ord continue to grant healing i you violate 6is rules o good healthE
Do &o" not -no9 that &o" are the te+ple o6 $od and that the 8pirit o6 $od d9ells in &o"2 I6 an&one de6iles the te+ple o6 $od, $od 9ill destro& hi+; For the te+ple o6 $od is hol&, 9hich te+ple &o" are; 1 Cor; '=1)>1.
1y !eeping these seven rules o healing, you can !no$ continued health and li e.
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reason. It@s not cultural. I am not telling you $hat is right or you, but to me the Word is the Word. I it tells me not to eat it, I don@t. Isn@t it amaIing that nutritional e"perts and medical doctors are no$ telling people to eat many o the same oods that +od commanded -oses to instruct the children o Israel to eatE What the church $ould not believe or years the $orld is no$ embracing. Discovery a ter discovery tells us that certain oods cause cancer. Cet or hundreds o years people have ignored $hat +od said to -oses, and their bodies have su ered. Why do I stic! to B1ible oodsBE &he argument may be $ea! spiritually, but $hen you loo! around, it is not. Cou may disagree, but I only share this out o love and concern. I do not $ant you or your amily to su er $ith sic!ness because o your eating habits. $od can heal &o" ri7ht no9, 0"t &o" 9ill not -eep &o"r health i6 &o" ta-e into &o"r 0od& so+ethin7 o6 9hich I 0elie#e 3e disappro#es; Aor e"ample, I do not eat rare meat. +od said that $e must not eat blood. Cou say, BI it@s not in the %e$ &estament, I $on@t listen.B ,ames said to the Council at ,erusalem,
I :"d7e that 9e sho"ld not tro"0le those 6ro+ a+on7 the $entiles 9ho are t"rnin7 to $od, 0"t that 9e 9rite to the+ to a0stain 6ro+ thin7s poll"ted 0& idols, 6ro+ seB"al i++oralit&, 6ro+ thin7s stran7led, and 6ro+ 0lood; ,cts 14=1/>25
+od spo!e much on the topic o ood. Did you !no$ that i all the passages in (cripture regarding ood $ere placed together, they $ould ma!e one o the longest boo!s o the 1ibleE (ome people attempt to ind one verse that $ould
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negate hundreds o (criptures regarding +od@s la$s o health. 1ut I believe all 6is teaching is there or a purpose. Cou may disagree, but I believe I have an obligation to the Aather to eat 6is healthy oods. And I have decided to live by 6is rules. Without being legalistic about it, I sincerely believe ollo$ing +od@s dietary plan is the healthiest $ay or me to eat. I also believe that $e need to be care ul o the chemicals $e allo$ to enter our bodies through the processed and treated oods $e eat. Dear riends, please don@t misunderstand me here. I love each o you and only $ant you to ta!e seriously $hat you eat and consider that +od@s Word does spea! e"tensively about our eating healthy oods. &a!e a loo! at the (criptures or yoursel . Consider $hat you are eating and then ma!e your o$n decisions. %o$ a brie $ord about e"ercise. In addition to good eating habits, I@m convinced a regular e"ercise plan is another $ay $e can stay healthy. /egardless o your age, or the shape you are in, there is some !ind o e"ercise $hich is right or you. I try to do some e"ercise every day, and I al$ays eel better $hen I do. +od blessed us $ith brains and it sure ma!es sense to me to use them. In addition to ta!ing care o ourselves spiritually through (cripture reading, $orship, and con ession, I !no$ +od $ants each o us to ta!e care o ourselves physically through proper diet and e"ercise. &he 7ord $ants us to live a long, ruit ul, and healthy li e. 6ealing is a vital provision o +od@s covenant $ith us. I encourage you to commit yourselves today to a daily $al! $ith our 7ord ,esus. 7et@s enGoy the bene its o a healthy li e and con ess +od@s provision or healing $hen sic!ness invades our $orld. Cou can claim +od@s provision or healing
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right this moment and trust in 6is promise to restore you to health =,er. 34F12>.
Part %hree
Part &hreeF
Chapter 18
13
&o me, the miracle9$or!ing po$er o the 7ord is not a subGect or debate. I@ll leave that to the critics, the doubters, the s!eptics, and those $ho have never e"perienced +od@s healing touch. I only !no$ that or years I had a severe problem $ith stuttering, and suddenly I $as totally healed. 1ut $hat about 7ynn Whitmore in *no"villeE (he had lost her sight in one eye and $as losing vision in the other because o irreversible damage to the optic trac!. Was it possible that +od could someho$ heal herE What $ould happen to Dic! +add in -yrtle 1each $ith a de ormed hand and cancer in his bac!E Was there hope or -arsha 1rantley in 0!lahoma $hose body $as being tortured by the e ects o lupusE And $hat $as the uture o Charlie -c7ain in &ulsa $ho $as strapped to a tube9 eeding machine, and too $ea! or another surgery on his bloc!ed intestineE (arah *napp, the nurse in Illinois, $as still su ering $ith severe pain in her arm and shoulder. 7ittle &imothy -ercer in 0rlando, $ho $as born $ith hypoplastic lungs, continued to ight or his li e. Doreen -addeau" in &oronto $as acing yet another heart surgery. And $hat $ould happen to Dave 7ane, the horse9breeder in &ennessee, $ho $as diagnosed $ith a baseball9siIe malignant tumor in
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his colonE
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At the Portland crusade the -c+ahueys $ere sitting to$ard the ront o the pac!ed auditorium. *athie speci ically sat in the bac! ro$ o the section so she $ould not be penned in by odors. B&he room $as airly large and there $asn@t any$here to go to get a$ay rom the smells,B she says. BI sat as #uietly as I could. I closed my eyes so I could concentrate on the (pirit o +od through the praise and $orship. I did not $ant anything to distract me.B *athie $as praying or a miracle, but she had a di icult time being speci ic. B&hrough the years I had been diagnosed $ith so many illnesses, I didn@t !no$ $here to begin,B she says. Any one o the disorders $ould have devastated the average person. Doctors had told her that her problems $ere the result o everything rom a blood disorder to mercury poisoning. &hat night *athie told the 7ord, B)verything I have and everything I am is yours.B As the service continued I began to pray that the 7ord $ould honor the aith o those $ho needed a miracle. At that moment, something supernatural happened to *athie. B(uddenly the po$er o +od hit me so strongly that I could eel it in the lo$er part o my stomach,B she says. BIt moved up into my chest and into my mouthH my teeth and my tongue elt numb.B People $ho $ere seated around her began to as! $hat $as happening. BI couldn@t spea!,B says *athie. BAll I could do $as cry.B When $e began to as! or those to come or$ard $ho had received a healing, the 7ord began to spea! to *athie. BI heard a voice inside me say, @I you don@t stand up and go or$ard, you@re going to lose $hat I@ve begun,@B she recalls. &o that point in the service, *athie ound it di icult to stay in the building because she $as so $ea! and emaciated. (he could only describe it by saying, BI elt there $ere many orces coming against
12)
me. I $anted to run and escape rom all the smells.B &he moment she started to stand, ho$ever, something remar!able happened. BIt elt as though someone reached under my armpits and gently li ted me up,B she recalls. BAnd $hen I stepped out into the aisle I don@t even remember touching the loor? even though I !no$ I did.B *athie $al!ed or$ard to an area near the plat orm and told some o the counselors and a medical doctor $hat she elt had happened. &hey $anted to be sure the healing had truly ta!en place. BAs a test, they sprayed per ume on me, to see i there $ould be some !ind o a reaction. Perhaps I should say they po"red it on me, because that is $hat they did,B *athie says. B%ormally, that $ould have sent my system into shoc!, but nothing happened.B A e$ minutes later, *athie $al!ed up the stairs o the plat orm to testi y publicly o the healing that had ta!en place. I elt led o the 7ord to tell her, BWithin ninety days your hair $ill be bac!. Cou@ll be gaining $eight.B
Another ""irst"
A ter the service, the -c+ahueys drove home reGoicing at $hat had ta!en place. B&hat night I $ent to bed and slept rom a little a ter midnight until 3F34 A.M. When I $o!e up, nothing had happened? $hich $as unusual,B she says. B%ormally, rom being around odors, my colon $ould purge, I $ould vomit, go into anaphylactic shoc! and perhaps end up in the hospital.B When *athie@s eyes opened that night, the 7ord spo!e to her and said, BI@m going to begin your testimony no$.B (he couldn@t go bac! to sleep. BI believe 6e $o!e me up to sho$ me that there had been no reaction to $hat I $as e"posed to that night. I $as a ne$ person.B
12.
