[7] Good News, vol. 17, no. 8, August 1926.

I am the Lord that Healeth thee.

(Exodus 3 5: 26).

(Persons sending testimonies of healing, must sign their communication, giving name and full address. It is desirable that the leader of the Assembly should be shown such testimony so that he can attest its accuracy. Communications without name and address cannot be considered.—Editor.)

A WONDERFUL HEALING.

On March 26, 1923, I received a nervous shock in child-birth. I felt as if my blood rushed to my head, and settled on my brain.

Incredible as it may seem, from that moment I never slept one moment's natural sleep for ten long months. The only sleep I ever had was under the influence of strong drugs. The first doctor attending me described it as an abscess on the brain. Oh! the agony of the dark, dark hours, when all just seemed lost; everything seemed against me, and I felt the cruel grip of insanity clasping me closer each day. The second doctor ordered me to hospital. I went, and had another shock, which made me unconscious for many hours. The blood simply burst out right on top of my head, and pressed itself down in the veins. It felt like a thorny crown pressed into my head. I was now a perfect wreck, and could do nothing for myself. Everything was black despair, sleep having fled from my brow.

Many professing Christians were near to us, but not one of them ever endeavored to point me the way to Christ. Oh! had I only known Jesus our precious Saviour then! This state of affairs lasted for many months. I seemed to pass through the horrors of hell during that time of agony. Many more doctors were called in, and my husband spent all his salary on what medicine and surgery could offer. At last, in despair, I sent for the brethren of the Apostolic Faith Mission. I was now getting blind from the constant use of drugs. I lost the use of my hands and legs, and was as helpless as a little child. My husband had to rub me with hot water to keep me alive. He had to carry me up and down the stairs to take me to the doctors. Dear reader, can you picture how dark and long the night must have been? Not knowing Jesus, I could not pray either. At last the brethren came to our house, but when they suggested prayer, I thought I could not stand it—they might pray too long, and I could hardly bear to have anyone talk to me. I asked them to go and pray for me at home, but all the time I thought it was impossible for the Lord to heal me. I had decided to try a native doctor, and see what he could do for me.

The next morning the native came. He, cut my head at the side of the temple, placed a small horn on the place, and started to suck out the blood. He drew out half a saucer of dead black blood. But that was only my temple—the main difficulty was on my head. Next, he cut right in the middle of my forehead, and started to suck out the blood. I felt something give way right down in my spine, and lost all consciousness. After some time I recovered, but that night was one of the blackest I ever experienced. I knew my time had come, and I would have to stand before God. My spine had been injured, and was purple with inflammation, while

[8] Good News, vol. 17, no. 8, August 1926.

my back was all swollen. I seemed to be on the verge of insanity. I would call to God to take me away. But, again the awful thought would come, that my soul was eternally lost. However, my misery was terrible; I could not sleep, nor eat, nor walk, nor see properly.

I was taken to hospital again, and the doctor told me my spine was diseased. I realised it was the native's work, but kept it secret. The next night, God, in His great mercy, sent the brothers again. I overdosed myself with drugs to enable me to stand the praying. Three of them prayed, and I stood it well. That night I had the first natural sleep after ten long months. My spine was instantaneously healed. Oh! how shall I praise God for His wonderful love and mercy? I could feel the warm blood rushing into my head—it was so wonderful. God strengthened my faith, and I believed He was going to do the work, and, praise His name, He did. Hallelujah!

All this time I was suffering from a very weak heart, and, although my natural sleep had returned, I was unable to enjoy it fully, for as soon as I fell asleep, my heart would stop. So I had to keep awake until I was so fagged out that I just dropped. For some time, therefore, I still suffered considerably. On May 28, 1924, God wonderfully baptised me with His Holy Spirit. For over three hours I lay under the power, unconscious of what I was doing. During all this time I was beating myself on my head, and other parts of my body. The strange part of it was that, just in the places where I still had complaints, I would beat myself with all my strength. This was kept up for about three hours, while, at the same time, I was speaking in strange languages (read Acts 2). Oh! when I think of those blissful hours, I can only say. "A thousand thanks to Jesus," for, from that moment, I was perfectly healed. Wonderful, but still true; my heart was as strong as ever before. To God be all the Glory for His wonderful saving and healing power.

—(Sister) J. V. SCHNETLER.

