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The Gift of Faith Healing Elaine
by Randy Fry Written June 6, 2007 Updated 11/27/07 & 12/30/07
In the summer of 2005 my wife was miraculously healed of rectal cancer (T3-N1) as witnessed by Dr. Samuel Liu a leading surgeon with Kaiser at Walnut Creek and a believer with a testimony at Kaiser. Dr. Liu performed no surgery on Elaine and Elaine by faith prematurely discontinued her chemo/radiation therapy early in the 5th week, before they focused the radiation on the tumor. Had she not been healed, the tumor was so low on the rectum a stoma (an opening) would have been made on the outside of her body for waste to pass through to a bag. This procedure is called a colostomy.
I give thanks to God for His medical plan.
“Didn’t the technician give you some idea of what they found during the colonoscopy?” the Kaiser Dr. Daniel Yu asked. “You have rectal cancer (stage T3 N1). We will be assembling a team to consider the best (medical) treatment options.” It was Tuesday, 24 May 2005. My wife has cancer? MY wife has cancer! Why her? Perfect AIM – A Telling Dream
Homeless Women at Shepherd’s Gate It is Thursday, 26 May 2005, 2 days after learning Elaine has cancer. Now there is a certain desperation in me. There was nothing I could do but hope in a biblical way. I remember the prayer and praise meetings on Thursdays at Shepherd’s Gate where I do volunteer maintenance work. Reluctantly Elaine allows me to drive her there where they gathered around Elaine and place their hands on her shoulders for prayer. Several years earlier, during Missions Sunday at Community Presbyterian Church (CPC) in Danville CA, Steve and Carla McRee had talked about the strength of faith in these battered and homeless women at Shepherd’s Gate and gave testimonies (2) about healings among the women and supporters of the shelter, some were healed instantaneously. As an after thought, Steve laid hands on me and prayed as we were leaving to return home.
About nine months (September 2004) before discovering Elaine had cancer came to mind. The Gospel accounts of healing had become an obsession with me. I had been given a strong desire to read them. So I read these healing accounts over and over and over again. Faith Comes By Hearing – Jesus Heals Six months (December
2004) before discovering cancer I was in a men’s small group bible study at
Bagel Street Cafe and I told them that I’d come to the conclusion after reading
the gospel accounts of healings, that everyone who came to Jesus for healing
was healed. From the gospel accounts, it looked like it was impossible NOT to
be healed in the presence of Jesus. Isaiah said in 53:1 “Who has believed
our message? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?” (NASB)
Romans 10:17 says Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message,
and the message is heard through the word of Christ. (NIV emphasis added)
We Are Healed By His Wounds Three months (March 2005) before discovering cancer I realize that the healing spoken of in the verse by His stripes (wounds or whipping) we are healed (Isaiah 53:4b) was talked about as though it has already been accomplished. I began to realize that our healing was accomplished 2,000 years ago in Heaven or about 8 or 9 hours before Jesus shed his blood on the cross and said “It is finished.” John 19:30. The reason the Son of God was made manifest (visible) was to undo (destroy, loosen, and dissolve) the works the devil [has done]. – 1 John 3:8b Amplified. Evidence of the Invisible (Things not Seen) Back to Thursday, 26 May 2005, at Shepherd’s Gate. The women had laid hands on Elaine and as we walked to the car and I started to drive back to Danville, I suddenly knew in my heart Elaine was healed. Immediately I knew Hebrews 11:1 exactly described what I was feeling in my heart. It says; What is faith? It is the confident assurance that what we hope for is going to happen. It is the evidence of things we cannot yet see. (NLT) I expected to hear Elaine scream or feel something right then. A week passed, and still that faith evidence was as strong as ever in my heart; I even tried to doubt her healing. The problem was that it was so strong it was like trying to doubt that the Pacific Ocean is to the West of us. How do you do that! Were do you start? Having been trained to doubt as a student of philosophy at Berkeley I still found myself being incapable of doubt because of the faith evidence I felt in my heart. Even though you can’t see it, you know it is true! Elaine is healed!
Give an Account of the Hope in You Always be ready to give a logical defense to anyone who asks you to account for the hope that is in you, but do it courteously and respectfully. – 1 Peter 3:15b Amplified This was done at the Bagel Street Bible study on Friday, May 27, 2005, at the CPC Men’s Saturday morning Bible study on May 28. 2005 and at a St. Isidore’s Bible study on Wednesday, June 8, 2005. However, it was always done, mindful of God’s prophecy concerning His Son - A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice – Isaiah 42:3 NIV
On Saturday, June 4, 2005 at the CPC Men’s Bible study I realized Elaine could forfeit the healing she was given by continuing with the medical treatment plan (“Standard of Care” for rectal cancer) developed for her at Kaiser.