When *athie returned to the crusade the ne"t day, she began to e"perience $hat $ould become a series o B irstsB or her. BI $ent into a public restroom by mysel or the irst time in years,B she says. BI had to avoid such places because o my reaction to hair spray or cleaning solutions. When I $al!ed out the door I $as smiling?as thrilled as a little child $ith a ne$ toy.B Arom the moment o her healing, *athie@s body has gro$n stronger $ee! by $ee!. B)ven though the healing o my allergic reactions $as instant, my body $as so emaciated that it has ta!en time to build up,B she says. BA person does not go rom starvation to a healthy $eight overnight.B 0nce again *athie can drive an automobile, $or! in the yard, and do things many people ta!e or granted. B)very day is a ne$ adventure or me,B she says. BI $eep and $eep or Goy because no$ I can attend church and I don@t have to e"it #uic!ly $hen someone $al!s in $ith abric so tener on their clothing?or $hen someone is $earing a leather Gac!et.B A ter so many years o running rom her environment, *athie has had to retrain hersel not to automatically react and retreat. B)ven a ter being healed, my irst response to the slightest hint o an odor $as to leave the room as ast as possible,B she says. BI had to orce mysel to sit do$n and remember that the environment $as no longer going to plague me. It is as though I have been resurrected and the graveclothes have been ta!en o .B
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people, and that 6e $ill allo$ you to be in a certain place at a certain time, $here there is a speci ic anointing.B A ter her healing, *athie couldn@t $ait to go bac! to her doctor. (he too! her husband $ith her. B1e ore the doctor even e"amined me, he said, @(omething has happened to you. What is itE@B 6er husband Gust beamed. (ays *athie, BI $as sitting on the e"amining table and I told him $hat happened. And $hen he chec!ed me, I $as even more thrilled. 6e could ind nothing $rong.B )ven the $oman $ho had been her hairdresser or seven years !ne$ something had happened. (he had seen *athie@s hair all out and return nearly $hite in color. BA ter her miracle, her hair has almost completely dar!ened over three9 ourths o her head.B And she added, BAs a licensed hairdresser I have never seen anyone@s hair turn bac! to its natural color $ithout it being dyed.B 6er doctor says, BIt@s not only a miracle that this lady is still alive, but that she has recovered to the degree she has. (ince ,uly 1991, there has been a remar!able improvement. *athie is no longer sensitive to smells, her diet is no longer completely restricted, her ace has cleared up $ith respect to the #uality o the comple"ion. It is my opinion that a miraculous healing is ta!ing place.B A ter ta!ing their irst out9o 9to$n trip together in more than eleven years, *athie says, B-y husband has a ne$ $i e.B *athie and *enneth recently celebrated their t$enty9 i th $edding anniversary. 1ecause o the pollution o the environment, the illness *athie su ered has been called Ba sic!ness o our time.B As she says, B&hey call us the @canaries@ o society because o the endless testing they have done to people li!e us. In the olden days they $ould put a caged canary in a coal mine to determine i
12/
there $as any deadly gas.B A ter her miracle, *athie said, B7ord, I@m no longer a little canaryH I am an eagle. I@m soaring no$.B (he told the 7ord, BI Cou can do it or me, Cou can do it or anyone.B
Chapter 1/
19
&here $as no hope that 7ynn Whitmore, in *no"9 ville, &ennessee, $ould ever see out o her right eye. According to her doctor, the blindness caused by pressure on her optic trac! $as irreversible. And no$ the sight in her le t eye $as ading ast. 7osing her sight $as only one o 7ynn@s problems. 6er body $as illed $ith intense pain and torment. BPlease help me, 7ord,B she prayed. In December 1991 7ynn and her adopted mother drove rom their home in eastern &ennessee to -obile, Alabama, $here $e $ere conducting a crusade. BAll the $ay do$n there I elt something $onder ul $as going to happen,B she says. BI must con ess, ho$ever, that since I $as told that my blindness $as permanent, I didn@t pray or the miracle o sight. I !ne$ that Gust $ouldn@t happen.B 7ynn@s prayer $as that the 7ord $ould ta!e care o the pain in her body. During the service, 7ynn and her mother $ere in the choir. BWe thought $e@d get a better seat i $e volunteered to sing,B she said. As usual in our crusades, during the irst part o the service the lights in the auditorium $ere out, e"cept or a spotlight on the plat orm $here I $as singing a duet $ith one o our soloists, (teve 1roc!.
