Grocery Store Shopping

That's right! Grocery shopping today to pick up a few things before lunch. We are in the middle of the Japanese "Silver Week". At the end of April and the first week of May there is the famous "Golden Week" which has three national holidays in one week's time. The Silver Week is new. It consists of two national holidays - Respect for the Aged Day and the Autumn Equinox. All together everyone gets off for five days when you include the weekend. The expressways are packed full of cars since the government dropped the fees on weekends and holidays.

Sharon and I have been kind of "laying low" since the roads are very crowded with the holiday makers. So today I needed to pick up just a few items. I questioned whether or not to go to the larger discount store which is normally crowded with cars waiting for open parking spaces. It also has narrow isles filled with shoppers jostling for positions in front of the refrigerated food cases. I got what I call a "Sharon Parking Space" right in front of the entrance. For a number of years she has confessed that our Heavenly Father always favors her with a parking space close to the front of stores where she goes shopping. It is true! I have observed this for years. At first, I doubted and even made fun of the very idea. Since then I have repented to her and God. After that I began to pray about parking spaces and have been known to pray for a "Sharon Parking Space" when in a hurry and needing to get in and out quickly. Since repenting over my doubt, it seems to work on numerous occasions.

Today I picked up my needed items and headed to the checkout counter. While the lady was checking me out a very short older Japanese lady reached in front of me asking the clerk for an additional plastic grocery bag. Being much taller than her she did not see my face. When I looked at her more closely I realized that I knew her. I touched her shoulder lightly and said, "hisashiburi desu" (lt's been a long time)! She was very surprised and happy to see it was me. Her husband and I were in the same hospital room when I had emergency appendicitis surgery five years ago. He was there for prostrate cancer. The chances of meeting this lady at a large supermarket with 10 checkout counters at the exact same time and place are very slim. This was God showing me without any doubt that He is wanting this precious family to hear the Gospel very soon!

There were three other men in the room with me back then. The one closest to my bed passed away over 4 years ago with cancer of the spine. He was the one who was won to Christ through simple acts of kindness, Japanese Christian Music, and Bible tapes in Japanese. The other two men became friends with me. Two of the men went to junior high school together. I have visited with both of them several times over the past few years. Since being the hospital together the remaining two men have been placed on my daily personal prayer list. Each night I bring them before the Lord asking for them to hear and receive the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Both men are staunch Buddhists. The older one is a Master of Tea Ceremony, being a teacher of teachers over a large region. Both men are in their mid 80's now and in failing health.

Today I learned that the one now is suffering from diabetes and recently was diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer. We have not been together for the last several months. As we left the store I told his wife that I pray for them on a daily basis for which she seemed very thankful. Before parting she invited to come to visit them in their home as soon as possible. Driving away alone in the car I began to pray for the remaining two men I was in the hospital with five years ago. Many times I have rejoiced in the fact that one of the men had accepted Jesus Christ as Savior before he died. It seemed that the Lord told me today hat I had been asking for too little in accepting that only one of three had been saved. It came clearly to me that God's Plan is for all three of those men to be saved! Funny how we believers accept way less than what God has intended for us. I began to praise God for the salvation of the two remaining men as I drove home.

I thought how unpleasant the emergency surgery was for me along with complications in recovery over an extended period of time. Many times I thanked God for the great privilege of helping a Japanese man in my room come to faith in Jesus Christ. I accepted the fact that my suffering and pain was worth it if that brought me in contact with someone who came to Christ because of meeting me. What a joy to realize that God's plan is for each of the men who shared that hospital room with me to be saved! I also thought how long and sometimes difficult it is for some people to finally come to faith in Christ in Japan! It is as if leading some to Christ here is truly a type of guerilla warfare with several stages of battle before they surrender to confess Jesus as Lord of their lives. For the past few years it seems my daily prayer for these people has been a type of Mercy Covering for them while yet unsaved. Then in God's time circumstances take place in lives where they are finally ready to hear and Gospel and to respond in a positive way. I am feeling this is the case with the two remaining men from the hospital. This is the season of their salvation. Please join with me in prayer that I will be open to the Guidance of the Holy Spirit in how to relate to the two families in sharing God's Love.

May God bless you as you share His Love with those you meet!

Dan Corbett
"Reaching One Among Millions"

Hospital Visit

John 5:1 Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for a feast of the Jews. 2 Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. 3 Here a great number of disabled people used to lie-the blind, the lame, the paralyzed. 5 One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, "Do you want to get well?" NIV

Once a month I go to our local city hospital to get to get my blood checked and to pick up medicine. Sitting there in the narrow hallway waiting my turn I was reminded of the passage in John 5 about the group of people that gathered around the pool of Bethesda. A couple years ago I took someone to Korea to visit the famous Osari Prayer Mountain that was established by Pastor Cho Young Gi. We were there at lunch time and entered the largest of the several auditoriums. Down in the front there were nearly 100 people sitting and lying down on the floor waiting for the afternoon session to begin. Each of them was there in hopes of receiving physical healing for their bodies. You could almost feel the pain and despair from that group of suffering people. I also thought back on the large crowds we ministered to in India with hundreds suffering from serious illnesses who were seeking prayer to be healed.