It took about 2 months (from the end of May into late July 2005) for the tumor to completely disappear. During this time parts of the tumor were eliminated and it became smaller and soft until there was no physical evidence of any foreign growth. In early October 2005, it was becoming evident that the remaining redness of tissue in the rectum was probably a result of the “cure”, i.e. radiation. Dr. Liu contended that it was cancer, so we suggested that he take a biopsy. He said that would be ridiculous, he could take many samples, but that would not prove that she didn’t have cancer. Elaine Refuses Surgery In late October 2005, five months after learning Elaine had cancer, Elaine informed Dr. Liu that she was not having surgery and that her surgery date could be given to someone else. It seemed like he held our family hostage for an hour not accepting Elaine’s decision. Apparently he recently had other “believers” with bibles who also believed in healing, but had delayed seeking medical help until the breast cancer was oozing. He had to cleanup the mess. With Elaine, Dr. Liu felt he had to follow the “Standard of Care” to avoid potential future legal liability which might involve Kaiser Medical. He did not take this responsibility lightly. My son and daughter and I gave witness to healing a bone defect, a cold and a smashed toe respectively. Two of the healings were instantaneous. After hearing these healing testimonies, Dr. Liu reluctantly complied with Elaine’s wishes, but took a biopsy from the “primary site”, something he previously said he would never do. By this time the tumor was gone and he had no objective evidence to put in his file to justify releasing Elaine from surgery.
Objective Evidence Days later the
results of the biopsy showed no trace of cancer but Dr. Liu was on vacation. On
Tuesday, 27 December 2005, Dr. Liu went over the results of the biopsy, which
showed dilated blood vessels and fibrous tissue. We believe this is when he
became a believer in healing. Dr. Liu offered his skilled As we walked out of his office on the third floor to the elevators, I heard, “did you notice I answered the elder’s prayers also. This “outsourcing” prayer(1) was answered when Dr. Liu took our hands in his skilled surgeon’s hands and praised God in prayer. WOW! Who is a God like you! Who expected God to miraculously heal Elaine and answer the Elder’s prayer. It was then I realized I was not dealing with a personal God with a particular theology or point of view, but with the LIVING God who is personal AND Creator of the Universe, the God who works ALL things together for good. [Rom. 8:28] The supernatural Gift of Faith, distributed by the Holy Spirit, had come in a miraculous way. God really had been faithful to fulfill his plan for our lives and to lead us in his ways.
There’s a lot more to this story but, I’ll stop here.
Appendix A: Notes 1. It is described as “Outsourcing” Prayer because some believe that “The cessation of the miraculous gifts of prophecy, tongues, and healing as (was) a necessary corollary of the closing of the canon and the sufficiency of Scripture.” 2. The product of a church is the testimony of the bride (the body [of believers in] Christ). They defeated him (the evil one) through the blood of the Lamb and the bold word of their witness (testimony). – Rev. 12:11a Msg 3. It is a widely held misconception that the familiar dictum "First, do no harm" comes from the Hippocratic Oath, an oath many physicians take when they enter medical practice. It is the opinion of many scholars that Hippocrates did, in fact, originate the phrase, but did so in his Epidemics, Bk. I, Sect. XI. One translation reads: "Declare the past, diagnose the present, foretell the future; practice these acts. As to diseases, make a habit of two things — to help, or at least to do no harm." 4. God, without a doubt, has provided the insight and creative genius which is the backbone of our health care system. Additionally, we are becoming aware of effective alternative paths to wellness and ways of maintaining our health. Concerning our health, the Bible says: … and restore me to vigorous life and health ... - Psalm 119:37 ... I will bring to it (Jerusalem) health and healing ... - Jeremiah 33:6 … I will restore you to health and I will heal you … - Jeremiah 30:17. All these verses indicate God’s intent is for us to be in good health and if we are sick to be healed - His way of restoring good health. 5. Please note that health and healing are not the same. A sick (unhealthy) disabled person can be healed of a disease and still need healing. A disabled person can be healed of a disability and may still not be healthy. Healthy eating and healthy habits do not equal supernatural healing, but they do encourage and enable natural healing. 6. Ken Sande, PeaceMaker ministries, in essence contends that our legal system is overloaded because the church (body of Christ) is not obeying Jesus command to “be reconciled to your brother” – Matt. 5:24. In a similar way, our Health Care system has become overloaded. The church is not obeying Jesus’ command to “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons.” - Matt. 10:8.
Appendix B: How Faith Was Produced in Randy
My wife was miraculously healed of rectal cancer in 2005; we have copies of the medical records from Kaiser and we took meticulous notes on what was happening. We believe this testimony may be helpful to others; it describes how faith was produced by God in the author, through no merit of his own.
Now, as I look back on this period, I realize that the word of Christ had acted as a "heart conditioner" to change my weed filled heart into good soil. "But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it." Matthew 13:23 NIV.
I my case. faith came in 2 stages.
Stage 1: HOPE Turns into a Real Possibility The first stage was "assurance of things hoped for" [part "a" of Hebrews 11:1 shown above.]
NOW FAITH is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) [some translations use confidence] of the things [we] hope for, … Hebrews 11:1a (Amplified Bible)
I knew [intellectually] God heals, it is written on many Christian church walls in the form of verses quoted for inspiration.