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/ecalls 7ynn, BIt $as the irst crusade meeting I had ever attended. What I $as seeing, even $ith my limited vision, $as thrilling and e"citing.B
1''
eye, and I began to read,B she recalls. B(ome o the technical $ords $ere beyond my comprehension, but I $as reading every $ord on the page and spelling those I couldn@t pronounce.B &he report o the ophthalmologist on ,anuary 13, 1995, said, B/ight eye 54J34 N5, 7e t eye 54J34 N5.B What $ould have happened i the 7ord had not healed 7ynn WhitmoreE B&he doctors told me I $ould have gone totally blind,B she says. 7ynn believes in miracles.
Chapter 25
54
Dic! +add $as not sure $hat to do ne"t. 6is reconstructive bladder surgery had been a success, but no$, in Aebruary 1995, he $as at home in -yrtle 1each $ith a hand that $as de ormed rom the complications. And no$ this. 6e $as diagnosed $ith cancer in his bac!. &he previous summer, ho$ever, something unusual began to un old. A e$ days a ter the initial diagnosis o tumors on Dic!@s bladder, the phone rang late at night. Dic!@s younger brother, ,ohn, $as calling rom )l!ins, West .irginia. BWe $ant you to !no$ that $e@re praying or you,B he told Dic!@s $i e, ,udy. &hen he as!ed, B6ave you ever heard o the services conducted by 1enny 6illEB BDo you mean 1enny 6innEB ,udy as!ed. BCes, that@s his name. A riend o mine told me about him.B Dic! and ,udy had seen our television program on a e$ occasions. ,ohn said, BI Dic! $ill go, I $ill drive him to one o the services.B &he ne"t morning, (herry, ,udy@s niece, arrived at the +adds@ home along $ith her husband. &hey had driven all night rom West .irginia Gust to pray or Dic!. (herry handed Dic! a shopping bag illed
13<
1')
$ith cassette tapes. BCou really need to listen to these messages,B she said. B&hey are rom a minister in Alorida named 1enny 6inn.B &he couple stayed only about t$o hours and drove bac! home. &hat all, in %ovember 1991, *im )idell, a young $oman Dic! and ,udy had never met, called rom West .irginia to say she had heard about Dic!@s condition rom amily members. *im said she $as praying $ith Dic! or his healing. In -arch 1995, *im called rom Dic!@s mother@s home and said, BWe@re all coming to -yrtle 1each, and $e are going to drive $ith you to Alorida to the 0rlando Christian Center.B 1ecause o his deteriorating condition, +add $asn@t too sure about ma!ing the Gourney, but the $oman said, BCou don@t have a choice. Cou@re going to Alorida8B Dic! says, B(ince the name o this ministry had been coming up so o ten, ,udy and I decided to go.B )leven people in t$o vans made the trip to 0rlando on the $ee!end o -arch 51, 1995.
1'.
congregation, BWe are going to pray or +od to heal you tonight. I you need healing, I $ant you to place your hand on that portion o your body that needs to be healed.B Dic! placed his hand on his bac!. ,udy reached over and gently held his de ormed hand. BAs Pastor 6inn $as praying, I elt a cloud come over me and envelope my entire body rom the top o my head to the bottom o my eet,B says +add. Dic! $al!ed to the ront o the auditorium $here a large group o people had gathered or prayer. Dic! $as standing $ith his hands raised to heaven $hen an usher as!ed him, BDid you receive a healingEB +add ans$ered, BI@m not sure, but something happened.B &hen he told the usher o ho$ a $hite cloud had surrounded him li!e a pillo$ case. BWhat $as your problemEB the man as!ed. BWell, I had cancer in my bac!,B said Dic!. &he usher too! +add straight to the plat orm. 1e ore I could pray or Dic!, +od@s po$er ul anointing touched him, and he ell prostrate be ore the 7ord. B%othing li!e that had ever happened to me,B Dic! recalls. A ter the service, the +adds and their riends $ent to a restaurant to tal! about the meeting, not ully comprehending $hat had happened. During the conversation, ,udy turned to Dic! and said,B7et me see your hand.B Dic! $as so busy discussing the service he thought, BDon@t bother meH I@m tal!ing.B 1ut a ter t$o more re#uests rom his $i e, Dic! placed his hand on the table. BWe both loo!ed at my hand in total amaIement. &he ingers $ere no longer curled, nor $ere they spread apart. -y hand $as totally healed,B Dic! says.
1'8
&he +adds reGoiced all the $ay bac! to -yrtle 1each. BI !no$ I@m completely healed,B Dic! said. B&here is no need to go bac! to the doctor.B &hen he added, BWhy do I need to put +od to the testEB Dic! did not believe the 7ord $ould heal his hand and leave a cancer to destroy him. (everal months later, on 0ctober 2, 1995, +add $as involved in an automobile accident. BI $as rear9 ended by a 7incoln,B he says. BA ter an " ray, the doctors thought I should have an -/I to chec! the damaged vertebrae. (ince my automobile insurance $ould pay or it, I agreed to the test.B +add prayed, B7ord, don@t let anything sho$ up. 'se the tests to glori y Cour name.B &he day a ter the tests, the doctor called +add and said, BI have good ne$s or you. &he mass is gone. It@s hard to e"plain since cancer doesn@t behave li!e this.B &he radiology report says, B&he so t tissue mass previously noted associated $ith the &3 and &9 vertebral bodies is no longer apparent. Also, the signal characteristics in these vertebral bodies has changed and is not currently compatible $ith malignancy.B B&hat@s medical tal! to describe a miracle,B says Dic!. &he uture or the +adds has changed drastically. Instead o $orrying about the uture, Dic! and ,udy are sharing their story o +od@s restoring po$er every day. Dic! has returned to $or!H he is building and selling ne$ homes. 0nce again, Dic! and ,udy too! a $al! on the sands o -yrtle 1each. (he put her hand in his and said, BCou@re right. 7i e doesn@t get much better than this.B
Chapter 21
51
A %e$ -arsha
In 1ro!en Arro$, 0!lahoma, -arsha 1rantley@s ordeal $ith lupus, /aynaud@s, (Gogren@s syndrome, and an!ylosing spondylitis, had le t her in agoniIing pain. -ost o the time she $al!ed $ith a cane and $as o ten orced to use a $heelchair. -arsha had su ered $ith pain since she $as eighteen months old, but her problem $as not o icially diagnosed until 1939. &he doctors o ered little hope and she prayed or +od to heal her. B&he 7ord let me !no$ that I $ould be healed,B she says. BI Gust did not !no$ $hen or ho$.B 6er sister9in9la$ heard about an 0ctober 1991 crusade $e $ould be conducting in &ulsa. (he told -arsha, BI believe you are going to be healed in those meetings.B (ays -arsha, BI had never heard o 1enny 6inn. I didn@t !no$ anything about a -iracle Crusade. I Gust than!ed her or her prayers.B -arsha $as raised in a church that did not preach healing. (he recalls that Ba month be ore the crusade, my pastor preached a message that all healings $ere psychosomatic and that there $as no documentation or any so9called miracles.B -arsha didn@t accept that.
