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(Deuteronomy 30:19) “I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live…”

Consequences of a [Supernatural] relationship with the Holy Spirit. (6)

This series finally brings me to a couple of my own Holy Spirit interventions. It was 2010, and I must be honest, I also added my voice to a world that knows no better than to constantly scream, “WHY DOES GOD ALLOW SUCH HORRIBLE THINGS TO HAPPEN …”?

It was already proving to be a miserable June. It looked like it couldn’t get any worse when the specialist my wife and I now faced said in what sounded like a pre-scripted monotone that offered no opportunity for either question or hope, “I’m so sorry. The scans show that your body is riddled with cancer of the lymphoma. We can’t operate anymore, and short of offering you some chemotherapy, there’s nothing more we can do!” In the shock of the moment, my wife, who had her hand on my knee at the time, dug her nails in. The pain just underlined the sting of the terrible words!

Roll forward a few months to the Christian Faith Camp at Peterborough. There were many thousand campers and equally many thousands of day visitors. It was 7 p.m., and the evening service was beginning. The Italian contingent, who were now leading worship, began by singing a song about ‘choosing.’ I’d promised them I would be there for the commencement at least; in fact, I felt so poorly that I’d secretly organised a lift back home on a truck leaving at 8 p.m.

The song continued, “Choose, choose, choose …" it demanded! It was then I heard the Lord, “You’ve already made your choice!” He said. “Pardon?” I questioned. “What have I already chosen?” “The path to death.” He said unequivocally. “Huh?” I cried! “HOW have I chosen the path to death?” My temper flared. His voice broke no quarter, “What have you done with your bank, car insurance, home services, your …?” He listed everything I’d done. “I …” I began sheepishly, “I just put everything in order into my wife’s name…!"

There was silence from Him for a long time until the penny dropped, and I realised what I had done was wrong. Then He said, “You have not sincerely asked me to intervene with this disease, and you have instead accepted death. Let me tell you, my son, that death will NOT be your saviour! You have chosen wrong. I ‘alone’ am your Saviour. You need to choose again!”

I was distraught at this rebuke and surrounded by thousands of people worshipping their hearts out around me; I began by asking for forgiveness for my lack of faith in His abilities. As His Grace flowed over me, I slowly started asking for life. After what seemed like an aeon, I began screaming, “I CHOOSE LIFE! I CHOOSE LIFE! I WANT TO LIVE!” Then, after a few minutes, something happened! I can only describe it as if a hole had somehow appeared in my foot, and ‘something’ then began oozing out of my body! As the ‘something’ level dropped lower than my brain, I genuinely felt I could think better! As it passed my eyes, I could see better. As it passed my mouth and headed downward, everything in me started feeling better! By the time it had reached my feet, I fell onto my knees sobbing my heart out – I knew that I was healed (and tests from the oncologist subsequently proved the miracle of it).

Holy Spirit, please touch the heart of whoever is reading this. Draw them into Your presence and show them that You continue to speak and answer prayers today. Amen. 

Heavenly Father, giver of life and health: Comfort and relieve those who are sick amongst us—such as Barbara and Ian fighting cancer. We also pray for a quick and full healing for Jay and Liliana. Please grant your healing power to those who minister to all the sick among us so they may be strengthened in their weakness and have confidence in your loving care. We pray this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.