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?