GP Tracts #18

A Touch of Heaven!
         Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. (Matthew 7:7,8)
         And ye shall seek Me, and find Me, when ye shall search for Me with all your heart. (Jeremiah 29:13)
         Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits. Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; Who healeth all thy diseases. (Psalm 103:2,3)
         For I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith the Lord. (Jeremiah 30:17)
         Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in My Name, He will give it you. (John 16:23)

What God Has Promised...
         Do you need healing too? Is there an illness you have been battling, perhaps something small, but still a nagging inconvenience which is a drain and discouragement? Or perhaps it is more serious & could mean hospitalisation or worse? The Lord knows every part of your body, the Bible says every hair of your head is numbered, and He wants to heal you! He wants to relieve your pain and suffering and is just waiting for you to ask Him!
         Do you know Jesus personally as a Friend Who wants to heal & help you?--As your Creator Who can give you a new life?--As your Saviour Who will forgive you and cleanse you of all the wrong you've done? If not, please do pray and ask Him to come into your heart today. He says in Revelation 3:20, "Behold, I stand at the door (of your heart) and knock. If any man hear My voice and open the door, I will come in."
         As you receive His Love and forgiveness, and grow in faith by drinking in His Words, you will learn of His healing power, not only for your body, but for your spirit, mind and emotions as well. By asking this loving Friend into your Life, you open up the channel for His healing Love to come in. Please do so today! He loves you and wants to heal and help you! God bless you!

The Secret to Peace and Prosperity!
How to Get God's Blessing in Your Business!
East Europeans Express Their Thanks!
"With your help I now know where I can look for answers to all my problems!"
Business failure, rejection in love...

Will God help?
         Pedro T. is 31 years old, married with one daughter. Although he had a good position as the security supervisor of a large company in South America, and a happy home, his life was marred by the constant drain of an incurable illness. But that changed when young people with happy faces and words of faith visited him in his office. Here is his story in his own words...
         After two years of dizzy spells, always being tired and having an insatiable appetite, in 1985 the diagnosis of my illness was at last final: I had hypoglycemia, a disorder of the pancreas. This sickness is considered incurable and the patient must submit himself to a rigorous diet.
         Difficult periods caused by my condition were long and wearing. Any and all activities were difficult to perform, but lying down to rest didn't help, as I would feel like I was suffocating. I had to take lots of medicine and even then the attacks would always return.
         Well, I lived like this until 1990. Then one day, I had a visit from Emilio and Silvana, who came to study the Bible with me.
         I had known these missionaries since the year before, when they had told me about Jesus in such a happy manner. They were busy preaching God's Word and showing others how Christians should be happy and active, and not sad, spending their life just praying for themselves and doing nothing. Then they prayed, asking Jesus to heal me, and He answered!
         After being sick for so many years, it's been ten months since the Lord healed me that day, and I haven't had even one sign of hypoglycemia since then!
         I am very thankful for what God has done for me in healing me after so many years of sickness. His Love shown to me in this way motivates me to try to follow Him closer with every day that passes.
         --Pedro T.

God Can Heal Anything...
         EVEN CANCER!
         To the amazement of his family and the doctors...the medical tests showed no trace of cancer!
         Mr. Ning was dying of cancer. Lying limply in his hospital bed, he listened intently as we talked of the love of Jesus and read him stories of faith from our literature. He then asked Jesus to come into his heart, sobbing and pausing between sentences as he prayed with us. Inspired by our testimonies of faith, he wanted us to pray for his healing.
         I said, Mr. Ning, we're so glad you want us to pray for you, because we believe the Lord wants to heal you!"
         Dear Jesus," we prayed, we know that You healed many people when You were on Earth and that You are just the same today as You were then! Your Word says, `I will restore health unto you, and I will heal you of your wounds' (Jeremiah 30:17), so we believe Your Word and we ask You to touch dear Mr. Ning with Your healing power. Please heal him, Lord. We know You can do it, we believe You want to do it, so we thank You for answering our prayers, in Your Name we pray. Amen."
         I never felt better!" Mr. Ning told his daughter. That evening, we who had visited him at the hospital again prayed fervently for his healing.   To the amazement of his family and the doctors, the next day Mr. Ning was up and around!--And medical examinations and tests showed no trace of cancer! Now he's back home, happy and healthy and a living testimony of the power of prayer and God's healing hand!
         --Sharon, Southeast Asia

