It was a beautiful day out in the city centre, full of early Spring sunshine, and busy with families on school half-term holiday. Two young chaps on the high street caught my attention – well, they hoped to catch mine, to be more precise, as they were promoting an organisation.
I first spoke with “Antony”, an affable fellow who was happy for some general chat, even though he knew I wasn’t going to sign up to their organisation! When I had first asked him his name, he made me try and guess where he comes from, then explained that, even though he doesn’t look like his name suggests, he comes from a Catholic background and so has a Christian first name. I then explained to him that I am a Christian pastor in the streets and was there anything he or his colleague would like me to pray for – including any physical healing!?
Antony quickly directed me to his colleague, “Greg” ….”This man needs some healing!” he proclaimed. Greg had back pain which also went down into his groin area - the result of a previous football injury. The pain was there today, though only moderately at that moment– about 3 or 4/10. Requesting Greg’s permission to pray very briefly for him, and for him to be very honest with me afterwards as to the result, he agreed! Antony watched on.
Being very careful to be discreet, I placed my hand lightly on Greg’s shoulder and commanded the pain, the cause of the pain and all accompanying symptoms to leave in the Name of Jesus. Also, for everything to realign into its perfect position. When I asked Greg had he felt any sensations while the prayer was going on, he said no, not particularly. Greg then checked himself out by moving around and was surprised to find that he could move much more easily now, with less pain. The pain was now a level 1.
Explaining that sometimes the healing just needs a little bit more prayer until the pain is all gone, I commanded all pain residue to go and all Greg’s muscles to relax but also strengthen. Time to check himself out again. With a puzzled smile he confessed “That has actually all gone! He bent over and back again. “That’s sick, to be fair….wow, yeh!”
How ironic that the word “sick” in this case of healing meant “great!” – (“sick” is strangely a positive word in the urban vocab of our part of the world).
When I asked Greg what this healing was making him think about Jesus, he said “Well I do believe….but, it makes me feel like He’s really close, like actually here” (rather than far “out there somewhere”). I could see this had given the two guys a lot to think about but I also knew I needed to give them space now to go back to their work.
Assuring them that Father God loves to hear their voice and waits eagerly to hear them talk to him, however simply, they nodded and thanked me with fist pumps and a “God bless you, Gilly!” as I walked into the crowd.
Bring this encounter back to their minds again and again, dear Holy Spirit. Help Antony and Greg to talk to you personally, knowing that you are indeed very near and so much better than they have ever thought you to be. Bring them fully through into wonderful, saving knowledge of You