[13] Good News, vol. 18, no. 3, March 1927

Echoes from Geelong Campaign

A TESTIMONY TO THE LORD'S HEALING POWER.

"Come unto Me all ye that travail and are heavy laden, and I will refresh you" (Matt. 11: 28).

In 1924 I was a very sick woman, suffering from hernia and nervous debility. On Wednesday morning, as I was passing Christ Church, Geelong, feeling very ill and depressed, I was attracted by the strains of that beautiful hymn, "Rock of Ages." Looking round, I saw some college boys playing, and, in reply to my question as to whether there was a service, the little boy took me to the Kindergarten Sunday School (where week-day services with prayers for the sick were held while the Church was being enlarged). Never will I forget how that quiet little service stirred my very soul, and soothed the tired nerves. I went home feeling so happy, and my work was soon done without the usual exhaustion. From that day, over two years ago, I regularly attended the service of intercession for the sick in body or soul every Wednesday morning and evening, also the Sunday services at 8, 11 and 7, every service bringing a great blessing to my soul. Often I thought of stopping the herbal treatment and looking to God alone, but I continued with the herbs until some months ago, when I decided to trust God with my body. For three weeks I felt much better; then all the old symptoms returned, so the herbs were taken again. About this time we heard that the South African evangelist, Mr. Van Eyk, was to conduct a healing campaign in Geelong, Victoria, so we decided to attend. This we did, not missing one of the 12 services. During one of the meetings the Lord revealed to me that I had offended Him by taking the herbs again, so I again decided to discontinue the treatment. When we got home I told my husband, and he agreed that I should do as I felt led, but I must tell the herbalist. This I did next day. He felt my pulse, and agreed that there was no need of them now. "You have been away for a holiday?" he asked. I replied, "No, I was here last week." During the next meeting, while listening to Mr. Van Eyk giving God's message, I experienced a wonderful sensation quivering down and across my body; this was none other than the hand of God healing my poor, broken body. On reaching our home the hernia was perfectly healed. To-day I can testify for the honor and glory of God, for the work's sake, and for the sake of other sufferers, that I am a healthy, happy woman, with but one great desire—to lead others to our wonderful Saviour. Ever since my marriage about four years ago my husband has read his Bible and prayed three times a day. This had a refining influence on my old-time worldly nature. This home influence, coupled with the beautiful services at Christ Church, and the teaching on Divine Healing by Mr. Van Eyk, I thank for the joy of these days. I now realise the truth that "Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, ye have no life in you." Read St. John, 6th chapter, 53 to 57 verses. Note.—These are the words of Jesus.

My little stepson, 9 1/2 years old, had suffered from imperfect digestion for some years. After praying for him, Evangelist Van Eyk said, "The Lord has healed you, son. Go home and have a real good feed—will you promise? A real good feed, son—will you promise?" "Yes," replied the child, and he did so, and has enjoyed every hour of every day since, eating anything provided for the family. I do thank God that in His mercy He has given me the simple faith of a child, that I absolutely believed every promise of God, otherwise I may have hindered the work of the Holy Spirit by refusing to allow him to eat certain food.

(Signed) E. Holdaway. Geelong, Nov. 5, 1926.

[14] Good News, vol. 18, no. 3, March 1927

FAITH IN A RISEN CHRIST.

As I have been asked to give an account of my experience of Divine Healing—although I feel my inability to do so—by God's help I will try. I know that so surely as He blesses it, so will He use this testimony to His glory. About five months ago I was prayed for for partial deafness and all weakness after a severe illness of gallstones and complications. I have suffered from severe attacks of gallstones during the past five years. About 2 1/2 years ago I was under treatment for three months, and obtained a partial relief. Two years later it was again necessary to seek treatment, and, for about 12 months, I was under medical attention, having several stones dissolved and removed. Needless to say, I endured much agony, and was a physical wreck. Anyone who has suffered similarly will understand the intense pain one suffers at the time, and for months after the stones have been removed.

I was in pain with my side the night I was prayed for, and can truly say that the pain ceased immediately, and I felt a vitalising increase of strength through my whole body. From that day to this I have only felt it occasionally, although since then I have had much extra work to do. Also, from early childhood I have had doctors' advice for partial deafness, with no favorable result. When prayed for that night I felt the pain in my ears and throat for several hours. Next morning I heard much more clearly and more easily, and a feeling of pressure that I have always had, especially in my left ear, was entirely removed. Two days later I was again prayed for, and received complete healing. It is wonderful, and takes a little time for anyone who has suffered from deafness to realise they do hear quickly and correctly. About a fortnight ago I was also, upon being prayed for, given perfect sight, and now have no necessity to wear glasses, although I have had to do so for the past 12 months. On opening my eyes I just felt dazed for a few seconds at the clearness with which I could see all objects. This is my experience of Divine Healing. "Lord, I believe; help Thou my unbelief" has been, and is, my earnest prayer through all, and He has strengthened my faith, and given me exceeding abundantly above all that I could ask or think, both spiritually and physically. Divine Healing is in the Bible, and is true, although numbers say it is of the Devil. To use Christ's own words (St. Luke 11: 17, 18) —for, speaking from experience, I know it is a fact— no one can be divinely healed without being brought into closer communion with their Saviour. If of the Devil, why should he use such means to lead Christians to love Jesus more, and to make unbelievers realise that Jesus does live, and is the same yesterday, to-day, and forever? To me, since that night, the Bible has been a new book, and truths are revealed now which I did not in the least comprehend. Trusting my Lord will bless and use this to His glory, we leave the results with Him. My earnest prayer is that countless others will accept Jesus very soon as their Saviour for both soul and body, and that He will open the eyes and hearts of every true Christian to the truth of Divine Healing.

