EPISODE-1

Long ago, in my first stint as preacher, with my excitement level at plus plus and spiritual fervour at plus plus plus, I committed a blunder that almost cost my life.

Sometimes I used to preach all 7 days of the week brimming with the anointing of the Holy Spirit. After the sermon I would pray for the congregation according to the revelations granted by the Holy Spirit. He would tell me to call out the names of sicknesses which were to be prayed for.
This provided great excitement and wonderful results. Not that all were healed but to a large extent, success story.

On some of the days because of weariness due to constant preaching and lack of proper prayer before preaching, there wouldn't be much revelations about the sicknesses to be called out. In my enthusiasm I would end the preaching saying "I am not calling out names of specific illness today; we'll pray for all sickness."

I did not realize the folly that I was committing until slowly my health started deteriorating. I started getting allergic to petrol fumes first. That made me cough and I had a constriction in the chest. Slowly, every other smell made me cough and breathless. I developed heartburn to many foods and occasionally had vomits. I continued my preaching, sometimes only being able to get up and preach for my allotted time and then I would have to rest. I started taking medicine, but though a physician, very poor in constant and regular dosage.

My work as a doctor suffered. Sometimes I could not sit in my clinic for the usual 4-5 hours. I would be tired and rush back home to rest. I would pray for healing but nothing materialized. I would fast but but no avail. Almost a month had passed now and I was in really bad shape.
It was October 13, 1996. Going through the Word of God, in my quiet time, I realized God speaking to me saying "3 months I have given you into the hands of the enemy" (The passage was David being given 3 choices after he took a census)

I felt miserable. 2 more months. The healing date was set. December 13th. Slowly God told me that it was my own folly. Indiscriminate praying. Not intently listening to the voice of the Holy Spirit of what to do and what not to do.Praying for people whom God had not asked me to pray for.

I continued with my preaching. My sickness continued. Despair, dejection and sorrow shrouded me like big dark clouds. Despite all this hope prevailed. Dec 13th. I would say to myself and to others - God will heal.

The Bible says " And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love by the Holy Spirit whom he has given us" (Roman 5:5)
During my illness one preacher who talked to me said, "This may progress to Bronchial Asthma". No! I said! God will heal.

I waited patiently. The day drew near. It came. It went. The healing did not come. It was an exasperating experience.
I said "Jesus", you said you'll heal me, but I'm still sick. Dec - 13th has gone.
"Son, you've stopped praising me, was the answer!"

It was true. I had stopped praising God with a loving heart. Prayer, praise and worship had all continued but not will all my heart, soul, mind and spirit.
It was the evening of Dec 16th, I started praising God for everything. I started with every detail of things in my room; switches, fan, clock, doors, windows etc; then moved on to praise God for other things; persons; family, everything that I could think of. I don't remember what time I dozed off, probably pretty late, but when I woke up the next morning I was TOTALLY HEALED.

Praise the Lord! Hallelujah!

Moral

Guidance of the Holy Spirit is vital in ministry especially when dealing with sickness and demonic bondage.
Some ministers are given authority by Jesus to pray for all sickness while some may be asked by Jesus to pray only for particular sicknesses (Note, the Bible says, gifts of healing and not gift of healing in 1 Cor 12:9)
Trying to set free afflicted ones from demonic bondage requires greater caution, precise leading of the Holy Spirit and absolute discernment on the part of the minister.
And as you see PRAISE works wonders in the most hopeless of situations.
We all learn from our mistakes, I guess. Hope you agree.