^(p178)

CHAPTER XV

WHERE IS THE LORD GOD OF ELIJAH?

1. Although the Lord had done great things for Elijah the prophet, the successor of this great prophet of God wished to know why the Lord God of Israel would not do for him what He had done for his master. Elisha knew that there was no respect of persons with God, and that the Lord was able to do for him what he had done for Elijah, if he would trust the Lord as did his predecessor.[1]

 2. The writer feels that it would be for the glory of God to relate in this chapter a few experiences from his own life, and from his observations in the work of God.[2] It has often occurred to him that the God and Father of Jesus, who did so much for the apostles and the people in the early days of the church, still lives to do similar great things for all those who will put their trust in him.[3] Since it was for God’s glory to bear witness to His mighty power in the days that are gone, it certainly will be to His glory now to bear testimony that the mighty God of Israel and the divine Son of God continue to have the same power to perform similar wonderful things.[4]

3. Mention has been made of several instances in the writer’s life where the Lord wonderfully wrought for His servant.[5] From a consumptive he was raised to health and strength, so that friends and relatives confessed that none but the Lord could have done the things which were actually performed. ^(p179) But the Lord had still greater things in store for His servant, and it was the privilege of the writer to witness some remarkable experiences of the healing power of God, which he believes it will be only to the glory of God for him to relate, for the benefit of those whose confidence in God may be strengthened.

 Experience I.

4. While I was attending school, being obliged to work hard to accomplish what I had set out to do, my eyes became badly affected. Shortly after I began to work in the cause of Christ, I was forced to wear glasses. The doctors said my eyes were in a bad condition, and they thought I should have to wear glasses for the rest of my life. After using these artificial eyes for one year, I was surprised to find that during this time I had lost a number of degrees of vision, and I had to resort to stronger lenses. I regretted this very much, and I felt that it was a great affliction which would hinder me in the work.

5. After a time, I became impressed that I ought to pray to the Lord to restore my eyesight. While, doubtless, I was injudicious in my school-days in straining my eyes, I felt that I was only preparing for work in the cause of the Lord. The thought forced itself upon my mind to pray that the Lord would heal me of the loss of sight. I prayed for several weeks, but had no relief. One day while attending a camp-meeting, one of the ministering brethren, who was badly afflicted on the camp-ground, asked if another brother and I would unite with him in prayer that the Lord would completely restore him to health. ^(p180) It was indeed a privilege to engage in prayer for the sick, because the Lord has promised that the prayer of faith shall save the sick.[6] We were following strictly and literally the word of God, and one brother minister handed to me the bottle of oil, and asked if I would anoint the brother with the oil while we were praying for his restoration. As I took the bottle from his hand, and was about to remove the stopper, there came a sudden voice from heaven to me as clear as I could have wished to hear it, saying, “Why are you wearing your glasses?” Without stopping to ask any question, I immediately said, “All right, Lord, I will take them off if you wish me to.”

As soon as I said that, my glasses came off, and of a sudden the Holy Spirit filled the tent, and the writer was lifted almost bodily from the floor. My soul was filled with joy and peace, for the blessed and divine Christ had healed me of my physical infirmity. My sight was completely restored. I took off those glasses, and I praise God that, from that day to this, they have never been on my face. Although more than a decade has gone by, there has never been an hour but that I have had perfect sight. I have had no trouble whatever in continuing my work either by day or by night. Praise the Lord for such a wonderful Saviour.

EXPERIENCE II.

6. After I had been in Christian work about six months, I was unexpectedly stricken down with typhoid fever. The doctor said that on account of the heavy mental strain I had been under for a number of months, my health had broken down, and I now had a serious case of typhoid. ^(p182) I felt very sorry to think that after these years of preparation, I now should have to be laid aside for a time, and not be able to continue with my labor for the Lord Jesus. During the first night of my illness, the Lord came preciously near to me, and the experiences I enjoyed that night were very precious. I felt that if I could behold the beauties and the glories of the work of Christ every night as I did that night, I would be willing to be sick all my life. Though the fever raged and my head ached, it was a night long to be remembered.

7. At the same time the Holy Spirit brought to my mind many of the exceeding great and precious promises of God, all of which gave the assurance to me that the Lord would heal me from this sickness. In the morning, I told Pastor G. B. Wheeler, with whom I was living, that the Lord Jesus had given me the assurance that He would restore me to health if I would follow out the directions given in His word. I had promised to attend a conference held in Michigan in the month of February, and this sickness occurred toward the close of December. If I went to that convention, the Lord surely would have to heal me. For several days the fever raged. It became intense. Although at times my head was covered with bags of ice, the fever was strong, and the pain so severe that I cried for cool applications to get relief.