         Nearly a year ago I underwent some medical tests and the doctors diagnosed that I had breast cancer. Upon finding a tumour in one of my breasts, the doctors said they needed to operate and take out the tumour.--And they couldn't even guarantee that the operation would have a successful outcome. My mother had died of breast cancer and all of my X-rays and the tests showed definitely that my tumour was malignant.
         When I heard the news, I felt concerned but not devastated, because since I have received Jesus and have been studying God's Word, I know what is going to happen when I leave this life! I know about Heaven and all that awaits God's Children when they die. But at the same time, I have young children and I felt that they still needed me.
         I talked with my dear missionary friends who had taught me about faith in the Lord and instructed me in the Word, and we prayed for my healing. We prayed a strong fervent prayer that had a lot of impact on all of us. Actually, I had never felt the need to pray such a desperate prayer before, and now as I tell this story I feel a little selfish because it was my own health that prompted me to get serious with the Lord, when we should actually always be very fervent in our prayers. But at any rate, we did unite in strong prayer together and at that moment we were very moved!
         After I prayed, I strengthened my faith through study of God's Word, especially by listening to cassette tapes with beautiful verses on healing, faith and trust in the Lord. When I went to the hospital I also took devotional material with me, which I studied during this time of trial. I needed the Word to stay strong.
         When the tumour was removed, to the astonishment of the doctors, it was not malignant! Even though all of the conditions and the statistics showed that it was undoubtedly a malignant tumour, when it was removed, it was found to be benign.
         We are convinced that this result was a wonderful answer to our heartfelt prayers. The Lord delivered me when all odds were against me! What a beautiful experience! Won't you trust Jesus too? You'll find, as I did, that He will not disappoint you!
         --Norma C., Brazil

When he had cancer...
God Gave Us Back Our Son!
By John, Europe
         Our 7-year-old son Gabriel has been healed of cancer when the doctors gave him very little hope to survive! Here is the story of our ordeal, our prayers and God's wonderful answer!
         A bump appeared on our son's stomach and wouldn't go away even after prayer. After taking him to several doctors, we were told that he would have to be operated on.
         During the operation I prayed like I haven't prayed for quite some time. I felt so low. It was so hard for me to have hope or faith for a good outcome, because deep inside, I felt that Gabriel was not suffering because of his own sins, but because of mine!
         My wife and I had drifted away from the Lord in our marriage relationship and also in our attitude towards our children. I'm ashamed to admit that we would at times complain about the burden of the children preventing us from doing other things. May God forgive us.
         I especially always seemed to find other and more important" things to do than taking care of my children. Rather than fulfilling the role of a good daddy, as the Lord would have me do, I would more often than not leave their parenting to my wife to take care of alone. But seeing I could lose my son made me desperately pray to change and be a good father!
         The morning after the operation, the doctors broke the news to us that they had found several cancerous tumours. Although they had removed one tumour, the surgeon had seen two more. As the tumour was malignant, they said his chances of surviving were very slim.
         But our God is still a God of miracles! He's a living God, a caring God and One Who loves us so much that He shows us our failings so that He can help us with them. Discussing the situation together later, my wife and I sincerely prayed for a strengthening and deepening of our marriage relationship in the Lord, and asked God to make us the parents that He wants us to be!
         Then after only three months of chemical treatment, Gabriel's other two tumours completely disappeared! Completely contrary to the doctors' predictions that he would not survive even with chemotherapy, the Lord answered prayer and our son is now perfectly well!
         When they told us Gabriel didn't have much of a chance, we told them, The day of miracles is not past!" Another miracle was that usually people lose all their hair when undergoing chemotherapy, but in answer to our prayers against side effects of the chemotherapy, Gabriel had almost all of his hair the whole time!
         God used this whole experience to humble us, break us and to make us more dependent upon Him, as this beautiful passage explains: Out of every sorrow God means that there should come submission; a drawing nearer to His Own great heart of Love; a new vision of the shallowness of worldly streams and the depth of Divine ones; a closer devotion to Jesus Christ than ever before known; a loosening of the grasp on time, and its tightening on eternity."
         During the treatment, when things were going rough, or looked discouraging, we often phoned our friends to ask them to pray with us and in a very short time we would have the answer we had prayed for. It caused our faith to grow to see the Lord answer prayer time and again. When Gabriel was healed, even the doctors said that if they had not known about the tumours Gabriel had, if they hadn't seen all the test results and X-rays, they wouldn't believe anything had ever been wrong with him!
         Isn't the Lord wonderful? In answer to our prayers for a new start, He forgave us and gave Gabriel back to us. God has helped us to deeply appreciate the beautiful children He has given us, to desire to spend time with them and enjoy them, to love them and teach them His ways! Gabriel too, at his young age, has grown much stronger in his faith as well! He has become more obedient and has learned to pray in real faith and trust, knowing that God will not fail!
         In closing I would like to share this comforting verse from Isaiah: He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord God will wipe away all tears." (Isa.25:8)

