This is the most balanced and honest treatment of this subject I have read. The distinction between the outward manifestation and the inward reality is the one that most people miss, either defending every convulsion as God or dismissing every one as fake. The truth is more complex, and more human.
What I find myself sitting with is the idea that the same outer reaction can have three completely different sources: genuine deliverance, an involuntary physical response, or a spiritually unhealthy experience. That is the discernment that cannot be rushed. It requires patience, humility, and a willingness to wait for the fruit.
The line that stayed with me is: "Don't judge the healing by how loud the squeezing was. Judge it by what ends up on the table." That is the reframe that changes everything. The question is not whether the body shook. The question is whether the life that follows is more free.
Thank you for this. It is a reminder that healing is not about the performance. It is about the fruit. And fruit ripens slowly.
Heavenly Father only you know what Gari Sayles needs. But for some reason, you placed me here in the very moment of need and Father I am lifting up your creation, this fellow human being, and child of God. You gave us five wonderful senses, but the sense of sight is possibly the hardest one to lose. Father, I ask that you hear us now and restore this person‘s body to the perfection that you created from the very beginning. I ask that you heal and completely restore the physical sight, but also increase the Spiritual sight so they can see you more clearly. Thank you Father, it’s in Yeshua’s name I pray Amen.
I agree with others. This is the best article on this topic. So balanced. I’ve always wondered how one person falls easily (my husband) and then another stays standing (me). My testimony of healing from eczema at a meeting when prayed for has stood the fruit test of over 50 years. No big emotional manipulation or manifestations. I stood stoically while the preacher prayed loudly and I felt nothing. Only three days later my skin started recovery from blotches and irritation.
Hi Pirkko..... I love that your healing came not from the loud prayers of a preacher but from the tender hands of our loving Lord. Not diminishing the power of the preacher's prayer but keeping the spotlight on our wonderful God.
What a beautiful article! You have a gift! Thank you, I enjoyed it and it is timely for me. A friend recently prayed for me(I asked for it) and the next morning I really felt different. That was 4 days ago and I’m getting better and better!
Wow. Very well done. I have many stories of past experiences. We left charismatic churches over 20 years ago, but still hanging on to the baby. In the early 90’s we attended the Rodney Howard Browne “laughing” meetings at Calvary Chapel in Ft. Worth. We saw all sorts of manifestations. We experienced what I called the manifest presence of God one night. There was a heaviness that you could hardly stand. I believe there many genuine inner healings and deliverances, but I also believe there were demonic manifestations. Eventually the revival went off the rails and I had many unanswered questions afterwards. I’m encouraged by your essay.
For some reason your Spirit led writing moves my tender heart every time and I end up in tears. I grew up overseas, the child of American foreign missionaries and my experiences were just as you describe...all over the place. Many people have asked me what my take is on these experiences and God's healing power, and I have tried to explain exactly what you so clearly write here. I think most people felt I was wrong or crazy or misguided. Like you say, people jump on a team and become very vocal and dogmatic. I try to tell them to ask God to show them and then follow His lead. Most don't connect with that. So I pray for them and continue to pray for healing in myself and others. Every kind of healing. Thank you for your very loving and kind work.
Several years ago I attended a healing service or so I thought!
It turned out to be a meeting of deliverance from unclean spirits!!
The exhorcist collected everyones amulets, trinkets, stones etc and put it all into a basket obviously they would never get them back again.
The floor of the large room was covered in rugs and I soon understood why..as the exhorcist prayed over them they would come crashing down 😳
Yes many of them writhing and screaming 👹 but I must say that it seemed authentic to me.
I sat in my chair with my glance low and praying for protection until it was my turn to go up.
The exhorcist put two metal rods in the form of an ⚔️ over my throat and blessed my throat.
My husband didn't take this seriously and when we came back home I believe that we brought back an evil spirit with us that destroyed our marriage and was the beginning of years of spiritual warfare.
Thank you for this beautiful testimony and the prayer that follows. I shared your prayer with my husband who is also suffering as your wife did. Please pray for him. His name is John. Thank you, Shervin. May God continue to bless you in wisdom and grace and your wife in complete healing. Amen.
This is the most balanced and honest treatment of this subject I have read. The distinction between the outward manifestation and the inward reality is the one that most people miss, either defending every convulsion as God or dismissing every one as fake. The truth is more complex, and more human.
What I find myself sitting with is the idea that the same outer reaction can have three completely different sources: genuine deliverance, an involuntary physical response, or a spiritually unhealthy experience. That is the discernment that cannot be rushed. It requires patience, humility, and a willingness to wait for the fruit.
The line that stayed with me is: "Don't judge the healing by how loud the squeezing was. Judge it by what ends up on the table." That is the reframe that changes everything. The question is not whether the body shook. The question is whether the life that follows is more free.