—Viola.

* * *

"Not until each loom is silent,

And the shuttles cease to fly,

Will God unroll the pattern,

And explain the reason why

The dark threads are as needful

In the Weaver's skilful hand

As the threads of gold and silver

For the pattern which He planned."

—Selected.

* * *

AN OUTLAW.

At the age of 40 I was an outlaw. I ran away from home when I was 17, and used to drink, gamble, and fight like a devil. Of course, I went to no church. When I was 31 I lost my purse containing a good many sovereigns and a gold ring. A young lady found it, and, after inquiry, she found out who had lost it, and walked seven miles to bring it to me, but I refused to take it, saying, "Keep it. When I want it I'll want you with it; just let me know when you are ready." I went into the town two or three times, but could not get to see her, for her mother stood in the road. She said, "No man who is not saved shall marry my daughter."

Five months later the lady came to me and said she was ready, and we were married, and I said, "If God be for us, who can be against us?" Later we were burnt out of house and home, and I was left with only what I stood up in. One day there was a bill (dodger) thrown over my fence, which read, "Come to the Passion Play! The life of Christ from cradle to Cross." An ungodly man was showing it. I took my wife, and we sat in the sixth seat from the front. They were weeping and wailing all round the hall—men, women, and children. My wife was as bad as any. She said, "Jack, what do you think of it?" I said the man who did not believe it had no heart at all, and when I got home I asked, "Have you got such a thing as a Bible in the house?" She said, "Yes, you'll find one in that middle drawer over there." So I got it, and it fell open at 1 Thess. 5: 21. "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." I said, "I'll test God, and prove whether there is a God Who can give me power to give up drink, gambling, and smoking. If not, I'll not believe there is a God." For over three weeks I was like a madman, and could neither sleep nor rest. I had a lot of whisky in the house, but threw it out, and smashed the bottles. The beautiful smoker's set my people had sent me from Lancefield I put in the fire, and I took the biggest oath any man wearing shoe-leather could take as to what I would do if He did not give me a revelation. Oh, so clear and plain and real it came! At three one morning such a sight I saw in the skies! It was our blessed Lord of light and glory stretched on the cross midway between earth and heaven, and He-said to me, "All this I've done for thee; what hast thou done for Me?" "Show me, Lord," I cried; "what wilt Thou have me to do?" And He told me that the work appointed to me in His vineyard was to visit the sick.

I wondered what Church I would go to, and asked a Church bandmaster if he would take me to Christ Church, but, knowing what a devil I was, he wouldn't go down the street with me. I discovered that all the Churches were: "Do, do, do! Pay, pay, pay!" whilst my religion was D-O-N-E.

At last I went to the Gospel Hall to the Brethren, and sat in the back seat for three months watching them. I found they were preaching the essence of the Gospel, and said to Roger Griffiths, "When is your next baptism service? I want to be baptised and join up with your assembly." They knew of no one else willing to be immersed, but they called an after meeting there and then, and said, "We have a bold candidate wishing to be baptised and come to the Lord's table." Five deacons and elders questioned me, but, not knowing two consecutive verses in God's Book, I was unable to answer questions. The sweat stood out on me like great drops of rain: I wished I could fall through the floor. They talked about the picture show I had seen, and said it was all a myth, and would presently pass from my mind.

I said, "No, what I've seen is real to me, and I'm determined to go through." At last God put the words in my mouth that He gave me when we were married:

[15] Good News, vol. 18, no. 3, March 1927

"If God be for us, who can be against us?" Brother Jensen made answer, "It is our duty to receive our brother." So I was put on probation for three months. It was the 2nd of January when I made my decision to join the assembly, the 15th when I was baptised, and I went to the Lord's table on Easter Sunday, 11th of April, 1911. I wrote in my Bible, "This Book will keep me from sin, or sin will keep me from this Book."

When my mother-in-law heard of my conversion she said, "Can I believe you are saved?" I answered, "Rock of Ages cleft for me, let me hide myself in Thee. He has plucked me out of Nature's darkness, and brought me into His marvellous light."

After searching my Bible and studying it, I took up hospital work and sick visiting in homes. Since then I have given away four or five thousand Gospels and many thousand tracts, and God has blessed me wonderfully. Only twice did anyone refuse to take a Gospel, and that was a Roman Catholic man.

Many atheists and ungodly men have attacked me, but God always gave me the answer, and in such a way that it never caused strife.

