The Armor of God and Spiritual Warfare. Eph. 6: 10-17
It started as a normal day of teaching. I had the Hausa class first thing in the morning. About halfway though the second period of the English class I became aware of a commotion near the building and at the same time one of the Hausa students came to call me. As I came upon the scene the principal and several students were restraining a student writhing on the ground. With my western thinking I said to myself: “O an epileptic seizure”, I said as much to the principal saying that there was not much we could do to help. I suggested we carry the student to the medical room but before we could move the person someone began to pray. The prayers started softly at first but with increasing volume and intensity. The Holy Spirit was directing that prayer!
Gremar and I quickly realized that this was no seizure, something that everyone else knew right away. Once in the medical room everyone was praying. Gremar was praying holding the person’s head and I was holding the persons hand we were praying to Jesus to release this person from Satan’s attack. Others were also praying and holding this person who continued writhing around on the mat on the floor. This went on for some time (close to an hour) we were beginning to fear for the life of our student.
Then someone began to sing and we all joined in. Later, I looked up the song in the Hausa Songbook. The title is: O Father in Heaven we Beseech Thee. The first Stanza: O father in heaven I beseech thee, based on your promises, hear this prayer! The second stanza: Father I stand before you as a sinner. If you do not accept me who will? The chorus: Jesus, Jesus, hear my prayer. I come before the Father in your Name! In all my years of ministry I have rarely felt Jesus’ presence with such intensity as I did during that song. Christ’s presence and peace overwhelmed us and the student was quiet.
After that we sang a song of praise and thanksgiving. It now was time for chapel. As God had arranged the student preaching had chosen Matt. 7: 7-12 Ask, Seek, and Knock.
Illness has physical symptoms but rooted in sin and in the brokenness of the world generally, but instigated by Satan. Often and in this case the question “Why!” There is no pat or easy answer, God knows our struggles and we know we suffer as Jesus suffered (II Cor. 1:5) Jesus suffers along with us now and comforts us as well. Jesus heals! We have always prayed that He will heal when we treat a person medically. We prayed for my brother who had MS for five years, God healed him the day he called him home. Christians are always healed! And by God’s mercy and love many others as well. Praise the Lord!
Heavenhigh