1(5
(ince -arsha could no longer drive, her ather9 in9la$ o ered to ta!e her to the crusade on Ariday, 0ctober 13. BWhen $e arrived at the auditorium, I $as amaIed at the huge cro$ds $aiting to get inside,B she recalls. B(ince my ather9in9la$ $as $ith me, I decided not to ta!e my $heelchair. &hat $as a mista!e.B &he cro$ds $ere so large that -arsha had to stand in line or about three hours $hile her ather9 in9la$ helped to hold her up and shade her rom the hot sun. BI could eel my temperature rising,B she says. When the doors inally opened and they $ent inside, -arsha $as in a great deal o pain and $as crying. B1ut he $ould not let me sit do$n,B she says. BWe $al!ed rom one section to another. 6e $as determined to get me as close to the ront as possible. Aortunately, $e $ere allo$ed to sit in a special section that had been reserved or the dea .B During the service that night, the 7ord impressed upon me that several people $ere being healed o speci ic ailments. At one point I said, BA blood disease is being healed.B -arsha 1rantley claimed that or the lupus in her shoulders. When I said, BA circulatory disease is being healed,B she claimed that or the /aynaud@s. And I said, B&here is someone here $ith a shoulder pain. It is leaving.B BAt that moment,B says -arsha, Ball the agony in my shoulder Gust vanished. &he only su ering that remained in my body $as in my right hip. &hen, a couple o minutes later, Pastor 6inn said, B&here is a person $ith a hip pain. &he pain is no$ leaving your hip.@B &hat must have been or -arsha, too. BI could move my hip. -iraculously, the hurting $as gone. I $as le t $ith a eeling o total peace and $as inally
, Ne9 Marsha
1(1
ree o all my pain. It $as $onder ul,B she says. -arsha $al!ed by hersel over to an area $here people $ere giving their testimonies. BA lady as!ed me to bend over,B she remembers. BI touched my toes. It $as the irst time I had been able to do that since my high school days.B 7ater, $hen -arsha and her amily $atched a video o that meeting, she heard me say, BA bone disease is being healed,B but by that time she $as already giving her testimony and praising the 7ord.
1(2
greater spiritual miracle. &here is a ne$ hunger in my heart or +od@s Word. I e"perience the Goy o the 7ord in my spirit and !no$ $hat it means to have a peace that passes understanding.B (ays -arsha, BI@m a brand ne$ person. I !no$ rom e"perience that the 7ord does not $ant 6is people to live in sic!ness. 6e $ants them to be healed.B I the 7ord can heal -arsha, 6e can heal you.
Chapter 22
55
Charlie -c7ain $as too $ea! to ace another surgery. &he &ulsa, 0!lahoma, mortgage and loan o icer had survived cancer, but the massive radiation treatments had literally used his intestines together. %o$ there $as a maGor bloc!age in the intestine. &he emergency operation on Christmas )ve 1994, his second in Gust t$o $ee!s, $as a ailure. Charlie $as near death $hen they sent him home hoo!ed to an I.. &he doctors hoped that someho$ he $ould gain enough strength so they could operate again. B&hey told me the only hope $as either to do a bypass on my intestinal tract, or remove my intestine altogether,B he recalls. Charlie didn@t $ant any part o that. 6e told them, B+et me home, and I@ll be healed.B
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my strength $ould allo$,B he says. Charlie describes $hat happened. BI $atched as Pastor 6inn prayed or people. &o be honest, I $as a little s!eptical because o many o the things I had seen on religious television programs. I $anted to !no$ i $hat I $as seeing $as real.B Charlie believed that the 7ord had the po$er to heal, but as he $atched the program he said, B+od, sho$ me that this is really Cou. 7et me !no$ this is validH sho$ me there is integrity here.B About that time, as I $as ministering during the last e$ minutes o the program, I spun around to the camera and said, B&his is the po$er o +od. Do you $ant itEB Charlie, $ho had already been under the surgeon@s !ni e t$ice, did not ta!e long to ans$er. BCes, 7ord,B Charlie said, in his $ea! and helpless condition. BI $ant it. I need a miracle8B What happened ne"t $as so astounding that the -c7ains couldn@t believe $hat they $ere seeing or hearing. As -c7ain tells it, B1enny turned and loo!ed directly into the camera and said, @Charlie8 7oo! at me8@ &hen he continued to pray or the rest o the people $ho $ere in the service.B When it happened, Charlie@s $i e $as absolutely stunned. BI elt as though I $as almost !noc!ed o the couch,B she says. Charlie $as amaIed, but he $as too $ea! to respond. BI really didn@t eel any unusual sensation,B he recalls. B&here $as no t$enty9one gun salute, and the stars didn@t all rom heaven. 1ut I !ne$ $hat happened $as more than a coincidence. I too! it as a message rom the 7ord that 6e $as beginning the healing o my intestinal bloc!age.B
1(4
other and he said, BDid 1enny 6inn really say thatEB Aortunately, they had videotaped the program, and they played that section again. &here it $asF BCharlie8 7oo! at me8B Cyndii said, B6oney, I believe you are healed.B (he $ent to the !itchen and coo!ed dinner. Charlie ate some mashed potatoes?his irst solid ood since December. B&hen on (unday morning I ate some grits and some so t9boiled eggs,B he says. What happened on -ondayE Charlie says, B&here is only one evidence that your intestinal tract is $or!ing and Cyndii heard me screaming in the bathroom. @I@m healed8 I@m healed8@B Charlie had the physical evidence to !no$ that he $as really healed. &hat $ee! some o -c7ain@s riends $ho had prayed or him in the hospital sa$ him. &hey couldn@t believe their eyes. BWe $ere at a -e"ican restaurant and I $as eating aGitas,B he smiles. B&he ne"t day $e had Chinese ood.B &hen he $ent to the o ice o the gastro9 enterologist $ho had treated him or several months ?the one $ho had told him $hat a lengthy ordeal he aced. BWell, ho$ are you doing todayEB he as!ed, surprised to see Charlie $al!ing on his o$n. Charlie told him, BIt loo!s li!e I@m healed.B &he doctor said, B(ure you are. What have you been doingEB BWell, I had a couple o so t9boiled eggs,B -c7ain responded. &he doctor said, B&hat@s very good. &hat@s smart.B &hen Charlie added, B&he aGitas $ere really good, too. And I really enGoyed the Chinese ood.B As the e"amination continued, the doctor became more and more convinced that something had truly
1()
happened to Charlie. Aurther testing revealed that the intestine $as clear. &he doctor said, BCou !no$, it surely $asn@t anything $e did8B &he %"lsa World documented -c7ain@s healing in a maGor eature article. B&here are a lot o things in medicine you Gust can@t e"plain,B one o his doctors said.