8. In the meanwhile, Brother Wheeler had telephoned to one of the ministering brethren, asking him to come and have a special season of prayer, that the Lord would give me back my health and strength. ^(p183) Several days passed before he came, and although the doctor came to see me every day, he gave me very little encouragement, except that I should doubtless have a hard time with the fever, and should be confined to bed for many weeks while the fever was having its run. I never lost the assurance which the Lord had given me that He would heal me in answer to prayer.

9. Just four days after the doctor had pronounced the fever typhoid, on Friday morning, the two ministering brethren knelt together at my bedside, and asked God to heal me of this typhoid fever. In the midst of their prayers, a thrill went through my whole body, as though a current of electricity had passed through me, and I at once sat up in bed. I gave glory to God that I was healed. I felt in my body that the blessed Christ had healed me. Shortly after the prayer season was over, the doctor made his usual visit, and one of the first things he said to me was,

“Well, you are feeling better this morning, aren’t you?”

I replied,

“Yes, doctor, the Lord has healed me, and I am well.”

I still felt rather weak, as I had such a siege of the fever, but I assured him that I knew the Lord had fulfilled His promise.

Before he left, he said to me;

“Now I will leave you some of this medicine, and you may take it, as it will help you.”

I said to him:

“Doctor, you may leave the medicine if you wish, but I assure you that I will not take any. I am not at all fanatical, but I know that God has healed me, and I shall not need any of the medicine.”

^(p184) He concluded to leave it, but the medicine was never touched.

10. Within two days of the time of prayer, I was up and dressed, and within a week I was out-of-doors walking on the snowy ground, and was well and able to keep my engagement to attend conference in Michigan, as I had planned. Yes, blessed be God, the gospel of Jesus Christ is able to heal the body as well as to save the soul. The signs and wonders which were to go with the gospel in the early days of His ministry are still with the church;[7] and while it is true that materia medica has had its influence over the masses, and to a large extent even over those who are followers of the blessed Christ, the Lord Jesus still lives and rules to perform His wonderful works for all those who put their trust in Him.

EXPERIENCE III.

11. As I was getting ready to engage more particularly in the work for my Jewish brethren, which will be told in the following chapters, I discovered that my little girl was sick. She was suffering a great deal, so that we finally called the physician to ascertain what was the real difficulty. Mrs. Gilbert and I were both surprised to hear the doctor say that the child had infantile paralysis; and the physician added that it might be weeks, months, and perhaps years before she would get better, and she might never recover from this dread disease. This made my heart sad. I pondered much over the matter, sought the Lord about it, and finally said to my wife:

^(p185) “I believe the whole thing is of the devil. I believe he wishes to hinder us in the work of God, and so he has allowed this thing to come upon the child that we may be hindered in the work. I believe the Lord will heal that child, if we pray about it and follow the instruction given in the word of God.”

12. She agreed that we should call for the elders of the church, and pray in the name of the Lord for the restoration of the child. Two of the ministering brethren were called in, and we together poured out our hearts to the Lord that He would heal the child, so that we might continue with the work He had given us to do. After the prayer was ended, I took the little one in my arms, and by every test I could apply I found she was perfectly well. For days, yes, for weeks, the child could not wear a shoe. The suffering and agony of the babe was pathetic. If she was placed in certain positions she would cry so loud and so continuously that it would almost break one’s heart to hear her weeping. The ministering brethren had not been gone three minutes before she could be handled as well as any healthy child; her shoes could be put on her feet as well as could any other child’s, and she seemed perfectly well. To this day she is as well and rugged as any child need be; and the blessed Lord gave us the precious victory once more. He thus proved to us again that the prayer of faith shall save the sick. Yes, the blessed Christ is a divine and a living Saviour. He is able to do all things according as He has promised.

EXPERIENCE IV.

^(p186) 13.  While I was living in the same family with Pastor G. B. Wheeler, the wife of the minister was stricken down with nervous prostration. In order to hear what she wished to say one was obliged to place his ear close to her mouth. She was very low, and the doctor said that it would be a long time before she could even move from her bed. She was a noble soul, and one whose heart was filled with love for Jesus and for his cause. She not only was a devoted mother in her home, but was a true mother in Israel, and we workers all felt that she could not be spared. It was a serious case of nervous prostration, and it made the hearts of all sad to think that this light of the home should have to be confined to a bed of sickness. Before we separated for the morning’s work, it was suggested that we all unite in earnestly seeking the Lord that His mighty power might be made manifest, and that if it were His will, He would heal His handmaiden. We all believed that God would hear prayer, and He would work according to His glory. Several of the workers united in an earnest season of seeking God for restoration, and we had the assurance that the Lord Christ would bless His servant. Each went to his respective labor, and in half an hour I returned to the house, only to find Mrs. Wheeler up and dressed. The Spirit of the Lord had come, and had richly blessed our sister with health and strength. How our hearts rejoiced to see the mighty power of the Lord manifest, and we had another assurance that the blessed Jesus still lived, and that the Lord God of Elijah had the same power to work for His servants now as He had in the days of old.