God's Promises of Healing Fulfilled!
Miscarriage Stopped by Prayer!
From Emmanuel, Venezuela
         I'm afraid there's nothing that can be done," the doctor told our dear friend after examining her. You mean I'm losing this baby, too?" she asked, as this was her second miscarriage in a very short time. Yes," he answered, and explained the operation she would now need, a D&C to clean out her womb. The thought saddened her, and she began to pray. The thought came to her, Since Jesus has created me and my baby, He can also fix us!" As the hospital staff prepared her for the operation, she desperately pleaded with the Lord for Him to do a miracle!
         Right after she finished praying, the doctor entered and examined her one more time before his intervention. To his amazement, everything was normal, in perfect condition! He called another doctor to confirm his judgement, and the second doctor also said that she and the baby were fine! They didn't understand it, and her doctor simply said they were witnessing a miracle! She is now happily expecting the birth of her baby!

Ask and Ye Shall Receive!
By Rasul, Southeast Asia
         My favourite verse in the Bible is John 14:14, where Jesus promised that if we ask anything in His Name, He will do it. One day I had a serious allergic reaction to a flying ant bite. Not only did my skin itch very badly, but I could hardly breathe, and at that time I did not have enough money to see a doctor. I took an allergy pill but my condition became even worse! I remembered what one of my missionary friends had told me about prayer, and I prayed desperately, Jesus, You promised in Your Word that if I ask anything in Your Name, You will do it! I am very sick and do not have enough money to see a doctor. I know You are the greatest Physician in the universe, and with Your stripes, Your wounds, we are healed, as the Bible says in Isaiah 53:5. Please heal me, Lord, in Jesus' name! Amen." Shortly afterwards all traces of the allergy were gone! Thank God for His healing!

Instant Answer to Prayer!
By Giovanni S., Italy
         In the Bible, a centurion had his friends tell Jesus, Say the word and my servant will be healed." (Luke 7:6-7) We thought of this story when a visitor told us of a child he knew who had been in a coma for a long time. Very worried about this boy, he asked if we could pray for him. We gathered together and prayed, asking God for His healing power to touch the boy and restore his health. Later we heard that the same evening, a hundred miles away in Florence, the boy came out of the coma and is now doing fine! Prayer is powerful!

         If it were just once a night it wouldn't be so bad, but every hour!" Our dear friend explained that he was having trouble sleeping, and would wake up often every night. He was deeply in debt, however it wasn't his business that kept him awake. Each time he awoke, his mind would be filled with concerns about our missionary work and worries about our welfare. Finally, after two weeks of sleeplessness, he got down on his knees and asked the Lord to show him why this was happening. The Lord showed me He wants me to help you!" he said.
         At that time it was actually very difficult for him to donate to our missionary work, because he was struggling financially himself. He actually had no money to spare! However, he was convinced that the Lord was asking him to help support us, so he made a commitment to the Lord. He promised Him that he would help our work regularly, which he has faithfully done, God bless him! From then on, he has had no more problems sleeping.--And not only that, his own business is now out of debt, and his clientele has almost doubled!
         He learned the beautiful principle that You never lose by giving, because God always gives you more in return!" May you also find the happiness of giving, and the abundance He pours on those who give!
         --Faith, Thailand