Chapter 2'
53
It 6appened in a Alash
1ac! in Illinois, nurse (arah *napp $as still in agony because surgery could not correct her problem o thoracic outlet syndrome. Doctors said it $as caused by years o li ting patients and moving heavy medical e#uipment. B&he nerves $ere still pinched and the torment in my arm and shoulder $as almost unbearable,B she says. Aor #uite some time the *napps had $atched our ministry on television. When they heard that $e had scheduled a crusade in (partanburg, (outh Carolina, they decided to attend. It $as -arch 1991. )ven though the event $as a great distance rom their home in southern Illinois, (arah told her husband, Don, BI I can Gust get over there, I !no$ I $ill be healed.B &he Gourney $as one o anticipation and e"citement. BWe had never attended one o Pastor 6inn@s crusades.B &he auditorium $as much too small and hundreds $ere turned a$ay. 1ut someho$ the *napps $ere able to ind a seat. (arah@s aith $as so strong that she did not have to $ait or the moment in the service $hen I prayed or the sic! and a licted. (arah recalls $hat
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1(8
happened during the song service. B-y arm began to vibrate li!e it had been charged $ith electricity. &hen, in a lash, my shoulder and my arm seemed to open up. &he pain vanished,B she says.
Ba k to the Do tor
&he trip home seemed short. &he *napps $ere praising the 7ord every mile o the $ay. B)ven though the pain and su ering had gone rom my arm and shoulder, it too! a couple o $ee!s or the muscle to return to my orearm,B she says. BAll o my riends ound out $hat had happened and they $ere thrilled or me.B -ost important, she $ent bac! to her doctor in -arion, Illinois, or an e"amination. 6is report says, B(arah *napp is a patient $e have been ollo$ing over the last several years. &he condition $as thoracic outlet syndrome. (he has had a bilateral irst rib resection and bilateral scalene anticus decompressions.B &he report continued, B(he had chronic pain in her orearms and numbness in her orearms and $ea!ness in both o her orearms until recently $hen she attended a crusade at (partanburg, (outh Carolina, and no$ is miraculously cured. (he has a normal neurological e"amination and is asymptomatic. (he has already assumed a Gob at a nursing home in West Aran! ort. (he@ll be discharged and seen bac! as needed.B (arah than!s +od every day or her miracle.
Chapter 2(
&imothy -ercer, the in ant $ho $as born prematurely $ith hypoplastic lungs and a severe !idney problem, $as not responding to medical treatment. 6e had been in and out o 0rlando, Alorida, hospitals since he $as born. 6is mother, Wanda, did not !no$ $here to turn or an ans$er. Ann, the baby@s grandmother, had begun to attend services at our church, the 0rlando Christian Center. (he $as introduced to a man in our congregation $ho $as part o the hospital visitation team. When he learned o her grandson@s condition he gave her a card $ith his phone number on it. A e$ days later, to$ard the end o 0ctober 1994, &imothy $as bac! in the hospital $ith respiratory ailure. Ann dialed the number on the card and said, B(ir, I need you to pray. &hey@re going to put &imothy bac! on the respirator.B &he man she called told her, B%o, they@re not. I@m going to meet you at the hospital, and $e are going to pray that +od $ill stabiliIe him so that he can return home.B
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Ann -ercer $asn@t raised in a church that believed in miracles. &his $as all #uite ne$ to their amily. BI didn@t !no$ $hat to thin!,B she recalls. At the hospital the man prayed and said, BCou are going to see a de inite change in &imothy tomorro$. And $hen you bring him home $e are going to ta!e him to church and have Pastor 1enny lay hands on him and pray that the 7ord $ill per orm a total miracle.B When &imothy $as born, his grandmother $as doing some serious soul searching. BI $asn@t serving +od at that time,B she says. B%one o my amily $as. I $as raised in church, but $hen I moved a$ay rom home I stopped attending the house o the 7ord and orgot about +od.B &hat@s the $ay it had been or t$enty years. Waiting outside a hospital room $ith her grandson@s li e in the balance, she remembered ho$ to call on +od. BI made an altar right there and as!ed the 7ord to come into my heart. I also made some solemn promises to 6im,B she says. Ann told +od that i 6e $ould bring little &imothy bac! to health and stabiliIe him, she $ould never smo!e again, and $ould serve 6im or the rest o her li e. (he says, BI thre$ my cigarettes in the trash can Gust to prove I $as serious.B %o$ &imothy $as again ighting or his li e. &he ne"t morning the doctor phoned. 6e said he didn@t !no$ $hat had happened, but &imothy $as improving and perhaps could go home in a e$ days. &he amily too! him home on %ovember 3, 1994. B&he doctor said that i &imothy $ent into respiratory ailure once more, he $ould die because his lungs Gust $ere not gro$ing,B his grandmother says. B)ven our riends $ere pessimistic a ter $hat the baby had been through. &hey said, @Prepare yoursel H he probably $on@t ma!e it.@B
%i+oth&'s %rans6or+ation
141
Ann prayed, B7ord, I have to put my trust in Cou because $e have no$here else to turn. I need to !no$ that Cou are real in my li e and in this baby@s li e.B &hat night she also had to ans$er some tough #uestions. (he thought. BAm I going to serve +od, even i the 7ord ta!es &imothy rom usE Could I still believe in +od i 6e didn@t heal my grandsonEB It seemed that a battle $as raging in the -ercer household all day on (unday, %ovember 11, 1994. Ann inally came to the place $here she made a total commitment to the 7ord. (he said, BI you choose to ta!e my grandson home, I $ill still serve Cou.B &hat night they brought little &imothy to church. &he grandmother !ne$ that i +od $as real she had nothing to lose and everything to gain. &hey $ere seated in the bac! o the auditorium. 6er riend said, BI don@t !no$ ho$ it is going to happen, but Pastor 1enny is going to lay hands on this baby tonight.B
A Brightened "a e
In the middle o the service that evening, I elt led to as! several people in the bac! o the auditorium to come to the plat orm or healing. Ann -ercer brought little &imothy or$ard. At the age o our months, he $eighed only eight pounds. -y prayer or that baby $as, BAather +od, in ,esus@ name, let the anointing o +od lo$ through this child. 1ring healing and deliverance right no$ in ,esus@ name. Per ect healing.B &hen I said, B7oo!, the child is responding8B When I touched the little boy, his ace Gust brightened up. B7ady, ta!e that child bac! to the doctor. &here@s been a miracle.B BWhen Pastor 6inn laid his hands on our baby,B she states, Ba heat hit &imothy, and I could eel it
