Enough to Do the Job

By Pastor Bob Miller

It all began when Justin awoke one morning with a tick embedded in the tissue under his eye.  After seeing the doctor, he was given medicine for a staph infection.  His fever continued to rise in spite of the fact that he was now on medication.  This did not make sense!  Justin, my son, could only lie there, weak and listless.  His fever climbed to 105.  Our doctor was out of town but he had left instructions with another doctor just in case. The fever was reaching a dangerous level.  We had to get him to a hospital.  As we picked him up, his body was limp and a rash appeared around his wrists. That was new.  Needless to say he was admitted immediately and our doctor notified.  Blood was drawn and special tests were run that would confirm our doctor’s suspicion.  His temperature was still climbing.  My wife and I had made up our minds that no matter what symptoms he was enduring, our Lord had a victory for him.  Healing belonged to him because of the stripes that Jesus bore in His body.  We made up our minds that healing was ours.  We decided to pray constantly in twelve-hour shifts until the job was done. I would pray twelve hours and my wife would pray twelve hours until the healing manifested.

 As parents we were concerned yet determined to see this through.  I was at a loss as to how to pray effectively because I became fearful. I had prayed yet he still grew worse.  Have you experienced this same thing too?  I did what I knew to do yet to no avail because of the presence of fear.  I thank God for His Word.  Romans 8:26 tells me just what to do, “Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.” This verse gave me hope and a plan.   This scripture makes an important point about praying:  we can pray on a higher level and overcome our weaknesses when we allow the Holy Spirit to pray through us.  I thank God for the Baptism in the Holy Spirit.  This experience was crucial in this situation.  The plan was to pray in the Spirit (in other tongues) until the healing manifested.  Thus our weaknesses were turned into strength.  Romans 8:27 gave us great news, “Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.”  The prayers would be effective because they would be the will of God. What a load was lifted!  We can pray effective, fervent prayers with assurance they will be answered. 

 John 16:13 makes another amazing statement, “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.” The Holy Spirit, the Helper, will show us ahead of time things we need to know and will guide us in applying His truth to the situations of life.  This means that as we pray in other tongues God provides the help we really need.  God will show us ahead of time what we need to be praying.  That sure changes the balance of power and we had the advantage in this battle to see healing manifest in our son. You see the Baptism in the Holy Spirit is critical if we want to see God’s power manifest on our behalf.

 God revealed to John the Baptist that he would baptize with water and the one to follow, Jesus, would baptize in the Holy Spirit. John 1:33, “I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, 'Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.'”  Jesus also said believers would speak with new tongues in Mark 16:17, “And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues.” 

 Armed with the Word of God and the Baptism in the Holy Spirit, we commenced to pray in twelve-hour shifts knowing that God had provided us with enough power to get the job done.  As my wife was praying in other tongues during her shift, the Holy Spirit spoke to her as to what to do.  The Holy Spirit told her to curse the life in the organism in Justin’s body and command it to die in Jesus Name.  She laid her hand on his body and spoke as the Holy Spirit had directed.  As she spoke those powerful words, she knew no more praying was needed.  Healing was ours.  Eventually, the test results came through confirming our doctor’s prognosis:  Rocky Mountain Fever which is caused by an infected tick.  The antibiotics had masked the symptoms and made it harder to diagnose. 

 The following morning I arrived at the hospital to see a miracle, our son sitting up asking for some French fries and a hamburger.  Then the doctor came in and confirmed that it was a miracle—the medicine had not had time to take effect.  We knew nothing about this disease.  He began to tell us that Rocky Mountain Fever is caused by a tiny parasite that gets into the blood stream that takes it to the organs of the body where it feeds on tissue.  We both realized the magnitude of what God had done. Through speaking in tongues my wife was given everything she needed to get the job done.  Justin was healed and God received the glory.

 Very soon we will celebrate Pentecost commemorating the time when God poured His Spirit upon all flesh.  Are you baptized in the Holy Spirit?  Do you speak with other tongues?  Jesus said believers will speak with new tongues.   Are you spending time praying in other tongues?  As far as I am concerned, the Baptism in the Holy Spirit saved my son’s life.  Just think what Jesus can do for your life as you pray regularly in other tongues.  Jesus will give you all the power you need—enough to do the job!