42 Pine Street, Durban.

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THE GREAT HEALER.

When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby (John 11: 4).

And he arose out of the synagogue, and entered into Simon's house And Simon's wife's mother was taken with a great fever; and they besought him for her (Luke 4 38).

Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen. (Matt. 28: 20.)

And Aaron spake all the words which the Lord had spoken unto Moses, and did the signs in the sight of the people.

And the people believed: and when they heard that the Lord had visited the children of Israel, and that he had looked upon their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshipped (Ex. 1: 30, 31).

On March 16 of this year our son, "St. Andrew," was taken with a fever, registering 103 deg., and, upon God's word re anointing being obeyed, the Lord instantly healed him, for the fever left while the boy was being ministered to in the name of the blessed Lord; in a few minutes he was fast asleep; he slept for about three hours, and was then quite recovered, and went to the Mission in the evening.

On the 21st of the same month, his brother, "St. John," also had fever, and was very hot and ill. I did not take his temperature, as I was desirous of keeping the thermometer for a time as a record to the glory of God, of his brother's wonderful healing. I reckoned he would be 102 deg. He, also, was ministered to in the name of the Lord—the fever left him, and he returned at once to a normal temperature.

Other symptoms developed, however—retching, purging and severe stomach pains—leading one to believe he had been poisoned. This continued for a week. He was able to eat very little and became very thin, with loss of voice. The following afternoon the fever returned, accompanied by severe pains in the stomach.

Some weeks before this, an elderly gentleman told me that he did not believe there was anything, in what he had been hearing about Divine Healing. He had lived 72 years in the world, and, outside medical practice, had never seen any healing. Upon being shown the thermometer recording "St. Andrew's" temperature he smiled and said something about hot water and thermometers.

This Sunday afternoon he was invited, and came with us to the house. He was taken to the boy's bedside, and the temperature was carefully taken in his presence and shown to him.

We then stated in plain language our belief in our blessed Lord's invisible presence, in accordance with His promise, and also quietly affirmed that He is doing the same works to-day through the Holy Spirit as He did when He lived on earth. He had said, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that believeth on Me, the works that I do shall he do also, and greater works than shall he do because I go to My Father." He also had given command to those who believe, to lay hands on the sick, and promised that "they shall recover." Mark 16: 15 to 20 was then referred to, with some other of Jesus' precious words, which are spirit and life.

After the boy (aged 12) had stated that he believed Jesus would heal him now, God's Word was again carried out, and as we knew the Lord had healed him, we began to praise God with a joyful sound in a loud voice rendering unto Him thanks and glory and honor merit for His mighty works of love and power, then left the boy's room, and, in about five minutes he sent to say he was very hungry and wanted some meat and other food. He was given as much as he liked to eat, and in less than ten days had recovered his normal appearance, and was absolutely well. A few days later that he went to Sydney for a holiday, and the lady who met him wrote quaintly. "Your son arrived in good order and condition, looking bright and well, and as though he had been used to travel all his life."

We thank and praise Thee, O God!

A. L. Rowston.

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FAITHFUL IS HE WHO PROMISED.

I had curvature of the spine for 17 years, supervening on scarlatina or scarlet fever, and used to wear a steel frame to keep my body up. For two years my knee has been badly cramped and my foot swollen. I also had a goitre. I went to Sale to be prayed for when Mr. Hickson was there. While driving home I could feel that the frame was loose, so that it was no longer any use to me, and I threw it off, and have not worn it since, though I was not then wholly delivered. Since then God baptized me in His Holy Spirit in the upper room at North Melbourne. I waited on God for most of the afternoon and evening, and soon after midnight I began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit gave me utterance, and spoke for half an hour. I was filled with joy and glory, and loved the Lord Jesus better than ever. One of the sisters tested the Spirit in me, and He confessed that Jesus was the Lord, and had come in the flesh (1 Cor. 12:3, and 1 John 4: 2), so I went to bed very happy. Next day I found the pain in my knee was gone, and the swelling from my foot. They have not returned since, and I could feel my back getting straighter than before. This was 12 months ago, and I am still like a new creature, and very happy in the Lord. —X.

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If God gives sickness to purify you, why do you go to the nearest doctor to get you out of it?—Geo. Jeffreys.

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© Southern Cross College, 2004