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spread through me. It didn@t go a$ay until the ne"t day.B 0n -onday morning they too! him bac! to the physician. It $as obvious that a miracle had begun. &hey even started his immuniIation shots, $hich previously he had been too sic! to ta!e. Within one month &imothy@s $eight had doubled, and he $as ta!en o o"ygen and the heart monitor. &he doctors released him because they could not ind anything $rong $ith him. &hat $as tremendous progress or a child about $hom one doctor said, B)ven i he lives, he is not going to be li!e other babies because he lost so much o"ygen.B 0n his irst birthday, his grandmother too! him bac! to visit the doctor. B6e told me that &imothy $as the sic!est baby he had ever put on an )"tra Corporeal -embrane 0"ygenation =)C-0> unit $ho had lived,B says Ann. B6is lungs began to develop and he no longer needed to be on o"ygen. 6e is able to participate in activities normal or his age. It@s nothing short o a miracle.B &hey ran every test possible and couldn@t ind anything $rong $ith him. &hey $ere concerned about his speech development, but he learned to say BPraise +od.B &hrough &imothy@s healing, almost every member o the -ercer amily has accepted Christ as personal (avior and is serving 6im. (ays Ann, BI am so than! ul to the 7ord or giving me bac! my grandson, or pic!ing our amily out o the pit $e $ere in, and planting our eet on the solid roc!.B &he December 13, 1994, report rom the 0rlando /egional -edical Center included three $ords that caused the -ercer amily to stop again and praise the 7ord. It said, B1aby doing $ell.B
Chapter 24
5<
What $as Doreen -addeau" to doE (ince being diagnosed $ith coronary artery disease in 1932, she had already undergone bypass surgery. %o$ this. In ,uly 1995 she $as bac! in the heart $ard o a &oronto hospital in a li e9and9death situation. (he told the doctors, BI didn@t say I@m not going to have the operation, but you have to give me three $ee!s.B &hat@s $hen the doctor as!ed, BWhat do you $ant three $ee!s orEB (he replied, B1ecause I@ve got to tal! to +od. I can@t die be ore I tal! to +od.B 6e said, B&al! to +od here.B Doreen told him, BI can@t. I@ve got to get out.B As she describes it, BWhen you are surrounded by so much doubt, you have to ma!e a decision. And I believed $ith all my heart that +od $as going to heal me.B &he heart patient !ne$ e"actly $hat she $as going to do. 0ne night Doreen $as seated in the hall$ay o the hospital reading my boo! %he ,nointin7; (he read the #uestion, B6o$ much can I trust you $ithEB BWhat do you mean, @&rust me@EB she as!ed the 7ord. &he 7ord spo!e to her and said, BAre you $illing
1<3
14(
to leave this hospital in the condition you are in and ta!e a step o aithEB 6e said, BCou ta!e the irst step, and I@ll ta!e the second.B At that moment she said, BI@ll do it.B
"That's Me3"
Doreen turned on a television set at the medical center, and one o our programs $as on. (he heard me say these $ordsF B&here is a lady in the hospital $ho has been told she has to have an operation. (he has learned there is no hope or her either $ay.B And she heard me say these inal $ords. B6oney, you are not going to dieH you are going to live.B Doreen moved to the edge o her chair and said, B&hat@s me8 &hat@s me8B Aor many years she had ollo$ed our ministry and $as a regular vie$er o our television program in Canada. %o$ she elt that i someho$ she could get to one o our crusades she $ould be healed. BI !ne$ that 1enny 6inn $ould be conducting meetings in &oronto in (eptember, but that $as too long to $ait,B she says. B&he doctors $ere telling me I $ouldn@t last that long.B 0ne o our crusades $as scheduled the last $ee! o ,uly in 7ansing, -ichigan. BI made up my mind that no matter $hat it too!, I $as going to be there,B she said. B-y situation $as desperate. I had come to the end o the road.B It $as the irst time in her entire li e that Doreen had to ta!e such a giant step o aith. A ter much discussion, the doctors allo$ed her to be trans erred to her home and arranged or constant nursing care and supervision. (he $as given t$o containers o o"ygen?a small one or traveling to and rom the hospital and a large one to be placed ne"t to her bed. BIt loo!ed li!e a huge bomb,B she says.
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When a group o Christians came to pray or her, Doreen told them her secret. BI@m going to 7ansing,B she said. &hey couldn@t believe her. BWhy don@t you $ait and go to the meetings here in (eptemberEB they as!ed. BAnd $ho $ill ta!e youE It sounds impossible.B BCou don@t understand,B she replied. BI don@t have many days le t. (omething must happen no$. I I have to ta!e this bed and go alone, I@ll be in 7ansing8B Doreen thought to hersel , BWhy are you saying all o thisE 6o$ are you going to get thereEB &hen suddenly a ,e$ish riend came or a visit. (he told him o her over$helming desire. BIs this really $hat you $antEB he as!ed. &hen Doreen heard him on the telephone in another room say, B6o$ do I get a sic! $oman to 7ansing, -ichiganEB 6e called travel agencies, bus stations, air ambulance companies, and the train station. At that instant Doreen !ne$ she $as going.
A Se ret 7ourney
Doreen@s irst problem $as the nurses. B6o$ am I going to get rid o themEB she $ondered. Would they consent or her to be aloneE (he told them, BI have decided to go out o to$n or a couple o days. I need a brea! rom being sic!.B &he nurses phoned the doctor and said, BDoreen is as!ing to get a$ay. (he is getting over$rought $ith this problem and Gust $ants a brea! or a e$ days. What do you thin!EB &he doctor told them, B(he can go provided she ta!es a $heelchair.B &he nurses arranged or the chair, but they had no idea that $ithin a e$ hours Doreen $ould be on a train bound or -ichigan.
14)
B-y riend had ordered three tic!ets,B she says. B6e $asn@t going, but t$o other riends decided to Goin me. &hey $ere the same ones $ho had earlier cautioned me about the trip.B It $as a direct route rom &oronto to 7ansing. 0n ,uly 53, 1995, Doreen and her riends $ent to the station. With the help o an electric li t, she boarded the train. &he o"ygen tan! $as placed Gust behind her. B&he moment the train started moving, I elt something begin to happen,B she says. B(uddenly I began to breathe $ithout the use o o"ygen. &he 7ord had already started 6is $or! on me.B &heir hotel in 7ansing $as across the street rom the train station and Gust one bloc! rom 1reslin Center $here the services $ere scheduled.
14.
