Day #332 - Overshadowed

The Presence - A Devotional for living in Thanksgiving, Worship and Wonder

“Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number. As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by impure spirits, and all of them were healed.” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭5‬:‭14‬-‭16‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Photo by Casey Horner on Unsplash

Have you ever had or witnessed a supernatural miracle?

Recently in the past few weeks of me writing this, we’ve heard testimonies in our church of a man in his seventies being healed of Parkinson’s disease and this verified by two doctors now. Another man with a flesh eating disease and open soars is fully healed and the doctor thought after taking a few of his toes, they would have to amputate his limbs as well. The doctor said he has never seen someone as bad as him have the disease reverse and experience a full recovery. We’ve heard testimonies and seen people delivered of demons, other conditions healed and people experience the power and filling of the Holy Spirit.

What is the key to experiencing miracles or letting God use you to work miracles? The key is about “the Presence.” The key is who overshadows you. In Acts 5, God was doing extraordinary miracles through the apostle Peter. The church was expanding as the Holy Spirit was moving and Jesus was being preached. As more and more people were being saved there was also a movement of healing taking place. People would bring the sick and oppressed to lay them on beds and mats so that as Peter walked by His shadow would release the healing power of God over them. What a scene! I wonder how many people were laying in a row on the ground and as Peter walked by what would it have looked like to see sick people getting up healed and impure spirits leaving the oppressed.

Peter’s shadow could heal because He was overshadowed by the Almighty! Peter had the mantle of Jesus, the Holy Spirit, who is in fact the same Spirit that all believers receive. This happened because of God’s manifest presence. Peter had a relationship with the Holy Spirit and the anointing of God was being passed from his life to those who needed a Divine touch for healing and freedom.

As a pastor, I hear people say, “why do I need to come to church to receive prayer? Why do I have to go to the revival meeting to experience God? God is everywhere. I don’t need some healing meeting or healing minister to pray for me.” Where it true that God is everywhere and able to heal us and hear prayer from any location, His manifest presence makes a difference. If people are healed under Peter’s shadow, I don’t think that its a time to get all analytical about whether or not God is healing other places, but I would get in the shadow.

May we long for “the Presence” to overshadow us that God may touch us and heal us and that He may use us to carry His presence to those who need His healing and freedom. I want to get to the place where He manifests and bring others to Him too.

Lord God Almighty, thank You for bringing me near through Christ Jesus to dwell under the shadow of Your wings. In Your presence is salvation, healing and freedom from impure spirits. Let me dwell with You and carry Your presence to those who need miracles in their life. In Jesus name, amen.