Meeting Jose
A couple weeks ago the Holy Spirit leads our team to Jose (to protect his identity let's just call him Jose), a bed ridden man, hidden on the side of a mountain somewhere along the outskirts of Tegucigalpa, Honduras. He lives in a 8ft x 14ft wooden shack. Team MannaFest, a doctor, and a pastor, enters his home and crowds around his bed. The pastor introduces us to Jose as a member of the local church Igelisa Cristiana De Missionera and tells us "A light post fell on Jose's back paralyzing him from the waist down. It's been 10 years. He's never married and has no children."
Sobbing and rubbing his face with his skeleton looking hands, Jose tells his story. I'm physically and mentally frozen. The pastor looks around then locks eyes with me. "Would you like to pray for him and give him comfort?"
A Difficult Prayer
Never having seen something like this I was at a loss for words. I thought privately to myself, "What was I supposed to pray for? I couldn't possibly provide comfort for this man. Why didn't the pastor do it? He's been to seminary school twice!" I felt unworthy of praying for something of this magnitude. Without realizing, I nudged my head down trying to break his stare and everyone bows their head…I look up and whisper to Andrea "Pray after me please!"
It was a difficult prayer. "Father (long pause), thank you for Jose…"
Cleaning Ulcers Cutting To The Bone
After praying, everyone walks out. Matt, Erin, the Doctor, and I stay behind. Lifting the blanket covering him releases strong smells wafting up into the air. Picking him up to change his diaper, we find ulcers eating away his flesh cutting to the bone. Laying down in the same position for weeks has been detrimental to his health. His legs are full of fluid and his skin is breaking from dryness. Since he has heart issues and he can't feel his wounds because of his paralysis he is in a very vulnerable condition if he contracts an infection.
In the meanwhile, the team just outside breaks out in song worshiping Jesus singing "All the poor and powerless". Like a battle cry, it strengthens us to work more peacefully making the dark spirits surrounding the room shudder and flee.
As we finish spreading ointments and cleaning his wounds, Jose gives thanks to God for sending us, praises God and tells us of how great His love is regardless of his circumstances. Like Job said in chapter 1 verse 21 "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised."
What God Taught Me
After some deep prayer asking God many questions, I sat still and listened for a response. God answered and this is what he taught me.
1. Only title that matters is Child of God
No matter how much education we have, number of prestigious titles, or how eloquent we sound while praying, our Father listens to us all attentively. He listens because the issue of our worth was settled at the cross when he willing paid for our sins. The only title that matters is that we are children of God. The only approval that matters has already been given to us, the rest is bonus. In John 17: 22-23 Jesus goes as far as to say God our Father loves us as much as he loves Him. IMAGINE THAT! WHOA! "22 I have given them the glory that you gave me that they may be one as we are one – 23 I in them and you in me – so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me."
See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. (1 John 3:1 NIV)
2. Rejoice in tribulation
Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. (James 1:12 NIV) Jose served as a physical representation of this scripture when he praised and loved God in the midst of his agony. I believe Jose is receiving and has received the crown of life because of his unconditional Love towards God. Jose ministered to us in that moment through his obedience with or without knowing it. I learned that through our obedience we touch people's lives and expand the kingdom sometimes without even knowing it. It's not a burden but an opportunity to be a part of God's plan.
3. Heal wounds and embrace community
Sometimes we need people we can trust to lift the blanket off of us revealing the wounds in our blind spots. Jesus is the head and we are the body. As Christians we can help each other through the healing process by lifting each other up to Christ through prayer and prophetic encouragement. We are all suffering from heart issues because of Adam and Eve's fall in the Garden of Eden.
Knowing this we have to be diligent in our walk with Christ. Let's not be deceived by the enemy in thinking we are comfortable just the way we are and think we can do this alone. God calls us to community in Galatians 6:2-5 Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. Encouragement in Hebrews 3:13 But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sins deceitfulness. Healing in James 5:16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.