About 9 months [Sept. 2004] before we knew about my wife's rectal cancer, the Holy Spirit gave me a strong desire to read all the Gospel accounts of healing. Eventually I found all 43 and I read them over and over again. By Dec. of 2004 I was confidently proclaiming [often to the objection of those listening - I can be obnoxiously persistent] that Jesus heals.
The statement I was in effect making was: Everyone [in the Gospel accounts of healings], who came [into the presence of] to Jesus for [the express purpose of] healing, was healed.
I had very carefully worded this proclamation; please take careful note of the statement, it has many qualifiers. "Gospel accounts", "of healings", "into the presence of", and "the express purpose of". Of these cases, Jesus did not turn anyone away and ALL were healed.
This for me became the "firm foundation", the confidence that Jesus actually heals. This "assurance" was in my heart; healing had a reality of its own that developed over the months that followed. This part of faith certainly came as the bible says, "Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ." Romans 10:17 NIV.
Stage 2: FAITH Appears
… being the proof [evidence] of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses]. Hebrews 11:1b (Amplified Bible)
For me this happened in an instant, in the twinkling of an eye. I do volunteer work at Shepherd's Gate in Livermore. My wife and I went to one of their worship and prayer meetings on Thursday [26 May 2005] morning where battered and homeless women in the program laid hands on her in Jesus name for healing. It is often the unrestrained faith of new believers that finds favor with the Father.
As we were about to leave, Steve McRee laid hands on me and prayed. We went to the car and got in. As I drove out of the driveway onto Portola Avenue, I knew Elaine was healed. In my heart I could actually feel it, “perceived as real fact.”
"Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—thirty, sixty or even a hundred times what was sown." Mark 4:20 NIV.
The faith was not located in my thoughts. It over-powered my thoughts. My heart was seized by faith. There was not even a possibility of doubting that she was healed. I told people it was like trying to doubt that the Pacific Ocean was to the West of us. How do you doubt that? You just know.
The good soil had produced an instant crop of faith. Hebrews 11:1 became a definition of what I was feeling. Years before, I had been trying to make Hebrews 11:1 generate faith. That was fruitless.
Additionally, this seemed to be a special kind of faith, the kind talked about in 1 Corinthians 12:8-9 The Amplified Bible [the Gift of Faith] "To one is given [gifted] in and through the [Holy] Spirit ... [wonder-working] faith ..."
In 4 months the stage 3 tumor [Kaiser Walnut Creek and Dr. Samuel Liu have photos] was completely gone and Dr. Liu, instead of operating, in prayer gave thanks to God for this miracle holding Elaine's and Randy's hands.
In June and July of 2007 [2 years later], an effort to find traces of cancer in Elaine failed. We continue to live as a family as though God has his hand in our faces. Our lives are not the same. R.
Appendix C: The Bold Word of Their Testimony (Witness) War broke out in Heaven. Michael and his Angels fought the Dragon. The Dragon and his Angels fought back, but were no match for Michael. They were cleared out of Heaven, not a sign of them left. The great Dragon—ancient Serpent, the one called Devil and Satan, the one who led the whole earth astray—thrown out, and all his Angels thrown out with him, thrown down to earth.
Then I heard a strong voice out of Heaven saying, Salvation and power are established! Kingdom of our God, authority of his Messiah! The Accuser of our brothers and sisters thrown out, who accused them day and night before God. They defeated him through the blood of the Lamb and the bold word of their witness [testimony]. (emphasis added, Rev. 12:7-11 Msg)
Doesn’t that sound like the following event recorded in Chapter 10 of Luke’s Gospel: 1 After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. ... 17 The seventy-two returned with joy and said, "Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name." 18 He replied, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 I have given you authority ... to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. 20 However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven." 21 At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure. (NIV)
“Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:10 Amplified Bible
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![Text Box: Energizing You
[Not in your own strength] for it is God Who is all the while effectually at work in you [energizing and creating in you the power and desire], both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and delight. [Phil. 2:13 Amplified].](Healing_Elaine_HTML_files/image003.gif)
![Text Box: Faith in Medical Science
Those who worship false gods turn their backs on [forfeit] all God’s mercies. (NLT) OR … have given up their faith in You. (NLV) Jonah 2:8](Healing_Elaine_HTML_files/image005.gif)
![Text Box: Day of Decision for Elaine
Ari and I continued to impress on Elaine that she was healed and her recovery was coming quickly. [Note: Ari and Randy did not know at the time that Elaine could no longer feel any tumor.] Finally, on Tuesday, August 16, 2005 Elaine spent most of the afternoon in prayer and seeking the Lord in His word concerning continued medical treatment. The next day she called all of her doctors and told them she was discontinuing her treatment as she and her sister drove up the coast for a rest from the daily radiation treatments. But that is another story. See Elaine’s testimony.](Healing_Elaine_HTML_files/image006.gif)
