Post by Mikael on Feb 6, 2012 8:29:46 GMT -5
| Located just inside the Lion's Gate (also known as St. Stephen's Gate, or the Sheep Gate) in Jerusalem's Old City, the Pool of Bethesda is the champion landmark of the healing powers of faith. The Gospel of John tells of a pool called "Bethesda" with five porches that was located just inside the Sheep Gate. During the time of Christ, it was here that many of the infirmed would gather near the water's edge and wait for the arrival of an angel who would come during the day and stir the water. As John tells it, the first person to enter the troubled water would be cured completely of his or her ailment. However, on this day, there was a crippled man lying near the water who was unable to make it in time to reach the water, nor was there anyone who would carry him. Seeing this, Jesus asked him "Do you want to be cured?" After explaining to Jesus his predicament, Jesus said to him, "Pick up your bed and walk." And so, the man was cured. Numerous accounts, perhaps too many to number, have been associated with this holy site telling of miraculous healings that cover a full spectrum of diseases and ailments. As I am a man of faith, I do not doubt their accuracy in the least. But I can share with you my own firsthand experience of the power of prayer -- a group prayer that took place here in 2006. I have no doubt that it ultimately saved my father's life -- ALL glory to God. In 2005, my dad's kidneys began to fail. He was rapidly approaching that phase where dialysis was required, and because of some heart issues resulting in the need for proactive surgery, was in a pretty bad spot. Simply put, the nephrologist was hesitant to start dialysis because of its effect on the heart, and the cardiologist was hesitant about doing a proactive procedure on the heart, because of its effect on the kidney. It was pretty much guaranteed that the heart surgery would send my dad into complete renal failure and dialysis, even on the operating table. Well, the decision was made for my dad to undergo heart surgery, which was successful. Thanks be to God, it didn't send him immediately into renal failure on the operating table. The Lord gave him several weeks to heal first, which was HUGE. However, in December of 2005, my dad began dialysis. Shortly thereafter, my dad began the long process of being screened for a possible transplant. With my dad's health history, this was a bit of a long shot as you can easily be disqualified for health reasons. With my dad spending 3 days a week, 4 hours a day in the dialysis clinic, things were not looking good. This kind of thing takes a toll on you both mentally and physically. He was going down pretty quick. In June of 2006, I made my first visit to the Holy Land (with the CFI tour you've heard me recommending). While at the Pool of Bethesda, I explained my dad's situation to a pastor who was also on the tour. I was aware of the miracles that had occurred here during Jesus' time, and I'd heard several accounts of the miracles and healings originating from this holy site. And so, at the Pool of Bethesda, Pastor Bruce, his wife and several others as well as myself joined in a group prayer asking that the Lord might touch my father with a healing hand, if it be His will. Within four months time, not only was my dad approved as a transplant recipient, which was a blessing in and of itself, but a live donor was found, and a kidney transplant was performed, which was successful. Five years later, he is still going strong and blowing the doctors away at his annual checkups. I use this as part of my testimony. It is the most clear and definitive answer to prayer I have ever experienced. |
