“Let the redeemed …tell their story.” Psalm 107
His face – eyes that sparkle with joy, cheeks full of life and a humble, warm smile revealing victory – shows little evidence of his past. But his story… gives great revelation to the mighty, healing, redemptive power of God.
James is a man of great faith. A man who prays fervently – on his knees. A man who cherishes the Word of God. A humble man. A holy man. A man redeemed… but James wasn’t always this kind of man.
In 1990, James tested positive for HIV. At first, he didn’t believe it to be true, so he was tested multiple times. 3 out of 4 tests echoed the same result: HIV positive. Shortly after, his wife left, leaving him alone to care for their 8 children. As the years passed, James' health steadily declined. Because of his weakened immune system, he faced many bouts with malaria along with an 8-month stint of fighting tuberculosis. The decline of his body brought him very close to developing AIDS.
But sometimes hardship brings us on our knees to the God we try so hard to deny. To the God we try so hard to find in the things of this natural world, like money, sex and alcohol. HIV brought James face to face with Jesus, and in 2002, he gave his life to Him – receiving God’s gift of grace.
“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made strong in your weakness” – 2 Corinthians 12:9
After three years of praying for a miracle (along with the prayers of pastors at Christ Ambassador’s Church in Mukono, Uganda – the place we’ve been doing ministry at this past month) – praying for God to heal him – in 2005, James went to get another blood test. This time, he tested negative for HIV. After 15 years of battling the effects of HIV… it was gone. Just like that.
Even in America, there’s no known cure for HIV. You don’t just get it and then get rid of it. The only possible explanation: James was healed by the finger of God.
Even more amazing is that in the same church – Christ Ambassador's Church – of about 80 adults, 4 people have been healed of HIV through the prayers of the congregation.
God STILL answers prayers. He still heals. And His Spirit still moves mightily within His people. And the prayers of a righteous person are STILL powerful and effective (James 5:17) – no matter how dirty your past is.
Last year in 2011, James was again tested, and the test confirmed that even today he remains HIV free. Praise God for His mighty power and healing. There’s no doubt in my mind that James’ faith made him well (Mark 5:34; Luke 8:48; Matthew 9:22). That same faith is available to every single one of us. God offers redemption to all… who seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33). Because our God is a good God who loves to lavish His children with miracles.
To be quite honest with you, until I came out here on this mission trip and experienced firsthand the power of the Holy Spirit (something I know little about) and heard firsthand accounts of healings and miracles, I doubted. But I’m telling you this – out of love for you — so that you too may believe. So that you too may grow in faith and experience the radical, transforming, healing, redeeming power of God.
Imagine what that kind of faith can do for you. The kind of faith that seeks first His kingdom. The kind of faith that prays and expects God to show up.
Imagine…
James doesn't have a means to share his story himself, so he’s allowed me to tell it for him. Thank you, James, for your powerful testimony. Thank you for being a man of faith!
