Faith On Fire!

It was last year when I thought I was about to take my last breath. I have always been, for the most part, a very healthy individual. Always active and on the run I continued my work in the Information Systems field as an engineer. I return to weight training and began power lifting. At 6’1 270 lbs and only 15% body fat I would say I look pretty good. One day back in June I completed a dead lift of 400 plus pounds. I felt good afterwards and went straight home. While I was home I noticed my ankle began to swell. Thinking nothing of it I continued with my day. The very following day my ankle was so swollen I could barely get my tennis shoes on. During this time I experience no pain. So, I soaked my feet and elevated them as needed. Within two weeks I began experiencing horrible pain and a fever that would not go away. I sought relief through rest and pain relievers. Once I noticed that I could not shake the fever I immediately sought help from my primary care doctor.

My visit to the doctors office was uneventful, he prescribed an antibiotic. Two weeks later I was still no better. I began to lose weight and fevers were persistent. After noticing abnormalities my doctor sent me to a specialist. This specialist told me that the activity seen was indicative of Cancer. My numbers were around 50 and normally they see no higher than 15. By this time I had lost more weight and the pain was becoming uncontrollable. What could this be? Scared and confuse I postpone my exploratory surgery for October 2008. Meanwhile, I sought the help of God, family and friends. I was in need of spiritual intervention. I lost my job and had no income. I could not shake the pain and had about 12 visits to the emergency room. Not long after my list visit to the emergency room I called my surgeon and moved my surgery date up to early October. By October I have lost more weight going from 270 down to 215. The steroids the doctor gave me help some, but drained what little energy I had. Problems with my eyes increased and the doctors continued to run all types of blood work. They could not find one positive result and were just as baffle as I.

Days of Troubles

Monday, the day of my surgery I was very scared and did not want to go through with it, but the pain I experienced pushed me to the table. I felt as though I was dying. The surgery was completed and behold the surgeon reports I did not have cancer. I thanked God, even though the doctors still did not know what was wrong. I went home feeling blessed and physically week, but the next day I lost my sight in both eyes! Rushed back to the hospital I was admitted. And of course they ran all sorts of test again and confirmed that the blood vessels to one of my eyes had ruptured. The doctor told me I would have to stay in the hospital as long as needed until they could find out what was going on with me. It was Tuesday, and I told the doctor to do whatever he had too, but come Friday I was leaving. I had a Church Convention going on and Friday was the last day and I did not want to miss out on closing service. Wednesday, I was told that I had to continue the steroids for possible Sarcoidosis and that I was possibly dying, but “we all have to go sometime from something.” I was told one attending physician. I began preaching about my divine purpose and promise from my Father through Jesus Christ. The doctor left so fast out of my room I did not realized he was gone until after I finished preaching the word of God! By Thursday the doctors came back and said I had a possible hole in my heart. The emotional rollercoaster was almost to much to handle. I prayed and my brother prayed with me. I could not accept a problem with my heart when I never had a symptom. Thursday evening I underwent another procedure that allowed doctors to get a better look at my heart. Afterwards, I was told my heart was fine. They told me that I might have bacteria attacking my brain, so they had to do a spinal tap. It was negative!

So, from Monday having surgery and faced with possible cancer, to Tuesday losing my sight, Wednesday being told I was dying, Thursday being informed my heart was bad. But Friday, physically weak but renewed in spirit by grace from on high I walked out of the hospital under divine power. With full control of my body and perfect 20/15 sight I understood the battle.

Thirty Day Battle

While I was in the hospital. I received a call from a prospective employer. They wanted to hire me and had been trying to contact me for weeks. I could not believe it. Here I was laying in a hospital bed and they want to hire me. I thanked God, but the devil attempted to shift my focus on the my physical weakness.  Nevertheless, I told them I accept before I was discharged from the hospital. It took 30 days for them to complete my background check. This is divine intervention. Because I was not capable of working. I went through so many changes after my release from the hospital. I had good days and bad. It hurt just to stand and I had to force myself to eat. It was the first week of November and I cried out to God with a broken body, damaged emotions and weakening faith. I had everything to lose…See, I began ministering in 1996.  I preached in large and small churches. I’ve experienced the good and the bad of “church folk”. I had become all things to all men and sinned against God. Basically, I stopped preaching and witnessing, but continued as a believer behind closed doors. Once the doors had no confirmed answers for me. I cried to God because I was undone. I was not ready to meet him knowing I had not walked with purpose in my calling. I asked God to forgive me and I told Him I would use whatever time he granted me on this earth to sever him fully. It did not matter God had delivered me from sickness, and walked me out of the hospital. He wanted me to have a closer walk with Him and so through the thirty day recovery process Jesus broke me down. And in doing so, I drew closer to him. My actions to draw closer to Him was simply out of fear. Fear that I would not see my family or friends, but most of all fear that I had not walked in my calling. within days of calling out my physical strength returned. By the next week I was eating like I had never before. I knew I was healed and by Thanksgiving I was able to stand and walk for longer periods without any signs of weakness. The doctors continued to run test. One day the  Cardiologist simply utter God has healed me. We prayed and rejoiced in his office and I knew God was at work. I have never heard a doctor proclaim the power of God before a patient. My weight returned and the employer who offered me a job stated I passed their background check. How, I wondered with a damaged credit rating.They even decided to wait for me until I was strong enough to start, another 30days out! God is great! What employer waits nearly 60 days for new employee during this economy? I declared my healing in Jesus name and returned to work. Now I am not saying the devil has not tried me since, but I continue by grace and faith in Jesus everyday!

Present Day Blessings

Today I live everyday by the grace and blessing of God. I have continued to spread the gospel via various media outlets and speaking engagements whenever asked. It is not over until God has the final word.

Ephesians 2:10“For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

That is correct. No matter the circumstances for those called by faith in Jesus our destiny has been prepared in advance that we might bring honor to the Father.  Honor to His name through the struggles, through the ups and downs of this life God has equipped us to endure. Equipped us by handing us the victory by His blood. I decree I am more powerful today by faith in Jesus than ever before. Take inventory of your life. Measure the weight of situation set before you and know that God has prepared you to endure. Therefore, claim your victory in Him and have faith on fire!

Sincerely,

Perakletus

PS: They concluded that I had a Rheumatoid\Sarcoid episode, but cant say for certain. I say, I have received divine healing  and salvation in Jesus name!

If you would like prayer or simply would like to share your testimony about God’s divine grace write to Downtowngospel@cox.net