0n Ariday morning Doreen returned to the crusade or a special anointing service. B(eated in my $heelchair in the balcony, my eyes $ere still illed $ith tears,B she says. B-y spirit $as bro!en because o my physical condition and because o my amily.B As the service progressed, one o the soloists began to sing the amiliar $ords, B6is eye is on the sparro$, and I !no$ 6e $atches me.B Doreen elt the song $as Gust or her. What happened ne"t $as something she could hardly believe. As Doreen recalls, B1enny said, @(omeone in the balcony $as Gust healed o a serious heart condition $hile the music $as playing.@ &hen he said, @I only $ant those people I call to come or$ard.@B Doreen Gumped out o her $heelchair and began to run do$n the stairs $ith an usher. BAt the ront o the plat orm someone as!ed me to run bac! and orth and they chec!ed my pulse. -y heart rate $as normal8B In the hospital, Doreen@s pulse Bhad dropped to thirty9 ive and had only come up to i ty9si",B she says. %o$ it $as normal. BI don@t remember too much o $hat happened that Ariday morning,B says Doreen. BI could eel the po$er o +od all around me.B It $as li!e a scene rom the boo! o Acts as she $as leaping and praising +od. BI only !no$ that +od !ept 6is $ord, and I $as healed.B Doreen !ne$ that the 7ord had bro!en the curse o heart disease that had been in her amily or generations.
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sent bac! the $heelchair as baggage,B she e"claims. BWhen I arrived in &oronto I $al!ed rom the train and even ran up the ramps at the station.B When Doreen got home, she tried to reach her doctors but learned that they $ould be on vacation until t$o days be ore her operation $as scheduled. BI immediately called a cardiologist I had seen be ore, and he arranged a stress test on August :, 1995, at -issisauga 6ospital,B she says. B6e $as in ormed at the hospital o my condition.B &hat day@s results $ere #uite a contrast rom the results o tests ta!en Gust a e$ $ee!s earlier. B&he doctor as!ed to see me in the hall,B she recalls. B6e said, @&he only thing I can say is that your problem is in remission.@B Doreen still li!es to loo! at the letter rom her surgeon that says, BArrangements have been made or your admission to the &oronto +eneral 6ospital on &uesday, August 13, 1995, or surgery on &hursday, August 54, 1995.B &he surgery $as canceled. 0n (eptember 12, 1995, her cardiologist sent a report to her physicianF BI sa$ Doreen in the o ice on (eptember 1;. (he continues to loo! absolutely $onder ul and is totally asymptomatic. (he is $al!ing an hour a dayH she is ta!ing only an aspirin a day. (he has had virtually no angina and shortness o breath.B &he report concluded, BIn summary, Doreen presents a modern9day miracle. (everal months ago she $as unable to e"ercise or much more than a minute on a treadmill, but as you !no$, on August :, 1995, she $ent or <F:5 =minutes> up to a heart rate o 152, $ith no ischemic (& changes nor chest pain. (he achieved a $or!load o 2 -)&(.B &oday, Doreen -addeau" is living a normal, healthy li e. BI am doing things again I thought I $ould never do. I still pause or a second $hen I see
14/
a light o stairs because I remember ho$ it $as?not because I have to.B 0ne o her doctors sa$ her testimony on a telecast and said, BWhen I sa$ you running up those stairs, I could hardly believe it. I remember $hen you could barely ma!e it up the stairs to my o ice.B What about her ,e$ish riendsE B&hey are astonished at my healing and don@t !no$ ho$ to e"plain it,B said Doreen. BI@m a living miracle that our +od reigns.B
Chapter 2)
5;
Celebration o a -iracle
BWhen you are told that you have thirty?and at the outside ninety?days to live, you begin to put things in perspective,B said Dave 7ane, rom Coo!eville, &ennessee. B(uddenly, my championship Arabian horses didn@t mean very much,B he says. All he could thin! about $as ho$ he $as going to spend the remaining days $ith his $i e and amily. 6is mind could not escape the thought o the dreaded baseball9siIe cancer that $as !illing him. As Dave $as $al!ing through the den o his home the day ollo$ing his diagnosis, the program on his big9screen television caught his eyes. BIt $as 1enny 6inn@s Miracle In#asion and I elt compelled to stop $hat I $as doing and $atch,B says 7ane. BI had only seen the program once be ore. 1ut that day it $as as i the presence o the 6oly (pirit penetrated the set and began to minister to me.B We announced that our crusade team rom 0rlando $ould be conducting special services &hursday and Ariday o that same $ee! in /oc!$all, &e"as, near Dallas, at Church on the /oc!. &hat $as in ,une 1994. (ays Dave, BI elt +od saying @+o8@? instructing me to drive to Dallas or those services.B Immediately, Dave@s mind $as illed $ith doubt.
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BIs it right that I should ta!e a trip that $ill ta!e three days out o the thirty the doctors are giving meEB he $ondered.
Cele0ration o6 a Miracle
1)'
thin! about $as his cancer. B1ut the moment I got in +od@s presence and the anointing began to move in that place, things changed,B he said. B,ust ten minutes in that precious atmosphere $as $orth all o the e ort it too! or the long drive to &e"as.B &hat night in Dallas, Dave committed his li e totally and completely to the 7ord. BI came to realiIe that even i I died, my death $ould be Gust a door$ay into eternal li e $ith Christ.B (uddenly Dave got his mind o o his problem and onto Christ. BWhen I began to praise the 7ord, I completely orgot about my cancer,B he says. BA heavenly $armth seemed to $ash over me.B When I called or those $ho elt +od $as healing them to come or$ard, Dave stepped to the aisle. BI had no physical evidence, but I !ne$ beyond doubt that +od had done something a$esome inside o me,B he said. (uddenly Dave $as ushered to the plat orm. BPastor 6inn laid his hands on me and said o the cancer, @I curse its roots and command it to die,@B recalls Dave. BI !ne$ right then it $as leaving my body.B All o his prayers had been ans$ered.
"(as I )ea%ed*"
Dave and his $i e returned to &ennessee. )very day he elt stronger and stronger, both physically and spiritually. &hirty days passed, and he $as still alive. A ter ninety days, Dave $as still claiming his healing. B&he doctors $ho initially diagnosed my cancer simply couldn@t understand $hy I continued to ignore their pleas to schedule surgery and begin cancer treatment,B says 7ane. In 0ctober, about our months a ter the original diagnosis, Dave told his $i e, BI@m going to a di erent doctor or a chec!9up?
