With shrieks, evil spirits came out of many, and many
paralytics and cripples were healed. (Acts 8 : 7)
Several years ago I was holding a meeting in a western country.
One evening we had about 1,500 people packed into this one
place, and right in front of me was a lady in a wheelchair.
She was so badly twisted that I felt depressed. I asked,
"Lord, why did you put her in front of me? When I see her,
I can't exercise faith." So I tried to avoid looking at
her while I was preaching. I would look one way, and then
suddenly turn around and look the other way; for the sight
of her seemed to pour cold water on my heart.
At the close of the service the Holy Spirit suddenly spoke
to my heart, "Walk down and lift her up." I replied, "Dear
Spirit, you really mean that I should go down and lift her
up? She is so twisted; I wonder if Jesus Christ Himself
could lift her up. I can't do that. I am scared," and I
struggled to obey. But the Holy Spirit said, "You go and
lift her up." I still refused saying, "Oh, no, I'm afraid."
I started calling out the types of healing that the Holy
Spirit showed me taking place in people except that woman.
First a blind lady was healed. She was so frightened when
I called out her healing that she shrieked and fainted just
after her eyes had suddenly opened. Then people began to
be healed all over the auditorium. I kept calling out healing
continuously but the Holy Spirit kept saying to me, "Go
down and lift her up."
I replied again, "Father, she is too twisted and I'm scared."
In the last moments of the service, I gave in, and when
the pastor asked all the people to stand up and sing the
concluding song, I slipped down and spoke with a whisper
so people would not hear me, "Lady, if you wish, you can
get out of that chair." Then I stood up and hurriedly walked
away.
When I turned around all the people had started shouting
and clapping their hands for that woman stepped out of her
wheelchair and started walking around the platform. I was
foolish, for if I had lifted her up in the beginning of
that service as the Holy Spirit had instructed me to, heaven
would have come down in the meeting that night.
Many people come and ask me whether I have the gift of faith
or the gift of healing. I've searched my heart but so far I
have not found any gift in me. I believe the Holy Spirit has
all nine of the gifts and since He dwells within me, when a
manifestation of any of the gifts is needed and I am available,
it is He that manifests Himself through me. I only have the
Holy Spirit and I just obey and believe in Him.