         Have you ever felt that some things are too small to pray for? Maybe this story will encourage you. A Christian factory owner we were talking with was kind but seemed quite nervous and frustrated. He finally explained that he had been unsuccessfully trying to get a very important call through for one hour. The next time he dialed, we put our hands on the phone and prayed for a clear line, and right away the Lord got him through! Such a quick answer!--It reminded us that prayer is just like picking up a telephone and phoning Heaven!--As the Bible says, Call on Me and I will answer thee and show thee great and mighty things!" (Jeremiah 33:3)
         --John, India

         The jewelry shop was so busy and full of customers that there was hardly room for us! One lady was buying several pieces amounting to $1,000, and generally business was booming. Ling was finally able to free himself from his responsibilities as shopowner to sit down for our weekly Bible class in his office. He explained to us how he had asked for the Lord's help the week before. Last week business was so bad I began to worry!" he said. Then he remembered that he had postponed his Bible study with us that week, so he prayed and told the Lord he wouldn't neglect Him and His Word any more! Then the tables turned and business was so good that it more than made up for the previous week.
         As we began our Bible study, we pulled a verse out of our box of Precious Promises", which is a collection of Bible verses. It said, The Lord shall open unto thee His good treasure in His season and bless all the work of thy hand." (Deuteronomy 28:12) Ling was thrilled and said that the verse explained exactly what God had done for him! He knew that his business success was all the Lord's doing and he thanked Him for answering his prayers and blessing the work of his hand!"
         --Miriam, Thailand

         Sometimes the cruelties of war, news of death on the highways, or disasters such as fire, can cause our thoughts to turn to God more than in peaceful times. The following accounts show how in the midst of disaster, fear or uncertainty, God is only a prayer away, and, as the Bible says, a very present help in trouble!"
         My brother, who lives in Israel, just wrote me exciting news about his miraculous protection during the Gulf War! To help you understand his situation, he and his entire family received Jesus when I visited them several years ago. They have all been trying to share their faith with their neighbours, but the response has been very negative! Even his business has been going downhill, but he continues to trust the Lord, saying, God knows what He is doing!" In spite of these troubles, he says he is happier than he has ever been and his wife, who was very sick in the past, is now healed!
         Now he writes that one of the Iraqi Scud missiles that fell in Israel exploded next door to his house! Although all the houses on his street were flattened, his house wasn't touched and his family was all safe! He said, Everyone in our neighbourhood was amazed and they all have to listen when I tell them that it is just a miracle!--And that they should believe in Jesus too!"
         By Faith, Europe

         Did you ever wonder about those inconvenient changes in your schedule? God works in mysterious ways, and Miguel's wife, Maria, told us how her daily prayers for her husband's safety were answered.
         I've missed my bus again," sighed Miguel, working later than usual at the office. Why did you come back?" he asked his friend, Pablo, who had just come in.
         I forgot my Bible, and now I see that I've missed the bus too!" Pablo answered. Hey, what's that?"
         They heard the screech of brakes and a loud crash, and discovered later to their shock that there had been a serious accident! A freight truck loaded with iron was coming over a hill when its brakes failed on the descent. It crashed into the bus that they usually rode, completely destroying it. To their sorrow, twelve people died and 35 were badly injured in this accident. Pablo and Miguel were shaken, but also thankful, knowing that God had miraculously answered Maria's prayers!
         By Ben and Rebecca, Ecuador

         Thick ropes barred our way when we tried to visit an old friend who had helped us for years by donating eyeglasses for our children. We were very anxious to see if his shop had been damaged by the horrific fire that had raged through his section of town. Passing through the barricades on foot, we found the whole market area completely gutted and the former stores now nothing but charred wood and charcoal.--All the businesses, that is, except that of our friend! He was seated peacefully in his shop, which was still standing, miraculously preserved! The shop had only a little smoke damage and even the searing heat, which should logically have ruined much of his property, had not hurt his building! We told him that we believed God had spared him because he had faithfully helped our missionary work! I haven't paid my insurance for 15 years," he said, but I can see that God's insurance is much more reliable!" We had often left him with our customary, God bless you for helping us!"--And we could see how the Lord had done just that!
         By Sue, Pakistan