Thank you for this. It is a reminder that healing is not about the performance. It is about the fruit. And fruit ripens slowly.
Lord God, please heal my vision. I'm so scared of going blind and being a burden on my family.
Heavenly Father only you know what Gari Sayles needs. But for some reason, you placed me here in the very moment of need and Father I am lifting up your creation, this fellow human being, and child of God. You gave us five wonderful senses, but the sense of sight is possibly the hardest one to lose. Father, I ask that you hear us now and restore this person‘s body to the perfection that you created from the very beginning. I ask that you heal and completely restore the physical sight, but also increase the Spiritual sight so they can see you more clearly. Thank you Father, it’s in Yeshua’s name I pray Amen.
Thanks Ernie. I'm a single mom, although my kids are adults. I still need to be able to do things for them, and with them. I appreciate your prayers.
You’re welcome, Gari.
WeI have 2 40 year-old plus sons, but they will always be a teenager to my wife and I.
Have a blessed day!
I agree with others. This is the best article on this topic. So balanced. I’ve always wondered how one person falls easily (my husband) and then another stays standing (me). My testimony of healing from eczema at a meeting when prayed for has stood the fruit test of over 50 years. No big emotional manipulation or manifestations. I stood stoically while the preacher prayed loudly and I felt nothing. Only three days later my skin started recovery from blotches and irritation.
Hi Pirkko..... I love that your healing came not from the loud prayers of a preacher but from the tender hands of our loving Lord. Not diminishing the power of the preacher's prayer but keeping the spotlight on our wonderful God.
What a beautiful article! You have a gift! Thank you, I enjoyed it and it is timely for me. A friend recently prayed for me(I asked for it) and the next morning I really felt different. That was 4 days ago and I’m getting better and better!
Wow. Very well done. I have many stories of past experiences. We left charismatic churches over 20 years ago, but still hanging on to the baby. In the early 90’s we attended the Rodney Howard Browne “laughing” meetings at Calvary Chapel in Ft. Worth. We saw all sorts of manifestations. We experienced what I called the manifest presence of God one night. There was a heaviness that you could hardly stand. I believe there many genuine inner healings and deliverances, but I also believe there were demonic manifestations. Eventually the revival went off the rails and I had many unanswered questions afterwards. I’m encouraged by your essay.
For some reason your Spirit led writing moves my tender heart every time and I end up in tears. I grew up overseas, the child of American foreign missionaries and my experiences were just as you describe...all over the place. Many people have asked me what my take is on these experiences and God's healing power, and I have tried to explain exactly what you so clearly write here. I think most people felt I was wrong or crazy or misguided. Like you say, people jump on a team and become very vocal and dogmatic. I try to tell them to ask God to show them and then follow His lead. Most don't connect with that. So I pray for them and continue to pray for healing in myself and others. Every kind of healing. Thank you for your very loving and kind work.
So good. We need to stay so close to Jesus that we know Him from fake. Thank you for this ♥️🙏
Very good, very balanced. Let's not let the counterfeit or the carnal stop us hungering for the real thing.
Several years ago I attended a healing service or so I thought!
It turned out to be a meeting of deliverance from unclean spirits!!
The exhorcist collected everyones amulets, trinkets, stones etc and put it all into a basket obviously they would never get them back again.
The floor of the large room was covered in rugs and I soon understood why..as the exhorcist prayed over them they would come crashing down 😳
Yes many of them writhing and screaming 👹 but I must say that it seemed authentic to me.
I sat in my chair with my glance low and praying for protection until it was my turn to go up.
The exhorcist put two metal rods in the form of an ⚔️ over my throat and blessed my throat.
My husband didn't take this seriously and when we came back home I believe that we brought back an evil spirit with us that destroyed our marriage and was the beginning of years of spiritual warfare.
So if you ask me yes it's real.
Thats a healing, just not the way we think of.
Your eyes were opened.
I suppose that it is, given all the evil spirits that Jesus delivered people from!
Problem was that I wasn't expecting it!
Great article! This is the best explanation on this subject that I have ever read or heard. Thank you for presenting it so thoroughly!
Thank you for this beautiful testimony and the prayer that follows. I shared your prayer with my husband who is also suffering as your wife did. Please pray for him. His name is John. Thank you, Shervin. May God continue to bless you in wisdom and grace and your wife in complete healing. Amen.
What did God heal in you first ? I think that I need that healing too.
Great article. You articulated what I have been thinking for quiet sometime!
Sometimes the power of God cannot be contained by the human body, but oh how I dislike being pushed by the hand of man. It happens all too frequently.
Nice post! We'll done 👏
I needed to read this today, God is Good to us!