^(p188) 14. The same physician attended Mrs. Wheeler that attended the writer in his sickness, and he had come to the conclusion that there was not much need of his services among such a class of people. He would diagnose a case, and pronounce the disease; he would expect a serious and protracted illness, only to be surprised that the Lord God of Israel interposed by His mighty omnipotence.

EXPERIENCE V.

15. Another Bible worker who lived in the same family was stricken with spinal meningitis, that awful disease which sweeps many to death with great rapidity. I had been out in the evening to fill an appointment, and when Mrs. Gilbert and I returned, we were surprised to see Dr. A. at the house, although it was now nearly midnight. Inquiring into the cause of his presence, I was told that Mrs. S. was down with this terrible affliction. The doctor said that she was very low, that the pains in her spine were drawing back her head, and if she had any more of these attacks she could not live till morning. He said it was a severe case, and he did not give much encouragement. All were very sad. He said that we must not leave her alone, as she might have an attack at any time, and the results might be disastrous.

16. We felt that before we retired we must take the case to God. So all the workers knelt before the Lord and prayed the Lord Jesus to manifest His mighty power by stretching forth His hand to heal.[8] ^(p189) It was a holy season, and the Lord came very near to us. I offered to remain with the patient during the night, and as I went to her room she opened her eyes, and with a mild and subdued voice, asked,

“What is the matter? I feel such a peace come over me. Something has happened.”

I said,

“Yes, my sister, something has happened. We have been praying for you.”

Oh what a peace that night filled her soul. She soon dropped to sleep, and slept soundly all through the night. In a short time she was perfectly well, and to this day is a consecrated and devoted servant of Christ doing all in her power to win souls to Jesus.

17. The physician came to the house early the next morning, expecting to hear that his patient was extremely low, if not actually dead. To his surprise and astonish­ment, he found her almost well, and was again told that the Lord Jesus had heard and answered prayer, and had restored the sick one to health.

18. The doctor was much impressed with the pure religion of Jesus. He had been a professor and a church-member for some years. But he had never seen the religion of Jesus manifested on this wise. The Spirit of the Lord moved upon the heart of the physician and his wife to know more about the word of God and the true religion of Jesus. He felt that there must be something more to Bible religion than what he had known, and he desired to study the Bible, that he and his family might learn more about the pure and undiluted truth of the gospel. The family accepted all the light the Lord Jesus had for them, and for years the doctor was a noble and loyal supporter of God’s cause. He died in the faith of soon seeing the blessed Jesus, who was able to work so mightily for all those who put their trust in Him. The Lord God of Elijah still lives, and He needs witnesses everywhere to prove the truth of the gospel that He is able to heal the sick as well as to save the soul.

EXPERIENCE VI.

19. I must give one more case, to show that there is nothing too hard even now for the Lord to do. The blessed Saviour is able yet to perform most mighty works for those whose hearts are perfect towards him. After closing a series of evangelistic services in a tent in the city of Salem, Massachusetts, several of the friends greatly desired to assist in the breaking up of the camp. Among those who were helping us was one brother who had recently accepted the faith of Christ, and who had learned to love Jesus and His truth. This man had been rescued from the depths of sin, and the Lord Jesus had done great things for his soul. True, he was but a babe in Christ, but his heart was burning with love for Jesus. He was devoting a great deal of his time to learning the will of the Lord, and he longed to do all he could that he might drink deeper draughts from salvation’s wells. He spent considerable of his time during the summer in helping us at the tent, and he longed for the time to come that he might have the privilege of attending a camp-meeting where he might learn more of the word of the Lord. The day had arrived when we must take down the tent to prepare for the camp-meeting which would be held in about ten days. Being a sailor and familiar with the handling of canvas and masts, Brother C. wished to assist in the folding of tents, and the lowering of the large tent mast. The gospel tent was a fifty-foot, circular tent, and the mast was about thirty-eight feet long, and about ten inches through at the base of the pole. While he was lowering the mast, a spliced rope tied about a stake to assist in lowering the pole, gave way, the mast was out of control, and the rope became wound diagonally across his back. This rope so tightened about him that it drew him against the large stakes, breaking four ribs, each rib in two places; and throwing him to the ground, the mast fell across both his legs. It was a miracle that the man was not instantly killed. He was bruised, torn, and lacerated. It so affected him that he became nearly insane before the physician arrived. He kept pacing to and fro. One of the skilled physicians of Salem, Massachusetts, was immediately called, and he told the brother that if he did not stop moving about, he might die at any minute, as the ribs, the way they were broken, might pierce his lungs. He was gotten under control while the physician gave him medical attention. He was thoroughly bandaged, but was a sad spectacle to look upon. His back was terribly bruised, and the ropes and the mast had torn clothing and flesh from different parts of his body.

