This month we’re talking about miracles, stories of seeing the power of God in supernatural ways.
Just when Susan Perry of July 2015 R Squad thought her day of ministry was over, God showed her team that He doesn’t work on their time frame. Her team got to see deaf ears hear, the crippled walk, and God free people of their pain.
Our team had been desperate to see and be a part of supernatural workings of the Holy Spirit. We wanted to witness and be part of miraculous healings, the casting out of demons, and people experiencing the full power of the Holy Spirit.
Stories from others on our squad about demonstrations of God’s power through miracles and healings filled our hearts and minds with expectations for more experiences of our own.
A day of ministry in Zambia became the answer to our prayers and yearnings, but not in the way we expected or planned.
Our team walked around a local clinic and prayed for the patients that we saw. We hoped for and expected miraculous healings with the patients, but no visible miracles took place.
After leaving, we struck up a conversation with a couple of men who were waiting outside of the clinic. One of the men accepted Jesus as his Savior. Then Barnabas, our translator, led us to a group of women who were sitting in the shade of a large tree in front of the clinic. These women were waiting — waiting for their turn to be seen by a doctor, waiting for family members who were being seen by the doctor, waiting for good news, waiting for hope, waiting for a miracle.
We approached the crowd and shared the Gospel with them. The preaching soon turned to a time of prayer. We asked each woman how we could pray for them or their families. The team prayed out loud, together, for the requests that had been made.
The people we were praying for started as a group of about eight, but as our prayers went on, the crowd grew. On that ordinary day in Zambia, God answered our prayers and showed up with His power. The miracles that we dreamed of happened at our fingertips, right before our eyes.
This day, because of prayer, we saw a woman who could not hear out of one ear become able to hear out of both ears. After we prayed, she plugged her “good” ear with her finger. Sheer relief and joy covered her face as she clearly heard Barnabas snap his fingers near what used to be her “bad” ear.
This day, because of prayer, we saw a man who needed two people to support him as he walked stand up on his own and walk away without any help.
This day, because of prayer, we saw the Spirit of the Lord move in a woman with back and joint pain, setting her free from her oppression.
One thing that I’ve learned so far on the World Race is that the Lord does not only move during “scheduled” ministry time.
He is not confined to bringing His Kingdom to Earth between certain timeframes that men establish. His power extends across each and every limitation that we try to place upon it.
This day, because of prayer, we saw lives changed forever. We saw elation and amazement on the faces of those who we prayed for. Praise rose to the glory of God through smiles, tears, songs, cheers, and hugs. Our souls were satisfied as with the richest of foods. The hunger I had felt earlier for lunch was displaced as my soul was filled with contentment, joy, and gratitude.
Modern-day healings have gotten a bad rap from some believers. Some people in the Church today think that supernatural moves of the Lord are not genuine. Some people in the Church think that the Lord does not heal today, even though Hebrews 13:8 says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”
We were not the ones to heal any of these people. None of us possess mystical healing powers. The Lord healed these people for the glory of His Name. We were just the vessels that He used — us, regular people — people who have breath in our lungs, people who have dreams and hopes, people who are trying to figure out what it means to truly live a life for God.
It was not because we are missionaries that these people were healed.
It was not because we are on the World Race that these people were healed.
It was not because we are “super Christians” that these people were healed.
These people were healed because Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
These people were healed because the healing power of Jesus hasn’t ceased since Bible times.
These people were healed because our Heavenly Father is a good, good Father, and we simply asked for and fought for their healing through the power of prayer.
The Kingdom of God came to Earth this day in Zambia. Faith displaced doubt, healing displaced sickness, and praise replaced sadness. Ministry does not always go as planned or scheduled, but when God intervenes, why would we ever want to stay on schedule?
“And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up.” James 5:15
Do you want to experience God’s power while serving Him on the World Race? Click HERE to find out how you can GO in Fall 2016!
