I Still Believe in Healing

My Friend Died; But I still believe in Healing

Ps 116:15 - Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.

I met Larry in the Cancer Ward of Huntsville Hospital. I met his amazing wife Paulette. I met Larry's three daughters and their husbands and Larry's grandchildren as well. My wife Lynette and I fell in love with this family instantly. They are an amazing family.

Larry was the Pastor of a church in Muscle Shoals, Alabama.

Larry and Paulette had heard me leading worship for another person who was in the hospital in the next room to Larry. I had brought my guitar and we were praising and worshipping God. We prayed and had the Lord's Supper together. Paulette sent word to me that Larry wanted me to come by and pray for him. I did.

It was awesome. We prayed and sang praises to the Lord. I anointed Larry with oil, laid hands on him, and prayed for his healing. God's Spirit was present and Larry remarked he felt really refreshed after our prayer. I was encouraged. I believed God would heal him and raise him back up. Larry believed God would heal him also. Afterwards Larry thanked me for coming by and praying for him. He said it was so good to find a man of God who would touch heaven with him and for him. I was humbled. I told Larry it was all my pleasure and my honor. And I meant it because Larry was an awesome man of God!

After he went home from the hospital, Lynette and I traveled to Muscle Shoals and had prayer, worship and the Lord's Supper with Larry and his family. That was Saturday. It may have been the last time Larry had the Lord's Supper while on earth. He left the following Friday night. It is rather mind blowing to be used by God at the end of another's life. This man had been a pastor for over 32 years and was only 53 years old, a young man. Imagine God had chosen to put Larry and me together at the very end of his time here on earth. What an honor from God to allow me to meet this man and in a small way be used by the Lord for His glory.

When Paulette told me he had passed, I was shocked. I was sure the Lord was going to heal Larry. Paulette said she was shocked too. She thought the Lord would heal her husband. But he died.

Lynette and I went to the viewing and the funeral. We saw Larry's body but Larry wasn't there. Just the house he used to live in. Death is a part of life. Go figure.

I was sure Larry would be healed but he wasn't. Many times in our lives we are certain God will do this or that. Many times we are certain God said this or God said that. It's hard to find out we were wrong isn't it? Sometimes it hurts; sometimes it really throws you for a loop but guess what? He is still God.

Here's where I am in this matter. My God has healed hundreds that I have prayed for. And there are probably thousands that did not get healed. I don't know the numbers and don't care. What I do know is that God is God and still loves each and every one of us. He knows what’s best and He does what's best and He never makes a mistake!

I will keep preaching, teaching and offering times of ministry for people who need healing. Many will be healed; many will not be healed. I don't know why, neither does anyone else. You see, it's a God thing. He heals or He doesn't. Whatever He does, it's right and we better get to a place in our relationship with Him that's it’s OK. If we don't we will become bitter and sin.

Here's the most important healing that anyone needs. We need to be healed of our sins. How do we do this? By asking the Father in Jesus name to forgive us of all our sins. We must repent of our sins, which means to turn away from the way we live and start living the way our Father in heaven wants us to live. Accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and ask the Holy Spirit to come into your heart and make you a new creation in Christ. Then tell everyone you know what the Lord has done for you! Shout it from the rooftops! Then, be water baptized as soon as possible, the very same day if you can! Don't wait, do it because it will be a testimony to your very soul and to those around you when they see you following and obeying the Lord in water baptism. Water baptism won't save you but it will help strengthen you because you openly proclaimed your love and devotion to the Lord God Almighty!

God loves you and if you are sick of your sin He will heal you. Guaranteed! If you are saved and sick in your body He can heal you. Just believe Him, trust Him, call upon Him and have faith that He loves you and will do what is best. You know what? You will probably get healed.

You see, my friend Larry died the other day. But I still believe in healing.