In this post, Pastor Riggen shares a personal testimony of healing. God is the same and still heals today because He never changes. We want you to be encouraged as you read this story.
“I was not raised in an Apostolic home. Although my parents considered themselves Christians, they did not practice the religions with which they identified. As a child, however, I started attending an Apostolic church. At the age of 12, I repented of my sins, was baptized in the Jesus’ name, and received the gift of the Holy Ghost (evidenced by speaking in tongues) in accordance with Acts 2:38. Within the next few months, God helped me to lead my parents, both my brothers, and my 77-year-old grandmother to the truth. Within a short time, others in my extended family were also born again. “It was not long after my family got in church that I became very ill. My fever reached dangerously high numbers. I can still remember my mom and aunt trying desperately to cool my fever when all of a sudden blood began pouring from both my nostrils. We could not find any way to make the blood stop. I finally just rolled over on my bed, hung my head over the side, and let it flow into a bucket on the floor.
“After a few minutes, my aunt spoke up saying she remembered someone showing her a verse in the Bible that was supposed to stop bleeding. She didn’t remember where it was, but she said she would hurry home, get her Bible and find the passage. She didn’t live far from our house and she quickly returned, Bible in hand. She turned to Ezekiel 16:6 and began to read: “And when I passed by thee, and saw thee polluted in thine own blood, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live; yea, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live.” I told her to read it again. When she finished, I asked that she would just keep reading it. To our amazement, the more she read it, the more the blood began to coagulate and eventually stop.
“Still, my fever was high and would not come down. My mother, of course, was extremely worried. She was preparing to call the doctor when I stopped her. I told her that I couldn’t really explain it, but I really felt like God wanted me to trust Him rather than seek medical attention. (Remember, our entire family consisted of brand new converts at this time.) She reluctantly agreed. The mother side of her wanted desperately to get medical help, but the new convert side of her did not want to go against something God wanted.
“I do not remember how long my sickness lasted. I know that I was unable to keep food down and literally began wasting away. I reached a point where I looked and felt like a feeble old man. Every time I moved, my joints would creak and pop. It hurt to walk. In fact, it hurt to get up.
“Many times during my ordeal, the pastor would come to my house and pray for me. Although I might get some temporary relief, I couldn’t seem to get a complete healing. After many days, I was weak and feeling down. I had not been able to be in church for some time, and was desperately longing for a fresh touch from God. One day, I asked my mom to bring me my Bible. She did and I just let it fall open on the bed beside me. When I looked down at the pages, what I read has stayed with me for almost 50 years!
“Looking at the Scripture, my eyes went directly to the latter part of Isaiah 41:9, and I continued reading through verse 10. It says, “Thou art my servant; I have chosen thee, and not cast thee away. Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” It was as if God had audibly spoken to me. I knew then that everything was going to be alright.
“Sometime after that experience, in the middle of the night, I was lying awake in such anguish I felt I could not take it anymore. I asked my parents to call the pastor one more time. He came and knelt by my bedside. As he (along with my family and I) began to pray, the presence of God fell mightily in that room. There was no question God had touched me! Immediately I felt better! I could tell the pain was gone. If I’m not mistaken, I was back in the church the very next service!
“God is no respecter of persons! What He did for me nearly half a century ago He will do for ANY of His children. In fact, ALL of us should adopt these verses as our own. He has NOT cast us away. Fear not. He IS with us. Don’t be dismayed. He is OUR God. He WILL strengthen us. He WILL help us. He WILL uphold us with the right hand of His righteousness. He is still our Shepherd, and there is no reason for us to worry or fear.”
Thank you, Pastor Riggen for this testimony. To our readers, if you need healing, call us! We would love to pray for you and watch God perform a miracle for you.
