God In Man

John G. Lake lived his life and ministry with a simple, yet profound revelation, “God in man.”  He was convinced that the key to divine healing was not found in your doing, but in your being.

Read the Scripture and you can reach no other conclusion than the life of the Spirit-filled believer is one in which we see and do the things that Jesus did.  This was the story of Lake…a life of faith, evidenced by a multitude of signs wonders and miracles.

Lake’s healing ministry began April 28, 1898.  For the last three years his wife, Jennie, was suffering from tuberculosis and heart disease.   Doctors had been unable to heal her and could offer no hope.  Jennie was literally at death’s door.   Lake’s friends and fellow ministers instructed him to resolve himself to God’s will and to accept Jennie’s death.   Lake found that advice unacceptable.

In a moment of desperation, Lake threw his Bible across the room, it fell to the floor, and opened to Acts 10. As Lake walked over to pick it up, his eyes were drawn to verse 38, “…God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.”

Those words gripped Lake.  He was convinced that it was Satan who was responsible for his wife’s illness. It was the devil stealing this mother from her children, it was the devil taking her away. He also realized that not only was Satan the author of death, but that Jesus was the author of life.

Faith filled the man and he marched into the bedroom where his wife lay.  He declared that his wife would be healed at exactly 9:30am.  He then knelt by her bedside and called on the living God.  The power of God came on his wife.  The paralysis left, her heartbeat became normal, her breathing became clear, and her fever broke.  Lake heard her faintly cry out, “Praise God, I’m healed.”

It was an awesome miracle and the story of this healing spread quickly.  It inspired many to come visit the Lake home.  Suddenly the Lakes were thrust into the healing ministry. People would come to their home daily to be prayed for.

This event began a life of ministry that would take Lake across the United States and Africa preaching the gospel, praying for the sick and seeing the power of God move upon millions.

In 1914 Lake came to Spokane, Washington where he would establish the Lake Institute of Divine Healing.  He purchased an old office building, trained ministers, and began to pray for the sick.  It is estimated that over 100,000 people were healed here within the few short years the healing room operated.  The effect on the community was dramatic.  Even the newspapers regularly published stories of the many testimonies coming from the healing room.

The stories themselves were so unbelievable that the Better Business Bureau was called in to verify the validity of the reports.  Lake wasn’t threatened by their questions.  He never backed down from putting the miracles to the test.

At one time he even allowed himself to be the subject of experimentation.  He visited an institution and submitted himself for a series of tests. They attached an instrument to his head to read the electric currents of his mind.  He then read scripture and spoke in his prayer language.

The professors said, “We have never seen anything like it!” Lake replied, “Gentlemen, it is the Holy Ghost.”

When they were finished with their tests, Lake made a request saying, “Go down in your hospital and bring back a man who has inflammation in the bone. Take your instrument and attach it to his leg. Leave enough space to get my hand on his leg..”

When the instrument was ready, Lake put his hand on the man’s shin and prayed, “God, kill the devilish disease by Your power. Let the Spirit move in him; let it live in him.”

He then asked, “Gentlemen, what is taking place?”

They replied, “Every cell is responding.”

Lake said, “It is so simple. The life of God comes back into a part that is afflicted.”

So when the Better Business Bureau sent word they were investigating the claims of the healing room, Lake welcomed it.  He called together all whose testimonies had appeared in the local papers. Each gave their accounts before the Bureau.  Lake even provided the investigators the names of hundreds of others who had been healed.  He asked the Bureau to create a panel of physicians, lawyers, judges, and educators to render a verdict.  When the inquiry was finished, they sent a letter praising Lake for the work he was doing in their city. Two members even came to him privately to inform him, “You didn’t tell the half of it.”

More than 200 individuals were visiting the healing rooms per day.  Cancers, tuberculosis, arthritis and all manner of diseases were being healed on a daily basis.  In fact, the success of the healing rooms led to Spokane, Washington being declared to be the “healthiest city in the world” by the US government from 1915-1920.    Even the mayor held a public commemoration to honor Lake and his efforts.

During this time The Southern Association of Evangelists met in Hot Springs, Arkansas.  The question of divine healing was a topic of discussion. They decided to write Lake asking the following questions:

First: Is God able to heal?

Second: Does God ever heal?

Third: Does God always heal?

Fourth: Does God use means in healing?

Lakes reply?

“The first question, “Is God able to heal?” coming as an inquiry from the Church of Christ in her varied branches, as represented by your association, which includes ministers and evangelists of almost every known sect, is a confession of how far the modern church has drifted in her faith from that of the primitive church of the first four centuries.”

My friend, do you doubt God’s power to heal?  Do you believe healing can be yours or that God can use you for healing?  Let me encourage you with these words from Lake himself, “Every person, in every age, in every land, who has faith in the living, eternal, covenant-keeping God is empowered to lay hands upon the sick, and “they shall recover” (Mark 16: 18).

The general terms of that great extension of the ministry of healing are found in that great and final commission given in Matthew 28:18, “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, all power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.” Beloved, has He lost any of that power? Never! He is still the Son of God.

“All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” (Matthew 28: 18– 20)

Is He with us still? Yes, bless God.

Has He changed? No. “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and for ever” (Hebrews 13: 8).

My friend, your faith and trust is placed in an eternal kingdom that cannot be shaken!  Have faith in Jesus alone.  He is your healer!

• Healing
• John G Lake
• Miracles
• Revival

Daniel

Daniel is a true son of revival who is continuing in the footsteps of his mentor bringing the message of revival and repentance to the nations. He is an international evangelist and best selling author, founder and head of Daniel K Norris Ministries and the ThreeHundred.