20. After the doctor had done all he could to relieve him, he assisted him to his own carriage, and carefully drove the man about one and a half miles to his home. It was sad indeed to see this poor brother in such a terrible condition after he had interested himself so much in the work of God, and his heart was longing to go to the camp-meeting but a few days ahead. As the doctor was about to take him home, I asked the physician his opinion of the brother’s condition. ^(p192) He said:

“If everything goes well, he may be able to get out in two months, but he may never get out of this alive. He has four ribs broken, and each rib is broken in two places. He is also injured generally.”

I felt sad and sorry for the poor man, and wished that something might be done to help him. It was evident that human skill had done all it could, and the regular course of things must now be followed. All that we could now do, was to leave the matter in the hands of God. After the brother reached his home, it was found that he was unable to lie down in his bed; he had to be bolstered up. A strap device was arranged for him, so that by careful handling, he was able to move himself, by the aid of this strap, from one side of the bed to the other. Each time he moved, the action was accompanied with groans.

21. Several days after he was confined to his bed, I called to see him, and it was then that I found him in the condition just described. He felt thankful to God that his life was spared, but he was sorry to think he could not go to the camp-meeting. It seemed sad that after he had waited a long time for the privilege of enjoying such a blessing as he would receive at the camp-meeting, he should now have to be denied the privilege. While we were visiting together, I did all I could to encourage him to trust in the Lord, and told him that all things worked together for good to those that loved the Saviour.[9] ^(p193) But, somehow, I felt in my heart that the Lord would do a work for that man. He confessed all his sins to the Saviour, and he longed for a deeper experience in God.

22. Before I left him, we had a season of prayer, and it was a blessed and precious season. The Holy Spirit came very near to us, and we felt sure that the presence and power of the Lord was in the room. We especially asked God to give the brother strength and health, and, if it would be for His glory, to completely heal him. I went away assured that God would do that which would be for His glory.

23. Two or three hours later, as he was lying in bed, he seemed to hear a voice saying to him,

“You are well, why don’t you get up?”

Heeding the call, he immediately threw the bed covers from him, and jumped from the bed. He tore the bandages from his body, and went to the door of the next room where his wife was. He called for his clothing, and put it on. He was a well man; his bones seemed to be as strong as ever; and he felt perfectly whole. It brought a shout of victory to his soul, and joy to his home. This happened Thursday night, just four days after the accident occurred.

24. The doctor came the next morning, as usual, to attend the patient, but the brother was around the house out­doors.

“Where is the man?” the doctor asked.

He was then informed what had taken place. He was almost dazed. ^(p194) The physician was not a strong believer in the Lord, but here something had actually happened that was explicable to him. He knew the man’s ribs were broken, four of them, each one in two places, and he knew that by no law of nature could the man have so improved from the condition he was in on the previous morning when he called to see him, as to get well so soon. He left the house puzzled and baffled, but admitted that the man was well.

25. The brother went to church the next Sabbath, and related his experience before the members present. The Spirit of the Lord came near with great power. It was a wonderful meeting, and it resulted in the conversion of his mother, an old woman who had reached threescore and ten years, and who had never made any profession of the Christian religion. The next day the brother rode his bicycle ten miles, and felt no ill effects from his trip. The man surely was healed.

26. When the time came for the camp-meeting, the brother was in attendance. It strengthened his faith, and was a great blessing to many others to whom he told the story. While I personally knew the Lord had healed the man, I wished to have another physician examine him, so that there might be added evidence of the power of God to heal and to strengthen. I had the man present himself for examination to a skilled physician on the camp-ground. I myself saw how bruised and lacerated the man’s body was just a few days before, but now his flesh was as fresh and clear as a child’s. The doctor examined his ribs very carefully, and applied every test that a physician could apply. He said that the man’s bones were perfectly sound. ^(p195) The doctor turned to me, and asked,

“Do you know it for a fact that this man had his bones broken as has been described?”

I told him what I saw with my own eyes, and gave him the testimony of the physician. The doctor was a noted physician of the city of Salem, Massachusetts, and there was no reason to doubt but that the man’s ribs were broken, and his conduct at the time of the accident attested it.

Then said the doctor,

“It is one of the most wonderful cases I have ever seen. There is nothing the matter with this man’s ribs, they are all perfectly sound. The Lord surely did a remarkable miracle upon this man.”

27. As far as I know, the man has been perfectly well from that day to this; he is constantly rejoicing in the great and mighty power of the blessed Christ.

To me these experiences were a source of strength, and gave me greater faith in the power of God. While there are many more experiences which I might relate, these have been told to assure you that “the Lord God of Elijah” still lives. He has the same power to heal the sick, to make injured men well, and to do for those who believe in Him today, that He had when He walked on this earth as a man among men.