I am privileged to go into the hospitals at any time. God has given me a gift of writing out verbatim any address I hear. He has also given me wonderful revelations. Three times in one night I got out of bed, saying to my wife, "A's are starving." They lived 50 miles from us. I sent them 200 lb. of flour, and two days later the stationmaster said, "Mr. A., there's a bag of flour at the station for you." For two years A. did not know who sent it, but at the very time I dreamed the children were crying for bread; they had been living on pumpkin and a little beef, and the flour reached them just when they were in extremity.

I am now asking God to fill me with His Spirit, according to Acts 2: 4. I believe there has been a great miracle performed in my home. In 24 years I have had 20 doctors for my wife; year in, year out, she has never had one week's good health; but last year, when she was very bad, I sent for the pastor and the elder of the Church of Christ where I now worship. I opened with prayer, claiming the promise, "If you will ask anything in My name I will do it." The elder followed with prayer, and the pastor anointed with olive oil. A little later, at 9 o'clock, the pastor's wife and another sister belonging to the Church called. My wife was then screaming with agonies of pain in her head and under her heart. Ordinarily we would have taken hot plates in, but I heard a shout and a powerful voice saying, "I am healed." The next day the pastor called, and I met him at the gate, saying, "Brother, rejoice, the deed has been done. The Lord has answered our prayers." She has now been perfectly healed for eight months.

—Wm. John Lane, Maryborough.

* * *

HOW I WAS BAPTISED (IMMERSION).

Doing God's work—yes, that is a great thing. (Eph. 6: 6.)

But doing God's will is even greater. (Psalm 40: 8.)

I trust in God that this testimony will be a blessing to all the humble and meek childen of God who are eager to know the truth and obey it at all cost, so that no man, or the Devil, may rob them of their crown or their inheritance in Christ Jesus. (John 17: 7; John 8: 31-32; Psalm 112: 4; Matt. 10: 25; Mark 3: 35; Rom. 12: 1-2; John 14: 15.)

As I was baptised and confirmed in the Church of England, I was quite satisfied that I was a Christian. God, in His wonderful love to me, created a great desire in my heart to read the Bible. The more I read it the more I loved it, and my spiritual eyes were opened, and then I was troubled in mind, for I was not satisfied with my religion. Although I called myself a Christian, I found out that I was one in name only. I wanted the truth, and was on a quest for a true Church spoken of in Eph. 4: 3-6, also in that beautiful hymn, "The Church's One Foundation."

Then I heard for the first time about believer's baptism or immersion. It was then I discovered the truth that the Church of England, while professing to protest against the Church of Rome, is actually conformed to it instead of being transformed.

If my dear, gentle readers search the Scriptures according to the command of our beloved Lord Jesus they will find that infant baptism is nowhere mentioned. Kindly consult any dictionary for the correct definition of the word "baptise"—it will be quite convincing and helpful to thoroughly understand the Word of God in this matter. St. Paul urges us more than once to copy Christ, and to copy him as he does Christ. Jesus Christ says in Matt. 3: 14-16 to St. John the Baptist, "So it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness."

Just think of this, when the sinless Son of God must needs obey God (Heb. 5: 8-9) in mature age, how much more we poor, miserable sinners need baptism— this ought to settle any questions which arise from within or without—that is, God says it, and I believe it, and that settles it. (John 10: 27-28; 1 Pet. 2: 21; Eph. 5: 1; Romans 6th chapter; 2 Tim. 2: 11.)

The significance of baptism is based on repentance. (Acts 2: 37-40.) Can a babe repent? If you do not believe in this, read Matt. 5: 16-20; Rev. 22: 11, 14, 19; Matt. 13: 14-16, and you will know God's will.

When I was convinced of the truth, I found no way to obey this command, as my relatives did not believe in it. I prayed to God for a year and a half, and took Him by faith as my Jehovah Jireh. Then I had an invitation to Pondicherry for a convention meeting, and, while waiting on the Lord as to whether He would have me obey, there was a strong impression on my mind. "Did you not pray for a way to be baptised? This is My will for you now; do it now." I thank God for it with all my heart, and I do praise Him that I was not disobedient to His Divine command. I informed dear Miss Porter. She was so happy. Without any previous preparation, Brother Roy Appen was there the next morning, and on July 30, 1925, I was baptised, and filled with joy unspeakable and full of glory, and from that day I was used in His service as never before, for which I give all the glory to my dear Lord Jesus. (John 12: 24.)

(Eph. 5: 1.) A follower of Jesus Christ,

A. E. GABRIEL.

S. India, 27/10/26.

* * *

THE BREVITY OF OUR OPPORTUNITY.

Helen Hunt Jackson wrote these lines on her sick bed.

Father, I scarcely dare to pray,

So clear I see, now it is done,

That I have wasted half my day,

And left my work but just begun.

So clear I see that things I thought

Were right or harmless were a sin;

So clear I see that I have sought,

Unconscious, selfish aims to win.

So clear I see that I have hurt

The souls I might have help'd to save,

That I have slothful been, inert,

Deaf to the calls Thy leaders gave.

In outskirts of Thy Kingdom vast,

Father, the humblest spot give me;

Set me the lowliest task Thou hast,

Let me repentant, work for Thee.

But four days after she wrote these verses she was dead.

 

© Southern Cross College, 2004