You Talking to Me? – Part 53

Sometimes “You talking to me?” moments may include pain.

__________________

Genesis 1:3, 6, 9, 11, 14, 20, 21, 24, 26, & 28 – And God said . . .

__________________

It was 1973.  I had been married for two years, we had no children, I was a very inexperienced bi-vocational minister (working a full-time secular job and speaking when I had the opportunity).  I also played third base for the softball team of the company that employed me.  I had injured my back rather severely while playing ball, and the doctor’s report was that I would likely need some kind of surgery.  I was out of work with pain, barely able to get from my bed to the bathroom.  Once again, the pain in movement was excruciating.  The doctors had restricted me to bed for at least a week.  But God . . .

There were meetings going on at the church we attended.  A real New Testament evangelist was speaking nightly.  My wife had called our pastor, so he came to our home with the evangelist to minister to me according to James.  Remember, I was a novice in ministry, and in many ways, still young as a believer, especially as it related to Pentecost.  The pastor and evangelist anointed me with oil and prayed the prayer of faith.  They encouraged me in the Word, and then headed for the door to leave.  The evening service would begin in about four hours. 

As I lay in the bed, Holy Spirit ministered to me.  He asked me what I was doing, laying in the bed.  I reminded Him of my pain.  He reminded me of His Word.  Had the elders been called?  Had they come?  Did they pray?  Did they anoint me with oil?  Was the Word of God true?  Of course, the answer to all those questions is “YES!”  So, why was I still in bed?  And there it was.  You know what happened.  In my mind I’m thinking, “I’m in terrible pain.  You talking to me?”  Still, I sat up, put my feet on the floor, stood up, gathered all the strength I could, and went to the door to say good-bye.  When the pastor and evangelist had gone, I asked my bride to draw me a bath.  She did, I managed to take a bath, and somehow got dressed.  I was going to church.  I struggled to my car, Bible in hand, and drove to the church house.  When I opened the car door, I had to lift my legs to get them out of the car, and literally pull myself to my feet to go inside the church where I could sit down.

The evangelist spoke and called everyone to come to the alter to pray.  I went to the alter and knelt to pray with everyone else.  When prayer time was ended, a dear friend, knowing of my energy, ran to be, threw his arms around me, locking them behind my back, and picked me up.  Tomorrow I’ll share the rest of the story.

Manna for Today – Genesis 1; Psalm 119:89; Proverbs 4:20-23; Mark 11:22-26; Romans 3:4