         After receiving thousands of letters in response to our literature distributed in Eastern Europe, missionary teams travelled there to hold meetings, inviting those who had written to attend. Here are some translated responses...
         Russia
         I can't stop thanking the Lord that one sunny day I received your colourful tract with a thrilling story. There was an address on the literature and when I wrote to it, I began to receive your care and constant attention. Thanks to your wonderful work I found Salvation and received Jesus into my heart.
         Thank you for your moving letters which are a great help to me and strengthen my faith. I keep praying for you because you did for me what no one else has ever done. I love you as my older brothers and my teachers.
         I was so happy to meet two of you in my city recently and I felt so changed after our talk! They gave me a priceless gift--my own copy of the Bible! Now I have God's Word.      Regularly and with interest I read all your brochures, which I find amazing, and I pray all the prayers I can find in your publications. I like their warmth and simplicity. Thank you for your care for me!
         --Alex

         Great love and thankfulness for what you do has been born in my heart. Times are hard in our country now. Many people, including myself, don't know where to look to find hope, whom to believe, what to expect tomorrow. Many are looking for Salvation and religion, for God's protection, but they don't know anything and don't understand what they should do to find it.
         You open for us the doors to a World which is totally different, mysterious and unimaginable. With good words and with love you ask us to come into this World, and I came in. I can't go back now, only forward! With your help I now know where I can look for answers to all my problems!--In the Bible!
         --Tamara

         Romania
         I received 60 tracts from you at your meeting and have distributed them all. I didn't realise before doing this that so many people are hungering for Jesus! I talked with some about the Lord as I gave them literature and many promised to write. Isn't that wonderful?
         I really want to spread the Word of God to others like you do. I believe there will be more and more practicing Christians here every day.
         You made a big impression on me. You emanate joy and love and that's why you win others! I have learned a lot from you and am very thankful for it all!
         --Kasia

         Hungary
         It was a wonderful experience to meet with you personally. The two hours that I spent with you gave me a clear picture about you and supported those convincing words that you sent me through the mail in your letters and materials.
         I'm happy to know that I'm now a member of your fellowship. The past few years were very hard for me and I almost ended my life. I hadn't yet come to trust in Jesus. Today, whatever happens to me, the thought of ending it all no longer comes into my mind.--I've found God!--I'm at peace now, thanks to Him and to you too, because you've made me understand Him. Now I know what it means to pray for others and I see God's hand in everything. I know I'll belong to Him forever! God bless you!
         --Oleg

         The link between human need and divine resources!
         It had been quite some time since we had seen our friend Juan, and he seemed quite preoccupied. His face was lined with worry, as he asked us to pray for his steelworks company, which was nearing bankruptcy. We prayed together earnestly, asking the Lord to bless him and his company. Juan knew that he needed God's help in taking care of his company and his many responsibilities, as the Bible says, If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God." (James 1:5) After we prayed, he was reminded of some stocks which had been almost worthless when he bought them. Investigating their present status, he found to his surprise that they were now worth $150,000! He had forgotten them until we prayed, and didn't know about their increased value! But God did! What an amazing answer to prayer for financial recovery!
         --Alberto and F, Chile

         As with many lonely people, our new friend was wary of new relationships after his wife left him for another man. So many women are just looking for someone who will provide security and buy the things they like. I want to know someone who will love me for who I am," he said, saddened by the rejection and loss of his wife. Knowing that it is difficult to find genuine unselfish love, I told him that we can ask God even for these personal needs, as the Bible says, My God shall supply all your need, according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:19)
         As we shared verses and thoughts on faith and trust in God, his face brightened up and he said, Yes! Let's pray for God to send someone my way!" So we joined hands and asked God to send him a woman who would really love him for the right reasons, specifically praying for a very sweet, loving and sacrificial woman to help him in his life and work.
         Two days later at a cousin's house he met his miracle! Now as we visit him, there she sits right next to him--his new wife, ordered from Heaven! It's very encouraging to see them holding hands, affectionate and happy together, knowing that God sent this special person in answer to prayer!
         Do you have a special need in your life? Jesus said, Hitherto have ye asked nothing in My Name. Ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full!" (John 16:24)
         --Aaron, Europe


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