Mark 16:18
Sounds almost too good to be true doesn't it?
Another passage states that all who came to Jesus were healed, were delivered. Not only that but Jesus also said that these signs would follow those who believe. Meaning, you, meaning me. He said that by His name we have the authority and by the Holy Spirit we have the power.
Here is my story of the past few weeks, and specifically this past week.
Ever since coming back from outreach to Venezuela and Colombia, I have been praying to not leave evangelism and outreach away on a missions field overseas, but carry that flame with me in everyday life. Sounds cool, but we all know how hard that can be when all the pressures and distractions of life can come in.
Also during this time I had been reading a few books by a guy called Bill Johnson, pastor of Bethel Church in California. Some of you probably have heard of him, others not, and some of you might disagree with a lot of what he says even. Regardless he made a point where he states that it is not the will of God that people are sick, that people are hurt, that people are in bondage and dying. Surely we can agree on that? I thought yeah that sounds right.
He went on to make a point that if we truly believe that, then when we pray for those who are sick, we should believe that God wants to heal them. If we have the theology that maybe God wants them this way... Well I don't want to put God in a box, but they probably won't be healed. Now they of course can be, and I really am not sure of how all of this works to be honest with you, but I do know this...
I want to lay hands on the sick.
And I want to see them healed.
So I had these thoughts running through my head for a long time and was really desiring this from God. But, to confess I had major doubts, after all, people who are sick, hurt and broken being supernaturally healed is a pretty big thing hey, and I've seen God do some crazy things, but this is so far out of my control that it's quite scary at times.
This brings me to this past week. On the DTS we have just finished the topic 'The Holy Spirit'. I knew that it would be a good week, especially once I begun to hear what our speaker had to say. We had a man named Etienne Pieterse. A man from Cape Town South Africa, a man of the Bushman tribe. Now I would recommend that if you ever need a guest speaker for anything, hit him up! He is an amazing man of God with a testimony that will blow your mind.
As he began to speak that week, God said to me, I am going to impart something in you this week. This man was a warrior from the tribes of Africa, having seen thousands and thousands come to know Christ, seeing countless healings and deliverances. I had been crying out to God for more passion, more boldness and more effectiveness in what I do. Well, the Holy Spirit through this man began to really build some stuff in me this week.
I was inspired all week, and when It came to the ministry time, I helped pray for our students, many of whom were then baptised in the Holy Spirit at this time. Sometime during all of this, I approached Etienne and asked him to pray for me. Specifically for the gift of healing and miracles. For more passions and hunger for God.
He did and nothing spectacular happened, but I knew that God has done something, He told me that He would at the start of the week.
Well, Saturday rolls around and its Youth Street time once again. During the night service one of our crew, gave his testimony to the whole group, which was a huge deal for him, and it was amazing. He sat down, but after the preaching that night we had an altar call, and I noticed that he was in a lot of pain in his leg, he was sitting down and in obvious pain. I thought to myself..
Can God heal?
Yes.
Does God desire to heal?
Yes.
Can I pray for people and see them recover?
Yes.
What does it take?
A step of Faith.
So I said to God, ok God I believe that you heal people, and I believe that you can do it through me, so I am going to go and pray for this guy. I grabbed one of my students who had told me before that he thought God had also given him the gift of healing.
We went over to him and asked if we could pray for him, also what had happened that caused him such pain.
He said that as he tried to stand, something gave way in his leg and there was serious pain, so much in fact that he couldn't move it, or pout any pressure on it.
We prayed for him, and I asked him to move his leg, it still hurt he said, so we continued, proclaiming healing in the name of Jesus. I got him to move his leg again, and what do you know he could move it. Praise God! But we weren't satisfied with a partial healing and asked him if he wanted it completely healed. He said yes so we continued to pray and then we got him to stand up and walk around. As he walked all the pain left and he was fine... WHAT?!
How good is our God?!
We shared this testimony straight away to the group, and the leader said that if anyone was sick they should come down and we would pray for them. We saw 4 people healed that night!! (If you want the details of that story let me know I can tell you later)
Our God is good.
Our God is powerful
Our God is loving.
I challenge you, if you want more of God. Seek Him.
He will be found by you.
“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”
Jeremiah 29:13
“Come near to God and he will come near to you.”
James 4:8
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.”
Matthew 7:7-8
God is raising up people all over the world who are not content to live as we once did. There is a revolution springing up in every corner of the earth, of radical disciples of Jesus Christ, determined to see His kingdom come.
Will you join this movement?
Are you hungry for more of God?
Do you desire to see this world transformed and changed by the power of God?
I asked our speaker what we need to live this incredible life. He told me this.
Availability and obedience.
Are you available to God? If He speaks are you listening? Are you willing to humble yourself before Him and say not my will, but your will be done O God.
Then are we willing to take a step of faith into what he asks us to do?
Its a journey yes, but there is always that first step. I am not there yet, but I am on the road.
The question is....
Will you join me? Will we together see God move in such mighty ways that revival is born all over this world?
I leave you with this. God is good, He rewards those who earnestly and diligently seek him, and He lifts up those who humble themselves before Him. I am only just starting to move in that life of radical obedience, but already people are healed, set free and saved from the clutches of sin and death. Lets do this together, and see just how great our God is.
Peace,
Daniel