Jesus Christ, the Same, Yesterday, Today & Forever ~ Christopher Alam

Ed's Note:  This story of faith is from Christopher Alam's website: Pentecostal Fire ~ Dynamis Ministries

~~~~~~~~~ "Jesus Christ, the same,    yesterday, today & forever!"

The following story depicts the events that led to Hebrews 13:8, "Jesus Christ, the same, yesterday, today, and forever", becoming the foundational scripture for Dynamis World Ministries.

During Christopher Alam’s first trip to Poland, he became friends with Reverend Szymynski, the parish priest of a Roman Catholic Church in Poznan, Poland. Reverend Szymynski gave Christopher an open invitation to preach in his church at any time, and during the early 1980’s, Christopher regularly ministered to his congregation.

Crowds of people would come to the meetings expecting miracles from God. Communists and atheists, with great needs in their lives, were often among those attending, and for many this was the first time in a church of any kind. 

Christopher preached a simple Gospel message about the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. Upon hearing the Word of God, faith would release in the hearts of the people and the Lord would begin to move. Nearly everyone who had not already accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior would open their hearts and receive Him. After the message Christopher prayed for the sick and God answered with His miracle working power.

One particular evening, Christopher asked the crowd who needed a miracle from God and nearly everyone stood up. The crowd formed a line that wrapped around the perimeter of the sanctuary and the people began to file past the platform where he was ministering. As they passed, Christopher would lay his hands on each one and pray in name of Jesus.

There was a woman in the line who was in a wheel chair. When she reached Christopher, he asked her what was wrong with her. She responded that she had been paralyzed for the past 11 years and that she was completely void of sensation in her legs and feet.

Christopher asked the woman, “What would you like Jesus to do for you?”

“I want to be healed,” She replied.

He explained that God could heal her instantly and that He could also heal her slowly over a period of time. He asked her which she had faith for in her heart, to which she exclaimed that she had faith for both. At that moment, Christopher realized that she had no faith at all. When he looked at her he knew in his heart that he could not let her go; he perceived that God wanted to do something for her. He could not fully grasp it, nor did he fully understand it, but he knew that there was something that he did not want to miss.

Christopher proceeded to lay his hands on her and prayed for her in the name of the Lord Jesus. When he finished praying he exclaimed, “In the name of Jesus, rise up and walk!”

Although she tried very hard to lift herself from the wheel chair, her legs were useless. Once again, Christopher laid his hands on her and prayed. As he did, he looked over her head at the long line behind her. At that moment, he saw the wonderful face of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, gazing at him with eyes full of love. 

Christopher stood transfixed and everything appeared to stand still. He then heard the words, “Jesus Christ, the same, yesterday, today, and forever.” These words electrified his soul and something powerful gripped his heart. He spoke out loud saying, “If our Lord Jesus is the same today and He is in this place, it is impossible for this woman not to be healed. It is impossible for her to return home crippled!”

A Spirit of faith gripped his entire being. It was not because of what he was doing, but it was because Jesus was in their presence. Christopher describes that moment, as being impossible to doubt or disbelieve. He was surrounded and carried away by the presence of God, and in that wonderful presence all things are possible!

Christopher instructed his interpreter and a young priest standing next to him to pick the woman up from the wheelchair. They held her up as her legs dangled lifelessly. He began to loudly proclaim the word of God, “Surely He has borne our diseases and has carried our pains, He was wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities, the chastisement of our peace was upon Him and by His stripes we are healed. Bless the Lord O’ my soul and all that is within me bless His holy name. Bless the Lord and forget not all His benefits. He forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases!" Scripture after scripture flowed like a river from his mouth, and he found himself quoting scriptures that he had never committed to memory.

Soon the power of God began to move over her body. Her legs started to tremble and shake as life began flowing through them. At Christopher’s instruction, the interpreter and priest let go and stopped assisting her. She was standing! For the first time in 11 years, she was standing on her own legs, with her own strength.

For forty-five minutes he worked with her until she was walking, running, and praising God. She was totally healed and completely restored!

Upon the total manifestation of her healing, the Spirit of faith that held Christopher in its grip lifted. One moment he was completely unable to doubt God’s awesome healing power and the next he could not believe what he had just witnessed. His mind reeled to grasp the immensity of this wonderful miracle.

All glory and praise to our Lord Jesus for He makes the impossible possible. God, in His goodness, goes beyond man’s faith. His grace far overshadows our faith. Let us always be thankful that he does not give according our paltry faith, but He gives above and beyond all we can ask or imagine, according to His grace which is far greater than our faith will ever be.

“Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.” Ephesians 3:20-21

"Jesus Christ the same, yesterday, today, and forever." Hebrews 13:8