A young pastor went to the hospital to visit an elderly women that was near death. After a short visit the pastor ask the women if she had anything specific that she wished him to pray for. She declared, "Yes! Pray that God will heal me."

The pastor, quietly choking on her request, bowed his head and lifted a prayer to heaven. "Lord, bless our dear sister and comfort her in her affliction. Be close to her in these difficult days. And, Lord, if you would see fit, please heal her. Amen."

As soon as he said "amen", the women sat up, spun around in her bed, and jumped to the floor loudly shouting, "Praise the Lord! God has healed me!" She slapped the young pastor on the back and proceeded to run down the hall praising God for His healing touch. The pastor walked silently to his car. Standing beside his car he looked heavenward and in a stern voice said, "God, don't you ever do that to me again!"

We may laugh, but how often are we like this young pastor. We assert that God heals and delivers, but do we really believe it? Or are we, as William Willimon says, more often than not "practicing atheists?" We have been told by today's doctors and specialists that there are some things that people cannot be healed from. They advise us that there are things that people are never delivered from, simply "recovered" or "reformed." They teach us that people are born that way, that its genetic, or that it's a irreversible disorder. We quickly listen and accept.

Wait! Did Jesus not say that He came to preach good news to the poor, to proclaim freedom for the prisoners, recovery of sight for the blind, and release for the oppressed? Indeed, Jesus is still in the business of delivering people from their oppressions, freeing them from their prisons, and opening their eyes that they may see Him. Richard Foster is correct in saying that to proclaim salvation from sin and leave people hopelessly in oppression and sickness is to proclaim a half gospel.

If we are to be true to God's Word we must believe that He does not simple reform people, help them to recover, or become adjusted to their problem. We must believe that God transforms and delivers people from whatever oppresses or imprisons them. He makes us holy, so that we are not hindered in loving Him with our whole hearts, souls, minds and strength. "The old is gone. Behold, all has become new!" We are more than conquerors through Jesus Christ our Lord! This is our hope! Believe it! Live it! Proclaim it!

Keep Close To Jesus
Pastor Gerry