If anyone is my model, it is Mike. An Episcopal priest, Mike was filled with the Holy Spirit in the 70's and led into a healing ministry. I was first introduced to him in Bakersfield at St. Paul's. He was gentle and genuine and there to teach us to lead a healing ministry. I wasn't there as part of the healing team. I was there to lead worship with my friend. But I found myself drawn to his style. He spoke to the Lord as if He was right beside us--and indeed, he was. He taught us how to heal by leading us in his way. He showed us what it meant to pray over someone and to lead them in a journey with God. He told us to remember something hurtful that had happened to us, and then picture that scene. He then asked the Lord to reveal Himself to us. I know that in my case, I saw him, and the look on His face was amazing. He was in pain, right along with me. He understood my hurt, and He wanted to share it with me. As we continued to pray, we were asked to imagine God taking a blob of black gelatinous stuff out of our hearts. We were told that it was our pain, our hurt. We then watched as He took it into Himself. He then reached in and removed it, but now it was white. He then replaced it into our hearts. That was it, but that was so very powerful! Afterward, Mike sang in the Spirit over us. Again, it was amazing. I felt healing flow through me.
In the years since, my own journey has brought me to a place where I feel that I'm ready to begin a healing ministry. I was not sure how I should begin, so I decided to ask for a consultation. Mike was generous enough to let me use his guest room--a good thing, since it's an 8-hour drive to Camarillo from Tucson. I shared an early evening with Mike and his wife, and the next day we had our consultation.
But I'm leaving something out. I was really sick. I always seem to get sick right before something important. I have wondered if it is an attack, but praying against it doesn't seem to help. Mike mentioned it and prayed over me, and the next day, it was around 90% gone. But it wasn't completely gone. It took nearly two weeks for it to clear up completely.
In our consultation, we talked about healing. I have always been able to see God in the healing of past wounds and memories. However, physical healing usually didn't come from God alone for me. I don't know why, but normally I have to see a doctor to get over what's the matter with me physically. I wondered if I am missing something. After meeting with Mike, I decided to look into it more. I do believe that God can heal you physically or mentally. He can do it in one day or over a period of time. He can also have you go to doctors--for good reasons. It can be that you are to be a witness of God's power and presence to the doctor. But sometimes, for His own reasons, He can also choose not to heal you, at least not on this earth. I don't know why.
I think that it's a mistake to trust only in doctors. But I also think that it's a mistake to trust only in God. What do you think?