Mea e 'ai e tatau ma leaso
"the prayer of faith shall save the sick." (James 5:15)
Our son Tuito'o was diagnosed earlier this year with stage 4 "Sarcoma Cancer".
It is a soft tissue bone cancer with a football size tumor pushing up against his spine, that is too critically near for surgery or radiation to remove. His only hope, the doctors says, is for the tumor to be reduced to the point where it can then be surgically removed.
There is no higher comparable threshold of pain you feel in your heart and crushing blow to your faith as parents, then to be tested when illness becomes your children. Knowing the painful suffering they are going through, while feeling inadequately, hopelessly unable to relieve his pain.
As people of faith, we must hold firmly to the belief that the same God who healed in Bible times, can do it again in our times. We Christians must believe that Christ is the same compassionate physician now as He was during His earthly ministry. In Him there is healing for every disease, restoring power for every withering body. Uplifting of every damaged spirit and restoring of every faith.
His disciples in modern times are to pray for the sick as surely as the disciples of old. And as in the past, recoveries will follow; for the bible says, "the prayer of faith shall save the sick." (James 5:15)
We have been given freely the Holy Spirit's power, the calm assurance of faith, that can claim God's promises. The Lord's promise, "They shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover" (Mark 16:18), is just as trustworthy now as in the days of the apostles.
It represents the honorable privilege given to God's children, and remember that our faith should lay hold of all that it embraces. Christ's faithful servants are the channel of His working, and through believers, He desires to exercise His healing power.
It is our work to present the sick and suffering to God in the arms of our faithful and sincere prayers. We should teach our sick and loved ones to believe in the Great Healer.
The Saviour requires us to encourage the sick, the hopeless, the afflicted, to take hold upon His strength. Reach for His loving hand of mercy.
Through faith and prayer in any sickroom, it can be transformed into a Chapel (house of prayer). In word and deed, physicians and nurses may say, so plainly that it cannot be misunderstood, "God is in this place" to save, and not to destroy.
A great writer once said that, "Christ desires to manifest His presence in the sickroom, filling the hearts of physicians and nurses with the sweetness of His love. If the life of the attendants upon the sick is such that Christ can go with them to the bedside of the patient, there will come to him the conviction that the compassionate Saviour is present, and this conviction will itself do much for the healing of both the soul and the body." (EGW)
And yes, God does hear our prayers. Christ has said, "If ye shall ask anything in My name, I will do it." Again He says, "If any man serve Me, him will My Father honor." (John 14:14; 12: 26) If we live according to His word, every precious promise will be fulfilled.
He has given all to be fulfilled in us. We are undeserving of His mercy, but as we give ourselves to Him, He receives us. He will work for and through those who follow Him. Jesus says, "...thy faith hath made thee whole..." Please remember our son, Tuitoo G. Anoa'i in your prayers.
Ia manuia,
failauga p. anoa'i
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