Does Jesus Go to IKEA?

“This may sound crazy...but I follow Jesus and I believe he can heal you.”

Yesterday I found myself saying this to someone at IKEA.

But let me back up for a minute...

Do you ever feel like your experience of the Christian life lacks power?

I do––and it bugs me.

As an evangelist, I do a lot of...talking.

I talk with non-Christians about Jesus. I talk with Christians about how to talk with non-Christians about Jesus. Much talking.

But last week I was struck by the reminder of Paul's words in 1 Corinthians 4:20:

"The kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power."

To be sure, words are necessary. Paul himself wrote that "faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ" (Romans 10:17).

But I can't shake this sense that Jesus wants to empower us to witness to his kingdom through more than words––and I've been praying to that end.

Back to IKEA.

Yesterday I was sitting in the cafeteria, reading a book on exercising spiritual authority and praying for healing.

I looked up to see an elderly man struggling to walk with a cane as he sat down.

Reflecting on what I had just read, I thought: "Why not now, Lord?"

With faith stirring and nerves tingling, I spoke up and asked this man about his leg. He described issue with his sciatic nerve that he's had for the past two years.

“This may sound crazy," I said, "but I follow Jesus and believe he can heal you. Can I pray for your leg?”

With his permission, I put my hand on his leg where he described feeling pain and commanded his sciatic nerve to be healed in Jesus’ name.

When I stepped back, his face looked a little surprised and he reported an immediate improvement (he said "at least 20%") so I asked to pray over him again.

After I prayed a second time he began to walk around with even more freedom, saying,“Look, I’m not even using my cane!”

Praise be to God!

As my new friend Bob thanked me, and I watched him walk out of the cafeteria (albeit slowly) without using his cane.

I’m hoping to see Bob at IKEA again (he’s a regular) and I'm anticipating both his continued healing and an opportunity to tell him more about Jesus.

Let me leave you a question to consider in prayer.

How might Jesus want to use you as an instrument of his power?

Yours in the Kingdom,

Lucas