Almighty God, who didst inspire thy servant Luke the physician to set forth in the Gospel the love and healing power of thy Son: Graciously continue in thy Church the like love and power to heal, to the praise and glory of thy Name; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
Thanks for posting this reminder, Kendall, that healing is an essential part of the gospel ministry. If more churches started to have an effective healing ministry, they wouldn’t have to worry about how to grow. If miracle healings become frequent enough, you can look the doors and people will tear the roof up to get in and find healing (cf. the story of the paralyzed man in Mark 2).
About three weeks ago, one of my friends experienced such a divine healing at a healing conference. She had suffered chronic (though mild) pain and limited arm motion due to an old injury to her left shoulder. The shoulder problem had kept her from sleeping on her left side for 20 years. At the conference, someone prayed for her, and within a few hours her shoulder was totally healed. No medicine or medical treatments needed.
And three weeks later, the problem hasn’t returned. The Lord graciously healed her fully and permanently. Thanks be to God.
David Handy+
Lover of Luke (my favorite gospel)
I personally have much to be grateful for in the witness of St Luke:
[blockquote]Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us,
Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word;
It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus,
That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.[/blockquote]