1)(
someone $ho doesn@t !no$ my problem.B A ter the uncom ortable proctoscopic e"am, the doctor called Dave@s $i e into the room. BI@m sorry to give you this report,B said the physician, Bbut -r. 7ane, you have a lesion the siIe o a #uarter. And it is malignant.B Dave and /ebecca loo!ed at each other. &hey $ere both thin!ing the same thing?BPraise the 7ord8B &hen Dave began to smile. BI@m sure that doctor must have thought I had lost my mind,B he said. B1ut I $as e"cited that a baseball had Gust been reduced to a #uarter. &hat $as a miracle in itsel ,B he says. BPlus, I believe $e don@t serve a hal 9$ay +od. What the 7ord starts 6e inishes.B %o$ there $as another doctor calling Dave. B-r. 7ane, $e need to do something about this be ore it gets any larger,B he said. 7ane placed the matter in +od@s hands and !ept on smiling. &he medical report rom the 0ctober visit said, BI loo!ed at the lo$er +.I. tract in the o ice and biopsied a suspicious area or a possible tumor. &he pathology report as described... revealed that this $as a malignancy sho$ing $hat $as called in9 tramucosal carcinoma. &his is a recurrent cancer o the upper portion o the rectum.B &he letter continued, BI have had some di iculty getting in touch $ith you and did $ant to revie$ this $ith you and discuss possible options. I am ree to discuss this and $ill be happy to see you at any time. I $ould, ho$ever, li!e to stress to you that this is a matter o utmost importance and that $ith the inding o a rectal cancer speci ic steps need to be ta!en in order to correct the problem and not allo$ this to continue to an advanced stage.B BI had as!ed +od to let me !no$ beyond any doubt that I did not have cancer. I elt healthy and strong, but I continued to as! +od or the assurance
Cele0ration o6 a Miracle
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"!ou're "ree3"
In -arch 1995, Dave began eeling ill. B7ord, $hat is happeningE Am I losing my healingEB 7ane $ondered. Dave returned to a doctor at the Par! .ie$ -edical Center in %ashville $ho !ne$ he had cancer. 6e as!ed or a ne$ e"amination and learned that he had an abscess on his appendi" that needed immediate attention. When they per ormed surgery, they did a complete e"am o Dave@s body, including the area $here the cancer had been. &he most important discovery $as $hat they didn't ind. BCour body has no cancer in it,B the doctors told him. Dave $as reGoicing that the surgery or his appendi" proved beyond any doubt that +od had completely and totally healed his cancer. Aurther ultrasound e"ams sho$ed there $ere no tumors in his colon. As he loo!s bac! on his e"perience $ith cancer, Dave says, BI realiIe that 1enny 6inn had nothing to do $ith the healing e"cept that the 7ord has honored 1enny $ith 6is presence. It@s the 7ord $ho per ormed the miracle.B 1e ore his healing, B+od $as something distant,B says 7ane. B%o$ I have a personal relationship $ith the 6ealer. I !no$ that the 1ible says that +od $ill give you the desire o your heart. %o$ +od is the desire o my heart.B &he report rom the medical center in %ashville on -arch 3, 1995, says, 1. )ight =3> regional mesenteric lymph nodes are ree o metastic carcinoma. 5. Additional rectal marginF no evidence o
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anastomosisF negative
0n April 55, 1995, the same doctor $ho t$o years earlier con irmed that he had colon cancer, $rote, B&here is no evidence o residual malignancy, and he at this point should be considered ree o malignant disease.B Dave 7ane had no radiation, no chemotherapy, no colostomy, and no medicine or his cancer. 6e $as totally healed by the po$er o +od.
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(ince the beginning o my ministry, I have heard the testimonies o thousands o people $ho have received their miracle o healing. 1ecause o our television ministry and large crusades, some people have said, BI only I could have 1enny 6inn personally pray or me, I !no$ I $ould be healed.B 1ut that is not the !ey to your miracle. It is +od@s response to your 6aith that brings healing. 7et me illustrate. Candy 1russeau $as born pro oundly dea in both ears. As a child she spent many rustrating years learning to spea! a e$ simple $ords and phrases. &hroughout her adult li e she has continued to cope $ith this handicap. In mid91995, Candy $as summoned to Gury duty by the 7os Angeles (uperior Court. 0n %ovember 3, 1995, in response to the summons, her physician, the noted ear surgeon Dr. 6o$ard 6ouse, $rote a letter to the Gudicial court recommending that Candy be e"cused rom Gury service. 6e stated that Candy Bhas been ollo$ed intermittently in this o ice since 19<:, because o a severe hearing impairment.B Dr. 6ouse urther stated that, B'n ortunately, there is no medical or surgical therapy that $ill restore her hearing.B 0n 0ctober 55, 1995, t$elve days prior to Dr. 6ouse@s letter, Candy and her amily?as an act o aith in the inished $or! o ,esus Christ?Goined in composing a simple testimonial or uture useH a
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testimonial o praise and than!sgiving or $hat they elt certain $ould be her orthcoming healing by the +od $ith $hom all things are possible, and $ho is not limited to Bmedical or surgical therapy.B &hey $roteF B-y story is not about being born a pro oundly dea personH though I $as born pro oundly dea . It is not about my ailed ear enestration surgery by one o the $orld@s great audiologists and ear surgeons. -y story is about the $onder ul, miraculous healing o my dea ness through the grace o +od on December 11, 1995, at a 1enny 6inn -iracle Crusade (ervice at the 7ong 1each =Cali ornia> -unicipal Arena.B In her dea ness, she claimed deliverance. 0n Ariday night, December 11, over ourteen thousand people Gammed the auditorium. At about <F:< p.m., more than an hour be ore the service began, $onder ul healings $ere ta!ing place all over the auditorium. As -rs. ,oan +ieson $as passing along the nearby aisle, 1ill 1russeau, Candy@s ather, re#uested o -rs. +ieson that she Goin in a Bprayer o aithB or Candy. At the conclusion o that prayer, there $as an audible, spontaneous e"clamation o praise rom those sitting nearby, as Candy removed her hearing aid, turned to her ather, and said BI can hear8B 7ater, in a letter to relatives and riends about that Ariday evening, December 11, 1995, her mother and ather $roteH B&he 6oly (pirit came upon our dear Candy, and in a most pro ound and beauti ul manner she $as miraculously healed o her li elong dea ness.B When she $as brought to the plat orm that night, Candy $as aglo$ $ith the presence o the 7ord. 6er testimony $as no longer uture, it $as no9; )ven be ore I arrived or the service, Candy 1russeau $as healed. 6er aith had made her $hole.
I +od has given you a miracle o healing as a result o reading this boo!, I $ould love to reGoice $ith you. Please send me your testimony along $ith a report rom your physician that documents $hat the 7ord has done. -y address isF 1enny 6inn