Once in a remote village in Pakistan we held an open air meeting at a community center. As the service starting time drew near people began to approach the pulpit and to leave glasses of murky looking water. Remembering in Korea how the speakers were given water to drink on the pulpit I was concerned about being forced to drink that unsafe looking water. I inquired about this as the number of glasses increased to nearly 20 on the pulpit. The interpreter informed me that these were Muslim people who believed the Jesus Christ had the power to heal sick bodies. We were expected to pray over and to bless the water so it could be carried home and drunk by sick relatives. So many sick and dying people needing healing and deliverance! The man in John complained to Jesus that he had no one to place him into the pool when the waters were troubled. It was believed that only the first person in would have their prayer request granted.

We must drive through a valley on the other side of our 3000 ft mountain passing 88 Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines. Pilgrims here rent tour buses and spend three days stopping at each of the numbered temples/shrines offering prayers for their needs. They believe that if they go to each of the 88 locations that their request will be answered. As Christians, we know the scriptural promises for spiritual and physical healing. We know them! We have heard them sung, taught, preached and read books with testimonies of healing. Yet, so many of us are still sitting at the poolside waiting for someone to put us into God's Healing Pool. Just how long have we waited and how much longer will be continue to wait? If we can just get to a crusade of a famous healing evangelist maybe we will get healed. If we watch a video or read a certain book we may find the key. It is almost like a hungry homeless person sitting outside the gate of a beautiful mansion that has their own name on the gate. The house is warm and clean and the table is spread with the most nourishing and beautiful food one could imagine. But we are still sitting outside without realizing the benefits that have been provided by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We know about His Promises, but so many of us have not appropriated or received those benefits for ourselves.

Ps 103:1-6 1 Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. 2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: 3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; 4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; 5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's. 6 The LORD executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed. KJV Ps 107:20-22 20 He sent forth his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave. 21 Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men. 22 Let them sacrifice thank offerings and tell of his works with songs of joy. NIV

Do I have the answer for those in need of healing and deliverance? No! But I surely do know the One and Only One who has provided those benefits for His children and their children. We have been waiting for someone else to lift us and carry us to Jesus. First, Jesus asked the man if he wanted to be healed! I am sure that there are those who really don't want to release their burdens and infirmities. Pain can eventually become a companion. Sickness gives certain people something to talk about and to complain about daily. Complete healing would change their lifestyle, conversation and daily habits. Some would have to get out of bed and go to work. While writing this I realize there are those who desperately desire to be healed and to be set free from the sickness and others the sin that binds them. I can only recommend Jesus to you. Yes, you have prayed before - many times. You have been prayed for many times to no avail.

In 1990 I injured my left leg in a church volley ball game at a picnic. Though I went to a walk-in clinic the resulting blood clots went undiagnosed for over six weeks spreading throughout the whole length of my leg and then eventually into my right lung. Doctors said I should have died early on and that normally deep vein blood clots go the brain, heart of lungs killing or paralyzing the individual. Finally the clots were discovered and I was placed in intensive care for 10 days. There was nothing the doctors could do but wait to see if the clots moved into one of those areas that would either kill or paralyze me. Later I was sent back to Japan in a wheel chair with nothing but gloomy projections for my future and well being. This went on for about six weeks. Then early one morning at about 6:00am the Holy Spirit spoke to me reminding me of Isaiah 40:29-31 29 He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. 30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: 31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. KJV God told me I would walk normally again and that I literally would run again. By faith, I accepted that Word without any outward manifestation of the actual healing.

I began to travel across Asia with crutches and in a wheelchair in the beginning. After some time the crutches gave way to canes and then I gave those way and walked without any assistance. I still remember being late for a flight in Tokyo back to Fukuoka. A airline staff member and I ran to the gate to catch my plane before it took off. I excitedly called Sharon to tell her the Word of God to me was fulfilled. Some time later we both were in Korea at a country church sitting on the floor with the Korean ministers. It dawned on my that I was sitting cross legged with my knee that was never supposed to work normally again! Some time later we were ministering in Malaysia and knew a ministers' wife who was a medical doctor. She arranged for me to be examined by a well known cardiologist who informed me she thought I no longer had blood clots in my left leg. Those clots were turned into solid calcium many months before and were never supposed to clear up. They ordered more tests and two doctors argued whether my leg had developed its own new bypasses or if the clots cleared up on their own. The blood clots are gone! I guess you might characterize my healing like the 10 lepers in Luke 17:14 who were healed as they went to show themselves to the priest to confirm their healing.

Most of the time, in respect to healing, I advocate the P.U.S.H. principle. In other words, Pray Until Something Happens. Just pray and keep on praying until you see the manifestation of the healing or deliverance. There have been many times though, that the Holy Spirit has made it clear that the prayer has been heard and that I was only to Praise God for the healing that was accomplished, but not yet seen in the natural. Heb 11:1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. 6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. NIV Isaiah 53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. KJV Matt 10:8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give. KJV Mark 16:17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. KJV

Oh God help us to view the sick and oppressed like You do! Jesus was moved with compassion. Give us the love, compassion and simple faith to practice what Your Word teaches us about this situation. Help us Lord in our prayers and actions to reach out to those in need of healing and deliverance. As we do our part in the Great Commission You Lord, we know will do Your part. Please forgive us for a lack of compassion and fear from just stepping out of the boat and believing that Your Word is true. Please help us to heal the sick, cast out devils and to preach the Good News to all those we meet, in the Name of Jesus Christ! Amen!

God bless you as you step out in simple faith!
Dan Corbett
"Reaching One Among Millions"