Already, flashing across today's horizon, signs of the fulfillment of Joel's prophecy of a mighty, last-day revival are being recognized by the "poor of the flock" (Zech.11: 11), especially those whose care it is to look after the need and health of the sheep. These humble shepherds, casting wistful, watchful, eager glances toward the heavens, long for the age-ending restoration, and are seeing "a little cloud out of the sea, like a man's hand", and they know, just as Elijah knew, that there is to be "a great rain".

In the centuries intervening between the earliest congregation and the congregation now being formed, thousands of God's children have fallen asleep without the privilege of seeing what we are about to see. These events will be made known to them only when the waves of time break on the shores of eternity. How we will rejoice together!

Many mock our expectation of a great visitation of God, but that is no surprise. Jesus told us that faith for miracles is to be expected only among those who believe. We look to God's power because that is the only thing which will effect a real revival of spiritual life. Doctrine is good, if it is true. But true doctrine always turns men's eyes to God and His power, not to men and their words. "And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God," wrote Paul, "And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God" (1Cor.1:1,4,5).

Synthetic theology can never rouse the hearts of God's people. Only the power of God can do that. Living in the power of the Spirit of God is the "abundant life" which Jesus came to provide. The way to that life is the way Jesus chose, the way of self-sacrifice and a cross instead of a revolution. Absurd as it appears to many, no other way will prevail.

Miracles can be received as God intends for them to be received only by those who believe. Miracles never produce conviction in those who doubt. If the issue of miracles is to be settled on the basis of human knowledge alone, skepticism will always be the answer. The power of God, which brings us the abundant life, has nothing to do with knowledge. That power makes its connection with our wills and affections.

Without faith, it is impossible either to receive or transmit this power. When one is driven to desperation and finds himself unable to escape his plight by himself, it is then he is prepared to look for a miracle. And it is only right that a child of God should look for the miraculous when he sinks into the depths of misfortune. The Father encourages us to do so. "Call upon me in the day of trouble", says God, "I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me" (Ps.50:15). The need for this spiritual assistance is increasing greatly day by day among the people of God everywhere. If we can only gather to our hearts the faith to cry out for help, as the Israelites cried in their bondage in Egypt, God will deliver us as He has promised, just as He delivered them.

No sooner do we speak of the ministry of Christ than we are compelled to think of healing. Opening the eyes of the blind, causing the deaf to hear, the dumb to speak, the lame to walk. With his word he cast out demons and healed every kind of ailment suffered by men. We shouldn't wonder at the masses following him. The masses always have, and always will, follow the power of God. We are told, "The common people heard him gladly" (Mk.12:37), but Israel's religious leaders, moved by envy at the people's attraction to Jesus, cunningly turned many against Jesus with slanderous, false accusations.

Still, the same Lord who healed the sick and suffering through the promised land of old is challenging us today with this promise, "I am the Lord that healeth thee." It is true, we do not have access to the seamless robe of Jesus, the blessed cloths of Paul, the shadow of Peter, the oil of the first elders, the prayers of the early disciples, or the laying on of the apostles' hands; yet, we do have the Great Physician, the one who said, "I am the Lord, I change not." He is "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and for ever." We are still living in Jesus' day, because he is alive! How wonderful is the realization of this truth! What irrepressible joy it brings to be able to say with the sweet psalmist of Israel, "O Lord my God, I cried unto thee, and thou hast healed me" (Ps.30:2).

Reader, have you ever been healed by the power of God? To feel God's healing power penetrating our bodies is an experience of unspeakable and incomparable delight. It is, indeed, a most wonderful experience and can be vouched for by countless christians today. Some seem to think that divine healing is some sort of magic. But, praise God, we who have been healed know better. We know that faith in God will deliver not only from sin but from sickness as well, for faith has complete mastery over every sin and disease known to man. The key to your healing, my friend, is your believing. If you have faith, you can be healed right now. You don't have to finish reading this tract. Raise your hands and believe, and God will heal and make you whole this very moment. Yes, he will deliver you from the crown of your head to the soles of your feet.

What a profound declaration it is which Jesus makes in Mark 5:34, as he healed the woman who had an issue of blood twelve years, "Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole. Go in peace, and be whole of thy plague." Many people didn't hear Jesus teach and see his miracles he performed during his stay here on earth, for instead of going to see for themselves, they stayed home and listened to the critics who said, "This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub." I've become tremendously impressed by the immense number who stay away from our healing campaigns today and are always ready to listen to our critics. We do not - in fact, cannot - place undue emphasis in divine healing, for our Lord showed when he was on earth that he was deeply concerned about the health of his people. How sad it is that his people have departed from the teaching of healing by faith! We read that after the Lord ascended, his disciples went forth teaching everywhere, with miraculous signs following. Jesus had told them to teach others whatsoever he had taught them. Notice, he said, "Whatsoever I have commanded you." What had he commanded them? Among other things, he had commanded them to "Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils...." The truth is, he had not only commanded them to do these things, but also had shown them what he wanted them to do, as in this instance, recorded in Mark 1:40-42: "And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will. Be thou clean. And as soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed".

Space will not allow us to relate the many miracles performed by the disciples after Jesus' departure, but they were astonishing, as anyone can see for himself who will read the Bible. Their miracles equalled those performed by Jesus, just as he said they would (Jn.14: 12). But the point of all those wonderful stories recorded in the Holy Scriptures is that the true gospel offers health and holiness, not sickness and sin. There is no limit to the power of God, and if you are a child of God, it is your right to live in that abundant life! Go up and possess it! Don't let your faith waver, and it will be crowned with the grace of God. Your Father's power not only heals, but also keeps one healthy and free from sin. We can be perfect in our generations, just as Noah was in his (Gen.6:9).

Now, if you are ready for your healing, read prayerfully, "Himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses" (Mt.8:17). Yes, friend, you don't have to bear your sicknesses, for Jesus bore them for you. You can be healed right now, and keep your healing, too! Don't doubt! Just believe! Believing is faith. Faith is believing God's word. And He said you can be healed. If you believe this, then act upon it. I know we have those who say the foregoing scripture refers to the healing of the soul and not the body. But notice how Matthew used that verse, in his gospel (8:16-17), "When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils, and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bore our sicknesses." Isn't it clear that the works of Jesus here in Matthew 8 fulfilled Isaiah's prophecy? It was Isaiah who said (53:5), "He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities. The chastisement of our peace was upon him. And with his stripes we are healed." We believe in the efficacy of Christ's suffering on the cross, so why not believe in the efficacy of his suffering at the whipping post? That is the place he received the stripes whereby we are healed!

May God help us to overcome this doubting and cursed world, and to put all our trust and hope in the one who inspired John the beloved disciple to write these encouraging words: Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. Amen!