THE following wonderful healing took place many years ago. I rely on my memory to tell the story as carefully as I can.
I had scarcely finished my Sunday evening Gospel service and had gone down into the congregation to greet some of our good folk, when one of my ushers tapped me on the shoulder and said, "Pastor, there's a parson in the vestry and he wants to see you". The esteemed visitor was dubbed 'a parson' because he was wearing a clerical collar, a form of dress I did not often adopt. On entering my vestry, the gentleman introduced himself as the assistant minister of Oxford Place Chapel. Oxford Place Chapel has been renowned for its powerful Christian witness, especially during the ministry of Samuel Chadwick, that mighty, well known, pastor and teacher. To this day men and women make mention of the life and work of this great man of God.
My visitor on this occasion was the Rev. R. N. Smith. He told me I would never forget his initials if I thought of the Royal Navy. I have never forgotten. Mr. Smith came to see us on this Sunday evening to tell us that his wife was ill and her illness was causing some concern. If I remember right, she had a duodenal ulcer. She had been in bed for some time and could take very little food. Mr. Smith requested that my colleague and 1 should go with him to his home, to anoint his wife and pray with her.
I remember saying to him, "But why don't you and your fellow ministers pray for her?" He then related to me what had happened in his home that same Sunday afternoon. His wife, whilst relaxing in her bed, was reading a passage from the 'good old Book', which she had never noticed before. She became excited as she read and re-read words from the Epistle of James, chapter five. She called out to her husband who was sitting in the room, "I say Reg, is this true?" "Is what true?" he inquired. Then she read aloud the famous portion from God's Holy Word: "Is any sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church; let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up". After listening, Mr. Smith said to his wife, "It is in the Bible, so it must be true". Whereupon, Mrs. Smith, with her faith already growing, said. "Then I want to do what this Scripture says".
Mr. Smith came to see us because he felt that it was better to get in touch with the people who practice this ministry. We, of course, readily responded and went along to the Methodist Manse. We found Mrs. Smith to be a sincere, godly woman, whose heart was wide open to receive all that God had for her. We all joined together in the ministry required by God's Word and were deeply aware of the presence and blessing of God. After words of encouragement, we left our friends feeling sure that even as we had done our part so God would do His. And sure enough there was a wonderful performance of the thing which He had promised.
The next day. Monday, was wash day in our home and somehow, as often was the case, we were late with dinner. We were just sitting down to our meal, when the door bell rang. On opening the door, who should be there but the Rev. and Mrs. Smith. Their faces were aglow. It was obvious that our wonderful Lord had performed a miracle. Before anyone had a chance to speak, a delighted Mrs. Smith exclaimed, "Oh, Mr. Miles, I'm healed, I'm healed!" We invited our friends in so that we might hear more of what had happened. My wife and I forgot all about our dinner. I don't think we had any that day. We had meat to eat of which the world knows nothing. I was anxious to know how real Mrs. Smith's healing was, so I asked her. "How do you know you are healed?" With a wonderful assurance which left us no room for doubt, she replied, "I've had a dinner just like my husband today and it's alright Mr. Miles, it's alright. God has healed me". She had not been able to take solid food for some time previously.
What a time of praise and thanksgiving we had together. We had proved once again that 'Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever'. What a great God we have and we can still prove that 'They who trust Him wholly, find Him wholly true'.